Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 290: Cravings

Chapter 290: Cravings

The leisure hall of the palace was a cozy,small chamber, meant not for formal gatherings or grand displays but for the quiet, personal moments of the royal family. The room was adorned with soft, cream-colored drapes that fluttered slightly in the evening breeze filtering through an arched window.

The prince consort of Yarzat, sat comfortably on a plush sofa with deep, soft cushions that seemed to mold to his form. He was reclined slightly, a small table beside him holding a tray of fresh grapes and a goblet of watered wine. With one hand, he absentmindedly plucked a grape and popped it into his mouth, savoring the burst of sweetness. In the other, he held a report—a neatly penned summary from his army officers. The pages crinkled faintly as he turned them, his sharp eyes scanning the words with practiced ease.

A small wooden desk stood nearby, stacked with unopened scrolls and letters, but for now, the sofa served as his workspace. This room, with its inviting quiet and modest charm, had become his favored retreat for handling lighter tasks of governance.As unlike the big and vast hall room and working station, this small chamber allowed him to relax while working on light work, that did not require much concentration for him.He usually used it whenever he had to read the monthly report from some of the branches of the state, the first one being about the military.

The aftermath of the first campaign against Herculia was nothign short of a success ,especially given the odds. The White Company, his most dependable force, had unfortunately suffered significant losses—130 soldiers between the dead and the wounded that would not be able to return the fight, an acceptable rate given just how hard was the task that Alpheo had assigned them . Though the sting of such losses lingered, especially among the veterans who mourned their fallen brothers who they had been comrades of for years way back before following Alpheo south , it did little to dampen the spirit of the campaign's success.(in comments there is territorial change that came from the conflict)

What truly surprised Alpheo, however, was how swiftly these losses were replenished. The influx of recruits that poured into the recruiting stations in the capital was nothing short of overwhelming. 

Apparently the sight of returning soldiers weighed down by purses brimming with coin spoke louder than any decree or proclamation. These men, strutting through markets and taverns, became visual proof to the rewards of service. Tales of their victories, exaggerated as they passed from tongue to tongue, painted the campaing as a glorious and money grabbing endevour, where they outnumbered five to one , had managed to break through the enemy through simple and sheer force of arms.