Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 126: Life of a prisoner

Sorza's life as a "guest" of the princess was more like a comfortable imprisonment. He spent most of his days confined to his chambers, under what was effectively house arrest. The room was large and well-furnished, but the gilded surroundings did little to ease the burn of captivity.

Occasionally, Sorza was allowed brief reprieves, where he could step outside into the palace gardens. In the serene garden, the flowers in bloom, the calming breeze, and the chirping birds contrasted sharply with the turmoil he felt inside. To be defeated and reduced to this was a humiliation that festered in his heart, made worse by the knowledge that it was a mercenary that delivered this shame to him. 

One of his few comforts was the ability to meet some of his captured knights, particularly those who had been part of his personal guard. These were men he trusted, and their presence brought some ease to him . All of them awaiting for the ransom coming from thier prince.

The days passed uneventfully, one blending into the next.

When Sorza first heard about the fate of Arkawatt, an idea had bloomed in his mind—a plan that, if executed, could turn his captivity into an unexpected victory. A woman had taken the throne, and he was unmarried. He thought of the possibilities: if he could somehow convince the princess to marry him, it would mean not only his freedom but also the union of two princedoms under their future son. No ransom, no humiliating release—just power, shared and expanded.

At first, it seemed as if the princess entertained his notion. She allowed him to meet her on several occasions, their conversations cordial and even friendly. Sorza, ever the strategist, began to believe he had a real chance. With her heirless and him available, it would have been a strong political match.

But in recent days, the tone had shifted. At first, he didn't notice, thinking perhaps she was simply preoccupied. Then, slowly, he realized the truth—he was not her first choice. He was her second option, a fallback if something else failed. It became clear to him that she had already set her sights elsewhere. Whispers in the palace confirmed his growing suspicions: the mercenary who had captured him, the very same man who had humiliated him in battle, had returned victorious and was now rumored to be betrothed to her.