Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 188: Unwanted evening

Alpheo sat in the dimly lit chamber, the papyrus pages of an old manuscript resting delicately in his hands. His fingers traced the rough texture as he turned another page. The chair beneath him creaked softly as he leaned back, frowning at what he was reading.

how crude, he thought as he turned another one.

The door swung open, and Jasmine stepped into the room, her brow already furrowed in disapproval. "Why are you still not dressed?"

Alpheo glanced down at his simple tunic, then sighed heavily, closing the book with a soft thud. "I got... lost," he admitted, his voice trailing off as if the explanation was as much for himself as it was for her. His fingers tapped the closed papyrus for a moment before he stood up, moving languidly towards the wardrobe.

Jasmine watched him, arms crossed, her frown deepening. "You know we need to be there."

"Do we truly?" Alpheo asked as he slipped the tunic over his head, folding it carefully. He reached for his formal attire—a deep blue robe—and began dressing himself with practiced ease. "I had some work to finish," he continued, his voice tinged with reluctance as he fastened the robe's clasps. He pulled on a wide leather belt, adjusting it before reaching for the gleaming silver cuffs, sliding them over his wrists.

Jasmine's eyes narrowed. "Yes, we need to be there. I don't care how much you hate these dinners''

Alpheo nodded absently, picking up his boots and slipping them on, one after the other. "I just don't see why we need to endure all the pomp. There are things I could be doing, things that would actually matter." He straightened his collar with a sigh, pulling his dark hair into place, his fingers lingering in his locks .