Doria sat in a high-backed chair by the window, sipping a cup of cider. The cool liquid ran smoothly down his throat, its sharp sweetness a welco contrast to the bitter taste left by the day's formalities. His eyes wandered over the view beyond the window—the manicured garden, the distant city walls, and the landscape beyond.
He could understand now why Lord Keval Achea, had taken such interest in this remote corner of the world. He was not sure whether they would agree to give up their monopoly on the imperial market.
He knew that if this princedom was even a quarter as strong as the empire then they would have had no chance to even discuss such an arrangent, especially with all the turmoil in the empire.
Setting the cup down, Doria looked across the room to where Marcus stood, arms crossed in his usual manner. "So," Doria began, his voice calm yet probing, "do you have sothing for ?"
Marcus stepped forward slightly, his expression serious. "Not much, sir," he admitted. "Just general knowledge from what I could gather in such little ti . Nothing concrete."
Doria sighed, leaning back in his chair. He stared at the ceiling for a mont before his lips curled into a faint smile. "All we had before coming here was what a rchant whispered to a drunk lord, Marcus. So anything, no matter how little, is well received."
Marcus stepped forward, his voice low and steady as he began to speak. "The prince consort's na is Alpheo," he said, watching Doria's expression closely. "He marched into this land from Rolia, leading a band of rcenaries. From what I've gathered, they were hired to fight off the prince of Oizen."
Doria raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but said nothing, allowing Marcus to continue.
"There was tension between the previous prince and Alpheo," Marcus went on. "A fight broke out between them, and the prince didn't survive. What's unclear is what happened next. So say Alpheo and his rcenaries stord the city, took control quickly, and forced Princess Jasmine into marriage. Others, however, claim the princess directly invited them in, offering her hand in marriage in exchange for their services."
Doria's eyes narrowed , but Marcus wasn't finished.
"Whatever the truth is, one thing's clear: everything her grace, Princess Jasmine, now holds was gained through Alpheo. After their marriage, he led her forces, defeated her uncle when he tried to claim the throne, and later conquered his lands. Alpheo is the reason she holds any power at all."
Marcus paused, his gaze fixed on Doria. "In short, sir, Jasmine may sit on the throne, but everything she's acquired has been thanks to that man."
Doria sat back in his chair, absorbing the information. Alpheo, then, was the key to everything.
Doria leaned back in his chair, sipping from his cup of cider, his expression thoughtful. "When I return ho, I'll request Lord Keval to initiate a thorough search for any information regarding this Alpheo," he said, setting the cup down with a deliberate motion.
Marcus, standing nearby, frowned slightly, unsure of the sudden focus on Alpheo. "I understand the interest in what's happening here, sir, especially given the rise of this land, but I don't quite grasp why there's this sudden curiosity about that youngster," Marcus admitted, his voice carrying a tone of skepticism.
Doria raised an eyebrow, his expression cool. "You don't see it?" he asked, leaning forward. "These two revolutionary products—the ones causing a stir in Rolia—appeared around the sa ti Alpheo entered this court. That can't be re coincidence."
Marcus shook his head. "But it was an old man, so local craftsman, who ca up with those inventions. At least, that's what's been said," he replied, almost defensively.
"Ah, yes, that's what Princess Jasmine claims," Doria acknowledged, his eyes narrowing. "But think about it. This supposed 'old man' discovered not one, but two groundbreaking innovations, and all of a sudden, as soon as Alpheo enters Jasmine's service? And this 'old man' has minimal public contact, with no previous reputation to speak of?" Doria's voice was laced with suspicion.
Marcus hesitated, processing Doria's words. "Why lie about it, though? What would be the point of hiding Alpheo's involvent if he was the true inventor?" he asked, still puzzled.
Doria tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating. "I don't know," he admitted. "Perhaps Alpheo is the one who truly invented them, but he fears what might happen if people knew the truth. Power attracts enemies, Marcus, and if these inventions were linked to him, who knows what plots would unfold against him? The old man could just be a cover—a convenient face for these innovations."
Marcus glanced at Doria, uncertain. "Should I continue searching for more information on Alpheo, then?" he asked, ready to take on the task.
Doria shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, that's enough for now. I suspect that in the future, Lord Keval will send more agents here to dig deeper. For now, we've learned enough."
Just as the room settled into a mont of quiet, a sudden knock at the door interrupted them. Doria stood up, quickly straightening his clothes and smoothing down the fabric of his tunic. His face took on a composed expression, ready to greet whoever had co.
Marcus quickly opened the door to reveal Lord Shahab standing there, alongside a young man beside him.
Lord Shahab stepped forward with a formal nod, extending his hand toward the young man beside him. "Sir Doria, allow to introduce his grace Alpheo, the Prince Consort of Yarzat."
Alpheo walked forward with steady confidence, his dark eyes eting Doria's. "It is a pleasure to et you" he greeted, his voice smooth and asured.
Doria inclined his head slightly, showing the appropriate deference. "The honor is mine, your grace " he said, his gaze studying the man before him.
Shahab gestured to the seats nearby, and all three n moved to sit down at a small table. As they settled, Doria smiled, lifting his cup slightly. "Thank you for the generous hospitality. I must say, the drinks were quite nice. A fine touch."
Alpheo returned the smile, his eyes briefly flicking toward the cup. "I find them rather pleasurable myself," he said, a hint of amusent in his tone.
Shahab, watching the exchange, smiled as well, though his eyes sharpened with curiosity. "We are honored to have the Emperor's envoy with us,I hope you found this city to be to your liking" he began, his tone warm yet inquisitive.
Doria placed his cup down gently, his eyes shifting from Alpheo to Shahab, asuring their deanor.
"Yarzat has a certain charm," Doria began while keeping his real feelings inside. "It is no surprise since the empire has always been close to their neighbors in the south. His Grace, the Regent, holds a keen interest in fostering even closer relations."
Alpheo gave a knowing nod. "Friends are always welco here" he replied smoothly, leaning back a little in his seat. "After all we've benefited greatly from Rolia's reach, especially with trade..."
Doria smiled politely "Indeed. Which brings to the matter at hand," he said, his tone still pleasant, but carrying the weight of his true intentions now. "The Emperor's court has been watching closely, and we see much potential in deepening our cooperation. That is, after all, why I have been sent."
Shahab leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued, though his expression remained guarded. "Of course," he said, his voice steady. "We are honored to hear such intentions. It is not every day that we receive an envoy directly from Rolia's halls. We are eager to understand what exactly such cooperation would entail."
Doria allowed a brief pause, his fingers lightly tracing the rim of his cup before he spoke again, his tone asured and diplomatic.
"The Empire has taken quite an interest in the new products introduced by Yarzat to the market," he said smoothly, his gaze shifting between Alpheo and Shahab. "We find them to be... of exceptional quality, and their value is undeniable."
Shahab raised an eyebrow slightly, while Alpheo's expression remained unreadable, though he leaned forward a touch, clearly intrigued.
Doria continued, the smile returning to his face as he folded his hands together. "Rolia would be honored to secure a more privileged position in this exchange. Simply put," he said, eyes glinting with intent, "we wish to be the best consur of your finest products. After all, what better patron for your goods than the Empire itself?"
Alpheo leaned forward slightly, a casual confidence in his voice. "We've noticed how quickly our brothers in the Empire have taken a liking to our new products," he said, the corners of his mouth lifting. "I believe that in the near future, they will adore even more what's coming. Arstolier, our old and wise inventor, is tirelessly working on a few creations that will surely catch the Empire's eye."
Doria's smile deepened as he nodded, his tone carrying both genuine curiosity and diplomacy. "We await such developnts with much interest. I, personally, would welco the opportunity to et him. the great inventor himself. "
Alpheo's smile widened, a hint of pride in his expression. "I'm certain Arstolier would be more than happy to entertain a dinner with you, Sir Doria. You'll find him quite engaging."
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