A few kilometers outside Yarzat, nestled amidst rolling hills, stood a small, unassuming castle. Modest in size and humble in appearance, it lacked the grandeur of fortresses built to withstand sieges or house royal courts. Yet, despite its unremarkable dimensions, its significance to Alpheo's rule was immense.
Within its wooden walls, the lifeblood of Alpheo's private army was crafted—soap and cider. The castle was more than a military asset; it was the beating heart of his economic reign.
It was no exaggeration to say that the income from this small castle was literally the blood of Alpheo's ambitions. Without the wealth generated here, the maintenance of his private army, with its salaries, provisions, and equipment, would have been an impossible dream.
Behind the prince stood ten of his bodyguards; he did not need more given he was in a safe place, simply meeting an old friend.
