The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary

To what would have taken a week of travels just to reach the capital, now has only taken hours due to the grace of riding dragons.

And from afar, as we gaze through below our feet, we could see the grandness of the capital. At the sight of it, only nostalgia was what I felt.

The Goldensun Kingdom was a city born from light itself. From the skies above, its brilliance stretched in every direction, a living testament to wealth, power, and vision.

First came the walls—colossal rings of marble and steel that gleamed like polished ivory in the sun. Each tier of the capital was enclosed by its own set of ramparts, layered one after another like concentric circles. From above, it resembled a sunburst carved into the earth, its gates aligned with the cardinal winds. No common invader could ever dream of breaking through such defenses, yet beauty was etched into every stone, with golden inlays catching the daylight in dazzling patterns.

Inside, the city pulsed with life. Roads paved in smooth white stone radiated outward from the heart of the kingdom, lined with banners of crimson and gold. Markets sprawled like rivers of color, merchants’ stalls overflowing with silks, spices, and gemstones brought from the farthest corners of the realm. Towers rose higher than any village church, their windows stained with crystal panes that cast rainbows onto the streets below.

And then, there was the castle. The citadel of the Goldensun family stood at the very center, an empire within an empire. Its walls were hewn from mountain stone, clad in gold-touched marble that shimmered as though kissed by the dawn itself. Dozens of spires climbed into the heavens, their tips capped with sun-forged crowns that blazed against the sky. Bridges arched between towers, lined with statues of angels and kings, each carved with such mastery they seemed almost alive.

At night, the capital never slept. Magic lamps lit every street and plaza, chasing away darkness with a steady glow, while fountains of enchanted water sparkled beneath the moonlight. Music drifted from open taverns, laughter from the noble districts, and the deep toll of bells from the Grand Cathedral echoed through every corner, as though reminding the city of its greatness.

It was said that when travelers first set eyes on the Goldensun Kingdom, they either fell silent in awe or wept at its splendor. Standing there, seeing it again, I understood why. The capital was not just a place to live. It was a monument to ambition itself.

Truly…when my eyes wander below, one can’t help but dream of such dreams.

And to think that in the future, Velorria was able to claim this entire land for herself…and use it to dominate even that of one of the grand ambitions of the world.

That girl always dreamed of dreams beyond her reach…and now, she returns.

I don’t know if she has changed much, but my heart fears for what may happen if we do finally meet.

***

When the dragon finally landed below on the terminal, we then made our way to her family’s mansion. As by her plan, her mansion was going to be met with a lot of other people involved in their business.

Being a wealthy merchant family that was already considered at the height of a noble, its to be expected that this gathering will be held to reaffirm their ties with other strong families.

Now, I expect that in this kind of situation I should look somewhat…organized. Formal to be exact.

It’s a formal gathering after all, so I can’t make myself look like some odd commoner to embarrass Evelyn and her family. In fact, because its her family who made this arrangement, I should try my best to look good in front of her.

“So what should I do when we finally arrive at your place?” I asked as we slowly passed through the marble streets of the capital.

“What do you mean? We’re just going to be staying at my parent’s place for the week.”

“Umm…but I’m asking more about my position. How should I act when the gathering finally happens?”

“Hm? Are you nervous about presenting yourself in front of my family’s business? That’s so cute of you to worry. But don’t fret, its in this event that we finally get to present ourselves to the people!” she said proudly.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Although word has already gotten around, we should really try and start introducing you as my partner officially. And its more than just being my bodyguard!”

“Really? That seems a bit embarrassing…I mean, I’m all for it but are you sure?” I asked.

“What do you mean by that? Of course I’m sure!” she said as she looked me straight in the eye.

At that moment, the only thing I could think of was how brave she was in admitting our relationship. Normally, people take this kind of thing slow, but from her perspective, she already has her mind set. She’s not afraid of admitting anything…even to strangers.

I mean its already clear that we’re in a relationship…I made a promise to be by her side and protect her…Marry her even! So I should be strong about this.

“Of course….yeah. Okay, lets steel ourselves!”

We rode across the beauty of the capital, and after minutes of watching the scenery, we finally made it to her domain.

And as big as her family’s riches were, there mansion was as magnanimous as it could have been in my expectations.

“Oof…you guys really like big houses huh.” I said.

“Not really, its more of presenting ourselves to protect our image. My father in particular doesn’t love this kind of lavish lifestyle. He was once an adventurer, yet he preferred to live in small cottages outside of big cities.”

“Huh, I never expected that of your father.” I said.

“Really? Well anyway, don’t be too intimidated. Come on, lets go say hi to my parents.”

As we got off of the carriage, we were instantly greeted by over a dozen maids who came and got our luggage off the carriage.

Yet surprisingly, her parents weren’t there to greet us.

“Huh, I expected them to be there at the front door greeting us.” said Evelyn.

“From the looks of it, the house looks busy preparing for the event. Maybe they’re just busy and couldn’t greet us.” I said.

“Maybe, come on lets- Huh? Is that what I think it is?” said Evelyn as she noticed something at the side of her home. It was parked under the shade of a tree, as it made itself look inconspicuous.

When I turned my head to where she was looking, I too was surprised by the sight of it.

“!!?” No…I was really shocked by it.

“Why is it here?” she asked herself.

Without halting, she made her way to the inside of her house and from there, she saw a figure that made her even more surprised.

When I followed behind her, it was then that I too was taken by surprised…

It all made somewhat of a sense. Outside of their home was a carriage that carried the flag of the Royal Goldensun family. I could only imagine that the reason why that carriage was here in the first place was because a member of the Royal family came to visit the Ambers…

And truly…I would have been more shocked if it was the person who I thought it was. But thankfully, the person standing before us all was none other than the eldest son and the 1^st born among the Royal family, Vellio Constance Goldensun.

With hair as dark as the night, eyes as red as blood gems, and a face as handsome as an angel, one can only imagine he was the most beautiful person alive in the room. Wearing what seemed like an official militant dark uniform that goes well with his hair, the man stood with a bravado of essence that simply swallowed the entire room.

The maids themselves who were standing by the side couldn’t help but blush at his very presence. He was that alluring.

Even Evelyn and her Mother Emilia was also blushing at the sight of his face. A woman simply can’t help but fall likeness to his face. It was simply a gift from the heavens.

“…M-mother, Father….I’ve arrived.” said Evelyn as she regained her since of will.

And as she called, both her parents and the prince turned their eyes towards her.

“Oh, Evelyn and Thill, you both came just at the perfect time.” said her father as he smiled at our arrival.

Evelyn drew in a quiet breath, then stepped forward with practiced poise. Her skirts shifted lightly as she curtsied, her hand pressed to her chest.

“Your Highness, Vellio Constance Goldensun,” she said, her tone respectful yet steady. “It is an honor to welcome you to our home.”

I followed her lead, bowing deeply at the waist. My movements weren’t as polished as hers, but I made sure the gesture carried the respect due to royalty. “Your Highness,” I added simply.

The prince’s crimson eyes swept over us—first lingering on Evelyn, then turning toward me. For a brief moment, it felt as though his gaze pierced right through my chest. Calm, cold, and unreadable, yet heavy enough to silence the entire hall.

Then, with the faintest curve of his lips, he inclined his head. “So, this is the youngest daughter of House Amber… and her chosen companion.”

His voice carried a smoothness that was almost melodic, but beneath it I could sense a weight that made the air tighten. Evelyn straightened her posture, unfazed, while I held myself firm beside her.

Whatever reason had brought the prince here, it was clear: this meeting was more than mere coincidence.

“Now, I think I’ve stayed long enough. Sir Reginald, I hope that you would think through to my invitation about our works this week. If you have made your decision, please send me a message. Truly, with your help, we can advance our cause.”

“Of course, I’ll think it over with my wife,” her father replied evenly.

At that, the prince inclined his head in gratitude. With a gesture, his attendants followed, and together they departed, their cloaks sweeping through the doorway. The faint sound of their boots against the polished floor echoed until it was gone, leaving only silence in the hall.

Evelyn watched the door close before turning quickly to her parents.

“Father, Mother… why was he here?” she asked, her tone softer than the question’s weight. “What exactly does the prince want from our family?”

Her parents exchanged a glance — fleeting but heavy with meaning — and neither spoke at once.

“Evelyn, I’ll tell you later. But for now, I’m glad to see that you two have arrived safely to our domain here in the capital.”

“The cruise was fine, although I slept the entire way.”

“Of course, you never were good with heights. And Thill, I’m thankful that you joined my daughter in this event.”

“It was my pleasure. Thankfully nothing bad happened on the way.”

“Of course…if anything, problems will only start happening now once this entire festival gets underway.” he said as he looked worried.

“Speaking of problems, how did it go with the Cypton’s boy? Where is he currently held?” asked her mother as she looked incredibly angry.

Knowing that Evelyn reported the incident to her parents, it was only rightfully so that they got mad.

“Ah yes, those rat bastards…tell me, how did you contain that idiot when he has developed his core to the second stage. Normal cells are not enough to hold that person.”

“I used a technique that made him incapable of moving his body willfully. By blocking the flowing channels of his core, it wont be possible for him to move his body anytime soon. Also, I increased the security of that cell with my men, so its heavily guarded.” I said.

“Hmm, I’ve heard it was possible but only masters of the core are capable of disrupting the body’s nature. Surely this won’t affect his life right? Not that I care.” said Reginald.

“Don’t worry…I know a thing or two. If there’s any other capable master out there, they might be able to undo the restrictions in his body, but I don’t think its easy to find such a person. Their a rare breed.” I said confidently.

“Even if that is the case, I’m still worried about the Cyptons in particular. Knowing them, they will search ofr the boy…and if they do find him, its possible that this small problem will only incline even further.”

“They won’t find him…” said Evelyn.

“And how can you be so sure about that.” asked her mother.

“Because Rhoads never told his father anything about what he planned to do to me. He most likely told them that he was making his way to the capital to attend the festival because just like me, he was invited. By the time that the Cypton family gets curious of his whereabouts, we’ll be back at the domain…and when we do, we might be able to settle the conflict peacefully without any so much of a hassle on our side.”

“Are you sure about this? Did he confess to this?”

“In fact, yes he did. When I talked to him inside his cell, he pleaded to me that I should release him. And throughout all his ramblings he never once mentioned his family being involved…so I knew then and there that he made the decision to attack me by his own will without his family’s consent.”

Her father leaned back, considering. “Hmm. If that’s true, then we needn’t worry—at least not yet.”

As the issue was soon made clear, their faces calmed and we then made our preparations for what was soon to come.

“Thill, seeing as how this is going to be a gathering of powerful families…mostly Merchants close to our family, what do you intend to wear in the event?” asked Emilia as she looked at me curiously.

“Oh…I was thinking that since I was going to act as Evelyn’s guard, I made a set of armor for the occasion.”

“But this is a formal gathering, I try not to let anything too heavy portray itself in my events. And besides, your work will only start once the festival is underway. So if possible, how about wearing a suit for the occasion. Surely in this event, nothing too dangerous will happen.” she said.

“Hmm, okay…” I agreed and made my way to the room assigned to me which was at one of the guest rooms.

When I arrived, I saw that already… there was a pair of suits placed on my bed and a note coming from Evelyn’s mother.

[I am not trying to seem inconsiderate, but knowing your family’s work…I assume that you do not have a formal wear to use in occasions such as this. That is why I prepared for you a suit that will surely pair well with Evelyn’s dress for the occasion. I hope this helps.]

She was as kind as Evelyn was…and truly, I did not deserve such kindness.

When I looked at the suit she prepared for me, I was in awe. It was a sleek black suit, its fabric finer than anything I had ever worn, lined with subtle embroidery that shimmered faintly when caught in the light. The vest was a deep blue, matching the accents of Evelyn’s family crest, and the tie that came with it carried the same dignified shade.

Just by touching it, I could tell—this wasn’t something meant for a commoner like me.

I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, the note still in my hand. Evelyn’s mother had been considerate, even gentle, with her words. Not once did she look down on me or question why her daughter chose me. Instead, she extended kindness.

“…I really don’t deserve this,” I muttered under my breath.

But even so…if this was the path I chose—to stand beside Evelyn, not only as her guard but as her partner—then the least I could do was wear this properly and not bring her shame.

With a deep breath, I began preparing myself for the night ahead.