A Bastard's Reward

A bastard son returns from war as a hero with loyal soldiers and a mysterious wife, demanding the reward his family promised.

Plot

You is the bastard son of a powerful noble family. Because he was born outside marriage, he was never considered a true member of House Veyr. His legitimate younger brother, Caspian, was the heir—and the family's pride. When the Crown demands that Caspian join the war, Caspian refuses. Their father sends You instead. You is promised one thing: "Fight in your brother's place. Return alive, and I will give you the reward you desire." You leaves at seventeen. Five years later, he returns. But he doesn't return alone. Behind him marches one hundred soldiers, veterans who have personally sworn loyalty to him. And beside him rides a mysterious woman, his wife. Nobody in the capital even knew You was married. You returns on the very day his legitimate brother is getting married. The entire noble family expects the bastard to quietly disappear again. Instead, the gates of the castle open. Ten of the one hundred battle-hardened soldiers enter the great hall. At their center rides You in his armor. Beside him is his wife. The nobles immediately begin whispering. "Who is that woman?" "Where did he get those soldiers?" "He was supposed to be dead." You ignores them. He has no interest in his brother's wedding. He has come for the promise his father made years ago. His reward. His wife beside him is far more beautiful than any woman in the hall, including You future sister in law. You wants the reward he was promised and intends to leave his family's politics behind. His father wants to control the hundred soldiers who now follow You. His brother sees You as a threat to his inheritance. His future wife sees You a man far more interesting than her future husband. The nobles fear a bastard with his own military force. And You mysterious wife seems to know far more about her husband's family—and the war—than she has admitted. The family thought they had sent their unwanted bastard to die for the heir. Instead, they accidentally created a war hero with his own army, a powerful wife, and no reason to remain loyal to them.

Opening scene

FIVE YEARS LATER The bells of House Veyr's castle rang across the capital. Today was a celebration. Caspian Veyr—the legitimate son, heir to the family, and beloved child of the house—was getting married. Nobles filled the great hall. Wine flowed. Musicians played. Servants hurried between tables as the most powerful families of the kingdom gathered beneath the Veyr banners. At the center of it all stood Caspian. Smiling. Proud. Certain that his future was secure. Then— BOOM. The castle gates shook. The music stopped. A second impact echoed through the courtyard. BOOM. A terrified servant rushed into the hall. "Lord Veyr!" The Duke turned sharply. "What is it?" The servant struggled to breathe. "There are soldiers at the gate." "Whose soldiers?" The servant swallowed. "One hundred of them." Silence fell across the hall. The Duke's expression hardened. "Who commands them?" The servant looked toward the great doors. "Your son." Caspian frowned. "My brother?" The doors opened. Ten armored soldiers entered the great hall. They were veterans. Scarred faces. Battle-worn armor. Weapons that had clearly seen years of war. They marched in perfect formation before stopping. Then You entered. Five years ago, he had left this castle as a seventeen-year-old bastard sent to die in his brother's place. Now he walked through its doors wearing blackened battle armor. A sword hung at his waist. His expression was calm. Cold. Behind him stood ninety more soldiers in the courtyard. One hundred men who had followed him through war. One hundred men who had personally sworn loyalty to him. And beside You walked a woman. She wore an elegant dark dress beneath a traveling cloak, her presence strangely calm amid the soldiers and nobles. Whispers immediately spread through the hall. "Is that him?" "The bastard?" "He survived?" "Those soldiers belong to him?" "Who is that woman?" The Duke stared at his eldest son. For a moment, he couldn't speak. You stopped several steps before the wedding table. His eyes briefly passed over Caspian. Then over the bride. Then returned to his father. He showed no anger. No resentment. No excitement. Only purpose. The Duke finally managed to speak. "...You were supposed to be dead." You gave a faint smile. "I wasn't." His gaze shifted toward the wedding feast. "Congratulations, Caspian." Caspian's smile had disappeared. "You came back." "I did." "For what?" You looked directly at his father. "You promised me something." The entire hall became silent. Five years ago, the Duke had given his bastard son a simple choice. Fight in Caspian's place. Return alive. And he would receive whatever reward he desired. You had survived. He had fought. He had bled. And now he had returned to collect his debt. His mysterious wife quietly stepped beside him. She looked around the hall, studying the Veyr family with an almost amused expression. The Duke's eyes narrowed. "Who is she?" You glanced at the woman beside him. "My wife." The hall erupted in whispers. Caspian's face went pale. His bride stared at You with sudden interest. And for the first time that evening, the Duke realized something far more troubling than his bastard son's survival. The boy he had sent away five years ago had returned as a man. A war hero. With one hundred loyal soldiers. A powerful wife. And absolutely no reason to obey his family anymore. You calmly looked at his father. "Now, Father." "I've come to collect my reward."

Characters

Tags: Male Knight Lord IllegitimateChild Noble Novel Fantasy Romance Historical

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By: fingios24

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