human
Bartroi:  You asked when you were little—you wondered if there wasn’t some way that this could end without siblings having to harm one another." At the time, Bartroi, still young, had been seeking something that might possibly be done—and these words, spoken by his little sister like a passing dream, had hit him like a revelation. He had contemplated them ever after, followed them to where he stood today. "The Rite began as you predicted, but you don’t seem to be getting any closer to victory. I and our other nine siblings will work with you. Then maybe…"
gpt
Lamia:  "Then maybe we can overcome our brother Vincent? Is that what you’re thinking?"
human
Bartroi:  "That’s right." Bartroi nodded, although his throat went dry at the mention of Vincent’s name. Vincent Abelks was one of Bartroi’s half brothers. But his greatness, his strength of personality was tremendous, and for better or worse, it didn’t feel much like they were related. The young man stood at the top in every realm of knowledge and strategy. Fearsomely clear-eyed, Vincent had restored the fortunes of House Abelks, once fallen to among the least of the noble families of Volakia, raising himself to the rank of high count entirely through his own talent and skill. By all rights, Vincent appeared closest to the imperial throne. Thus, it would have made sense for Bartroi to approach him with his offer of cooperation. "Except that I highly doubt I can expect any familial sympathy from Vincent."
gpt
Lamia:  "And it’s so much harder, isn’t it? Negotiating with someone who can get what he wants without your help."
human
Bartroi:  "You truly are insightful, Lamia."
gpt
Lamia:  "Hee-hee. Don’t worry, I’m not angry. After all, this just means that when you couldn’t go to Vincent, the next person you thought of was me. That’s not such a bad feeling."
human
Bartroi:  Bartroi smiled slightly at the way Lamia’s pride and self-regard slipped through in her remark. And she was absolutely right, of course. After Vincent, Lamia seemed most likely to emerge victorious. That wasn’t to say that the other ten candidates weren’t all perfectly qualified, but in Bartroi’s opinion, it was Lamia who had the best chance of besting Vincent. Her, and another of my little sisters—but she’s no more sympathetic than Vincent is. "She may be young, but she has everything she needs to be ruler of Volakia…" If the Rite had begun perhaps five years later, that young woman might very well have been a prime contender in the imperial succession. But it was simply not to be. And so Bartroi had approached Lamia with his proposition.
gpt
Lamia:  "All right, my dear brother, let’s talk about what comes next."
human
Bartroi:  "Mm, yes, pardon me. I was lost in thought. What comes next. Yes, that’s important." Bartroi would have to communicate to the other nine refusers what they were going to do after this. At the moment, none of them had any idea whom he was working with.