text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, humor, grimdark, war]
  
  "I'm aware that you have more experience than me when it comes to this sort of thing, but I do have a suggestion."
  
  Sophia began, taking a cup of coffee offered to her by Juliette, taking a sip, before taking a seat with all of the grace she could muster as a princess. Whether or not some considered her royalty or not, that wouldn't be in doubt no more once the events of today will transpire. Her eyes were seeing victory, despite any of the odds that could not yet be seen by her.
  
  "Go on," Paul leaned back in the chair he was occupying.
  
  "My sisters, like me, are what I would not refer to as morning maidens. I'm sure that even now, they're throwing their vulgar parties, thinking that my capture will be easy. I doubt that they think that I could possibly come to them instead."
  
  "And where are you going with this?" Paul questions along.
  
  Sophia smiles, thinking that she's possibly come up with the greatest idea. "We'll attack them now."
  
  "Umm, now?" Juliette tilts her head.
  
  "Yes, now."
  
  "Now, as in right this moment now?"
  
  "Ummm, yes...?"
  
  Paul sighs, slumps his shoulders, realizes he stood up upon hearing his current employer's plan, before allowing himself to fall carelessly back down in his seat, once again taking another swig from his flask.
  
  Sophia immediately frowned at this sight, placing both of her hands on her hips as she regarded the older individual.
  
  "Is there something wrong with what I'm saying? If it is indeed so, please enlighten me to the specifics of any wrongs that you may see with this plan of mine."
  
  Paul rubbed at the stubble on his chin, having to make himself remember that he had to be respectful and polite in some manner.
  
  "Well, what makes this other group of swords different than our own? Hell, that might have more of an advantage because there is there lodgings that we're attacking. We might find ourselves staring down fireballs, or chased by many manner of creature. You see where I'm going with this, right?"
  
  Sophia for her part could only stare in a manner of disbelief.
  
  "So much reservations, do you have any other plan?"
  
  "Give me a night, and I can think of on--"
  
  "Sorry, may I but in?" Juliette spoke up, hand raised, and upon receiving nods of affirmation from both parties she spoke. "I think there might be merits in attacking now. But, I do implore that we move on the side of caution and try our best in not being detected until we're able to breach castle grounds."
  
  Paul swept a tongue across hus teeth, arms crossing.
  
  "So now we're also sneaking? I prefer more direct approaches, and so do many of my men as well."
  
  Sophia blinked, and then shrugged.
  
  "Then train them and yourself to practice restraint. It's simple, no? Learning a new thing."
  
  Paul was now the one looking at both of the women before him with a look of disbelief. For women that supposedly grew up in a palace, they were odd ones. But then again, there were many odd eccentric nobles that he had met in his lifetime.
  
  "Fine, damn it. I'll get my men ready for an early assault."
  
  With an early advantage given to Sophia's group, there's plenty of more dead men of her sister than hers. Still, she's in the thick of things, despite Juliette's insistence that she'd be anywhere else but the battlefield. If the other woman had it her way, she would be in another kingdom entirely, rather than witnessing all of the blood being spilled on her behalf.
  
  She wished for thus, and so, it was happening.
  
  If things didn't have to reach this point, Sophia would have been more than happy.
  
  Although their earlier advantage had led to them Paul's mercenaries being able to quite literally kill their enemies while they were unaware, or even before some had time to put on their armor, however with the enemy's assistance of magical items, the battle was becoming a more even affair.
  
  Magic swords that can create a mini blizzard, or a tornado of flames. All of this would be such a marvel and treat to the ideas if the results and the aftermath of the bodies that met these weapons weren't so... harrowing.
  
  "So this is what a battle is like," Sophia mused out-loud, to nobody in particular.
  
  There was nobody besides her at the moment.
  
  Apparently her sisters had employed a few mages despite their high price (information given to Sophia by Paul) so even if they were to manage a victory on this day, there probably wouldn't be much in terms of silver and gold for them to all benefit from.
  
  All it had taken was one giant boulder of rock being formed into existence by two hooded figure to break the main formation of Sophia, Juliette, and the mercenary captain, Paul. There was a slight shiver that of course ran down her spine, but it was a feeling that needed to be shaken off if she were to survive.
  
  There were footsteps now approaching, and as Sophia whirled her head around, she saw only two available paths for her to take.
  
  Once again, things were do or die for the young conquering princess.
  
  > hide among the dead bodies
  It's an absolute abhorrent thing that she was about to do, but with survival on the mind, Sophia Nevermore figured that she would get over it if she had to. Better an upset stomach, and a bad night of sleep or two from nightmares, than dying a painful and humiliating death. Yes, she would take the former any day over dying. There were still things that she had to do, things she still had to figure out, like why she was even fighting her two sisters to the death to begin with.
  
  This wasn't like any of their previous fights, with the hair being tugged, and a slap or two.
  
  Lives, theirs were in each other's hands. That was a fact as Sophia buried herself under the corpses of men, her hand feeling wet silver. There's a grimace that she really wants to make, and an uncomfortable sound or two, but she holds her breath.
  
  "Say hello to the reaper when you see 'im, fucker!"
  
  Paul remarked as he tore his broadsword through another dying man, not even sparing another glance at the falling corpse as another enemy had knocked against him with the full force of their weight, weapon, and will to continue to survive."
  
  Well unfortunately for him, his own will to live was just a little bit stronger.
  
  "Gods, bestow to me the elements of the world, and spark!"
  
  With his incantation done, with a snap of one of his fingers that was holding his sword, he shot forth a great burst of flames directly at the man who was facing him, melting his face. The smell of burning flesh was always something that made his nose crinkle just a bit, but he doesn't waste his time in driving his sword through the other man, covering his sword in even more blood of his enemies. It really was just business after all, so he had to be efficient.
  
  "Sir, look out, behind you!"
  
  It's the sound of, what was it again? Judyette's (incorrect) voice that brings him to toss a look at his blindside. True as the little attendant says, there's a mage looking to cast a spell at his direction. From the looks of it, it's another earth spell that tosses yet another unreasonably large rock at their direction.
  
  "Oi, oi, oi! Give me a damn break, will ya!?"
  
  There's not enough time for any fancy evasive maneuvers, so Paul braces himself for an attack that doesn't ever come, as an arrow sails through in the air, as if carried by the wind spirits themselves.
  
  "You're too damn bloodthirsty. What if I weren't here to save you, old man?"
  
  A green hooded figure asks, reaching for the hood that was fastened on their heads to show platinum hair and pointed ears. Green eyes also staring oppressively at the battlefield, and also their latest handiwork. It took one out of three favors that she could use for that arrow to fly true and pierce the eye of that would-be mage's.
  
  "Evie! It's just that I know I can count on your sharpshooting to pull my arse out of the jaws of death! Hahahaha!"
  
  Juliette looked utterly baffled that the man could still keep his sense of humor, even after such an event. As the attendant looked down at herself, she saw no wounds that required immediate care, but she certainly was feeling the strain and stress. But she had to be strong, despite her worry.
  
  "We still have to find her! We must!"
  
  Evie narrowed her eyes at the women's insistence, and was one step away from opening her mouth to say something snidely before she heard the boisterous voice of her captain fill the air.
  
  "Missy, I hate to break it you, but we're surrounded our own selves. We'll just have to have faith that our princess can survive on her own for a moment. I did send some of what's left of my men after her, so she shouldn't be alone too long."
  
  Juliette's worries aren't remedied in the slightest, but she nods her head anyway in order to be respectful. She did see the kindness in was doing, straying thoughts like hers would lead to her being killed, she knew that. However, how would she even be able to continue if something were to happen to her highness?
  
  She could only pray for her safety.
  
  Outside of the Palace Room
  
  The doors burst open, and two similar faced looking young women run out. Both their state of dress shows the story of both frenzied alarm, and being taken by surprise. Something that also lurks in their eyes is the ever unmistakable sign of... fear? Although Sophia was looking up at them currently, the position wouldn't be one that would last long.
  
  "That little! I have to say, I didn't expect that she would have all of this in her!" Cecilene spoke first out of the twins.
  
  "We just need to escape, that is all! Then we'll rebuild our forces and kill her."
  
  "I want her suffering to be a slow one."
  
  "Of cours-- Aghhhh!"
  
  Cecilene is quickly brought down to her knees, shaking in both shock and pain. A bloodied knife is sunk deep into the flesh of her leg, before it is an action that is repeated once more in quick succession.
  
  "S-Sister, h-help mmmgth!?"
  
  A hand is covered over her mouth, and a body covered in blood rises from the corpses. This of course only belongs to one individual, one fair princess of the Rose Kingdom. The one that brought into fruition this down, but she was only retailing, let's not let that fact slip. There's a look of trepidation and despise that is tossed this woman's way.
  
  "S-Sophia, what are you doing to our sister? D-Don't you think things have gone too far as it is. We've only wanted sent those men after you for your safety! I'm sure you've heard of the crazy state of affairs of our kingdom. It's making us mad!"
  
  For a moment, Sophia seriously considers her sister's words.
  
  But only for a moment, before she slits her own sister's throat. Her blood sails through the air, it flies, and it splatters across her face. The blood-covered princess can only bring a single digit of her fingers to wipe it away.
  
  Who would have thought that the first person she would kill will be her own sister? The thought makes her stomach want to churn, and she wants to spew out the morning's stale bread right on the floor. But standing across from her is an enemy. Although the same blood they shared, their ideologies were different.
  
  Sophia Nevermore drops Cecilene Nevermore's dead body on the ground.
  
  Aline squeals and quickly assumes a position of fealty. She doesn't even bother to show remorse or concern for her sister that was just murdered before her eyes. Sophia cannot find herself blaming his sister too much for that. Death was imminent and others would often think of themselves first.
  
  "Why did father have to die?"
  
  "I-I don't know, I swear it!"
  
  "Why did you attack me?"
  
  "I-I don't kno--"
  
  Sophia quickly storms over to her Aline's groveling body and places her heel ontop of the woman's head, which digs her face uncomfortably to the ground. The woman struggles to get proper air and even taps at Sophia's foot in an act of submission, to get some reprieve from the pressure she is giving out.
  
  "Answer again, but honestly, please, s-sister. I just want to know, so that I won't kill you."
  
  With the opportunity of being spared being presented, Aline corrects her posture, positions herself on the ground that is in a way more appealing to having her wish of survival granted.
  
  "The reason why both me and Cecilene treated you in such ways, it's... it was because you were father's favorite."
  
  Sophia couldn't believe what she was hearing out of the mouth of her sister. It all sounded ridiculous. Just how was she the favorite in any conceivable way?
  
  "I could seldom leave the palace, and yet I am the favorite? Can you not come up with a more unbelievable idea?"
  
  "B-But it is indeed so! Father wanted you protected, and locked away. Locked away from any of the responsibilities that came with running a kingdom such as ours." Bitterness starts steeping through Aline's voice. "You may not know it, but me and our sister, we would have to do certain things to keep father's investors and retainers happy. You're not so innocent that you don't know what those things were, yes?"
  
  That urge of spewing rear its head again, and Sophia has to fight to keep the bile down, but nevertheless, Aline continued.
  
  "When we saw how little of anything you knew about the outside, how you could be the way you were... we grew to be envious, but it wasn't you that we should have been envious of, but our father! This world, this kingdom, none of is worth the pain. But even so, I want to live, please! Spare me!"
  
  Sophia took a step backwards, the grip of her knife loosening as she teetered on the choice to make. There was a big part of her that didn't want to kill another sibling, but she also had to protect her own life.
  
  Just what was the right decision?
  
  > spare Aline
  Sophia Nevermore allows the knife to fall to her side. It's true that she doesn't want to have to kill yet another sister. The sickening feeling she had gotten from murdering Cecilene is still very much present. Maybe things were not yet too far gone for the pair of sisters, even as drenched in blood as they were at this point. So the instrument that she had used, clatters carelessly on the floor beneath her feet, behind her back, out of sight, and out of her mind for the time being.
  
  "I-I'm sorry," Sophia stammers out, the guilt weighing down on both her conscience and heart. It was as if both things were two separate entities, but both were equal in measure in causing her current moral dilemma.
  
  --x
  
  The princess is too benevolent in her victory, blind to the sight of grasping hands that search for the bloodied knife.
  
  In a world as cruel as this, one shouldn't be too gracious when there is no benefit to be seen.
  
  "You foolish cur!"
  
  It's the last thing that Sophia Nevermore hears as a knife is plunged into her back.
  
  It comes again, and, again...
  
  The information as to when her sister stops isn't known to her
  
  As her life ebbs out at the fifth plunge of the blade through the back, and plunging into her heart.
  
  Truly, one could say it is a foolish ending befitting the foolish princess of this story.
  
  But is it one that is agreeable to you, whom who partakes in said story?