SIDE STORY: SISTERS

*** Princess Lyrei Elagwyn (Elora's Eldest sister) ***

"Why the FUCK am I out here fighting while Elora gets to hide in the castle?" I ask.

"Dear, you know why," Lusha says. "Most of her family is pregnant now."

"Think I care? I'm just yelling at the clouds right now. I worked so damn hard for the throne, and because of a mistake, I'm getting denied. A mistake! Elora just needed to listen to Mother, the QUEEN, and Alzi would've been safe. My mistake didn't cause that. It was hardly even a mistake! It was a small group I couldn't find while I was pressing forward, as I was supposed to, while Elora just held onto the one woman who had any chance of ruining our plans. Now, defending the husband she couldn't hold on to, I have to keep fighting. For what?"

"You made it longer than I did," Adesala (Elora's half sister and also tried for the throne) says. "I hardly announced my running before dear Mother took my chance away."

"You fucked up," I say. "I didn't. At least, not to the level that Mother should forcefully sideline me from the throne. I worked hard for the Queendom. Respected in the last two wars and still fighting in this one. You tried to kill someone you shouldn't have. Of course, you got kicked out."

"Shut up," Adesala says. "We all thought about doing it. I was just unlucky. Elora's a stronger candidate than you're willing to admit. Or she was. The reports say she's a mess these days."

Moving from war to war has been more than annoying. Especial with Elora being all but gifted the throne. Made even worse when this is a losing war. I don't understand how Mother expects us to keep fighting like this. Every day, you can tell we have fewer women in the army. You can tell we have fewer women and land. A constant retreat as we leave bodies behind.

A hellscape. I don't even get to have all my wives around me at any point. Sure, it lets me complain without tiring them all out, but it would be nice to hug them all once in a while.

"And Mother is going to give that mess the throne just because she fucked up, and Alzi is a champion," I say. "She'd better get her shit together, or find someone that does. I'm not working for an idiot. Not after all the wars that group has caused. Woman of the commoners, my ass. She's done nothing but hurt them during her campaign."

The trumpets start up. The next wave of bullshit is on its way. More dead women, and more land lost.

"Good luck, everyone," I say. "Mother's plan better happen soon or we're all going to die."

"Could be worse," Adesala says.