Flowers of our garden… I remember the smell of it, how fragrant it was, how sweet, how thorny too, yet… pleasant to see. I remember how varied it was, how wonderful and colorful it made the inner garden into.

I always played there, either it was duel against my friends and knights with swords or just laying there, alone on the grass, listening to the honeyed tones of the bards mother invited to the court.

That place also, is where I could always meet my elder sisters. Three of them are always busy, never have the time for leisure, only duties as someone’s wife, mother, and the realm’s first servants.

But weirdly, they somehow always find the time to escape everything, ignore and just wind down, forgetting everything and be themselves in this garden.

And I always saw that part of them, most of the time from a far, but sometimes… occasionally, I can be there with them enjoy the moment, savouring it and cherishing every moment.

I remembered just laying down and exchanging a flurry of poetries with elder sister Margrét, competing on who has the best rhymes.

I remembered creating all sorts of nonsensical magic with elder sister Hilda, like bubbles that emit farts when they are popped, miniature automatons made out of the plant lives of the garden.

I also remembered the bruises I exchange with elder sister Sif, from the blunt sides of the wooden swords we use to manifest our prowess and strength.

And I also remembered… remembered gathering many flowers from the garden, many roses, lilies, dandelions, orchids, and more that I cobbled into one huge flower bouquet for them three. Showing my support, my servitude, my dutifulness as the youngest to the seniors of the family, and my love.

I admire their dedication to the Kingdom father built, I strive to be as diligent and dutiful like them, I love them… I love my sisters from the bottom of my heart.

I will always serve them to the end, whether it’s to further the realm, the crown, or just the family.

But… haha… gods… how foolish.

Such a fool I was and still is, to believe that my love and dedication would prevail against the poisonous words of the servants of this damn kingdom…

* * *

As the sun is turning orange, heading more and more west, I knew the time has come.

One of my guards has informed me the carriage I waited has arrived, inside of course are valuable prisoners to end this war I started, three people that defy me, that overlook me, that answer my love with a knife.

I was eager, excited even to see their faces, to see the shame and uncertainty of what I will do to them.

But I kept my composure, it’s unbefitting for a king to be this sadistic, to be this eager for vengeance. So, with a calm face I ordered the guard that informed me of their arrival, to escort them to my office, unchained of course, but monitored until I came to them.

When my order was finally exacted, I knew right away it was just a matter of time for me to enter my office, to see them eye to eye. But I played them for a little while, wasting their time, building up dread and uncertainty, by waiting not far from my office’s door.

And when it was enough, I finally came in, to see them… not as I hoped.

They were stoic, no dread in their eyes, no anxiety, just… composed eyes that I admired and… I hate.

I feel defeated, I feel… slighted, as I saw now… it was my time that was wasted.

But I don’t want to show my lividness, my crudeness to them.

I do not want to give them the satisfaction that I, Clovis Eirikrsson Krone, first of my name, King of Albion, Tuath, Vin, and the Ousins and the Estalions, Guardian of the Saileach Síoraí, Overlord of the Justans, and King Eirikr’s true and only heir.

Is… provoked by them.

“Try as you may with that poker face brother, but we know the childish nature that still resides inside you, as we already saw the ploy you tried and failed miserably to use against us.” Sister… Sif, said mockingly to me.

“What do you even want with us now, Clovis? What do you seek to complete by gathering us here?” Sister… Hilda, asked impatiently.

“You won the war, my crown, my throne, father’s approval, and my husband’s head as well as my son’s mind. What else do you want?” And Sister… Margrét, asked of me on thing that she should very well know what I wanted from her, from all three of them.

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“…” I stayed silent for a moment, as hearing their high and mighty nature, their… arrogance, egotistical, and patronizing self, sickened me, angering me… and I know it’s what they are after, my emotions, my uncontrolled emotions.

So, I kept calm, as I already made a fool of myself before, and went into a state of mind where I could beat them.

“Do you remember this office?”

“It was father’s and now it’s yours, be quick on what you are on about Clovis.” Sister… Hilda has no interest in what I was about to say.

“Then you should remember that fire mark Elder Sister Hilda.” I pointed at the wall that’s near the window behind them.

“…” And she… stayed silent.

“I remember it like yesterday, we were learning elemental magic with Geoffrey and suddenly a rat landed on your lap, haha…” I… genuinely laughed at that memory… “And you scream like the little girl you were and burned that rat to a crisp like none other little girls.”

“…” Still… silence was her only response.

“I have a lot of memories here, most of them are great in fact! Like the one I just told you three about! But my favourite will always be that knife marks Elder Sister Sif made there on the door.”

“When did I ever do that brother?” She… wow… maturity has indeed blocked her memories of the old, boyish, and rascal her of the past.

“You seriously don’t remember? Throwing knives at the caricatures of Lords and Sirs you hate that are placed on that very door, where even you almost cut father’s eyes!”

“…” Silence… again, just like sister Hilda.

“I mean… hel… the damages you two have done, we have done! To his office, is just absurd! Haha… good times.”

“We?” And Sister Margrét… well… she is the perfect daughter after all.

“Ahh… you. You, you… Eldest Sister, never the insolent one, never the rebellious one, never the immature one, only the perfect one among the four cubs.” It hurts my mouth that I have to say she is perfect. “But honestly, your just older than us, had more time spent with father, and the only one groomed to rule. Take one of them out, you’re just like-”

“The rest of you? I am not, but… am I not?” She acknowledged it, but… she doesn’t too.

“Are seriously playing the among us card? You know better than that Eldest Sister! You are beyond this! You are the firstborn of King Eirikr the Lawgiver! Firstborn to inherit his and our mysterious grandfather’s legacy! You are not us.”

“But I am. I’m not a god nor a fool drunk with hubris, I’m a human just like the rest of you!”

“THEN WHY THE HEL DO YOU DENY ME!” I scream, I… I couldn’t take it anymore.

The room after my scream went bleak, uncomfortable, dark… What she says, claiming to be a mortal, to be like us on the rough ground, sickens me because… because! She never once accepted me as her own! As blood! As kin! As a family!!!

I tried everything, I tried so many times to prove my love, my devotion, my servitude as the young one to the old one. BUT SHE NEVER ONCE LOOK AT IT, my struggle… my… love for her…

“You know why…” And she… she… SHE!!!

I dashed to her, grabbing her neck with my arm in one swift and was about to choke her, was about to finish her, sent her to father… but… I can’t… I love her… she is my Eldest Sister… I…

I let go and stepped back as Sister Sif and Sister Hilda went to her.

“I have only shown you, three of you! My love! My service! My duty as the young one to uphold the will that father has made towards all of you!” I said to them. “I respect the ink that has dried before I was born, I accept that I would not be king, I look forward even to it! Being a knight of the courts and of the battlefield! Serving you, Eldest Sister! As your shining knight and hand to the Queen that you should’ve been…”

“Then why do you take my throne? My crown? MY BIRTHRIGHT?!!”

“BECAUSE I HATE YOU!” I said it… I finally said it… “You tried to murder me! sending assassins after assassins, poisoned my foods and drinks, introducing me to men and women that can’t be trusted! You, ALL OF YOU! Deny me day after day, seeing me as something that I’ve never once been.”

“You say that, but we are in your mercy now, brother.” Sister Sif… spoke truly.

“Why do you think that is? What other choice do I have?! I want to live, I want to breath, not… live in constant terror and paranoia.”

“So then why do you want from us Clovis? An apology?! Us three grovel for your mercy and forgiveness!?”

“Yes, NO! I mean… GODS!! I just, just…” I kept silent for a moment, I knew what I wanted, but… I feel shame for asking this. “I only wanted the three of your love! I only wanted to be seen as your little brother! The cute baby that came from your mother’s womb! Why can’t all you have pride in me! love me! because I’m threat? A boy?”

““YES!!”” They… Gods… finally spoke up…

“You are a threat to us! People will choose you over Sister Margrét! Over me and Sif too!” Sister Hilda stated.

“You are a nice young boy, brother! But you will always be a threat to the stability we three had!” Sister Sif stated.

“And you… will always be headache, my enemy, my rival, your very existence is a threat to what I have been promised.” Sister Margrét… stated.

“…” I stayed silent… I was heartbroken really, it hurts… so, so much… to be seen as a plight by your family, just because you are born… “I, am, your, brother! Your blood, the one and only who knows and love the three of you dearly! But you all… hahahaha!!” It’s comedic thinking about it again. “Concern yourself more with what people below you think, than… the brother that has shown nothing, but love?”

“Love is a fickle thing.” Sister Margrét said.

“AND WHY DO THINK THAT IS?!” I’m tired… “Why do you think I began to hate you?! Why do you think I began to plot your downfall?! WHY DO YOU THINK I DO ALL OF THIS?! Is it because I suddenly grew villainy in my heart? NO! you made me into this… this…” I… I’m really tired of all of this. “Monster…”

Monster… I became... something that they or I even imagine to be…

I was tired at that point, I’m exhausted from showing my love and devotion as the younger brother for all of my life to them, I just want this to be over.

“Where are you going?” Sister Margrét saw me leaving slowly.

“I’m done my sisters, I’m tired of trying to prove my love, my support, my everything to all of you! I… I’m tired of your pride, of your… arrogant mind that thinks I’m your arch-enemy.”

“Tired? Funny… as much as I hate you, I always thought at this moment you would finish the job, where at least gaining my respect by killing me yourself! But no… you are still that feeble boy.” As I heard what she said… I stopped.

“Take that back.” I said angrily to her.

“Take away, that you are a feeble boy? The babe that still needs protection from us all against the world? The spineless and pathetic of an excuse that can’t finish his job!”

“I said. Take, that, back.”

“Or what? You won’t get anything from me, Sif and Hilda! And you know what! You are not wrong! I’m indeed more than you! beyond you! As you’re just a sad feeble prince that seeks love like a dog.”

“…” I hate her so much, but… I love her too… I want her to love me as the little brother I am to her… but yet…

I went to the door, stopping right in front of it, I raised my arms to the lock and locked the door tight.

I am finish with them, I am done with Margrét, Hilda, and Sif.

There’s nothing more to seek from them, I’ve gotten everything that confirms my hate.

And Their pride and arrogances will cost them.

As well as their fear and paranoia of me, will manifest in this very room now.

They took away my innocence and love, so I’ll forcefully take the one thing they can’t live without as a woman.

Where they will finally see… the monster that they created in me.