Descending onto Prato alla Drava

The cold winds were barely anything to Lorenzo. As he fell through the clouds and below them, he looked around cautiously. He could spot his other men descending, some already parachuting to their designated landing zone. Lorenzo quickly turned behind him. The irritated roar of a wyvern rang through the air as it flew against the rain, with its Parpaldian master circling the town.

Lorenzo huffed. He started to direct himself further from the wyvern and closer to their rendezvous. Once he was low enough, he pulled the chord of the parachute as he was quickly pulled back before descending gracefully to the ground below.

Lorenzo then landed onto the grass with a little stumble as he collapsed the parachute quickly. There was a light wind picking up as he bundled up the parachute before he stuffed it into his pack. Lorenzo then disposed of it to the side as he started heading for the rendezvous. He stalked through the trees of the mountainside. The rain continued to patter down through the dark night as Lorenzo kept a steady aim of his Beretta ARX160. Eventually, he reached the lone house as he could already see a few of his men gathered around.

"Thunder," he said to his men as he did a head count. After determine who's missing, he asked, "Where are Barbagallo, Cossu and Albertini?"

"They're on the way, sir. ETA, one minute. They've grouped together and are headed here right now," Sciarra said.

Lorenzo nodded before he looked to his radio. He then pressed on it.

...

Corporal Giulia Esposito of the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment settled onto the wet grass of the mountainside. Alongside her four other comrades, they were hastily flown in before the Paratroopers to set up camp on the slopes overlooking Prato alla Drava.

Outside of training, she never thought she'd see an Italian village through her scope. And now, duty calls as she laid onto the grass and started overlooking the town. She could see the Parpaldians in coats, and rather conspicuous hats fit for Napoleonic soldiers.

Epsosito brushed aside the faux feather on her helmet. Just as she looked into the scope, she could hear her radio crackle to life as Lorenzo spoke into it, "Night Owl, come in, this is Stalker, do you copy?"

"Loud and clear, Stalker," Esposito replied. "What's your status?"

"... We have reached our agreed rendezvous and are now prepared to enter the village. How are things over there?"

"Stand by," Esposito then focused her scope onto Prato alla Drava. She could see the Parpaldians, most of them grouped inside to shelter from the rain. A couple stood as guards, some circling the town, some patrolling the streets, and a few guarding what looked to be the community centre.

"Multiple hostiles out on patrol, Stalker. Can estimate at least twenty. About ten circling the perimeter of the village, and another ten patrolling the streets, and a few standing about. Armed with muskets and sabres."

"Roger that, Night Wolf. Anything else to look out for?"

"There appears to be hostiles sheltering in various buildings in the village. Most of them appear to be in the tavern of the local hotel, however. Be advised."

"Copy, Night Wolf. Keep us safe, yeah? Hold your fire until we reach the village. Over and out."

"Roger, Stalker. Night Wolf out," Esposito then adjusted her hold onto the sniper rifle.

...

Lorenzo then looked to his men and after a quick head count, he then signals for them to follow. The rain was picking up, and while it was good cover, Lorenzo knew he and his team needed to be careful.

With that, the team started to stalk along the River Drava. Using the greenery along its banks, Lorenzo lead his group closer towards Prato alla Drava. He then signals for the group to stop. Ahead were two Parpaldian sentries guarding the small bridge leading into the village. He kept himself and the team close to the bushes of the banks, using the rain to their advantage.

Lorenzo looked across the river. Close by was the town's logging warehouse. There were two more guards sheltering under the side of the building. They could retrace their steps and cross onto the nearby field, but it was too open. Lorenzo eyed the two soldiers. Easy to take out, but the close range of their weapons could make too much noise even with their silencers. He then speaks into the radio, "Night Wolf, two hostiles across the creek. Would you mind...?"

"Not at all, Stalker." Esposito said through the radio. Lorenzo watched closely towards the two Parpaldians. Distant shots disguised as thunder go through the air, muffled by the rain. Blood splatters against the old wall of the warehouse, two clean headshots. Lorenzo signals once more as the two guards drop dead. They go down the bank of the river and wade through the cold water before they start climbing back up.

"Sciarra, Cossu; get these bodies out of sight," Lorenzo ordered. He kept himself stuck to the wall as he gazed towards the two other Parpaldians guarding the bridge. They don't seem to be a threat for now.

Lorenzo looked back and after his men returned and there were no signs of the corpses, he nodded. He signals for them to follow. As they traverse through the logging warehouse's grounds, Lorenzo spotted a nearby building. 'Sportverein Winnebach', the sign read. Was this the community centre? He signals his men to stop before he stalked along the wall. There were no guards, the lights were off. Likely not.

As Lorenzo and his team continue through the village, they could hear the sounds of chatter and laughter get louder. Once more they stop, this time behind the raised foundations of a nearby house. Lorenzo eyed the main village inn. Downstairs was a restaurant, the lights were on; he could see the Parpaldians laughing and celebrating about. Bastards. He looks back to his team, "Let's cut through these alleyways. Stay alert."

The special forces continue through the village as they cut through the side gardens of the local apartments. But Lorenzo stops as so did the team when they heard voices, this time of nervousness.

"This damn rain is killing me. I'm already on my nerves as is," one soldier said.

Lorenzo took a peek as close as he could. Three Parpaldian soldiers were warming themselves by the fireplace of the home, "You're still not over your fear of thunder, Holin? You're a grown man, literally."

"It's not the thunder, you twat. It's this invasion of the village. I feel like something bad is gonna happen," Holin said.

"Relax. These Italians value peasants too much. They won't do anything that could quickly send us a mana message to command."

"Because then we'd bayonet their people, I know... I just can't help this shaking feeling..."

Lorenzo resisted the urge to shoot the three and instead signaled his team to continue on. Ducking below the windows, they made their way deeper into the village.

They turned a corner only to stop as Lorenzo stared back at a Parpaldian soldier taking a break with a cigar. The Parpaldian couldn't even get a shout in as Lorenzo quickly grabbed him. With his hand covering his mouth, Lorenzo snapped the soldier's neck, "Shit..." he swore silently. He looked around, his soldiers doing the same. Nobody caught him.

"Sir, in here," one of his men said. They open a nearby garden shed as Lorenzo dragged the dead Parpaldian into it. With the door closed and the body secured, Lorenzo signaled forward.

A few sentries walked about, but with the rain damping them down, it seemed that most of the Parpaldians were inside away from the rain. The team continued on before they hid themselves among some nearby bushes. Lorenzo eyed the nearby building. It was the school, and there were numerous Parpaldians guarding it.

The community centre was the small gymnasium of the school. Sickening, Lorenzo thought. He then observed the guards. Three out front, with two guarding the door. More around the perimeter, and definitely more inside.

Lorenzo then whispered, "Alright, we've located the hostage site. Here's what to do..."

...

Johanna sat in the gymnasium, her tears still falling yet her voice weak, and quiet. The sight of her husband's blood on the floor caused her to get caught by the Parpaldians and with a fresh bruise on her face, all the old woman could do was sit in despair.

She looked around. The wretched soldiers all stood in strict silence, their piercing gaze eying the women and children of Winnebach. They were tasked to sit facing the wall, their muskets still ready to fire at them at the first order. Johanna quickly turned her gaze away before a soldier caught hers.

Their way of life, their families, their loved ones, were now scarred by the sins of these Parpaldians. The night silence filled them with fear and dread, not knowing if they'd meet their end.

It was ironic that it would be noise that was gonna be their saving grace.

The gym doors suddenly opened.

"Get down!!"

Everyone looked to the doors only for bright flashes and bangs to occur. Johanna and the others screamed, the Parpaldians too, except in pain.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Johanna watched as soldiers suddenly barged in and with quick aims, shot their Parpaldian guards dead. It took her a few moments to realise what has happened.

"We're clear, sir!" A woman's voice said. She quickly turned to the hostages. Her intimidating appearance was overshadowed by gentleness as she approached them, "Italian special forces. You're safe, now."

Gasps and murmurs of joys were about to rise only for the soldier to gently hush them. Yet Johanna couldn't resist the urge to pant quickly, realising that she was to live another day, and that she was to live her days as a widow.

"Sir, we've reached and rescued the hostages, what are your orders?" Lorenzo spoke into the radio.

"... Good work, Lorenzo. From what we know, it is too risky to extract the hostages on your own. As of now the situation in the embassy is too dangerous. Stand by, and protect those people," a voice said.

"Roger that," Lorenzo said. He looked around, his men quickly dragging the dead Parpaldians out of sight for the sake of the hostages, and watched through the door way as his other men were bringing in the dead soldiers from outside.

Lorenzo looked to the hostages. Women and children filled with fear... women and children...

"Hold on, excuse me? Where are the others?" Lorenzo said, alarmed.

One of the women spoke up, shakily and desperate, "Please please, you have to save my father! He's- Please!"

Lorenzo quickly hushed her, gently approaching the woman as he held her to help her sit back down, "Please ma'am, keep calm and quiet down. Where is your father?"

Too shaken to speak, another younger woman instead talked to Lorenzo, "They rounded up all on the men at the church on the hill, sir. Please, you have to get them!"

"... Crap," Lorenzo said. He then spoke into the radio, "HQ?"

"Yes Lorenzo, go on."

"We've gotten new intel. Turns out not all of the village was held here in the community centre. The men were rounded up at the church, possibly to discourage an uprising. Orders?" Lorenzo said, tense that their mission had become more complicated.

"But... Okay. Lorenzo, you can't leave those hostages but you can't just stay there either to let the men get slaughtered. I need you to get them in the safest place possible within the school, and leave a few of your men behind as protection. You need to secure the church and the hostages there," HQ commanded.

"Roger, sir. Will update once we secure the church," Lorenzo said before he sighed, disgruntled. He could really go for some whiskey right now.

Old Traitor's Dungeons

Damp, cold water seeped through the cracks of the dungeon cell Remille was in. The usually relaxing muffled sounds of rain did nothing to comfort the jailed damsel. She leaned against the wall, her face stained with wet mascara as all she could do was stare at the floor.

As she sat there, Remille could not help but think of everything that has happened. Throughout her life, she was always encouraged by Candor to forget her old, 'barbaric' life in Aruni. To forget the old village she was in.

But sometimes, Remille could not forget the faces of her mother and father, the scenery of the old town square, and the smell of Parpaldian gunpowder when her hometown was invaded... And her purpose. The only reason she was taken in by Candor, to be possibly married off for a future alliance thanks to her and Ludius looking like siblings thus looking like a legitimate daughter of the late first emperor.

Ludius. She was there in his most vulnerable moments. They grew together like brother and sister, and it's no surprise that she is afraid. She is very afraid on what was happening. She hasn't heard any news so far of the coup. That damned Arde had Ludius under his thumb and there was nothing she could do.

Remille looked up to the bars of the cell. In front was a Parpaldian soldier guarding her. Usually it would be an Imperial Guard but from what she could only assume, they too were dismissed by Arde due to possible loyalty conflicts. Who knows at this point.

Remille then sat up as she could hear footsteps descend down the old stone staircase. The soldier looked up before cautiously walking off to see who it was, "Who's there?"

The steps stopped before a soft, womanly voice spoke, "Good evening sir, I was asked by Ludius to provide miss Remille a pillow and blankets."

Remille couldn't see them, but she could hear what was happening, "This place is prohibited from any visitors except Arde. Now begone."

The voice sighed, "Dear sir, it is very cold out from the rain and it is the same down here. If miss Remille can't at least have a blanket she will fall ill."

"I said—"

"You've said your last words!" The voice said in frustration as the sounds of gurgling and choking could be heard. Remille went wide eyed and immediately ran to the bars to see what was happening.

"Jana!?" She said in shock. In front, Jana had managed to stab what looked to be a kitchen knife into the soldier's neck who promptly fell down. She looked up to Remille before sighing in relief.

"Miss Remille! Thank goodness you're not hurt," Jana said. In a rush, she crouched and took off the keys from the soldier before she ran up to the cell door. Jana rushed to Remille and, after going through two of the keys, managed to get the cell door open.

Remille looked to the middle aged maid, and just like that, all semblance of security hit her like a truck as she quickly hugged Jana shakily. Remille started sobbing as she spoke with a whimper, "J-Jana I- Ludius-"

"Yes Miss Remille, I know... when I heard of the coup I knew there would be trouble so I hid..." Jana explained, running her hands through the poor girl's hair. "Do not fear, miss. I'm here now."

Remille shuddered, trying to stop her crying as she nodded. As much as she wanted to just hold onto Jana, as seemingly embarrassing as it was, she knew they weren't safe yet. She quickly wiped her tears as she looked up to Jana, "J-Jana what do we do? I- Arde has Ludius and the army in his control! If they keep this up, Italy will..."

"I'm sure Italy will not do anything to harm Ludius, miss. They know this is a coup and his hand was forced to cooperate. But right now we must leave... Initially I hoped that Arde will let you go if he were to be successful but even so there are talks of you meeting your end to ensure Ludius would truly be controlled by him," Jana said gravely.

"Y-you mean... Arde wants to execute me?" She said in shock.

Jana nodded, "For being a 'bad influence' as he'd always say. So right now miss, we need to go," she said. Jana helped Remille stand up. She undid parts of Remille's dress, especially her heavy puffy skirt. She then went to the fallen blankets that she brought.

Jana then pulled out a pair of modern exercise pants, a hoodie, and some sneakers courtesy of Italy of course. Jana then returned to Remille as she showed her the clothes, "Please wear this. The more mobile and quiet we are, the better."

Remille nodded. As she changed out of her fancy dress to her new clothes, she watched as Jana took off the musket from the soldier along with his bag of blackpowder and musket balls. The princess looked on with hesitation, "Do you know how to use that?" She asked as she then puts up her hoodie.

Jana cocked the musket, aiming down at it to get herself familiarised once more to it before she looked to Remille with a nod, "Of course miss Remille. I would not be a maid for the House of Palpine if I don't know how to protect you." She said. She then extended her hand to Remille.

Feeling safe and protected, Remille could only mutter a thank you as she grabbed Jana's hand. With that she then started to head back upstairs with her loyal maid.

The imperial palace was quiet. Yet lights of lanterns and magic floating lights crept through the halls as soldiers patrolled the area to make sure that nothing was amiss. As Remille and Jana left the dungeon, they were in the prisoner's processing area, a simple office. To the side was another guard, laying unconscious on the floor. Ignoring this, Jana knew what to do. They simply need to go down the hall to the stables where there was a garage made for their cars.

Jana looked to Remille. With a reassuring nod, she stuck her ear against the oak door of the office. Nothing so far. Jana opened the door quietly as she peeked her head out. The small east courtyard seemed like a hundred miles wide from their tense situation. Using the rain to her advantage, Jana held Remille's hand and began to guide her out back into the main palace.

Ignoring the rain, the two women reached the doors back into the palace as Jana entered inside first. Nobody so far. Jana kept the bayonet at the ready. Firing it was a last resort. She snuck through the hall, guiding Remille to make sure nobody was—

A light suddenly started to approach. Jana covered Remille's mouth to prevent her sharp gasp before quickly directing her into the adjacent room. Remille quickly yet quietly opened the double doors into the Records Room of the palace. Jana followed suit, shutting it behind them.

Jana looked to Remille before she looked back to the doors. She pressed her ear against the wood. What was assumed to be one guard turned out to be a few as their muffled voices could be heard, "..... far they've only been paid half. The Supreme Commander hasn't paid your regiment yet?"

"Not yet, at least. We're just on the sidelines but he did promise us ample pay for us. It's the bastards by the border with Italy who are lucky. Being paid to do practically nothing."

"Do you really think the Supreme Commander will go through with the invasion?"

"Are you kidding me? The old man is completely out of his mind. It would have been better if we went all in from the start."

Jana narrowed her eyes as the voices started to pass by and quiet down, "Yeah well what's done is done. I wouldn't want to pick a fight with......"

Hearing that they've passed by, Jana peeked through the keyhole. Nothing. She then opened the doors back into the hallway as she signalled for Remille to follow.

The two started traversing the hallway quickly. But as they turned the corner, they were met with an open set of double doors along with the glows of a crackling fire. Jana snuck forward, peeking ever so slightly to see what looked to be some army generals, and their words confirmed it, "I have to say, His Majesty has completely deflated. I didn't think Arde's efforts would be so... easy."

"The Emperor is a young man. He's younger than even my son, of course he would give in to Arde," as the conversation continued, Jana could see that the three men were preoccupied with their conversation and none faced directly towards the door. Seeing an opportunity, she waves Remille to quietly rush past.

"Arde has a delicate situation here. If news spreads of the coup then those barbarian regions in the north might try to rise up to take the opportunity."

"Relax, Arde's mana broadcast was isolated to our bases here in the capital and by the border with Italy. Besides, he hasn't technically overthrown Ludius."

Remille scoured at this. But for now she sets aside her bitter feelings as she followed Jana down the hall. Eventually they reached another set of double doors, this time full glass. Beyond was the sight of the Imperial Stables, and the garage beside it. Jana opened the glass doors as she guided Remille down the colonnade leading to the stables.

But just as they were about to reach the stables, a guard suddenly turned onto the corner. The two looked in shock, but Jana reacted faster. With no hesitation, she punctured the guard's heart with the bayonet. The guard tried to yell despite the pain, yet Jana covered his mouth, shoving him against the wall before she dug the bayonet deeper and out the other side of the guard. Weakly, he slid down the wall as Jana pulled the bayonet out.

Remille covered her hand at the sight. She was no stranger to violence, lest she forgets her hometown, but to see a bayonet be actually used for its purpose. She realised just how sheltered she was. Jana brought her back to reality as she rushed them both towards the garage. She quickly opened the side door as she slipped inside with Remille.

"We will definitely be discovered due to that guard. I intended to arrange a horse for a quiet escape but that won't matter now," Jana said in frustration. She then looked down the rows of cars within the garage.

Like many aristocrats, Ludius and Remille personally ordered a few private cars for themselves despite the fact that they don't use them often. She looked to their choices. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Pagani...

None of these looked practical but it seemed Jana made her choice. She grabbed a car key from Ludius's side of the rack. As Jana pressed the button, a black Maserati Levante blinked its lights, "This should do."

Just as Remille was about to speak, the sounds of shouting could be heard outside. They found the body, "L-let's go!"

Jana quickly ran towards the car. As Remille quickly hopped inside, Jana grunted as she pushed open the heavy barn doors that sheltered the cars. Just as she was about to hop inside, the side door of the garage was suddenly opened by a soldier, "You-!!"

Jana didn't hesitate. With a quick aim of the musket, she shot towards the soldier, who fell in pain from the heavy iron in his chest. Jana rushed to the driver's seat with the keys. With a press of the button, the SUV rumbled to life.

Remille looked back towards the mirror as more soldiers suddenly came inside. And with haste, Jana stepped on the gas as she drove out of the garage with Remille. As she watched the lights of the palace fade into the dark rain, all Remille could do was pray for Ludius's safety.