The silver knight, Princess Augustina, spat on the ground, “Don’t ever call me that.”

“What do you mean? Am I speaking to someone else?” Sebastian replied with hurt in his voice.

Augustina struggled against Kate’s grasp, causing the dagger to dig into her neck. Furious tears surfaced in her eyes as her efforts came to a stop. She fell to her knees and Kate followed her down, still holding her captive with the dagger.

“Easy, sis,” Kate said emotionlessly, “I might accidentally kill you.”

“Do it then!” Augustina cried, “It’s better than being in his disgusting castle.”

Stephen shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He had considered that there’d be some family drama, this being a monarchy and all, and since the Princess ran off. However, he was beginning to think there was more going on than a simple family spat.

Sebastian looked apathetic as he reached down and grabbed the princess’s chin and lifted her face to match his gaze. He looked her over, searching for something in her expression before he dropped her head.

“I’m disappointed,” Sebastian turned around to Stephen, “I was wrong, this is not the princess who’s been lost.”

Without looking back, Sebastian left the study, “Dispose of the intruder, Kate.”

Stephen’s eyes widened and he turned to Kate, “He doesn’t mean kill her, does he?”

Kate shrugged, “Probably.”

“But you’re not going to actually do it, right?” Stephen’s hand shook. He wasn’t sure what answer to expect, not anymore.

“Probably not,” Kate finally said as she pulled Augustina to her feet, “You can’t stay here, sister. You must leave now.”

“Sister?” Stephen called out, his voice bounded across the study so much he felt embarrassed. Like he’d just exposed a long-standing secret and a hundred of the hollow knights would break down the door.

“By blood alone,” Augustina quietly spoke, her voice full of mourning, “I may be the eldest, but my dearest Kate is the better sister.”

“The king would never see it that way,” Kate said venomously.

Augustina turned towards Kate, brushing aside the dagger, “Come away with me! You’re stronger than I am, together he’d never reach us.”

Kate backed away, “I will not run.”

Augustina’s shoulders slumped, the energy in her body faded as she swayed. Stephen thought she’d fall any second. The room was filled with silence as Kate wiped her dagger clean with her apron. Stephen noticed the wound on Augustina’s neck had closed, the blood dried on her skin.

The doors to the study swung open and a stream of hollow nights swarmed into the room. King Elbrick was among them, covered in a majestic suit of golden armor and draped within a thick silky red cloak. He strode up to Augustina and turned her around to face him with one hand, then slapped her across her face with his other hand – gauntlet and all.

“You have worried me, daughter! And here you return, demanding my head? I am ashamed! I have reared two daughters from that witch and both have come out as curses!”

The king swept his cloak and left. The hollow knights practically dragged Augustina behind the king and disappeared out of the study. A snap resonated through the room and the broken window slowly started to piece itself together.

Stephen stood still for a moment. He was shaking, everything felt wrong. What was he supposed to do now? As he fumbled to put his thoughts together, Kate walked towards the door.

“Are you going to let this happen?” Stephen called out, “He hit her!”

With bleary eyes, Kate turned to Stephen. The two locked eyes for a moment before Kate ran out. Her footsteps grew distant, then finally they disappeared. Stephen was alone.