Hearts and Swords

Ashes

Sofia lay in her bath with her eyes closed, exhausted from the events of the previous day.

She hadn't fallen asleep until midnight, and when she finally did, the scent of flowers filled her room-perhaps from the garden.

For once, her dreams were peaceful, a welcome change from the usual nightmares. She dreamt of her mother and her younger self, playing in the castle garden. How she longed to return to those carefree days.

"Your Highness!" Rosalind's voice broke through her thoughts. Sofia opened her eyes and looked at her maid.

"I brought your clothes from the seamstress. His Majesty requests your presence at the palace gate. The honorable guests are about to arrive," Rosalind said, bowing her head.

Sofia studied her. Half of Rosalind's face was scarred from burns, but the other half revealed a beauty that once was-large eyes, a sharp nose, and arched eyebrows. Despite the disfigurement, traces of her former elegance remained.

"Raise your head, Rose," Sofia said gently.

"Did you have breakfast?"

Rosalind smiled, her teeth white and perfect. "I did, Your Highness. Thank you for asking."

Sofia smiled back, but her expression darkened as she asked, "Any news from the medic? Is he awake yet?"
Rosalind's eyes softened.

"The medic told me last night that he's out of danger. He survived, but he lost a lot of blood. It'll take time for him to recover fully. The arrow hit just above his heart, but he'll be alright. He's been moved to the royal guest chamber. Shall I check on him for you?"

"No... that's alright, Rose. Thank you." Sofia's voice soft. "Don't forget your medicine, and leave the dress on my bed."

Rosalind bowed and left the room.

Sofia leaned back, her mind drifting to Rosalind once more.

Two years ago, when war broke out, Sofia and her sister Natalia joined the fight. Natalia and General Kim led the main forces, but Sofia requested her own troops. The king reluctantly agreed. She insisted on taking four medics with her and led her troops east, where she knew the commoners were most vulnerable.

Sofia's goal wasn't glory. She didn't care about the grand battles at the front lines; Natalia and General Kim could handle that. Her mission was to protect the commoners, those who couldn't defend themselves. She fought bravely and defeated the enemy in the east, but when she reached a village near the border, it was already too late. The smell of burned bodies and charred homes filled the air, making her stomach churn.Desperate, she ordered her troops to search every house.

"If there's anyone left, we must save them," she said.

She searched alongside them, entering every ruined home. Each was filled with death. Burned corpses, some unrecognizable, lay where they had fallen.

In one home, she found the burned bodies of a mother and child, locked in an eternal embrace. The sight was too much. Sofia turned and vomited.

The village seemed lost. No one had survived. As she prepared to leave, something caught her eye in the last house. A figure under a bed-a woman, still breathing, though barely.

"Medic! Over here!" she shouted, rushing to the woman's side.

The medics acted quickly, stabilizing the survivor and rushing her to camp. That woman was Rosalind.

She survived, though she lost her family in the fire. Afterward, she had no choice but to become a palace maid. When Sofia found her working at the castle, she insisted on making her a personal maid. For two years now, Rosalind had served her, and Sofia had cared for her like a sister.

But deep down, Sofia couldn't shake the guilt. She blamed herself for the deaths of Rosalind's family, though Rosalind had assured her countless times that it wasn't her fault. Sofia had saved her life. Yet the weight of responsibility still haunted her.

The crown had always been a burden to Sofia, but after the war, the power it represented terrified her even more.