Blancheless executed a swift reconnaissance of the chamber before approaching Princess Rebecca's cradle. Beth shut the door, becoming a sentinel beside it. "She slumbers most profoundly," Blancheless remarked in hushed tones, her countenance illuminated by a smile of exquisite tenderness. "Your understanding of the princess appears most comprehensive, facilitating such tranquil repose."

  "The credit is not mine alone. The princess rarely experiences such uninterrupted slumber."

  "How fares Mistress Hubbard?" she inquired, advancing toward the nursemaid's bedside. "My throat grows parched, Beth," she continued with affected embarrassment. "The journey from Her Majesty's chambers proved rather taxing. Might you provide refreshment?"

  Beth Keton proceeded toward the circular table, each footfall accompanied by vigilant peripheral observation of the queen's attendant. (She might discern Mistress Hubbard's demise...) Her cardiac rhythm accelerated perceptibly. (Fortuitously, the concealed longsword remains within immediate acquisition range.)

  Blancheless similarly maintained surreptitious surveillance. As Beth inclined to dispense water, Blancheless capitalized on this momentary distraction, swiftly positioning her fingertips near the nursemaid's nasal passages.

  "Your refreshment, Blancheless," Beth announced.

  "My gratitude, Beth." Blancheless extended her hand toward the vessel, but executed a deliberate fumble, precipitating crystalline destruction upon the floor. "Ah!" Her palm flew to her lips. "Forgive my clumsiness!"

  ...Beth Keton maintained resolute silence, descending to recover the fractured remnants. "Fortunately, your clumsiness failed to disturb their repose," Blancheless observed with calculated nonchalance, instantly provoking a momentary yet discernible reaction from Beth—a response not lost on the queen's attendant. Beth Keton restored the tray to its former position, her tone manifesting unveiled hostility. "Surely you may now deliver your report to Her Majesty, Blancheless."

  "Indeed, it does. However, certain verifications remain incomplete."

  "What further scrutiny could possibly be required?" Beth's irritation surfaced unambiguously. "You've confirmed the princess's satisfactory condition—surely sufficient for royal notification. What additional observations must you make? Do you operate under explicit royal mandate or merely self-generated authority?"

  "Have I done something wrong?" Blancheless responded with fabricated injury. "Your antipathy appears pronounced—as though my expeditious departure represents your paramount objective."

  "One who disrupts nocturnal tranquility deserves expulsion—with perhaps the singular exception of arthropods," Beth Keton remarked, pantomiming an insect's extermination with derisive intent. "Your presence is no longer required nor desired."

  "I have articulated the necessity for additional confirmation."

  "Specify this alleged necessity," Beth demanded.

  "I seek clarification," Blancheless declared, her gaze crystallizing into frigid intensity as it fixed upon Beth Keton. "Regarding whether Kristina Petrova similarly enjoys untroubled slumber."

  (What cryptic implication underlies this inquiry?) Beth deliberated, formulating tactical response. (Does she attempt to extract inadvertent confession?) "Evidently, her rest remains undisturbed."

  "Indeed? Most reassuring," Blancheless responded with a smile devoid of warmth. "It appears any subsequent activities will proceed without disturbance to any occupant—including our royal charge."

  "...What precisely do you insinuate?" Beth Keton inquired, her palm now concealing the dagger's hilt. "What potential activities..." Her vocal certainty faltered as her vision registered the decorative armaments displayed upon the wall—with one conspicuously absent.

  (At what moment did this appropriation occur?) Perspiration rendered her palms treacherously humid. (My visual vigilance never wavered... Damnation, the glass fragment collection provided requisite distraction.) The tactical implications crystallized with alarming clarity. (This formidable adversary demonstrates exceptional acquisition velocity.) She commenced subtle positional adjustment toward her bedchamber. "Indeed, environmental disturbances appear improbable."

  Beth Keton initiated hostile engagement. She propelled the dagger toward Blancheless while simultaneously extracting the longsword concealed beneath bedding. These complementary actions manifested with near-simultaneous execution. Blancheless's defensive response activated only when the projectile achieved dangerous proximity, necessitating precipitous evasion. Beth's compromised grip precision, attributable to perspiration, resulted in trajectory deviation; the blade merely intercepted Blancheless's flaxen tress, severing it and dispersing golden filaments throughout the ambient atmosphere. Blancheless rapidly elevated the decorative sword previously concealed behind her physical form. Both combatants now maintained offensive posturing, edged weapons extended toward adversarial targets.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Beth Keton registered notable surprise at Blancheless's martial posture. "Her Majesty's personal attendant evidently possesses capabilities transcending traditional domestic service," she observed, adopting the plow guard position, blade positioned diagnostically. "Your stance reflects formal knightly instruction."

  Blancheless elevated her weapon overhead, assuming the ox horn defensive configuration. "Authentic knights never restrict themselves to singular positional methodology," she countered. "They select tactical postures optimally suited to immediate circumstantial requirements."

  Both adversaries executed cautious ambulatory adjustments. The chamber's extensive furnishings imposed significant mobility constraints. (Her martial proficiency potentially extends beyond elementary swordsmanship. Her stance suggests considerable technical proficiency...) Beth's strategic assessment continued. (Existing advantages require immediate exploitation.)

  Beth Keton advanced aggressively, intending to utilize superior stride length to generate psychological pressure and force Blancheless into defensive retreat. This tactical initiative failed; Blancheless executed a lateral evasion toward the chamber's central region with unexpected agility. (Damn, she saw through me.) Beth observed her opponent with mounting apprehension. (What specialized training has she received?) Ocular irritation intensified as perspiration infiltrated. (Tactical advantage has undergone inversion...)

  Blancheless initiated decisive offensive engagement, implementing a powerful diagonal strike. Beth Keton established horizontal defensive interception but nevertheless experienced significant positional displacement. The queen's attendant maintained offensive momentum, executing sequential attacks. Following initially successful defensive parries, Beth's tactical position deteriorated, compelling strategic withdrawal.

  (Does this opponent truly conform to feminine physiological constraints!?) Beth Keton interrogated internally, physiological stress evident through extensive perspiration. (Immediate exfiltration represents optimal survival strategy...) Her visual assessment identified the lateral egress option. (Compromising complication identified... princess acquisition remains incomplete.) Strategic recalculation suggested seizure of the princess followed by immediate escape attempt, but further spatial analysis revealed Blancheless's deliberate interposition between assailant and royal target. (Her initial positioning represented calculated princess protection... Tactical acquisition now exhibits near-zero probability.)

  "My assessment regarding Kristina Petrova's current vital status appears accurate?"

  "Her interventionist propensities proved ultimately disadvantageous. Your behavioral pattern demonstrates analogous characteristics."

  "What necessitated Mistress Hubbard's elimination? Her advanced chronological status and physical deterioration presented negligible opposition potential."

  "Precautionary risk mitigation."

  Blancheless maintained her protective position before Princess Rebecca's resting place. "Identify your operational controller. Explain your princess acquisition objective. Specify intended destination."

  (Strategic reassessment suggests princess abandonment in favor of personal extraction?) Beth evaluated diminishing temporal resources. (Yet opportunity rarity suggests acquisition attempt prioritization...) Her gaze lingered on the tantalizingly proximate yet functionally inaccessible princess. (Opportunity cost of current extraction failure represents exponential difficulty escalation for subsequent acquisition attempts...)

  "Immediate confession represents your optimal survival strategy. Extraction from Cynthia Palace remains categorically impossible," Blancheless advised with authoritative certainty. "Delaying until physical interrogation commences will merely compound your already significant discomfort."

  (Apprehension remains categorically unacceptable.) Beth's internal resolution solidified. (Absolutely non-negotiable.)

  "Your election of non-communication appears definitive," Blancheless observed with resignation. "So be it. Reserved explanations may be directed toward Her Majesty during inevitable supplication. I offer no assurance regarding verbal articulation capacity at that juncture."

  The queen's attendant advanced methodically. Beth Keton's retrograde movement resulted in tactile contact with the previously deployed dagger. (You're all I have left.) As she descended to retrieve this secondary armament, Blancheless executed rapid defensive posturing. Beth's projectile deployment demonstrated superior accuracy on this occasion. Confronted with the incoming blade, Blancheless selected deflection rather than evasion, utilizing her sword to redirect the threat. Beth capitalized on this defensive commitment, initiating close-quarters engagement. Blancheless intercepted with her blade, resulting in weapon entanglement. The subsequent contest incorporated both physical strength and technical proficiency—domains in which Blancheless demonstrated clear superiority. Their entangled weapons executed complex rotational patterns until Blancheless implemented a decisive wrist manipulation, executing a disarmament maneuver that sent Beth's weapon airborne.

  Beth collapsed to semi-kneeling posture, nursing her traumatized wrist. "My previous advisory regarding extraction impossibility remains valid."

  (Terminal opportunity identified.) Beth Keton launched a desperate physical assault against Blancheless, executing a takedown maneuver. The queen's attendant's weapon became inaccessible as both combatants engaged in unarmed combat. Beth Keton, demonstrating momentary animalistic desperation, struggled briefly before executing positional reversal, establishing physical dominance. Astride her opponent, she applied manual constriction to Blancheless's tracheal region. "Interventionist behavior invariably precipitates negative consequences," she declared between labored respiratory cycles.