Lady Dhampir
Chapter 107

The young Duchess was in such a shock, she couldn't move for a second. Some part of her wondered if she was hallucinating, if this wasn't some sort of mistake, but no. Her memory was very clear, and it might even have been the only one about her childhood that was. Moreover, that woman's horrified expression as their eyes met was telling volumes. Milena shivered. She hadn't expected this, not here and now. The maid was quicker to react. Upon dropping her basket, she immediately freaked out and turned around, running outside of the building.

"Blanche! Catch her!" Milena yelled.

To everyone else in the room, the white wolf came out of nowhere. All the servants present panicked and ran out of the way, leaving Blanche and Milena to run across the kitchens. They had to avoid the tables and push out of their way the maids or cooks still there, but they weren't losing sight of that maid. Blanche especially was faster. The wolf jumped and ran without any care for anything else, hunting her prey. Behind them, Briseis was surprised, but she still followed at the best speed she could, completely lost about the situation.

The maid got outside before they caught her, but she had to avoid running into all the working staff coming in and out of the Castle. Many people turned heads on a maid being chased by a noble lady, but Milena didn't care. She was running with her high heels in the snow, desperate to catch up.

Thankfully, Blanche had no issue running. The apparition of the white wolf had many people scream in fear, but mostly its target. The maid saw the silver creature close in on her before Blanche actually jumped on her back. She used all of her weight and the maid fell face forward in the snow. She struggled to get back up, but Blanche's furious growls terrified her most. She kept screaming and retreated on her bum against one of the Castle's walls, her eyes filled with tears.

Milena got in front of her, and took out her dagger, putting it under her chin. The woman was absolutely freaking out, crying and retreating, her eyes on the blade.

"Who are you?" Said Milena, out of breath.

"I-I'm sorry! I am sorry..."

"I asked who are you! Who are you working for!"

"...Lady Milena?" Asked Briseis, having just joined her side. "Are you alright, what's going on?"

Briseis looked completely at a loss, her eyes going from the silver wolf to the young maid Milena was holding at her blade's end, unable to figure out this situation. However, Milena was too furious to listen to her friend. She advanced her dagger forward again, the tip touching the woman's throat until a little red drop popped out.

"I asked you questions, you better answer!"

"N-no one! I swear! I'm just here to deliver! I don't work here!"

Briseis looked around, spotting one of the soldiers. She gestured him to come, and seeing the situation of Milena threatening a maid, the soldiers would have come anyway. Three of them came forward. "Are you alright, your Highnesses?" Asked the oldest of them.

"Do you know this maid?" Asked Briseis, more composed than Millie.

The men seemed confused and looked down at the maid. They all shook heads.

"No, Your Highness. Do you need any assistance?"

Briseis sighed and turned towards Milena.

"Lady Milena, I think it would be best if we retain her and interrogate her within the Castle; Anyone can see you here."

Milena grimaced. Briseis was right. Although Milena still wasn't anywhere near calm, she had at least regained her senses enough to know this kind of scene would attract unnecessary attention. She didn't want rumors going around that the future Princess was harassing maids. She slowly nodded and lowered her weapon. Just then, Briseis glanced at the soldiers, and all three men ran to take custody of the maid. They seemed confused about the wolf, but Blanche quietly retreated to Milena's side.

Still a bit shaken up, Milena put a hand in her fur, more to calm herself than Blanche's furious growling. She watched the maid go, still shaking. Briseis was staring at her, worried. "....Are you alright?"

"I will be alright once I can personally interrogate this wrench..."

Although she was shocked to hear the ever so composed Milena use such words, her friend didn't say anything. The Duchess ought to have her reasons for this. She simply nodded. "Let's go back inside," she gently suggested.

The two Ladies actually followed the soldiers.

room.

It was more common for prisoners to be detained in the dungeons, but the maid wasn't accused of anything yet, as Milena hadn't given her reasons for chasing her. For now, the soldiers were simply obeying her as a Duchess, and they took the maid to an empty She was promptly chained up and f****d to seat down on a chair, but that woman clearly looked more terrified by Milena than she was by the Royal Guards. "...Shouldn't we inform someone?"

Milena simply nodded to Briseis' suggestion. It wouldn't be good to have her simply take custody of that maid. Even though she was powerful enough to give such orders, it would be better for Milena to have someone supporting her actions. Briseis turned to one of the soldiers. "Go get the Duke." "Yes, Madam."

The man left the room, but Milena wasn't going to wait. She just couldn't. She had almost given up on ever replaceing clues about her childhood, about what had happened to her after her mother's death. That woman was the earliest clear memory Milena had. She had vague memories of her childhood in the streets, but how she had ended in that woman's hands, Milena had no clue.

She still had her dagger out. She was playing with the weapon in her hand, having it spin slowly. Milena didn't actually mean to scare that lady, she was just relieving her stress with the first nervous gesture she could. Nevertheless, the woman had her eyes going from the wolf to the dagger, opened wide in panic.

"P-please..." She cried. "Don't... kill me... please... I... I have a child... I'm really sorry... Your Highness... I'm sorry... I... I..."

"Who are you?" Asked Milena coldly. "How did you catch me?"

Next to her, Briseis reacted to her words, looking around the room to grab some paper and a quill, and started writing down for some reason, as if this needed to be recorded. Or as if she simply needed something to keep herself busy and useful. "I'm... I'm just a commoner, ma'am... I live in one of the villages outside the Capital... I don't... I just needed money..."

"You sold me, you knew who I was when you sold me!" The Duchess yelled, angry. "How did you know who I was, why did you sell me? Where did you get me!"

"I didn't know!" Screamed the woman, terrified. "I swear I had no idea!"

"You liar!"

Just as Milena yelled, and two people barged in the room. It wasn't the Duke, but Valentin and Rayan, both looking completely confused. The soldiers had probably gotten the first "Duke" they had found related to Milena, and her older brother was working in that

area.

The two of them had obviously rushed here, a little out of breath. The Prince walked up to her immediately, barely looking at that maid.

"Milena, what happened?"

"Millie?" Asked Valentin, coming to her side too and frowning.

Her older brother was worried. Never before had he seen his younger sister so panicked. Milena took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She still had her eyes set on the maid, glaring at her.

"That woman... She was the one who sold me to the traffickers. When I was... a child. Before you found me."

Her brother's expression immediately sunk. He turned to look at the maid, in a state of shock.

"....Are you sure?" Asked Rayan.

Milena slowly nodded. The Prince took a deep breath and turned to the woman.

At this very second, the maid completely forgot about Milena's anger. All she could see were those two frightening red eyes, glowing. The darkness in there shook her completely, making her cry out and shiver even more. She was about to be eaten alive by a monstrous beast, a predator. She felt like she was the helpless prey, all of her instincts screaming for her to run away. To get away from the killer.

"You better talk," he said.

His gentle but cold voice had her even more terrified. It was sharper and colder than any blade they could have held. Her lips twitched, and she looked down, completely panicked. The fear was making her numb, almost unable to think. The Vampire Prince was on a whole different level from the young Duchess, she couldn't even bear to look up. Those people were terrifying.

"I... I... I just needed... the money..."

"Who did you sold her to?"

"The... B-black... Black Market... S-someone was... ready to p-pay for her..."

Milena frowned.

"What Black Market, what are you talking about?"

"It's true! That... At that time, I had... heard... Someone was offering a lot of... money... for a.... to get a... d-dhampir child..."

Milena gasped, exchanging a glance with her older brother.

Someone was looking for dhampir children? What did that mean? She was supposedly the only dhampir child who had been born in hundred years!

"What do you mean, looking for dhampir children? Who?"

"I have no idea! It was just... A rumor... that... in the b-black... market... There were very high sums... I had heard a... about it, and... I thought..."

"How did you get Milena?" Asked Rayan.

"That... The girl, she... I had seen her... in the street, so I... I gave her some food..."

Milena felt the anger rise in her. Just like a stray cat? That woman had simply taken advantage of her like some famished dog found in the streets, lurked with some food and sold her like merchandise! Blanche started growling furiously, but this was without any comparison to Milena's anger. She stood forward with her dagger in hand, but Valentin grabbed her wrist, while Rayan held her waist. "Millie! Calm down!"

"That woman sold me like some dog!" She yelled.

"Milena."

Rayan grabbed her face, putting himself between the furious Duchess and the maid. His eyes captured her instantly, getting her attention enough for her to listen.

"I promise she'll pay," he said gently. "But we need to have her talk first."

Milena was so furious, she had tears of anger in her eyes. Never before had she been so unable to control her emotions, but the memory of this woman taking advantage of her helpless self was just unbearable. She couldn't remember much, but Milena remembered the pain, the hunger. The despair of being in the streets, cold and famished.

It took all of her self-control for Milena to calm down, despite her hands shaking. Valentin was looking at her with worried eyes. He had never seen his younger sister lose control of herself like this before. Since she was nine, she had always done her best to fill all the expectations, to be the perfect young lady. Sometimes he even thought she was too mature for her age, and she never expressed her emotions enough. Milena felt like she had that shell on, like a doll, to hide her true emotions. For a long time, she had been scared to say the wrong thing, utter the wrong word, say anything that would make her an outsider in her home. It had taken months for her to master the identity of "Milena De Crescent", and seem at ease. Yet now, there was a thin c***k in that perfect shell... As soon as he could tell she had calmed down a little, Rayan slightly nodded to Milena. She didn't answer, her expression still utterly bitter, but she let him turn around and address that woman. "Who wanted her?"

The woman shivered as soon as Rayan opened his mouth, and started sobbing again.

"I... I don't know... I just contacted... The man... He... I had seen... He came to my father's bar... He said he was interested in the girl... That... There was a demand... On the Black market..."

Milena felt her anger rise again. What Black Market! Why would someone even make such a crazy demand for dhampirs!

"Who placed the demand?"

"I don't know! It was... mostly rumors at the time..."

"Where did you replace my sister?" Asked Valentin.

"In... On the outskirts of the City... I used to go... To put the..."

She seemed hesitant, crying again and acting pitiful, but Milena wasn't feeling an ounce of pity for her. If Rayan wasn't there, she would have slapped that woman, at least; She had no pity and no forgiveness in her for that wretched woman. She didn't care how poor or desperate she was.

"To put the what?" She hissed, impatient.

"The t-trash..."

"You damn...!"

"Milena!" Yelled Valentin.

But this time, Rayan didn't stop her.

Milena slapped that woman, with all the anger she had failed to keep bottled in her. Her hand went so violently, the woman fell off the chair. Rayan intervened to stop her before she went at her a second time. He grabbed Milena by the waist and hugged her close, despite her protest.

"Let me go, Rayan! That woman...!"

He didn't answer, and only held her, his hand behind her head. Milena struggled, even punching his torso to try and push him away. She just didn't want this woman to be left off so easily. Milena needed someone to pay for what she had gone through, for the horror of her first years of life. For what had happened to her mother, to her family. This was just too much at once, the young Duchess couldn't hold it all in.

Yet, Rayan didn't flinch. He was angry too, yet incredibly calm while holding her. She kept resisting and punching him, until Milena broke down. Like a child, she had to give up and cry. She was frustrated, angry and helpless. Milena couldn't even endure the idea of being so vulnerable and exposed. Behind them, the door suddenly opened, the Duke appearing at the doorstep. He glanced around, taking a hold of the situation immediately. His eyes fell on the maid, sobbing pitifully on the floor with a red cheek, and Milena, her eyes red and crying in Rayan's arms.

The Prince and the Duke exchanged a glance, and Rayan suddenly put an arm under Milena's knees to carry her.

"What are you..." Started Valentin, but the Prince ignored him and walked past their father.

Seeing that the Duke didn't stop Rayan from taking his sister away, the young Duke didn't add anything, but his heart was aching for his little sister. He watched them go, wondering if she would be alright.

Even Blanche stayed behind, for once. The silver wolf didn't follow her mistress as usual and was instead furiously growling at the woman, scaring her on purpose. It was as if Blanche had decided to stay here and make sure that maid paid for what Milena had gone through, not allowing her to have a second of relief.

Compared to Rayan, the Duke wasn't any less scary. He stood above the maid without an ounce of pity in his eyes, as if he was looking at some insignificant insect. The House De Crescent wasn't the second most powerful House in the Empire for nothing. The Dogs of the King were not to be taken lightly and worse, that woman had dared to hurt one of their own. No one ever dared to do such a thing, and there was no forgiveness allowed for such a thing.

That maid knew that; There would be no use in begging for mercy. She sobbed loudly, in utter despair. The other noble young lady in the room stood up and walked up to the Duke without any fear. Then, with the accuracy and precision of a Royal Archivist, Briseis recited everything that had been said prior, perfectly summarizing everything in a couple of sentences. Those two sentences, though, were enough for the Duke's eyes to go dangerously darker, red as blood.

He suddenly took out his sword, and for the third time that day, the woman felt a blade against her throat.

"Who paid for my daughter?"

"A... A man... I don't..."

Before she finished her sentence, a deep cut was made on her arm. She cried loudly, shocked by the pain and how fast it had been delivered.

"You should start being more precise than that," said Valentin.

"I'll tell you everything! I promise I'll tell you all I know, please don't hurt me, don't..."

"The name," insisted Valentin, annoyed.

"It was a headhunter! He... He was called Marim. He... said he had a buyer, but I don't know who, I really don't!"

Valentin and the Duke exchanged a glance.

"...How long did you have my daughter? Since when?"

"Only for a couple of weeks! I... I had to keep her until the next auction, and then... That man said he'd come to buy her..."

"An auction?"

"I... I don't know what he was talking about, I swear! He only mentioned an auction once, saying I should keep her until then! But I didn't mistreat her, I swear! I never hurt the Lady, never!"

She had thought she could be redeemed this way, that maybe they would even thank her for having fed their daughter for a few days. That girl was almost dying when she had found her, starving outside in the junkyard. She had given her some food for a while, thinking a less bony child would bring her more money. The maid looked up at the Duke, but she understood her mistake right away.

Anton De Crescent slowly crouched down, and suddenly grabbed her throat with his gloved hand. The leather was cold as ice around her throat, but it couldn't even come close to the void in his eyes. Having a hungry vampire so close to her face ought to be the scariest sight possible. It was like staring at hell itself. A hell that was promising a long road of suffering.

"I had put every possible reward out for my daughter to be returned to me," hissed the Duke. "Every newspaper, every merchant, every f*****g human in this City knew the Duke De Crescent was looking for his daughter. You knew who she was."

The woman's eyes grew wide with terror, realizing her mistake.

She hadn't saved Milena De Crescent. She had sold a child and her own life for 50 silver credits.