Lady Dhampir
Chapter 122

The two ladies didn't go very far: only a little study nearby. Milena was surprised to see Philomenie so familiar with the rooms of the Castle already, but she didn't ask anything. Instead, she stepped a bit further away from her, arms crossed, waiting to see what she had to say. Although Philomenie remained quiet for a while, the young Duchess De Winter seemed a bit at a loss on what to say, so Milena cleared her throat.

"I did not know you were so proficient in... medical knowledge."

"Oh, I'm not really," responded Philomenie. "I just... picked up a few things here and there from being in hospitals."

That wasn't what Milena had seen. One thing the Duchess De Crescent couldn't grasp was anything related to medicine. She was a bit scared to try. There were truths about her body she didn't want to explore, and some she'd rather leave to professionals. Yet, Philomenie had been extremely quick to react when his Highness was in danger.

"I... I know I'm very clumsy," suddenly declared Philomenie, taking Milena by surprise.

Was that meant to be an apology for her words earlier? Or was she just going to pretend she's dumb, again?

"I... I promise I won't bring the pregnancy thing again. I don't understand why it seems to be such a big deal for you. I never... wanted those rumors to start, I don't believe them. I've already scolded those... people about it. I sincerely wanted to wish we'd both get happy news soon."

Milena's blood left her face. Both get happy news? How fast were she and Ellias planning to have children? From the looks of it, she and Rayan weren't the only eager couple... Milena tried to keep herself from shivering at the thought of that. To think the man she had confined in for years, the one she had sometimes tried to imagine getting married to, would eventually give children to her main rival, was sickening in its own way. Due to her circumstances, Milena didn't want to wish ill to Philomenie, but she still couldn't get to swallow that pill easily.

Unaware of her inner conflict, the Duchess de Winter went on.

"I... I don't want to act like you three do. I know there are a lot of schemes going on, a lot of things you are talking about, and sometimes I can't grasp it."

"Stop acting like you're uneducated," sighed Milena. "Even if you say you don't, you..."

"Educated doesn't mean smart!" Retorted Philomenie. "I... I know some things are going on that no one cares to explain to me. I wish I were more like you, two steps aware of everyone else and always some quick-witted response to give to others, but I'm not! I'm... Sometimes I feel like I am a doll for people who know how to pull strings."

Milena was shocked to hear this from Philomenie's mouth. She reminded quiet, but her brain was working like crazy, trying to remember all their interactions before, all that the young Duchess had said and done. Philomenie took a deep breath. With that expression on her face, it looked like she was about to cry.

"I know that I am very lacking... But I believe you are not flawless either, Lady De Crescent. You don't... care much about the people, and if you do, they don't know it."

Milena took offense of that, pinching her lips.

"Because I don't go around parading and throwing money left and right doesn't mean I don't like people or I am not popular," she retorted.

"... You know what I mean, Lady De Crescent. You and I are different, it's true, and we probably won't be able to agree on a lot of things either. However... After what happened to Queen Lyriana, it's going to be up to the two of us to work together and help this Kingdom. Prince Ellias... My fiancé and yours are not on best terms at the moment, and I'm sure it saddens His Majesty, too. I hope they will get along better, and I don't want to have to fight you constantly, either."

Milena remained quiet. She had always been unsure about Philomenie.

She didn't like her. They were opposites, two worlds that shouldn't have collided in the first place. They had very different families that didn't get along either different values, different upbringings, and ambitions. Their only thing in common was their status, and their partners being Princes. That was pretty much it. In Milena's mind, Philomenie's idea of peace between them ought to hide something else. She took a deep breath.

"... What is your point, Lady De Winter?"

Philomenie looked a bit affected by Milena's cold tune, but she didn't waver. She was clenching her fists, looking very determined.

"I... I want us to agree not to be enemies."

"Enemies?" Repeated Milena, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. I'm well aware I am no match compared to you. However, if the four of us have to live together, I don't want to risk you killing or poisoning me. I know I'm not your fancy, but I'm not the worst sister-in-law to have either. Moreover, we are probably going to need each other. Maybe not now, but... In the future, I believe so. Their Highnesses, I mean, the twins don't get along, but you and I can act on that too."

Milena remained silent for some long seconds.

What Philomenie said made sense, but she a hard time believing there wasn't some sort of hidden intent as well. How could she be as stupid as mentioning the pregnancy over and over again, almost as if she was provoking Milena on purpose, and yet, come up so eloquently with that request? It just didn't sound right.

"What about your relationship with the church?" Asked Milena. "Certainly, they won't be thrilled about this..."

Philomenie slowly nodded.

"I know, but they don't... they don't need to know about this. I am tired always to be hanging at the end of those strings... I thrive on being more like you. More independent, stronger-willed. I don't think I can put one foot in front of another unless that changes soon, and unless I get rid of some of those binding me."

"What about Ellias? Isn't that the first reason he chose you?"

The young Duchess looked flustered by Milena's words for a few seconds. After a while, she shook her head.

"No, no, we have a different relationship. Ellias cherishes me."

...So she was an idiot. In Milena's mind, it couldn't be. Ellias was probably using Philomenie just like he had tried to use her and her feelings, once again. In a way, she couldn't blame Philomenie. If he had chosen her, maybe Milena would have fallen for that sweet trap all over again. It was almost too easy for those pretty green eyes, perhaps. Ellias had a way with words, he was attractive, and he had the charisma to make someone like Philomenie fall for him so easily. In the end, she wasn't so different. The Duchess De Crescent took a deep breath.

"Fine. I guess I will have to leave you the benefit of the doubt and trust your words. Don't you try to double-cross me, though, not even for Ellias."

"But..."

"I know he probably doesn't tell you anything, but you're not as much as an idiot as you want people to think. I don't think so. We both know who will be the better queen out of the two of us."

"...I beg to differ," muttered Philomenie.

"You still think I'm some selfish and self-centered bitch?" Said Milena, clicking her tongue.

"No; But I think you... Don't necessarily act against your interests, either... I think a Queen must be complacent and have empathy towards her people."

"You don't have the resolve of a strong will enough," retorted Milena, a bit annoyed.

For a while, the two ladies stared at each other, having reached a place of disagreement. Yet, after a time, Milena was the first one to sigh.

"I guess that will be another question we will have to solve later. For now, though, I do hope we can co-exist without back-stabbing each other. Keep an eye on the church, and I will do the same with my allies."

Milena had enough of that senseless conversation. She couldn't trust Philomenie, anyway, but at least, she knew the human Princess probably would try to hold on that weak promise between the two of them. Even if it couldn't be of use now, she may use it against Ellias later. One never had enough hidden cards... The Duchess De Crescent prepared herself to leave, thinking she had wasted enough time already. Although they had reached a certain level of understanding, the two of them would never truly get along, probably. "Why do you fear the Church so much?" Suddenly asked Philomenie.

Milena already had a step out of the room, but she froze, staring at Philomenie.

"Why do you trust them so much?"

"I just... I guess I was raised like that."

Another senseless answer. Just as she was about to leave again, Milena paused and turned around. That question had been in her mind for a while now.

"...Why are you so afraid of vampires? Especially my fiancé."

Philomenie gasped, looking a bit scared for a second, looking down on her hands.

"I... I didn't mean to offend His Highness..."

"I know. I'm simply asking," said Milena.

The blonde glanced up, a bit unsure again, and finally, nodded slowly.

"I... When I was a child, my father took me to another hospital. He simply wanted me to see the injured, but... I was taken to the intensive care unit. There, there was... someone who had been attacked by a vampire."

"By a vampire?" Repeated Milena, a bit surprised.

The Duchess De Winter nodded slowly.

"The injuries were... beyond what I had seen until then. The bite marks were so deep the flesh had been torn out, and the screams of that man... I don't think I'll ever forget. Ever since I get scared whenever I see vampire fangs. Your future husband, his... fangs are a bit more visible than others..."

Milena realized. She had gotten used to it, but indeed, Rayan's burn scar was tearing a bit of his mouth open, making his smiles automatically show his fangs whenever he even smirked. However, she was more interested in Philomenie's story than Rayan's beauty issues. "What happened to that man? The victim."

"I... I think he passed," whispered the young woman, shaking her head.

Milena frowned. So it was merely a wild attack from a vampire, then? Anyway, the Duke De Winter's style of education was rather unusual... to show an intensive care unit to a child. Especially one as impressionable as the young Philomenie. The Duchess De Crescent nodded.

"Well then, I guess we should get back before those two fight anymore..."

Philomenie nodded and quietly followed behind her. There were no more words exchanged between the two, both hurrying to go back to their prospective husbands. Just as she had suspected, the room was cold as ice when they returned, both brothers still in the same spot they had left them. However, seeing the two young women enter together seemed to take them away from their thoughts, as Rayan stood up, and Ellias turned around as well. Without a word, both couples reunited. Rayan interrogated Milena with a look, but she dismissed it with a calm smile. He put his arm around her waist, and they turned around.

"If you don't mind, we will retire for tonight. I'll accompany my Lady back to her residence."

"Oh, do you mind if I go to check on his Majesty with his doctors before we leave?" Suddenly asked Philomenie.

As he nodded, the Duchess de Winter left the room in a hurry. It seemed like they had also agreed that Ellias would bring her back home tonight, although no one commented. Yet, as soon as Philomenie was gone, his green eyes fell on Rayan's hand on Milena's lower back. The two of them were intimate, standing close already, and ready to leave. Milena saw that look in Ellias' eyes before he even opened his mouth.

"You know... There's some irony thinking your garden is filled with flowers that I sent, Lady De Crescent," he said.

Milena froze. How dare he speak of those damn roses! She now regretted ever accepting them in the first place! The red roses growing in the Vermillion Lands were not even in her family garden, she barely saw them all year, yet he talked about this as if all of her private garden at the Manor was filled with his gifts!

She turned around, annoyed.

"Don't you think you're going overboard, your Highness? If you regret your gifts, you may take them back. I don't need more of those flowers anyway. They are full of thorns and a nightmare to take care of in those conditions!"

She was mad. Mad at his words, mad at his spite and even the nerve with which he dared mention such a thing when her fiancé was here. He was the one who had made his choice, regardless of his regrets now. Things were done and settled now, what was the point of this? Wasn't he even able to control his emotions in public anymore, to throw such a fit now?

Yet, Ellias had that arrogant expression on, which wasn't without reminding her of Rayan's. The blonde prince sighed, a bit too theatrically.

"Why would you send those back, when you were once so happy to receive them?"

"I guess a few snowstorms have passed since. I would suggest your Highness to no longer linger on some aborted and withered feelings you may have when you're about to get married."

Ellias glanced at his twin. It was obvious he aimed to hurt Rayan more than Milena. The jealousy in his eyes was so obvious, and it made Milena mad to think she once admired this man so much. It was as if he had no restraint anymore, or perhaps he didn't care to show his real feelings when it was only the three of them.

Milena was more worried about Rayan's reaction. He wasn't the most patient man she knew, and his twin was doing everything to make him mad. She was about to turn to him, say something, but Ellias was quicker, scoffing loudly.

"What is it, brother? You're usually so eloquent, yet now you've lost your tongue. What is it? Are you going to burn a garden down once you come back? You'll never get over the fact that..."

"What?" Suddenly said Rayan, surprising the two of them. "You think she loved you first, Ellias? Because of some flowers and your cute green eyes?"

"You're not just..."

"I am just about to marry Milena, Ellias. Get that in your head, carve it and move on. I am not going to allow any rumor, any tiniest bit of word about your relationship with my future wife. If you have any feelings left, you can go and bury it somewhere with your spite and your childish jealousy. f*****g grow up. You're not mother's little favorite anymore, and you don't have to cling on to Milena to make yourself better either. Stop acting like you're now, because just trying to be acting like you don't care, or like you're me, isn't going to help you or anyone."

Milena suddenly realized. No wonder she had thought Ellias was different. Was he trying to act like his twin? Because of their mother's death? She hadn't thought it had made him so miserable, and the look in her eyes changed.

Ellias caught that too.

"Don't you look at me like that," he hissed.

"You're the one making yourself look like that," retorted Rayan. "Put your big boy pants on and freaking stop your circus, Ellias. Even I am tired of it."

This time, the human prince went quiet. Milena saw him swallow his saliva, but he didn't add anything, which was probably for the better. Neither of them could hear any more from him that night. Rayan put his arm around his fiancé's waist once again, gently directing her out. Milena followed quietly, tired of all of this. It had been a too eventful night. "Oh, by the way, Ellias... If you want to talk about irony..."

When she heard Rayan, Milena closed her eyes, knowing what was coming up next. He really couldn't have let it go...

"I guess for once, my bed is going to be hotter than yours. How is that?"

He left with a wink, and Milena was pretty sure she heard a frustrated yell once the door was closed. Yet, they walked away, her prince chuckling. She didn't feel like laughing, though. Ellias wasn't himself, and he should have been, for what was coming, she was starting to hope he'd get back to his old self, for everyone's sake. When she shared her thoughts with Rayan, the two of them putting their coats back on, he had stopped smiling.

"I know... I'm provoking him on purpose. Nothing motivates that idiot more than our rivalry..."

"You shouldn't push him too much, though," muttered Milena. "What if he gets mad and makes you pay for it..."

The vampire prince chuckled and leaned in to kiss her forehead, closing her coat around her neck at the same time.

"Nothing I can handle. Don't worry. Come on, let's get back to the Manor before that snow gets worse..."

They left the Palace, but just as they stepped out, two De Crescent Knights arrived at full speed, both with panicked expressions. Milena's blood went cold in a second. "My Lady! We came to warn you, please do not come back tonight!"

"What?" Asked Milena, panicked.

"A fire broke out at the Crescent Manor; everyone is evacuating!"