Lady Dhampir
Chapter 137

Milena loudly left her office, and all the servants around quickly cleared the way. She wasn't actually scaring them, but after those first few weeks of living in the Castle, she had earned their respect. The First Princess was cold, but she was fair towards the maids and didn't give them a hard time. Unknown to Milena, she was actually compared to Lyriana very often. It was also a fact that the servants would rather interact with her than with her husband, so she had a lot of people around her at all times until she dismissed them. Milena didn't really care who Philomenie was having tea with; she probably hadn't changed her social bird habits, but she ought to learn her priorities. The two Princesses had barely seen each other since they both lived under the same roof, besides having dinner together a couple of times as the Royal Family. No matter what, they ought to keep up the appearances of getting along well, even though the twins obviously didn't like each other, and Milena wasn't fond of her new sister-in-law either.

The two men behind her struggled to keep up, as they were carrying the pile of documents. They were feeling a bit sorry for Milena, but it was their job to respect orders, and they hadn't done anything wrong but follow what they were told. Plus, they really believed there was no comparison between the two Princesses. The opinions were divided inside the Castle, as Philomenie was polite and gentle, but also considered basically useless, and gave more work to others without knowing it. Milena, on the other hand, was cold, sometimes harsh and didn't like people unnecessarily hanging around her, but at least she was taking off some of the workload. The opinions about the First Princess had changed gradually during the last few days.

"Y-your Highness," said the maid outside the salon, bowing. "The Princess is busy having tea..."

"Busy having tea? Do you think that's even funny?" Coldly retorted Milena.

After that, the poor girl remained mute and shut her mouth before getting scolded more. She was given orders, but who was she to oppose the other Princess?

Milena loudly knocked at the door and walked in without waiting for an invitation. She froze on the doorstep though. Her eyes went down to Philomenie, who was comfortably seated, a cup of tea in her hands, and her eyes opened wide in surprise as she saw Milena. However, before she even got to greet her, Milena's eyes went to her guest, and she frowned. Arseus. That man was probably at the very bottom of people she wanted to see at that very moment.

"Lady Milena!" Exclaimed Philomenie, looking happy to see her. "Do you want to join us for tea?"

"It's been a while," said Arseus with a wry smile.

Milena's cold amethyst eyes immediately glared at him.

"Young Duke, do you have no manners?" She hissed.

He looked shocked at her response. Because not much had actually changed about Milena, he had forgotten her status was now higher than his. He was sitting and had failed to greet her properly upon her arrival. However, the Princess' cold response didn't suit him.

"Oh, please, Lady Milena, aren't we in-laws now?" He chuckled. "Do you really have to act so rigid?"

"If the basics of courtesy are too rigid for you, I guess you should take a couple more lessons on it," she retorted. "Do not address me familiarly, young Duke. I do not recall marrying your sister."

The Duke looked like she had slapped him.

Milena was right; She was the First Princess and as such, the most powerful woman in this country. Compared to her, Arseus De Winter wasn't even the Duke title's holder, but his successor. If it wasn't for his younger sister being married to a Prince, he shouldn't even have been allowed to see her so casually like this. Yet, because he had made himself so comfortable already, even the two attendants behind Milena had disapproving expressions on.

"I see... Well, I hope the Princess is making herself comfortable in the Castle," he hissed, barely bowing. "To think that you're already looking down on the lower people..."

Milena ignored his insult, and crossed her arms.

"Now if you'll excuse us, young Duke De Winter. I'd like a word in private with Lady Philomenie."

"Aren't you being too rude?" retorted Arseus. "I came here to visit my younger sister, and now I'm forcibly being pushed out?"

"Older brother..." whimpered Philomenie, looking worried about the situation.

Milena stood still and did not add anything.

No matter what, she was a Princess now and after their interaction earlier, any witness would have agreed the young Duke was the one in the wrong. Milena hated this kind of person. Even Valentin had to wait to see her and stick to the protocol despite being ten years older, yet this man ought to act all mighty like this? He was making himself way too comfortable there.

While the Princess didn't add anything, the long stares of the servants around were pressuring Arseus. They couldn't say anything, but he could tell they were all agreeing with her.

"Fine," he grumbled. "I'll see you later."

He left the room, once again without respecting even the most basic protocol towards Milena. That character was truly too annoying. He had no self-control, and couldn't even act dignified just to keep up appearances. After the door slammed behind him, Philomenie shrank in her seat.

"I-I'm sorry... My older brother came in so suddenly, I didn't want to refuse..."

"I think it's high time you learn when to say no," Milena retorted, annoyed at that pitiful attitude.

Philomenie lowered her head. As someone who had been taught every single detail of the protocol and knew all the best manners, she couldn't ignore that Milena was right. Still, she had a hard time refusing her older brother.

"D-did you need a word with me?" She suddenly asked, sitting back up straight and smoothing the folds of her dress.

Milena let out a long sigh, and glanced at the two men. They stepped forward and finally dropped the piles of documents on Philomenie's table. She stared at it, looking utterly confused. "W-what is this?"

"Your work, which seems to always miraculously land on my desk," said Milena. "You've been a princess for a little while now. I could oversee it while you were getting accustomed to the Castle and enjoying your honeymoon period, but I am done covering for you. Do you have any idea how much work I have every day? This isn't even a third of what I have waiting for me in my office!"

Philomenie still looked completely lost. She glanced at Milena, then at the pile, as if she was trying to understand. Then, she glanced at the attendants waiting on the side, but they were carefully ignoring her eyes and Milena's.

"...I don't understand," muttered Philomenie. "I thought my work was done, but... How do you have so much?"

"Because I'm being given your share, apparently," said Milena, taking the seat opposite to her.

The Princess' calm once again sent a shiver down the servants' spines. Two maids found an excuse to go out, but the two royal attendants were literally trapped there, their eyes stuck on their feet. Philomenie frowned and turned to them. "B-but why...?"

As none of those men dared to speak, Milena sighed, crossing her arms.

"Apparently, the staff isn't satisfied with your performance, and prefers to ask me instead. I would be flattered, if it didn't add to the crazy workload I already have. Not only that, but it also happens that my husband is unavailable during the day, and yours is fine to dump your workload on my desk. Do you think that's fair, Lady Philomenie?"

The more Milena spoke, the whiter Philomenie went.

"I-I don't understand," she mumbled, grabbing one of the papers on top of the pile.

"I thought everything was going fine. N-no one told me..."

"I'll be clear," said Milena. "You're a Princess now. You can't just sit around and sip tea all day. If you do, that means there is something extremely wrong. Did you think it was normal for you to have nothing to do in the middle of the day? Really?" Philomenie went red.

"No, but... Since no one told me, I thought..."

"No one has to tell you anything, because that's your work to know and to do!" Shouted Milena, annoyed. "You can't simply just sit around and expect everyone to come to you with your chores written up and only a couple of papers to sign! We are at the very top of this Kingdom. What will the people think if we act lazy and have nothing to do in our Royal Castle while they thrive all day long? You should always have work, Lady Philomenie. If you don't have any, you should replace some for yourself! Are you comfortable wearing warm clothes, sipping tea and eating food for free perhaps? Aren't you the one all about charity and misery?"

It was like a storm had unleashed in the room. Not only Philomenie was on the verge of tears, but every servant in the room felt extremely embarrassed to be here to witness this. Seeing one Princess lecture the other like a child wasn't a common thing... "I really didn't know!" Blurted Philomenie. "This... I've never lived in the Castle, I thought people assisted us in getting the paperwork done, I... I did notice I had less work, but I thought everything was going well and no one needed me, so..." Milena let out a long sigh.

"You think this way because your family has raised you to only wait for when you're being told to do something. This isn't the De Winter House anymore, and you're not their little Duchess anymore either. Our people need each member of the Royal Family to do their best. Aren't you the one who used to say you're tired of just being a doll?"

That last line struck Philomenie. She looked at Milena, almost shocked, but not in a negative way. It felt more like she had just had a revelation. Milena was once again giving her the benefit of the doubt.

If Arseus hadn't been there earlier, she might have just gone off at Philomenie and yelled at her for acting like a brainless child. However, in the way they interacted, even if it was subtle, Milena could tell the younger De Winter was still her family's pawn. She was still unable to cross a limit between her brother's bad attitude and her rights, and she couldn't even talk back. Arseus hadn't even acknowledged his sister properly while leaving, and not only did she not react, but it seemed normal to Philomenie. Realizing that had caused Milena to revise her judgement at the last minute.

"I... I'll do better," said Philomenie, frowning and staring at the pile of paperwork.

"You can do better right now," said Milena. "You."

The Royal Attendants felt a drop of cold sweat going down their spines, but they still bowed as she called out to them.

"Tell Lady Philomenie what you told me earlier."

The two men exchanged a glance. Really? What they had said earlier was aimed for Milena, who was known not to be fond of Philomenie. They hadn't expected to have to repeat it to the main person concerned... After a little while, one of them cleared his throat and stood up.

"T-the Royal staff has been unhappy with... Your Highness' work, since you've entered the Palace, Princess Philomenie."

"What? Why? I handed everything back in time, and no one said a thing!"

"I only know of a few cases, but... It seems the... way of your Highness' handling things doesn't suit the Royal Castle's means."

"What do you mean?" Asked Philomenie, utterly confused.

Milena rolled her eyes, thinking this was going to take forever if they actually cared enough to not hurt her feelings or had any hopes to not make her upset.

"... When was the last time you handed a weekly menu to the Chefs of the Royal Kitchen?" She asked.

"Oh... Last week!"

Milena turned to the Attendant.

"Care to explain what went wrong with that? Because I was asked to do one again and I'm pretty sure that was what we were served."

"Yes, my Lady. Lady Philomenie's proposal was simply unfeasible."

"Unfeasible? I made sure to include very cheap food and a lot of different vegetables! I even made sure everyone got something very nutritious!"

"You're not donating food at some Charity event," retorted Milena. "Cheap food doesn't suit the noble tastes and it doesn't make sense that the Royal Kitchen would order cheap food! What are the nobles going to think if we eat like commoners? All those who work here, do you think they come to eat cheap food? The servants and all the staff work here because they can get better quality of life! Moreover, a lot of different vegetables? Do you know how many people are here in the Royal Castle? The chefs have to arrange meals for about two hundred people every day, do you expect them to peel each vegetable you chose one by one?"

Once again, reality hit Philomenie quite brutally. Milena sighed. That girl was really unable to think by herself. She had been raised to look like a caring person to the commoners and be the doll everyone revolved around at charity events. How could she suddenly switch to catering to the Royal Castle's tastes? She couldn't even call Philomenie stupid; she was clearly lacking common sense, which was a different issue.

"What about the Royal Guest Rooms' Winter makeover?" Asked Milena.

"T-the Lady ordered wool..."

Milena sighed. It was the same issue. Philomenie had been raised to know how to please the masses, but when it came to catering to the Noble tastes, she was unable to do it. The First Princess stood up and Philomenie immediately imitated her. "I-I'll do better," she said.

"I do hope so," retorted Milena. "I do not want to be given an extra workload because you cannot learn from your mistakes." "Maybe you can teach me?"

From the way Milena opened her eyes wide, Philomenie knew this was a bad question. The First Princess chuckled nervously.

"Teach you? Princess Philomenie, do you think I have that much free time on my hands? If you really want to learn, learn how to teach yourself first. You don't need a teacher or someone to hold your hand. This is the Royal Castle! You have archives to look at if you want experience, and all the staff to ask around too."

Milena then turned to the attendants.

"And you," she said, making the two men bow even lower. "Stop acting like imbeciles and conveniently dropping off the workload on me. If you had an issue with Princess Philomenie, you should have addressed it to her first!"

"What is going on here?"

Milena couldn't help but sigh as soon as she heard that voice. Of course he had to make an appearance now. She crossed her arms and turned towards Ellias, who was standing at the entrance of the room and watching the scene. He walked over to Philomenie's side, looking worried, although his eyes quickly went to the piles of paperwork and the attendants.

"Dear, what's going on?" He asked, putting an arm around Philomenie's shoulders.

As soon as he touched her, the Princess blushed like crazy.

"I-I'm sorry, I've been acting poorly and ended up giving my work to Lady Milena..." she mumbled.

Ellias sighed.

"Didn't I say it was fine? You shouldn't be too hard on yourself."

Milena was shocked. Was he going to act as if she wasn't standing right there and hearing him agree to giving her all of Philomenie's workload?

"Prince Ellias, would you care to explain what is fine? Giving me all of your wife's work? Since when is that an acceptable behavior?"

Ellias sighed and turned to her.

"Aren't you always happy to flaunt your intelligence anyway? You know very well how to handle these things, don't you? Why are you taking it out on Philomenie? Just because she's a bit less skilled than you are? Do you have to make her feel inferior too?" Milena was speechless. He was truly going too far!

"How dare you!" She hissed. "Taking it out on her? I'm being handed all of her work, with your permission, and I should feel sorry for her too? If anyone is making your wife feel inferior and treating her like some incapable idiot, that's you!"

The couple looked shocked at her words, but Milena was too mad to hold back. What in the world was wrong with these two? Ellias was clearly messing with her nerves, but she has had enough! She had been working like crazy to cover Philomenie's part, and now, those two were just making her seem like some arrogant woman.

However, after her words, Philomenie looked down, frowning. She glanced at Ellias and the hand on her shoulder, looking at a loss. Yet, the human Prince still had his eyes on Milena.

"Stop being so conceited," he said. "You are just looking for every occasion to pick a fight with Philomenie. You are just about as arrogant as Rayan. So what if you're given a bit more work? Aren't you just looking for occasions to make yourself look good anyway?" "Aren't you talking about yourself?" Retorted Milena, chuckling. "I'm not that desperate that I would actually need you to oversee everything I do!"

"You should be careful, Lady Milena," said Ellias, menacing. "You may be First Princess, but I'm a Prince and you can't..."

"I swear," retorted Milena. "I'll put anyone who disrespects me back in their place, regardless of their rank."

She had such a fire in her eyes, the whole room had gone silent with a very heavy atmosphere. None of the servants wanted to be here, but some were still curious to see how the Prince would respond. Their admiration towards the First Princess had gone an inch higher, if possible.

"Let's... Let's just talk," sighed Ellias, taking his hand off of Philomenie's shoulder.

"No. I'm done talking. Moreover, thanks to your Highness, I have plenty of work waiting for me."

Just like that, Milena left, not letting either of them have a chance to add a word.

She left the piles of paperwork behind her on the table, and no one dared to touch it.