Lady Dhampir
Chapter 165

t's words threw the whole room into complete disarray. Many acted shocked, but many more were completely confused as to what was going on. Was the young Duke admitting to being a member of the Society of Vampires, just like that? The Duke's second son didn't add a word, and simply stood there. He looked incredibly bored, and absolutely not worried at all, despite the situation. Still on his knees and right next to him, the young Count raised his eyes, in shock too. "Y-young Duke..."

Raphael didn't even glance down at him. His arms crossed, the young vampire was staring straight at Prince Ellias, almost as if he'd wait for him to do something about this. After a little longer passed, it became obvious everyone was waiting to see what the Prince would do, and no one was willing to help him with that. The Duke's arrival had thrown a chilling cold in the room, and not just physically.

Anton De Crescent worked at the Royal Castle, but no one could force him to be there. Since the latest events, the Duke hadn't made many appearances at the Council. In fact, he didn't need to. His positions on each matter were clear, and if they weren't, his son would attend in his stead, or anyone would assume his position was the same as the Princess De Crescent's. After all, even married, Milena was his one and only daughter. People may have forgotten because she rarely appeared with her father anymore since she had been married, but having four De Crescents in the room was a brutal wake-up call for all the Senators present. It felt as if the Duke had been too quiet during all the recent events, and was now coming to collect payback himself... "Young Duke De Crescent," said Ellias. "Wha-... What is the meaning of this?"

"I thought this was rather clear, your Highness," Retorted Raphael. "I am giving myself as a member of the Society of Vampires."

Once again, the Council was shaken by his words. Truthfully, so was Milena. She knew how serious the current situation was, but she had kept her brother's position in mind, and she thought she'd protect him if she could protect the Society of Vampires. Yet, instead, Raphael was coming up by himself to settle this? The situation really wasn't what she'd hoped it to be. She knew her family held tremendous power inside the Council, but this was no simple matter. If things didn't take a turn they'd like, Raphael could end up in jail, or worse. Moreover, their Father's presence there wasn't a guarantee, and it could instead trigger more discord; people wouldn't expect the Duke to sit still if one of his sons was arrested.

This was too much of a head-front confrontation...

Milena glanced to the side, gauging Ellias' reaction. He wasn't happy, but he suddenly didn't look so upset either. This matter couldn't be solved so easily, but involving the De Crescent Family as a whole surely was an extraordinary opportunity for him. "...Young Duke t," he said. "Do you realize the weight of your words?"

"I wouldn't dare lie in front of the Council, Your Highness."

"Your Highness," Said the Royal Secretary. "His Highness Prince Ellias raised the subject of Extremist vampires and Anarchists as a concerned involved with the Society of Vampires would you care to... uh, give us your position on that."

"I am neither. Like many young vampires, I joined the Society of Vampires like any young noble would join an open-minded group of discussion on certain matters."

"Give the proofs we gathered," said Ellias. "It was clear a lot of those matters were corroborating to crimes against the Royal Family, and our government."

"...You think I'd be upset with my position, Your Highness?"

This simple sentence calmed a lot of people down.

Indeed, t was someone in one of the most comfortable positions in this Kingdom; despite his high position as a Duke's son, he wasn't the main heir, hence he didn't have too much pressure like Milena, as the only girl, or the firstborn Valentin did. He didn't have pressure to get married from his family, join the military, or any duty of any sort. Hence, it wouldn't have made much sense for him to try and change the system he was so graced in...

"Certainly, you must have heard of certain extreme ideas?" Insisted Prince Ellias.

"I believe in the freedom of speech, Your Highness. Many people don't act like the promises they make."

That sentence had a double meaning that escaped no one. Milena raised an eyebrow. Raphael had always the best with words among her brothers. Despite being shy, he could be extremely smart with his turn of phrase, as demonstrated right here and there. Whether he understood the insult or not, Ellias acted like he didn't.

"Any plan of an attack against the Royal Family is punishable by death Sentence, young Duke. People who do not condemn such acts are..."

"It's quite unfortunate that people who coordinated the said attack weren't nice enough to let their plans hanging around in some place for me to see," retorted Raphael. "Surely, I would have loved to be able to save my younger sister from what she endured." Once again, the blow was thrown right back at Ellias. Raphael's own sister, Milena, had been injured in the attack. How close people knew the Family De Crescent to be worked in their favor, as many sent sorry glances towards Milena. Ellias, too briefly glanced her way.

"Your sister wasn't the main target, however."

"She happens to be part of the Royal Family," retorted Raphael. "Knowing her rightful character, I wouldn't have let anything that could put her in danger happen."

Milena smiled slightly. Once again, Raphael was like a wall all of Ellias' attacks bounced off. As the human prince remained mute, out of arguments, Rayan smiled slightly, and turned to his second brother-in-law.

"Young Duke, would you mind sharing with us your knowledge on the Society of Vampires? Please understand my brother's concerns. Some family members of the people arrested today had connections to that Society, hence he is worried it might be... infected by Supremacists, or an Anarchist group."

Raphael bowed slightly to Rayan, which he had not done to Ellias, before answering.

"It is neither of those, Your Highness. From my own experience, the Society of Vampire is full of young and brilliant minds, with a deep desire to improve the condition of our kind. The main topic has been the research on the properties of human blood, and even the possibility of feeding ourselves without it, through the means of artificial blood. Those researches are still at a very early stage, but need financing that will only come from the pockets of people like us." "The conduct of Social Experiments without Royal approval is..." Began Ellias.

"Sadly, that research is still at a theory stage, Your Highness, or of course, Royal approval would have been sought for."

"Prince Ellias surely can't forget that research on artificial blood has been conducted since Prince Sleverin launched that revolutionary idea?" Said Milena.

Ellias' hand tightened on his armchair, but indeed, there was nothing holding back theories.

"Fine," he said. "Continue."

"That's all there is to say," said Raphael with a shrug. "I don't know what Your Highness expected, but there are no bandits or great evil minds among the Society of Vampires."

"I strongly suggest your reconsider those words after what happened tonight," Hissed Ellias.

"I'll stand by them," retorted Raphael.

Never had Milena seen her brother looking so defiant or sure of himself, but Raphael was truly impressive. He was standing in the middle of the Council Room, alone to defend his case, and he was perfectly calm. Rayan took a deep breath, and turned to Ellias.

"Do you insist on arresting all the members of the Society of Vampires, brother? I do believe we might need to make some space in the Royal dungeons."

Ellias answered with a glare, but his answer seemed ready.

"I didn't mention arresting them, but interrogating them. As I had mentioned, everyone proven to be a criminal shall be arrested."

"There were quite a lot of people you arrested last night, Your Highness," hissed Rachael from her seat.

"We only took these people into custody," retorted Ellias, calmly. "I will not apologize for doing my best to keep our citizens, and the Royal Family, safe by taking people into custody as a measure of precaution. Everyone at the Church was obviously part of the Society of Vampires, and attacked us out of Supremacist concepts..."

"I am no Supremacist, Your Highnesses," suddenly said the young Count. "I acted because my kind is in great peril. If you are named Crown Prince, how long until Princess Milena is attacked again? Who will defend us, vampires, then, when the next anti-vampire laws come up."

"Princess Milena will be protected as she has always been!" Shout Ellias.

A violent bang made everyone jump.

From his seat, the Duke De Crescent had suddenly slammed his sword on the desk in front of him. Although the weapon was still in its holster, it was so big and heavy, there was a visible c***k in the wood.

"Duke De Crescent, you can't pull out a weapon inside the Council Room!" Yelled the Royal Secretary, shocked.

"I did not pull it out," retorted the Duke.

It was the truth, as the weapon's metal was still hidden, but... nonetheless, his move had been extremely threatening, so much his seat neighbors had almost fallen off their seats, and were not willing to get back any closer. Everyone in the room knew that a large sword shouldn't have been allowed in the room in the first place, but after that, absolutely no one would have the guts to remind it to the furious Duke...

His burning red eyes were already on the Prince, too, and looking like they could kill with a glare. Ellias took a deep breath. Milena could almost read what he was thinking. If he couldn't endure and hold his ground against the Duke De Crescent now, he'd never be accepted as a potential King...

"Duke De Crescent," He said. "I am extremely sorry for what has happened to Princess Milena recently, but..."

"Are you?"

This time, it was Raphael who had spoken, but that didn't keep Ellias from staring at him in shock. The way the young Duke had said that made a lot of people uneasy and Ellias was even more furious.

"Of course I am! Is everyone forgetting how close the Princess and I have been since childhood? She is my sister-in-law, and family to me! Just like any man would be, I have absolutely nothing but despair over the tragedies that recently hit our family!" Milena wanted to throw up, and this time, it had nothing to do with her nausea. She kept staring at Ellias, wondering if she shouldn't just ask Ruby to kill him now. Or maybe a poison in his drink would have been worth trying. Friends since childhood? How dare he use that now, against her own family, too?

As Ellias went on, Raphael, to everyone's surprise, suddenly began smirking. It was very faint, in the beginning, but it began to catch more and more's people attention, and once again, the uneasiness that smile on his lips brought among the ranks became hard to ignore. After a while, Ellias, too, had no choice but to take notice.

"...Do you think this situation is funny, young Duke?"

"Oh, no, your Highness. I was just reminiscing how much of a good friend Your Highness has been to our sister."

Milena had to cover her mouth not to show her smile. Next to her, Rayan wasn't hiding his. A lot of Senators were confused over those words. Actually, Ellias' friendship with Milena had never been a very public matter, so for some, this might be the first time they were hearing this. However, Raphael's words and strange, scary smile was very troubling. Ellias' expression, too. He was obviously doing his best, but... Milena could tell he wasn't happy. "The De Crescent family will never forget," added Raphael.

It was as if he had just finished Ellias. The Prince glanced towards the Duke, who was still killing him with his eyes. "W-w-well," said the Royal Secretary. "Surely, Your Highnesses, we should... rule over the Society of Vampires' situation..."

"I am asking the Council to hold a vote over a full inquisition against the Society of Vampires," immediately said Ellias.

"I am asking for the Council to agree to the immediate release of the people detained until further investigation," added Rayan, defying his brother with his eyes.

"Let's ask them to stay at Residence," nodded Milena. "Anyone who oversteps their ground, literally so, shall be taken into effective custody, if it makes Prince Ellias feel safer..."

With the Duke present, this motion was voted immediately, and, as expected, very few dared to disagree. Milena let out a long but discreet sigh of relief. At least, the people who had been arrested on very thin reasons would be released soon enough... A few Royal Guards left to execute this immediately, but this didn't help much. People just couldn't come from the Royal Dungeons and back into the Council's room like that, it would have been too indecent. Moreover, they were now officially asked to stay at their main residences.

"Father, sister, if you'll excuse me," chuckled Raphael. "It looks like I've just gotten myself some vacation time."

Milena smiled, and after a polite word to the Council and their Royal Highnesses, her brother made his way out without any escort. Raphael had been surprisingly efficient... Revealing himself as a member of the Vampire Society was clearly a terrible plan, but it had managed to win some time, but also strengthen the vampires' position. Now, they weren't seen as an actual threat anymore, but more as a species merely concerned for their survival... and her safety. Maybe this way, Milena's enemies would actually cut her some slack and stop trying to kill her so much.

"Now," said the Royal Secretary, exhausted. "Shall we, uh... take a break, perhaps?"

"I don't think so," said Rayan. "We have quite a lot of important matters to go through today, and, as my dear brother mentioned, it is important we go through all of them. Today!"

Ellias seemed to deeply regret his words at this moment, but, indeed, Rayan had a point. He had no choice but to nod.

"Let's continue..."

Surely, having the Duke De Crescent glare at him through the whole ordeal hadn't been part of his plan. Ellias glanced towards his wife, but once again, Philomenie wasn't looking his way. She looked a bit tired, and next to her, the Saint was whispering in her ear, looking like he had a slight smile on.

"T-then," said the Royal Secretary. "The next topic was... to revise the Primogeniture Law for all the Noble Houses... the first demand was submitted by the House De Winter, but... now, the Princess Milena De Crescent also asked to discuss this Law as well." Milena suddenly realized how strangely silent the Young Duke Arseus De Winter had been since the beginning of this Council... Even when his name was just mentioned, he barely glanced towards his sister.

"The Demand of the Duke De Winter asked for the Council to vote in favor of any male progeny to be included in the official heirs, regardless of their maternal lineage. To the Request of Princess De Winter, this proposition was modified to request the absolute agreement of the Mistress of the House, either the current wife of the Head of the House, or, in some specific cases, the Female figure with the highest authority..."

Milena couldn't help but smile. Philomenie had done impressively on that one... and that defeat was all over her brother's face. He remained silent, but the young Duke's expression was sour. Seeing that no one was reacting, the Royal Secretary cleared his throat. "The Princess Milena De Crescent knows has requested for the Council to see to a new revision of the Primogeniture Law revised to... Absolute Primogeniture."

A silence followed in the room. Some people were confused.

"Isn't it... already the case?" Asked a young Senator. "All female heirs have a chance to inherit the family's head position, don't they?"

"This isn't Absolute Primogeniture," retorted Rachael. "Princess Milena wants the position of the head of the family to go to the oldest child, regardless of their gender. Meaning that if a younger male heir is born, young noblewomen wouldn't have to be considered as expendable by their families. We are about to switch from male-preference Primogeniture to Absolute Primogeniture, and, shall I had, the Noble Ducal House De Nova will support the Princess in that."

a huge ruckus of protests and shouts exploded in the Council Room Milena took a deep breath. So it began...