Lady Dhampir
Chapter 168

Milena licked the remnants of alcohol on her lips, trying to clear her thoughts. The truth was, she was sick. Not by nausea this time, but in her heart. This was going to be a decision she might regret her whole life. Sending her own husband to war... Rayan. Milena had never dared to imagine it. She was so sure they would be able to solve this, the two of them, but now, things had changed, like Rachael had said. Still, it was hard to swallow. Milena couldn't believe it had come to this.

With Lucian's help, she got herself to stand back on her own feet, staring at the door. On the side, Rachael sighed.

"It's your decision, Princess."

"That's easy for you to say..."

"I assure you, it isn't. However... I know what I am saying. It won't be worth saving a doomed Kingdom. I'm not like you. I don't have a husband or children that might be coming. The House De Nova's future might die with me, anyway, and that's something I've learned to live with. Most of the vampire houses face that issue every generation. However, this Kingdom... this is our home, De Crescent. I'm not just about to let that imbecile get it like that. Kings can rise and fall, but this war? If we lose, it will really be the end." "What are you saying, then? I should... I don't know, just make a coup and reign by myself?" Said Milena with a bitter expression. Rachael shrugged.

"That's an option I wouldn't be against, to be fair. Although, I'd be careful with what we say between those walls. No, I'm talking about your husband. This is a bet, De Crescent. If Rayan De Solar wins, if the Vampire Prince comes back... You know what that'll mean, right?" Milena gasped. Of course, she knew. She just hadn't gotten that far in her thinking yet, because it was more hopeful thinking than a realistic one. Sending Rayan as the Commander in Chief in this war meant he'd constantly be on the frontlines. Not just the frontlines, but at the very head of their whole army. This was a whole matter of life and death, and the reason she was so reluctant to vote for Rayan was precisely that... the chances of death were, realistically, much higher than those to see him returning. However, what would happen if he did return? Milena remembered the late King's words. The Prince who would lead the army would be a hero. Even more so if he happened to survive... If Rayan returned, Milena knew he'd have the political power to take the throne. Mostly, because she wouldn't let all his efforts go to naught. Milena would be restless in her hope to see him come back. With her help, she knew they could do it. It might mean to lead a small revolution within these walls, but Milena could see it. It would most likely be necessary. Ellias was definitely going to use his brother's absence to lay all of his plans. Not only the war outside, but Milena was even afraid a civil war could still be happening despite their efforts. If Ellias used Rayan's absence to keep pushing against the Vampires, there would be no choice left. She did hope he'd stop once his vampire brother was gone, but... Rachael was right. Without Rayan and Rachael there, Milena would be the last wall to protect their vampire peers against Ellias' reckless actions. Still, that was a lot of speculation. For now, she had a very simple choice to make. A simple choice, but one with heavy consequences. Milena was trying to play several scenarios in her mind, fast. However, she just couldn't think fast enough or imagine everything in such a short time. There would be drawbacks, and things out of her control. Rachael was right, unfortunately. She had to think of the bigger picture. Of what they had to preserve.

"I want to let him know," she declared. "I am not betraying my husband without letting him know first."

"Don't you think he'll understand?" Sighed Rachael. "He's not an idiot, and he trusts you. It's not like he still expects you to run into his brother's arms..."

Those words hurt Milena more than she would have thought.

Not because she thought Rachael was right, but because she had never realized how little she trusted herself, and Rayan's feelings for her. For a second there, she had thought that he might truly be mistaken. That he might really think she could ever go back to his twin brother... Milena was mad at herself. If she had a hard time believing it herself, how could she think he'd be mistaken? She took a deep breath. She really needed to learn to trust her bond with her husband better. So far, hadn't he been a perfect partner, in every aspect of their relationship? Or was it because it had been going too well, indeed? It was to the point Milena could barely remember how different her life was before she was married. Rayan hadn't changed everything in her life. He had taken a place there as if he'd always been. Milena only had to get used to the Royal life, but in terms of love, it was as if she had just been seating on a throne made for her all along...

Milena slowly nodded. She knew their trust in each other wasn't so fragile. Still, she wanted to give him some kind of a sign. It wasn't something she could drop like a bomb and expect him to be fine with. She glanced towards her brother, meaning they could return to the Council room now. She had taken enough of a rest, and she feared someone else would come to check on her and eavesdrop if they took too long to return.

Lucian didn't exactly lift her, but Milena was holding on to his arm more than usual. This quick taste of alcohol had been very efficient in chasing her nausea for now, though. Maybe she'd regret it later, but for now, it was doing a quick job of distilling the Saint's blood, ironically.

"Princess Milena, we hope you're alright?" Asked the Royal Secretary, more to acknowledge her return in the middle of a discussion.

"My apologies for this," she said while regaining her seat.

Immediately, Rayan gently took her hand, giving her a curious glance. Milena's heart sank. She ought to let him know before the vote. His expression was serene now, but she couldn't be at ease when she stared into his crimson eyes like this. For the first time perhaps, she really feared Rayan. His reaction. What if he couldn't foresee this at all? Milena refused to be so cruel to her own ally.

She held his hand a bit tighter, making him raise an eyebrow, but she couldn't speak yet. One of the Army leaders was handing a request for a new arrangement of the supplies, and she had to listen. The complete silence in the room, aside from the man speaking, would have made any attempt to whisper to her Prince obvious. With Ellias just on the other side, Milena didn't want to take such a risk.

She was only replaceing relief in the gentle, very subtle way Rayan was caressing the back of her hand, and cooling her skin with his. Despite every topic that had been raised before, he was perfectly composed. Milena found herself staring at his profile. Could she really bear to send him to War? She knew he had been raised with that possibility in mind, and he was probably one of the best military strategists, swordsman, and fighter of this Kingdom, if not the best of all. However, War and Death didn't care for such rankings. It only took a bullet, one blade, one injury to send any brave man to the underworld. Milena felt her throat tighten to that mere thought.

A horrible vision suddenly came to mind. A desolate battlefield, covered in blood and snow. The silence that followed havoc. The cruel snow that covered everything. Somewhere, half-buried in that snow, the body of her husband... Milena shivered. "...What is it?"

Rayan had noticed the chill, and his hand on hers released a bit of his grip, probably thinking it might be his fault. Milena shook her head, and grabbed his hand back with a frown. She was not ready to let go. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. The members of the Council were now discussing in more detail the General's proposal, and this time, enough people were speaking over one another. She discreetly turned her head his way.

"I'm... scared of the options we have left," she whispered.

They exchanged a glance, and from the slight frown that appeared between his dark eyebrows, she knew Rayan understood what she was talking about. His eyes circled the room, spending a couple of seconds longer on Rachael, who was participating in the debate. "Our mutual friend gave you ideas?"

"None that I truly wanted to consider," replied Milena with a tight throat.

Rayan's grasp got a bit tighter on her hand, regardless of the cold this time. His crimson eyes went to her, and, to his surprise, he smiled softly to her.

"You're beautiful even when you're sad, my Queen," he said in a whisper.

Milena felt a knot coming up her throat. She had to close her eyes for a second, to hold those tears back.

He knew.

Of course, he knew. Maybe he had even thought about this much earlier. He didn't need to explicitly say it, Milena could simply tell. From his tone of voice, from the way he held her hand. From his composure, his relaxed shoulder, and the soft but confident smile on his lips. She leaned her head against the back of her throne. It just... It wasn't fair. Had she said nothing, would he have left it all to destiny and waited for the results of the vote? Or was his mind already made, and he didn't want to upset her? Milena was more bitter than she ever had been before. She wanted to replace a place to cry and scream, just so she could unwind from this hurricane of feelings. On the outside, she didn't let anything show. She was the same calm and composed Princess everyone was used to see. Internally, though, the wind and storm were raging. It was unfair. Not only this situation, but how they couldn't even properly talk it out. She had been knocked out and almost unable to attend that Council. Would Rayan have left her to sleep throughout, and told her the bad news later? Was he still hoping for a miracle, or thinking it was easier if she could just make her mind regardless?

Milena took a deep breath, and from the way she was suddenly glaring at the young man currently speaking, he interrupted himself, wondering what he had done wrong. However, Prince Rayan intervened on the subject, confidently giving his own opinion. Milena stayed silent, but she was listening to Rayan, the man who knew perfectly about matters of war. She glanced towards Ellias. Unlike his brother, Ellias had been raised to be King, not a Military General. It didn't mean he was lacking in any way. The twin brothers had most likely received very similar education, although Lyriana would have emphasized Ellias' on political matters, while Rayan trained more on a battlefield.

The bittersweet irony. Milena resented the deceased Queen, at his moment, for rising this idiot who couldn't see anything but his crown. Now, if they were sending Ellias to war, she couldn't guarantee they'd win. He wouldn't be bad, but his anger and resentment would definitely lead him to make mistakes. They couldn't have that.

The Council carried on over the War matters, as anyone in the room could have predicted. Most issues were quickly solved, as it mostly was about the budget matters, which Generals were confirmed to partake, those who needed changes in titles to fit their military position, and the new changes that would be brought to the already drafted military plans.

It was clear that the main issue was just dragging to come on the table. The Royal Secretary would glance from time to time towards the four thrones, gauging their attitude, but all four were completely stone-faced. Philomenie looked tired, and she had barely said a word since they had voted her proposal, and moved on to more practical military matters. Both Princes were actively participating, although it was clear that Prince Rayan was the one taking the most military decisions. Prince Ellias, too, was strangely happy to sit back and agree, or add his own ideas, but in any case, he was clearly sitting back.

Princess Milena was cold and quiet. Some members of the Council may have thought she was still tired, but her piercing purple eyes weren't missing anything. She was like a lioness waiting in the snow.

"Well, your Highnesses," Finally said Rachael De Nova, the new General of the Fourth Division. "I hate to be the one to bring the mood down, but we have to settle the matter of Succession to know who will be our Commander-in-Chief, and General of the First Division."

The room tensed up all at once, while the twins exchanged a glare and a smirk. No one was blind to think either of them would give in politely out of love for their sibling.

Milena and Rayan separated their hands.

"Well, since my dear brother has invalidated our Father's last words, I suppose we are all back to square one," said Rayan.

"The Council agreed our Father's feverish state couldn't be taken as a serious last will," retorted Ellias. "We have already deliberated on the matter, Rayan. Let's not insult our Father's memory once more."

"We shouldn't. It would be too disgusting of his own sons to dare do such a thing..."

The spite in the Vampire Prince's words could be felt all around the room. Rayan hadn't forgiven Ellias for making their Father a madman on his death bed. He wasn't going to give in this victory too easily, either. Even if he did agree to go to war, this was a long battle to be won so he'd get everything he needed on his side, and left not much to Ellias, aside from that crown. Milena got herself mentally ready. The battle was just starting.

"Halas," said Ellias. "It will have to come to a vote of the Council, as should be any decision on the Royal Family were there is no proper ruler."

"How convenient, when a fifth of the Council is missing," said Rachael, arms crossed.

Ellias glared at her, but this was extremely satisfying to watch for Milena. They wouldn't let him simply think he could win this game fair and square. They'd rather let him have a crown that had been soiled and scratched, and present him as an unfit King. This was now a long-run game.

"Circumstances have it so, Lady De Nova; Now, I suppose the Council will have no choice but to vote with the elements we all already know. With the current circumstances, I believe the Council should go with whoever is most fit to be our King in those times of crisis. We know of the faith our human citizens are losing, every day, towards the Monarchy and the Nobles. It is important we rebuild that faith, not by fear but with trust."

"I believe Prince Rayan would also make a great Ruler at unifying the people," protested a Senator. "Princess Milena herself is a rare union between our two kinds. How could having a fully human couple pacify everyone? We also have to think of our vampire citizens, Your Highness."

"Having a Vampire King might aggravate the latest circumstances!" Shouted someone else. "The humans will be terrified after vampire attackers intruded the King's funeral! If a Vampire King is chosen now, they'll think the vampires managed to scare us into picking Prince Rayan!"

"Aren't you forgetting Princess Milena herself was a victim? How could a future King have dictated a murder against his own wife!"

"Princess Milena did amazingly in protecting our Royal Highnesses," nodded his neighbor. "Her loyalty to our Kingdom and to the Royal Family should be an example for all!"

"Princess Milena will remain at the head of our Government, but this is the future King we are talking about! If you got this way, Princess Philomenie is the most loved by our citizens, and she is carrying an heir!"

"We can't simply rely on symbols to rule!" Roared a vampire Senators, two ranks above. "We need a powerful leader to the Kingdom!"

"Don't we also need a powerful General? This is the biggest war we've been preparing for Centuries! We should be concerned with survival, first and foremost!"

"Finally," sighed Rachael. "Someone with a clear mind..."

"Prince Rayan is undoubtedly fit for the battlefield," nodded an older Senator. "However, we shall all agree that leaving the Royal Family without a Vampire representative..." "My Daughter is a De Crescent."

The Duke's icy tone sent a chill through the room. He slowly stood, and everyone suddenly felt a bit tinier in their seats. With burning red eyes, he glared across the room.

"Milena De Crescent is a daughter of a Vampire House and a prideful figure of the Vampire Race. Is there any vampire in the room to disagree with that?"

Even to Milena's surprise, many glances circled the room, waiting to see someone disagree or something, but all the Vampires present were resolutely nodding, or smiling, showing their complete support. Of course. Milena was the daughter of a Vampire Duke, supported by the House De Nova, and married to the Vampire Prince. She even had ties with the Society of Vampires, through her brother. No vampire would dare disrespect her, and those she didn't have as allies wouldn't dare go against the most powerful woman to support their race. She smiled, but next to her, Rayan was ecstatic.

"We all agree my brother and I are facing an issue of... balance. Regardless of which one of us goes to war, either the Humans or Vampires will feel... abandoned."

Ellias was staring at his brother, visibly shaken, and unsure what to expect. However, Rayan stood up, perfectly confident.

"How about this, then? We both happen to have wonderful, faithful, and extremely loved wives. Here is my proposal."

He turned around and smiled at his wife. Milena was at a loss. What was he preparing now?

"For the first time in three Centuries, I want this Council to name a Grand Princess."