Lady Dhampir
Chapter 178

Milena was stunned. She stood there, completely confused, unable to process what Ruby had just said. Rayan held her hand a little tighter, but his furious red eyes were on both the servants. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"We're not, Your Highness," said Olivia, bowing despite the pile of sheets she was carrying. "Ruby and I only noticed a lot of... unusual things about our Lady over the past few days, so we thought we shall act to protect our Lady before anyone else notices." "Olivia, Ruby, what are you talking about?" Asked Milena, feeling a bit sick.

"My Lady, you have been dozing off multiple times during the night without noticing."

"This isn't unusual, I'm tired from all that stupid paperwork!"

"You have also been eating sweets, my Lady," said Ruby. "Since a few days ago, you touched the sweets that were given to you much more than usual. I know you're trained to consume even the foods you hate, but... Blanche, Olivia and I noticed. You're also much colder... You've been wearing thicker coats, and asking for hot drinks more often."

Milena's eyes went to Blanche, who was calmly seated a few steps away, and staring at her with her big golden eyes. Despite the cat looking so calm, her tail was whipping the air around her.

"Your... period is also later than usual, my Lady," said Olivia. "Ruby suggested we make it look like you bleed before someone starts questioning it..."

Ruby nodded, and walked to their bed without adding a word. She pulled the blanket, and suddenly sliced her hand over the bed. Milena watched as her servant's blood stained their bedsheets. She tried to calculate. She had always been late, so she hadn't been surprised when her period didn't come for a while...

"Those are very faint proofs," she whispered.

"I know my Lady," said Olivia. "But... We are your closest aides, and we know our Lady well. I really think there's... something unusual, my Lady."

Milena remained silent for a couple of seconds. It was true she had been feeling more tired than usual, but there was nothing strange about that, with everything that had happened recently. She glanced towards Rayan. Her blood's taste... this was a bit more strange. Milena tried to remember her latest meals. She was usually on the lookout for poison, and never thought too much about what she ate inside the Castle. She knew she could enjoy her favorite food back at the De Crescent Manor, so here she had never really been bothered to eat anything else than what was given. Still, among all the choice of food she had gotten... It was true she had been craving sweet things more than usual. Even that morning, at breakfast. Did it make sense that she'd eat sweet things when it was just Valentin and her? Her brother knew about her tastes, and there was no one else to witness...

Still, Milena shook her head. She didn't want to give in to any false hopes.

"We can't be sure," she said. "There is no proof, for now, the only hints that I... that it could be true are too thin."

"Perhaps," said Rayan. "But we don't know how your body will react anyway. You could be in the very early stages of pregnancy, hence why we'll only get this type of hints."

He turned to Olivia again, with a sinister expression.

"Who else knows?"

"No one but the people in this room and Dinah, my Lady's other handmaiden, Your Highness."

"Are you sure?" Insisted Rayan.

"....I don't think anyone else knows, your Highness."

This answer wasn't enough in the vampire prince's eyes, but Olivia had said the truth. She couldn't possibly be sure no one else had noticed. Perhaps Milena's brother had taken notice, or another servant had been wondering about her lack of period. The Castle's employees were quick to take notice of such things and spread rumors, hence why Ruby and Olivia had decided to act as quick as possible to mislead them.

"No one must know," suddenly declared Rayan.

"Yes, your Highness," answered Ruby.

Olivia, however, looked conflicted.

"But... Your Highness... Shouldn't we call a doctor to confirm this...?"

"No one," roared Rayan. "My brother and his allies have eyes absolutely everywhere. Do not trust and do not tell anyone."

Olivia had no choice but to bow again, visibly terrified, before moving to take care of the bed. She acted quickly and swiftly, while Milena watched her, still at a loss. Her emotions were in too much of a mess. She turned to Rayan. "...Rayan, I'm not sure that's..."

"I know you want to be careful about this news," he whispered gently, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "However, I think they are right, too. And if it's true, we have to conceal it at any costs."

"But..."

"You can't tell anyone for now, Milena. Not even your family. I know you trust them, but the one thing we don't want is more people aware of this, for now. Promise me you'll wait as long as you can before telling them." "My father could protect me," she whispered.

"If you act anything out of the ordinary, Ellias will notice. He has an eye for this kind of thing, and everyone already has their eyes on you. I do not want to give him a reason to try and kill you now, Milena. It's better if he thinks he can relax because I'm gone and you're not carrying a child. My child. You've seen how he is, and it's only going to get worse. Wait, please. Wait to announce it to anyone. This is too close to Philomenie's, if he thinks our baby could be born first..."

"Rayan, I don't know if I can," whispered Milena, tears coming to her eyes.

Without even realizing it, she already had her hands on her belly, in a prospective stance. She was strong, but out of all things, Milena couldn't even fathom losing their baby. If she really was pregnant, this might be her first and last chance to carry his child before Rayan left. Milena had hoped so much for this pregnancy to happen, but now, she was terrified. She'd have to protect her baby alone, without Rayan. She knew nothing about being a mother, and she had to conceal it in a Castle full of her enemies. Her husband smiled softly and caressed her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Milena, you're strong. You're even stronger when it's to protect others, my queen. I have no doubt you'll do anything you have to for the sake of our child... and I trust you. Just like your mother would have done absolutely anything to protect you. I have seen it, and you're just like her."

She took a deep breath, and slowly nodded. Hearing about her mother at such a time was giving her a new, unexpected but welcome wave of courage and confidence. She was now finally in a position Elizia had been in once. Milena wanted to hold on to that thought, and focus on anything but her health, and that of her baby.

Rayan smiled, and gently took her in for a hug. Surrounded by his strong arms and his cape, Milena relaxed a little. She closed her eyes, hearing the sounds of Olivia changing the bedsheets, and Rayan's slow breathing. "...There's still a possibility we're wrong," she whispered.

"Let's assume we're not. Anyway... you shouldn't have to change anything much, Milena. Just act as normally as possible. Do not let anyone know you might be pregnant. Thanks to all the rumors my brother and his allies spread, we actually have the advantage this time around. Everyone will assume you're not pregnant, rather than think you could be."

She nodded faintly, trying to take the news calmly.

Pregnant... That possibility resonated strangely inside Milena's mind. She didn't feel any different, but... she couldn't help but acknowledge the little changes Olivia and Ruby had mentioned. It was true she had been feeling colder than usual lately, and, more surprising, craving sweets. She tried to remember the few past days as if she could replace more clues. She had felt sick from the Saint's blood, but he had mentioned it was only to be expected, wasn't it?

Suddenly, Milena realized. She had been stabbed, just a few days ago. Shouldn't it have affected the baby? She tried to remember, but aside from the actual wound, nothing had happened... The injury was located further than where she ought to be carrying, too. What if it affected the pregnancy somehow... She shook her he ad, and buried it in Rayan's shoulder again, trying to calm down. She was already making no sense and being irrational over everything... He was right. She'd better act as if she wasn't pregnant, for now, and see what happened. It was such a dangerous time for her to replace out about this.

"...It's strange," suddenly chuckled Rayan.

"What?"

He let out a long sigh, and pulled away a bit to look at her from up close, an enigmatic look on his face. He gently caressed her face.

"I am about to leave for a war from which... I may not come back from."

"You'd better come back," frowned Milena, upset.

"I'll do my very best. But... we both know the odds. I am not scared to die, Milena. My whole life has been haunted by death since the very day I was born. I've come to learn to live with that threat that I might not live the next day. Here or on a battlefield, it's all the same. However..." He sighed, and his thumb came to caress her red lips.

"You're the one thing I'd miss most. Each second with you has made all the fights until now worth it, Milena. I'm going to go to that war, and I'll spend each minute trying to win it, to come back to you. The fastest I can, I already want to come back to you, my queen. And now...."

His hand slowly moved to follow the lines of her body, gently caressing her waistline. A smile appeared as he put his fingers against her tummy.

"Now, you've given more to look forward to if I come back. I want to see the face of our baby, Milena. I want to think at each moment that you'll be here, waiting for me to return. That my queen will be waiting here for me, that you'll be there. So please, please... be there when I come back."

His red eyes suddenly got more serious. He took a deep breath.

"Be there, Milena," he whispered. "Wait for me. I know you're strong enough to defeat anything, and you will. You're a survivor, and... no matter what they throw at you, I know you'll be able to resist. Don't let those dogs get to you. Protect our baby, and look after yourself, like no one else will, Milena."

He gently caressed her face again, pushing a strand of her raven locks behind her ear.

"You have to move on... as if you were going to be alone for the rest of your life." "Rayan..." She protested.

"No, listen to me; This isn't just about our marriage. I'm saying this for you. I know we have been... working on making countless connections, replaceing allies, and trying to figure out whom we can place our trust in or not. Still, there isn't one person in this world that will ever look out for you more than... yourself, Milena. Don't hang on the thinking that I might return, my queen, because as much as I want to, I may not. As your husband, and the one man that has been blessed to call you my wife, I want you to be able to carry on without me... if anything comes to happen."

Once again, there were tears in her eyes. It was way too soon to blame it on her pregnancy hormones, but Milena felt like everyone and everything had been making a mess of her emotions way too many times lately. She tried to push Rayan away, angrily, but her strength was no match for the strong and sturdy arms holding her close. Instead, all she managed to do was to have him smile softly.

"You're a liar," she said. "You said you'd come back, that I shouldn't forget you..."

"Oh, I'll do my best, and I do hope you won't forget you have a husband," he said. "I never want you to remarry, Milena. As selfish as it is of me saying that, I hope to be your one and only man for eternity, whether I do grow old by your side or not. I am a selfish man and I won't shy away from this."

"You selfish jerk..."

"Yes, I am. Selfish might be my middle name, for all I care," he chuckled, ignoring Milena's upset expression.

He leaned forward, kissing her forehead. This time, she didn't ignore him or try to push him away. Milena knew Rayan too well by now, and she just didn't want to have a fight with him again. "...I understand," she sighed.

"Really?"

"I understand, but I won't promise you anything," she declared. "You can be selfish all you want, I have to look after myself. I have no intention to remarry though, so you'd better come back."

Rayan chuckled. He wasn't even feeling offended. After all, Milena was perfectly right. Neither of them could tell what would happen in the next few months, the sacrifice she'd have to make for her own survival. All that matter was that she survived, and he'd never be mad at her for doing her best, in the world they were in... He slowly nodded, and hugged her a bit tighter.

"Oh, I really need to hurry up and end this stupid war as soon as I can... Shall I bring you a giant's toe as a souvenir?"

"You're not even funny," she grumbled.

Rayan chuckled, but Milena gently pushed him away.

"I have your present," she said.

"Already?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What? You think I'd wait until the last minute to give it to you?"

"I don't know. I think this is the first gift you've given me..."

"You mean one you didn't forcefully take anyway? I'm am still missing a couple of pieces of underwear, Rayan De Solar."

"I plead guilty, but I'm not giving those back."

"...You're a pervert."

"You're going to have to pick my middle name, I can't have two..."

Milena chuckled as she walked away to grab a little box she had safely stored in her dressing table. Visibly curious and impatient, Rayan approached, and she slowly opened it for him.

"... What is this?" He whispered, taking it out of its box.

It looked like a heavy medallion, with a simple silver chain. It was obvious it wasn't a piece of jewelry. For the first few seconds, Rayan thought he was looking at a pocket watch. However, once he opened the little locket, it was clear he was wrong. The medallion opened in two, but there was no clock inside. Instead, one side contained two stones, a black moon-shaped one, and a red heart-shaped one. the other side was dark red and smooth as a mirror. He frowned, genuinely surprised by this unique present. Milena was blushing a little.

"...I designed it," she said. "I call it a memory locket. It is the latest product of my glass business... Although this one isn't on the market. The left side contains two stones, each representing one of the lovers."

"...You're the red heart?"

"No, you are. I am the black moon... Your little moon."

Those words echoed strangely on Rayan's mind. He suddenly remembered. This was the nickname Milena's mother used to call her when they were children... when the others called her his little fiancé. He chuckled. She had probably used one of her precious rubies to make that heart.

"What about the other side? It's a red mirror..."

"It's my blood."

Once again, Rayan was speechless. He brought the locket closer to his face, and indeed, he could faintly scent Milena's familiar blood.

"My blood that we froze and put in a glass container... It is solidified now. I thought you'd like to have... one of your favorite parts of me with you."

Rayan chuckled, his finger caressing the smooth red part with a smile. He wouldn't necessarily call it his favorite part, but... where he was going, seeing her unique blood might as well become the best memory he could have. He nodded. He had no idea what to expect for his gift, but... this was probably the best one. It was as unique as his wife and deeply meaningful for both of them. The crescent moon symbolized her, and a red heart for him... He loved it. He loved each thought Milena had put into designing this, and how right she was about everything.

He smiled, and brought it to his lips, kissing the little diamond of blood.

"I'll never leave it," he whispered. "May it bring me luck."

"May it bring you back..."