Lady Dhampir
Chapter 201

"...Is she going to be alright?"

The young Queen nodded, washing her hands once more in the little basin.

"She's going to be alright, Sir Raphael. With a bit of rest, Lady Milena will be alright by tomorrow. She just needs a good night's sleep, and a lot less stress from now on." He nodded.

Raphael De Crescent had the fright of his life just minutes ago, when he had arrived at the Royal Castle. First, having his little sister's best knight come and get him from the De Crescent Manor had been surprising enough. Jeremiah was strangely solemn yet refused to say anything, only begging him to come as fast as possible. Raphael knew his younger sister enough to understand she wouldn't have made him ride through the night and the snow from the De Crescent Manor to the Royal Castle without a very good reason. Even worse, upon arriving here, already out of breath, he had heard all sorts of rumors about his sister being sick, and the Queen being summoned. As much as he could replace his days at the Manor boring at times, the second heir had never asked for this much adrenaline at once. No vampire had ever been seen flying up the stairs so fast to the Grand Princess' apartments. Moreover, as he had gotten close, Raphael had almost run into the infuriated King. He had just heard the end of his conversation with the Queen, and remained hidden until they were done.

He had always had good instincts. He was not as much of a fighter as Valentin or Lucian, but when it came to schemes, plotting and strategies, Raphael found himself far superior, second to Milena only. Hence, he could tell when, upon walking up to the argument of the Royal Couple, he had stood in the hallway, waiting for the right time. His blood was boiling at the thought something had happened to their beloved Millie, but he also knew how complex and intricate her position within the Castle was. The King still had feelings towards his sister-in-law, clearly, while his wife had also shifted her attitude greatly in the recent months.

What he couldn't have predicted, though, was the bomb the Queen dropped in the middle of that argument.

"The family De Crescent suffered a great loss tonight."

Raphael had felt his cold heart drop as soon as he had heard those words. In times of war, a great loss couldn't be much of an enigma...One of their brothers was dead. For a full minute, he had remained there, somehow still hearing the end of that dispute while his thoughts were wiped by the loss. Valentin, or Lucian? Raphael couldn't even begin to imagine either of those two passing away. Worse, what if both had...?

No. He had closed his eyes and his fists and tried to regain his composure. He had to wait until he heard it from Milena's lips. If anything, he knew his younger sister needed him right now. He had to hold on to that important promise he had made, six months ago... Hence, Raphael had waited in the dark, until the King had finally walked away, for once losing an argument against his wife. Never had Raphael ever thought he could be thankful to a member of the House De Winter one day, yet here he was. Lurking in the dark, just letting a few seconds pass so he could see his sister without the King knowing. It was those precious seconds that allowed him to regain his composure.

Once the King was gone, Raphael walked to the doors, Milena's men letting him through immediately. To his surprise, he had found the Queen herself, just then, looking a bit tired. They had barely exchanged a few words, out of sheer courtesy, before going together to Milena's bedroom.

Raphael had been once again shocked to see his younger sister in such a state. Milena was never one to show her weaknesses, even to her own family. He had run to her side, seeing her emotionally and physically exhausted, while the Queen had quickly explained there had been a non-threatening issue with the pregnancy. Raphael hadn't asked much more, simply holding his sister's hand while the Queen finished examining her. They hadn't said a word for a long while, Milena crying in silence while the Queen gently spoke to her.

Now though, the Queen was done and getting ready to go back.

"Then her... children are safe?" He asked again, to confirm.

"Absolutely. I do recommend seeing a doctor, just to be sure, but I swear to God, I have seen nothing wrong with Lady Milena's body or her babies. They are all fine. The issue is more... psychological, I fear."

Milena and Raphael exchanged a look. Despite being visibly tired, his sister refused to succumb to sleep. They held hands and kept staring at each other for a long time, until he looked over his shoulder at the Queen.

"...Thank you, Your Majesty. The House De Crescent owes you a great debt."

"I will refuse that debt, Sir Raphael. I want to think helping Lady Milena was out of genuine friendship, not a service or debt to be paid later."

A silence befell the room, during which Milena's tears stopped. Her purple eyes suddenly went to the Queen, who froze for a second. "...Did he ask?"

"Yes...I'm sorry, I told him the truth."

"It's alright. It would have been hard to get him to leave otherwise...Was he surprised?"

"I... believe so," muttered Philomenie, trying to remember her brief conversation with her husband just earlier.

The Grand Princess remained quiet. Either way, Ellias must have been curious about why she called the Queen in the middle of the night. Not just him, but people were definitely going to talk, from then on... She stared at her sister-in-law and noticed Philomenie was definitely bothered, too. After a while, Milena shook her head faintly, moving herself a bit on her bed to turn to face her brother. Olivia had helped put on more appropriate night clothing, a simple but long nightdress.

"Thank you, Philomenie," sighed Milena.

"You're welcome. Make sure you drink that herbal tea, and I will send more tomorrow....Once again, I'm very sorry about what happened to your family. Good... No, see you tomorrow."

After those words, the Queen simply left, looking still bothered. Raphael had noticed her change of attitude since he was here... Perhaps she had something to tell her sister-in-law she couldn't say with him in the room. They waited in silence until she left, and Dinah came back confirming the Queen and the Saint had left her apartments.

"Olivia, Dinah, leave us alone please," muttered Milena.

The vampire maid put the herbal tea on her bedside table and nodded.

"We will wait next door, my Lady."

Since her maids were still so worried for her, it was unlikely they'd go to bed anytime soon... At least Olivia wouldn't. Once they were left alone, with Blanche curling up on the bed, Milena let a few more tears out, as if she had been waiting for it. Raphael gently caressed her hand. "I've rarely seen your skin in such a bad state," he finally chuckled.

He grabbed some of Milena's products from her dressing table, and very gently, helped her remove the traces of her damaged makeup, as well as wiped her tears. He couldn't do anything for the ones that were still coming out, though. Yet, Raphael didn't say anything, and simply kept gently wiping her face, until no makeup was left, just his little sister's bare face and feelings.

"... Did you hear?" Milena sobbed.

"...I overheard their Majesties," he whispered. "...Which one?"

"...Val," she let out in a cry.

Raphael repressed his own crying, his hand tightening around his little sister's. His red eyes got teary, but a frown appeared between his eyebrows as he was struggling to keep it contained.

"How... How did you know?"

"...Bryce. He sent word... His brother's men found me on my way back."

Raphael shook his head.

"Then it's probably true... f**k no..."

Her brother finally let his upper body lean forward, burying his face in his arm, although he wouldn't let go of her. Milena tried hard to stop crying, for her babies and Raphael, but she couldn't. The truth was sinking in deep and hard, stabbing her heart apart with hundreds of needles each time.

"I'm sorry, Raphael...." She sobbed.

"Don't be sorry for me," he retorted, lifting his face. "Don't, Millie."

He had just let out a couple of tears, but her brother had aged ten years in ten minutes. He had a grave expression that reminded her of their father. Raphael took a deep breath in, visibly to keep himself from crying anymore. He just shook his head. "Val... Damn it. I know I'm... your older brother and I should be brave, but... Damn..."

"He was your older brother too, Raph," muttered Milena. "It's okay if you cry... Please, cry with me."

"No," retorted Raphael. "I've... cried enough."

His expression suddenly got all serious.

"When... Mother passed, and you disappeared, I'm the one who cried. Lucian cried a lot, too, but Valentin didn't. He didn't shed a single tear, like our dad. One night... After a few days, I couldn't stand it anymore, and I got mad at him. I was young, and I couldn't stand to be the one crying when Valentin didn't. I was just nine, and I lashed out at him like crazy, calling him heartless and a ton of other things I regret."

"What... did he say?"

"He said he couldn't cry," said Raphael. "He couldn't cry, because Lucian and I were young, and he was the older brother. He wanted to protect us from his sadness, and replace you so we could stop crying... He was just a twelve-year-old brat trying to act tough, but he didn't cry in front of us. Yet, after that, I think I understood what it really meant to be the older brother. I swore... I swore to Val, before he left, that I would be the one to protect you guys if something happened again. To him, or to our father. I swore to him I'd protect you, and Val promised me he'd look after Lucian..."

Milena sobbed in a strange laugh, shaking her head.

"You're both idiots... Why are you trying to act... act so tough... We're not children anymore..."

"You're still our little sister," Raphael muttered with a weak smile. "And we'll still protect you..."

He finally let out a broken cry. Milena felt her own tears coming back, and for a few minutes, they simply cried together, alone in that room. Raphael hid his eyes in his hand, but she could still see his shoulders shaking, and hear his sobs. He and Valentin only had a three-year difference in age... They had been together the longest.

He shook his head, visibly broken.

"I can't... Milena, I can't take Valentin's place. I... I can't be the Duke, or... help Eugenie, or Dad... I'm not... I'm not like him. I can't..." "Raphael, you don't have to."

She gently caressed his cheek, and he pushed his chair closer to the bed.

"You don't have to," she repeated softly. "You're not Val, you're Raphael, and that's enough already. I... I know Val wouldn't have wanted you to shoulder everything by yourself. Our dad is strong, and Eugenie is a very strong woman, too. She knew the risks just like all of us... I... I know she will be able to face this. But we will face it together, alright? Don't worry, Raphael. I know the promise you made was different. Val... I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted this."

Her brother slowly nodded, but how much he had understood, Milena wasn't sure. Raphael was just like her; even more stubborn when he was fighting for someone else. With Valentin gone, so many things were going to be so different... Milena couldn't even begin to imagine what they would have to face at the Manor the next day. Their father had already lost their mother, and now, Valentin...

"We need to look after Dad," she muttered. "And we need to confirm how Lucian is, alright?"

"I'll send someone right away to encquire of him," he nodded.

"Bryce mentioned Lucian knew of Val.... Of what had happened, but we need to write to him right away. This way, he can confirm it, too..."

"Milena, stop," suddenly muttered Raphael, shaking his head.

He gently put his hand against her cheek, caressing it. He caressed her raven locks, pushing them out of her face.

"Stop doing that. You already almost lost your babies tonight... I want you to stop worrying about everyone else, for now. I'm sorry I... I broke down, but please, let me handle things, alright? I... This is what I must do. You don't worry about it, and please, just rest. If anything happens to you, Valentin will curse me from where he is, alright? Let's... Please, don't worry about anyone else. Let's just..."

He took a deep breath, visibly on the edge of breaking down again. He gently took his sister's hands in his, and brought them to his cold lips, kissing them softly. A new tear escaped from his eye.

"Tonight, let's just grieve together, please. If... If we have to let it all out, let it be now, just you and I, together. Tomorrow morning, you can be back to the strong Grand Princess De Crescent, and I will fill my duties as your older brother and the heir apparent to the House De Crescent, but please... Tonight, in this room, you and I, let's just be a pair of siblings crying for their loss. I want... I need to cry with you. I'll stay here, so don't think about anything else. We just... Need to think about Valentin."

For a while, the two of them simply stared into each other's eyes, and cried.

Milena could feel her pillow, wet against her cheek, but she kept holding on tight to her brother's cold hand. Raphael didn't cry as much, but his red eyes were even redder, and his tears flowed down his cheeks silently. She had never noticed before how similar her brothers were... They had the same cheekbones, and though they were of different colors, the shape of their eyes was like their dad's.

After a while, Milena's eyes went to the door to her office.

"...I received his last letter five days ago," she muttered.

"...That's probably the last one he wrote."

Milena smiled strangely at his words.

"... Do you want me to get it?" He asked.

"No... You can read it later if you want. He just... told me about his men, his life in the camp. He complained, too, as usual..."

"He hated the cold," chuckled Raphael bitterly.

"So much. He complained about Lucian being too happy on the battlefield... And Eugenie's letters' strong perfume."

"...I remember the last letter he sent me, too," muttered Raphael.

"What did he say?"

"He asked about you... About Father, and Eugenie. He worried about all of us, and he wanted to be home... To see his son. He was happy Eugenie gave birth safely; he wanted to see his baby soon."

Milena's throat tightened up again, thinking Valentin wouldn't even get to meet his son... nor Antonin, his father. Just like she had no recollection of their mom.

"...He said something else," suddenly muttered Raphael. "I just remember now. He talked with your husband, one night, and about your pregnancy. They were both worried about your body, and shocked you like sweets now."

"... Really?" Smiled Milena.

"Yeah... Valentin said he hoped you'd have a girl, so our mother's genes could be passed down. And since you're pretty, he wanted a pretty niece..."

Milena smiled. She was sure Rayan would love a daughter, too... A little princess. She took a deep breath in, realizing her sobbing had stopped. "Raphael?"

"What is it?"

"I think... I know what I want to call my baby, if I have a girl."

Her brother was speechless for a second, and then, he smiled.

"Yeah... I'm sure he'd love that idea, too."

Milena smiled, and closed her eyes, trying to bury her brother's smiling image in her head, and in her heart, too. The smell of lavender helped soothe her into sleep, but she still had a lot of sorrow in her mind, and some bittersweet memories, too. She could see the two men, chatting by a fire pit...