Lady Dhampir
Chapter 213

Never had words felt so liberating to Milena.

Because she was acting so tough and strong all the time, she had almost forgotten there was one place she didn't have to hide to cry, and there were people she could cry to. Raphael was her older brother, and when she suddenly broke out in tears right there and then, he opened up his arms to hug her. His cold embrace was the most warming feeling she could use at that moment, along with Blanche's warm fur rubbed against her skin. He let her cry, long, loud and hard, into his arms, again, and all of the servants who walked by to prepare her father's bath diligently pretended not to see any of that.

Not only that, but when he brought her back to Eugenie's side, she didn't bother to redo her makeup or hide that she had cried. Instead, she let her sister-in-law hug her for a while longer, and they talked about it, all three of them, as if putting words to their feelings had been even more liberating than crying it out loud. Eugenie had held her hand all this while, and they had drunk a lot of warm honey milk tea brought by Sofia. They chose not to have dinner, but sweet and savory snacks were regularly brought in by their personal attendants, all their favorites.

For the first in a long time, Milena let her defenses down and relaxed a bit. A chimney fire had been lit in the salon for them, and a thick fur was laid on her lap, where Blanche had decided to carry on with her nap. Eugenie had picked up a little embroidery she had begun not long ago, and from the red thread she was wielding, Milena knew this would be placed in her husband's coffin soon... Next to them, Raphael was starting to look tired. He had a cup of blood in his hand, and was swirling it mindlessly without drinking. "The young master is asking for you, my Ladies, young Master Raphael," announced Sofia, the family's nanny with a gentle smile as she walked into the room with a new teapot.

"Oh, I didn't realize the time," said Eugenie, suddenly distracted from her embroidery. "Did Antonin wake up from his nap long ago?"

"Just over an hour, my Lady, he had his milk and was just playing in his crib. Now the young Lady is up too, and asking to see her Father and little cousin."

"Bring them in," nodded Raphael.

Milena was happy to see her niece and nephew. Antonin was still just a baby who would make cute sounds on his mom's lap, but Rowena's growth was strikingly fast. The young baby could already throttle around on all fours, at least long enough to play chase with Blanche in her cat form. She could speak a few simple words too, although most were used to reclaim her cousin or her dad's attention.

"You're a Lady De Crescent for sure," sighed Raphael after she changed her mind for the fifth time about being on his lap or not. "So willful."

The young baby ignored her dad's complaint and decided to go snatch a little piece of cake on the table, watched from up close by Sofia, who carefully put the rest of the plate further away.

Milena couldn't help but think about that child's biological mother each time she saw her. In her heart, Raphael was definitely Rowena's father, and he would be forever, but the Oracle was still locked under her watch, and now that she was seeing Rowena, she couldn't help but be tempted to go see that woman again.

"Millie, no."

Raphael's voice took her by surprise, and she turned her head, perplexed.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't like that frowning. Don't think about that."

"You're ridiculous. You don't even know what I had in mind."

"No, but I know my little sister when she gets lost in her broodiness and starts thinking about very complicated stuff. Not now, Millie. Drop it."

Opposite to them, Eugenie chuckled, amused by their banter. On the other side of the table, Sofia sighed.

"Oh, I miss the old days when Lady Milena and young master Lucian would always be running around and making a fuss in this manor's corridors... Making us all worry and run around to replace their new hideouts and little games..."

As she spoke, the old nanny's expression gradually fell, and tears appeared in her eyes, making Milena's heart sink.

"I'm sorry," cried Sofia. "I just really hope Master Lucian is alright... Oh, poor Master Valentin... He was such a sweet child..."

The nanny's tears immediately triggered the children, and Rowena started sobbing at the same time as Antonin began loudly crying. Sofia tried to apologize and approached to soothe the children, but Raphael gently hugged her first instead, while Milena took Rowe on her lap, and hugged the little girl gently until she calmed down a bit. Luckily, the toddler's attention was easily diverted, and as soon as Sofia was escorted outside by Raphael and Dinah, the little girl got very intrigued by Milena's belly. She put her tiny hands on the bump, her big red eyes all curious to see what her aunt was hiding there. Milena smiled, and caressed her black hair. The little girl was a mystery in so many ways, but at least, there wasn't an ounce of her mother's deviousness in her. No matter their parents, children were really a blank canvas...

The little girl got distracted again by Raphael's return, and reached out to him with her little arms and much whining. He took her back on his lap, letting the little girl rest calmly there and play with the trinkets on his jacket. Milena smiled, wondering if she should order a new family painting of that scene. Raphael was obviously a very good dad to his daughter, looking after each of Rowena's movements with deep interest, helping put her little shoe back on and answering seriously to her completely unstructured sentences. "....Do you think we should get Rowe examined?"

Eugenie's sudden question took them both by surprise, and their sister-in-law quickly made an apologetic expression.

"I don't mean this in any bad way, just... her growth speed is unusual, isn't it? Even her cognitive abilities... I've read all about children, and she might really be a prodigy."

"...It's better if she can act the way she wants for now," declared Milena. "Let's wait until she's a bit older... When she can understand more things and decide. For now, she should just be raised like any girl of our household. If she learns smarter, we should just get her better tutors. As long as she can get along with children her age, it will be alright. Let's not treat her differently."

Her eyes met with Raphael, and he faintly nodded before directing his attention to his daughter again. He had long learned to surrender to Milena's opinion on things, even on his daughter. He was well-aware she had handed him the baby for a precise reason, and was unwilling to talk about her birth parents, too. For now, he was just grateful she was treated like his biological child would. It didn't matter what other people thought, as long as Rowena was accepted by their family, she would take the family name De Crescent and always be considered as a full part of their family. She wasn't the first child to be born out of wedlock in a noble family, and this wouldn't be the first time there were some family secrets hidden from the public... Just like Milena had suggested, most people would think Raphael had a child too soon, but no one would dare speak up to the De Crescent Family. Sooner or later, Rowena would learn how to handle those rumors too, but for now, she was protected in the familial cocoon, and that was plenty enough. The only thing Milena hoped for that child was to live a happy life, unbothered by her parents' mistakes. Perhaps would she tell her the truth if Rowena even came to ask. But that would have to be in a few years, when that girl would be old enough to understand and not be too affected by it.

"It would be nice, if our children grow up to do some great things in the future..." said Eugenie. "When this war will be over, and everything. Perhaps Rowena will be the new genie of the century, and Antonin will grow up to be a great young knight, too... Have you ever thought about it, Milena? About your twins' future?"

The young duchess smiled. She had rarely imagined past her babies' birth. In her dreams, she was completely safe, with her husband by her side, and her family around to share that happiness with her. More and more now, it felt like that dream was slowly getting shattered into pieces. She put a hand on her belly, trying to feel her babies move. They were rather quiet, most of the time... She slowly shook her head.

"As long as they are born healthy... I just hope they'll be good to our people, and smart enough to not rely on others."

"Sounds a bit like a Princess we know," chuckled Raphael. "...Don't worry. At least, I am not worried if those children are even remotely like their parents, they will be totally fine."

Milena smiled. All that she hoped was that her children would get to grow up completely safe from the Royal Castle's schemes, and be free to choose the path they wanted.

"I hope everything will go fine for you," sighed Eugenie. "Two babies' birth is the very good news we could use, right now. I will be less worried for you, too... And Antonin will get to meet two of his cousins. Right, my baby boy?"

Milena smiled, but there was still this ache in her heart that wouldn't go away. She really wanted to see her twins come to this world safe and sound. Perhaps, more than everything. She had desperately wanted these babies, and she wasn't scared of childbirth, as long as they survived it, as long as she'd get to hold them in her arms... She had already shielded and consolidated her heart against the sadness of her husband not being there. As long as Rayan remained alive and came home someday, she would endure it. She already had in mind how she'd make him take care of their babies when he'd be back, how she'd laugh at him struggling to take care of newborns... Perhaps he'd excel at it, like everything.

For now, she had to take one day at a time.

Milena knew she had to balance her motherhood with her duties, and it wouldn't be easy. Even as she bid good night to her family, and got ready to sleep in her childhood bedroom for the first time in a very long time, she couldn't replace rest. She paced around in the room, until it got too much for her legs. Her heavy belly wasn't allowing much pacing around. Eventually, she decided to lay in her bed and write letters to her friends, and to Rayan, just to let them know of her latest ideas and what was coming up. After a while, Dinah knocked and quietly walked in.

"My Lady, Master Raphael asked me to let you know the situation with the Orphans from the Church is getting taken care of. Digory will let them sleep in the servants' quarters for tonight, and make sure they all receive a medical examination first thing tomorrow, and then he'll see which ones can work here and which are worth getting educated."

"Thank you, Dinah."

"Mint made a request to keep working for you, my Lady. I think she hopes to become your personal maid."

"Have her be trained; She's good with children, she'll help after the twins' birth."

"Understood, my Lady. ...If you don't want to sleep yet, would you like some honey milk?"

On the bed, Blanche who was curled up by Milena's side rose her head up, her ears perking up.

"... Two cups," nodded Milena. "Oh, and let the coachman know I will be going to church, tomorrow morning."

"...To Church, my Lady? Are you sure?"

"Ask Eugenie for the closest one we have around, I don't even know those things... Dinah, from tomorrow on, I will be attending Church services in the morning. I want to try to see if the man I'm looking for can be found in any of those, or if we can bribe those people into telling us where he might be."

"My Lady, I'm not sure those people are very, uh... receptive to bribing."

"I'll think of something. Just let the coachman know, and ask Eugenie to list out the Churches I could go to."

"I understand... but my lady, you came here to rest, not to tour all of the Churches..."

Milena glared at her maid. Although she liked Dinah's honesty at times, it could also get a little bit annoying, especially when she knew her maid was right... She eventually rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going to go every day. I already promised my family I'd rest here, so I will try to do so, and move the work I have here. Between the Institute I want to build up and the new Blood trade, I'll be busy regardless... I'll ask my Ladies-in-waiting to come here and help me out if possible, then.... But next time you criticize my decisions, Dinah, I'm going to get mad."

"Yes, my Lady..."

She knew her young human maid was never really afraid of those threats. Her maid had been by her side too long and was way too precious to her. Dinah left, with a smile on her face, to get that honey milk, hoping it would get her mistress to finally get some sleep...

Milena did sleep well that night, and in fact, against her orders, no one woke her up to go to Church the next morning. With Raphael and Eugenie's support, her maids ganged up to make sure she would get a full night of restful sleep, for once, even if it meant having their mistress very mad at them the next day.

Luckily, they were spared by the arrival of Lady D'Aventur, who had come to chat with Milena about all business matters as usual. In fact, despite her promise, Milena really did get busy for the next few days, although she stayed at the De Crescent Manor, and only went to church with her sister-in-law once every two or three days. The upcoming funeral turned out to be a perfect excuse to tour the nearby churches, under the pretenses of preparing the ceremony. However, Milena's search turned out to be fruitless, and for the first few days she could only focus on the blood trade, she had to prepare to the smallest details, Raphael's reports on the Society of Vampires' moves, the letters of nobles who were trying to get their share of her upcoming Institute, and herself. Compared to the Royal Castle where she had somewhat been forgotten in her tower, in the Manor, everyone had something to say about her pregnancy and her health. Milena even had to hide several times in some abandoned salons to get some peace, or pretend she was annoyed at how long the Manor's constructions were going for people to finally leave her alone. All this time, her other worry was also her dad. Her presence seemed to definitely light up his mood at times, but sometimes, it also seemed like he was getting deeper into his depressed state. Milena had a hard time with the idea this was something she couldn't do anything about, so she visited him often, trying to bring some good news, or ask him to do things for her so he'd get busy interacting with other nobles. The Duke strangely wasn't as useful as Raphael, though. Milena had never realized how her brother's influence had grown among the Society of Vampires. If it wasn't for his situation and Antonin, he would have perhaps made a more decent Duke than he had thought of himself. Not only that, but he was quickly getting familiar and closer to Milena's Ladies-in-waiting who came to visit her in her familial home, to the point he became very good friends with Lilyn, or exchanged a lot with Chartiana about Lucian. For those few days, things did seem to pass by a bit strangely in the Manor. During the day, Milena was busy with all sorts of things, letters and meetings, but also trying to rest to everyone's request, and when evening came, she'd get saddened by grief again, and worried about her father. Luckily, this never lasted long, for the next day would come and she'd get too busy to worry too much.

This lasted until just a few days later, another letter from Rayan finally arrived at the De Crescent Manor.

It accompanied Valentin's body.