Lady Dhampir
Chapter 261

Milena grimaced, letting Dinah tighten her corset a bit more. Her maid gave her an apologetic expression, but Milena was the one who had specifically chosen that metal-reinforced corset. It was a brand new creation of both Yasina's delicate hands and Chartiana's ironwork. After what had happened the previous time, her ladies-in-waiting had been more than hell-bent on reinforcing Milena's protection by any means.

"...I still believe I should stay with you," insisted Chartiana, who was seated in one corner of the room, patiently waiting for her with a cup of warm blood. "I can understand you asked Lady Yasina, Lady Briseis and Lady De Camellia to stay away, but I am a vampire, and one of your closest allies. People will replace it odd if none of your Ladies-in-waiting are there!"

"I asked them to stay away for their own protection," sighed Milena, rolling her eyes again. "Even Prudence is staying at her family's residence instead of inside the Castle. I told you, we have high reasons to think this Banquet will not end well..." "All the more reason for me to stay! I am a decent fighter and an excellent shot, Milena. It's already dangerous enough for you to put yourself in the middle of a Banquet-filled with vampires, and inside the Royal Castle, no less!"

Milena wished she would have been able to hold this Banquet at home, as well, instead of using the Royal Castle, but after hearing Ora's prophecies, she was all the more convinced that it was safer. Regardless of her predictions, if it was a Banquet held inside the Royal Castle, at least the House De Crescent would perhaps be more spared if a conflict arose. Moreover, this way all the action would be far away from the defenseless Raphael and Eugenie. Only her Father was set to attend the Banquet. Suddenly, a knock was heard on the door, and Olivia walked in, carrying Blanche as a cat. Her companion had come back the previous night, confirming she had been able to replace out about Lucian's whereabouts. All she knew was that he had kept heading north, which the Oracle had only been too happy to hear.

"Did I miss anything?" Milena frowned.

Blanche quietly walked up to her, rubbing her back against Milena's ankles. Meanwhile, Olivia did a quick reverence and took off her coat.

"No, my Lady. Everything went according to your wishes. The children were sent to the Vermillion Lands under heavy protection. Lady Rowena had a quick chat with the Oracle, under Lady Eugenie's watch, and then they parted. It was very emotional, but she obeyed all of the rules you had agreed on. Then she simply asked to be left alone, but Lady Eugenie is still watching her. She will be coming shortly." "...Good, then."

Milena did not regret giving in to Ora's demands. She had looked truly desperate in begging to see her child before she left and, in any case, Milena knew she would have felt guilty not to let a mother see her child at least once in so long. She was missing her twins so much herself, even if she knew motherhood had made her somehow softer. She took a deep breath in, but Olivia stepped forward.

"My Lady, an urgent message came for you while I was about to leave the Manor."

"... What was it?"

She gave her a letter. It was of an old shade of blue-green, the color of the Sevira House. Milena frowned and opened it quickly. It was a bit cryptic, but as soon as she got to read the message, a large smile appeared on her face. "Oh, thank god..."

"What is it?" Asked Chartiana, stepping forward with curiosity.

"It's Genia. She said they believe they succeeded. They... think they almost have a cure to the Wendigo venom based on my blood. They can't test it without an actual vampire in the process of transformation, but they are still very confident about it. Oh, if it's real, this would be...!"

"For real?" Exclaimed Chartiana, excited. "We should spread it right away! Just in case some-"

"No", Milena interrupted her.

She went to throw the letter in the chimney fire, and ran to her desk, grabbing a quill and some paper to quickly write a response as she spoke.

"No, Chartie. Can you imagine? This is the most precious piece of information we've had in ages. Plus, they aren't quite there yet, and if they do, there will be no way to test this just yet. Let's just wait... Just a bit longer, until this is for sure. Olivia, go down to the archives, and let Briseis know immediately. She should go there first thing tomorrow morning, and make sure this information is safe." "Yes, My Lady."

While Olivia left the room, Milena turned to the mirror again, a smile on her lips. She was wearing a dark dress with red details, exquisite embroidery and large roses lined under her collarbones. With her makeup and this flattering silhouette, she looked a couple of years younger... As if Milena from her engaged years had come back. If only her fiancé was back too...

"You look stunning," said Chartiana, taking her out of her daydreaming.

"I wish I could stun a few people indeed," sighed Milena. "Tonight's business banquet is going to be a game-changer, perhaps a way to shape our future world. I have a feeling it will be truly a unique one..."

She turned to Chartiana, showing off her gorgeous attire and a confident smile. Despite the Oracle's words, Milena had decided to focus only on the Banquet tonight.

Suddenly, a couple of knocks were heard on the door. Milena frowned. Her father wouldn't have bothered to knock, a servant would have announced his arrival. Yet, whoever was on the other side of the door remained strangely quiet. "... Who is this?"

"Henry, Lady Milena."

She raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised, but gestured for Dinah to go and open the door. On the door frame appeared Henry De Boreal, looking a bit fidgety and small in his dark suit.

"Duke," said Milena, genuinely surprised. "Aren't we going to see you at the Banquet?"

"Of course," he said, bowing briefly; "But I had hoped to catch a word with you before that."

"...Fine."

Understanding the situation immediately, Chartiana found some excuse to leave Milena's apartments, leaving them alone in the room.

Milena was a bit curious as to why Henry would have come to see her, so close to the Banquet. She went to sit on the sofa, offering him a sit across from her, Blanche jumping on her lap with an appreciative purr. "What is it, Henry?"

"...I've heard you've been more than proactive, as of late, Lady Milena."

"As I should have."

"Didn't you think you could have kept me involved with you?"

Milena was shocked. Not by his bluntness, but by Henry's sudden question. Involved? What did he talk about? Her business affairs, or the research on the Wendigo?

"Involved in what, Henry? Last time I checked, you also did not feel the need to extend an invitation either. I heard you've become more and more active in vampire circles."

"Those were not really of your concern. As we both know, your older brother Raphael was the one involved with the Society. With him gone, things got much harder over there..."

"And what was I supposed to do?" Frowned Milena. "Alban died. Lady Carseus barely came back, and Raphael is in this condition. Everyone involved in the Society seems to have a terrible tendency to meet dangerous or deadly ends. How did you expect me to suddenly become involved in a political group I had no attachment to? Half of my vampire allies went to war, those who remained are all busy trying to tie their own ends without putting a knot around their necks! The De Boreal Family has been playing like they have been dead for so many years, and suddenly you're blaming me for not involving you enough?"

Henry looked like she had slapped him, but Milena wasn't regretting it one bit. She was tired of stepping on her toes around the vampire politicians. The Duke De Nova had been avoiding her and her father, but at least he was clear on his extremist intentions. Henry, however, had only shown up a couple of times with cryptic ends.

"I've heard about what you've been trying to do," she resumed. "And I do not know if I like it. If you wanted to get me involved, Duke, then you could have at least been more proactive about that. It's not always down to one woman to keep everyone in check!" Henry was once again rendered mute; She saw him swallow his saliva, nod weakly, and look anywhere but in her direction, visibly uneasy. She had already noticed before, but that man ticked all the boxes of an introvert. He was uneasy with conflicts, and had to exert himself to come up with a defense once pushed to the wall. In fact, his timing in coming to see her was almost too perfect. The Society of Vampires had been on her mind for a while, although Raphael's condition had definitely put a big halt to things. "...So, what is it?" She insisted, seeing that he was taking too long to gather his thoughts.

"Alright," he muttered. "I apologize for my lack of delicacy... The truth is, I did not expect things would go so wrong since Sir Raphael got... ill."

"My brother is recuperating, indeed. However, my understanding was that you had a tight enough hand around the Society."

"I'm trying," he said. "I've given in to compromises, but the direction it's taking is not... quite ideal, I would say."

"You should have thought that before you got too ambitious," sighed Milena. "And if you needed my help, you should have come in with a real partnership, not trying to play nice once."

"I did take your side in opposing His Majesty," he frowned.

"You took the position of a puppy scared to growl back at his master's hand," she retorted. "This is not about staying neutral anymore, Henry. Either you pick a side, or you make your own. The Duke De Nova, the Duke De Winter and myself each have our own, and we don't need to play mind games. If you don't make your position clear soon, you will be the first one with no more allies. I am not surprised you're losing your grip on the Society; no one has ever tried to line up behind a leader that fights for nothing concrete." "The Society of Vampires needs to remain neutral!"

"It won't! Open your eyes! It hasn't been neutral for a long time already! You can not ask a whole group of vampires to be blind, mute and quiet when our world is just about to change! Of course more radical opinions are tempting to the young ones! The Duke De Nova might be an Old Crone, but at the very least, he's got ambition and knows what he's talking about! How do you hope to convince anyone when you've been holding back your whole life, Duke?"

Milena had grown impatient with him, but this conversation ought to happen. She had been made so uneasy about Henry's position for so long, now was the time to settle the score for good. She sighed, and pet Blanche a bit to calm herself. "...You're asking me to side with you."

"Anybody would ask you the same," said Milena. "You're a Duke. If you don't choose a position soon, you're going to end up as someone else's pawn. At the very least, my convictions aren't so different from yours. The Society of Vampires recognized my brother. If you side with me, they will get the message crystal clear."

"What I am afraid of, is precisely your convictions. You are too vehement, Lady Milena. You can't always voice your opinions against the King, the Dukes and everyone without expecting somebody to fight you back!"

"Oh, but I do expect a fight," retorted Milena. "I've always been prepared to fight. I have been fighting for my convictions ever since I was born a Duke's daughter, a Dhampir, and a woman, at that! My mere s*x makes me twice as much of a political tool than most, and I've always refused to step back in front of a man. When my Father stood his ground, no one questioned him. Yet, because I am a young woman, with my husband away, they are all looking for the first occasion to bite me. Unlike you, I didn't have the luxury to lie in wait. I was used as a token for a political marriage since I was born, and I've had to choose a husband whose convictions I'd align, despite my own heart! We all make compromises, Henry. What we do not compromise on our core beliefs. If I believe the King is wrong, I will stand my ground, and if I believe the Duke De Winter is a corrupted bastard, I will not let him believe anything else. That's how it works when you have convictions, and the guts to put them out there. So, don't come here and blame me for not going to fetch you to partner up. I don't have to come and get you. First, I am the Grand Princess, and second, my intentions and goals have always been very clear. If you wanted to partner up, you should have been the one to come to me."

A cold wind blew after she was done talking. The tension was floating in the air, suddenly filled with a heavy silence. Henry remained completely quiet, lips pinched as he seemed to consider this woman like someone he'd never seen before. He was visibly thinking long and hard, but time was limited. Milena was looking calmer on the outside than she was on the inside, repeatedly petting her furry companion and only looking at Blanche.

"...I understand," finally said Henry. "Tonight, at the Banquet, I will make things very clear. You... do realize that will put us both at risk, right? The Duke De Nova will not appreciate it. He has been trying to take control of the Society of Vampires for a while now." "The Duke belongs to another time and age," sighed Milena. "Once Lady De Nova comes back, things will change."

She stood up, a polite way to tell him it was time to leave. In fact, Dinah hadn't even poured tea for him. She had read Milena's mood correctly and guessed the Duke wouldn't be invited to stay very long. There would have been rumors if he did stay in the Grand Princess' chambers for too long, as well.

"...I wish I had your faith," he muttered, standing up. "... Is your brother really going to be alright?"

"I do not wish to speak about this....You will have answers in due time."

"I see. Then, I will see you later, Princess. Thank you for having me..."

They parted with the usual courtesy, but as the door closed behind him, Milena was left standing there, fidgeting with her nails, with an ominous feeling.

"You have spoken well, my Lady," said Dinah, as if she thought Milena needed some moral support.

"...I wish I had talked to him sooner. However, I couldn't get to him before he came to me. It would have made things more difficult if he thought I f****d him into this. Oh, well. Come on Dinah, let's adju-"

Just then, someone else knocked on the door. Milena almost wanted to roll her eyes at this non-stop flow of guests, but just as she did, the guest walked in uninvited, a smirk on his face. "How gorgeous you look, Lady De Crescent!"

"... Duke De Winter," Milena hissed. "I don't believe I had given you permission to walk in!"

On the side of the door, Matheus stepped forward, pulling his sword out and getting between the Duke and Milena. Arseus chuckled, glancing at the sword as if it was some ridiculous toy.

"What is this, Princess? You're going to have your Knight kill me for visiting?"

"I'm sure there has to be a history of sliced hands from barging into a Lady's room."

"Easy there... I'm only here to offer a kind, helping hand."

"I just had my afternoon snack and I'd like to keep it down, so you're dismissed."

"Really? You should at least hear me out."

"I've never liked hearing you out, and with good reasons. Leave."

Milena was even more annoyed that he was trying to step forward, and even with a sword directed at him, he looked annoyingly confident. Arseus chuckled, brushing his blonde hair back as if that made him more handsome.

"Ah, stubborn as ever, Princess. That is too bad. I thought of being kind and generous, and as always, you like to take things to the... harsher side. It's too bad we've had to make such sacrifices because you were only able to trust the wrong people, weren't you? I guess you really have a thing for... handsome knights willing to sacrifice yourselves for you."

Milena's heart dropped. He was talking about Jeremiah. He wasn't even trying to take detours; this was Arseus clearly saying he had been involved in Jeremiah's death.

"You scum..." She grunted.

"Hey, don't insult me. You're the one who sent that poor boy to his death, didn't you? I'm sure everyone would have made it out alive if you had let us quietly take care of your little bastard. So, was it a Dhampir? Even that old wrench we caught didn't say a word..." Sofia. Milena closed her fists, her hands shaking so violently.

"You murderer!" She shouted.

"Oh, please," he chuckled. "I like to keep my gloves white, I don't do the dirty work myself. See, as it appears, I was merely on a mission commanded by somebody else. How silly of you to breed with that vampire Prince, and with such timing too! If anyone had thought you were sterile for a while longer, everyone would have been alright... But no. The House De Crescent just loves blood and death too much."

"You're going to be arrested," she hissed. "You dared to try and touch a Royal Baby. For that, you'll be..."

"Oh, but wasn't the said child... Sadly, stillborn? Why would I be accused of the murder of a child that died already?"

He put on a vicious smirk, putting his finger on Matheus' sword.

"See, that's your problem, Lady De Crescent. You always think you're smarter than anybody else, but... when you take the game outside of its area, the rules don't apply to anyone anymore. Plus, your opponent is just too strong. You can't outrun us forever." "....You pathetic little dog of the Church," Milena retorted.

His expression changed, his smile disappearing. Instead, Milena smiled, and stepped forward, putting a hand on Matheus' shoulder.

"You should go back to your master and keep l*****g their feet, you yappy mongrel," she smirked. "You don't hold an ounce of power without the Church. Even your sister has more character than you'll ever have. You're just some scum, called out to do their dirty work and you can't even do that. They must have been really happy when they learned you failed, weren't they? The useless Duke De Winter, always crawling under someone's foot. You can't stand against the King. You are scared shitless of my husband, and you're just flapping air at the Councils. Go back to where you came from, you rat, and tell your Masters they will pay for what they've done; Justice is coming to them, and revenge will be cold as ice."

"You little...!"

Before he could insult her, Milena grabbed Matheus' sword off his hands, and used the handle to knock Arseus to the ground. She then brutally swung the sword, violently stabbing the floor between his legs.

"Get the f**k out of my apartments," she hissed.

He glared at her, and left quickly, before he lost something.