Lady Dhampir
Chapter 266

Milena didn't care for that rotten man. Instead, she was fiercely challenging Ellias' shocked expression. His green eyes slowly squinted, as if defying her. "...Don't do this," he muttered.

"Then withdraw your order," she retorted.

She saw him very visibly shaking his fist. They were both at dead ends; she couldn't let Henry be taken and risk the vampires following the Duke De Nova's lead. Meanwhile, Ellias couldn't retract his order, or he'd lose the support of the Church he so badly needed. Especially after what had happened between Milena and Arseus. The Duchy Houses were now all going to be dragged into an open war, no matter what. "...You just made a very stupid mistake," he finally said.

"Right back at you."

Ellias grimaced at her last sentence, but suddenly stepped back, indicating to all the Royal guards to do the same. Everyone around was still holding their breath.

"... We're leaving," Ellias said. "As per the Grand Princess' right to grant immunity, Henry De Boreal shall be acquitted of all charges against him... Grand Princess Milena De Crescent shall be responsible for all of the Duke De Boreal's behavior from now on." He then dramatically turned around, but Milena loudly cleared her throat.

"...What?"

"I think you forgot something," she said.

From out of nowhere, Arseus' missing hand was suddenly dropped at the King's feet. The blood splattered all on his white pants, shoes, and the floor all around. Ellias' face went red with anger.

"...We will be pressing charges against the House De Winter," declared Anton.

"I'm the one pressing charges against you savages!" Shouted Arseus. "I'll ruin you! How dare you injure me like this! This will not remain unpunished!"

"If I were you I'd shut up," hissed Ellias, suddenly glaring at him.

His sudden stance against his ally shocked everyone, including Milena. Was he suddenly mad at Arseus? Because of what he had done to her? Or was it that he knew his ally was in major trouble after harming the Grand Princess in front of so many witnesses? Although the Duchy House of De Crescent had retaliated immediately, it didn't mean the Duke was cleared. He had assaulted the Grand Princess, insulted her several times and even threatened to kill her. The situation was so tense that many nobles had begun whispering behind their hands and fans, worried.

With Ellias pushing Arseus out, they slowly left, not without gathering many angry eyes to them. As most of the audience were vampires, the Duke's insult to the Dhampir Princess hadn't escaped their ears. Not only that, but the anger at the King himself was palpable. His position was now much too clear for any doubt to be left anymore...

Philomenie sighed, her eyes going down to her brother's hand left on the scene, disgusted.

"Oh, Lord..." She muttered, lifting her hand to her mouth.

"Are you alright?" Asked Milena, who knew her aversion for blood.

"I should be the one asking you that! I just can't believe my brother has become such a twisted and... wretched character. To think he'd dare to lay a hand on you! He's truly gone insane!" "Or too bold," groaned Milena.

She glanced around. Indeed, Arseus had become too fearless to make such a scene in a room filled with vampires. Before, he would have at least tried to watch his attitude in public places, and instead, would have cornered her into one of those one-to-one meetings to threaten or annoy her. For him to do this meant that he didn't care anymore about his position, or he felt untouchable. From what had happened that evening and what he had confessed to before, the latter was the most probable. By becoming their new favorite lapdog, he had obtained full support of the Church in his sister's stead. Which also explained why he and Ellias had been stuck together lately... The House De Winter was now more important than before, but Philomenie wasn't part of the equation anymore. With her stance tonight, Ellias had probably realized it, too. Neither he nor the Church could control his wife anymore. It probably seemed insignificant to him for now, but down the line, it was still upsetting.

"...Philomenie, you should go back," Milena whispered.

"Are you sure? I would like to stay by your side..."

"I appreciate that," whispered Milena, gently pressing her hand. "But you've more than shown your support to me already. Plus, who knows what will happen next here. You should stay safe."

There was little chance that any vampire would actually attack the Queen; in fact, Philomenie opposing her husband was probably the last string that kept them still believing in the Royal Family right now. However, Milena had a feeling the whole ordeal wasn't over, and she didn't want Philomenie to put herself more at risk than she had already. The Church probably wouldn't dare get rid of her just yet, but she had a vulnerable child, and nothing to win by staying around.

"...I understand," finally muttered Philomenie. "I will try and see what I can replace out about this nonsense with the Council. I need to know what really happened."

"Please do," nodded Milena. "For such a thing to happen, it means there are already too many of his allies there, or they truly ignored the protocol to enforce this arrest order. Things would be better for us if we can prove either of those."

"Let me take care of it," nodded Philomenie, determined.

She then proudly walked out of the room, through a different exit than the one her husband had taken, but not shying away from all the stares on her. Milena sighed, crossing her arms. Next to her, Blanche rubbed her head against her dress, her tail flicking in the air impatiently.

"...I have to admit, I am impressed with Her Majesty..."

Milena turned angry eyes at Henry De Boreal. She was in no mood for him to praise her sister-in-law, after what had happened.

"Do you realize all of this is partially your fault?" She retorted. "If you had been more decisive earlier, the King and the Church would have never dared to go so openly against you. It happened exactly as I had predicted, you became the weak link they tried to make use of. This serves not only their purpose to divide the Kingdom, but also the Duke De Nova's hunger for war!" "I-I am truly sorry, Princess," Henry bowed. "I'm aware of what you just sacrificed for me..."

"I did not throw away my only Immunity right for you," hissed Milena. "I did it to avoid a Civil War, even if it was most likely merely delayed!" "Milena."

Her father had come to her side. His g*n was now out of sight, but he immediately put a hand on his daughter's cheek, a dark expression on. "...You shouldn't have let him touch you," he groaned.

"That was the best way to alienate him publicly, Father," Milena muttered. "Otherwise, he would have just played victim... And it gives us a slight advantage, too. Now we can sue the House De Winter, and unlike them we will have more than enough witnesses...At least you didn't kill him right away."

"I almost did."

Milena scoffed. It had taken a lot of her own self-control to let that bastard touch her without killing him herself. In fact, she was dying to clean her cheek as fast as possible. More than the pain, she felt utterly disgusted by that slap. However, they were still very much in the public eye. With a deep breath in, she gently pushed away her father's hand, turning to her guests who may have not heard her discussion with her father and Henry, but hadn't missed a second of the scene...

"Dear guests," she said. "I am terribly sorry about the events that just unfolded. Further investigation will be made to clear the Duke De Boreal of those accusations. As of now, I..."

"How many times will you put yourself on the line to delay this war, Grand Princess?"

The Duke De Nova's voice brought everyone's attention to him. Milena clenched her fist, annoyed. She was starting to think that the old crone was even more of a pain than Ellias or Arseus... With a theatrical sigh, the old vampire stepped forward, his cane making a loud sound against the tile floor.

"It's as you've all witnessed, dear friends," he said. "Despite the Grand Princess' efforts, His Majesty will do whatever it takes to bring the vampires down. Our kind he belittles, hates and wants nothing but to get rid of!" "Enough, De Nova!" Thundered Anton.

"Aren't you tired of us sacrificing our daughters?" Retorted the Duke. "Your precious child will be next, you heard them! One by one, they will get rid of any vampire in a place of power, subjecting us like vile servants, as they are too afraid of what our kind is capable

of!"

"Silence!" Shouted Milena, stepping forward. "I did not just save the Duke De Boreal for you to be the next one accused of anti-Royal p********a, Duke De Nova! Your daughter would be the first one to tell you to quit th is nonsense she'd approve nothing of! As you may have forgotten, I am still a member of the Royal Family, and so is my husband!"

"Sadly, your husband has been absent for way too long," retorted the Duke. "None of this would be happening if he was there, but he isn't. And sadly, his wife is not ready to do what it takes to stop His Majesty from hunting all of us down!" "... What in the hell do you think I've been doing so far?" Grumbled Milena. "Embroidery and tea tasting, perhaps?"

"Whatever you've been doing is not enough! Telling us to stop feeding on humans, as well. What is that supposed to mean, Grand Princess? You think we are going to act like tame animals and suddenly they will regard us as civilized!"

"So this is what it's truly about," she hissed. "You'd rather keep sucking the blood when and where it suits you. Are you fine with acting like the monster the humans fear you to be, Duke De Nova? It's about time we learn how to change our ways!" "We? I don't have to receive lessons on how to act like a vampire from a half-breed child!"

Anton suddenly drew out his sword, at the same time as the Duke De Nova did, their blades clashing loudly in the middle of the Banquet scene. Milena rolled her eyes.

"Enough," she said. "I've been insulted enough today that this one barely annoys me anymore. For the reminder, Duke De Nova, this half-breed child has already done more for the vampire kind than anyone else in this room. And in case anyone else here doubted it, I am not done yet. I will bring the solution to the Wendigo problem, and once my husband returns, stability will be brought back to the Kingdom as well. As soon as-" "We are done waiting, Grand Princess De Crescent."

The Duke De Nova pulled back his sword, not without glaring at his peer the whole time. Anton still stood between the Duke and his daughter, unwilling to withdraw his.

"I acknowledge you've not spared your efforts, but from now on, vampires will take care of themselves."

"I forbid you," hissed Milena. "Let it be clear that any attack from the vampire kind against the Royal Family will not be tolerated by me. I may not agree with the King, but I am still the Grand Princess and I have made my intentions more than clear. Anyone in this room who defies my order will not replace mercy from me."

Ignoring the Duke De Nova, her purple eyes circled the room, drawing a very clear line between her and him to the audience. In fact, she knew this moment was crucial, and tragically, also the official rupture between her, and the vampires that would follow the Old Duke. Luckily, she still had Henry by her side, and the previous scene had made quite an impression on the audience, but many were now aware that a choice would have to be made, and soon. Her only hope was that no vampire would wish for a war too soon, and few would choose to follow the Duke De Nova instead of a promise to try and keep peace for as long as possible...

"....This Banquet is over," she declared, tired. "You've all already heard and seen more than enough. The Institute will begin its activities as of today, and the information will be centralized to my office until the building is officially open to the building. Any requests to partake are welcome, but I will not answer anymore today. You can ask my assistants for more information about the Blood Bar."

She turned around, glaring once more at Henry, whom she still judged to be responsible for much of this mess. It did not matter anymore that they were allies; he was no longer a viable party to the other vampires, who were left to choose between the House De Nova and her own.

This Banquet had been both a success, and a complete fiasco. There was no other way of calling it, and it made her even madder. Ellias had done this on purpose. No, most likely, Arseus and the Church had done all this on purpose, to make her lose her precious Immunity. There was no other explanation. After all, for them to take Henry down made little to no sense, aside from agitating the vampires even further; they had set themselves up for retaliation. In other words, they were ready to wage this war, but they had decided to get her out of the way. Milena was even surprised they hadn't tried to kill her directly. Perhaps they were afraid of her becoming a martyr when she was still too popular among both humans and vampires; they probably wanted to see her fall very low first...

"Are you alright?" Chartiana muttered in a low voice as they made their way back to the main stage.

"... Far from it."

Milena was fed up, but right now, she may have wished for war herself. At least, as a good way to get rid of a few annoying people... She glanced back, as the guests were politely trying to excuse themselves without showing they were rushing to get out of the room. She noticed a few people gathering around the Duke De Nova, but the old vampire left without adding a word, acting arrogant and satisfied. Surely, the sad unfolding of events had served his purpose.

"Look at them," chuckled Ora, stepping forward to stand next to Milena, a hand on her shoulder. "Half of them fear the civil war, the other half want it, thinking they'll win... Few of them think peace will last long, Princess."

"You're as unhelpful as ever," sighed Milena. "This all must seem amusing to you, doesn't it? You predicted that tragedy..."

"A bit. You were remarkable as ever. It was quite satisfying to see that wretched bastard's hand flying around... I wish your father had shot another part, though."

"I'll make sure to shoot below the belt the first occasion I get, then."

"I meant he's left-handed."

Milena glared at Ora, who giggled. her laugh suddenly turned into a cough, though. A serious cough. Milena frowned, her senses suddenly on alert. As the Oracle kept trying to keep her cough under her hand, red stains appeared on her lips. "Ora!"

"Ah... I knew it," chuckled the Oracle, before coughing again.

"Father! Call a doctor!"

"Don't bother," coughed Ora.

Milena's eyes went to the empty glass, on the table where Ora had left it. Her heart sank.

"You crazy b... You drank it on purpose? Are you insane!"

Ora frowned and coughed a whole lot of blood, falling down on her knees. She kept laughing and coughing, almost hysterically, while Milena tried to grab an antidote in her dress.

"You foolish woman... Why are you trying to save someone who- cough!... Basically commits suicide..."

"Because I still have use for you," groaned Milena. "Don't you dare die on me! Drink this! A doctor, I said!"

"Stop it," said Ora, pushing her hand away. "It won't do a thing. These people wouldn't miss... Milena, listen."

"No," retorted Milena, trying to have her drink the antidote. "You're going to drink this and survive. You can't die like this. Think of your child!"

"I saw her," said Ora with a smile. "I said goodbye to her. That child... Please let her live free, Milena. She... doesn't deserve this; a life like this. Don't let her become a tool... like us."

"Ora..."

Milena was at a loss. The Oracle was dying. The amount of dark blood staining her dress was more than frightening, and she wasn't even fighting to survive. She was choosing to die... by the hands of her enemies. She suddenly fell forward, and Milena grabbed her, Ora leaning against her with a chuckle.

"I saw it," she said. "My death. I've seen it since the beginning... It's not even scary anymore. Let them win this one... I'll leave it to you. I leave it all to you, child. Milena, your answer... Your answer will come from within."

"What?" Muttered Milena. "What will come from within?...Ora? Ora! Ora!"

There was no response anymore. The Oracle was simply lying in her arms, a faint smile on her blood-red lips, as if she were merely asleep. Milena gasped, shocked. The Oracle was dead. Really dead, this time. It couldn't be... She lifted her eyes, meeting her father's.

"They killed her," she cried. "They killed her, Father."