Lady Dhampir
Chapter 26

Valentin and Milena, both in shock, exchanged a long look. Choosing a crown couple instead of a crown prince? That would be a first in the Kingdom's history, if it actually happened! What was the King thinking? "This doesn't make sense, father..."

"On the contrary," said the Duke, "it does. The King is torn between his sons. The twin princes are both smart and strong, but with very different personalities and entourages...."

"Prince Rayan doesn't have much of an entourage," sighed Milena.

"He might not show it, but he does, Milena. Prince Rayan is smart and cunning, and an impressive fighter, too. Moreover, the Supremacists are pushing for him to be chosen, and many Vampires are afraid another Human King will push us to lose even more rights..." "I thought the Senate was going to approve the new Bill?" Said Valentin, frowning.

"They are struggling. Count De Gardenia changed his vote last minute."

"But he has a Vampire son!"

"One out of six children, the other five are all Human, Milena. And it's his youngest, he probably fears the Human faction will turn against him and the Vampires won't help him if he pushes for the bill only because of his younger son." "This is ridiculous. Vampires are already struggling to replace blood, if we restrict it any more..."

Milena was furious. There were so many rules all Vampires must observe when feeding... The previous Human Kings had been so afraid of Vampires randomly attacking Humans to feed; things were only getting harder and harder for their kind. No wonder factions like Supremacists were on the rise, fed up with all this disparity.

"Don't they realize there are more attacks because Vampires struggle to feed? We nobles have money, but what about the other Vampires, the common people?"

"Calm down, Milena. There will be a solution soon. But the Humans are so afraid of the Supremacists, it's inevitable they are trying to slow things down."

"They are pulling on a leash that's already too tight, Father! The Vampires will only get angrier as they struggle."

"People don't think reasonably when they fear for their life, Milena. And that fear is growing on both sides."

Milena shook her head. Was it because she was both Vampire and Human, that she couldn't understand that intimate fear between both species? She knew how Humans still feared Vampires, despite the many, many years of cohabitation, but she still couldn't understand. Two of her brothers were Humans, and one was a Vampire. Their father had never made any difference between Raphael and the two others!

Was it the same in all the other "mixed" families? Or was there some injustice going on that she had been blind to? "This is idiotic."

"It's politics, daughter. Let me handle the politics, Milena. You are..."

"I also play an important role in the middle of that, Father. If I become Queen, I can change things, for both species!"

Valentin looked at his sister in surprise. It was the first time he had heard Milena openly say she would be willing to become Queen someday. The Duke frowned, unhappy. He glanced at the door, but as he was alone with his children, he sighed and turned to Milena again.

"Milena, as a father, I would hope you don't become Queen. You're already in danger enough as a Duchess. What will happen if you become a Princess? Things won't be over, it will only get worse. People will try to kill you before you bear your first child." Milena sighed. She loved her father. She had been reunited with him late, but he had done nothing but protect and love her since then. She walked to him, taking his hands with a confident smile. For the first time, she was starting to see the dark circles under his crimson eyes, and the little wrinkles on his Vampire skin.

"Father, I know you care for me. But no matter what, I am Milena, Duchess De Crescent. I will never regret being part of this family, whatever danger I may be in because of our titles or wealth. In fact, I am thankful. Because I can change things. I want to hold this power I have and use it to do good."

"Millie..." Sighed Valentin.

"I... grew up where no child should ever live. I experienced the slums, the shackles, and the dirt. I know how hard life is for Vampires and Humans. I also know how privileged we are, in this time and age. If I step outside, I can feel the cold and the ice under my feet. I know we are living in an Ice Age that may end our Kingdom within this lifetime. I know all that. But I don't want to hide, Father. I want to do all I can to change things, make sure we survive and coexist, Vampires and Humans. I'm glad I'm a Dhampir, even if it becomes my downfall. I am glad to be your daughter."

Anton De Crescent sighed.

Why did Milena have to be so like her mother... She would grow to be a strong woman. She already was, he knew it. He held out his arms and hugged her against him, feeling how fragile she was. He let her go, and observed her amethyst-colored eyes. She was beautiful, a rare and unique kind of beauty.

"Come with me, both of you."

Surprised, both Valentin and Milena followed their father out of his office. He was still holding Milena's hand as he took them through the halls, all the way outside.

The Duke asked for horses, and the stablemen promptly brought two horses along with Black Bella. Milena caressed her horse before mounting her. The Duke had a bigger horse than hers, a beautiful black one. As soon as they started riding, a handful of Crescent Knights followed them.

But their Father didn't spare a glance for their guards. Instead, he headed North, closer to the Ice Frontier. A gigantic wall of icy mountains, so high the top was hidden in the clouds most days.

Milena didn't know this path. The Duke led them up a foreign trail, in a desolate forest that wouldn't even have been good for hunting. The horses had no problem running on that trail, despite it going up. Only once they reached the top did they show a bit of fatigue, their nostrils unleashing large breezes of white steam. Milena gently tapped the collar of her mount, looking at the view.

It was a breathtaking sight. From where they stood, they could see the Castle in its entirety, as well as most of the Capital and its surrounds. With her Dhampir sight, she could see as far as the distant villages, dozens of miles away, and the people as small as little moving ants. Next to her, Valentin had to squint to see as much as she did, but the view was just as wide and impressive.

"My grandfather took me here when I was younger than you are..." their father suddenly said. "Back then, I could see all the way to the Emerald Forest and the Lone mountain."

Milena knew those names from the maps she had studied. But in the directions he named, there was mostly... ice and blizzard. How could her Father see so far as those two lands? The only explanation was that back then, the ice hadn't progressed so much, and the weather wasn't so bad either....

"I've seen the beginning of the Ice Age," he continued. "I don't think I will see it end. Everyday it's getting colder and harder to live, even for us Vampires. Our Kingdom gets smaller, our people get poorer and we are living on limited resources. As it gets harder, the anger will rise if we don't stop it before."

"But what to do, Father?" Said Valentin. "We have the mountains in the north, the Ogres on the west, and the sea at the east... We cannot go south or the Vampires wouldn't survive the heat, and if we go north..."

"The humans won't be able to take the cold," finished Milena. "We cannot afford to move. Our Solaris Kingdom is... stuck here."

The Duke nodded, his eyes still on the Kingdom below. They could easily see the Duchy De Crescent, even some of the other noble houses' domains. He took a deep breath.

"That's why I believe we need to change. Our old ways may have united Humans and Vampires at the time of the Great Catastrophe, but it soon won't be enough. We will die if we don't replace new resources, new ways of living."

"... What are you thinking about, Father?" Asked Valentin, frowning.

"I am talking about a new generation, your generation, children. My time saw medicine, law, and science improve. We improved commerce and transportation, and it is still growing today. But I believe there is more to unfold. Milena, you're trying to develop silk commerce in a country where we are never hot."

"Because we need more money circulating," said Milena, blushing a bit.

"That's right. We have the money. The noble families are rich, too rich to spend as much as they should. This money should be used to improve commerce, other people's lives."

"What good is it to be rich if we cannot survive the Ice Age..." muttered Valentin.

"We need to replace new things to invest in," explained Milena. "Find new solutions, think outside of the box. If we keep listening to the old ways, if we keep this system as it is, we will just go extinct without even fighting for our survival. Isn't that what you're saying, Father?"

Anton De Crescent was proud of the daughter he had raised. He smiled softly, nodding, and turned to her.

"Milena, people are afraid of change. But we know it is necessary. The King does, the Queen does too. That's why they are extremely careful. Any decision from now on could push our Kingdom to ruin, or prosperity."

"Hence the Bridal Competition, isn't it?"

"Yes, my daughter. I would want you to live a long and happy life, far from conspiracies, but you won't have this luxury. Actually, I even know you would make a splendid Queen, Milena, and I will give you any support for that. Your brothers, too. But what the King and Queen are looking for isn't just a smart crown couple. They want someone who can change this Kingdom and save it."

Valentin nodded, but Milena didn't feel proud at all.

Because she understood already what her father really meant. Yet, Duke Anton De Crescent sighed and said it out loud for her.

"Milena, you can't choose a Prince with your heart only. You will have to choose one who can let you make a difference, and make one himself. Even if it's not the man you want. That is your fate as a Duchess. I am sorry for that, but whoever you marry, it must be for the sake of everyone else."