Lady Dhampir
Chapter 27

Milena slowly nodded.

It wasn't what her heart wanted, tough. But even now, she was held by shackles much heavier than the ones that took her as a child. A title, and its duties...

"I understand, father."

"Milena..." whispered Valentin.

"But I won't be able to demonstrate what kind of Queen I can be if you keep taking work off my hands."

The Duke sighed and nodded. He knew she would know about it sooner or later and disapprove, of course. But to him, Milena was his only fifteen-year-old daughter, not someone we wanted to see buried with affairs of the State. Milena gently smiled to him.

"Go home, father, please? The sun is already up, you should be sleeping before you really get sick. You shouldn't even be standing up like this at this time." Anton de Crescent frowned.

"Do not underestimate your father, young Lady. I'm a stronger vampire than you think."

"Yes, yes..."

Valentin and Milena exchanged a glance and smiled. Their father was stubborn...

They followed him down the hill where they had brought their horses to, all the way back to the City entrance. However, they parted ways there. As agreed, The Duke headed back to the Manor, followed by most of his guards. Valentin watched him go away before turning to his sister. "Aren't you going home too?"

"No... I feel like shopping before dealing with the paperwork at home. I haven't been out in a while. Will you accompany me?"

But Valentin shook his head.

"Sorry, little sister, I promised to finish my workload in time to take my fiance out for a tea."

"I see. You can say hello to her for me, then. See you at dinner!"

She waved at him and had Black Bella turn around, heading inside the City with her two knights escort. "Are you cold, madam?"

"I'm fine."

Without her maids, Milena was left alone with the two knights and Blanche, hidden in her coat as a mouse.

The City was big, with tall wooden houses covered with snow and ice, and the smoke from the chimneys filling the sky with smoke and steam. The uneven streets weren't easy for a horse to walk on, hence Milena soon got down her horse to simply walk by her side. She enjoyed wandering among the common folks when she had a chance to. Most nobles wouldn't even step out of their carriages while passing by, but Milena was different. She enjoyed the busy crowd, the smelly streets and the loud noises of the City. The young duchess walked all the way to the street market, interested in the colored stalls most of all. She was always curious about the new fabrics brought by the merchants, the woodwork or the latest dishes common folks were hungry for. Pulling her hood other her hair to hide her face a bit, she tried to be discreet among the common folks, who had few interests in her at that busy time of the day.

On a sunny day like this, sellers were yelling their prices and newest merchandise to attract customers, and the said customers tried to get what they needed at lower prices. Though, there didn't seem to be as much activity as usual. Milena kept walking until she found herself in front of a very large tent.

"Come in, come in!" Was yelling a young girl in front of the tent, with a bright smile. "Come and get some free soup! Our Lady is generous and kind! Anyone is welcome!"

Milena frowned. Free soup? What was this nonsense? She walked to the young Lady, who recognized those purple eyes of hers immediately and bowed.

"Greetings, Duchess de Crescent."

"What's this?" Asked Milena a bit abruptly.

The young girl smiled, only too happy to explain.

"This is the daily free soup for poor people! We distribute it for free on behalf of our Lady for the unfortunate souls!"

"Who?"

"Our Lady Duchess Philomenie de Winter, of course!"

The young girl who had announced that name proudly lost her smile when she realized that Milena didn't seem happy at all. She was about to ask what was wrong, but the Young Duchess suddenly walked in, followed by two scary knights. Worried she had missed something that would have justified the Lady's anger, the young girl followed, seeing that Milena was observing the place.

Inside the tent, a long line had been formed, with many people lining up to get the free soup distributed. Men, women, and children were eagerly waiting, smiling and talking before they could get that free bowl of hot soup. Milena's face only got darker as she kept observing. What was this nonsense! Distributing free soup in the middle of the City! "You," she said at the young girl. "Tell me who is in charge here?"

The young girl hesitated and pointed her finger at a middle-aged woman, who was handing over the soup with big smiles. She seemed like someone from the middle-class, very proper and with neat clothes.

Milena walked over to her, clenching her fists in anger. She stepped in the middle of the line, surprising many of the citizens' presents. Some were about to protest when they recognized the two knights behind her.

However, the woman took a second before she recognized the young Lady de Crescent, and smiled to her, a smile that didn't show in her eyes, though.

"Duchess de Crescent, what a surprise! Do you need anything, madam?"

"Yes. Interrupt this nonsense right now."

The woman looked a bit surprised and offended.

"Excuse me, madam, but this tent was installed by the authority of Lady de Winter, for us to distribute soup. This is only meant to help the people. Why would you..."

"And I'm using my authority to have you stop. Helping people? Go home and tell your mistress this fake act of benevolence is over."

This time, the woman frowned, looking angry.

"How dare you insult our mistress' good intention! Lady de Winter is known for her pure and generous heart among the people of the Solaris Kingdom! She is a generous donor to charities, orphanages, hospitals and even gives some of her own time for the population! How dare you suspect this all an ill-intended act! Aren't you ashamed of yourself!" "What is your name?" Asked Milena.

This time, the woman was taken a bit aback. She had gotten loud and angry just before, but Milena was still acting as cold as ice with a perfectly composed tone, which was somewhat much scarier. She glanced at the other volunteers and tried to answer with as much bravery as she could gather in front of the young Duchess. After all, she was a very respectable woman from a good family, and even if she was a Duke's daughter, this young lady was only a fifteen years old child!

"I am Lady Henrietta de Bertrilly, the..."

"The sister of Marquess de Bertrilly," finished Milena. "I see."

That family was one of the House De Crescent most trusted allies, though they didn't have much power among nobles. They weren't particularly wealthy either, their only wealth coming from their few antiques and clothes shops... The woman probably had agreed to do this so she could also advertise a few of her own family's shops.

Milena clicked her tongue.

"So, how is a Marquess opposing a Duchess, Lady Henrietta?"

The woman gulped. Didn't she have the backing of the Duchess de Winter? How come Lady de Crescent was so strongly opposing this. She felt torn between obeying Milena's orders, and her allegiance to the De Winters. Her brother wouldn't be happy if she complied with the Dhampir Duchess instead of pursuing the Duchess de Winter's charity...

"This is a good charity, Lady de Crescent. Why would you interrupt it? People are satisfied with it, and Lady de Winter takes it to heart to content our good citizens! Aren't you ashamed for using your authority to oppose this? What have you done for those good people? You are only famous for spending money! Look at this obvious ruby stone on your neck! This is so ostentatious! As a young Lady, don't you have any self-restraint? Such a gem could buy dozens of meals for your people!"

People started whispering around them.

Some had already left as soon as Milena had ordered for this Soup distribution to be stopped, but those who had stayed were obviously enjoying the intense show between the two noblewomen.

Milena, however, was getting annoyed with this woman. She didn't want to a***e her authority here, but this nonsense was getting on her nerves. Just as the woman had started pointing her finger at her necklace, a white snake suddenly popped out of her coat's collar, hissing.

The woman screeched.

"Holy Lord!"

But Milena smiled, in a scary manner.

The silver snake got out of her clothes, enrolling itself around her neck. Blanche hissed at the woman again, warning her to keep her fingers away.

"What is your work, Marquess?" Asked Milena.

"I'm... devoted to the Lord and its people, Duchess," answered the woman, still looking warily in Blanche's direction.

"In other words, you don't work. For someone who comes from a merchant's family, I thought you would know better than to oppose a Duchess." "Ex...excuse me?"

"This is my last warning. You cease this soup distribution immediately, or I'll make you stop. Do not get on my bad side, Marquess. You might regret it faster than you can pray for the Lord to save you from this."

"I... I..." Said the woman, completely destabilized.

Milena's purple eyes were firing at her, and not showing any compassion. How could this girl simply a***e her authority like this!

Henrietta de Bertrilly was about to oppose her again, but the snake around Milena's neck suddenly jumped down, turning into a growling wolf. As soon as people saw that, everyone ran out of the tent in terror. Milena was left with that woman, red in confusion and anger, and a handful of other volunteers.

"You... You...."

"Yes?" Said Milena, still composed.

But the woman had the words stuck in her throat. Was this Duchess so heartless as to interrupt a charity? Was that jealousy?

Milena suddenly took out a whip out of her coat, and the volunteers stepped back in fear, wondering if she could really be as cruel as to punish them physically. But to their surprise, Milena agitated her whip towards the tent. Her movements were sharp and precise. She knew exactly what she was doing. The knights behind her had taken their swords out, too.

In a matter of seconds, the large tent was completely put to shreds. The frightened volunteers hadn't moved a muscle. Milena then turned to the Marquess, an icy, satisfied smile on.

"There."

"You're such a cruel child!" Suddenly said another woman. "How could you do that! People admire Lady de Winter for her kind heart, but you won't ever reach that! Such a selfish and prideful child! Are you simply jealous of her good actions! You should be ashamed of yourself! I hope you'll never be crowned! You do not deserve it!"

Milena sighed.

"Uneducated idiots are truly scary," she muttered to herself.

"My lady, do you want us to arrest those people for insulting you?" Asked one of her knights, glaring at the woman, his sword still out.

"No. My business is finished here. There is no cure for idiocy anyway. If people like her decided who gets the throne, we would all be dead already.... Let's go." "Yes, my Lady."

Milena left, followed by her knights and wolf, under the volunteers' shocked eyes.

This woman was truly too shameful and horrible! Once the Lady de Winter would hear this, how sad would she be! This Duchess de Crescent was just too cruel and jealous!