Lady Dhampir
Chapter 286

"...you can't be serious," she muttered, shocked.

The guards who discovered the room themselves were just as astonished.

"T-there might have been a miscommunication," muttered one of them, glancing at his superior.

However, the head of the Royal Guards could tell there was no mistake, and in fact, this room had actually been prepared very carefully. Whoever was detaining her there clearly didn't care for the Princess' comfort; it was a prison, even worse than what they would have provided for a war criminal. In no way was that place meant to hold a noble, yet alone a Grand Princess, yet here she was. No mistake indeed, this was just meant to insult her. In fact, judging from the fact that they hadn't even bothered to give her a religious book, and the extra metal bars on the windows, this room was clearly meant to prevent her from escaping, and to keep her from trying to kill herself.

Milena glared at the cold stonewall. This explained why she didn't know the area; this place had never been used before, or it had been abandoned until now. She could tell from the bad state of the window, the dust on the walls and the smell. They had added the metal bars and furniture last minute. She grimaced, disgusted. They really intended to make her detention a hell. Let alone comfort, this place was too chilly for someone to live in, and she could tell the window was letting wind in. At this height, it was even colder. Even if she stayed here for a few days, it would be too hard... She was definitely going to get sick.

"...I'm sorry, Your Highness," muttered one of the guards, visibly the most outraged of them. "I-I will ask if we can do something..."

"You can do something," coldly said Milena. "Tell His Majesty I didn't think he was running this low on money."

It was a bit easy, but she couldn't come up with anything better for now, and it would probably be enough to piss Ellias off, even just a little. One thing his Majesty hated most was when someone doubted his power, and right now, Milena was clearly mocking him. She regretted not having kept on anything more than a cape, which she tightened around her shoulders. She could only hope she wouldn't stay stuck in there too long. Her plan would all be for nothing if she died from a silly cold... The guards behind her seemed reluctant on leaving, their eyes still going around the room, as if trying to replace some explanation.

"....Anything else?" Milena raised an eyebrow at them, getting a bit irritated.

Their shame and confusion painted all over their faces, the soldiers slowly shook their heads and left, closing the door. Milena listened to the double locks being secured, and their steps, getting quieter as they left, until she couldn't hear it anymore. Only then, she allowed herself a long sigh. She walked up to the window first, grimacing from the cold wind. The glass was cracked in several places, explaining why it didn't do much in blocking the cold. She could bet the old wood meant to be the frame should have also been replaced long ago. If the metal bars inside were new, it was most likely the same for those outside... If Ellias had ordered this, she could guess he had thought about Blanche sneaking in.

Milena glanced towards the door, noting it was in much better condition, without the smallest hole for a mouse to sneak in... The wooden ceiling was also far too high above her. She was probably right below the roof too. She went to the bed next, checking out the poor excuse of a blanket. It was thin and raggedy, but at least it didn't look too dirty, or like it carried any sort of vermin... Pushing it in a corner, Milena sat down on the bed, which was really just pieces of wood assembled together. She let out another sigh, closing her eyes for a few seconds. Had she really made the right decision? Her eyes and throat were still sore from crying over her father, and she had done her very best to hold it in on the journey here. Now that she was finally alone, she didn't even feel like crying anymore, as if her tears had all dried up. She shivered a bit. This room was really going to be a challenge... At least there was a window, so she would know how long had passed, approximately. Guessing she would be alone for a while, Milena slowly undid her corset. The injury wasn't as bad as she had tried to make it look. The blood also mostly wasn't hers, but from one of her blood bars. Her plan had worked. She probably wouldn't have trusted many people with that shot, but Alexis had lived up to her reputation, and hit the blood bar hidden in her corset without fail. Milena's actual injury was mostly the result of the impact from the small projectile, and the shards that had torn through her skin and the fabric. She had expected it, but it was messier and more annoying than a bullet actually hitting her... She was glad none of the royal guards had checked her injury, and noticed there was no bullet. Her corset out of the way, she quickly undid the metallic structure to gather the items hidden in it; two little blades, a poison capsule, and two pieces of chalk, one white and one black. This would be enough for now... At least, it would help her ensure her own safety for a little while. Milena hid one of the blades in the bed frame, just in case, and the other in her sleeve. They hadn't even taken her bracelet, which was also a win... a smirk appeared on her lips. Ellias' plan was to visibly conceal and hide her away. She had expected this much. The King hadn't just sent that idiot Arseus to fight the De Crescent House because he trusted him. Ellias was avoiding her. Milena had guessed this much. After what had happened during their last encounter, she knew he would be hiding from her somehow. Even this room spoke volumes. He could have taken her to any cell, any room in the castle, but no, he had chosen the most recluse, isolated and cold one. He was going to hide her from the whole world, keep Milena where no one could reach her.

However, she was not one to play by his rules. Her plan was already in motion, and out of her hands. Now, all she needed was to wait for the King to break his resolve and come to her. She knew it wouldn't take long... One way or another. Now, they had reached that strange moment of cease-fire, when both armies needed time to regroup. All she had to do was hang on. First, she grabbed that paper-thin blanket and used it to block the window, keeping more cold from entering. That thing wouldn't keep her warm, but it would be good enough to keep most of the cold wind from coming in. Then, she simply sat on the bed, calmly resting.

"My Lady."

Milena raised her head. Not even an hour had passed, and she hadn't dozed off a single second. A second knocking was heard.

"What is it?" She asked coldly.

The door opened, and the servants came in. To her surprise, two of the Royal Guards from before were back, one of them carrying an extra and thicker blanket, and behind him, there was a young maid carrying a tray with a teapot and a single teacup. Another man walked in, and Milena recognized one of the Royal Doctors' young assistants that wasn't even diplomed yet. She chuckled. "What is this? Am I getting the Royal treatment now?"

The Royal Guard didn't answer, and simply put the blanket on the end of the bed, while the maid put the teapot on the table, and bowed.

"I-I can't leave it here, my Lady" she muttered. "But it's warm."

Milena suddenly realized, from their anxious expressions, that those people weren't supposed to be here. So this wasn't coming from Ellias, but the staff acting on their own. Milena dropped her mighty attitude, and turned to the doctor, who bowed. "I came to inspect Your Highness' injury," he bowed. "I'm not as skilled as my superiors, but I will do my best...

"I will only allow you to examine me if you can hold your tongue," Milena said.

The man nodded without any hesitation.

She sighed, but stood up and lay down, letting him approach to see her injury. Although it wasn't as bad as a bullet wound, Milena was still well aware that all those cuts could become infected, especially in that pigsty of a room Ellias had prepared for her... "You," she said to one of the Royal Guards; "You're aware of what you're risking by doing this, right?"

"Yes, my Lady," the man nodded. "However, my duty is to the Royal Family first and foremost."

That was one twisted way of saying he refused to cut off his allegiance to Milena and Rayan to please Ellias... But she was pleasantly surprised. With Philomenie gone from the Royal Castle, she hadn't thought the Royal Staff would be brave enough to still go against the King's orders, but she was proved wrong.

In fact, even after that young doctor treated her and Milena had drunk the tea, she received two more visits before midday. One was to bring her a warm meal, and another was from a pair of maids that brought her a clean and new dress and helped her get cleaned, even combing her hair for her. Every time, it was clear those servants were sneaking into her room with the support of the Guards supposed to watch Milena in her tower, which made her even happier. Ellias' power was blatantly getting more and more weak, so much so that the servants didn't even fear him enough and disobeyed him. The room was still terribly cold, but now, Milena was dressed with a warmer dress, and she had eaten enough. She couldn't help but smile. If things went on like this, she would replace her new residence pleasant by the end of the day... "Open the damn door!"

Milena smiled, hearing Ellias' voice coming from afar. She tightened her cloak around her shoulders. He had come even sooner than she had expected, which was good news for her. They weren't even nearing sunset yet. She heard the guards silently undo the locks, and she grabbed her little blade, hiding it with her hand under her cloak, just in case. Standing on the wall opposite to the door, Milena waited.

The door finally opened, and Ellias barged in, visibly furious, followed by two Royal Guards. Not the one Milena had seen before. Those two had darker expressions, and almost glared at her. She glared right back, forcing them to look down right away. As if she was going to let anyone disrespect her...

"What the f**k did you do!" Ellias shouted.

"...You'll have to be more specific, Your Majesty," Milena coldly retorted.

"Arseus! What the hell did you shoot him with! That bastard's been screaming for hours now, and all of the Royal Doctors are absolutely useless!"

Milena scoffed.

"Sorry, were you expecting an apology from me? A tear, perhaps?"

"Don't you start, Milena!" He vociferated, pointing his index at her. "Whatever that bullet was made of, you're going to tell me!"

"Or what?" She retorted. "You'll lock me in a dungeon? Oh, wait... You already did."

"...I can hurt you," Ellias hissed. "Don't think I'm going to be lenient with you, Milena, because I..."

"Oh, but I expect nothing less from you," Milena said, with an ice-cold voice.

She slowly stepped forward, glaring at him with a scary smile on her lips.

"You can lock me up, starve me, torture me, you can do anything you want, Ellias. I won't talk. That bastard attacked me and my family, and now, he's going to die from that bullet. He should have stuck to one missing hand. That was a promise between he and I; I only made sure he was going to die slowly, and very, very painfully, just like he deserves. It's going to take an awfully long time and yes, he's going to scream his lungs out like a pig being slaughtered, because that's the only suitable end for Arseus f*****g De Winter." She was particularly happy to hear her idea had worked. It hadn't been easy to ask Chartiana for such a horrible weapon, but hearing the Duke De Winter was in agony from her bullet made it all so worth it. This kind of poison-filled bullet was a terrible thing to put in the hands of the wrong people, so she had no intention to distribute it, but for a few rotten individuals that deserved it, it was perfect. The venom that was hidden inside would make his flesh burn slowly, and she had shot him in an area that couldn't even be amputated. His shoulder was going to rot even before it reached the heart and actually killed him. It was one of the scary results of the Sevira sisters' hard-won research, and Milena felt it only right to use it against one of those responsible for their deaths. Her only regret was that she wouldn't witness that pig's death herself.

"Why do you even care, Ellias?" She chuckled. "Is the Church mad at you for losing their favorite pawn?"

"You shouldn't have done this!"

"Then you should have had the balls to come at me yourself!" She shouted back. "Were you too afraid to face me after you murdered my Father?"

His expression fell. He probably wasn't ready to hear that he had actually murdered the Duke De Crescent, but Milena was only too happy to make him believe that. She would never see her father again, and Ellias would never get to know how he had really ended, either. He deserved every single bit of the guilt she was placing on him right now.

"Tell me, Ellias, what were you expecting after that?" She asked, slowly roaming around the room. "For me to give up? For the vampires to calm down, perhaps?"

"...This is all your fault," he groaned; "You planned all this! You planned this uprising!"

"I planned every single bit of your downfall," she retorted. "You're going to fall as hard as you tried to rise above everyone else, Ellias. I've been too nice for far too long, and I'm going to make you regret it!"

"I could kill you!" He shouted. "When will you ever understand that-"

"Go ahead!" Milena shouted back, opening her arms. "I'm right there, Ellias! What are you waiting for? You shot my Dad, why would it be so hard for you to get rid of me now? Just go ahead, kill me and hang my body on the castle's walls, I'm sure everyone will see how great of a King you are!"

The anger was disfiguring him. No, his complexion had been bad for a while already, but now, he was really starting to look scarier than a vampire. Milena frowned, thrown off.

"... What are you under, Ellias? What the hell did they give you?"

"Do you even care?" He scoffed. "What else are you going to take away from me, Milena?"

"This isn't drugs," she continued, ignoring him. "I've seen junkies looking better than that, and it only took days... What the hell is it?"

"Enough," he said, turning his head away. "...Now that I have you, I will leverage your life to stop the vampires' uprising."

"It won't work."

"I doubt that... The people love you. If I say I will kill their precious Grand Princess, then..."

"Do you think I simply let you capture me, Ellias? Being here actually serves me. The people don't trust you anymore. The vampires are mad, and they will rise against you. Even the Queen won't support your actions, Ellias. You're just a fool with mud up to your knees trying to pretend like you're still controlling everything."

"Then why... Why are you here?"

Milena sighed.

"Because, as much as I hate you, you're not the one I want to take down. We both know you're no longer in charge of anything, are you? ...I want to dig out all the vermin hiding in those walls, Ellias. I will get the head, the limbs, the guts of all those rotten bastards who have been pulling the strings all along. You're just the front line."

He sighed, and, to her surprise, faintly nodded.

"There's... one thing I finally realized," he said with a bitter expression. "I didn't simply choose to give up, Milena. I just understood... I will never win against Rayan, unless I ally with a stronger power."

Something about his expression, his tone, sent a chill down Milena's spine. She had a bad feeling. She was prepared for anything, her fingers tightening on the blade, but Ellias didn't even try to approach her. Instead, he slowly walked to the desk, and put there a little device she didn't know. It looked like a little ball... She had never seen anything like it, yet it felt strangely familiar. There was an odd smell that came off of it, too, despite her standing several steps away. "...I'll see you later," he muttered. "When you're more... tame."

He left the room quickly, leaving Milena deeply perplexed, and nervous. As soon as the door was closed, she heard voices arguing outside. Ellias was getting mad at the Royal Guards; He had probably realized that her dress had been changed, and thus, someone had ignored his orders. For now, Milena was more worried about that dark ball on the desk than the fate of the men outside.

She approached, but the smell was stronger there. She covered her nose, feeling... strange. The smell was just awful, and made her light-headed. Then, she finally realized where she had seen something like this before. It was in one of her great-grandmother's lessons on the various ways to poison and trick someone. Not all poisons had to be edible, and injected directly into the body. There were some new products coming to the black market, similar to incense, that could give off fumes so strong it only had to be inhaled to take effect. Milena jumped back, and immediately realized the air-tight room was going to be her new nightmare. She cursed Ellias out loud. That thing wasn't as simple as a poison.

It was a strong d**g.