Lady Dhampir
Chapter 29

While Milena was walking with the Royal Guards, a crowd had formed around. The population of the Capital was watching, shocked to see the Young Duchess De Crescent taken away by the soldiers.

Everyone knew who Milena was, just because of her gorgeous purple eyes. Some of the shop owners were standing on their storefront, watching with crossed arms and upset faces. A child pointed at her before his mother scolded him. There were eight soldiers flanking Milena, but that seemed too much to escort a fifteen-year-old girl.

"What did the lady do?"

"She interrupted the food distribution of the Noble Lady De Winter..." "What? Why is she being interrogated!"

Some people voiced out their unhappiness, surprising the Royal Guards. One of them glanced at Milena, but the young Duchess was acting perfectly calm and as mighty as usual. She followed them in silence all the way to the Royal Guard's Headquarters, a large building close to the Royal Palace's grounds.

As a place meant for soldiers, it had a large training ground, a training room, a few desk offices, and a prison.

However, Milena's status wouldn't get her to prison, and there was no official guilt yet. So, she was taken to a Salon, where an older man was waiting for her. The Commander of the Royal Guards was truly annoyed by this situation and kept glaring at the Marquess De Bertrilly.

She had come claiming she made the complaint on behalf of Lady De Winter, but this one was not on the grounds to prove it. Milena De Crescent, however, was there and she probably wouldn't make any of this situation easy for them... "Welcome, Lady De Crescent," said the Commander. "Do you want some tea, my lady?"

"I'm fine. If I am here for interrogation, I would like it to be quick, Commander. My schedule is quite full already and sipping some cheap tea with you wasn't in it."

The man tried to not sigh, but really, he wished today was his day off. Who wanted to deal with a Duke's daughter? Her family had their own private army! The two Knights behind her were glaring at him non-stop, standing close behind their lady as she took her place on the middle of the couch.

"Yes, yes... Erm, Lady De Bertrilly claims you interrupted a Charity Event held on behalf of Lady De Winter, and caused some commotion..."

"Really?"

Milena's apparent calm was a scary thing. She was very Vampire-like at those times: stone-cold and emotionless. The Commander felt a pearl of sweat running down his spine.

"Lady De Bertrilly's accusations are ... to be taken with extreme precaution, Lady De Crescent. We do not want any misunderstandings."

"Then first, could you clarify for me what it is you call a commotion? If I've disturbed some peace, I would love to hear how and why," said Milena.

The Commander lost his words. How, again? He tried to remember the facts, but from what his soldiers had said, there was no ruckus, no one else involved, no complaints other than Lady De Bertrilly's!

"You made those poor people flock the streets in fear!" Said the Marquess. "Moreover, your violent behavior in the presence of citizens is inexcusable! What if you had injured someone!"

"Was there anyone injured?" Asked Milena.

"No but..."

"Was there any complaint? Any damage?"

No! But you..."

"So, you don't have any proof of anyone but yourself feeling scared or threatened by me," said Milena. "Isn't that too light for a commotion, Lady De Bertrilly."

"You destroyed a tent! Isn't that material damage!" Suddenly burst out the Marquess, triumphant.

Her sudden joy was received with a long silence, though. Even the Commander looked at this woman, wanting to slap her himself. Milena chuckled.

"Jeremiah, how much would you pay for a new tent the size of the one Lady De Winter provided?"

"No more than a couple of silver credits, my lady."

"Shall I include a damage fee, Commander?" Asked Milena, obviously ironic. "You may want to check but I think I can afford it."

The two Knights hardly repressed a laugh. This whole situation was so ridiculous... The Commander, annoyed, turned to Lady De Bertrilly.

"You asked us to interrogate Lady De Crescent and made accusations. Surely a destroyed tent isn't all that there is for us to be bothering the Young Duchess with!"

"Bother? That girl disturbed a Soup Distribution! How heartless is that! What about the poor people who were waiting for that soup! What about their traumatism! What if they do not dare to come and get their soup next time! And this was an event sponsored by the De Winter Family, too! Does Lady De Crescent think her family status is higher, perhaps!"

While the Marquess acted bolder than ever, the Commander's face was turning whiter and whiter. Was that woman crazy! As if it wasn't complicated enough to face the youngest De Crescent, she now wanted to involve the whole family! The Commander would rather hand in his resignation within the hour than face the Duke!

He turned his face to Milena, but the Duchess wasn't showing anything but boredom. She stood up, stepping closer to the Marquess.

"Where is Lady De Winter, then? Shouldn't she have come to scold me herself?"

"She... The lady is probably busy..."

Milena smirked.

"You called for her, didn't you? I bet you sent one of your maids to run to her as soon as you could, like a dog running back to its master." The Marquess's face was red. That girl...!

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but Philomenie won't come and save you. Her family would rather forget you even exist than face me on their own."

"You... You're wrong, the Lady De Winter is..."

"Oh, yes, Philomenie is an adorable, pure-hearted lady. She probably had no second thoughts about this Charity, just like she didn't use her brain before holding it."

"You're just jealous... Of Lady De Winter's popularity... with the people..." stuttered the Marquess, slowly stepping back.

"Am I?" Said Milena, tilting her head. "Do you think I need to go to Church every day and waste my money on people more?"

At that same moment, a knocking was heard on the door. The Royal Commander, too happy to replace an excuse in the middle of this, almost ran to open it. Two of his soldiers stood there. "Sir, ahem, some people are asking to see you... About Lady De Crescent's arrest."

"She isn't under arrest!" Immediately claimed the Commander, furious.

"Oh, uh... Well, anyway, the Merchant's Guild and the Mayor are waiting."

"The...?"

The Commander blinked and glanced at Milena. Why would those two get involved? Was there going to be another complaint? If only this could be over before it got to the wrong ears...

A couple of minutes later, two men almost barged in.

The Capital's mayor was a small man with a mustache, an old gentleman who was sweating profusely under his hat. Next to him, the Merchant's Guild was represented by a tall, muscular man Milena didn't remember ever seeing before. Completely ignoring the Marquess, both men immediately addressed Milena.

"Are you alright, Lady De Crescent?" Asked the Mayor with a small, squeaky voice. "I am terribly sorry such a thing happened..."

"Who would dare to arrest you like this!" thundered the other man.

"SHE IS NOT UNDER ARREST!" Screamed the Commander. "Lady De Crescent was only called here for interrogation regarding an incident that occurred minutes ago with Marquess De Bertrilly!"

"What incident?" Asked the Mayor.

"I destroyed a tent," sighed Milena.

A new silence followed, and both men turned at the poor Commander.

"Have you gone crazy, Commander!" Yelled the Mayor. "A stupid tent! You dare to call the Duchess in here over a tent!"

The Commander, trying to keep his cool, took a deep breath, explaining the whole situation to the men before this escalated any further. How could the rumors have gotten around so fast and to the Guild and Mayor's ears!

Once he was done, the two men turned to the Marquess, giving him some room to breathe. On the side, arms crossed, Milena was starting to feel impatient.

"Marquess De Bertrilly, how can you make an official complaint against Lady De Crescent on such... foolishness!"

"Foolish! Foolish you say!" Exclaimed the Marquess. "She used her status to end a Charity Event! What about the poor people who...."

"Poor people, what poor people, you i***t woman!" Yelled the Guild's Merchant. "Do you think the homeless and poor folks wander on Main Street? You were distributing your stupid soup to people who don't need it, you imbecile! Even worse, doing so on the main street is an eyesore to real merchants! How are the food stalls supposed to sell anything if some charity gives free food next door!"

The Marquess opened her mouth, and closed it, unable to think of something to answer to that. The Merchant was furious, and she just realized why. She had thought doing this on the main street would gather more people for the Charity, she hadn't even thought about the local stores...

"What about the Lady De Crescent, then? She just goes around, parading with such expensive dresses and jewelry! She does nothing for the people!"

"She uses her money, that's what she does!" Replied the Merchant, infuriated. "Lady De Crescent's been spending enough for some shops to keep their businesses open even when they were on the verge of losing it! That ruby necklace? She bought it three months ago from a jewelry store, had it modified again and is now displaying it! That shop is my sister's, she would be on the streets if it wasn't for Lady De Crescent's business!"

"Marquess, the City needs money to be used," added the Mayor. "If Lady De Winter just keeps donating food and clothing so often, the businesses won't be able to sell, and if they don't, families just get poorer and cannot keep going on their own."

The Marquess wasn't able to add a word to that. The Commander, who had somehow returned to a chair to sit, exhausted, kept looking at her, shaking his head. This is what happened to uneducated people... Moreover, the Marquess' main fault was to have overdone those charities, and used Lady De Winter's name, too.

"Commander?" Suddenly said Milena.

The man stood up straight immediately, almost in military posture.

"May I go, now?"

"Yes! Yes, plea... I mean, certainly, Lady De Crescent. Sorry for all the... confusion."

Not adding anything, Milena left the room without one look at the other people present, three of them still glaring at the Marquess.

The Lady Dhampir sighed once she left the grounds, followed by her two Knights.

"I can't believe the nerve of the Marquess!" Said Jeremiah.

"That damn woman abused a power that wasn't even hers and confronted our lady. Just you wait, my lady, this woman will regret it."

Milena had no doubt about it. Despite all of the Commander's efforts, there was no way the Duke wouldn't hear about this and take action for her. Anton De Crescent had no patience or forgiveness when it came to her, and Milena and no intention to stop him either. She walked to the soldier who was bringing Black Bella back, her horse unhappy to have someone other than her mistress lead her. She changed attitude upon seeing Milena, though, and went to her. The young Duchess took a few seconds to pet her.

"Missed me, beautiful?" She whispered to her horse with a gentle smile.

"I sure did."

She turned around.

Prince Rayan was standing there, leading his own horse, in his full military attire. The Vampire looked more tired than usual, with his red eyes and dark circles. He smirked at Milena, who hardly repressed a sigh. "Your Highness," she said politely. "What brings you here? At this hour, too?"

"I was on my way back after some training. I happened to hear they had the guts to arrest the Duchess, though, so I was curious."

"I did not need any help, as you can see..."

"Great. I don't think I could have gone to sleep knowing you were detained here, like a damsel in distress locked in her tower..."

As he spoke, Rayan had gotten closer, until he spoke a few steps away from Milena. The Crescent Knights exchanged a look, a bit surprised by this encounter too, but obviously, they couldn't say anything to a prince. Rayan ignored them completely, as if Milena and he were alone, and took her hand to give it a peck, his red eyes fixated on her.

"I am neither of those," coldly replied Milena, a bit baffled by his actions.

"Obviously."

She had to refrain her hand from shaking, completely taken by surprise. Rayan's skin was even colder than she expected.

"I suggest Your Highness go back to the Palace to sleep soon. You are straining yourself."

"Are you worried about me, Lady De Crescent?"

"Like any of your subjects."

Rayan smiled, showing his fangs. As always, his smile was more scary than happy. His scar had half of his face torn in a weird grimace, the skin striating under the efforts. Milena didn't flinch, though.

Without blinking, Rayan kept gazing into her eyes, as he brought her hand closer to his face.

"How come you're never scared of me, Lady De Crescent?"

"I've seen worse monsters," she whispered.

"Have you?"

Without warning, he put her finger to his mouth and pressed it slowly against his fang, a drop of her blood coming out. Milena frowned a bit under the sudden bite. Though she kept herself from saying anything, while Rayan slowly licked the little red drop. "As I thought... Your Dhampir blood is drinkable for us. And delicious, at that."

For the first time, Milena's cheeks had turned a bit redder.