Lady Dhampir
Chapter 51

The silver cat hissed, and Milena turned around, wary of the intruder. She found herself relaxing soon "Your Highness... Prince Rayan."

"So many titles. I liked it better when you only called my name."

Milena blushed a bit but ignored him. That was a different situation then, and he knew that perfectly. "Mother should hold balls more often. I didn't think midnight blue would suit you so well..." Once again, that seductive tone of his. Milena tried to ignore his flirting and put on a more serious ex "Shouldn't you be dancing around with one of your prospect brides right now?" She asked.

"I came to replace the best one," he replied right away, with a confident smile.

Before Milena could respond, the vampire Prince bowed politely, obviously inviting her to dance. She "I came outside to get some fresh air..."

"Who said anything about going back inside?"

Rayan gently took her hand, and softly guided her into a slow dance that didn't match the music comi pace. They danced silently for a while, in a bit of an awkward moment, on this little balcony. Milena wa "What are you thinking?" He asked.

"About why your Highness would pick me instead of the six or seven other women who must be dying "Lady de Crescent, you're overestimating my popularity," he laughed. "Moreover, I don't see why I shou Milena was shook by his words. Was that really what he thought? Rayan chuckled.

"Why are you always doubting every compliment I address to you?"

"Forgive me if I have a hard time trusting a man who left me to bleed and die in the woods." "Oh... So that's what it's all about?"

The young Duchess de Crescent was still very bitter about that whole episode. She would never forgiv

th, though, as soon as she saw who it was.

nced at her, obviously checking her out from head to toe, and liking what he was seeing.

n.

Id.

m the ballroom. Neither of them seemed to care, though. One hand on his shoulder, the other in his hand, Milena naturally took a few steps, following his g to avoid the red eyes that were so obviously staring right at her.

ce with him..."

pick you out. Of all the candidates, you're the one who's head is most fit for a crown."

bok he gave her before flying the scene. Rayan hadn't even tried to defend her when he was probably the only valid testimonial, too, when she had been

accused later on. Milena was not the type to forgive and forget easily, not when her life had been on the line, and she had suffered so much.

"I'll agree... I didn't think much of you then," he finally said, much to her surprise.

"Then? What made you change your mind?"

The Prince sneered and shook his head, his eyes lost in some past memory.

"That's a secret."

Milena was as annoyed as ever about his little mind games. She sighed. She didn't want to ask twice, especially since the chance he'd answer was so slim. Instead, she focused on her dance, trying to ignore her painful feet. She could never, ever get used to wearing damn heels.

"...I saw the scene, with your cousin. A pity."

"She saved me the trouble of trusting her any longer."

"You're hard on others."

"Lady de Hyacinth made her choice... I make mine."

He stayed silent, not asking anymore. Either he wasn't interested or didn't dare ask anything else about the matter, Milena didn't care much. She was still bitter about her cousin's betrayal, and would rather not talk about it at all. The cold air outside was helping her calm down a bit, actually. The snow under their feet had slowly melted under their dancing steps, as for once, it wasn't heavily snowing.

The silver cat hissed, and Milena turned around, wary of the intruder. She found herself relaxing soon enough, though, as soon as she saw who it was.

"You think I'm suited for a crown... Do you think you're suited to be King, Prince Rayan?"

"What do you think?"

"I asked first," she replied.

"I still want to hear your opinion about what kind of King I'd be."

"A very annoying and stubborn one," she sighed.

Rayan couldn't hold back a little laugh. Milena was just as stubborn as he was, if not even more.

"Fine, I'll give you this one... To be honest, I'm not sure. I want to be King. But my father thinks I'm too unpopular, too bad at connecting with people. I lack empathy, surely. I do not like to waste time on fools and useless people. If they can't match the pace, they'll get rid off." "What about politics, then? The Senate would surely split over a Vampire King..."

"Who knows? I am not a big fan of humans, but not a supremacist either."

"You don't support the equity?" Asked Milena, shocked.

"We are not equals. People like my brother need to stop with their baseless pacifism. It does not take a scientist to understand vampires and humans are not equals, but different species who have no choice but to coexist. Pretending otherwise is liking running in a forest with a blindfold on."

For once, she was shocked. Shocked because no one else would dare to say those kinds of things openly. So far, most senators, ministers and anyone with political interests kept saying about how vampires and humans should be equals in everything, but... What Rayan said was half-way through the vampire supremacism they feared. However, it was still a bit different.

"...Isn't it dangerous for a Prince to say such things?" She whispered.

"They think I'm crazy and reckless already. Truth is, the Supremacists are dying to put me on the throne and let me do their bidding. But for that, they need to replace me the perfect puppet wife..."

"Are you talking about me?" Milena suddenly blurted out, offended.

"If there is anything I have learned so far, Lady de Crescent, you're a lot of things but not a puppet for anyone to toy with. You're the bravest, fiercest candidate out there, no matter what everyone else thinks."

Milena was shocked by his sudden words. She got lost in her thoughts, still dancing but he head was turning those words over and over again. Brave? Fierce? Was she really all that, after all? Dancing along with Rayan, she felt more like a... more like a doll. A doll trapped in a doll's house, a play in which she was f****d to act her part, in those clothes and shoes a bit too big for her.

She glanced at the ballroom behind the window, all those people dancing. The ladies were smiling, the men were shaking hands, everyone was chatting and seemingly having fun. They drank champagne, ate to their content and danced some more. Since when had this become a world she was used to? Since when had she grown used to those clothes, this role?

"I'm not brave..." she whispered. "This is only a front. The Duchess title, the politics, this whole act... The truth is, I'm scared. I'm the most terrified woman you could replace, trying hard to hold myself together. I'm afraid to die... I've seen death so many times, I've been so close to it I can say the taste it has. It's like I've died and reborn several times. I've died of hunger, cold, pain... None of those nobles could ever say how it feels like, to feel your body is leaving you. To collect scars over your old one, to have your flesh exposed to the bite of the cold..."

She chuckled.

"You think I'm beautiful? All this fabric, the pretty dresses, and jewels, they hide something hideous I can't even bear to see myself. I am not strong, Prince Rayan....I'm just lucky to be more scared to die than I am to survive." They stopped dancing, facing each other. Milena had a bitter expression on. She hated to remind herself of all of her fears, all those dark thoughts she constantly pushed away, in that little corner of her mind.

She had never forgotten the first terrifying years of her existence, and the one thing she was constantly afraid of, was going back there again. Milena had countless nightmares on the matter. Visions where she was called a fake, stripped of her title, her family, of everything she had, and kicked back into a cage, or the streets. She worked harder than anyone because she wanted to feel this place, this name was hers. That she was truly Milena, the Milena de Crescent that had been taken away for seven years. She took a deep breath, trying to calm down and regain her composure.

Much to her surprise, however, Prince Rayan had an enigmatic smile on.

"There is nothing bad about fearing death... Or poverty, or the ugliness, inside or outside. We all have this darkness inside, Lady de Crescent. Something ugly, that grows into our stomach and makes us glad we are there, not into someone else's ragged shoes. Everybody dies, someday. In this country and age, unfortunately, we die even faster. There is no shame in being afraid of that. And yes, better them than us. Everyone thinks that, but I won't pretend not to. I will fight anyone who tries to kill me. I won't show mercy for my enemies. I won't lose anything or anyone I want. I want that crown on my father's head, I want a better life and I don't want to lose to my brother."

He turned his head towards the ballroom, staring at the little crowd gathered around his twin Ellias with his glowing red eyes.

Milena, however, was staring at the vampire prince. She was torn between the shock of his brutal words, and that strange impression she was hearing and seeing the real Rayan for the first time. That was the man she had felt, all this time, hidden under those smirks and fake attitude. The real Rayan, the dangerous and merciless prince. Her instincts had always warned her. This man should never be her enemy. The usual affection and interest he always bestowed on her was not something that would be unshakable or infinite. It was as breakable as the glass she was wearing.

However, the truth was Milena understood that too. They were similar, in many aspects, but that didn't mean she could rely on that...

"I'll acknowledge one thing, though," Rayan suddenly said, looking back at her again.

"What is it?"

"I still think you're the most beautiful, fiercest woman among the candidates. I'll wish you good luck with that, Lady de Crescent."

After that, he bowed with that usual smirk of his, and walked back inside, leaving her on the balcony, completely distraught. She turned to Blanche, who had been watching on the side, and came to slide up Milena's arm, as a snake, crawling up her arm. "I think... This man will either be my scariest enemy or my greatest ally, Blanche."