Lady Dhampir
Chapter 54

She smiled, greeting Milena as if she was a dear friend of hers. The young Duchess, however, couldn't help but glance at the silver-haired woman standing behind her like a shadow. On her wrist, too, Blanche was very much awake and hissing their way. "Lady de Crescent!" said Philomenie with a bright smile. "Good Evening! You look stunning tonight."

"Lady de Winter, likewise."

Actually, their styles couldn't have been more different, once again. Philomenie was wearing a very flowery dress, with subtle tones of pink and real fresh white lilies, some white gauze and lace. Though the design looked simple and innocent, the fresh flowers must have made the price of that dress skyrocket indecently high. Once again, Milena felt like Philomenie was a doll, customized to perfection and made to act her part. Even every strand of hair seemed perfectly arranged to millimeter precision upon her flower crown.... "It is such an honor to be picked as one of the Princes' bridal candidates, isn't it?" Giggled Philomenie. "I'm so thrilled about living in the Royal Castle for a week! It will be such an experience! Lady de Crescent, you are so much more knowledgeable than I am, I hope I won't embarrass myself!"

"I am sure you will do fine, Lady de Winter," said Milena.

She didn't felt like spending too long here, not when Philomenie was escorted by a handful of young ladies. Though the Duchess de Winter was acting perfectly friendly, her friends were sending disdainful glances in Milena's way. She ignored them, using the little water fountain to freshen herself up a little.

"Of course you'll be perfect Lady Philomenie!" Said one of their friends, looking almost shocked by Milena's words. "Don't let anyone let you think you're not good enough!"

Milena sighed internally. She hadn't said that at all, yet they deliberately twisted her sentence. She couldn't believe she was the same age as them. Sometimes, she wondered if she was too mature or they were the ones too childish...

"You know, you have no one to envy, Lady Philomenie," said that same friend. "Your Father is one of the most powerful dukes, too. No one but the King is above him!"

"And Sir Arseus, too, is among the best knights of his generation! I wish I had such a worthy brother! Your family has nothing to envy to others!"

Milena stayed quiet, but it took her a lot of resolve. Those girls were really dumb enough to eat haystacks in packs of ten!

"It is silly to dare think one Duchy family is above the others! Don't you think so, Lady de Crescent?"

Milena looked at them in the mirror. Really? Did they have some kind of thought about the De Crescent and the De Winter families? Did her family ever act like they were superior? It couldn't be due to their title only that her father was one of the King's close counselors! Her family was naturally close to the Royal Family, thanks to their military accomplishments and common ancestry.

She slowly washed her hands, taking her time and answering very calmly.

"A Duke is a Duke, a Baron is a Baron, a Marquess is a Marquess. Why do you expect me to compare titles? Surely, you know it all already, don't you?"

However, the ladies present took it personally, as if she was degrading them. It wasn't really Milena's intention, but their attitudes had indeed managed to piss her off, making her voice colder than usual.

"Are you looking down on us! Aren't you as arrogant as the rumors say, Lady de Crescent!"

Milena sneered. Those girls were from Baron families, meaning their families had done something great long ago, but now the newer generations just inherited their title and land from birth. They would have to do something else to elevate their title to a County, but to Milena's knowledge, those girls' families' political involvement and military accomplishments were average, if any.

Her Baronesses friends Yasina and Tiphania, for example, were both working hard with their families, their businesses serving the Kingdom's wealth. Those two were working hard, and would very likely be given new titles in the upcoming years. However, Milena especially remembered those girls looking down on her friend Chartiana for being a Blacksmith's daughter after she became a young Marquess... How arrogant of them! "Looking down on you?" she retorted.

Milena grabbed one of the fresh towels and wiped her hands, turning to the ladies present. Blanche, pissed at their attitude too, was hissing in their direction. Milena stepped a bit closer, making them lose their arrogant attitudes and confidence a bit. "Aren't you good enough at downgrading yourselves already?" She said.

"W... What do you mean?"

"Your father, your brothers... Aren't you tired of being someone's daughter, someone's sister only? Do you exist only by your family's titles and achievements? How about you start achieving something of your own before accusing anyone of comparing others? Aren't you the one busy comparing?"

The Ladies exchanged looks, at a loss for words. Philomenie, however, had her eyes fixed on Milena and her mouth open, looking speechless and captivated by her words.

"Yes, I am arrogant," said Milena. "But at least I have something to be arrogant about! What have you guys done so great that you can talk about my attitude? Aren't you just happy, being fed, sheltered and clothed by your titles and families while waiting to be wed to another family who's going to do it all over again!"

"How dare you! We are Ladies! It is an honor to marry to another family and bear children for our husbands!"

Milena clicked her tongue.

"And then? You'll be someone's wife, someone's mother? Do you have anything to be proud of yourselves for that the perfect mold we made for you? Letting someone raise and teach your kids for you, attending fancy parties and spending money... Do you know what makes the difference between a Baron and a Marquess? Their achievements. I've seen girls like you look down on Marquesses for being new nobles. Well at least they earned what they have, they weren't spoiled to have it from birth! Do you want to compare titles? Well, here are my thoughts: New nobles are worthy of more respect than spoiled young ladies like yourself!"

Several seconds of silence floated in the air. The young ladies, utterly shocked and speechless, were looking for something to retort back to her, but before they found anything smart to say, some waves of laughter made them all jump.

The two old human ladies sitting a few steps away were laughing loudly on the side, even tearing up and smacking their knees. Milena tried to think of who those elderly women could be, but it was her first time seeing them. The two grannies' laugh broke the tense atmosphere easily, none of the girls knew how to react until one of the duo spoke.

"Oh, good Lord, it's been a while since I've laughed so hard!"

"True, true! It's like the old days when that dear old Maribella was whipping her rivals around!"

Milena was surprised to hear them mention her great-grandmother. She politely bowed, like she would have done to anyone older than her father. The ladies by Philomenie's side, still unsure to whose side those grannies were on, didn't do anything, only standing up, a bit awkward to have been caught in a fight with Milena.

"We... We were just...." stuttered one of them.

"Oh, shut it, young Lady, we are too old to care. You should be grateful this it the third century, though, back in the old days, that young Lady's great-grandma would have whipped the hell out of you!"

Milena was stuck. So they weren't speaking metaphorically earlier? Her great-grandmother was even more ruthless than she thought...

"I miss that old Maribella! At least we had quite a show to entertain ourselves!"

"Youngsters are too lazy those days. They just poison people they don't like or complain to the King! So boring, so boring!"

All the young ladies present were utterly speechless. How could they talk about such topics so openly!! Milena was desperately trying to think of who those old ladies would be, important enough to attend the Royal Reception and laugh at Baronesses and Duchesses... Technically, no one would dare say something at elders, but still!

"Sweetheart, if those Princes don't pick you, just marry one of my grandsons instead!" Said one of them.

"That would make us in-laws with the Archduchess, though!" Noted the other one, making Milena understand those two were at least from the same family.

"Who cares! That old witch will bury us all anyway!"

"Excuse me, Ladies, may I ask...?" Said Milena, utterly confused.

"Oh, it's fine, dear, don't pay attention to old grannies like us! We just attend those parties just to watch the young ones bicker like this!"

"And to eat free food, of course! They always have us eat like birds at home!"

"Sorry, we will get going," announced one of Philomenie's friends, standing up.

She was obviously intending to leave but seeing Philomenie didn't move, fully absorbed by the old ladies' conversation, she hesitated.

"Lady Philomenie, are you coming?"

"Oh, you can go first!" Said Philomenie.

Once again, Milena wondered if Philomenie even cared she had just had a fight with her so-called friends at all. She hadn't reacted much during their full conversation, other than staring at Milena in awe, and even now, she seemed to have forgotten all about it. Her friends left with barely one smile from her, but it was obvious they were upset at Philomenie not following them immediately.

"Those little girls. They'll become bitter old hags when they get older," sighed one of the grannies.

"Madam, may I ask which grandsons you were talking about...?" Finally asked Milena, resolute to know who she was talking to. "Bryce! Or Reo, but he's a bit young for you, darling."

"What are you talking about? An older wife is better! Trust me, our Reo dear needs someone who can have him walk straight!"

Milena suddenly realized. The Elder Duchesses de Boreal! She knew Bryce, Reo, and their older brother, Henry, well since they all had gone or were in the Knight school with Valentin and Lucian. Since their family didn't have any female heiress, they weren't part of the Bridal Selection, but their status was still too high for them not to be invited. She had actually seen Henry dance with his young wife just a while ago, and the young Reo too was chatting with Lucian a bit earlier. Milena bowed politely.

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you earlier."

"What are you talking about, sweetie! What do you need to recognize all grannies like us! Don't worry, you entertained us enough. It's nice to see those hypocrites put back into their place once in a while!"

"Bryce and Reo...?" Whispered Philomenie next to her, frowning.

It took Milena a full minute to understand. Really? She couldn't even remember the other young Dukes' names? How foolish was that! Briseis' words from earlier came back to her mind. Could it be that Philomenie learned the main heir's names only? "Those Ladies are the young Duke Henry's maternal grandmother and great-aunt," she whispered

"Oh! The de Boreal family!" Exclaimed Philomenie.

Milena sighed. So Briseis was right... So foolish.

"Yes, yes, now, now, go on and enjoy the parties, darlings. Old grannies like us need to go home and sleep early!"

"Or at least before they realize we are not home, hihi!"

Milena laughed along and, politely, bowed before leaving, leaving Philomenie behind. She was so annoyed at this poor excuse of a young Duchess, she was hoping she wouldn't chase after her for a chat or whatever. Milena was still pissed about her friends earlier. As soon as she went back, though, Yasina and Chartiana almost jumped on her, looking upset.

"Lady Milena! Thank God you're here, we've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I just needed a break... What is going on?"

"You won't believe what those wrenches are saying!" Said Yasina, furious.

"We don't really know who spread the rumor, but everyone's been chatting about it in their little group, and we overheard it... Lady Tiphania is there arguing with them, Lady de Iris too!"

"A rumor?" repeated Milena, surprised. "What is it about?"

The two girls exchanged looks, visibly embarrassed. Milena wondered what it could be. She was used to rumors, there had been so many going around since she was a child... About her being a Dhampir, her k********g, her mother's death, the De Crescent Family, about Raphael, even her father's fake affairs, her own relationships...

"It cannot be that bad," she sighed. “So?"

"They... they said you cannot have children..." whispered Chartiana. "...What?"

"They are telling everyone that Dhampir women are sterile!"