Lady Dhampir
Chapter 62

Milena and her friends ended up talking late in the afternoon. As young ladies who had few occasions to meet before, they had no shortage of topics to discuss, and plenty of time. Nothing had been said about the activities they should have while residing in the Bella, Milena, and Clorence enjoyed discussing about their businesses most, and though Prudence was a bit too young to grasp all of the complicated terms they used, she was fine with listening closely and learning from it.

Royal Castle, so they were pretty much free to keep themselves busy however they wanted.

At the end of the day, Milena had found that both ladies had great ideas for future business, but lacked either the experience or the support for it, things that Milena could bring them. She was fine with it. She knew that most relationships in this world also worked on what both parties could gain.

Hence, when they agreed to go back to their rooms to get ready for dinner, she was feeling pretty satisfied. In a way, she was now more willing to believe in Bella de Camellia's reasons to follow her instead of Rachael or Philomenie. The only thing she didn't know yet was how she should react to Aurora... Bella had barely mentioned her sister, but it was clear both weren't in great terms. Aurora was probably much less of a thinker and more of an action-prone kind of girl. Milena would be keeping an eye on her, for the next days. She wasn't feeling threatened by Aurora more than any of the other candidates, but she was curious to see to which lengths the young Countess would go to get the Prince's attention.

Milena finally reached her room back, but, to her surprise, the door was slightly open. She frowned. She was sure she had closed it when she left, Blanche was still quietly hidden in her skirt's pocket anyway, probably napping too. Had a maid come in and forgot to close it properly after cleaning?

Anyway, this was the Royal Castle. Nothing too dangerous should happen there, hopefully... She still put a hand in her corset, where a hidden pocket was keeping a little blade for her self-defense, and walked in carefully.

However, as she stepped in, everything seemed normal and quiet... Maybe a bit too quiet? She felt a movement on the side, from behind the door, and, by reflex took out her weapon, ready to hit. The blade went right for the face of the intruder but was stopped right away. He was holding her wrist, and blocking her movement so easily it was annoying.

Milena frowned.

"What are you...!" "Hush."

He put an index on his lips and closed her bedroom door behind her before letting go of her wrist. Milena was upset, but she put her weapon down.

"Prince Rayan, are you that disrespectful that you'd be visiting a Lady's room like this!"

He chuckled. He was in his usual black outfit, though he was wearing an extra cape with some fresh snow still melting on its extremities, making Milena think he had been outside just before... Or did he come from the window? Her bedroom was on the first floor, it was easy to access for someone with his physique and training.

"Well, I wasn't prepared for the Lady in question to attack me. You are no damsel in distress, young Duchess. What if it had been some poor innocent maid?"

"No maid sneaks in behind my bedroom door and I don't think any of them has your build either, your Highness," she sighed, putting her weapon back to its hideout.

The Prince sneered. He was always impressed with her self-defense skills, though he was aware that growing up with three brothers older probably had helped.

Now that they were alone, Rayan moved more freely in her room, but Milena was still frowning and crossed her arms.

"What are you doing here?"

"Since when are we so cold to each other? You were so adorable when you were worrying for me..."

She couldn't help but blush a bit. Of course, he had to remind her of that whole incident on purpose...

"Your Highness was severely injured, it is only the right thing that I would have been worried, like anybody would," she said, trying to look away.

"If you say so."

Something in his voice was clearly telling her he wasn't believing her attempt at being cold to him. He stepped closer to her, making Milena retreat back, all the way until her legs touched her bed. Rayan chuckled.

"Are you finally going to tell me why you are here?" She sighed.

"What if I say I missed you?"

"The real reason, Rayan."

He smiled. He had finally managed to have her say his name. One of Milena's greatest flaw was her lack of patience... At least when it came to him.

"Alright, alright... Did you know my blood was tested after the attack? I wasn't actually bitten by that wendigo, but I still had traces of infection."

Milena frowned. She had been confused about what had happened exactly during the incident, everything had happened so fast, and in such panic, she couldn't remember if he had been bitten or not. However, Rayan had definitely been scratched and injured in many places. If he had been infected...

"Are you really fine?" Milena asked.

"Oh, now you're worrying for me."

"Rayan!"

His never-fully serious attitude was really getting on her nerves now. She already knew how much he loved teasing her, but still!

"Don't get mad, Duchess. Yes, I'm fine... The Royal doctors think I wasn't infected enough for me to transform."

"Why do you say that as if you think any differently from them?"

"I'm wondering. I remember clearly the utter pain of the venom running through the injuries, through my vein. It's not the kind of pain I can forget easily. That creature was wounded, and I got some on me... Somehow, I could feel it. Yet, when I woke up, it was gone." "Do you think you were healed by something?"

"I have my suspicions... Your blood might have helped."

"My blood?"

Rayan nodded.

"It's a bit of an odd hypothesis, though, so we might want to keep the testing for later. For now, I believe you are quite busy..."

His sneer was telling her plenty about what he thought of all this. Milena sighed and sat back on her mattress.

"Aren't you interested? The Bridal Selection is also for you, you know. Did they not even tell you that?"

"Really? I just thought it was just a way for that dear mother of mine to psychologically t*****e innocent young girls in the open."

Milena rolled her eyes at him. He really had no interest at all apparently... She took off her jacket and some of her jewelry, throwing it on her bed thinking she should start getting ready soon. However, the Prince showed no intention of leaving. "Anything else?" She said.

"...Are you really trying?"

"Trying what?"

"To win this competition."

Milena was surprised. Why would he get serious all of a sudden...? All smile had disappeared from Rayan's face, and he even seemed a bit unhappy now, staring at her with a frown that distorted his scar even more. Milena crossed her arms. "I thought you didn't care."

He suddenly stepped forward, grabbing her wrists and making her fall on her bed, him over her. This situation was so intense, Milena suddenly felt her skin react to his touch. Rayan was standing over her, and suddenly, her brain remembered that... he was a man. A man pinning her body on a bed. She blushed immediately.

"What are you doing...!" She hissed.

"Who are you trying so hard for?" He asked.

His tone was so serious... almost menacing. Milena gasped, completely taken by surprise by his sudden change of attitude. She glared at him. She didn't like Rayan interrogating her like so, and she didn't like being assaulted like this.

"Who said I'm trying hard?"

"Don't play with me, Milena. Answer me."

"What do you want to hear?"

"That you're not aiming for Ellias."

His sentence struck her. She was so unprepared to hear this, her mouth closed itself, and she was speechless. After a few seconds, though, Milena gathered her willpower, and stared at Rayan very seriously.

"What if I am? Do you want me instead?"

"What if I do?"

"Will you love me then?" She asked.

This time around, it was his turn to be taken by surprise by her question. It was obvious he hadn't thought Milena could be as blunt as him. Rayan seemed to think about it seriously for a second.

"...I don't love you," he suddenly said.

They both stayed quiet for a while.

Somehow, Milena hadn't expected him to answer another way. Love was such a weak and feeble thing in their world... It didn't hold any kind of power. It wasn't a promise, and it couldn't be kept as a guarantee. Yet, Milena couldn't help but feel that little needle of pain in her heart, very quiet...

"... But I won't betray you." He added.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. If you marry me, I won't ever betray you. No matter what."

It took a while for those words to sink into her... Somehow, if confused Milena even more than if he had confessed his love for her. Rayan's serious expression was still right above her, his face a few inches away from her. She sighed.

"Why do you care if I am aiming for Prince Ellias, then?"

"I hate sharing anything with my brother. And I don't like him taking what I saw first."

"My God, you're just so selfish!"

"Yeah."

Milena sighed.

She knew they were both too selfish, too serious, and too cunning to fully trust each other, and yet, there was this strange thing that always linked her to Rayan no matter what. She couldn't name it, or explain it. They had the same nature. They were like snakes of the same nest, just recognizing their kind and feeling oddly familiar with each other. That wasn't enough to be love, though.

"... Will you get off of me now? My wrists hurt..."

"Let me feed first. I'm tired."

"Just got to sleep if you're tired!...aoutch!"

Rayan didn't care much for her protests. His fangs found that piece of exposed skin on her shoulder and bit her deep. Milena frowned from the pain. However, she also felt that familiar excitement that came from it... That thrill from the bite, like some sweet d**g spreading under her skin, exciting. She exhaled softly, closing her eyes, letting the pleasure spread from her shoulder. She understood what her brother meant about drinking blood, and how addicting it could become. A bit like s*x, yet a different kind of drug. Rayan only drank a little bit. He just was obviously having fun tormenting her. He licked her injury and stood up, finally freeing her with a satisfied smile.

"You savage," she hissed, patting her injury.

He smiled, wiping the bit of blood from his lips when someone knocked at the door. Milena hurriedly put her blouse back, glaring at Rayan. "Who is it?" She asked.

"Lady Milena? It's me, Prince Ellias. Are you busy, or may I come in?"

Milena went white, turning to Rayan. The prince had an obvious sneer on. That's when she realized. He knew his brother was coming!