Lady Dhampir
Chapter 68

As she walked back to her room, after bidding good night to Bella, Milena still had Rachael's words in mind. She hadn't thought one of her rivals would do the first step in coming to her... Would she have been able to do the same? She had thought so many times about going to Philomenie, notably to ask about the Saint, but she hadn't been able to. Somehow, Milena knew she had too much pride. She just couldn't be the one to do the first step, especially not with Philomenie, who was basically everything she hated... and someone she couldn't understand. She couldn't understand how someone who had grown up in a similar environment as she could have turned out so innocent and pure. Either Philomenie was the fakest person in this Kingdom, either she was too dumb for her own good. Milena couldn't tell which option she liked better...

Somehow, replaceing her bedroom after twilight had a strange feel to it. The maids had lit a few candles but, even knowing that the servants had come and gone, she still double-checked every place. She wanted to be sure no Prince would appear again for tonight. She was tired... tired of their little games. Something had been off about both Rayan and Ellias tonight. Milena felt like the rules of the game had changed, and she was missing a part.

Blanche squeezed out of her pocket, and, taking her cat form, rubbed Milena's legs while she changed. The young duchess undid her dress and decided to ask for a late bath. She liked bathing better at night.

Just while the servants were preparing her bath, someone knocked at the door, making her frown. However, to her surprise, a young servant walked in, carrying a large black bottle.

"A present from the young Duchess Rachael de Nova to the young Duchess de Crescent, my Lady."

What kind of present could Rachael send so late...? Wine? Milena walked over but, to her surprise, her eyes instantly recognized the thickness and color of blood inside. Fresh blood! There was a little card with the present, which made Milena snicker. "Try not to look that desperate, next time. It's hard to enjoy a drink when your neighbor looks like she's that thirsty..."

Though she felt a bit annoyed that Rachael had noticed her lurking after the fresh blood, Milena couldn't have been more grateful. She was finally going to enjoy some fresh blood! As soon as her bath was ready, Milena kicked all of the servants out, and finished undressing. Then, she grabbed one of the wine glasses to pour herself a drink, and snooped into the water, in pure bliss. Now, that was relaxing...

"Not poison?" Asked Blanche, sitting on the end of the bed in her human form and tilting her head.

"Rachael isn't that stupid as to try and harm me now. I checked and it was properly sealed, too..."

Just to be sure, Milena smelled the blood beforehand, too, and it seemed fine. She took a little sip, and she immediately recognized the familiar, pure taste. "Gross."

"You've seen me drink blood so many times, Blanche, you should be used to it by now!"

"Still gross."

Milena decided to ignore her and keep drinking and enjoy her bath. Somehow, she felt like every day was a battle now. A war of nerves... She hated having to fight toe to toe with eleven rivals, but at least, it would be over quickly enough. She suddenly remembered she had meant to write to her brothers, too, to let them know about the recent events and ask if they knew anything else about the upcoming war. She wondered if she could sneak out of this aisle of the Palace to visit Valentin when he was working, by any chance... As soon as she was done enjoying her bath and the blood, though she saved some for later, Milena got out and grabbed her bathrobe, putting her hair up and going to the little desk to write her letters. Blanche flew over, landing on Milena's shoulder as a little silver parrot, reading what she was writing.

"Oracle, tomorrow!"

"I know, I'm excited too. I don't think you should appear, however, Blanche. No one is supposed to know about you."

"Secret, okay! You ask stuff."

Milena nodded. She already knew Blanche was very aware of how important it was to keep her existence a secret. They were both afraid she'd fall into the wrong hands, people who'd want to use her friend as a lab rat and understand her secrets, how she could shape-shift... Milena was sure neither the Saint, the Oracle, or Blanche fit into the known species. It was even more intriguing that all of them were somehow attached to figures of power. Milena finished writing her letters and went into her belongings.

"Secret letters?" Asked Blanche the parrot, making Milena frown.

"Oh, Blanche, your voice is really horrible like that... And yes. That's why I'm looking for my personal seal. They could reproduce the De Crescent Seal easily if they broke the wax seal, but this..."

This was rather common in noble families. A few decades ago, the noble family seals had become so easy to reproduce, that a lot had private seals done, one for each member of the family's private use. Those seals were only used for important letters, or one containing sensitive information. Upon seeing this seal, she knew her brothers would be twice as careful about the content. Of course, she still hadn't disclosed any information that wouldn't be too sensitive, but she trusted Raphael and Valentin to be able to read between the lines.

Once she was done, Milena brushed her hair again and put it into a braid to go to sleep. Truth was, she wasn't feeling sleepy yet, but she didn't want to risk being late for breakfast the next morning. As she got in her bed, she noticed Blanche was standing next to the door, in her cat form, her ears and tail up.

"Blanche? Come to bed, what are you doing?" "Noise outside." "What?"

Milena frowned and immediately got up. By reflex, she grabbed her little dagger, too. She usually put the weapon under her cushion when she slept and hid it in her clothes when she was up so the maids wouldn't replace it, but in this bathrobe, she had no choice but to keep it behind her back as she softly put her hand on the door's handle, trying to listen. She couldn't hear anything though, but as she looked down, Blanche was still in the same position.

"Is it danger? Or an intruder? Blanche?" She whispered.

Cat Blanche nodded, scratching the door with her paw a bit. Who could be the annoying girl? As she slowly and carefully opened the door, Milena realized how thick and soundproof it was, as the noise Blanche was talking about immediately came to her. "You're so incompetent! You'll be fired, you stupid, useless maid!"

As she recognized Valentina de Rosella's annoying voice, Milena couldn't help but walk over. On her bedroom's entrance, Valentina was wearing her nightgown and hustling some poor maid. Apparently, there was some issue with her cushion, something about a feather pocking her skin... She was yelling at the maid for her cushion to be changed, but apparently, it wasn't possible, she had to wait until the next morning. Milena had a rough idea of the reason. If someone got rid of their bed sheets or anything from their room, it was suspicious. The maids could be suspected of treason if anything happened with the old or new items, so they probably had received orders to not change anything. Her blonde curls were a complete mess, and she didn't look as pretty as a couple of hours ago. Milena sighed.

"Aren't going to let others sleep at all, Lady de Rosella? I don't know about you, but some people need to sleep."

When she realized someone else was there, Valentina jumped. She rose her eyes to replace the intruder, but as soon as she saw Milena, leaning on the wall and observing her with her unique amethyst eyes, she glared at her. They still had never gotten along since Milena had rejected her friendship several years ago. Truth was, Milena hated that kind of personality, who would cling on to people wealthier and despised the lower classes. She had noticed Valentina even didn't care about overshadowing Philomenie during the dinners, as long as the Queen noticed her. This was a bit too much, even from a countess. Valentina was good at sucking up to people wealthier than her, but as she was now, she could be horrible even to her own staff. Most of the time, she wouldn't even talk to noble ladies with lower ranks than her at tea parties she attended, let alone invite them if she was the host.

Milena's appearance seemed to annoy her a lot. She obviously hadn't expected a public for her tantrum. Valentina turned to her, crossing her arms.

"What do you care, Lady de Crescent? You're a Dhampir, you should be fine sleeping late anyway! If this annoys you so much, just go back to your room and shut the damn door!"

Milena lifted an eyebrow. Now, that was a very rude way to talk to a Duchess, even if Lady de Rosella was mad. Milena would never back away from a fight.

"First, what would you know about the needs of a Dhampir? Moreover, Lady de Rosella, aren't you the one who woke me up in the first place? Aren't you going to apologize at all? Do you intend to wake up the whole aisle with your annoying voice? Or is it not enough that you'd bully those poor maids?"

Valentina became red in anger. There was nothing left of the well-behaved and smiling lady from earlier, she wasn't bothering to hide her hatred for Milena anymore since it was only the two of them in this corridor.

"You always think you're so mighty, De Crescent. As if I'd apologize! Do you know? We hate you. You have so many enemies just waiting for you to fall from this pedestal you think you're on. I can't wait for Lady Philomenie to snatch the Prince from you! I want to see your face when that happens. For once, just once, you'll see what it's like to be the loser and stop acting so mighty!"

"Oh? A loser, really? Are you perhaps referring to yourself?" Asked Milena, perfectly calmly.

"You wench!"

Maybe because the two young women were alone in this aisle, aside from this maid, and she was already so mad to begin with, there was no more filter on Valentina's mouth. However, as she walked up to Milena, furious, the dhampir Duchess didn't move an inch. She wasn't afraid or impress, no matter what Valentina had said. Valentina couldn't afford to even risk touching her, and they both knew that. Moreover, Milena was probably stronger than her, too, being a dhampir, and she still had her dagger in hand. Once Valentina was facing her, the Duchess put a smirk on.

"What? Do you want to add something, Lady de Rosella?"

"...I hate you," hissed the young human countess.

Milena smirked as a response. It probably had cost Valentina a lot to say this but, no matter what, her true nature was surfacing, and Milena felt strangely satisfied with it.

"Likewise. Now go back to your room before I lose patience."

Valentina stayed for a couple of seconds facing Milena, but eventually, she had no choice but to turn around and go back inside, slamming the door behind her. The poor maid thanked Milena and disappeared as soon as she could. The young duchess slowly went back inside her room, with a smile on. Blanche shape-shifted into her human form, jumping on the bed.

"So annoying!"

"I agree. Blanche, I think it's time we get rid of some of the competition. Valentina de Rosella was already an eyesore before, but now, she just stepped over the limit..."

"Kill her? Ruby kill?"

"No, it would be too complicated, she's still a noble, and a bit too radical, even for her. Plus, you know I despise those kinds of methods. Actually, we can be much more subtle than that..."

Blanche shape-shifted into a cat again, meowling loudly to mark her agreement.