Lady Dhampir
Chapter 6

"Are you here alone?" asked the young boy.

Milena was so surprised she had forgotten to answer. Did he think she had come here unauthorized? Trying to remember all the manners taught by her teacher, she got up, put her book down, and did a proper reverence.

"I am Milena De Crescent; it's an honor to meet you."

Ellias chuckled and shook his head.

"No need to be so formal! I just came here to borrow a book but it seems you took it.... Are you the duke's daughter then?"

"Yes..."

"I see! We heard that the young duchess had been found but I guess we haven't met at any event so far..."

Indeed, her father had kept Milena away from any social gatherings. She had just been brought back to her family and was still very awkward with strangers. Moreover, she lacked all of the education she should have had since birth as a Duchess and couldn't possibly attend those kinds of events unprepared.

"I am sorry about that. I am still lacking..." said Milena, a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, no, it's fine! My brother and I are a bit awkward with all those official events as well, so it's nice that we can meet like this! Anyway, how did you come here?"

"My eldest brother works as an apprentice at the Palace," explained Milena. "He brought me here today because I love books very much."

"I see, I love books as well! By the way, how are you liking the first volume? It's captivating, isn't it?"

Feeling a bit relieved to be asked about a topic she knew, Milena happily responded, and they started discussing their favorite chapters. Nonetheless, she was a bit shy in front of the Prince. Ellias was good-looking, even while still being a young boy. His green eyes shimmered when he talked enthusiastically about his favorite book. Moreover, he wasn't staring at her purple eyes like most people, but acted as if they were perfectly common. "Are you here to study?" asked Milena.

"No, to be honest, I snuck away," said Ellias with a mischievous smile. "My ethics teacher is an old granny and very strict. The soldiers will soon replace me though, so I thought of coming here to hide for a bit."

"It sounds like you will be in trouble..."

"I am used to it. Do you skip your lessons too?"

Milena shook her head.

"No, I like learning very much and all of my teachers are nice. But my third brother does, he likes training better."

"Oh, Lucian, right? We have met a few times! Actually, I think I have met all of your older brothers. The De Crescent sons all train with the Royal Guard, like me."

Milena didn't know that. She had seen Raphael and Lucian train a few times, but only on their own at the manor. She didn't know they took classes in the Royal Palace as well.

"I wish I knew how to fight too..." she said to herself.

"You could learn! It is becoming more common for young ladies to at least learn how to use a g*n nowadays, for self-defense."

Milena frowned. She didn't like guns very much. The smell of powder was very disagreeable to her sensitive nose, and it was loud. She wondered if her father would let her try, though.

"Milena! Sorry, it took a while... Oh, hello Your Highness."

Valentin had just returned and put a protective hand on Milena's shoulder while turning to Ellias for a brief bow.

"Hello, young Duke. I'm sorry, I just met your younger sister and we ended up chatting about our favorite book."

"No, I have to thank you for keeping her company, it is Milena's first time in the castle and I had to leave her alone for a bit... but the guards are looking for you my Prince, I think your mother, the Queen, is a bit upset." "Sounds like I have to go."

Ellias sighed and got up, addressing the siblings with a little nod.

"Thank you for keeping me company for a short while, Lady De Crescent. I enjoyed it very much. I hope we can meet again!"

"Uh, thank you, I hope so too," stuttered Milena.

After saying a proper goodbye to Valentin, the young Prince left, leaving Milena flustered. Her older brother noticed and chuckled. "Little sister, you're blushing."

"I am not," Milena defended herself, a bit embarrassed. "It's just a bit hot here..."

"Not even Father would replace this room hot, young Lady! I cannot blame you, the young Prince did inherit his father's good looks..."

"It really was the young Prince then? The one who will be King someday?"

"That's a bit too early to say. The King hasn't named him Crown Prince; the situation is a bit complex..."

"Because they are human and vampire twins?"

Valentin looked down at his little sister, surprised. She already knew about the Royal Family situation? Milena was surprising at times like this. He smiled and nodded.

"That's right, but you are still a bit too young to worry about that, Milena. Now, do you have all the books you wanted to take? I have to send you back to the manor or they will worry over there. Father doesn't like you staying out too much, either. Shall I take you all the way back home?" "No, it's fine. I have Blanche with me!"

"I see. Let me carry these to the carriage, then."

Valentin grabbed most of her books and took Milena's hand to exit the library. Since she had come to the manor, he had tried his best to spend time with his younger sister. As the oldest, he was the one who remembered best the little baby that had been born nine years ago. They had a ten-year age gap, something unusual, even for a mixed family like theirs and, no matter what, Milena was infinitely cute in his eyes.

Even now, as he watched her walking alongside him in the corridor, he found her big, purple, amazed eyes adorable. She was still intimidated by the high walls but kept staring at all the portraits. He suddenly thought of something.

"Milena, come this way."

"Where are we going?"

He guided her across a few more hallways, where all the walls had many portraits. She struggled to keep up with his pace until he stopped in front of a large family portrait.

"Look at that girl, Milena."

In the portrait stood a large family. The parents were sitting and five children were surrounding them. An older girl and a boy stood behind them, while the three youngest were sitting or standing up in front. One could tell it was a wealthy family by the quality of their clothes and the numerous jewels the woman wore. Valentin was pointing up at the young girl behind her father. It took her a few seconds to realize.

"She has purple eyes!"

"Right? Just like you. She was the last Dhampir known: Princess Silvra."

"The one who lived three hundred years ago?" asked Milena, remembering the doctor's words from that morning.

"That's right. She was born right before the end of the Golden Age of our kingdom, before the Great Catastrophe."

Milena, completely mesmerized by the portrait, looked at the girl who had the same eyes as her. Princess Silvra was smiling faintly, looking very graceful and dignified. She had dark red hair, freckles, and very pale skin.

"She is pretty... She didn't become Queen?"

"No, her older brother Silvius took the throne. She did become his closest advisor and friend, according to our archives. They say she undid many plots against her brother and helped him save our people from the Great Disaster. Unfortunately, she died while still quite young..."

"She was sick?" asked Milena.

Valentin shook his head.

"She drank a very strong poison... We don't really know what happened or who did it. A lot of theories have been brought up concerning those events, but the only thing we are certain of was that she died within a few hours..."

Milena looked at the portrait again, feeling a bit sad for the Princess. She was so pretty and did so many things for the kingdom. Her brother looked a lot like her, with dark red hair and black eyes. She turned to Valentin. "Can you tell me more about her?"

"Are you interested? I don't know much but I can probably ask one of the archivists... There might be a few books that mention her. I'll replace them for you, all right?"

Milena nodded. She wanted to know more about Princess Silvra! Valentin took her hand again, taking her away from the portrait.

"Time to get home now, young Lady. I promise I'll replace more about that Dhampir Princess, but if I don't send you home now, Father will be mad at me."

When they got back to their family's carriage Blanche jumped off her neck and turned into a wolf. She walked around them, sniffing the snow and grating it a bit while waiting for Milena.

"I will see you at dinner, little sister. Be a good girl and listen to madam Sofia, meanwhile all right? Oh and don't let Lucian bother you in your studies."

"I will," said Milena.

Valentin smiled, kissing her forehead and helping her into the carriage. Blanche followed right behind her as usual. He watched the carriage move away, despite the snow falling, a bit worried. He always felt like Milena would disappear again anytime he parted with her and couldn't ease that feeling in his heart.

"Val! Did I miss her? Did I?"

Running, a young soldier reached him, out of breath. Valentin laughed.

"Too late, Bryce."

"Damn! I thought this time I could see your sister but the General didn't stop talking... I can't believe it!"

Bryce de Boreal was the second son of the De Boreal family, one of the three other ducal families, and Valentin's closest friend.

"What happened?"

"He scolded us for losing the Prince again. I don't know how he always runs away! Both twins are escape artists by now; the Queen is furious."

Valentin couldn't help but laugh.

"Prepare to be surprised then. He was in the library with my sister."

"Are you kidding me! That brat... Do you think he knew she was a potential fiancee?"

The young duke frowned.

"Probably. The Princes know they might marry any of the young noble ladies in a few years..."

"Don't play dumb, Valentin. You know with your sister showing up, the wind will change direction. We will now have a Dhampir among the potential brides. Just wait until the aristocratic factions learn about this..."

Indeed, it was going to be a huge announcement among the nobles. The young heiress De Crescent had returned to her family, maybe to be in even greater danger than before... Those who were happy about her disappearance seven years ago were probably trembling with rage right now.

She had no idea yet, but Milena had the potential to rise to a higher rank in a few years, if only she could survive until then and face her rivals. Valentin felt sorry for his younger sister. Being born in a Ducal family put Milena at the heart of the darkest intrigues of the kingdom, a b****y race to the throne, no matter if she wanted to or not...