Lady Dhampir
Chapter 90

Milena couldn't help but glare at her reflection. She had never liked this green dress in the first place, but to think she'd be reckless enough to actually stain it with those stupid sweets she had thrown earlier... Now that she had spent most of her afternoon reading, she had somewhat calmed down, and was actually mad at herself for that fit. She usually had better control of her emotions, but that short lunch with Ellias had gotten the best of her. "Blanche, will you give me a hand to undress?"

On the bed, the white cat didn't move an inch. Milena frowned. She had already spent all afternoon napping on her lap, did she need to sleep again now? Milena tried calling her again, but Blanche had decided to turn a deaf ear on her. Or did that mean there was someone else? Milena looked around, but they were resolutely alone. She glanced at the large windows of her bedroom. Someone peeking, perhaps? Ruby would have come out if there was an immediate danger, but otherwise... Milena turned around and walked to her wardrobe. The last dinner with the Queen. She was not in the mood for that and feared she might not be able to control herself once again if Her Highness decided to be rude. After hesitating for a bit, she picked a completely black dress. This choice would have had the De Crescent Butler go a bit white, but it was a bold choice, not a disrespectful one. Black was considered a grim color in their world, something old ladies or vampire women would wear. It kind of reflected Milena's mood for the evening, so it would be just fine for

once...

Moreover, it was a dress designed by Yasina for her, it wasn't looking tacky at all. It was even a bit sexy, with all the black silk, and those black embroideries, that showcased her curves. Milena picked a red velvet corset to go with it and some thin gold jewelry. This time, she didn't even care about a necklace: her dress was covering most of her neck in more of those embroideries. The fabric covered her skin enough to not leave any room for fangs to perk. "Lady Milena?"

Milena stopped as she was about to put on her second earring, and frowned. Bella? She glanced towards Blanche. Was she the reason her friend didn't shape-shift into her human form? Had she been standing and waiting outside for a while? Milena finished putting on her earring and sat down in front of her vanity desk.

"You can come in", she said.

Bella walked in, having changed in a new dress too, looking all flustered.

"Did you... have a good lunch with His Highness?" She asked.

Her voice was a bit shyer than usual, and she seemed to avoid looking directly into Milena's eyes. The young Duchess got even more curious about that cautious attitude of hers. It wasn't like Bella to act all shy and coy, but now, the young countess seemed like she had come like a child waiting to be reprimanded. "Bella, will you help me with my hair?"

"O-of course!"

Once given something to do and a reason to approach Milena from up close, Bella almost ran over, grabbing the brush and gently starting to arrange Milena's hair. Her eyes were focused on the shiny black hair, away from Milena's iridescent irises. The young Duchess didn't question her for a while. Milena pretended to be absorbed in her make-up, picking a vibrant red lipstick and some dark eye-liner that fitted her mood for tonight. "Lady Milena..."

"Yes?"

"I have... talked to my sister this afternoon."

Milena tried not to frown or look flustered. Had Bella come to say she had changed her mind and would support her sister as a candidate? It was very unlikely. The young countess was too smart to pull such a bold move now and risk pissing of Milena of all people. However, it wasn't like her to act like this either... and Milena's patience was running out. She put her lipstick down, making the young Countess jump and talk.

"I... Aurora said she has been seeing his Highness a lot, lately."

"His Highness?"

"...Prince Rayan." "...really?"

Milena's voice was cold as ice, giving chills even to the young vampire lady that was brushing her hair. Bella could tell how Milena had definitely the potential and aura of a future queen. Even while remaining perfectly calm and composed, she could exude that scary murderous aura.

"I... I do not approve of my younger sister's actions, Lady De Crescent," said Bella. "Aurora has been doing nothing but to flatter her own selfishness since the beginning of this..." "Bella."

The young woman froze, finally facing Milena's eyes in the mirror. The young Duchess sighed.

"Once again, you have to call me by my name. I am no idiot or petty woman, I know very well where your loyalty lies. Now, stop being so afraid and tell me more or don't. However, I do not need a scared bunny, not even to brush my hair."

The young vampire nodded, and took a deep breath, chasing away all of her insecurities. When Bella resumed talking, she was back to her old self and expressed herself with confidence while styling Milena's hair.

"Aurora mentioned she saw his Highness four times since the Bridal Selection. Two of those times were private, including today. I don't believe my younger sister is truly attracted to Prince Rayan, but... they have grown close. I think Aurora has been... using her charms, and thinking she was the only one interested in his Highness, she..."

"You're saying your little sister happily occupied all the field by herself while we were not looking."

Bella did not answer, but her expression was sour. Milena's fingers were pianoing on her dressing table, staring at her own reflection. So Prince Ellias wasn't the only one play double games... She couldn't even react to that.

Even if her expression remained neutral, and Bella kept brushing her hair and putting it up with pins without one word being exchanged between them, Milena was boiling. Her perfect, polished facade was threatening to crumble at any given moment. She had enough... Even if her head was telling her this was most likely just one more of Prince Rayan's games, her heart hated it. Being toyed and tossed all directions.

Aurora De Camellia, of all people? That girl was sticking out like a sore thumb among the candidates. Though she was arguably one of the prettiest candidates, on par with Lady De Winter even, her personality was unfit to be a Queen. Aurora was selfish, petty, and self-centered. Sure, she had stood out a bit of some of the debates they had, but her lack of allies was a big issue. Aurora couldn't even spare time to get her own sister, the heiress of their Noble House, on her side. It said a lot about her ambition. She was the one Milena probably would hate the most to see succeed and get a crown... To think she had already managed to see Rayan in private twice!

"I... I can talk to her, Lady De Crescent," said Bella, not looking as confident as she tried to.

This time, Milena almost glared at her.

"To tell her what, Bella? Your sister has obviously made her choice. A bold choice. Do not try to save her now." "Please, she's my younger sister..."

Milena was almost getting annoyed at Bella, now. Where had all of her previous confidence gone? Or was it just the fear of seeing Milena deal in a much more... brutal way with that annoying sister of hers? Milena felt a bit annoyed. She was classier than to just have Aurora murdered. It was a bit late for that, too, and she even doubted this was all real.

If Aurora's ambition couldn't be hidden, Rayan was much better at hiding his intents. Although, he had obviously no plan to be caught alone with Lady Aurora. Milena had just been at the right time and place that morning. What if...

She suddenly stood out. Bella had just finished her hair and, luckily for her, and stepped out just a second soon enough to avoid getting bumped into. The young Lady Dhampir's eyes were flaming again as she turned around. "Bella. Is your younger sister's ambition worth sacrificing all of your hard work?" Asked Milena.

Her direct question and piercing eyes took Bella by surprise once again. The young Countess gasped. Bella opened her mouth, taking a second to think, and closed it soon enough. The answer was easy, yet it had taken the Duchess' anger for her to realize. Bella took a deep breath and bowed very politely.

"Of course not, Lady Milena. I will properly discipline Aurora when the time comes."

Milena smiled, a bit more truthfully this time.

"Great. Well, then, I guess it is time for us to go have dinner, though we might be a little bit early."

Her friend nodded, looking resolute this time. All traces of doubt were gone from Bella's face, and the two women headed out as if nothing had happened.

Milena felt Blanche squeeze inside the pockets of her dress when they left her room, and her smile grew a little. Although, she still had lost much more of her confidence than she let on. What if Rayan was playing a double game too? Milena had placed some heavy bets into this Bridal Selection, and just when she thought she would be able to sleep tight tonight, the sandcastle was on the verge of collapse. She couldn't allow that; If she could endure some of Ellias' dirty tricks to get her away from his twin or have Milena leave the competition, she did not want to have to second-guess every move of Rayan.

The Vampire Prince had stayed way too secretive from the beginning. How had she come to believe him so easily! Milena was calling herself an idiot. She couldn't trust anyone here. She should have learned her lesson by now, but Rayan's disarming honesty had gotten rid of all her defenses, and she hated that.

While Bella remained mute, Milena kept silently scolded herself as they headed for the large room where the last dinner would be held.

"Lady Milena!"

She stopped, as the De Iris sisters came to them, both almost running. Milena frowned, seeing both sisters flustered expressions. They caught their breath while they quickly bowed. "Thank God you are already ready! We were on our way to get you. Her Highness has suddenly changed the location of the Dinner. We are eating in one of the Royal Dinner Room tonight."

Milena was flustered. The candidates had to go the the Central area of the Castle? What was the Queen thinking this time? It was the area where the Royal Family lived! Milena followed the De Iris sisters in a completely different way, all four of them racing a bit. It was much further than their usual dining area, and they had no time to change either!

Milena hoped she wasn't about to regret that black dress... Her Highness could have properly invited them! Or was that part of her retaliation against the candidates' former attitude against her? Milena had a hundred questions going through her mind right now, but not time to think. The Royal Castle was rather big, and if she hadn't been ready earlier than usual, Milena would have definitely gotten late to that dinner.

When the four of them finally presented themselves in front of the big doors, Milena asked the guards a minute for her to catch her breath, checking her appearance, and preparing herself for this.

She didn't know what was waiting for them behind those doors, and something was telling her it wouldn't be a simple dinner. The Queen couldn't have possibly made it any easier just because it was the last one. Queen Lyriana wasn't like that.

"Your Highnesses, here enter Lady Milena De Crescent, first daughter of the Duchy de Crescent, Lady Bella de Camellia, heiress of the County de Camellia, Lady Clorence d'Iris, second daughter of the County d'Iris, as well as Lady Prudence d'Iris, third daughter of the County d'Iris."

The very formal introduction was all they needed to hear. Their years and years of education took over, and all four young Ladies stepped in the dining room, almost immediately bowing down into a very formal reverence.

As she had suspected, their dinner was held in one of the grand dining rooms. There was only a very large table. Where no one but the King himself was seated. He looked up at the young women who had arrived and smiled slightly. "Welcome, young Ladies. Please, come and sit."

Milena was in an inner turmoil but did her best not to show it. Instead of the Queen, most of the Royal Family was there! The King and Queen were sitting opposite to each other, each at one end of the table so they couldn't have been further from each other. Even more mortifying, on each side of the King, Prince Rayan and Prince Ellias were seated, the two brothers facing each other. Milena couldn't have had a worse nightmare than that. This was their dinner? With the King and the Princes, it felt like a trap! As if her Highness wasn't enough to handle by herself!

However, Milena couldn't spend too much time showing her shock. All four of them walked up to the table. The servants pulled the chairs, and Milena realized she would have no choice in the matter.

Next to Ellias, Philomenie was already seated, beaming in her pale pink dress. Milena was irked by her delighted expression. However, even more terrifying, out of the four chairs pulled for them, one was on Rayan's right. Milena felt a pearl of cold sweat running down her spine. It couldn't be anyone but her sitting next to the vampire prince, as the one of higher status that had walked in, it would have been extremely impolite to have Bella or one of the sisters go there.

Hence, Milena did her best at remaining composed and went to take the seat right next to Prince Rayan. Her whole body wanted to run away from this situation. It had to be one of the worse case scenarios ever. Ellias and Rayan were already glaring each other, despite her best ignore to pretend she did not see any of it.

"Lady de Crescent," gently said the King. "This dress looks magnificent on you."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The old King was a handsome man back in his younger days, but now, his whole physique had took on the charge of the years. He had dark circles under his eyes, many patches of white hair, and was a bit too thin.

Milena couldn't remember the last time she had seen this man, but this gentle look in his eyes touched her deeply. He resembled his sons a lot, but his gentle demeanor was more reminiscing of Ellias. She focused on the King for a while, deliberately ignoring both Princes' eyes on her. The twins had been on her nerves all day, and having to sit next to Rayan and facing Ellias was not helping in any way.

Though Milena had very little exchanges with the King himself until then, he was very fond of her father and great-grandmother and was almost acting treating Milena as if she had been his own daughter in his way to address her.

"My King," suddenly called out the Queen. "Please do not forget we have other ladies waiting here. It would be impolite to have them only listen."

To Milena's surprise, the King's expression changed. It was very short, but for half a second, he clearly glared at his wife, before turning to Lady de Winter. Milena was shocked. Their relationship looked even worse than the twins had depicted it...

Milena tried to sip some blood as they were waiting for the last guests, Rachael and Verona, but she had a hard time swallowing anything down with the Princes so close. She was almost regretting her tight black dress when Rayan was so close! "Father is right, Lady de Crescent," whispered Rayan. "You look stunning tonight."

"Black is a bit of a sad color on you, though," retorted Ellias, though he was clearly glaring at his twin.

Milena wanted to drown herself in her cup.

"Your Highness obviously doesn't know much about women's fashion," suddenly claimed Rachael's voice behind them. "Black is the sexy color by excellence!"

This one time, Milena wondered if there was any chance to faint or run away.