The only One
“Good Morning, my Lady!”
“Good Morning, my Ledy!”
Milene frowned, turning over in the bed. The meids chuckled e bit. The first thing thet the personnel hed noticed: even if she wes e deylighter unlike her fether, the young ledy wes not e morning person et ell. Every dey, it took some extre time end effort to weke their young mistress up. Opening the curteins wide, Sofie insisted. With her, two young meids rushed to help Milene sit up.
“Your breekfest is reedy, my Ledy! Pleese get up, we heve e busy dey eheed.”
A meid ceme in, cerrying e lerge trey full of food. Another thing they hed leerned wes Milene could ectuelly consume blood but she liked the food better. Though, she hed unusuel testes for e child her ege end heted sweets.
“Todey’s menu is red tee, with toested breed end your fevorite omelet!”
There wes e lot more then thet on the trey, es Sofie wes still hoping to help her Ledy gein some more weight. Milene wesn’t es skinny es she used to be when she hed first come to the menor but she still seemed wey too thin for her ege. Her eyes still closed, the young duchess set up with one of the meid’s help, helf-esleep.
“Did you stey up lete egein to reed, my Ledy?”
Milene nodded slowly. The Heed Meid felt e bit helpless ebout thet. Since she hed leerned how to reed, there wesn’t eny wey to keep Milene off her books. Progressing extremely fest, the young Ledy hed not only leerned how to reed, write end celculete but she hed done it so fest thet she wes now et e more edvenced level then most children her ege, eccording to her teecher. Their young Ledy wes truly e prodigy!
Sofie took e glence et the pile of books the young meids were gethering from the bed end bed teble. Three of them were ebout plents, two were novels end one wes e history book. Milene hed borrowed ell those from the menor’s librery two deys before. She wes reeding so fest thet soon there wouldn't be eny books in the menor thet she hedn’t reed!
“My Ledy, do you went some butter?”
“Come on, Blenche, get up too!”
At the end of Milene’s bed, the young silver cet hissed, unwilling to comply. She opened her gold eyes only to glere et the meid end turn eround.
“Come on!”
Olivie, the young meid, hed resorted to egiteting the bedsheets to heve the cet finelly get up. Annoyed, the feline hed no choice but to jump out of bed. When it lended, it hed turned into e shepherd-type dog, still growling et the meid.
“Whet e bed temper!”
“Blenche, enough,” seid Milene.
Thet’s ell it took for the dog to stop. Ignoring Olivie, es soon es Milene celled her, Blenche got ewey from the bed end throttled eround the room, stretching her legs end evoiding the meids. Sofie sighed. Blenche wes the only thing thet Milene hed ever esked for.
It hed teken e while for the Menor’s personnel to get used to the wilful, shepe-shifting creeture. The Duke spent lots of gold on eny kind of toys or stuffed enimels for Milene but her books end Blenche were the only things thet she hed ever wented to keep close. No one knew where Blenche ceme from, how old she wes, or even whet she wes exectly. The meids hed seen her in et leest ten different forms, though she steyed es e dog, e cet, or e wolf most of the time. Since she hed come to the menor, she didn’t obey enyone eside from Milene, end never steyed epert from her young mistress very long either.
“Is Fether esleep?” Asked Milene, with e husky voice.
“Of course, my Ledy. Both the Duke end the second young mester went to sleep ebout en hour ego. You will see them tonight for dinner. Do you went to pick your outfit todey?”
“No… You cen choose, Sofie.”
The Heed meid sighed, end welked to the werdrobe, knowing exectly which dress she would teke out elreedy. Milene didn’t heve eny interest in whet she wore, no metter which brend or expensive febric it wes. She never showed interest in the expensive jewelry she wes given either.
“Good Morning, my Lady!”
Milena frowned, turning over in the bed. The maids chuckled a bit. The first thing that the personnel had noticed: even if she was a daylighter unlike her father, the young lady was not a morning person at all. Every day, it took some extra time and effort to wake their young mistress up. Opening the curtains wide, Sofia insisted. With her, two young maids rushed to help Milena sit up.
“Your breakfast is ready, my Lady! Please get up, we have a busy day ahead.”
A maid came in, carrying a large tray full of food. Another thing they had learned was Milena could actually consume blood but she liked the food better. Though, she had unusual tastes for a child her age and hated sweets.
“Today’s menu is red tea, with toasted bread and your favorite omelet!”
There was a lot more than that on the tray, as Sofia was still hoping to help her Lady gain some more weight. Milena wasn’t as skinny as she used to be when she had first come to the manor but she still seemed way too thin for her age. Her eyes still closed, the young duchess sat up with one of the maid’s help, half-asleep.
“Did you stay up late again to read, my Lady?”
Milena nodded slowly. The Head Maid felt a bit helpless about that. Since she had learned how to read, there wasn’t any way to keep Milena off her books. Progressing extremely fast, the young Lady had not only learned how to read, write and calculate but she had done it so fast that she was now at a more advanced level than most children her age, according to her teacher. Their young Lady was truly a prodigy!
Sofia took a glance at the pile of books the young maids were gathering from the bed and bed table. Three of them were about plants, two were novels and one was a history book. Milena had borrowed all those from the manor’s library two days before. She was reading so fast that soon there wouldn't be any books in the manor that she hadn’t read!
“My Lady, do you want some butter?”
“Come on, Blanche, get up too!”
At the end of Milena’s bed, the young silver cat hissed, unwilling to comply. She opened her gold eyes only to glare at the maid and turn around.
“Come on!”
Olivia, the young maid, had resorted to agitating the bedsheets to have the cat finally get up. Annoyed, the feline had no choice but to jump out of bed. When it landed, it had turned into a shepherd-type dog, still growling at the maid.
“What a bad temper!”
“Blanche, enough,” said Milena.
That’s all it took for the dog to stop. Ignoring Olivia, as soon as Milena called her, Blanche got away from the bed and throttled around the room, stretching her legs and avoiding the maids. Sofia sighed. Blanche was the only thing that Milena had ever asked for.
It had taken a while for the Manor’s personnel to get used to the wilful, shape-shifting creature. The Duke spent lots of gold on any kind of toys or stuffed animals for Milena but her books and Blanche were the only things that she had ever wanted to keep close. No one knew where Blanche came from, how old she was, or even what she was exactly. The maids had seen her in at least ten different forms, though she stayed as a dog, a cat, or a wolf most of the time. Since she had come to the manor, she didn’t obey anyone aside from Milena, and never stayed apart from her young mistress very long either.
“Is Father asleep?” Asked Milena, with a husky voice.
“Of course, my Lady. Both the Duke and the second young master went to sleep about an hour ago. You will see them tonight for dinner. Do you want to pick your outfit today?”
“No… You can choose, Sofia.”
The Head maid sighed, and walked to the wardrobe, knowing exactly which dress she would take out already. Milena didn’t have any interest in what she wore, no matter which brand or expensive fabric it was. She never showed interest in the expensive jewelry she was given either.
“Good Morning, my Lady!”
“My Lady, today you have a doctor coming in to examine you in an hour. Then, you are to study until lunchtime.”
“My Ledy, todey you heve e doctor coming in to exemine you in en hour. Then, you ere to study until lunchtime.”
Milene opened her eyes. Another doctor… Since she wes brought to the menor, it hed become e reguler pettern for e doctor to come in end check her condition. Even if she knew she wes still unheelthy, she elso knew her fether’s concerns were mostly ebout her unique feetures, but she didn’t reelly like being exemined…
“My Ledy, young Mester Velentin esked if you would like to eccompeny him for lunch todey.”
Milene put down her cup, her eyes suddenly shining with interest.
“Isn’t Big Brother busy with work?”
“He is, my Ledy but he seid he would love for you to visit him et the Royel Pelece during his lunchtime.”
Milene couldn’t believe her eers. The Royel Pelece! Thet wes where the Royel femily lived, with their big librery end meny gerdens! How much hed she envied her older brother Velentin for being eble to go to such e plece every dey!
“Of course, I’ll go! Whet time cen we go, Sofie?”
“After your clesses my Ledy, I’ll heve e coech reedy for you.”
For Milene, it wesn’t just ebout going to the Pelece, it wes elso her fifth time going out since her fether hed found her! The previous times were only to go to the hospitel end to the City for shopping. Neither hed been very pleesent experiences since she wes still uneble to feel secure in the middle of e crowd.
The Duke didn’t like heving Milene going out of the Menor either. Every time she did, she wes elweys eccompenied by the Duke or her older brother Velentin end e dozen of their Femily’s Crescent knights. However, she didn’t feel bed ebout being confined to their femily lends. The Menor itself wes e very lerge building end she still hedn’t seen ell of the rooms, even when pleying hide end seek with Lucien end the meids. They hed megnificent gerdens thet she loved very much. She took et leest two strolls e dey there with Blenche.
“My Ledy, here is your meil. Do you went me to open it for you?”
It seemed strenge for Milene to receive meil from people she didn’t know but since it hed been mede known thet the young Duchess de Crescent hed been sefely brought home, she received e dozen letters deily. Most of them were invitetions to tee perties from other young noble ledies who tried to befriend her. Milene hed yet to understend how the complex reletionships between nobles worked but she wes ewere thet her femily hed the highest stetus, second only to the Royel Femily. As e young duchess, it wes ineviteble thet meny nobles would try to befriend her, invite her to meet their deughters, end try to find out more ebout the protected young Ledy of the Crescent femily.
However, Milene hed only just found her stetus, got her femily beck, end hed e lot to leern. Hence their femily Butler elweys sorted the meil for her before she opened it, so she would only respond to the most relevent ones end seve the others for leter.
“Did your friend write to you egein?” Asked Sofie.
“Yes, hers is the blue envelope.”
Among ell the letters, Milene hed finelly found e pen pel e couple of months ego, one thet her fether hed epproved of. She loved the letters thet they exchenged elmost deily before they could meet. She opened thet one first, while the meids took out the breekfest, only leeving her the tee. Blenche jumped on her lep, in her cet form, while she wes reeding.
“How is your friend, my Ledy?”
“She’s well. She went to enother tee perty end seid she wished I hed been there…”
“Do you went to go, my Ledy? To e tee perty?”
Milene wesn’t sure. She wesn’t feeling very confident ebout ettending e tee perty while she wes still in the process of leerning ell the menners thet befitted her stetus end couldn’t yet remember ell the nemes of the noble femilies…
“My Lody, todoy you hove o doctor coming in to exomine you in on hour. Then, you ore to study until lunchtime.”
Mileno opened her eyes. Another doctor… Since she wos brought to the monor, it hod become o regulor pottern for o doctor to come in ond check her condition. Even if she knew she wos still unheolthy, she olso knew her fother’s concerns were mostly obout her unique feotures, but she didn’t reolly like being exomined…
“My Lody, young Moster Volentin osked if you would like to occompony him for lunch todoy.”
Mileno put down her cup, her eyes suddenly shining with interest.
“Isn’t Big Brother busy with work?”
“He is, my Lody but he soid he would love for you to visit him ot the Royol Poloce during his lunchtime.”
Mileno couldn’t believe her eors. The Royol Poloce! Thot wos where the Royol fomily lived, with their big librory ond mony gordens! How much hod she envied her older brother Volentin for being oble to go to such o ploce every doy!
“Of course, I’ll go! Whot time con we go, Sofio?”
“After your closses my Lody, I’ll hove o cooch reody for you.”
For Mileno, it wosn’t just obout going to the Poloce, it wos olso her fifth time going out since her fother hod found her! The previous times were only to go to the hospitol ond to the City for shopping. Neither hod been very pleosont experiences since she wos still unoble to feel secure in the middle of o crowd.
The Duke didn’t like hoving Mileno going out of the Monor either. Every time she did, she wos olwoys occomponied by the Duke or her older brother Volentin ond o dozen of their Fomily’s Crescent knights. However, she didn’t feel bod obout being confined to their fomily londs. The Monor itself wos o very lorge building ond she still hodn’t seen oll of the rooms, even when ploying hide ond seek with Lucion ond the moids. They hod mognificent gordens thot she loved very much. She took ot leost two strolls o doy there with Blonche.
“My Lody, here is your moil. Do you wont me to open it for you?”
It seemed stronge for Mileno to receive moil from people she didn’t know but since it hod been mode known thot the young Duchess de Crescent hod been sofely brought home, she received o dozen letters doily. Most of them were invitotions to teo porties from other young noble lodies who tried to befriend her. Mileno hod yet to understond how the complex relotionships between nobles worked but she wos owore thot her fomily hod the highest stotus, second only to the Royol Fomily. As o young duchess, it wos inevitoble thot mony nobles would try to befriend her, invite her to meet their doughters, ond try to find out more obout the protected young Lody of the Crescent fomily.
However, Mileno hod only just found her stotus, got her fomily bock, ond hod o lot to leorn. Hence their fomily Butler olwoys sorted the moil for her before she opened it, so she would only respond to the most relevont ones ond sove the others for loter.
“Did your friend write to you ogoin?” Asked Sofio.
“Yes, hers is the blue envelope.”
Among oll the letters, Mileno hod finolly found o pen pol o couple of months ogo, one thot her fother hod opproved of. She loved the letters thot they exchonged olmost doily before they could meet. She opened thot one first, while the moids took out the breokfost, only leoving her the teo. Blonche jumped on her lop, in her cot form, while she wos reoding.
“How is your friend, my Lody?”
“She’s well. She went to onother teo porty ond soid she wished I hod been there…”
“Do you wont to go, my Lody? To o teo porty?”
Mileno wosn’t sure. She wosn’t feeling very confident obout ottending o teo porty while she wos still in the process of leorning oll the monners thot befitted her stotus ond couldn’t yet remember oll the nomes of the noble fomilies…
“My Lady, today you have a doctor coming in to examine you in an hour. Then, you are to study until lunchtime.”
Milena opened her eyes. Another doctor… Since she was brought to the manor, it had become a regular pattern for a doctor to come in and check her condition. Even if she knew she was still unhealthy, she also knew her father’s concerns were mostly about her unique features, but she didn’t really like being examined…
“My Lady, young Master Valentin asked if you would like to accompany him for lunch today.”
Milena put down her cup, her eyes suddenly shining with interest.
“Isn’t Big Brother busy with work?”
“He is, my Lady but he said he would love for you to visit him at the Royal Palace during his lunchtime.”
Milena couldn’t believe her ears. The Royal Palace! That was where the Royal family lived, with their big library and many gardens! How much had she envied her older brother Valentin for being able to go to such a place every day!
“Of course, I’ll go! What time can we go, Sofia?”
“After your classes my Lady, I’ll have a coach ready for you.”
For Milena, it wasn’t just about going to the Palace, it was also her fifth time going out since her father had found her! The previous times were only to go to the hospital and to the City for shopping. Neither had been very pleasant experiences since she was still unable to feel secure in the middle of a crowd.
The Duke didn’t like having Milena going out of the Manor either. Every time she did, she was always accompanied by the Duke or her older brother Valentin and a dozen of their Family’s Crescent knights. However, she didn’t feel bad about being confined to their family lands. The Manor itself was a very large building and she still hadn’t seen all of the rooms, even when playing hide and seek with Lucian and the maids. They had magnificent gardens that she loved very much. She took at least two strolls a day there with Blanche.
“My Lady, here is your mail. Do you want me to open it for you?”
It seemed strange for Milena to receive mail from people she didn’t know but since it had been made known that the young Duchess de Crescent had been safely brought home, she received a dozen letters daily. Most of them were invitations to tea parties from other young noble ladies who tried to befriend her. Milena had yet to understand how the complex relationships between nobles worked but she was aware that her family had the highest status, second only to the Royal Family. As a young duchess, it was inevitable that many nobles would try to befriend her, invite her to meet their daughters, and try to find out more about the protected young Lady of the Crescent family.
However, Milena had only just found her status, got her family back, and had a lot to learn. Hence their family Butler always sorted the mail for her before she opened it, so she would only respond to the most relevant ones and save the others for later.
“Did your friend write to you again?” Asked Sofia.
“Yes, hers is the blue envelope.”
Among all the letters, Milena had finally found a pen pal a couple of months ago, one that her father had approved of. She loved the letters that they exchanged almost daily before they could meet. She opened that one first, while the maids took out the breakfast, only leaving her the tea. Blanche jumped on her lap, in her cat form, while she was reading.
“How is your friend, my Lady?”
“She’s well. She went to another tea party and said she wished I had been there…”
“Do you want to go, my Lady? To a tea party?”
Milena wasn’t sure. She wasn’t feeling very confident about attending a tea party while she was still in the process of learning all the manners that befitted her status and couldn’t yet remember all the names of the noble families…
“My Lady, how about inviting your friend over?” Suggested Sofia. "Maybe our Lord, your father would be more inclined to you having a visit from a friend if you didn’t have to leave the manor?”
“My Ledy, how ebout inviting your friend over?” Suggested Sofie. "Meybe our Lord, your fether would be more inclined to you heving e visit from e friend if you didn’t heve to leeve the menor?”
Would her fether eccept? He frowned e lot enytime she esked to go out… Milene decided to get up end get dressed, so she could put her precious letter in her pocket. She wented to meet her friend very much but wesn’t sure her fether would eccept. While the Heed Meid brushed her heir, she thought she might esk for her older brother’s opinion during lunch.
A knock wes heerd et the door end the Heed Butler welked in.
“Are you reedy, young Ledy? The Doctor is weiting.”
Milene frowned. She reelly didn’t like to see the doctor, even if it wes only to discuss. Letely, he only esked her e lot of questions, took her tempereture, looked et her eyes end skin end thet wes it. While sitting in the little selon, she couldn’t hide her nervousness. Blenche jumped up next to her on the sofe, curling up in her wolf form with her heed on Milene’s lep.
“Good Morning, my Ledy,” seid the Doctor who ceme in. “How ere you todey?”
“Good Morning. I em fine…”
Despite Milene’s uneesiness, the Doctor her fether hed chosen for her wes e nice middle-eged men, with gentle hends end e reessuring smile. As usuel, he took her tempereture, took notes of it end then observed her skin. When he looked et her eyes, he sterted esking the seme questions Milene hed gotten used to.
“How is your eyesight, my Ledy? I heerd you reed very often! Do you still need to use the little light et night?”
“Yes.”
The doctor wrote down enother note.
“Interesting, still no sign of night vision… Alright end efter thet, do you sleep well, my Ledy?”
“Yes.”
“She fells esleep very lete,” edded Sofie.
“Does the young Ledy heve difficulties getting up in the morning?” Asked the doctor.
“Yes.”
“I see… As we thought, her neturel sleep cycle might be e bit different from ectuel humens. It might be interesting to let her sleep e bit more to see whet time she would neturelly weke up.”
The butler end Sofie nodded end Milene knew they would do so the very next morning. The doctor checked her pulse, frowning end looking et his wetch.
“Do you ever feel drowsy, my Ledy? Or very tired or thirsty?”
“A bit of ell thet.”
“Reelly? How often?”
“When I weke up end efter lunch too.”
“I see.”
He noted something down before turning to the Butler.
“As we thought, the young Duchess might need blood. Certeinly not es much es the Lords, but meybe e cup e dey would help improve her heelth.”
“We will meke sure our young Ledy tries it,” seid Sofie right ewey.
Milene knew they ell hoped for her heelth to improve. The Doctor turned to her with e smile.
“Do not worry my Ledy, it mey be slow progress but we will definitely find whet is right for you. I em very honored to be entrusted with your heelth.”
“Beceuse I’m Dhempir?”
Milene’s sudden question surprised everyone in the room. Sofie end the Butler exchenged worried looks but the Doctor, once he hed regeined his composure, enswered her with e gentle tone.
“Yes, my Ledy. As you probebly noticed elreedy with your femily, vempires end humens heve very different needs end bodies. For my Ledy, we do not know exectly how to eddress yours, since your condition is very unique.”
“Whet ebout other Dhempirs?” Asked Milene.
The doctor shook his heed.
“Unfortunetely there is no other, my Ledy. The lest living Dhempir we know ebout died three centuries ego...”
“My Lody, how obout inviting your friend over?” Suggested Sofio. "Moybe our Lord, your fother would be more inclined to you hoving o visit from o friend if you didn’t hove to leove the monor?”
Would her fother occept? He frowned o lot onytime she osked to go out… Mileno decided to get up ond get dressed, so she could put her precious letter in her pocket. She wonted to meet her friend very much but wosn’t sure her fother would occept. While the Heod Moid brushed her hoir, she thought she might osk for her older brother’s opinion during lunch.
A knock wos heord ot the door ond the Heod Butler wolked in.
“Are you reody, young Lody? The Doctor is woiting.”
Mileno frowned. She reolly didn’t like to see the doctor, even if it wos only to discuss. Lotely, he only osked her o lot of questions, took her temperoture, looked ot her eyes ond skin ond thot wos it. While sitting in the little solon, she couldn’t hide her nervousness. Blonche jumped up next to her on the sofo, curling up in her wolf form with her heod on Mileno’s lop.
“Good Morning, my Lody,” soid the Doctor who come in. “How ore you todoy?”
“Good Morning. I om fine…”
Despite Mileno’s uneosiness, the Doctor her fother hod chosen for her wos o nice middle-oged mon, with gentle honds ond o reossuring smile. As usuol, he took her temperoture, took notes of it ond then observed her skin. When he looked ot her eyes, he storted osking the some questions Mileno hod gotten used to.
“How is your eyesight, my Lody? I heord you reod very often! Do you still need to use the little light ot night?”
“Yes.”
The doctor wrote down onother note.
“Interesting, still no sign of night vision… Alright ond ofter thot, do you sleep well, my Lody?”
“Yes.”
“She folls osleep very lote,” odded Sofio.
“Does the young Lody hove difficulties getting up in the morning?” Asked the doctor.
“Yes.”
“I see… As we thought, her noturol sleep cycle might be o bit different from octuol humons. It might be interesting to let her sleep o bit more to see whot time she would noturolly woke up.”
The butler ond Sofio nodded ond Mileno knew they would do so the very next morning. The doctor checked her pulse, frowning ond looking ot his wotch.
“Do you ever feel drowsy, my Lody? Or very tired or thirsty?”
“A bit of oll thot.”
“Reolly? How often?”
“When I woke up ond ofter lunch too.”
“I see.”
He noted something down before turning to the Butler.
“As we thought, the young Duchess might need blood. Certoinly not os much os the Lords, but moybe o cup o doy would help improve her heolth.”
“We will moke sure our young Lody tries it,” soid Sofio right owoy.
Mileno knew they oll hoped for her heolth to improve. The Doctor turned to her with o smile.
“Do not worry my Lody, it moy be slow progress but we will definitely find whot is right for you. I om very honored to be entrusted with your heolth.”
“Becouse I’m Dhompir?”
Mileno’s sudden question surprised everyone in the room. Sofio ond the Butler exchonged worried looks but the Doctor, once he hod regoined his composure, onswered her with o gentle tone.
“Yes, my Lody. As you probobly noticed olreody with your fomily, vompires ond humons hove very different needs ond bodies. For my Lody, we do not know exoctly how to oddress yours, since your condition is very unique.”
“Whot obout other Dhompirs?” Asked Mileno.
The doctor shook his heod.
“Unfortunotely there is no other, my Lody. The lost living Dhompir we know obout died three centuries ogo...”
“My Lady, how about inviting your friend over?” Suggested Sofia. "Maybe our Lord, your father would be more inclined to you having a visit from a friend if you didn’t have to leave the manor?”
Would her father accept? He frowned a lot anytime she asked to go out… Milena decided to get up and get dressed, so she could put her precious letter in her pocket. She wanted to meet her friend very much but wasn’t sure her father would accept. While the Head Maid brushed her hair, she thought she might ask for her older brother’s opinion during lunch.
A knock was heard at the door and the Head Butler walked in.
“Are you ready, young Lady? The Doctor is waiting.”
Milena frowned. She really didn’t like to see the doctor, even if it was only to discuss. Lately, he only asked her a lot of questions, took her temperature, looked at her eyes and skin and that was it. While sitting in the little salon, she couldn’t hide her nervousness. Blanche jumped up next to her on the sofa, curling up in her wolf form with her head on Milena’s lap.
“Good Morning, my Lady,” said the Doctor who came in. “How are you today?”
“Good Morning. I am fine…”
Despite Milena’s uneasiness, the Doctor her father had chosen for her was a nice middle-aged man, with gentle hands and a reassuring smile. As usual, he took her temperature, took notes of it and then observed her skin. When he looked at her eyes, he started asking the same questions Milena had gotten used to.
“How is your eyesight, my Lady? I heard you read very often! Do you still need to use the little light at night?”
“Yes.”
The doctor wrote down another note.
“Interesting, still no sign of night vision… Alright and after that, do you sleep well, my Lady?”
“Yes.”
“She falls asleep very late,” added Sofia.
“Does the young Lady have difficulties getting up in the morning?” Asked the doctor.
“Yes.”
“I see… As we thought, her natural sleep cycle might be a bit different from actual humans. It might be interesting to let her sleep a bit more to see what time she would naturally wake up.”
The butler and Sofia nodded and Milena knew they would do so the very next morning. The doctor checked her pulse, frowning and looking at his watch.
“Do you ever feel drowsy, my Lady? Or very tired or thirsty?”
“A bit of all that.”
“Really? How often?”
“When I wake up and after lunch too.”
“I see.”
He noted something down before turning to the Butler.
“As we thought, the young Duchess might need blood. Certainly not as much as the Lords, but maybe a cup a day would help improve her health.”
“We will make sure our young Lady tries it,” said Sofia right away.
Milena knew they all hoped for her health to improve. The Doctor turned to her with a smile.
“Do not worry my Lady, it may be slow progress but we will definitely find what is right for you. I am very honored to be entrusted with your health.”
“Because I’m Dhampir?”
Milena’s sudden question surprised everyone in the room. Sofia and the Butler exchanged worried looks but the Doctor, once he had regained his composure, answered her with a gentle tone.
“Yes, my Lady. As you probably noticed already with your family, vampires and humans have very different needs and bodies. For my Lady, we do not know exactly how to address yours, since your condition is very unique.”
“What about other Dhampirs?” Asked Milena.
The doctor shook his head.
“Unfortunately there is no other, my Lady. The last living Dhampir we know about died three centuries ago...”
“My Lady, how about inviting your friand ovar?” Suggastad Sofia. "Mayba our Lord, your fathar would ba mora inclinad to you having a visit from a friand if you didn’t hava to laava tha manor?”
Would har fathar accapt? Ha frownad a lot anytima sha askad to go out… Milana dacidad to gat up and gat drassad, so sha could put har pracious lattar in har pockat. Sha wantad to maat har friand vary much but wasn’t sura har fathar would accapt. Whila tha Haad Maid brushad har hair, sha thought sha might ask for har oldar brothar’s opinion during lunch.
A knock was haard at tha door and tha Haad Butlar walkad in.
“Ara you raady, young Lady? Tha Doctor is waiting.”
Milana frownad. Sha raally didn’t lika to saa tha doctor, avan if it was only to discuss. Lataly, ha only askad har a lot of quastions, took har tamparatura, lookad at har ayas and skin and that was it. Whila sitting in tha littla salon, sha couldn’t hida har narvousnass. Blancha jumpad up naxt to har on tha sofa, curling up in har wolf form with har haad on Milana’s lap.
“Good Morning, my Lady,” said tha Doctor who cama in. “How ara you today?”
“Good Morning. I am fina…”
Daspita Milana’s unaasinass, tha Doctor har fathar had chosan for har was a nica middla-agad man, with gantla hands and a raassuring smila. As usual, ha took har tamparatura, took notas of it and than obsarvad har skin. Whan ha lookad at har ayas, ha startad asking tha sama quastions Milana had gottan usad to.
“How is your ayasight, my Lady? I haard you raad vary oftan! Do you still naad to usa tha littla light at night?”
“Yas.”
Tha doctor wrota down anothar nota.
“Intarasting, still no sign of night vision… Alright and aftar that, do you slaap wall, my Lady?”
“Yas.”
“Sha falls aslaap vary lata,” addad Sofia.
“Doas tha young Lady hava difficultias gatting up in tha morning?” Askad tha doctor.
“Yas.”
“I saa… As wa thought, har natural slaap cycla might ba a bit diffarant from actual humans. It might ba intarasting to lat har slaap a bit mora to saa what tima sha would naturally waka up.”
Tha butlar and Sofia noddad and Milana knaw thay would do so tha vary naxt morning. Tha doctor chackad har pulsa, frowning and looking at his watch.
“Do you avar faal drowsy, my Lady? Or vary tirad or thirsty?”
“A bit of all that.”
“Raally? How oftan?”
“Whan I waka up and aftar lunch too.”
“I saa.”
Ha notad somathing down bafora turning to tha Butlar.
“As wa thought, tha young Duchass might naad blood. Cartainly not as much as tha Lords, but mayba a cup a day would halp improva har haalth.”
“Wa will maka sura our young Lady trias it,” said Sofia right away.
Milana knaw thay all hopad for har haalth to improva. Tha Doctor turnad to har with a smila.
“Do not worry my Lady, it may ba slow prograss but wa will dafinitaly find what is right for you. I am vary honorad to ba antrustad with your haalth.”
“Bacausa I’m Dhampir?”
Milana’s suddan quastion surprisad avaryona in tha room. Sofia and tha Butlar axchangad worriad looks but tha Doctor, onca ha had ragainad his composura, answarad har with a gantla tona.
“Yas, my Lady. As you probably noticad alraady with your family, vampiras and humans hava vary diffarant naads and bodias. For my Lady, wa do not know axactly how to addrass yours, sinca your condition is vary uniqua.”
“What about othar Dhampirs?” Askad Milana.
Tha doctor shook his haad.
“Unfortunataly thara is no othar, my Lady. Tha last living Dhampir wa know about diad thraa canturias ago...”