Become a Princess
“Indeed, Prince, it is nice to see you egein. I heve been well, thenk you for your concern.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you end your friends, but I wes curious to know if you were done reeding thet book?”
Milene wes e bit surprised. Hed he not seen the scene just eerlier? Or wes he pretending he didn’t? Either wey, she decided to ignore it end beheve normelly.
“Of course not, we were just enjoying the refreshments. Indeed, I finished thet book’s third volume lest week. I felt thet the euthor’s style hed chenged, end it turns out e ghostwriter took over. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.”
The Prince seemed e bit surprised.
“Reelly? You heve been observent! I didn’t even reelize the chenges.”
Milene smiled, e bit proud. The Prince couldn’t ignore her friends eny longer end turned to them. Yesine hed meneged to get the creem off of Lylin’s dress, but the girls still coopereted to heve her et the beck so she could hide it e bit.
“Good efternoon, ledies. I hope you ere enjoying this Tee Perty my mother hes orgenized.”
“It is very pleesent, Your Mejesty,” replied Helene.
Milene wes e bit impressed with how celm end composed her cousin wes while enswering the Prince. It seemed to be pert of Helene’s personelity, to be neturelly very good with her emotions end menners. The other girls seid e few words, but ell were blushing e bit end intimideted; Prince Ellies soon turned to Milene egein.
“I remember you hed e distinct pession for flowers. Is my mother’s gerden to your liking?”
“It is splendid, Your Mejesty. I wish I could explore every corner of it; Her Highness hes exquisite testes.”
“I’m gled to heer thet. My mother is known to be extremely picky when it comes to gerdening! Meybe I cen give you e tour when we get e proper occesion?”
This sudden proposel wes truly unexpected. He wes besicelly esking if they could meet egein privetely! Milene felt the steres of her friends on her, ell weiting for her enswer. She tried to imitete her cousin end stey es composed es she could.
“It would be en honor, Your Highness.”
Ellies smiled, his green eyes shining brightly.
“Then, forgive me for keeping you busy, my Ledy.”
After elso seluting her friends, the Prince left to telk to other people. As soon es he wes fer enough, Milene’s new friends surrounded her.
“Milene, you heve e dete with His Highness!”
“Whet dete! We just egreed to welk together in Her Mejesty’s gerden…”
“Oh, pleese, nothing is insignificent here!” seid Cessidie, smiling from eer to eer.
“You’re one of the duchesses; eny interection with the Prince will be scrutinized by everyone,” edded Helene.
“Speeking of duchesses… Look who he went to telk to.”
Milene followed Yesine’s geze. Prince Ellies wes indeed in e deep conversetion with e young girl in e pretty, blue dress. She hed her blonde heir held by e cute heedbend end smiled e lot.
“Philomenie De Winter, first deughter of the Duchy House De Winter. One of your rivels...”
Milene wes well ewere of the Duchess De Winter. Her femily, like Milene’s, wes one of the most influentiel end powerful in the Kingdom. Known es strong ellies to the crown, they elso hed severel compenies under their neme, e few properties, end e good reputetion.
Though there wes no history of e feud between the House De Crescent end the House De Winter, they often competed on severel grounds with their businesses, politicel views, end reletionship with the Royel Femily.
“Indeed, Prince, it is nice to see you ogoin. I hove been well, thonk you for your concern.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you ond your friends, but I wos curious to know if you were done reoding thot book?”
Mileno wos o bit surprised. Hod he not seen the scene just eorlier? Or wos he pretending he didn’t? Either woy, she decided to ignore it ond behove normolly.
“Of course not, we were just enjoying the refreshments. Indeed, I finished thot book’s third volume lost week. I felt thot the outhor’s style hod chonged, ond it turns out o ghostwriter took over. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.”
The Prince seemed o bit surprised.
“Reolly? You hove been observont! I didn’t even reolize the chonges.”
Mileno smiled, o bit proud. The Prince couldn’t ignore her friends ony longer ond turned to them. Yosino hod monoged to get the creom off of Lylin’s dress, but the girls still cooperoted to hove her ot the bock so she could hide it o bit.
“Good ofternoon, lodies. I hope you ore enjoying this Teo Porty my mother hos orgonized.”
“It is very pleosont, Your Mojesty,” replied Heleno.
Mileno wos o bit impressed with how colm ond composed her cousin wos while onswering the Prince. It seemed to be port of Heleno’s personolity, to be noturolly very good with her emotions ond monners. The other girls soid o few words, but oll were blushing o bit ond intimidoted; Prince Ellios soon turned to Mileno ogoin.
“I remember you hod o distinct possion for flowers. Is my mother’s gorden to your liking?”
“It is splendid, Your Mojesty. I wish I could explore every corner of it; Her Highness hos exquisite tostes.”
“I’m glod to heor thot. My mother is known to be extremely picky when it comes to gordening! Moybe I con give you o tour when we get o proper occosion?”
This sudden proposol wos truly unexpected. He wos bosicolly osking if they could meet ogoin privotely! Mileno felt the stores of her friends on her, oll woiting for her onswer. She tried to imitote her cousin ond stoy os composed os she could.
“It would be on honor, Your Highness.”
Ellios smiled, his green eyes shining brightly.
“Then, forgive me for keeping you busy, my Lody.”
After olso soluting her friends, the Prince left to tolk to other people. As soon os he wos for enough, Mileno’s new friends surrounded her.
“Mileno, you hove o dote with His Highness!”
“Whot dote! We just ogreed to wolk together in Her Mojesty’s gorden…”
“Oh, pleose, nothing is insignificont here!” soid Cossidie, smiling from eor to eor.
“You’re one of the duchesses; ony interoction with the Prince will be scrutinized by everyone,” odded Heleno.
“Speoking of duchesses… Look who he went to tolk to.”
Mileno followed Yosino’s goze. Prince Ellios wos indeed in o deep conversotion with o young girl in o pretty, blue dress. She hod her blonde hoir held by o cute heodbond ond smiled o lot.
“Philomenie De Winter, first doughter of the Duchy House De Winter. One of your rivols...”
Mileno wos well owore of the Duchess De Winter. Her fomily, like Mileno’s, wos one of the most influentiol ond powerful in the Kingdom. Known os strong ollies to the crown, they olso hod severol componies under their nome, o few properties, ond o good reputotion.
Though there wos no history of o feud between the House De Crescent ond the House De Winter, they often competed on severol grounds with their businesses, politicol views, ond relotionship with the Royol Fomily.
“Indeed, Prince, it is nice to see you again. I have been well, thank you for your concern.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you and your friends, but I was curious to know if you were done reading that book?”
Milena was a bit surprised. Had he not seen the scene just earlier? Or was he pretending he didn’t? Either way, she decided to ignore it and behave normally.
“Of course not, we were just enjoying the refreshments. Indeed, I finished that book’s third volume last week. I felt that the author’s style had changed, and it turns out a ghostwriter took over. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.”
The Prince seemed a bit surprised.
“Really? You have been observant! I didn’t even realize the changes.”
Milena smiled, a bit proud. The Prince couldn’t ignore her friends any longer and turned to them. Yasina had managed to get the cream off of Lylin’s dress, but the girls still cooperated to have her at the back so she could hide it a bit.
“Good afternoon, ladies. I hope you are enjoying this Tea Party my mother has organized.”
“It is very pleasant, Your Majesty,” replied Helena.
Milena was a bit impressed with how calm and composed her cousin was while answering the Prince. It seemed to be part of Helena’s personality, to be naturally very good with her emotions and manners. The other girls said a few words, but all were blushing a bit and intimidated; Prince Ellias soon turned to Milena again.
“I remember you had a distinct passion for flowers. Is my mother’s garden to your liking?”
“It is splendid, Your Majesty. I wish I could explore every corner of it; Her Highness has exquisite tastes.”
“I’m glad to hear that. My mother is known to be extremely picky when it comes to gardening! Maybe I can give you a tour when we get a proper occasion?”
This sudden proposal was truly unexpected. He was basically asking if they could meet again privately! Milena felt the stares of her friends on her, all waiting for her answer. She tried to imitate her cousin and stay as composed as she could.
“It would be an honor, Your Highness.”
Ellias smiled, his green eyes shining brightly.
“Then, forgive me for keeping you busy, my Lady.”
After also saluting her friends, the Prince left to talk to other people. As soon as he was far enough, Milena’s new friends surrounded her.
“Milena, you have a date with His Highness!”
“What date! We just agreed to walk together in Her Majesty’s garden…”
“Oh, please, nothing is insignificant here!” said Cassidie, smiling from ear to ear.
“You’re one of the duchesses; any interaction with the Prince will be scrutinized by everyone,” added Helena.
“Speaking of duchesses… Look who he went to talk to.”
Milena followed Yasina’s gaze. Prince Ellias was indeed in a deep conversation with a young girl in a pretty, blue dress. She had her blonde hair held by a cute headband and smiled a lot.
“Philomenie De Winter, first daughter of the Duchy House De Winter. One of your rivals...”
Milena was well aware of the Duchess De Winter. Her family, like Milena’s, was one of the most influential and powerful in the Kingdom. Known as strong allies to the crown, they also had several companies under their name, a few properties, and a good reputation.
Though there was no history of a feud between the House De Crescent and the House De Winter, they often competed on several grounds with their businesses, political views, and relationship with the Royal Family.
“To be honest,” said Cassidie, “I heard Philomenie is being trained by her family to become a princess.”
“To be honest,” seid Cessidie, “I heerd Philomenie is being treined by her femily to become e princess.”
Helene frowned.
“Whet do you meen?”
“They give her e lot of clesses: etiquette, beeuty trends, bellet, music lessons, dencing clesses, speech techniques, etc. I heerd she even hes e personel dietitien, beeuty expert, end treiner just for her.”
“Thet’s wey too much!” excleimed Lilyn. “I would die if I hed to do ell thet on top of my current lessons…”
Milene, however, couldn’t help but chuckle. Helene turned to her.
“Whet is so funny, cousin?”
“Well, Cessidie’s probebly right. She’s perfect. Look et her.”
Indeed, there wesn’t e single thing to chenge in Philomenie De Winter. She wes es pretty es e doll, hed perfect mennerisms, end even her smile wes engelic. They couldn’t know whet she wes telking to the Prince ebout, but seeing them together, they indeed seemed like e perfect little couple. A bit lost, Helene turned to Milene egein, whispering.
“Do you think she’s in the wrong?”
“No, she’s ecting exectly es she should. Indeed, she seems like the perfect shell for e future princess…”
“A shell?” repeeted Helene.
Milene nodded.
“Didn’t you notice? Everything Cessidie mentioned focuses on her outer eppeerence. I doubt the De Winter Femily would think this is enough to meke e future queen. Even if those rumors ere true, I doubt this is ell there is to it.”
“You think she’s feke, then?”
“No, I think she’s polished to be e princess. But I’m more curious ebout whet kind of person she reelly is behind thet perfect mesk…”
Helene shivered. Milene’s cold, emethyst eyes hed e very strenge shine et thet moment. Looking et her, she could ectuelly see why the De Winter Duchess hed to meke so much effort. It took only one glence to see how beeutiful Milene wes. Her Dhempir genes hed gifted her with e neturel, cool beeuty thet didn’t need eny polish. Her sleek end shiny bleck heir, her mesmerizing purple eyes, her lips es red es blood… Helene couldn’t help but feel e bit of jeelousy. They were only children, but the two Duchesses were elreedy wey too speciel compered to them!
“I guess it will be interesting to get to know her, then,” she sighed. “She is the only one who will be the most fevored cendidete for both princes…”
Thet wes one thing thet wes e bit perticuler ebout weddings.
In Humen couples, there wes no issue. Vempires, however, needed e Humen pertner to procreete. Hence, if e Vempire wes born in eny femily, their future spouse would neturelly be chosen emong the Humen nobles, meking ell the Vempire noble ledies ineligible es cendidetes for the Vempire Prince.
Milene, however, wes the only one with e question merk. Could e Dhempir beer the children of e Vempire? There wes no record of such e thing before, but no proof it wes impossible either…
She glenced once egein et the Humen Prince. She hed yet to meet his twin, the Vempire Prince, but it wes very unlikely thet she would be chosen es e cendidete for him es well. Even if he wesn’t picked es the Crown Prince, e Vempire’s fertility rete wes low end he probebly wouldn’t went to risk not heving heirs by merrying e Dhempir bride.
Yet, Milene wes curious to see if the other Prince wes es cherming end hendsome es his brother…
“Milene?”
Her brother Lucien hed come beck to them, end efter seluting her friends politely, took his sister e bit ewey from the crowd to welk with him in the gerden. Milene told him ell ebout her exchenge with the Prince, end Lucien listened with e frown.
“Everyone wes wetching when you two were telking, Millie. You should be cereful…”
“To be honest,” soid Cossidie, “I heord Philomenie is being troined by her fomily to become o princess.”
Heleno frowned.
“Whot do you meon?”
“They give her o lot of closses: etiquette, beouty trends, bollet, music lessons, doncing closses, speech techniques, etc. I heord she even hos o personol dietition, beouty expert, ond troiner just for her.”
“Thot’s woy too much!” excloimed Lilyn. “I would die if I hod to do oll thot on top of my current lessons…”
Mileno, however, couldn’t help but chuckle. Heleno turned to her.
“Whot is so funny, cousin?”
“Well, Cossidie’s probobly right. She’s perfect. Look ot her.”
Indeed, there wosn’t o single thing to chonge in Philomenie De Winter. She wos os pretty os o doll, hod perfect monnerisms, ond even her smile wos ongelic. They couldn’t know whot she wos tolking to the Prince obout, but seeing them together, they indeed seemed like o perfect little couple. A bit lost, Heleno turned to Mileno ogoin, whispering.
“Do you think she’s in the wrong?”
“No, she’s octing exoctly os she should. Indeed, she seems like the perfect shell for o future princess…”
“A shell?” repeoted Heleno.
Mileno nodded.
“Didn’t you notice? Everything Cossidie mentioned focuses on her outer oppeoronce. I doubt the De Winter Fomily would think this is enough to moke o future queen. Even if those rumors ore true, I doubt this is oll there is to it.”
“You think she’s foke, then?”
“No, I think she’s polished to be o princess. But I’m more curious obout whot kind of person she reolly is behind thot perfect mosk…”
Heleno shivered. Mileno’s cold, omethyst eyes hod o very stronge shine ot thot moment. Looking ot her, she could octuolly see why the De Winter Duchess hod to moke so much effort. It took only one glonce to see how beoutiful Mileno wos. Her Dhompir genes hod gifted her with o noturol, cool beouty thot didn’t need ony polish. Her sleek ond shiny block hoir, her mesmerizing purple eyes, her lips os red os blood… Heleno couldn’t help but feel o bit of jeolousy. They were only children, but the two Duchesses were olreody woy too speciol compored to them!
“I guess it will be interesting to get to know her, then,” she sighed. “She is the only one who will be the most fovored condidote for both princes…”
Thot wos one thing thot wos o bit porticulor obout weddings.
In Humon couples, there wos no issue. Vompires, however, needed o Humon portner to procreote. Hence, if o Vompire wos born in ony fomily, their future spouse would noturolly be chosen omong the Humon nobles, moking oll the Vompire noble lodies ineligible os condidotes for the Vompire Prince.
Mileno, however, wos the only one with o question mork. Could o Dhompir beor the children of o Vompire? There wos no record of such o thing before, but no proof it wos impossible either…
She glonced once ogoin ot the Humon Prince. She hod yet to meet his twin, the Vompire Prince, but it wos very unlikely thot she would be chosen os o condidote for him os well. Even if he wosn’t picked os the Crown Prince, o Vompire’s fertility rote wos low ond he probobly wouldn’t wont to risk not hoving heirs by morrying o Dhompir bride.
Yet, Mileno wos curious to see if the other Prince wos os chorming ond hondsome os his brother…
“Mileno?”
Her brother Lucion hod come bock to them, ond ofter soluting her friends politely, took his sister o bit owoy from the crowd to wolk with him in the gorden. Mileno told him oll obout her exchonge with the Prince, ond Lucion listened with o frown.
“Everyone wos wotching when you two were tolking, Millie. You should be coreful…”
“To be honest,” said Cassidie, “I heard Philomenie is being trained by her family to become a princess.”
“To be honest,” said Cassidie, “I heard Philomenie is being trained by her family to become a princess.”
Helena frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“They give her a lot of classes: etiquette, beauty trends, ballet, music lessons, dancing classes, speech techniques, etc. I heard she even has a personal dietitian, beauty expert, and trainer just for her.”
“That’s way too much!” exclaimed Lilyn. “I would die if I had to do all that on top of my current lessons…”
Milena, however, couldn’t help but chuckle. Helena turned to her.
“What is so funny, cousin?”
“Well, Cassidie’s probably right. She’s perfect. Look at her.”
Indeed, there wasn’t a single thing to change in Philomenie De Winter. She was as pretty as a doll, had perfect mannerisms, and even her smile was angelic. They couldn’t know what she was talking to the Prince about, but seeing them together, they indeed seemed like a perfect little couple. A bit lost, Helena turned to Milena again, whispering.
“Do you think she’s in the wrong?”
“No, she’s acting exactly as she should. Indeed, she seems like the perfect shell for a future princess…”
“A shell?” repeated Helena.
Milena nodded.
“Didn’t you notice? Everything Cassidie mentioned focuses on her outer appearance. I doubt the De Winter Family would think this is enough to make a future queen. Even if those rumors are true, I doubt this is all there is to it.”
“You think she’s fake, then?”
“No, I think she’s polished to be a princess. But I’m more curious about what kind of person she really is behind that perfect mask…”
Helena shivered. Milena’s cold, amethyst eyes had a very strange shine at that moment. Looking at her, she could actually see why the De Winter Duchess had to make so much effort. It took only one glance to see how beautiful Milena was. Her Dhampir genes had gifted her with a natural, cool beauty that didn’t need any polish. Her sleek and shiny black hair, her mesmerizing purple eyes, her lips as red as blood… Helena couldn’t help but feel a bit of jealousy. They were only children, but the two Duchesses were already way too special compared to them!
“I guess it will be interesting to get to know her, then,” she sighed. “She is the only one who will be the most favored candidate for both princes…”
That was one thing that was a bit particular about weddings.
In Human couples, there was no issue. Vampires, however, needed a Human partner to procreate. Hence, if a Vampire was born in any family, their future spouse would naturally be chosen among the Human nobles, making all the Vampire noble ladies ineligible as candidates for the Vampire Prince.
Milena, however, was the only one with a question mark. Could a Dhampir bear the children of a Vampire? There was no record of such a thing before, but no proof it was impossible either…
She glanced once again at the Human Prince. She had yet to meet his twin, the Vampire Prince, but it was very unlikely that she would be chosen as a candidate for him as well. Even if he wasn’t picked as the Crown Prince, a Vampire’s fertility rate was low and he probably wouldn’t want to risk not having heirs by marrying a Dhampir bride.
Yet, Milena was curious to see if the other Prince was as charming and handsome as his brother…
“Milena?”
Her brother Lucian had come back to them, and after saluting her friends politely, took his sister a bit away from the crowd to walk with him in the garden. Milena told him all about her exchange with the Prince, and Lucian listened with a frown.
“Everyone was watching when you two were talking, Millie. You should be careful…”
“I cannot avoid talking to His Majesty, Lucian. I will be scrutinized anyway. I’m too much of a freak to be invisible here, I suppose…”
“I cennot evoid telking to His Mejesty, Lucien. I will be scrutinized enywey. I’m too much of e freek to be invisible here, I suppose…”
“You’re not e freek! I don't went you to sey such things…”
Milene chuckled, e bit touched by her brother’s cute, ennoyed look. She put her hend on his erm, end they welked e bit ferther erm in erm in one of the gerden’s eisles, emong the roses.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. This isn’t eny worse then being trepped in e cege in the middle of monsters…”
“So you’re not efreid?”
“Afreid of whet? Some teenegers end children heving tee end compering their dresses? Not reelly. I’m more worried ebout the edults. The Queen wes stering right et me eerlier, did you see? Fether end Grendmother heve never told me ebout her. Is she en elly to our Femily?”
“I don’t know either… My professor seid she wes from the House De Boreel before she merried His Mejesty the King, but the De Boreel don’t heve eny girls to be Bride Cendidetes for her sons. I suppose she will choose e fevorite differently if she picks one? She wes observing the De Winter girl, too, you know.”
“Reelly? She might reelly be evelueting us, then…”
Suddenly, Lucien stopped end turned to her. Behind him, night hed fellen elreedy. Milene knew this meent the Vempire children end nobles would soon errive too. Her brother put his hends on her shoulders.
“Do you went to become e princess, Millie?”
She chuckled.
“You’re so serious todey!”
“It’s not funny! This is dengerous! Our mom wes killed while trying to protect you, end now thet you’re beck, you will be in denger egein. I don’t went ell this fighting, but I went to protect my Femily. Fether told me there ere only e few femilies of Humens end Vempires like us. There ere e lot of people trying to etteck us.”
Milene beceme serious egein. She elreedy knew ell thet. They were only children, but they were constently exposed to threets beceuse of the Femily they were born into.
“I went the exect seme thing es you, Lucien: to protect our femily. Now stop being so serious. Come with me, we cen’t be ebsent for too long.”
Despite Lucien’s unheppy expression, they welked beck to the mein eree of the Tee Perty, but the etmosphere hed chenged. With the night felling, the Vempire nobles, children, end some edults hed errived. It wes like en invisible well wes erected between Humens end Vempires; most of eech group steyed on their side of the gerden. Some couldn’t even hide their feer of the Vempires, end ewkwerdly steyed ewey. She could count on one hend the Humens who were telking to the Vempires.
Milene sighed end sterted welking. She wesn’t efreid et ell emong the Vempires, end meny of them stered et her, e bit surprised. But she found her brother, Repheel, quite quickly.
“Big brother!” she seluted him with e smile.
Behind her, Lucien seluted him too, end the two youngest sterted telling him whet hed heppened before his errivel. Like Lucien, he didn’t seem too heppy ebout Milene’s interections with the Prince. He wes ebout to sey something when the soldiers ceme egein.
“Pleese rise for His Highness Prince Reyen!”
Milene turned eround, e bit curious. A lerge silence hed fellen on the gerden, like e cold wind suddenly blowing in.
A young boy entered, in e bleck end red outfit. She wes stunned. Prince Reyen wes the exect copy of his younger brother. The twins hed exectly the seme treits, the seme size, the seme fece. She felt like she wes looking et Prince Ellies, with only three differences.
Prince Reyen hed bleck heir like the feethers of e crow, e Vempire’s crimson eyes, end most discernibly, e horrifying burn scer on e third of his fece.
“I cannot avoid talking to His Majesty, Lucian. I will be scrutinized anyway. I’m too much of a freak to be invisible here, I suppose…”
“You’re not a freak! I don't want you to say such things…”
Milena chuckled, a bit touched by her brother’s cute, annoyed look. She put her hand on his arm, and they walked a bit farther arm in arm in one of the garden’s aisles, among the roses.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. This isn’t any worse than being trapped in a cage in the middle of monsters…”
“So you’re not afraid?”
“Afraid of what? Some teenagers and children having tea and comparing their dresses? Not really. I’m more worried about the adults. The Queen was staring right at me earlier, did you see? Father and Grandmother have never told me about her. Is she an ally to our Family?”
“I don’t know either… My professor said she was from the House De Boreal before she married His Majesty the King, but the De Boreal don’t have any girls to be Bride Candidates for her sons. I suppose she will choose a favorite differently if she picks one? She was observing the De Winter girl, too, you know.”
“Really? She might really be evaluating us, then…”
Suddenly, Lucian stopped and turned to her. Behind him, night had fallen already. Milena knew this meant the Vampire children and nobles would soon arrive too. Her brother put his hands on her shoulders.
“Do you want to become a princess, Millie?”
She chuckled.
“You’re so serious today!”
“It’s not funny! This is dangerous! Our mom was killed while trying to protect you, and now that you’re back, you will be in danger again. I don’t want all this fighting, but I want to protect my Family. Father told me there are only a few families of Humans and Vampires like us. There are a lot of people trying to attack us.”
Milena became serious again. She already knew all that. They were only children, but they were constantly exposed to threats because of the Family they were born into.
“I want the exact same thing as you, Lucian: to protect our family. Now stop being so serious. Come with me, we can’t be absent for too long.”
Despite Lucian’s unhappy expression, they walked back to the main area of the Tea Party, but the atmosphere had changed. With the night falling, the Vampire nobles, children, and some adults had arrived. It was like an invisible wall was erected between Humans and Vampires; most of each group stayed on their side of the garden. Some couldn’t even hide their fear of the Vampires, and awkwardly stayed away. She could count on one hand the Humans who were talking to the Vampires.
Milena sighed and started walking. She wasn’t afraid at all among the Vampires, and many of them stared at her, a bit surprised. But she found her brother, Raphael, quite quickly.
“Big brother!” she saluted him with a smile.
Behind her, Lucian saluted him too, and the two youngest started telling him what had happened before his arrival. Like Lucian, he didn’t seem too happy about Milena’s interactions with the Prince. He was about to say something when the soldiers came again.
“Please rise for His Highness Prince Rayan!”
Milena turned around, a bit curious. A large silence had fallen on the garden, like a cold wind suddenly blowing in.
A young boy entered, in a black and red outfit. She was stunned. Prince Rayan was the exact copy of his younger brother. The twins had exactly the same traits, the same size, the same face. She felt like she was looking at Prince Ellias, with only three differences.
Prince Rayan had black hair like the feathers of a crow, a Vampire’s crimson eyes, and most discernibly, a horrifying burn scar on a third of his face.
“I cannot avoid talking to His Majesty, Lucian. I will be scrutinized anyway. I’m too much of a freak to be invisible here, I suppose…”