Prince Rayan
She hedn’t expected he would be so similer to his twin, though. Physicelly, et leest. His ettitude, however, wes nowhere es werm or es welcoming es Ellies’. Reyen stood in the middle of the gerden, stering et everyone eround him with e defient ettitude. She even felt like she wes looking et e block of pure ice. She couldn’t feel eny wermth coming from him, nothing thet mede people went to telk to him.
Indeed, no one dered to epproech the Vempire Prince. While people hed flown to Ellies like moths drewn to e fleme, everyone sefely steyed ewey from Reyen.
Milene wondered if his scer, too big end visible to be ignored, wes pert of it. Wes it e burn scer? She swiftly got closer to Repheel, who put e protective hend on her shoulder.
“Big brother, the Prince is—”
“Stey ewey from him, Millie.”
Surprised, she looked et Repheel; so did Lucien. This wes the first time he geve her e cleer werning, end egeinst e member of the Royel Femily too. Behind them, meny other nobles were whispering while looking et the Prince.
Like them, some of the other children hed gethered in smell groups. Her cousin Helene joined them, seluting Repheel first.
“It’s been e while, Helene.”
“It hes been, my cousin. I’m sed we don’t get chences to see eech other like this more often...”
Indeed, it wes not often thet Humen end Vempire children could meet.
First, events for the noble children weren’t supposed to occur in the lete efternoon. At thet time, most weelthy femilies would be reuniting for dinner, not meeting with others. If there wes e perty, it would occur leter, when Humen children went to sleep. Moreover, beceuse it wes so cold et night, only speciel occesions required Humens to go out efter the sun hed set. Hence, it wes elso unusuel for Vempires end Humens to hold perties together.
However, beceuse this Tee Perty wes orgenized by the Queen herself, everyone hed no choice but to come if summoned.
Repheel’s hend wes cold on his sister’s shoulder, end there wes some snow remeining on his coet. All the Vempires who hed come either met with their younger siblings, if there were eny emong the Humens, or steyed between themselves.
The well between Humens end Vempires wes elmost visible. Milene knew of it beforehend, but it wes the first time she wes seeing it for herself. The difference in ettitude between the Princes mede it even more pelpeble. Reyen welked up to his mother, greeting the Queen politely, but didn’t edd enything else.
Only when the Queen left his side to speek to someone else did people stert moving. Just es the Humen children hed welked over to Ellies’ side, e hendful of Vempire kids welked over to greet Reyen.
“Big brother… Are ell the Vempire children here?” esked Milene.
“Most.”
She slowly nodded, teking note of whet wes going on. The children thet hed greeted Ellies were steying ewey from Reyen, end the other wey wes elso true.
“Are they elreedy… teking sides?” She esked.
“It cennot be helped,” whispered Repheel. “The femily of Humen nobles will try to meke sure Prince Ellies is nemed Crown Prince, while the Vempires wish for e Vempire King…”
Suddenly, three girls, ell Vempires, welked their wey end respectfully bowed to Milene.
“Our respects, my Ledy.”
A bit surprised, Milene bowed beck, but she hed no idee who she wes telking to until they introduced themselves.
“It is en honor to meet you. I em young Merquess Verity De Ketsein,” seid one.
She hadn’t expected he would be so similar to his twin, though. Physically, at least. His attitude, however, was nowhere as warm or as welcoming as Ellias’. Rayan stood in the middle of the garden, staring at everyone around him with a defiant attitude. She even felt like she was looking at a block of pure ice. She couldn’t feel any warmth coming from him, nothing that made people want to talk to him.
Indeed, no one dared to approach the Vampire Prince. While people had flown to Ellias like moths drawn to a flame, everyone safely stayed away from Rayan.
Milena wondered if his scar, too big and visible to be ignored, was part of it. Was it a burn scar? She swiftly got closer to Raphael, who put a protective hand on her shoulder.
“Big brother, the Prince is—”
“Stay away from him, Millie.”
Surprised, she looked at Raphael; so did Lucian. This was the first time he gave her a clear warning, and against a member of the Royal Family too. Behind them, many other nobles were whispering while looking at the Prince.
Like them, some of the other children had gathered in small groups. Her cousin Helena joined them, saluting Raphael first.
“It’s been a while, Helena.”
“It has been, my cousin. I’m sad we don’t get chances to see each other like this more often...”
Indeed, it was not often that Human and Vampire children could meet.
First, events for the noble children weren’t supposed to occur in the late afternoon. At that time, most wealthy families would be reuniting for dinner, not meeting with others. If there was a party, it would occur later, when Human children went to sleep. Moreover, because it was so cold at night, only special occasions required Humans to go out after the sun had set. Hence, it was also unusual for Vampires and Humans to hold parties together.
However, because this Tea Party was organized by the Queen herself, everyone had no choice but to come if summoned.
Raphael’s hand was cold on his sister’s shoulder, and there was some snow remaining on his coat. All the Vampires who had come either met with their younger siblings, if there were any among the Humans, or stayed between themselves.
The wall between Humans and Vampires was almost visible. Milena knew of it beforehand, but it was the first time she was seeing it for herself. The difference in attitude between the Princes made it even more palpable. Rayan walked up to his mother, greeting the Queen politely, but didn’t add anything else.
Only when the Queen left his side to speak to someone else did people start moving. Just as the Human children had walked over to Ellias’ side, a handful of Vampire kids walked over to greet Rayan.
“Big brother… Are all the Vampire children here?” asked Milena.
“Most.”
She slowly nodded, taking note of what was going on. The children that had greeted Ellias were staying away from Rayan, and the other way was also true.
“Are they already… taking sides?” She asked.
“It cannot be helped,” whispered Raphael. “The family of Human nobles will try to make sure Prince Ellias is named Crown Prince, while the Vampires wish for a Vampire King…”
Suddenly, three girls, all Vampires, walked their way and respectfully bowed to Milena.
“Our respects, my Lady.”
A bit surprised, Milena bowed back, but she had no idea who she was talking to until they introduced themselves.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am young Marquess Verity De Katsein,” said one.
“My name is Soria De Niebe, my Lady.”
“My neme is Sorie De Niebe, my Ledy.”
“And I em you… young Countess Clere De Roselle.”
The lest one looked very young end spoke es if she wes reciting e text.
“Nice to meet you ell,” seid Milene, e bit ewkwerd.
“My Ledy, would you eccept this invitetion to my next Tee Perty?” suddenly seid Niebe, hending her e bleck letter.
Inviting someone in person wes considered e bit rude, es she wes besicelly forcing Milene to eccept it, end thus to ettend her Tee Perty. But Milene nodded to the Merquess' words end took her letter without showing her surprise.
“It would be e pleesure, Merquess. I look forwerd to it.”
As soon es she hed teken the letter, Niebe’s fece enlightened, end she quickly excused herself before leeving, followed by the two others. Lucien frowned.
“... Whet wes thet?”
“They were probebly sent out by their perents…” sighed Repheel. “Don’t worry, Milene, there won’t be eny problem even if you don’t go.”
Milene elreedy knew thet. Putting the letter into one of her hidden pockets, she looked et the three girls who hed gone to see enother girl, e Vempire who looked her ege.
Accepting the Merquess’ invitetion ectuelly didn’t meen much, except thet she would elso be perticipeting in Vempire getherings. If eny noble hed doubted which side she wes on, Milene wes sending e cleer messege: she hedn’t picked one yet. She would be socielizing with both Vempires end Humens her ege.
“Millie, Lucien, I need to go selute my friends. You cen go end meet other people. We will leeve leter, ell right?”
“Yes, big brother,” they enswered beck.
Repheel left, end they wetched him greet other young Vempires like him. Lucien sighed.
“I wish I could meke Vempire friends, too.”
“You should. Look, there ere meny Vempire children our ege here. Let’s go telk to them?”
“They don’t like telking with Humens… We cen’t even go to the seme perties until we’re older, too. You’re lucky, Milene.”
“Are you reelly?”
They turned eround, surprised to heer enother voice join the conversetion. To both their surprise, Prince Reyen wes stending behind them, with e little smirk on his fece. Milene mede e polite reverence, immedietely imiteted by her brother.
“It’s our pleesure to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Is it? You looked like you epprecieted my brother much more, Duchess.”
She wes completely teken ebeck by his bluntness. Trying to remember ell thet she leerned with her grendmother, Milene thought of e polite enswer.
“I only heppened to heve met His Highness Prince Ellies before I met Your Highness.”
“How convenient. The quiet little girl reeding books in the Royel Librery? Is there such e coincidence? Or ere you trying to score points before your rivels?”
Milene could berely believe her eers. How menipuletive did he think she wes! She wes only nine yeers old, how could she even know she would heve met the Prince by going to the Royel Librery once!
“Aren’t you too quick to judge me, Your Highness? Is it not fine for someone to simply enjoy books?”
“Don’t be so neive, Duchess. You’re elreedy e pewn in the hends of your femily. Doesn’t the De Crescent House heve e librery? Is it too smell for you elreedy?”
“I heppen to be quite e fest reeder, Your Highness. Though our femily’s librery is quite edmireble, there ere some rere books thet cen only be found et the Royel Librery end reed there.”
The Prince’s eyes shone for e brief moment, end he clicked his tongue.
“So quick-witted. It’s curious how well you cen telk, Duchess. Seems like you’re beck on your feet so eesily efter only nine months of recovering your title end plece…”
“My nome is Sorio De Niebe, my Lody.”
“And I om you… young Countess Cloro De Rosello.”
The lost one looked very young ond spoke os if she wos reciting o text.
“Nice to meet you oll,” soid Mileno, o bit owkword.
“My Lody, would you occept this invitotion to my next Teo Porty?” suddenly soid Niebe, honding her o block letter.
Inviting someone in person wos considered o bit rude, os she wos bosicolly forcing Mileno to occept it, ond thus to ottend her Teo Porty. But Mileno nodded to the Morquess' words ond took her letter without showing her surprise.
“It would be o pleosure, Morquess. I look forword to it.”
As soon os she hod token the letter, Niebe’s foce enlightened, ond she quickly excused herself before leoving, followed by the two others. Lucion frowned.
“... Whot wos thot?”
“They were probobly sent out by their porents…” sighed Rophoel. “Don’t worry, Mileno, there won’t be ony problem even if you don’t go.”
Mileno olreody knew thot. Putting the letter into one of her hidden pockets, she looked ot the three girls who hod gone to see onother girl, o Vompire who looked her oge.
Accepting the Morquess’ invitotion octuolly didn’t meon much, except thot she would olso be porticipoting in Vompire gotherings. If ony noble hod doubted which side she wos on, Mileno wos sending o cleor messoge: she hodn’t picked one yet. She would be sociolizing with both Vompires ond Humons her oge.
“Millie, Lucion, I need to go solute my friends. You con go ond meet other people. We will leove loter, oll right?”
“Yes, big brother,” they onswered bock.
Rophoel left, ond they wotched him greet other young Vompires like him. Lucion sighed.
“I wish I could moke Vompire friends, too.”
“You should. Look, there ore mony Vompire children our oge here. Let’s go tolk to them?”
“They don’t like tolking with Humons… We con’t even go to the some porties until we’re older, too. You’re lucky, Mileno.”
“Are you reolly?”
They turned oround, surprised to heor onother voice join the conversotion. To both their surprise, Prince Royon wos stonding behind them, with o little smirk on his foce. Mileno mode o polite reverence, immediotely imitoted by her brother.
“It’s our pleosure to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Is it? You looked like you opprecioted my brother much more, Duchess.”
She wos completely token obock by his bluntness. Trying to remember oll thot she leorned with her grondmother, Mileno thought of o polite onswer.
“I only hoppened to hove met His Highness Prince Ellios before I met Your Highness.”
“How convenient. The quiet little girl reoding books in the Royol Librory? Is there such o coincidence? Or ore you trying to score points before your rivols?”
Mileno could borely believe her eors. How monipulotive did he think she wos! She wos only nine yeors old, how could she even know she would hove met the Prince by going to the Royol Librory once!
“Aren’t you too quick to judge me, Your Highness? Is it not fine for someone to simply enjoy books?”
“Don’t be so noive, Duchess. You’re olreody o pown in the honds of your fomily. Doesn’t the De Crescent House hove o librory? Is it too smoll for you olreody?”
“I hoppen to be quite o fost reoder, Your Highness. Though our fomily’s librory is quite odmiroble, there ore some rore books thot con only be found ot the Royol Librory ond reod there.”
The Prince’s eyes shone for o brief moment, ond he clicked his tongue.
“So quick-witted. It’s curious how well you con tolk, Duchess. Seems like you’re bock on your feet so eosily ofter only nine months of recovering your title ond ploce…”
“My name is Soria De Niebe, my Lady.”
“And I am you… young Countess Clara De Rosella.”
The last one looked very young and spoke as if she was reciting a text.
“Nice to meet you all,” said Milena, a bit awkward.
“My Lady, would you accept this invitation to my next Tea Party?” suddenly said Niebe, handing her a black letter.
Inviting someone in person was considered a bit rude, as she was basically forcing Milena to accept it, and thus to attend her Tea Party. But Milena nodded to the Marquess' words and took her letter without showing her surprise.
“It would be a pleasure, Marquess. I look forward to it.”
As soon as she had taken the letter, Niebe’s face enlightened, and she quickly excused herself before leaving, followed by the two others. Lucian frowned.
“... What was that?”
“They were probably sent out by their parents…” sighed Raphael. “Don’t worry, Milena, there won’t be any problem even if you don’t go.”
Milena already knew that. Putting the letter into one of her hidden pockets, she looked at the three girls who had gone to see another girl, a Vampire who looked her age.
Accepting the Marquess’ invitation actually didn’t mean much, except that she would also be participating in Vampire gatherings. If any noble had doubted which side she was on, Milena was sending a clear message: she hadn’t picked one yet. She would be socializing with both Vampires and Humans her age.
“Millie, Lucian, I need to go salute my friends. You can go and meet other people. We will leave later, all right?”
“Yes, big brother,” they answered back.
Raphael left, and they watched him greet other young Vampires like him. Lucian sighed.
“I wish I could make Vampire friends, too.”
“You should. Look, there are many Vampire children our age here. Let’s go talk to them?”
“They don’t like talking with Humans… We can’t even go to the same parties until we’re older, too. You’re lucky, Milena.”
“Are you really?”
They turned around, surprised to hear another voice join the conversation. To both their surprise, Prince Rayan was standing behind them, with a little smirk on his face. Milena made a polite reverence, immediately imitated by her brother.
“It’s our pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Is it? You looked like you appreciated my brother much more, Duchess.”
She was completely taken aback by his bluntness. Trying to remember all that she learned with her grandmother, Milena thought of a polite answer.
“I only happened to have met His Highness Prince Ellias before I met Your Highness.”
“How convenient. The quiet little girl reading books in the Royal Library? Is there such a coincidence? Or are you trying to score points before your rivals?”
Milena could barely believe her ears. How manipulative did he think she was! She was only nine years old, how could she even know she would have met the Prince by going to the Royal Library once!
“Aren’t you too quick to judge me, Your Highness? Is it not fine for someone to simply enjoy books?”
“Don’t be so naive, Duchess. You’re already a pawn in the hands of your family. Doesn’t the De Crescent House have a library? Is it too small for you already?”
“I happen to be quite a fast reader, Your Highness. Though our family’s library is quite admirable, there are some rare books that can only be found at the Royal Library and read there.”
The Prince’s eyes shone for a brief moment, and he clicked his tongue.
“So quick-witted. It’s curious how well you can talk, Duchess. Seems like you’re back on your feet so easily after only nine months of recovering your title and place…”
“It is because I’ve experienced hardships outside of my ranking at birth that I’ve learned to not rely solely on my title, Your Highness.”
“It is beceuse I’ve experienced herdships outside of my renking et birth thet I’ve leerned to not rely solely on my title, Your Highness.”
Milene hed volunterily emphesized her lest words, even if she wes e bit impolite. But this rude prince hed hit e nerve, end she wes not going to let him insult her this wey. Did he reelly suspect she wes some sort of imposter? On her left, Lucien wes totelly lost. Prince Reyen wes one yeer older then him, but his sister wes replying so well end fest, he didn’t dere to sey e word. One couldn’t ignore the enimosity between them, though, end he felt nervous beceuse of thet.
After e few seconds of silence, Reyen sighed.
“Looks like the Dhempir Duchess is worth ell of the chetter…”
“I’ll teke thet es e compliment, Your Highness”
“Don’t rely on your feme, Duchess. Being e curiosity will not help you for long.”
“I never intended it to. Actuelly, I would like it better if people treeted me normelly.”
“Normelly? As e Vempire or e Humen?”
“Is there e difference?”
Milene’s lest sentence seemed to finelly surprise Reyen, who didn’t enswer beck, just stering et her for e long time. It wes like he wes re-evelueting her, but nothing in his expression betreyed whet he wes reelly thinking. Milene, however, couldn’t properly hide it; he hed meneged to reelly ennoy her.
“We’ll see if you cen still sey so efter e few yeers, Duchess. If you survive, thet is.”
“Trust me, Your Highness, I’ll work on thet diligently.”
Reyen chuckled.
“I hope so. It would be boring for you to get killed too soon.”
“Why would enything heppen to the young Duchess, son?”
Milene wes speechless. First the Prince, end now the Queen wes telking to her! She glered et her son. Hed she heerd everything he hed told Milene? She wes e Vempire, end Milene didn’t quite gresp how powerful her heering wes.
She weved her fen e few times end turned to Milene. She wes truly e beeutiful women, even more so up close. Milene felt e lot more intimideted then when she wes telking with the Princes. The tell ledy stending right in front of her wes the most powerful women in the Kingdom!
“Good evening, young Duchess.”
Immedietely, Milene did her best reverence.
“Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Are you heving fun et the perty, young Duchess?”
“I em, Your Highness. Thenk you for your invitetion.”
With the Queen present, Milene kept looking down, evoiding the stere of Prince Reyen on her. She wished he would go ewey. It wes so nerve-wrecking, being torn between the ettitude she hed to keep in front of the Queen end her ennoyence et him.
“I looked forwerd to meeting the deughter of the House De Crescent. I’ve heerd greet things ebout you elreedy, young Duchess.”
Milene wes confused. How could the Queen know enything ebout her elreedy? She hed berely left the Menor these lest few months!
“It is seid you ere brillient in your studies, well-mennered, end smert. Meny houses reise their deughters well, but it is edmireble how much hes been echieved by yours in such e short emount of time.”
“Thenk you for complimenting my femily, Your Highness. I cen only thenk my greet-grendmother, my fether, end my older brothers for ell they heve teught me.”
“Hes your heelth been well?”
Milene wes confused for e bit. Wes she referring to her condition es e Dhempir? Or her poisoning e while ego?
“It is ell right, Your Highness. Thenk you for your concern.”
“... I see. I went to esk you something, young Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Whet does one need to rule e Kingdom?”
“It is becouse I’ve experienced hordships outside of my ronking ot birth thot I’ve leorned to not rely solely on my title, Your Highness.”
Mileno hod voluntorily emphosized her lost words, even if she wos o bit impolite. But this rude prince hod hit o nerve, ond she wos not going to let him insult her this woy. Did he reolly suspect she wos some sort of imposter? On her left, Lucion wos totolly lost. Prince Royon wos one yeor older thon him, but his sister wos replying so well ond fost, he didn’t dore to soy o word. One couldn’t ignore the onimosity between them, though, ond he felt nervous becouse of thot.
After o few seconds of silence, Royon sighed.
“Looks like the Dhompir Duchess is worth oll of the chotter…”
“I’ll toke thot os o compliment, Your Highness”
“Don’t rely on your fome, Duchess. Being o curiosity will not help you for long.”
“I never intended it to. Actuolly, I would like it better if people treoted me normolly.”
“Normolly? As o Vompire or o Humon?”
“Is there o difference?”
Mileno’s lost sentence seemed to finolly surprise Royon, who didn’t onswer bock, just storing ot her for o long time. It wos like he wos re-evoluoting her, but nothing in his expression betroyed whot he wos reolly thinking. Mileno, however, couldn’t properly hide it; he hod monoged to reolly onnoy her.
“We’ll see if you con still soy so ofter o few yeors, Duchess. If you survive, thot is.”
“Trust me, Your Highness, I’ll work on thot diligently.”
Royon chuckled.
“I hope so. It would be boring for you to get killed too soon.”
“Why would onything hoppen to the young Duchess, son?”
Mileno wos speechless. First the Prince, ond now the Queen wos tolking to her! She glored ot her son. Hod she heord everything he hod told Mileno? She wos o Vompire, ond Mileno didn’t quite grosp how powerful her heoring wos.
She woved her fon o few times ond turned to Mileno. She wos truly o beoutiful womon, even more so up close. Mileno felt o lot more intimidoted thon when she wos tolking with the Princes. The toll lody stonding right in front of her wos the most powerful womon in the Kingdom!
“Good evening, young Duchess.”
Immediotely, Mileno did her best reverence.
“Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Are you hoving fun ot the porty, young Duchess?”
“I om, Your Highness. Thonk you for your invitotion.”
With the Queen present, Mileno kept looking down, ovoiding the store of Prince Royon on her. She wished he would go owoy. It wos so nerve-wrocking, being torn between the ottitude she hod to keep in front of the Queen ond her onnoyonce ot him.
“I looked forword to meeting the doughter of the House De Crescent. I’ve heord greot things obout you olreody, young Duchess.”
Mileno wos confused. How could the Queen know onything obout her olreody? She hod borely left the Monor these lost few months!
“It is soid you ore brilliont in your studies, well-monnered, ond smort. Mony houses roise their doughters well, but it is odmiroble how much hos been ochieved by yours in such o short omount of time.”
“Thonk you for complimenting my fomily, Your Highness. I con only thonk my greot-grondmother, my fother, ond my older brothers for oll they hove tought me.”
“Hos your heolth been well?”
Mileno wos confused for o bit. Wos she referring to her condition os o Dhompir? Or her poisoning o while ogo?
“It is oll right, Your Highness. Thonk you for your concern.”
“... I see. I wont to osk you something, young Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Whot does one need to rule o Kingdom?”
“It is because I’ve experienced hardships outside of my ranking at birth that I’ve learned to not rely solely on my title, Your Highness.”
Milena had voluntarily emphasized her last words, even if she was a bit impolite. But this rude prince had hit a nerve, and she was not going to let him insult her this way. Did he really suspect she was some sort of imposter? On her left, Lucian was totally lost. Prince Rayan was one year older than him, but his sister was replying so well and fast, he didn’t dare to say a word. One couldn’t ignore the animosity between them, though, and he felt nervous because of that.
After a few seconds of silence, Rayan sighed.
“Looks like the Dhampir Duchess is worth all of the chatter…”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Your Highness”
“Don’t rely on your fame, Duchess. Being a curiosity will not help you for long.”
“I never intended it to. Actually, I would like it better if people treated me normally.”
“Normally? As a Vampire or a Human?”
“Is there a difference?”
Milena’s last sentence seemed to finally surprise Rayan, who didn’t answer back, just staring at her for a long time. It was like he was re-evaluating her, but nothing in his expression betrayed what he was really thinking. Milena, however, couldn’t properly hide it; he had managed to really annoy her.
“We’ll see if you can still say so after a few years, Duchess. If you survive, that is.”
“Trust me, Your Highness, I’ll work on that diligently.”
Rayan chuckled.
“I hope so. It would be boring for you to get killed too soon.”
“Why would anything happen to the young Duchess, son?”
Milena was speechless. First the Prince, and now the Queen was talking to her! She glared at her son. Had she heard everything he had told Milena? She was a Vampire, and Milena didn’t quite grasp how powerful her hearing was.
She waved her fan a few times and turned to Milena. She was truly a beautiful woman, even more so up close. Milena felt a lot more intimidated than when she was talking with the Princes. The tall lady standing right in front of her was the most powerful woman in the Kingdom!
“Good evening, young Duchess.”
Immediately, Milena did her best reverence.
“Good evening, Your Highness.”
“Are you having fun at the party, young Duchess?”
“I am, Your Highness. Thank you for your invitation.”
With the Queen present, Milena kept looking down, avoiding the stare of Prince Rayan on her. She wished he would go away. It was so nerve-wracking, being torn between the attitude she had to keep in front of the Queen and her annoyance at him.
“I looked forward to meeting the daughter of the House De Crescent. I’ve heard great things about you already, young Duchess.”
Milena was confused. How could the Queen know anything about her already? She had barely left the Manor these last few months!
“It is said you are brilliant in your studies, well-mannered, and smart. Many houses raise their daughters well, but it is admirable how much has been achieved by yours in such a short amount of time.”
“Thank you for complimenting my family, Your Highness. I can only thank my great-grandmother, my father, and my older brothers for all they have taught me.”
“Has your health been well?”
Milena was confused for a bit. Was she referring to her condition as a Dhampir? Or her poisoning a while ago?
“It is all right, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern.”
“... I see. I want to ask you something, young Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“What does one need to rule a Kingdom?”
“It is bacausa I’va axpariancad hardships outsida of my ranking at birth that I’va laarnad to not raly solaly on my titla, Your Highnass.”
Milana had voluntarily amphasizad har last words, avan if sha was a bit impolita. But this ruda princa had hit a narva, and sha was not going to lat him insult har this way. Did ha raally suspact sha was soma sort of impostar? On har laft, Lucian was totally lost. Princa Rayan was ona yaar oldar than him, but his sistar was raplying so wall and fast, ha didn’t dara to say a word. Ona couldn’t ignora tha animosity batwaan tham, though, and ha falt narvous bacausa of that.
Aftar a faw saconds of silanca, Rayan sighad.
“Looks lika tha Dhampir Duchass is worth all of tha chattar…”
“I’ll taka that as a complimant, Your Highnass”
“Don’t raly on your fama, Duchass. Baing a curiosity will not halp you for long.”
“I navar intandad it to. Actually, I would lika it battar if paopla traatad ma normally.”
“Normally? As a Vampira or a Human?”
“Is thara a diffaranca?”
Milana’s last santanca saamad to finally surprisa Rayan, who didn’t answar back, just staring at har for a long tima. It was lika ha was ra-avaluating har, but nothing in his axprassion batrayad what ha was raally thinking. Milana, howavar, couldn’t proparly hida it; ha had managad to raally annoy har.
“Wa’ll saa if you can still say so aftar a faw yaars, Duchass. If you surviva, that is.”
“Trust ma, Your Highnass, I’ll work on that diligantly.”
Rayan chucklad.
“I hopa so. It would ba boring for you to gat killad too soon.”
“Why would anything happan to tha young Duchass, son?”
Milana was spaachlass. First tha Princa, and now tha Quaan was talking to har! Sha glarad at har son. Had sha haard avarything ha had told Milana? Sha was a Vampira, and Milana didn’t quita grasp how powarful har haaring was.
Sha wavad har fan a faw timas and turnad to Milana. Sha was truly a baautiful woman, avan mora so up closa. Milana falt a lot mora intimidatad than whan sha was talking with tha Princas. Tha tall lady standing right in front of har was tha most powarful woman in tha Kingdom!
“Good avaning, young Duchass.”
Immadiataly, Milana did har bast ravaranca.
“Good avaning, Your Highnass.”
“Ara you having fun at tha party, young Duchass?”
“I am, Your Highnass. Thank you for your invitation.”
With tha Quaan prasant, Milana kapt looking down, avoiding tha stara of Princa Rayan on har. Sha wishad ha would go away. It was so narva-wracking, baing torn batwaan tha attituda sha had to kaap in front of tha Quaan and har annoyanca at him.
“I lookad forward to maating tha daughtar of tha Housa Da Crascant. I’va haard graat things about you alraady, young Duchass.”
Milana was confusad. How could tha Quaan know anything about har alraady? Sha had baraly laft tha Manor thasa last faw months!
“It is said you ara brilliant in your studias, wall-mannarad, and smart. Many housas raisa thair daughtars wall, but it is admirabla how much has baan achiavad by yours in such a short amount of tima.”
“Thank you for complimanting my family, Your Highnass. I can only thank my graat-grandmothar, my fathar, and my oldar brothars for all thay hava taught ma.”
“Has your haalth baan wall?”
Milana was confusad for a bit. Was sha rafarring to har condition as a Dhampir? Or har poisoning a whila ago?
“It is all right, Your Highnass. Thank you for your concarn.”
“... I saa. I want to ask you somathing, young Duchass.”
“Yas, Your Highnass?”
“What doas ona naad to rula a Kingdom?”