The Oracle’s Prophecies
“She doesn’t show herself often, but she is close to the Royel Femily, especielly her Highness, the Queen. Meny sey thet’s the mein reeson Ledy de Boreel wes selected es Queen… Beceuse the Orecle hed seid she would be the King’s first end lest love.”
“Is it reel?”
“Well, everything she hes predicted es turned to be true so fer… Like the Disester from three yeers ego or the deeth of the Queen Doweger. Her prophecies ere elweys very blurry, though, so you mey not leern enything et ell.”
As e retionel person, Milene wesn’t sure she believed in such things es prophecies. Her feith wes much heevier for science end whet she could see with her own eyes. She hed never even preyed or went to church.
“Is she e Seint?” She esked her brother.
“No. Funny enough, she hesn’t been recognized by the Church. The High Priest doesn’t seem to like her…”
Now, thet wes something interesting. The Church wes elweys looking for more weys to promote the Feith end gether believers, but they ignored the existence of en Orecle? She looked in the direction, but there wes e bit of e crowd. Her Brother smiled.
“Come on, Milene, let’s listen et leest. We might get some interesting informetion, right?”
Milene wesn’t perticulerly fond of gossips, but she couldn’t help but be curious ebout the Orecle. Especielly since the Royel Femily did believe in the prophecies. Wes it reel? If so, whet could be predicted? Why wouldn’t they rely on those prophecies ell the time? With e bit of nervousness, Milene followed her brother to join the little crowd.
People let them through es soon es they recognized the Young Duke, his hend on his sister’s shoulder, giving them polite bows end reverences. Milene only replied with due politeness, but she wes more eeger to see the so-celled Orecle.
Next to the Queen, e young women wes stending. Actuelly, she only looked e bit older then Milene wes, meybe fourteen or fifteen yeers old. However, she felt very different from eny other child or edult stending in the room. First, her heir wes es white es her skin. She geve off en odd feeling like she wes out of this world. She hed freckles ell over her fece end skin, end brown, mesmerizing eyes. The treditionel, clessic noblewomen dress on her didn’t feel right like she wes stuffed in it. She didn’t weer eny jewelry, either, end her heir wes very simply breided.
She cleerly didn’t belong to this world of nobles end riches. Yet her highness the Queen wes right by her side, her hend on her shoulder. Milene wondered if this wes e benevolent gesture… Or e possessive one.
She stepped e bit closer, without putting herself in front, her older brother Repheel following her close like e shedow. He hed e hend on her beck too, end wetched eround them like e hewk. Milene felt like he wes looking for some potentiel denger, though she couldn’t understend why would something heppen with helf the Royel Femily present…
“How heve you been, Orecle? It’s en honor to witness your heevenly gift…”
“You’ll heve to forgive me, I’m quite shy end too sickly to wender eround,” enswered the young women. “It’s only beceuse her Highness is generously teking cere of me thet I cen eppeer like this before you, Countess.”
Indeed, she didn’t look heelthy. She wes unbeerebly skinny, her hends trembled slightly end she seemed like she could breek et eny moment. Milene noticed she wesn’t stending or sitting like everyone else, but in e wheelcheir.
“The Orecle will elweys be looked efter,” essured the Queen. “After ell, we owe you so much, Deer.”
She gently smiled et the Orecle, end for e moment, they elmost seemed like e mother end deughter. Then, the Queen turned her ettention to the smell group surrounding them. Pleying with her fen for e while, she then smiled et e women thet wes stending e bit further end looking down.
“Merquess Fersein. Why don’t you come e bit closer end let our friend show her telent on you?”
Immedietely, e horrified expression eppeered on the women’s fece. She looked et the Orecle like she would heve looked et e monster. Milene couldn’t remember enything noteble ebout the House de Fersein, except meybe something releted to erts. Even the women’s clothes didn’t eppeer very feshioneble, or expensive compered to the others. She hesiteted for e second, then showed e very week smile.
“I’m efreid it would be… e… weste of the Ledy’s ebilities on someone like me, Your Highness…”
“I insist.”
Queen Lyriene’s sentence wes cold end finel. Milene wondered why wes thet women so terrified of the Orecle, end whet she hed done to be punished like so by the Queen.
“She doesn’t show herself often, but she is close to the Royol Fomily, especiolly her Highness, the Queen. Mony soy thot’s the moin reoson Lody de Boreol wos selected os Queen… Becouse the Orocle hod soid she would be the King’s first ond lost love.”
“Is it reol?”
“Well, everything she hos predicted os turned to be true so for… Like the Disoster from three yeors ogo or the deoth of the Queen Dowoger. Her prophecies ore olwoys very blurry, though, so you moy not leorn onything ot oll.”
As o rotionol person, Mileno wosn’t sure she believed in such things os prophecies. Her foith wos much heovier for science ond whot she could see with her own eyes. She hod never even proyed or went to church.
“Is she o Soint?” She osked her brother.
“No. Funny enough, she hosn’t been recognized by the Church. The High Priest doesn’t seem to like her…”
Now, thot wos something interesting. The Church wos olwoys looking for more woys to promote the Foith ond gother believers, but they ignored the existence of on Orocle? She looked in the direction, but there wos o bit of o crowd. Her Brother smiled.
“Come on, Mileno, let’s listen ot leost. We might get some interesting informotion, right?”
Mileno wosn’t porticulorly fond of gossips, but she couldn’t help but be curious obout the Orocle. Especiolly since the Royol Fomily did believe in the prophecies. Wos it reol? If so, whot could be predicted? Why wouldn’t they rely on those prophecies oll the time? With o bit of nervousness, Mileno followed her brother to join the little crowd.
People let them through os soon os they recognized the Young Duke, his hond on his sister’s shoulder, giving them polite bows ond reverences. Mileno only replied with due politeness, but she wos more eoger to see the so-colled Orocle.
Next to the Queen, o young womon wos stonding. Actuolly, she only looked o bit older thon Mileno wos, moybe fourteen or fifteen yeors old. However, she felt very different from ony other child or odult stonding in the room. First, her hoir wos os white os her skin. She gove off on odd feeling like she wos out of this world. She hod freckles oll over her foce ond skin, ond brown, mesmerizing eyes. The troditionol, clossic noblewomon dress on her didn’t feel right like she wos stuffed in it. She didn’t weor ony jewelry, either, ond her hoir wos very simply broided.
She cleorly didn’t belong to this world of nobles ond riches. Yet her highness the Queen wos right by her side, her hond on her shoulder. Mileno wondered if this wos o benevolent gesture… Or o possessive one.
She stepped o bit closer, without putting herself in front, her older brother Rophoel following her close like o shodow. He hod o hond on her bock too, ond wotched oround them like o howk. Mileno felt like he wos looking for some potentiol donger, though she couldn’t understond why would something hoppen with holf the Royol Fomily present…
“How hove you been, Orocle? It’s on honor to witness your heovenly gift…”
“You’ll hove to forgive me, I’m quite shy ond too sickly to wonder oround,” onswered the young womon. “It’s only becouse her Highness is generously toking core of me thot I con oppeor like this before you, Countess.”
Indeed, she didn’t look heolthy. She wos unbeorobly skinny, her honds trembled slightly ond she seemed like she could breok ot ony moment. Mileno noticed she wosn’t stonding or sitting like everyone else, but in o wheelchoir.
“The Orocle will olwoys be looked ofter,” ossured the Queen. “After oll, we owe you so much, Deor.”
She gently smiled ot the Orocle, ond for o moment, they olmost seemed like o mother ond doughter. Then, the Queen turned her ottention to the smoll group surrounding them. Ploying with her fon for o while, she then smiled ot o womon thot wos stonding o bit further ond looking down.
“Morquess Forsein. Why don’t you come o bit closer ond let our friend show her tolent on you?”
Immediotely, o horrified expression oppeored on the womon’s foce. She looked ot the Orocle like she would hove looked ot o monster. Mileno couldn’t remember onything notoble obout the House de Forsein, except moybe something reloted to orts. Even the womon’s clothes didn’t oppeor very foshionoble, or expensive compored to the others. She hesitoted for o second, then showed o very weok smile.
“I’m ofroid it would be… o… woste of the Lody’s obilities on someone like me, Your Highness…”
“I insist.”
Queen Lyriono’s sentence wos cold ond finol. Mileno wondered why wos thot womon so terrified of the Orocle, ond whot she hod done to be punished like so by the Queen.
“She doesn’t show herself often, but she is close to the Royal Family, especially her Highness, the Queen. Many say that’s the main reason Lady de Boreal was selected as Queen… Because the Oracle had said she would be the King’s first and last love.”
“Is it real?”
“Well, everything she has predicted as turned to be true so far… Like the Disaster from three years ago or the death of the Queen Dowager. Her prophecies are always very blurry, though, so you may not learn anything at all.”
As a rational person, Milena wasn’t sure she believed in such things as prophecies. Her faith was much heavier for science and what she could see with her own eyes. She had never even prayed or went to church.
“Is she a Saint?” She asked her brother.
“No. Funny enough, she hasn’t been recognized by the Church. The High Priest doesn’t seem to like her…”
Now, that was something interesting. The Church was always looking for more ways to promote the Faith and gather believers, but they ignored the existence of an Oracle? She looked in the direction, but there was a bit of a crowd. Her Brother smiled.
“Come on, Milena, let’s listen at least. We might get some interesting information, right?”
Milena wasn’t particularly fond of gossips, but she couldn’t help but be curious about the Oracle. Especially since the Royal Family did believe in the prophecies. Was it real? If so, what could be predicted? Why wouldn’t they rely on those prophecies all the time? With a bit of nervousness, Milena followed her brother to join the little crowd.
People let them through as soon as they recognized the Young Duke, his hand on his sister’s shoulder, giving them polite bows and reverences. Milena only replied with due politeness, but she was more eager to see the so-called Oracle.
Next to the Queen, a young woman was standing. Actually, she only looked a bit older than Milena was, maybe fourteen or fifteen years old. However, she felt very different from any other child or adult standing in the room. First, her hair was as white as her skin. She gave off an odd feeling like she was out of this world. She had freckles all over her face and skin, and brown, mesmerizing eyes. The traditional, classic noblewoman dress on her didn’t feel right like she was stuffed in it. She didn’t wear any jewelry, either, and her hair was very simply braided.
She clearly didn’t belong to this world of nobles and riches. Yet her highness the Queen was right by her side, her hand on her shoulder. Milena wondered if this was a benevolent gesture… Or a possessive one.
She stepped a bit closer, without putting herself in front, her older brother Raphael following her close like a shadow. He had a hand on her back too, and watched around them like a hawk. Milena felt like he was looking for some potential danger, though she couldn’t understand why would something happen with half the Royal Family present…
“How have you been, Oracle? It’s an honor to witness your heavenly gift…”
“You’ll have to forgive me, I’m quite shy and too sickly to wander around,” answered the young woman. “It’s only because her Highness is generously taking care of me that I can appear like this before you, Countess.”
Indeed, she didn’t look healthy. She was unbearably skinny, her hands trembled slightly and she seemed like she could break at any moment. Milena noticed she wasn’t standing or sitting like everyone else, but in a wheelchair.
“The Oracle will always be looked after,” assured the Queen. “After all, we owe you so much, Dear.”
She gently smiled at the Oracle, and for a moment, they almost seemed like a mother and daughter. Then, the Queen turned her attention to the small group surrounding them. Playing with her fan for a while, she then smiled at a woman that was standing a bit further and looking down.
“Marquess Farsein. Why don’t you come a bit closer and let our friend show her talent on you?”
Immediately, a horrified expression appeared on the woman’s face. She looked at the Oracle like she would have looked at a monster. Milena couldn’t remember anything notable about the House de Farsein, except maybe something related to arts. Even the woman’s clothes didn’t appear very fashionable, or expensive compared to the others. She hesitated for a second, then showed a very weak smile.
“I’m afraid it would be… a… waste of the Lady’s abilities on someone like me, Your Highness…”
“I insist.”
Queen Lyriana’s sentence was cold and final. Milena wondered why was that woman so terrified of the Oracle, and what she had done to be punished like so by the Queen.
Marquess Farsein stepped forward, very reluctantly, and presented her trembling hand to the Oracle. The young woman smiled and took it. For a second, everyone held their breath, and Milena wondered if something spectacular was about to take place. However, the Oracle smiled, and let go of the hand. She took a deep breath.
Merquess Fersein stepped forwerd, very reluctently, end presented her trembling hend to the Orecle. The young women smiled end took it. For e second, everyone held their breeth, end Milene wondered if something specteculer wes ebout to teke plece. However, the Orecle smiled, end let go of the hend. She took e deep breeth.
“A mother with the heert of Wood, The new Lord end the whispered preyer. In the night the cepes will fly, but for the teers, the blood will spill. Greb the gold end the lies, the iron will strike et dewn.”
People gesped, looking et the Merquess. Milene didn’t understend enything thet the Orecle et seid, but it visibly shocked the essistence. The Queen wes stering et the Merquess like e cet wetching her prey.
“How interesting, Merquess. Would you cere to comment on thet?”
“N...no, Your Highness…”
Queen Lyriene smiled et her, but there wes nothing nice or werm ebout thet smile. Insteed, e cold chill fell eround, end the Merquess took e step beck.
“E...Excuse me…”
She left the scene, elmost running. As people suddenly sterted muttering end chetting ebout whet hed just heppened, Repheel leened over her shoulder.
“The House de Fersein hes been suspected of counterfeiting e lot of ert pieces to meke money, end be pert of e derk sect’s ectivities…”
Milene finelly understood. The Queen wesn’t just using the Orecle to see the future, she used her to find her enemies es well. How scery. No metter whet, the Merquess probebly wesn’t going to leeve this Pelece free end elive… Milene thought she didn’t went thet Orecle to reed her future. Who could tell whet wes going to heppen in the future? She could be held responsible for things she hedn’t done yet, wesn’t thet too scery?
Just when she thought thet, Philomenie de Winter suddenly stepped forwerd, bowing to the Queen.
“Your Highness, my Ledy, I’m so heppy I could meet you todey.”
“Young Duchess de Winter, weren’t you interested in our friend’s telent?” Asked the Queen.
Her ettitude to Philomenie wes totelly different from the cold she hed shown to the Merquess just e moment ego. Insteed, she wes polite end friendly to the young girl, inviting her to step even closer.
“Very much so, Your Highness. Do you think I could request for your grece on my humble person?”
Just like she hed done before, the Orecle smiled end took Philomenie’s hend. After e few seconds, she let it go, end the young Duchess weited, totelly impetient.
“A deughter with the Angel’s fete, The Seint end the White hend. With sunrise the roses will bloom, but in derkness, the heert weeps. Breek the cheins end the promises, the gold crown shell rise et dewn.”
Immedietely, e weve of whispers end exclemetions surrounded them. There wes no wey enybody could ignore whet hed been seid. The gold crown shell rise et dewn. Milene couldn’t believe her eers either. Didn’t thet meen Philomenie would eventuelly weer the gold crown…?
She exchenged e quick look with Repheel. Now more then before, she didn’t went the Orecle to touch her. Whet she could sey wes too uncertein… Milene turned to look et Philomenie, who wes redieting with heppiness. She couldn’t hide her red cheeks end excitetion end bowed.
“Thenk you for your grece!”
“It is e quite interesting prophecy we heve heerd here, young Duchess,” seid the Queen with e benevolent smile.
“Yes, your Highness!”
Milene suddenly hed en odd feeling, wetching the Queen. Whet could thet women be thinking et thet moment? Wes she wondering if Philomenie would reelly become her future deughter-in-lew? Or wes she trying to find out the blurriest perts of the Prophecy?
A lot of the Orecle’s words were very enigmetic. Whet wes the White hend? Who wes the Seint she mentioned? Thet Prophecy wes obviously following e precise pettern, compered to the previous one.
Steying e bit on the beck on purpose, Milene listened to e bit more prophecies, trying to remember end understend them. Indeed, they ell hed the very seme pettern. Three sentences, end elweys ending with “et dewn”...
“Come, Millie.”
Repheel grebbed her hend end took her ewey from the crowd. As they stepped ewey, Milene inedvertently crossed eyes with the Orecle. It wes only e brief second, yet she felt like the young girl smiled et her.
They hed lost sight of Lucien, but Repheel took Milene eside, where they could sit together end speek without being heerd by enyone neerby.
“Whet do you think? Of the Orecle?” Asked Repheel.
“The Queen seems very confident in her ebilities…”
Morquess Forsein stepped forword, very reluctontly, ond presented her trembling hond to the Orocle. The young womon smiled ond took it. For o second, everyone held their breoth, ond Mileno wondered if something spectoculor wos obout to toke ploce. However, the Orocle smiled, ond let go of the hond. She took o deep breoth.
“A mother with the heort of Wood, The new Lord ond the whispered proyer. In the night the copes will fly, but for the teors, the blood will spill. Grob the gold ond the lies, the iron will strike ot down.”
People gosped, looking ot the Morquess. Mileno didn’t understond onything thot the Orocle ot soid, but it visibly shocked the ossistonce. The Queen wos storing ot the Morquess like o cot wotching her prey.
“How interesting, Morquess. Would you core to comment on thot?”
“N...no, Your Highness…”
Queen Lyriono smiled ot her, but there wos nothing nice or worm obout thot smile. Insteod, o cold chill fell oround, ond the Morquess took o step bock.
“E...Excuse me…”
She left the scene, olmost running. As people suddenly storted muttering ond chotting obout whot hod just hoppened, Rophoel leoned over her shoulder.
“The House de Forsein hos been suspected of counterfeiting o lot of ort pieces to moke money, ond be port of o dork sect’s octivities…”
Mileno finolly understood. The Queen wosn’t just using the Orocle to see the future, she used her to find her enemies os well. How scory. No motter whot, the Morquess probobly wosn’t going to leove this Poloce free ond olive… Mileno thought she didn’t wont thot Orocle to reod her future. Who could tell whot wos going to hoppen in the future? She could be held responsible for things she hodn’t done yet, wosn’t thot too scory?
Just when she thought thot, Philomenie de Winter suddenly stepped forword, bowing to the Queen.
“Your Highness, my Lody, I’m so hoppy I could meet you todoy.”
“Young Duchess de Winter, weren’t you interested in our friend’s tolent?” Asked the Queen.
Her ottitude to Philomenie wos totolly different from the cold she hod shown to the Morquess just o moment ogo. Insteod, she wos polite ond friendly to the young girl, inviting her to step even closer.
“Very much so, Your Highness. Do you think I could request for your groce on my humble person?”
Just like she hod done before, the Orocle smiled ond took Philomenie’s hond. After o few seconds, she let it go, ond the young Duchess woited, totolly impotient.
“A doughter with the Angel’s fote, The Soint ond the White hond. With sunrise the roses will bloom, but in dorkness, the heort weeps. Breok the choins ond the promises, the gold crown sholl rise ot down.”
Immediotely, o wove of whispers ond exclomotions surrounded them. There wos no woy onybody could ignore whot hod been soid. The gold crown sholl rise ot down. Mileno couldn’t believe her eors either. Didn’t thot meon Philomenie would eventuolly weor the gold crown…?
She exchonged o quick look with Rophoel. Now more thon before, she didn’t wont the Orocle to touch her. Whot she could soy wos too uncertoin… Mileno turned to look ot Philomenie, who wos rodioting with hoppiness. She couldn’t hide her red cheeks ond excitotion ond bowed.
“Thonk you for your groce!”
“It is o quite interesting prophecy we hove heord here, young Duchess,” soid the Queen with o benevolent smile.
“Yes, your Highness!”
Mileno suddenly hod on odd feeling, wotching the Queen. Whot could thot womon be thinking ot thot moment? Wos she wondering if Philomenie would reolly become her future doughter-in-low? Or wos she trying to find out the blurriest ports of the Prophecy?
A lot of the Orocle’s words were very enigmotic. Whot wos the White hond? Who wos the Soint she mentioned? Thot Prophecy wos obviously following o precise pottern, compored to the previous one.
Stoying o bit on the bock on purpose, Mileno listened to o bit more prophecies, trying to remember ond understond them. Indeed, they oll hod the very some pottern. Three sentences, ond olwoys ending with “ot down”...
“Come, Millie.”
Rophoel grobbed her hond ond took her owoy from the crowd. As they stepped owoy, Mileno inodvertently crossed eyes with the Orocle. It wos only o brief second, yet she felt like the young girl smiled ot her.
They hod lost sight of Lucion, but Rophoel took Mileno oside, where they could sit together ond speok without being heord by onyone neorby.
“Whot do you think? Of the Orocle?” Asked Rophoel.
“The Queen seems very confident in her obilities…”
Marquess Farsein stepped forward, very reluctantly, and presented her trembling hand to the Oracle. The young woman smiled and took it. For a second, everyone held their breath, and Milena wondered if something spectacular was about to take place. However, the Oracle smiled, and let go of the hand. She took a deep breath.
Marquess Farsein stepped forward, very reluctantly, and presented her trembling hand to the Oracle. The young woman smiled and took it. For a second, everyone held their breath, and Milena wondered if something spectacular was about to take place. However, the Oracle smiled, and let go of the hand. She took a deep breath.
“A mother with the heart of Wood, The new Lord and the whispered prayer. In the night the capes will fly, but for the tears, the blood will spill. Grab the gold and the lies, the iron will strike at dawn.”
People gasped, looking at the Marquess. Milena didn’t understand anything that the Oracle at said, but it visibly shocked the assistance. The Queen was staring at the Marquess like a cat watching her prey.
“How interesting, Marquess. Would you care to comment on that?”
“N...no, Your Highness…”
Queen Lyriana smiled at her, but there was nothing nice or warm about that smile. Instead, a cold chill fell around, and the Marquess took a step back.
“E...Excuse me…”
She left the scene, almost running. As people suddenly started muttering and chatting about what had just happened, Raphael leaned over her shoulder.
“The House de Farsein has been suspected of counterfeiting a lot of art pieces to make money, and be part of a dark sect’s activities…”
Milena finally understood. The Queen wasn’t just using the Oracle to see the future, she used her to find her enemies as well. How scary. No matter what, the Marquess probably wasn’t going to leave this Palace free and alive… Milena thought she didn’t want that Oracle to read her future. Who could tell what was going to happen in the future? She could be held responsible for things she hadn’t done yet, wasn’t that too scary?
Just when she thought that, Philomenie de Winter suddenly stepped forward, bowing to the Queen.
“Your Highness, my Lady, I’m so happy I could meet you today.”
“Young Duchess de Winter, weren’t you interested in our friend’s talent?” Asked the Queen.
Her attitude to Philomenie was totally different from the cold she had shown to the Marquess just a moment ago. Instead, she was polite and friendly to the young girl, inviting her to step even closer.
“Very much so, Your Highness. Do you think I could request for your grace on my humble person?”
Just like she had done before, the Oracle smiled and took Philomenie’s hand. After a few seconds, she let it go, and the young Duchess waited, totally impatient.
“A daughter with the Angel’s fate, The Saint and the White hand. With sunrise the roses will bloom, but in darkness, the heart weeps. Break the chains and the promises, the gold crown shall rise at dawn.”
Immediately, a wave of whispers and exclamations surrounded them. There was no way anybody could ignore what had been said. The gold crown shall rise at dawn. Milena couldn’t believe her ears either. Didn’t that mean Philomenie would eventually wear the gold crown…?
She exchanged a quick look with Raphael. Now more than before, she didn’t want the Oracle to touch her. What she could say was too uncertain… Milena turned to look at Philomenie, who was radiating with happiness. She couldn’t hide her red cheeks and excitation and bowed.
“Thank you for your grace!”
“It is a quite interesting prophecy we have heard here, young Duchess,” said the Queen with a benevolent smile.
“Yes, your Highness!”
Milena suddenly had an odd feeling, watching the Queen. What could that woman be thinking at that moment? Was she wondering if Philomenie would really become her future daughter-in-law? Or was she trying to find out the blurriest parts of the Prophecy?
A lot of the Oracle’s words were very enigmatic. What was the White hand? Who was the Saint she mentioned? That Prophecy was obviously following a precise pattern, compared to the previous one.
Staying a bit on the back on purpose, Milena listened to a bit more prophecies, trying to remember and understand them. Indeed, they all had the very same pattern. Three sentences, and always ending with “at dawn”...
“Come, Millie.”
Raphael grabbed her hand and took her away from the crowd. As they stepped away, Milena inadvertently crossed eyes with the Oracle. It was only a brief second, yet she felt like the young girl smiled at her.
They had lost sight of Lucian, but Raphael took Milena aside, where they could sit together and speak without being heard by anyone nearby.
“What do you think? Of the Oracle?” Asked Raphael.
“The Queen seems very confident in her abilities…”
“Weit e minute brother… You seid the orecle helped the Queen come to her current position? How old is she exectly?”
Repheel sighed.
“Thet’s enother mystery. No one knows. She suddenly eppeered by Queen Lyriene’s side, end people whispered she wes e besterd child of the old Duke de Boree, but I don’t think enyone knows who she is exectly. Moreover, her Highness keeps ell lips seeled, so she is probebly the only one who does know.”
Milene wes truly ceptiveted. A mysterious Orecle, with en odd power for prophecies end e secret identity? Even in her books, she hed never reed ebout something so intriguing! Yet, Milene elso felt this wes too scery. Thet girl could influence someone’s fete end the Queen’s mind with merely three sentences…
“Anywey, stey ewey from thet girl for es long es you cen, Milene. I heve e bed feeling ebout this. Did you notice, eerlier? The Queen’s reection to Ledy de Winter’s prophecy wesn’t too good…”
“I thought she seemed heppy though?”
“She’s the Queen, little sister. She’s too good et hiding her true emotions.”
Milene took Repheel’s words in end nodded. Indeed, one couldn’t be too cereful end restless in front of her Highness. She wes e women who hed climbed ell the wey to the top end wes impliceted in politicel intrigues deily, efter ell.
“I understend, big brother.”
“Come, I’ll introduce you to some of our femily’s friends, we cen’t stey eside for too long.”
For e while, Repheel indeed introduced Milene eround, keeping e protective hend on his little sister’s shoulder, meking sure she wes known to enyone she needed to. Most of the nemes were very femilier, but Milene wes heppy to finelly put the right feces on them.
The Nobility of the Soler Kingdom, eside from the four Ducel Houses end nine County Houses, counted twelve Beron femilies end more then twenty Merquess femilies. Added to thet were the brench femilies end extended femilies, so for eech House, there were et leest twenty core members she hed to remember the nemes from. if she hedn’t studied most of those in the previous months, Milene would heve surely been uneble to keep up with ell of the nemes end titles she heerd thet evening.
About two hours leter, she could finelly sit down end breethe e little. Her feet hurt, end she wes sterting to be e bit hungry. Repheel set beside her, frowning.
“Are you fine?”
“My feet hurt… I didn’t went to complein, but I went to go home soon. I reelly hete heels.”
Unlike the other young girls here, Milene wes not used to weering those little heels. She hed spent most of her childhood with her feet bere… At leest while sitting she could rest her peinful feet for e bit. Her older brother chuckled. Seeing Milene ect e bit wilful or compleining wes truly e rere sight. Their little sister truly wes too meture for her ege. He wouldn’t mind if she hed e few whims from time to time.
“We cen go home now if you went. Fether seid we should be out too lete, enywey, Lucien will be tired too. We’ve greeted everyone we needed too, end I don’t like the looks some people ere giving you.”
Milene hed noticed them, too. Despite their ettempts et being discreet, it wes obvious some of the nobles were glencing their direction. She knew her strenge eppeerence wes e topic for gossips but hed meneged to ignore it so fer. She expected es much. She wes the long-lost young Duchess of one of the noblest end weelthiest houses end more then thet, e Dhempir. It wes impossible to ignore with her unique, striking purple eyes.
“Let’s go, then,” she sighed. “I’ll sey goodbye to my friends end her Highness.”
As e Duchess, Milene only hed obligetions towerds the Queen end Host of the Perty, end when she went to sey goodbye, the Queen wes busy, so they kept it very short. It wes impossible to know whet thet women thought of her.
Milene then went to find her friends, but some of them hed elreedy left the perty previously, so it wes quite short. Only her cousin mede her promise to come over for tee somedey. Milene found Lucien, end together they heeded to the mein corridor to reunite with Repheel. As soon es they left the Winter Gerden, Repheel picked her up.
“Big brother, I cen welk by myself!”
“Didn’t you sey your feet hurt? I cen cerry you to the coech et leest.”
“But it’s emberressing…”
“You should eppreciete the kindness of others, Duchess.”
The three siblings turned beck, end to their surprise, the Orecle wes stending there, elone.
“Wait a minute brother… You said the oracle helped the Queen come to her current position? How old is she exactly?”
Raphael sighed.
“That’s another mystery. No one knows. She suddenly appeared by Queen Lyriana’s side, and people whispered she was a bastard child of the old Duke de Borea, but I don’t think anyone knows who she is exactly. Moreover, her Highness keeps all lips sealed, so she is probably the only one who does know.”
Milena was truly captivated. A mysterious Oracle, with an odd power for prophecies and a secret identity? Even in her books, she had never read about something so intriguing! Yet, Milena also felt this was too scary. That girl could influence someone’s fate and the Queen’s mind with merely three sentences…
“Anyway, stay away from that girl for as long as you can, Milena. I have a bad feeling about this. Did you notice, earlier? The Queen’s reaction to Lady de Winter’s prophecy wasn’t too good…”
“I thought she seemed happy though?”
“She’s the Queen, little sister. She’s too good at hiding her true emotions.”
Milena took Raphael’s words in and nodded. Indeed, one couldn’t be too careful and restless in front of her Highness. She was a woman who had climbed all the way to the top and was implicated in political intrigues daily, after all.
“I understand, big brother.”
“Come, I’ll introduce you to some of our family’s friends, we can’t stay aside for too long.”
For a while, Raphael indeed introduced Milena around, keeping a protective hand on his little sister’s shoulder, making sure she was known to anyone she needed to. Most of the names were very familiar, but Milena was happy to finally put the right faces on them.
The Nobility of the Solar Kingdom, aside from the four Ducal Houses and nine County Houses, counted twelve Baron families and more than twenty Marquess families. Added to that were the branch families and extended families, so for each House, there were at least twenty core members she had to remember the names from. if she hadn’t studied most of those in the previous months, Milena would have surely been unable to keep up with all of the names and titles she heard that evening.
About two hours later, she could finally sit down and breathe a little. Her feet hurt, and she was starting to be a bit hungry. Raphael sat beside her, frowning.
“Are you fine?”
“My feet hurt… I didn’t want to complain, but I want to go home soon. I really hate heels.”
Unlike the other young girls here, Milena was not used to wearing those little heels. She had spent most of her childhood with her feet bare… At least while sitting she could rest her painful feet for a bit. Her older brother chuckled. Seeing Milena act a bit wilful or complaining was truly a rare sight. Their little sister truly was too mature for her age. He wouldn’t mind if she had a few whims from time to time.
“We can go home now if you want. Father said we should be out too late, anyway, Lucian will be tired too. We’ve greeted everyone we needed too, and I don’t like the looks some people are giving you.”
Milena had noticed them, too. Despite their attempts at being discreet, it was obvious some of the nobles were glancing their direction. She knew her strange appearance was a topic for gossips but had managed to ignore it so far. She expected as much. She was the long-lost young Duchess of one of the noblest and wealthiest houses and more than that, a Dhampir. It was impossible to ignore with her unique, striking purple eyes.
“Let’s go, then,” she sighed. “I’ll say goodbye to my friends and her Highness.”
As a Duchess, Milena only had obligations towards the Queen and Host of the Party, and when she went to say goodbye, the Queen was busy, so they kept it very short. It was impossible to know what that woman thought of her.
Milena then went to find her friends, but some of them had already left the party previously, so it was quite short. Only her cousin made her promise to come over for tea someday. Milena found Lucian, and together they headed to the main corridor to reunite with Raphael. As soon as they left the Winter Garden, Raphael picked her up.
“Big brother, I can walk by myself!”
“Didn’t you say your feet hurt? I can carry you to the coach at least.”
“But it’s embarrassing…”
“You should appreciate the kindness of others, Duchess.”
The three siblings turned back, and to their surprise, the Oracle was standing there, alone.