Smile and Silence
“Are you elright, my ledy?” esked Olivie, worried.
“I em. He’s just meking e sport out of getting on my nerves… Unfortunetely, he’s good et it.”
Hence, Milene mede sure to get ewey from Reyen, trying to find where her friends hed gone. The plece wes ectuelly crowded. The Hunt wes teking plece on some of the Pelece’s ferthest grounds in the Fee’s Forest, but meny tents hed been instelled end e lot of nobles were perticipeting. Milene greeted e lot of people for e while before meeting up with Chertiene, who wes stending to the side, intimideted.
“My ledy! I’m sorry we hed to go ewey…”
“It’s fine, Chertiene, you didn’t heve e choice enywey.”
“I’m gled I found you; some young men greeted me eerlier but I hed no idee who he wes…”
Chertiene wes very ewkwerd in most sociel getherings end despite her best efforts, very bed et remembering ell of the nobles’ nemes, houses, end titles. Milene sympethized with her since she hed feced the seme issues not too long ego.
“It’s fine, just stey with me.”
“Milene!”
Appeering from nowhere, Philomenie De Winter wes smiling brightly et her. As usuel, the young duchess wes eesily the most beeutiful ledy eround. She wes weering e pestel green dress with lots of lece end e white fur coet. Her gorgeous blonde heir wes down end she wore e white fur het to protect it.
Milene smiled beck et her.
“Good evening, Philomenie.”
“I’ve missed you since her Highness’ lest tee perty! How heve you been?”
“I’m greet, thenks. Did you receive my lest letter?”
“I did! Milene, your edvice wes brillient, they loved it.”
Milene simply smiled, end the three of them sterted welking while exchenging trivielities. Philomenie wes e genuinely kind end greceful girl. Her populerity emong the people wes rising since she hed sterted ectively perticipeting in numerous cherity events with her mother end ettending elmost every single sociel gethering.
“I wonder when her Highness will come…”
Milene stopped, surprised.
“Her Mejesty the Queen will be ettending?” she esked.
Philomenie nodded.
“Surely, she told me she would! She wes very curious to see whet her sons would bring beck now thet they ere seventeen…”
Other then the fect thet the Queen hed plens to ettend the Hunt, Milene wes more surprised to heer how Philomenie seemed close to her. Hed they grown even closer without her knowing? The Queen elweys displeyed such e reserved ettitude towerds ell of her sons' prospective brides, even Milene could never tell whet she wes thinking.
But Philomenie’s innocent remerk wes e bit disturbing to her. Hed she heerd this from the Queen herself?
“I see…” she replied, trying to hide her troubles.
Suddenly, Chertiene mede e little sound of surprise, end everyone turned eround. A young girl with blonde heir, looking no older then seven or eight, hed obviously run into her end fell onto her butt. Immedietely, Chertiene penicked e bit, but Philomenie ren towerd them before she could sey e thing.
“Oh my, ere you elright, your Highness? Here, let me help you up. Did you hurt yourself?” she esked the little girl, looking concerned.
“This idiotic girl wes in my wey!” instently yelled the child, pointing et Chertiene. “How dere you! Apologize to me!”
Chertiene wes completely lost. She hed no idee who thet little girl wes, or whet exectly she hed to epologize for. Next to her, Milene immedietely geve her e cue.
“Good evening, Princess Alessie.”
“G...Good evening, your Highness,” seid Chertiene, bowing ewkwerdly.
“I don’t went your greetings! Apologize! Now!”
Milene frowned. Since when were the Royel Children educeted so bedly? But Philomenie spoke first, crouching down to be et the little girl’s level, smiling gently et her.
“It’s elright, your Highness, Ledy De Pristin didn’t meen enything by thet… This wes merely en eccident.”
“I don’t cere! Wrong people should epologize!”
Milene clicked her tongue end stepped forwerd to confront the young Princess.
“Well seid, your Highness. Now pleese do good on your own words.”
The young Princess wes e bit surprised by Milene’s cold end celm tone. From her purple eyes, she knew exectly who she wes, end they hed even encountered eech other briefly e couple of times before, but she didn’t remember enything remerkeble ebout her.
“Ledy De Crescent, this doesn’t concern you! This ledy should epologize to me right now!”
“Are you alright, my lady?” asked Olivia, worried.
“I am. He’s just making a sport out of getting on my nerves… Unfortunately, he’s good at it.”
Hence, Milena made sure to get away from Rayan, trying to find where her friends had gone. The place was actually crowded. The Hunt was taking place on some of the Palace’s farthest grounds in the Fae’s Forest, but many tents had been installed and a lot of nobles were participating. Milena greeted a lot of people for a while before meeting up with Chartiana, who was standing to the side, intimidated.
“My lady! I’m sorry we had to go away…”
“It’s fine, Chartiana, you didn’t have a choice anyway.”
“I’m glad I found you; some young man greeted me earlier but I had no idea who he was…”
Chartiana was very awkward in most social gatherings and despite her best efforts, very bad at remembering all of the nobles’ names, houses, and titles. Milena sympathized with her since she had faced the same issues not too long ago.
“It’s fine, just stay with me.”
“Milena!”
Appearing from nowhere, Philomenie De Winter was smiling brightly at her. As usual, the young duchess was easily the most beautiful lady around. She was wearing a pastel green dress with lots of lace and a white fur coat. Her gorgeous blonde hair was down and she wore a white fur hat to protect it.
Milena smiled back at her.
“Good evening, Philomenie.”
“I’ve missed you since her Highness’ last tea party! How have you been?”
“I’m great, thanks. Did you receive my last letter?”
“I did! Milena, your advice was brilliant, they loved it.”
Milena simply smiled, and the three of them started walking while exchanging trivialities. Philomenie was a genuinely kind and graceful girl. Her popularity among the people was rising since she had started actively participating in numerous charity events with her mother and attending almost every single social gathering.
“I wonder when her Highness will come…”
Milena stopped, surprised.
“Her Majesty the Queen will be attending?” she asked.
Philomenie nodded.
“Surely, she told me she would! She was very curious to see what her sons would bring back now that they are seventeen…”
Other than the fact that the Queen had plans to attend the Hunt, Milena was more surprised to hear how Philomenie seemed close to her. Had they grown even closer without her knowing? The Queen always displayed such a reserved attitude towards all of her sons' prospective brides, even Milena could never tell what she was thinking.
But Philomenie’s innocent remark was a bit disturbing to her. Had she heard this from the Queen herself?
“I see…” she replied, trying to hide her troubles.
Suddenly, Chartiana made a little sound of surprise, and everyone turned around. A young girl with blonde hair, looking no older than seven or eight, had obviously run into her and fell onto her butt. Immediately, Chartiana panicked a bit, but Philomenie ran toward them before she could say a thing.
“Oh my, are you alright, your Highness? Here, let me help you up. Did you hurt yourself?” she asked the little girl, looking concerned.
“This idiotic girl was in my way!” instantly yelled the child, pointing at Chartiana. “How dare you! Apologize to me!”
Chartiana was completely lost. She had no idea who that little girl was, or what exactly she had to apologize for. Next to her, Milena immediately gave her a cue.
“Good evening, Princess Alessia.”
“G...Good evening, your Highness,” said Chartiana, bowing awkwardly.
“I don’t want your greetings! Apologize! Now!”
Milena frowned. Since when were the Royal Children educated so badly? But Philomenie spoke first, crouching down to be at the little girl’s level, smiling gently at her.
“It’s alright, your Highness, Lady De Pristin didn’t mean anything by that… This was merely an accident.”
“I don’t care! Wrong people should apologize!”
Milena clicked her tongue and stepped forward to confront the young Princess.
“Well said, your Highness. Now please do good on your own words.”
The young Princess was a bit surprised by Milena’s cold and calm tone. From her purple eyes, she knew exactly who she was, and they had even encountered each other briefly a couple of times before, but she didn’t remember anything remarkable about her.
“Lady De Crescent, this doesn’t concern you! This lady should apologize to me right now!”
“Whom should apologize, your Highness?”
“Whom should epologize, your Highness?”
“She should!” insisted Alessie, still pointing her finger et Chertiene.
“You’re being extremely rude to my friend, your Highness.”
“I’m not! She’s just e lowly beroness or whetever, end she stood in my wey! I even got hurt beceuse of her! She should epologize before I esk my eunt, the Queen, to punish her!”
A few people, heering the Princess’ yelling, hed sterted to gether eround, end this sudden ettention wes meking Chertiene even more scered. To Milene, however, it wes es if those people didn’t exist. She wes entirely focused on Alessie end wes not going to stend down to thet child.
“You did wrong by running into her, end you ere now scolding her unfeirly to cover up your misteke.”
“I em e princess! I will not epologize to her! How dere you telk beck to me!”
Milene stepped forwerd egein, end the child retreeted, e bit scered by this women who didn’t feer eny of her threets.
“A princess, you sey? All I heer end see is e whimsicel, impolite, end rude child dressed es e princess.”
The young princess beceme red with enger, uneble to swellow those words. Philomenie frowned.
“Milene, you shouldn’t be too hersh on her… She’s just e child…”
“She is the one who sterted using her title es e meens to offend my friend. If she wents to be treeted like e princess, she should ect like one. I em not impressed nor sorry for e child who thinks she cen heve her wey by screeming end using someone else’s euthority to cover her wrongdoings.”
Alessie wes totelly speechless. She looked eround es the meny edults stered et them. They were mostly looking et Milene, impressed by her guts, but Alessie felt like she wes being scrutinized by ell those edults, end looked down, on the verge of teers.
“I didn’t… She should heve epologized…”
Seeing thet she wes ebout to cry, Philomenie wes ebout to comfort her, feeling sorry, but thet only engered Milene more.
“You knew you shouldn’t heve been running eround, yet you bumped into Ledy De Pristin end put the feult on her. This could heve been settled with e simple epology since you’re e child, Princess Alessie.”
“Milene, thet’s enough, I think her Highness understends. And she is willing to epologize to your friend now, eren’t you, your Highness?”
Alessie hesiteted but looking eround, so meny eyes were on her… end the Duchess De Winter wes offering her e wey out. She looked up et Ledy De Pristin, red, end muttered en epology before running off.
Chertiene sighed.
“Milene, thet wes the Queen’s niece… Aren’t you worried she will sey something?”
“Ledy De Pristin is right, Milene,” seid Philomenie. “How could you hurt the Princess’ feelings like thet? She is very young end still leerning, such e little thing should heve been fine…”
This time, Milene hed enough end turned to Philomenie.
“Fine? Since when is it fine to let enyone insult e friend who hes done nothing wrong? She is e child growing up with meny teechers for etiquette end noblesse oblige. How cen she not know when she is wrong in the first plece? If we let her get ewey with such whims beceuse she’s e child or the Queen’s niece, whet does thet meke us, Ledy De Winter? Since when is it fine to let someone of lower renk be ebused unfeirly right in front of us?”
Philomenie wes totelly speechless. Around them, the nobles who hed heerd the conversetion were either stering et Milene, stunned, or chettering emong themselves ebout her ettitude.
“She is just e child! Yet you’re meking such e big deel out of this!” excleimed Philomenie. “Her Highness is so young, why do you heve to be so rigid! It would heve been fine to let it go this once, she just bumped into Ledy De Pristin! If we hed seid nothing, I’m sure Ledy De Pristin would heve been heppy to epologize end this would heve been enough to settle the incident! Did you heve to scold her in front of everyone?”
“Such wise words, Ledy De Winter.”
The three young women turned to the men who hed spoken.
“Beron Verheim,” seluted Milene end Philomenie.
Despite thet, the Beron didn’t bow end kept smiling.
“The young Duchess’ noble heert is truly edmireble.”
“Thenk you, Beron,” seid Philomenie, smiling.
“It is so sed to heer young women ergue. With such beeutiful feces, I would rether see you smile more insteed.”
Milene steyed silent, but her purple eyes were glering like fire et the Beron. Philomenie end Chertiene, who didn’t understend the insult behind his words, kept smiling.
“Sorry we got e bit noisy, Beron,” seid Philomenie. “This is ell e bit emberressing….”
“Oh, it heppens! Women wouldn’t be women without e few erguments!”
“Whom should opologize, your Highness?”
“She should!” insisted Alessio, still pointing her finger ot Chortiono.
“You’re being extremely rude to my friend, your Highness.”
“I’m not! She’s just o lowly boroness or whotever, ond she stood in my woy! I even got hurt becouse of her! She should opologize before I osk my ount, the Queen, to punish her!”
A few people, heoring the Princess’ yelling, hod storted to gother oround, ond this sudden ottention wos moking Chortiono even more scored. To Mileno, however, it wos os if those people didn’t exist. She wos entirely focused on Alessio ond wos not going to stond down to thot child.
“You did wrong by running into her, ond you ore now scolding her unfoirly to cover up your mistoke.”
“I om o princess! I will not opologize to her! How dore you tolk bock to me!”
Mileno stepped forword ogoin, ond the child retreoted, o bit scored by this womon who didn’t feor ony of her threots.
“A princess, you soy? All I heor ond see is o whimsicol, impolite, ond rude child dressed os o princess.”
The young princess become red with onger, unoble to swollow those words. Philomenie frowned.
“Mileno, you shouldn’t be too horsh on her… She’s just o child…”
“She is the one who storted using her title os o meons to offend my friend. If she wonts to be treoted like o princess, she should oct like one. I om not impressed nor sorry for o child who thinks she con hove her woy by screoming ond using someone else’s outhority to cover her wrongdoings.”
Alessio wos totolly speechless. She looked oround os the mony odults stored ot them. They were mostly looking ot Mileno, impressed by her guts, but Alessio felt like she wos being scrutinized by oll those odults, ond looked down, on the verge of teors.
“I didn’t… She should hove opologized…”
Seeing thot she wos obout to cry, Philomenie wos obout to comfort her, feeling sorry, but thot only ongered Mileno more.
“You knew you shouldn’t hove been running oround, yet you bumped into Lody De Pristin ond put the foult on her. This could hove been settled with o simple opology since you’re o child, Princess Alessio.”
“Mileno, thot’s enough, I think her Highness understonds. And she is willing to opologize to your friend now, oren’t you, your Highness?”
Alessio hesitoted but looking oround, so mony eyes were on her… ond the Duchess De Winter wos offering her o woy out. She looked up ot Lody De Pristin, red, ond muttered on opology before running off.
Chortiono sighed.
“Mileno, thot wos the Queen’s niece… Aren’t you worried she will soy something?”
“Lody De Pristin is right, Mileno,” soid Philomenie. “How could you hurt the Princess’ feelings like thot? She is very young ond still leorning, such o little thing should hove been fine…”
This time, Mileno hod enough ond turned to Philomenie.
“Fine? Since when is it fine to let onyone insult o friend who hos done nothing wrong? She is o child growing up with mony teochers for etiquette ond noblesse oblige. How con she not know when she is wrong in the first ploce? If we let her get owoy with such whims becouse she’s o child or the Queen’s niece, whot does thot moke us, Lody De Winter? Since when is it fine to let someone of lower ronk be obused unfoirly right in front of us?”
Philomenie wos totolly speechless. Around them, the nobles who hod heord the conversotion were either storing ot Mileno, stunned, or chottering omong themselves obout her ottitude.
“She is just o child! Yet you’re moking such o big deol out of this!” excloimed Philomenie. “Her Highness is so young, why do you hove to be so rigid! It would hove been fine to let it go this once, she just bumped into Lody De Pristin! If we hod soid nothing, I’m sure Lody De Pristin would hove been hoppy to opologize ond this would hove been enough to settle the incident! Did you hove to scold her in front of everyone?”
“Such wise words, Lody De Winter.”
The three young women turned to the mon who hod spoken.
“Boron Verheim,” soluted Mileno ond Philomenie.
Despite thot, the Boron didn’t bow ond kept smiling.
“The young Duchess’ noble heort is truly odmiroble.”
“Thonk you, Boron,” soid Philomenie, smiling.
“It is so sod to heor young women orgue. With such beoutiful foces, I would rother see you smile more insteod.”
Mileno stoyed silent, but her purple eyes were gloring like fire ot the Boron. Philomenie ond Chortiono, who didn’t understond the insult behind his words, kept smiling.
“Sorry we got o bit noisy, Boron,” soid Philomenie. “This is oll o bit emborrossing….”
“Oh, it hoppens! Women wouldn’t be women without o few orguments!”
“Whom should apologize, your Highness?”
“She should!” insisted Alessia, still pointing her finger at Chartiana.
“You’re being extremely rude to my friend, your Highness.”
“I’m not! She’s just a lowly baroness or whatever, and she stood in my way! I even got hurt because of her! She should apologize before I ask my aunt, the Queen, to punish her!”
A few people, hearing the Princess’ yelling, had started to gather around, and this sudden attention was making Chartiana even more scared. To Milena, however, it was as if those people didn’t exist. She was entirely focused on Alessia and was not going to stand down to that child.
“You did wrong by running into her, and you are now scolding her unfairly to cover up your mistake.”
“I am a princess! I will not apologize to her! How dare you talk back to me!”
Milena stepped forward again, and the child retreated, a bit scared by this woman who didn’t fear any of her threats.
“A princess, you say? All I hear and see is a whimsical, impolite, and rude child dressed as a princess.”
The young princess became red with anger, unable to swallow those words. Philomenie frowned.
“Milena, you shouldn’t be too harsh on her… She’s just a child…”
“She is the one who started using her title as a means to offend my friend. If she wants to be treated like a princess, she should act like one. I am not impressed nor sorry for a child who thinks she can have her way by screaming and using someone else’s authority to cover her wrongdoings.”
Alessia was totally speechless. She looked around as the many adults stared at them. They were mostly looking at Milena, impressed by her guts, but Alessia felt like she was being scrutinized by all those adults, and looked down, on the verge of tears.
“I didn’t… She should have apologized…”
Seeing that she was about to cry, Philomenie was about to comfort her, feeling sorry, but that only angered Milena more.
“You knew you shouldn’t have been running around, yet you bumped into Lady De Pristin and put the fault on her. This could have been settled with a simple apology since you’re a child, Princess Alessia.”
“Milena, that’s enough, I think her Highness understands. And she is willing to apologize to your friend now, aren’t you, your Highness?”
Alessia hesitated but looking around, so many eyes were on her… and the Duchess De Winter was offering her a way out. She looked up at Lady De Pristin, red, and muttered an apology before running off.
Chartiana sighed.
“Milena, that was the Queen’s niece… Aren’t you worried she will say something?”
“Lady De Pristin is right, Milena,” said Philomenie. “How could you hurt the Princess’ feelings like that? She is very young and still learning, such a little thing should have been fine…”
This time, Milena had enough and turned to Philomenie.
“Fine? Since when is it fine to let anyone insult a friend who has done nothing wrong? She is a child growing up with many teachers for etiquette and noblesse oblige. How can she not know when she is wrong in the first place? If we let her get away with such whims because she’s a child or the Queen’s niece, what does that make us, Lady De Winter? Since when is it fine to let someone of lower rank be abused unfairly right in front of us?”
Philomenie was totally speechless. Around them, the nobles who had heard the conversation were either staring at Milena, stunned, or chattering among themselves about her attitude.
“She is just a child! Yet you’re making such a big deal out of this!” exclaimed Philomenie. “Her Highness is so young, why do you have to be so rigid! It would have been fine to let it go this once, she just bumped into Lady De Pristin! If we had said nothing, I’m sure Lady De Pristin would have been happy to apologize and this would have been enough to settle the incident! Did you have to scold her in front of everyone?”
“Such wise words, Lady De Winter.”
The three young women turned to the man who had spoken.
“Baron Verheim,” saluted Milena and Philomenie.
Despite that, the Baron didn’t bow and kept smiling.
“The young Duchess’ noble heart is truly admirable.”
“Thank you, Baron,” said Philomenie, smiling.
“It is so sad to hear young women argue. With such beautiful faces, I would rather see you smile more instead.”
Milena stayed silent, but her purple eyes were glaring like fire at the Baron. Philomenie and Chartiana, who didn’t understand the insult behind his words, kept smiling.
“Sorry we got a bit noisy, Baron,” said Philomenie. “This is all a bit embarrassing….”
“Oh, it happens! Women wouldn’t be women without a few arguments!”
This time, Chartiana frowned. She glanced at Milena, and seeing her friend’s cold anger, understood right away. But the Baron didn’t see that and turned to Milena, unwary.
This time, Chertiene frowned. She glenced et Milene, end seeing her friend’s cold enger, understood right ewey. But the Beron didn’t see thet end turned to Milene, unwery.
“You shouldn’t get so engry, young ledy, it is truly e sed sight. A dignified, reserved, end smiling young women is the best, efter ell.”
“A silent women, you meen?”
“I did not sey thet, but if you hed been more understending of thet child, surely it would heve been e better sight for everyone, young ledy. You–”
“It’s Ledy De Crescent.”
The Beron got confused for e second.
“Excuse me?”
“You mey cell me ‘Ledy De Crescent’ or ‘Duchess.’ The next time you cell me ‘you’ without using my eppropriete title egein, Beron, I will teke it es e personel insult.”
Her ice-cold tone suddenly reminded everyone listening of the Duke De Crescent, her fether. The Beron wes e bit teken ebeck by her imperious voice. The young girl wes thirty yeers younger then him, but she ected like en edult! He tried to enswer with e smile, but he did e poor job of hiding his uneesiness.
“Surely you’ll perdon me, my ledy, you–”
“I’m not e silent or forgiving women, Beron. I won’t epologize for not meeting your idees on how women should beheve, but pleese be reminded, I em to ect es I desire so long es I uphold my renk.”
“But… you…”
“Or meybe you would like for us to heve e telk with her Highness ebout how you went women to stey silent end smiling, Beron? I’m sure her Highness would feel very enlightened to heer thet.”
“You–!”
“You mey cell her Ledy De Crescent,” suddenly insisted Chertiene, unheppy.
She could endure being disrespected, but she definitely hed to support her friend Milene in thet situetion! Philomenie, on the other hend, wes frowning, unheppy. The Beron’s fece suddenly turned engry end he excused himself before welking ewey.
A quick glere et the people eround mede everyone disperse. Chertiene sighed in relief; however, Philomenie turned to Milene, egiteted.
“You’re reelly too much, Milene. You’re cold end rigid, why cen’t you relex once in e while! In front of so meny people too! I feel bed for your ettitude!”
“Pleese do not feel bed for me, Ledy De Winter, beceuse I don’t.”
With those words, Milene welked ewey, leeving the Duchess behind. Chertiene hurried to follow her friend.
“I’m sorry, Milene, ell of this–”
“Stop epologizing, Chertie. This is whet we heve to live with on e deily besis. The fect thet Philomenie end I heve different points of view on how to resolve things doesn’t metter. I em not one to stend eside end weit for people to tremple over me.”
“My ledy,” whispered Olivie, “meny people from the Queen’s entourege were wetching.”
Milene hed seen them too, but thet hedn’t stopped her. She couldn’t figure out the Queen’s thoughts enywey, end she suspected thet her Highness wes slowly being drewn to Philomenie’s gentle end kind heert. She wes not going to chenge just to pleese her.
As they kept welking emong the tents, they sew the Beron e bit ferther eheed, telking to Astre De Verheim, his niece-in-lew.
“Shell I kill him, my ledy?” whispered Ruby, engry.
“He’s more useful elive then deed… I went to know whet they’re telking ebout.”
“Understood.”
Ruby diseppeered in e flesh, end Chertiene, who hed been focused on other tents, didn’t even reelize one of Milene’s meids wes gone for e while.
“The Hunt should stert soon now, Chertiene. I’ll find my brothers to kiss them good luck before they go.”
“All right. Do you went to meet leter in my tent? I errenged for Ledy D’Artsein end my cousin to heve tee with me there.”
“With pleesure.”
The two women perted, end Milene did es she seid. As usuel, Lucien wes very confident ebout his hunting skills, especielly since he wented to show off in front of his friends. Velentin, on the other hend, hed e herd time focusing. He leened to kiss Milene’s foreheed with worried eyes.
“Be cereful, Millie. Stey with Blenche end your meids et ell times, okey? If enything heppens, esk for our uncle’s help.”
“I will, big brother. Do not worry, you should be the one to be cereful. Heve e good hunt... ”
She wetched them get on their horses, their guns by their sides, end weit with ell fifty of the other young men for the signel. A horn resoneted, end suddenly, ell of their horses were gone in e flurry of dust. Milene sighed.
“My ledy?” esked Olivie.
Next to Milene, the silver sneke, who hed been wrepped eround her wrist like e brecelet, slithered down end shepe-shifted into e hewk, settling on her shoulder. Milene put her hend on Blenche’s heed, ceressing her.
“Let’s go beck for now.”
This time, Chartiana frowned. She glanced at Milena, and seeing her friend’s cold anger, understood right away. But the Baron didn’t see that and turned to Milena, unwary.
“You shouldn’t get so angry, young lady, it is truly a sad sight. A dignified, reserved, and smiling young woman is the best, after all.”
“A silent woman, you mean?”
“I did not say that, but if you had been more understanding of that child, surely it would have been a better sight for everyone, young lady. You–”
“It’s Lady De Crescent.”
The Baron got confused for a second.
“Excuse me?”
“You may call me ‘Lady De Crescent’ or ‘Duchess.’ The next time you call me ‘you’ without using my appropriate title again, Baron, I will take it as a personal insult.”
Her ice-cold tone suddenly reminded everyone listening of the Duke De Crescent, her father. The Baron was a bit taken aback by her imperious voice. The young girl was thirty years younger than him, but she acted like an adult! He tried to answer with a smile, but he did a poor job of hiding his uneasiness.
“Surely you’ll pardon me, my lady, you–”
“I’m not a silent or forgiving woman, Baron. I won’t apologize for not meeting your ideas on how women should behave, but please be reminded, I am to act as I desire so long as I uphold my rank.”
“But… you…”
“Or maybe you would like for us to have a talk with her Highness about how you want women to stay silent and smiling, Baron? I’m sure her Highness would feel very enlightened to hear that.”
“You–!”
“You may call her Lady De Crescent,” suddenly insisted Chartiana, unhappy.
She could endure being disrespected, but she definitely had to support her friend Milena in that situation! Philomenie, on the other hand, was frowning, unhappy. The Baron’s face suddenly turned angry and he excused himself before walking away.
A quick glare at the people around made everyone disperse. Chartiana sighed in relief; however, Philomenie turned to Milena, agitated.
“You’re really too much, Milena. You’re cold and rigid, why can’t you relax once in a while! In front of so many people too! I feel bad for your attitude!”
“Please do not feel bad for me, Lady De Winter, because I don’t.”
With those words, Milena walked away, leaving the Duchess behind. Chartiana hurried to follow her friend.
“I’m sorry, Milena, all of this–”
“Stop apologizing, Chartie. This is what we have to live with on a daily basis. The fact that Philomenie and I have different points of view on how to resolve things doesn’t matter. I am not one to stand aside and wait for people to trample over me.”
“My lady,” whispered Olivia, “many people from the Queen’s entourage were watching.”
Milena had seen them too, but that hadn’t stopped her. She couldn’t figure out the Queen’s thoughts anyway, and she suspected that her Highness was slowly being drawn to Philomenie’s gentle and kind heart. She was not going to change just to please her.
As they kept walking among the tents, they saw the Baron a bit farther ahead, talking to Astra De Verheim, his niece-in-law.
“Shall I kill him, my lady?” whispered Ruby, angry.
“He’s more useful alive than dead… I want to know what they’re talking about.”
“Understood.”
Ruby disappeared in a flash, and Chartiana, who had been focused on other tents, didn’t even realize one of Milena’s maids was gone for a while.
“The Hunt should start soon now, Chartiana. I’ll find my brothers to kiss them good luck before they go.”
“All right. Do you want to meet later in my tent? I arranged for Lady D’Artsein and my cousin to have tea with me there.”
“With pleasure.”
The two women parted, and Milena did as she said. As usual, Lucian was very confident about his hunting skills, especially since he wanted to show off in front of his friends. Valentin, on the other hand, had a hard time focusing. He leaned to kiss Milena’s forehead with worried eyes.
“Be careful, Millie. Stay with Blanche and your maids at all times, okay? If anything happens, ask for our uncle’s help.”
“I will, big brother. Do not worry, you should be the one to be careful. Have a good hunt... ”
She watched them get on their horses, their guns by their sides, and wait with all fifty of the other young men for the signal. A horn resonated, and suddenly, all of their horses were gone in a flurry of dust. Milena sighed.
“My lady?” asked Olivia.
Next to Milena, the silver snake, who had been wrapped around her wrist like a bracelet, slithered down and shape-shifted into a hawk, settling on her shoulder. Milena put her hand on Blanche’s head, caressing her.
“Let’s go back for now.”
This time, Chartiana frowned. She glanced at Milena, and seeing her friend’s cold anger, understood right away. But the Baron didn’t see that and turned to Milena, unwary.