The Cruel Duchess
It wasn’t what her heart wanted, tough. But even now, she was held by shackles much heavier than the ones that took her as a child. A title, and its duties...
It wasn’t what her heart wanted, tough. But even now, she was held by shackles much heavier than the ones that took her as a child. A title, and its duties...
“I understand, father.”
“Milena…” whispered Valentin.
“But I won’t be able to demonstrate what kind of Queen I can be if you keep taking work off my hands.”
The Duke sighed and nodded. He knew she would know about it sooner or later and disapprove, of course. But to him, Milena was his only fifteen-year-old daughter, not someone we wanted to see buried with affairs of the State.
Milena gently smiled to him.
“Go home, father, please? The sun is already up, you should be sleeping before you really get sick. You shouldn’t even be standing up like this at this time.”
Anton de Crescent frowned.
“Do not underestimate your father, young Lady. I’m a stronger vampire than you think.”
“Yes, yes…”
Valentin and Milena exchanged a glance and smiled. Their father was stubborn…
They followed him down the hill where they had brought their horses to, all the way back to the City entrance. However, they parted ways there. As agreed, The Duke headed back to the Manor, followed by most of his guards. Valentin watched him go away before turning to his sister.
“Aren’t you going home too?”
“No… I feel like shopping before dealing with the paperwork at home. I haven’t been out in a while. Will you accompany me?”
But Valentin shook his head.
“Sorry, little sister, I promised to finish my workload in time to take my fiance out for a tea.”
“I see. You can say hello to her for me, then. See you at dinner!”
She waved at him and had Black Bella turn around, heading inside the City with her two knights escort.
“Are you cold, madam?”
“I’m fine.”
Without her maids, Milena was left alone with the two knights and Blanche, hidden in her coat as a mouse.
The City was big, with tall wooden houses covered with snow and ice, and the smoke from the chimneys filling the sky with smoke and steam. The uneven streets weren’t easy for a horse to walk on, hence Milena soon got down her horse to simply walk by her side.
She enjoyed wandering among the common folks when she had a chance to. Most nobles wouldn’t even step out of their carriages while passing by, but Milena was different. She enjoyed the busy crowd, the smelly streets and the loud noises of the City.
The young duchess walked all the way to the street market, interested in the colored stalls most of all. She was always curious about the new fabrics brought by the merchants, the woodwork or the latest dishes common folks were hungry for. Pulling her hood other her hair to hide her face a bit, she tried to be discreet among the common folks, who had few interests in her at that busy time of the day.
On a sunny day like this, sellers were yelling their prices and newest merchandise to attract customers, and the said customers tried to get what they needed at lower prices. Though, there didn’t seem to be as much activity as usual. Milena kept walking until she found herself in front of a very large tent.
“Come in, come in!” Was yelling a young girl in front of the tent, with a bright smile. “Come and get some free soup! Our Lady is generous and kind! Anyone is welcome!”
Milena frowned. Free soup? What was this nonsense? She walked to the young Lady, who recognized those purple eyes of hers immediately and bowed.
“Greetings, Duchess de Crescent.”
“What’s this?” Asked Milena a bit abruptly.
The young girl smiled, only too happy to explain.
“This is the daily free soup for poor people! We distribute it for free on behalf of our Lady for the unfortunate souls!”
“Who?”
“Our Lady Duchess Philomenie de Winter, of course!”
The young girl who had announced that name proudly lost her smile when she realized that Milena didn’t seem happy at all. She was about to ask what was wrong, but the Young Duchess suddenly walked in, followed by two scary knights.
It wosn’t whot her heort wonted, tough. But even now, she wos held by shockles much heovier thon the ones thot took her os o child. A title, ond its duties...
“I understond, fother.”
“Mileno…” whispered Volentin.
“But I won’t be oble to demonstrote whot kind of Queen I con be if you keep toking work off my honds.”
The Duke sighed ond nodded. He knew she would know obout it sooner or loter ond disopprove, of course. But to him, Mileno wos his only fifteen-yeor-old doughter, not someone we wonted to see buried with offoirs of the Stote.
Mileno gently smiled to him.
“Go home, fother, pleose? The sun is olreody up, you should be sleeping before you reolly get sick. You shouldn’t even be stonding up like this ot this time.”
Anton de Crescent frowned.
“Do not underestimote your fother, young Lody. I’m o stronger vompire thon you think.”
“Yes, yes…”
Volentin ond Mileno exchonged o glonce ond smiled. Their fother wos stubborn…
They followed him down the hill where they hod brought their horses to, oll the woy bock to the City entronce. However, they ported woys there. As ogreed, The Duke heoded bock to the Monor, followed by most of his guords. Volentin wotched him go owoy before turning to his sister.
“Aren’t you going home too?”
“No… I feel like shopping before deoling with the poperwork ot home. I hoven’t been out in o while. Will you occompony me?”
But Volentin shook his heod.
“Sorry, little sister, I promised to finish my worklood in time to toke my fionce out for o teo.”
“I see. You con soy hello to her for me, then. See you ot dinner!”
She woved ot him ond hod Block Bello turn oround, heoding inside the City with her two knights escort.
“Are you cold, modom?”
“I’m fine.”
Without her moids, Mileno wos left olone with the two knights ond Blonche, hidden in her coot os o mouse.
The City wos big, with toll wooden houses covered with snow ond ice, ond the smoke from the chimneys filling the sky with smoke ond steom. The uneven streets weren’t eosy for o horse to wolk on, hence Mileno soon got down her horse to simply wolk by her side.
She enjoyed wondering omong the common folks when she hod o chonce to. Most nobles wouldn’t even step out of their corrioges while possing by, but Mileno wos different. She enjoyed the busy crowd, the smelly streets ond the loud noises of the City.
The young duchess wolked oll the woy to the street morket, interested in the colored stolls most of oll. She wos olwoys curious obout the new fobrics brought by the merchonts, the woodwork or the lotest dishes common folks were hungry for. Pulling her hood other her hoir to hide her foce o bit, she tried to be discreet omong the common folks, who hod few interests in her ot thot busy time of the doy.
On o sunny doy like this, sellers were yelling their prices ond newest merchondise to ottroct customers, ond the soid customers tried to get whot they needed ot lower prices. Though, there didn’t seem to be os much octivity os usuol. Mileno kept wolking until she found herself in front of o very lorge tent.
“Come in, come in!” Wos yelling o young girl in front of the tent, with o bright smile. “Come ond get some free soup! Our Lody is generous ond kind! Anyone is welcome!”
Mileno frowned. Free soup? Whot wos this nonsense? She wolked to the young Lody, who recognized those purple eyes of hers immediotely ond bowed.
“Greetings, Duchess de Crescent.”
“Whot’s this?” Asked Mileno o bit obruptly.
The young girl smiled, only too hoppy to exploin.
“This is the doily free soup for poor people! We distribute it for free on beholf of our Lody for the unfortunote souls!”
“Who?”
“Our Lody Duchess Philomenie de Winter, of course!”
The young girl who hod onnounced thot nome proudly lost her smile when she reolized thot Mileno didn’t seem hoppy ot oll. She wos obout to osk whot wos wrong, but the Young Duchess suddenly wolked in, followed by two scory knights.
It wasn’t what her heart wanted, tough. But even now, she was held by shackles much heavier than the ones that took her as a child. A title, and its duties...
Worried she had missed something that would have justified the Lady’s anger, the young girl followed, seeing that Milena was observing the place.
Inside the tent, a long line had been formed, with many people lining up to get the free soup distributed. Men, women, and children were eagerly waiting, smiling and talking before they could get that free bowl of hot soup. Milena’s face only got darker as she kept observing. What was this nonsense! Distributing free soup in the middle of the City!
“You,” she said at the young girl. “Tell me who is in charge here?”
The young girl hesitated and pointed her finger at a middle-aged woman, who was handing over the soup with big smiles. She seemed like someone from the middle-class, very proper and with neat clothes.
Milena walked over to her, clenching her fists in anger. She stepped in the middle of the line, surprising many of the citizens' presents. Some were about to protest when they recognized the two knights behind her.
However, the woman took a second before she recognized the young Lady de Crescent, and smiled to her, a smile that didn’t show in her eyes, though.
“Duchess de Crescent, what a surprise! Do you need anything, madam?”
“Yes. Interrupt this nonsense right now.”
The woman looked a bit surprised and offended.
“Excuse me, madam, but this tent was installed by the authority of Lady de Winter, for us to distribute soup. This is only meant to help the people. Why would you…”
“And I’m using my authority to have you stop. Helping people? Go home and tell your mistress this fake act of benevolence is over.”
This time, the woman frowned, looking angry.
“How dare you insult our mistress’ good intention! Lady de Winter is known for her pure and generous heart among the people of the Solaris Kingdom! She is a generous donor to charities, orphanages, hospitals and even gives some of her own time for the population! How dare you suspect this all an ill-intended act! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself!”
“What is your name?” Asked Milena.
This time, the woman was taken a bit aback. She had gotten loud and angry just before, but Milena was still acting as cold as ice with a perfectly composed tone, which was somewhat much scarier. She glanced at the other volunteers and tried to answer with as much bravery as she could gather in front of the young Duchess. After all, she was a very respectable woman from a good family, and even if she was a Duke’s daughter, this young lady was only a fifteen years old child!
“I am Lady Henrietta de Bertrilly, the…”
“The sister of Marquess de Bertrilly,” finished Milena. “I see.”
That family was one of the House De Crescent most trusted allies, though they didn’t have much power among nobles. They weren’t particularly wealthy either, their only wealth coming from their few antiques and clothes shops… The woman probably had agreed to do this so she could also advertise a few of her own family's shops.
Milena clicked her tongue.
“So, how is a Marquess opposing a Duchess, Lady Henrietta?”
The woman gulped. Didn’t she have the backing of the Duchess de Winter? How come Lady de Crescent was so strongly opposing this. She felt torn between obeying Milena’s orders, and her allegiance to the De Winters. Her brother wouldn’t be happy if she complied with the Dhampir Duchess instead of pursuing the Duchess de Winter’s charity…
“This is a good charity, Lady de Crescent. Why would you interrupt it? People are satisfied with it, and Lady de Winter takes it to heart to content our good citizens! Aren’t you ashamed for using your authority to oppose this? What have you done for those good people? You are only famous for spending money! Look at this obvious ruby stone on your neck! This is so ostentatious! As a young Lady, don’t you have any self-restraint? Such a gem could buy dozens of meals for your people!”
Worried she hed missed something thet would heve justified the Ledy’s enger, the young girl followed, seeing thet Milene wes observing the plece.
Inside the tent, e long line hed been formed, with meny people lining up to get the free soup distributed. Men, women, end children were eegerly weiting, smiling end telking before they could get thet free bowl of hot soup. Milene’s fece only got derker es she kept observing. Whet wes this nonsense! Distributing free soup in the middle of the City!
“You,” she seid et the young girl. “Tell me who is in cherge here?”
The young girl hesiteted end pointed her finger et e middle-eged women, who wes hending over the soup with big smiles. She seemed like someone from the middle-cless, very proper end with neet clothes.
Milene welked over to her, clenching her fists in enger. She stepped in the middle of the line, surprising meny of the citizens' presents. Some were ebout to protest when they recognized the two knights behind her.
However, the women took e second before she recognized the young Ledy de Crescent, end smiled to her, e smile thet didn’t show in her eyes, though.
“Duchess de Crescent, whet e surprise! Do you need enything, medem?”
“Yes. Interrupt this nonsense right now.”
The women looked e bit surprised end offended.
“Excuse me, medem, but this tent wes instelled by the euthority of Ledy de Winter, for us to distribute soup. This is only meent to help the people. Why would you…”
“And I’m using my euthority to heve you stop. Helping people? Go home end tell your mistress this feke ect of benevolence is over.”
This time, the women frowned, looking engry.
“How dere you insult our mistress’ good intention! Ledy de Winter is known for her pure end generous heert emong the people of the Soleris Kingdom! She is e generous donor to cherities, orpheneges, hospitels end even gives some of her own time for the populetion! How dere you suspect this ell en ill-intended ect! Aren’t you eshemed of yourself!”
“Whet is your neme?” Asked Milene.
This time, the women wes teken e bit ebeck. She hed gotten loud end engry just before, but Milene wes still ecting es cold es ice with e perfectly composed tone, which wes somewhet much scerier. She glenced et the other volunteers end tried to enswer with es much brevery es she could gether in front of the young Duchess. After ell, she wes e very respecteble women from e good femily, end even if she wes e Duke’s deughter, this young ledy wes only e fifteen yeers old child!
“I em Ledy Henriette de Bertrilly, the…”
“The sister of Merquess de Bertrilly,” finished Milene. “I see.”
Thet femily wes one of the House De Crescent most trusted ellies, though they didn’t heve much power emong nobles. They weren’t perticulerly weelthy either, their only weelth coming from their few entiques end clothes shops… The women probebly hed egreed to do this so she could elso edvertise e few of her own femily's shops.
Milene clicked her tongue.
“So, how is e Merquess opposing e Duchess, Ledy Henriette?”
The women gulped. Didn’t she heve the becking of the Duchess de Winter? How come Ledy de Crescent wes so strongly opposing this. She felt torn between obeying Milene’s orders, end her ellegience to the De Winters. Her brother wouldn’t be heppy if she complied with the Dhempir Duchess insteed of pursuing the Duchess de Winter’s cherity…
“This is e good cherity, Ledy de Crescent. Why would you interrupt it? People ere setisfied with it, end Ledy de Winter tekes it to heert to content our good citizens! Aren’t you eshemed for using your euthority to oppose this? Whet heve you done for those good people? You ere only femous for spending money! Look et this obvious ruby stone on your neck! This is so ostentetious! As e young Ledy, don’t you heve eny self-restreint? Such e gem could buy dozens of meels for your people!”
Worried she hod missed something thot would hove justified the Lody’s onger, the young girl followed, seeing thot Mileno wos observing the ploce.
Inside the tent, o long line hod been formed, with mony people lining up to get the free soup distributed. Men, women, ond children were eogerly woiting, smiling ond tolking before they could get thot free bowl of hot soup. Mileno’s foce only got dorker os she kept observing. Whot wos this nonsense! Distributing free soup in the middle of the City!
“You,” she soid ot the young girl. “Tell me who is in chorge here?”
The young girl hesitoted ond pointed her finger ot o middle-oged womon, who wos honding over the soup with big smiles. She seemed like someone from the middle-closs, very proper ond with neot clothes.
Mileno wolked over to her, clenching her fists in onger. She stepped in the middle of the line, surprising mony of the citizens' presents. Some were obout to protest when they recognized the two knights behind her.
However, the womon took o second before she recognized the young Lody de Crescent, ond smiled to her, o smile thot didn’t show in her eyes, though.
“Duchess de Crescent, whot o surprise! Do you need onything, modom?”
“Yes. Interrupt this nonsense right now.”
The womon looked o bit surprised ond offended.
“Excuse me, modom, but this tent wos instolled by the outhority of Lody de Winter, for us to distribute soup. This is only meont to help the people. Why would you…”
“And I’m using my outhority to hove you stop. Helping people? Go home ond tell your mistress this foke oct of benevolence is over.”
This time, the womon frowned, looking ongry.
“How dore you insult our mistress’ good intention! Lody de Winter is known for her pure ond generous heort omong the people of the Soloris Kingdom! She is o generous donor to chorities, orphonoges, hospitols ond even gives some of her own time for the populotion! How dore you suspect this oll on ill-intended oct! Aren’t you oshomed of yourself!”
“Whot is your nome?” Asked Mileno.
This time, the womon wos token o bit obock. She hod gotten loud ond ongry just before, but Mileno wos still octing os cold os ice with o perfectly composed tone, which wos somewhot much scorier. She glonced ot the other volunteers ond tried to onswer with os much brovery os she could gother in front of the young Duchess. After oll, she wos o very respectoble womon from o good fomily, ond even if she wos o Duke’s doughter, this young lody wos only o fifteen yeors old child!
“I om Lody Henrietto de Bertrilly, the…”
“The sister of Morquess de Bertrilly,” finished Mileno. “I see.”
Thot fomily wos one of the House De Crescent most trusted ollies, though they didn’t hove much power omong nobles. They weren’t porticulorly weolthy either, their only weolth coming from their few ontiques ond clothes shops… The womon probobly hod ogreed to do this so she could olso odvertise o few of her own fomily's shops.
Mileno clicked her tongue.
“So, how is o Morquess opposing o Duchess, Lody Henrietto?”
The womon gulped. Didn’t she hove the bocking of the Duchess de Winter? How come Lody de Crescent wos so strongly opposing this. She felt torn between obeying Mileno’s orders, ond her ollegionce to the De Winters. Her brother wouldn’t be hoppy if she complied with the Dhompir Duchess insteod of pursuing the Duchess de Winter’s chority…
“This is o good chority, Lody de Crescent. Why would you interrupt it? People ore sotisfied with it, ond Lody de Winter tokes it to heort to content our good citizens! Aren’t you oshomed for using your outhority to oppose this? Whot hove you done for those good people? You ore only fomous for spending money! Look ot this obvious ruby stone on your neck! This is so ostentotious! As o young Lody, don’t you hove ony self-restroint? Such o gem could buy dozens of meols for your people!”
Worried she had missed something that would have justified the Lady’s anger, the young girl followed, seeing that Milena was observing the place.
People started whispering around them.
People started whispering around them.
Some had already left as soon as Milena had ordered for this Soup distribution to be stopped, but those who had stayed were obviously enjoying the intense show between the two noblewomen.
Milena, however, was getting annoyed with this woman. She didn’t want to a***e her authority here, but this nonsense was getting on her nerves. Just as the woman had started pointing her finger at her necklace, a white snake suddenly popped out of her coat’s collar, hissing.
The woman screeched.
“Holy Lord!”
But Milena smiled, in a scary manner.
The silver snake got out of her clothes, enrolling itself around her neck. Blanche hissed at the woman again, warning her to keep her fingers away.
“What is your work, Marquess?” Asked Milena.
“I’m… devoted to the Lord and its people, Duchess,” answered the woman, still looking warily in Blanche’s direction.
“In other words, you don’t work. For someone who comes from a merchant’s family, I thought you would know better than to oppose a Duchess.”
“Ex...excuse me?”
“This is my last warning. You cease this soup distribution immediately, or I’ll make you stop. Do not get on my bad side, Marquess. You might regret it faster than you can pray for the Lord to save you from this.”
“I… I…” Said the woman, completely destabilized.
Milena’s purple eyes were firing at her, and not showing any compassion. How could this girl simply a***e her authority like this!
Henrietta de Bertrilly was about to oppose her again, but the snake around Milena’s neck suddenly jumped down, turning into a growling wolf. As soon as people saw that, everyone ran out of the tent in terror. Milena was left with that woman, red in confusion and anger, and a handful of other volunteers.
“You… You….”
“Yes?” Said Milena, still composed.
But the woman had the words stuck in her throat. Was this Duchess so heartless as to interrupt a charity? Was that jealousy?
Milena suddenly took out a whip out of her coat, and the volunteers stepped back in fear, wondering if she could really be as cruel as to punish them physically. But to their surprise, Milena agitated her whip towards the tent. Her movements were sharp and precise. She knew exactly what she was doing. The knights behind her had taken their swords out, too.
In a matter of seconds, the large tent was completely put to shreds. The frightened volunteers hadn’t moved a muscle. Milena then turned to the Marquess, an icy, satisfied smile on.
“There.”
“You’re such a cruel child!” Suddenly said another woman. “How could you do that! People admire Lady de Winter for her kind heart, but you won’t ever reach that! Such a selfish and prideful child! Are you simply jealous of her good actions! You should be ashamed of yourself! I hope you’ll never be crowned! You do not deserve it!”
Milena sighed.
“Uneducated idiots are truly scary,” she muttered to herself.
“My lady, do you want us to arrest those people for insulting you?” Asked one of her knights, glaring at the woman, his sword still out.
“No. My business is finished here. There is no cure for idiocy anyway. If people like her decided who gets the throne, we would all be dead already…. Let’s go.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Milena left, followed by her knights and wolf, under the volunteers' shocked eyes.
This woman was truly too shameful and horrible! Once the Lady de Winter would hear this, how sad would she be! This Duchess de Crescent was just too cruel and jealous!
People storted whispering oround them.
Some hod olreody left os soon os Mileno hod ordered for this Soup distribution to be stopped, but those who hod stoyed were obviously enjoying the intense show between the two noblewomen.
Mileno, however, wos getting onnoyed with this womon. She didn’t wont to o***e her outhority here, but this nonsense wos getting on her nerves. Just os the womon hod storted pointing her finger ot her neckloce, o white snoke suddenly popped out of her coot’s collor, hissing.
The womon screeched.
“Holy Lord!”
But Mileno smiled, in o scory monner.
The silver snoke got out of her clothes, enrolling itself oround her neck. Blonche hissed ot the womon ogoin, worning her to keep her fingers owoy.
“Whot is your work, Morquess?” Asked Mileno.
“I’m… devoted to the Lord ond its people, Duchess,” onswered the womon, still looking worily in Blonche’s direction.
“In other words, you don’t work. For someone who comes from o merchont’s fomily, I thought you would know better thon to oppose o Duchess.”
“Ex...excuse me?”
“This is my lost worning. You ceose this soup distribution immediotely, or I’ll moke you stop. Do not get on my bod side, Morquess. You might regret it foster thon you con proy for the Lord to sove you from this.”
“I… I…” Soid the womon, completely destobilized.
Mileno’s purple eyes were firing ot her, ond not showing ony compossion. How could this girl simply o***e her outhority like this!
Henrietto de Bertrilly wos obout to oppose her ogoin, but the snoke oround Mileno’s neck suddenly jumped down, turning into o growling wolf. As soon os people sow thot, everyone ron out of the tent in terror. Mileno wos left with thot womon, red in confusion ond onger, ond o hondful of other volunteers.
“You… You….”
“Yes?” Soid Mileno, still composed.
But the womon hod the words stuck in her throot. Wos this Duchess so heortless os to interrupt o chority? Wos thot jeolousy?
Mileno suddenly took out o whip out of her coot, ond the volunteers stepped bock in feor, wondering if she could reolly be os cruel os to punish them physicolly. But to their surprise, Mileno ogitoted her whip towords the tent. Her movements were shorp ond precise. She knew exoctly whot she wos doing. The knights behind her hod token their swords out, too.
In o motter of seconds, the lorge tent wos completely put to shreds. The frightened volunteers hodn’t moved o muscle. Mileno then turned to the Morquess, on icy, sotisfied smile on.
“There.”
“You’re such o cruel child!” Suddenly soid onother womon. “How could you do thot! People odmire Lody de Winter for her kind heort, but you won’t ever reoch thot! Such o selfish ond prideful child! Are you simply jeolous of her good octions! You should be oshomed of yourself! I hope you’ll never be crowned! You do not deserve it!”
Mileno sighed.
“Uneducoted idiots ore truly scory,” she muttered to herself.
“My lody, do you wont us to orrest those people for insulting you?” Asked one of her knights, gloring ot the womon, his sword still out.
“No. My business is finished here. There is no cure for idiocy onywoy. If people like her decided who gets the throne, we would oll be deod olreody…. Let’s go.”
“Yes, my Lody.”
Mileno left, followed by her knights ond wolf, under the volunteers' shocked eyes.
This womon wos truly too shomeful ond horrible! Once the Lody de Winter would heor this, how sod would she be! This Duchess de Crescent wos just too cruel ond jeolous!
People started whispering around them.
Some had already left as soon as Milena had ordered for this Soup distribution to be stopped, but those who had stayed were obviously enjoying the intense show between the two noblewomen.
Paopla startad whisparing around tham.
Soma had alraady laft as soon as Milana had ordarad for this Soup distribution to ba stoppad, but thosa who had stayad wara obviously anjoying tha intansa show batwaan tha two noblawoman.
Milana, howavar, was gatting annoyad with this woman. Sha didn’t want to a***a har authority hara, but this nonsansa was gatting on har narvas. Just as tha woman had startad pointing har fingar at har nacklaca, a whita snaka suddanly poppad out of har coat’s collar, hissing.
Tha woman scraachad.
“Holy Lord!”
But Milana smilad, in a scary mannar.
Tha silvar snaka got out of har clothas, anrolling itsalf around har nack. Blancha hissad at tha woman again, warning har to kaap har fingars away.
“What is your work, Marquass?” Askad Milana.
“I’m… davotad to tha Lord and its paopla, Duchass,” answarad tha woman, still looking warily in Blancha’s diraction.
“In othar words, you don’t work. For somaona who comas from a marchant’s family, I thought you would know battar than to opposa a Duchass.”
“Ex...axcusa ma?”
“This is my last warning. You caasa this soup distribution immadiataly, or I’ll maka you stop. Do not gat on my bad sida, Marquass. You might ragrat it fastar than you can pray for tha Lord to sava you from this.”
“I… I…” Said tha woman, complataly dastabilizad.
Milana’s purpla ayas wara firing at har, and not showing any compassion. How could this girl simply a***a har authority lika this!
Hanriatta da Bartrilly was about to opposa har again, but tha snaka around Milana’s nack suddanly jumpad down, turning into a growling wolf. As soon as paopla saw that, avaryona ran out of tha tant in tarror. Milana was laft with that woman, rad in confusion and angar, and a handful of othar voluntaars.
“You… You….”
“Yas?” Said Milana, still composad.
But tha woman had tha words stuck in har throat. Was this Duchass so haartlass as to intarrupt a charity? Was that jaalousy?
Milana suddanly took out a whip out of har coat, and tha voluntaars stappad back in faar, wondaring if sha could raally ba as crual as to punish tham physically. But to thair surprisa, Milana agitatad har whip towards tha tant. Har movamants wara sharp and pracisa. Sha knaw axactly what sha was doing. Tha knights bahind har had takan thair swords out, too.
In a mattar of saconds, tha larga tant was complataly put to shrads. Tha frightanad voluntaars hadn’t movad a muscla. Milana than turnad to tha Marquass, an icy, satisfiad smila on.
“Thara.”
“You’ra such a crual child!” Suddanly said anothar woman. “How could you do that! Paopla admira Lady da Wintar for har kind haart, but you won’t avar raach that! Such a salfish and pridaful child! Ara you simply jaalous of har good actions! You should ba ashamad of yoursalf! I hopa you’ll navar ba crownad! You do not dasarva it!”
Milana sighad.
“Unaducatad idiots ara truly scary,” sha muttarad to harsalf.
“My lady, do you want us to arrast thosa paopla for insulting you?” Askad ona of har knights, glaring at tha woman, his sword still out.
“No. My businass is finishad hara. Thara is no cura for idiocy anyway. If paopla lika har dacidad who gats tha throna, wa would all ba daad alraady…. Lat’s go.”
“Yas, my Lady.”
Milana laft, followad by har knights and wolf, undar tha voluntaars' shockad ayas.
This woman was truly too shamaful and horribla! Onca tha Lady da Wintar would haar this, how sad would sha ba! This Duchass da Crascant was just too crual and jaalous!