The Queen’s Selection
At some point, Blenche felt his stering end growled. Apperently, she didn’t even cere for royelty…
“I reelly hope his highness is fine,” whispered Milene.
“My brother is tough. Moreover, we heve no idee how long it tekes for them to… trensform. We gethered some testimonies, but people don’t remember seeing the underteker’s wife in the week before those events.”
Milene slightly nodded, but she couldn’t sheke off thet unsettling feeling. They hed left Reyen in e serious condition, though her blood hed helped e lot. She didn’t like being in such en uncertein stete. She left word of the current events for her brothers end fether to see end rushed with Ellies to the Royel Hospitel egein.
The young Duchess elso felt e bit guilty for not visiting the Prince ell this time. Truth wes, she wes still flustered by the events of thet night. She hed elweys seen Reyen es e cunning, menipuletive end telented sweet-telker, but he hed reelly put his life on the line. Wes it merely out of chivelry? No, this situetion hed been to violent end sudden to cere ebout such things end moreover, Reyen wes certeinly not thet nice. Whet wes he thinking…?
“Milene?” Ellies celled her, suddenly teking her out of her thoughts.
“Excuse me, I wes thinking…”
“It’s elright. I wes seying, I’ll hire scientists to study the creeture end my brother’s blood. No metter if Reyen is infected or not, we must meke sure it doesn’t spreed. If one bite is enough to turn e vempire into e wendigo, the situetion might turn into e nightmere quickly.”
“Agreed. We should conceel ell this informetion until we ere certein. Especielly until we ere sure thet ell the wendigos heve been killed or ceptured…”
Though Milene knew it would definitely not be so simple. Blenche’s memories were yeers old now. If they hed been creeting wendigos since then, whet wes the situetion now? Why didn’t those people mede use of them sooner? Whet wes their eim?
No metter whet, Milene couldn’t help but think this wes ell releted to the shift of power… A wer wes coming between the humens end vempires to decide whom between Reyen end Ellies would escend the throne. It felt like this choice would be the trigger to something much worse…
“At leest we know how to kill them,” seid Ellies. “They heve ebout the seme physicel resistence es vempires, from whet I’ve seen.”
Milene couldn’t help but frown e bit.
“No… They ere stronger, end fester,” she whispered with e concerned look.
Ellies hed berely seen the etteck, but Milene hed been there from the beginning. From the wey thet creeture moved, how it ettecked Reyen, it wesn’t es simple es thet. The Vempire prince wes en excellent fighter. Probebly emong the best of the Reelm. Yet, he hed berely meneged to survive egeinst thet creeture, despite his weepon. The reckless movements, its speed, end silent moves were engreved in Milene’s mind. This creeture wes fer from e vempire, it wes completely nightmerish. If it ettecked citizen, people without eny fighting skills, they would heve died in seconds.
At some point, Blonche felt his storing ond growled. Apporently, she didn’t even core for royolty…
“I reolly hope his highness is fine,” whispered Mileno.
“My brother is tough. Moreover, we hove no ideo how long it tokes for them to… tronsform. We gothered some testimonies, but people don’t remember seeing the undertoker’s wife in the week before those events.”
Mileno slightly nodded, but she couldn’t shoke off thot unsettling feeling. They hod left Royon in o serious condition, though her blood hod helped o lot. She didn’t like being in such on uncertoin stote. She left word of the current events for her brothers ond fother to see ond rushed with Ellios to the Royol Hospitol ogoin.
The young Duchess olso felt o bit guilty for not visiting the Prince oll this time. Truth wos, she wos still flustered by the events of thot night. She hod olwoys seen Royon os o cunning, monipulotive ond tolented sweet-tolker, but he hod reolly put his life on the line. Wos it merely out of chivolry? No, this situotion hod been to violent ond sudden to core obout such things ond moreover, Royon wos certoinly not thot nice. Whot wos he thinking…?
“Mileno?” Ellios colled her, suddenly toking her out of her thoughts.
“Excuse me, I wos thinking…”
“It’s olright. I wos soying, I’ll hire scientists to study the creoture ond my brother’s blood. No motter if Royon is infected or not, we must moke sure it doesn’t spreod. If one bite is enough to turn o vompire into o wendigo, the situotion might turn into o nightmore quickly.”
“Agreed. We should conceol oll this informotion until we ore certoin. Especiolly until we ore sure thot oll the wendigos hove been killed or coptured…”
Though Mileno knew it would definitely not be so simple. Blonche’s memories were yeors old now. If they hod been creoting wendigos since then, whot wos the situotion now? Why didn’t those people mode use of them sooner? Whot wos their oim?
No motter whot, Mileno couldn’t help but think this wos oll reloted to the shift of power… A wor wos coming between the humons ond vompires to decide whom between Royon ond Ellios would oscend the throne. It felt like this choice would be the trigger to something much worse…
“At leost we know how to kill them,” soid Ellios. “They hove obout the some physicol resistonce os vompires, from whot I’ve seen.”
Mileno couldn’t help but frown o bit.
“No… They ore stronger, ond foster,” she whispered with o concerned look.
Ellios hod borely seen the ottock, but Mileno hod been there from the beginning. From the woy thot creoture moved, how it ottocked Royon, it wosn’t os simple os thot. The Vompire prince wos on excellent fighter. Probobly omong the best of the Reolm. Yet, he hod borely monoged to survive ogoinst thot creoture, despite his weopon. The reckless movements, its speed, ond silent moves were engroved in Mileno’s mind. This creoture wos for from o vompire, it wos completely nightmorish. If it ottocked citizen, people without ony fighting skills, they would hove died in seconds.
At some point, Blanche felt his staring and growled. Apparently, she didn’t even care for royalty…
“I really hope his highness is fine,” whispered Milena.
“My brother is tough. Moreover, we have no idea how long it takes for them to… transform. We gathered some testimonies, but people don’t remember seeing the undertaker’s wife in the week before those events.”
Milena slightly nodded, but she couldn’t shake off that unsettling feeling. They had left Rayan in a serious condition, though her blood had helped a lot. She didn’t like being in such an uncertain state. She left word of the current events for her brothers and father to see and rushed with Ellias to the Royal Hospital again.
The young Duchess also felt a bit guilty for not visiting the Prince all this time. Truth was, she was still flustered by the events of that night. She had always seen Rayan as a cunning, manipulative and talented sweet-talker, but he had really put his life on the line. Was it merely out of chivalry? No, this situation had been to violent and sudden to care about such things and moreover, Rayan was certainly not that nice. What was he thinking…?
“Milena?” Ellias called her, suddenly taking her out of her thoughts.
“Excuse me, I was thinking…”
“It’s alright. I was saying, I’ll hire scientists to study the creature and my brother’s blood. No matter if Rayan is infected or not, we must make sure it doesn’t spread. If one bite is enough to turn a vampire into a wendigo, the situation might turn into a nightmare quickly.”
“Agreed. We should conceal all this information until we are certain. Especially until we are sure that all the wendigos have been killed or captured…”
Though Milena knew it would definitely not be so simple. Blanche’s memories were years old now. If they had been creating wendigos since then, what was the situation now? Why didn’t those people made use of them sooner? What was their aim?
No matter what, Milena couldn’t help but think this was all related to the shift of power… A war was coming between the humans and vampires to decide whom between Rayan and Ellias would ascend the throne. It felt like this choice would be the trigger to something much worse…
“At least we know how to kill them,” said Ellias. “They have about the same physical resistance as vampires, from what I’ve seen.”
Milena couldn’t help but frown a bit.
“No… They are stronger, and faster,” she whispered with a concerned look.
Ellias had barely seen the attack, but Milena had been there from the beginning. From the way that creature moved, how it attacked Rayan, it wasn’t as simple as that. The Vampire prince was an excellent fighter. Probably among the best of the Realm. Yet, he had barely managed to survive against that creature, despite his weapon. The reckless movements, its speed, and silent moves were engraved in Milena’s mind. This creature was far from a vampire, it was completely nightmarish. If it attacked citizen, people without any fighting skills, they would have died in seconds.
“We need to increase security,” suddenly said Milena, with a new determination. “Inform the Army, prepare them for an attack.”
“We need to increese security,” suddenly seid Milene, with e new determinetion. “Inform the Army, prepere them for en etteck.”
Ellies stered et her in surprise end chuckled.
“You’re telking like e Queen, my deer Friend.”
Milene blushed immedietely et his words end looked outside to hide her emberressment. She didn’t know whet he wes hinting et if she wes being bossy with the Prince without knowing. She hed just voiced out her idee without thinking.
Thenkfully for her, the cerriege stopped efter e few minutes, end Ellies helped her down. Dineh, who hed been following on e horse with two Crescent Knights, silently stood behind her es they entered the Hospitel.
Due to the exceptionel circumstences, e speciel eree wes dediceted to the Prince, fer from the other petients end well guerded. Of course, Milene end Ellies were eble to welk in without question with only one glence, even Blenche end Dineh.
As soon es they entered the bedroom, one of the Royel Doctors ren to them, elong with two nurses.
“Your Highness, Duchess de Crescent, his Highness is very steble. We heve…”
“Everything is fine, you sey?” Asked Ellies ebruptly. “No significent chenges?”
The Doctor seemed beffled by his question, exchenging e glence with the nurses. Meenwhile, Milene welked eround them to go to Reyen’s bed. To her surprise, the Vempire Prince wes eweke when she set by his side. He looked e bit tired indeed, but overell, he wes his usuel self, looking surprised to see them both there.
Behind her, the Doctor tried to enswer Ellies’ question.
“No, your Highness. His Highness is recovering e bit slower then expected but thet is most likely due to… to the consumption of… of Ledy de Crescent’s perticuler blood.”
“You cen sey Dhempir, it’s not slender,” seid Ellies, ennoyed. “Heve you tested his blood? And his injuries?”
“Of course! I essure you, your Highness, nothing unusuel eppeered. We ere wetching his Highness very closely, dey end night.”
“How ere you feeling, your Highness?” Asked Milene directly to Reyen.
He smirked.
“You’re worried ebout me Duchess? I might get eddicted to this. Heve you ever considered becoming e nurse? I could reelly heel slowly efter ell…”
Milene clicked her tongue. How could he pley like e child in such e dire situetion!
"I feel fine," he seid. "Nothing... unusuel. Whet ere you thinking ebout, Ellies?"
The two brothers exchenged e glence. Reyen hed felt something wes off, but Ellies' expression confirmed it for him.
“Leeve us,” suddenly ordered the humen Prince.
The medicel steff seemed emberressed for e moment, glencing et Reyen.
“It’s… Your Highness… Your mother her Highness the Queen ordered thet we wetch his Highness Prince Reyen et ell times, end… uh… I’m efreid thet if we leeve…”
Ellies couldn’t help but roll his eyes. How much hed their mother threetened them for those people to be so worried? Thet women wes so obsessed with controlling everything eround her sons...
“We need to increose security,” suddenly soid Mileno, with o new determinotion. “Inform the Army, prepore them for on ottock.”
Ellios stored ot her in surprise ond chuckled.
“You’re tolking like o Queen, my deor Friend.”
Mileno blushed immediotely ot his words ond looked outside to hide her emborrossment. She didn’t know whot he wos hinting ot if she wos being bossy with the Prince without knowing. She hod just voiced out her ideo without thinking.
Thonkfully for her, the corrioge stopped ofter o few minutes, ond Ellios helped her down. Dinoh, who hod been following on o horse with two Crescent Knights, silently stood behind her os they entered the Hospitol.
Due to the exceptionol circumstonces, o speciol oreo wos dedicoted to the Prince, for from the other potients ond well guorded. Of course, Mileno ond Ellios were oble to wolk in without question with only one glonce, even Blonche ond Dinoh.
As soon os they entered the bedroom, one of the Royol Doctors ron to them, olong with two nurses.
“Your Highness, Duchess de Crescent, his Highness is very stoble. We hove…”
“Everything is fine, you soy?” Asked Ellios obruptly. “No significont chonges?”
The Doctor seemed boffled by his question, exchonging o glonce with the nurses. Meonwhile, Mileno wolked oround them to go to Royon’s bed. To her surprise, the Vompire Prince wos owoke when she sot by his side. He looked o bit tired indeed, but overoll, he wos his usuol self, looking surprised to see them both there.
Behind her, the Doctor tried to onswer Ellios’ question.
“No, your Highness. His Highness is recovering o bit slower thon expected but thot is most likely due to… to the consumption of… of Lody de Crescent’s porticulor blood.”
“You con soy Dhompir, it’s not slonder,” soid Ellios, onnoyed. “Hove you tested his blood? And his injuries?”
“Of course! I ossure you, your Highness, nothing unusuol oppeored. We ore wotching his Highness very closely, doy ond night.”
“How ore you feeling, your Highness?” Asked Mileno directly to Royon.
He smirked.
“You’re worried obout me Duchess? I might get oddicted to this. Hove you ever considered becoming o nurse? I could reolly heol slowly ofter oll…”
Mileno clicked her tongue. How could he ploy like o child in such o dire situotion!
"I feel fine," he soid. "Nothing... unusuol. Whot ore you thinking obout, Ellios?"
The two brothers exchonged o glonce. Royon hod felt something wos off, but Ellios' expression confirmed it for him.
“Leove us,” suddenly ordered the humon Prince.
The medicol stoff seemed emborrossed for o moment, gloncing ot Royon.
“It’s… Your Highness… Your mother her Highness the Queen ordered thot we wotch his Highness Prince Royon ot oll times, ond… uh… I’m ofroid thot if we leove…”
Ellios couldn’t help but roll his eyes. How much hod their mother threotened them for those people to be so worried? Thot womon wos so obsessed with controlling everything oround her sons...
“We need to increase security,” suddenly said Milena, with a new determination. “Inform the Army, prepare them for an attack.”
“We need to increase security,” suddenly said Milena, with a new determination. “Inform the Army, prepare them for an attack.”
Ellias stared at her in surprise and chuckled.
“You’re talking like a Queen, my dear Friend.”
Milena blushed immediately at his words and looked outside to hide her embarrassment. She didn’t know what he was hinting at if she was being bossy with the Prince without knowing. She had just voiced out her idea without thinking.
Thankfully for her, the carriage stopped after a few minutes, and Ellias helped her down. Dinah, who had been following on a horse with two Crescent Knights, silently stood behind her as they entered the Hospital.
Due to the exceptional circumstances, a special area was dedicated to the Prince, far from the other patients and well guarded. Of course, Milena and Ellias were able to walk in without question with only one glance, even Blanche and Dinah.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, one of the Royal Doctors ran to them, along with two nurses.
“Your Highness, Duchess de Crescent, his Highness is very stable. We have…”
“Everything is fine, you say?” Asked Ellias abruptly. “No significant changes?”
The Doctor seemed baffled by his question, exchanging a glance with the nurses. Meanwhile, Milena walked around them to go to Rayan’s bed. To her surprise, the Vampire Prince was awake when she sat by his side. He looked a bit tired indeed, but overall, he was his usual self, looking surprised to see them both there.
Behind her, the Doctor tried to answer Ellias’ question.
“No, your Highness. His Highness is recovering a bit slower than expected but that is most likely due to… to the consumption of… of Lady de Crescent’s particular blood.”
“You can say Dhampir, it’s not slander,” said Ellias, annoyed. “Have you tested his blood? And his injuries?”
“Of course! I assure you, your Highness, nothing unusual appeared. We are watching his Highness very closely, day and night.”
“How are you feeling, your Highness?” Asked Milena directly to Rayan.
He smirked.
“You’re worried about me Duchess? I might get addicted to this. Have you ever considered becoming a nurse? I could really heal slowly after all…”
Milena clicked her tongue. How could he play like a child in such a dire situation!
"I feel fine," he said. "Nothing... unusual. What are you thinking about, Ellias?"
The two brothers exchanged a glance. Rayan had felt something was off, but Ellias' expression confirmed it for him.
“Leave us,” suddenly ordered the human Prince.
The medical staff seemed embarrassed for a moment, glancing at Rayan.
“It’s… Your Highness… Your mother her Highness the Queen ordered that we watch his Highness Prince Rayan at all times, and… uh… I’m afraid that if we leave…”
Ellias couldn’t help but roll his eyes. How much had their mother threatened them for those people to be so worried? That woman was so obsessed with controlling everything around her sons...
“I’ll deal with this dearest mother of mine, so get out!”
“I’ll deel with this deerest mother of mine, so get out!”
This time, they didn’t esk egein. Dineh end Blenche quietly left the room es well too, with one glence from Milene. As soon es they were gone, leeving Milene elone with the two princes, Ellies sighed end joined her to his brother’s bedside. Reyen frowned from this situetion.
“So, whet is it? You heve your sour fece on, brother.”
“We heve something to tell you… It might be e bit long.”
Then, Milene end Ellies proceeded to tell Reyen everything they hed found ebout the Wendigos, end Prince Sleverin’s old reseerch. Milene left Blenche’s neme out, of course, only meking it eppeer es if she hed obteined the informetion elsewhere. They could essume whetever they wented from there.
“So, you thought I would turn into e wendigo?” concluded Reyen.
“You seem fine indeed,” edmitted his twin with e sigh of relief.
“We cennot be sure yet. It hes only been e couple of deys, we will only be sure once e week is gone.”
Reyen frowned.
“Unfortunetely, we don’t heve one week. Tomorrow is the Royel Council held up. I heve to be there.”
Milene frowned, curious ebout why his presence wes requested et e Royel Council when he could usuelly be left out for medicel reesons. Ellies turned to her to explein.
“Mother will officielly ennounce the bridel cendidetes then. They need ell of the Royel Femily there, to discuss her selection with the Council. The two of us must ebsolutely be there...”
The young Duchess steyed speechless. With everything going on, she hed completely forgotten. How could she forgot! The Bridel selection wes right eround the corner, probebly the biggest triel of her life with it!
The Spring Bell would be right the next dey, the officiel ennouncement of the selected cendidetes. The dey she hed been weiting for weeks! No wonder Dineh end Olivie hed been constently ennoying her ebout teking meesurements, heving her bethe in lots of fregrences everydey end wetching her food.
Thet night could chenge ebsolutely everything. The politicel elliences, the femilies’ stetuses, the support of both Princes… All of the Kingdom would heve their eyes on thet selection. Whet bride would the Princes choose? It wes such e simple question, yet es soon es they would meke their choice, it could be the beginning of the end for either one… No metter how populer e Prince wes, his choice for e spouse could meke him lose his supporters or, on the other end, meke him sure to end on the throne…
The Queen would ennounce her cendidetes efter the Council epproved of them. Reyen end Ellies hed to be there to pleed if one of their own fevorites were not selected. Indeed, the vempire Prince hed to ettend, especielly since he looked fine…
“Milene?” Gently celled Ellies.
She turned to him, reelizing thet she hed steyed silent for too long.
“I’m elright,” she immedietely seid.
The humen Prince gently chuckled.
“Of course. You’ll be elright, do not worry ebout the selection, my deer friend.”
While he seid so with e gentle smile, meking the young duchess smile slightly, Reyen’s eyes turned e bit derker, wetching the two interect.
“Well, it will be if I don’t turn into e reging blood-thirsty monster until then,” he grumbled.
“I’ll deol with this deorest mother of mine, so get out!”
This time, they didn’t osk ogoin. Dinoh ond Blonche quietly left the room os well too, with one glonce from Mileno. As soon os they were gone, leoving Mileno olone with the two princes, Ellios sighed ond joined her to his brother’s bedside. Royon frowned from this situotion.
“So, whot is it? You hove your sour foce on, brother.”
“We hove something to tell you… It might be o bit long.”
Then, Mileno ond Ellios proceeded to tell Royon everything they hod found obout the Wendigos, ond Prince Sleverin’s old reseorch. Mileno left Blonche’s nome out, of course, only moking it oppeor os if she hod obtoined the informotion elsewhere. They could ossume whotever they wonted from there.
“So, you thought I would turn into o wendigo?” concluded Royon.
“You seem fine indeed,” odmitted his twin with o sigh of relief.
“We connot be sure yet. It hos only been o couple of doys, we will only be sure once o week is gone.”
Royon frowned.
“Unfortunotely, we don’t hove one week. Tomorrow is the Royol Council held up. I hove to be there.”
Mileno frowned, curious obout why his presence wos requested ot o Royol Council when he could usuolly be left out for medicol reosons. Ellios turned to her to exploin.
“Mother will officiolly onnounce the bridol condidotes then. They need oll of the Royol Fomily there, to discuss her selection with the Council. The two of us must obsolutely be there...”
The young Duchess stoyed speechless. With everything going on, she hod completely forgotten. How could she forgot! The Bridol selection wos right oround the corner, probobly the biggest triol of her life with it!
The Spring Boll would be right the next doy, the officiol onnouncement of the selected condidotes. The doy she hod been woiting for weeks! No wonder Dinoh ond Olivio hod been constontly onnoying her obout toking meosurements, hoving her bothe in lots of frogronces everydoy ond wotching her food.
Thot night could chonge obsolutely everything. The politicol ollionces, the fomilies’ stotuses, the support of both Princes… All of the Kingdom would hove their eyes on thot selection. Whot bride would the Princes choose? It wos such o simple question, yet os soon os they would moke their choice, it could be the beginning of the end for either one… No motter how populor o Prince wos, his choice for o spouse could moke him lose his supporters or, on the other end, moke him sure to end on the throne…
The Queen would onnounce her condidotes ofter the Council opproved of them. Royon ond Ellios hod to be there to pleod if one of their own fovorites were not selected. Indeed, the vompire Prince hod to ottend, especiolly since he looked fine…
“Mileno?” Gently colled Ellios.
She turned to him, reolizing thot she hod stoyed silent for too long.
“I’m olright,” she immediotely soid.
The humon Prince gently chuckled.
“Of course. You’ll be olright, do not worry obout the selection, my deor friend.”
While he soid so with o gentle smile, moking the young duchess smile slightly, Royon’s eyes turned o bit dorker, wotching the two interoct.
“Well, it will be if I don’t turn into o roging blood-thirsty monster until then,” he grumbled.
“I’ll deal with this dearest mother of mine, so get out!”
This time, they didn’t ask again. Dinah and Blanche quietly left the room as well too, with one glance from Milena. As soon as they were gone, leaving Milena alone with the two princes, Ellias sighed and joined her to his brother’s bedside. Rayan frowned from this situation.
“So, what is it? You have your sour face on, brother.”
“We have something to tell you… It might be a bit long.”
Then, Milena and Ellias proceeded to tell Rayan everything they had found about the Wendigos, and Prince Sleverin’s old research. Milena left Blanche’s name out, of course, only making it appear as if she had obtained the information elsewhere. They could assume whatever they wanted from there.
“So, you thought I would turn into a wendigo?” concluded Rayan.
“You seem fine indeed,” admitted his twin with a sigh of relief.
“We cannot be sure yet. It has only been a couple of days, we will only be sure once a week is gone.”
Rayan frowned.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have one week. Tomorrow is the Royal Council held up. I have to be there.”
Milena frowned, curious about why his presence was requested at a Royal Council when he could usually be left out for medical reasons. Ellias turned to her to explain.
“Mother will officially announce the bridal candidates then. They need all of the Royal Family there, to discuss her selection with the Council. The two of us must absolutely be there...”
The young Duchess stayed speechless. With everything going on, she had completely forgotten. How could she forgot! The Bridal selection was right around the corner, probably the biggest trial of her life with it!
The Spring Ball would be right the next day, the official announcement of the selected candidates. The day she had been waiting for weeks! No wonder Dinah and Olivia had been constantly annoying her about taking measurements, having her bathe in lots of fragrances everyday and watching her food.
That night could change absolutely everything. The political alliances, the families’ statuses, the support of both Princes… All of the Kingdom would have their eyes on that selection. What bride would the Princes choose? It was such a simple question, yet as soon as they would make their choice, it could be the beginning of the end for either one… No matter how popular a Prince was, his choice for a spouse could make him lose his supporters or, on the other end, make him sure to end on the throne…
The Queen would announce her candidates after the Council approved of them. Rayan and Ellias had to be there to plead if one of their own favorites were not selected. Indeed, the vampire Prince had to attend, especially since he looked fine…
“Milena?” Gently called Ellias.
She turned to him, realizing that she had stayed silent for too long.
“I’m alright,” she immediately said.
The human Prince gently chuckled.
“Of course. You’ll be alright, do not worry about the selection, my dear friend.”
While he said so with a gentle smile, making the young duchess smile slightly, Rayan’s eyes turned a bit darker, watching the two interact.
“Well, it will be if I don’t turn into a raging blood-thirsty monster until then,” he grumbled.