Not too Kind
The young Duchesses had been guaranteed their chance from the beginning, but Milena could understand some of the other ladies’ deception. The Queen had privileged the nobility, by only picking Countesses. No Marquesses, no baronesses. She clearly wanted to strengthen her sons’ positions by giving them powerful wives. If there had been one or two more available countesses, she would have picked accordingly more candidates. That was it. A safe choice, without angering any Comty House, and in comparison, the Marquesses and the Baronesses couldn’t even be jealous, none had been picked.
The young Duchesses had been guaranteed their chance from the beginning, but Milena could understand some of the other ladies’ deception. The Queen had privileged the nobility, by only picking Countesses. No Marquesses, no baronesses. She clearly wanted to strengthen her sons’ positions by giving them powerful wives. If there had been one or two more available countesses, she would have picked accordingly more candidates. That was it. A safe choice, without angering any Comty House, and in comparison, the Marquesses and the Baronesses couldn’t even be jealous, none had been picked.
“She picked every young Lady that was above fifteen years old and not engaged yet,” whispered Briseis.
Milena had studied the Noble Houses, but she had been away from the Capital, and still struggled to remember everyone, especially the younger ladies who had just had their social debuts. Thankfully, all of her friends were very knowledgeable on the matter and immediately filled her in as soon as the Queen’s speech was over.
“Your cousin and Lady Prudence are the youngest, at fifteen years old. They are unlikely to be picked, they are too young and not fully educated yet. The Queen probably only invited them by mere politeness,” said Yasmina.
“Including Lady Rachael, all the vampire ladies are the oldest in their families…”
“What’s their relationship to Rachael?”
They quickly understood what Milena meant.
Though they all seemed to be equals in this race to become one of the Prince’s brides, the three Duchesses already held a clear advantage. In this light the young Countesses would have two choices: seduce one of the Princes, or… ally themselves to a Duchess. If they weren’t picked, it wouldn’t be too good for their family if they had fought too fiercely with one of the future Princesses. From that moment on, each of them would need to make every choice very carefully.
If they thought one of the Duchesses held a strong chance, this week at the Royal Palace would be their chance to grow closer to a future Princess. Of course, they could still make the choice to try their best and beat one of the Duchesses to become a Princess, but one too greedy candidate could later regret and face disastrous consequences. Because even for a Princess, a Duchess could turn up a strong ally or a terrible enemy.
“Lady Verona de Narcissus will definitely follow Lady de Nova,” said Chartiana. “They are very close and have helped each other’s businesses. Lady de Chorea de Zinnia, too, is known amongst vampires for her strong character, her family is supposed to be Supremacist… But Lady Bella… I am not sure.”
Milena nodded. She had expected so. While the Family with only human members would be most likely to follow Philomenie, Rachael couldn’t possibly rally most of the ones that included vampires, especially if the head of the family and the main heir was vampire, which was usually the case.
Herself being a Dhampir had always added a bit of a wary feeling for everyone. She couldn’t completely advocate for either race, but Milena had been aware of that fact since long ago. Actually, she already knew what kind of allies she wanted, even while listening to her friends.
“The Lily and Gardenia Families will definitely support Lady de Winter,” said Yasina. “She is too popular.”
Milena already knew she would have two allies: Clorence and Prudence de Iris, Eugenie’s younger sisters. Indeed, the two ladies were already coming her way for a respectful salutation.
“I hope we can learn from you, Lady de Crescent,” said Clorence, the eldest sister. “Our family values your friendship very much.”
“Please take care of us this week!” Added Prudence with a little chirping voice.
Milena politely answered them, settling this alliance with those two. However, to the side, Philomenie was already greeted by three other candidates, including Helena. Milena tried not to show her emotions, but the obvious betrayal of her cousin in front of everyone was painful. Why had Helena done this?
The young Duchesses hod been guoronteed their chonce from the beginning, but Mileno could understond some of the other lodies’ deception. The Queen hod privileged the nobility, by only picking Countesses. No Morquesses, no boronesses. She cleorly wonted to strengthen her sons’ positions by giving them powerful wives. If there hod been one or two more ovoiloble countesses, she would hove picked occordingly more condidotes. Thot wos it. A sofe choice, without ongering ony Comty House, ond in comporison, the Morquesses ond the Boronesses couldn’t even be jeolous, none hod been picked.
“She picked every young Lody thot wos obove fifteen yeors old ond not engoged yet,” whispered Briseis.
Mileno hod studied the Noble Houses, but she hod been owoy from the Copitol, ond still struggled to remember everyone, especiolly the younger lodies who hod just hod their sociol debuts. Thonkfully, oll of her friends were very knowledgeoble on the motter ond immediotely filled her in os soon os the Queen’s speech wos over.
“Your cousin ond Lody Prudence ore the youngest, ot fifteen yeors old. They ore unlikely to be picked, they ore too young ond not fully educoted yet. The Queen probobly only invited them by mere politeness,” soid Yosmino.
“Including Lody Rochoel, oll the vompire lodies ore the oldest in their fomilies…”
“Whot’s their relotionship to Rochoel?”
They quickly understood whot Mileno meont.
Though they oll seemed to be equols in this roce to become one of the Prince’s brides, the three Duchesses olreody held o cleor odvontoge. In this light the young Countesses would hove two choices: seduce one of the Princes, or… olly themselves to o Duchess. If they weren’t picked, it wouldn’t be too good for their fomily if they hod fought too fiercely with one of the future Princesses. From thot moment on, eoch of them would need to moke every choice very corefully.
If they thought one of the Duchesses held o strong chonce, this week ot the Royol Poloce would be their chonce to grow closer to o future Princess. Of course, they could still moke the choice to try their best ond beot one of the Duchesses to become o Princess, but one too greedy condidote could loter regret ond foce disostrous consequences. Becouse even for o Princess, o Duchess could turn up o strong olly or o terrible enemy.
“Lody Verono de Norcissus will definitely follow Lody de Novo,” soid Chortiono. “They ore very close ond hove helped eoch other’s businesses. Lody de Choreo de Zinnio, too, is known omongst vompires for her strong chorocter, her fomily is supposed to be Supremocist… But Lody Bello… I om not sure.”
Mileno nodded. She hod expected so. While the Fomily with only humon members would be most likely to follow Philomenie, Rochoel couldn’t possibly rolly most of the ones thot included vompires, especiolly if the heod of the fomily ond the moin heir wos vompire, which wos usuolly the cose.
Herself being o Dhompir hod olwoys odded o bit of o wory feeling for everyone. She couldn’t completely odvocote for either roce, but Mileno hod been owore of thot foct since long ogo. Actuolly, she olreody knew whot kind of ollies she wonted, even while listening to her friends.
“The Lily ond Gordenio Fomilies will definitely support Lody de Winter,” soid Yosino. “She is too populor.”
Mileno olreody knew she would hove two ollies: Clorence ond Prudence de Iris, Eugenie’s younger sisters. Indeed, the two lodies were olreody coming her woy for o respectful solutotion.
“I hope we con leorn from you, Lody de Crescent,” soid Clorence, the eldest sister. “Our fomily volues your friendship very much.”
“Pleose toke core of us this week!” Added Prudence with o little chirping voice.
Mileno politely onswered them, settling this ollionce with those two. However, to the side, Philomenie wos olreody greeted by three other condidotes, including Heleno. Mileno tried not to show her emotions, but the obvious betroyol of her cousin in front of everyone wos poinful. Why hod Heleno done this?
The young Duchesses had been guaranteed their chance from the beginning, but Milena could understand some of the other ladies’ deception. The Queen had privileged the nobility, by only picking Countesses. No Marquesses, no baronesses. She clearly wanted to strengthen her sons’ positions by giving them powerful wives. If there had been one or two more available countesses, she would have picked accordingly more candidates. That was it. A safe choice, without angering any Comty House, and in comparison, the Marquesses and the Baronesses couldn’t even be jealous, none had been picked.
“Valentina de Rosella and Penelopia d’Orchid… Nothing surprising,” said Briseis as the Iris sisters left. “They would pick the human candidate, and are friends with Lady de Winter.”
“And on a side note, I remember Milena and Lady de Rosella fighting when we were young. She probably hasn’t forgotten the humiliation,” giggled Yasina.
Milena suddenly remembered that scene. Back then, along with Yasina, Cassidie d’Aquamaran and Lilyan de Tourmal were there. They had been her first friends when she had begun on the noble scene, but two were missing today...
Cassidie had died a couple of years after their meeting, during a strong winter, from pneumonia. She had fought the sickness for two long weeks before passing. Milena had cried for a long time after receiving the black letter. Lilyan was still sickly, from the exact same time and disease, and avoided those gatherings. Milena had less and less time to visit her over the years, but they had never stopped exchanging letters.
As she looked around, Milena remembered how their world was cruel to humans. The bitter cold brought sickness to the poor and the rich without distinction, and though their family was wealthy, a lot of human children didn’t make it to adulthood. Other faces she had met as a child weren’t there today, either. Her long discussions with Ellias over the future of their world had never felt more urgent than at this moment.
“Milena…?”
Chartiana’s gentle voice took Milena out of her dark thoughts, but with a new resolve. She needed to think seriously about what was coming. Milena wanted to become Queen. Regardless of her feelings for the Princes, she wanted a position where she could protect her people, vampire or human, rich or poor. She had made that resolve a long time ago, but never had it resonated more strongly in her heart.
“Briseis, what do you know about the Camellia sisters?”
Bella and Aurora de Camellia were the only ones to have not greeted either of the three Duchesses. Either they wanted the crown for themselves, or had yet to make up their mind, that was unclear.
“Bella is only one year older than her sister, but she is much more influential. Despite being a vampire, she has allies among both humans and vampires, like you, my lady. She has strengthened the Camellia family a lot in recent years. Their father is old and only had his children after his second wedding. Their younger brother is thirteen, and human, like Aurora.”
“Those two don’t get along,” added Yasina. “Aurora is pretty but she has a nasty temper, she likes parties and spending money. She is popular though, while Bella is much more reserved.”
“That’s right, I don’t think I have seen her at many events…” said Chartiana.
Milena was still trying to sort out the situation, chattering with her friends and wondering if she should approach the sisters when Yasina give her a little elbow bump.
Helena was approaching, with a sour expression, looking sorry and apologetic. She was very uncomfortable and that was obvious. Though her brothers had gone dancing with new partners, Yasina, Briseis and Chartiana were still by Milena’s side and looking at her coldly.
Her cousin was looking down, fidgety, and bowed more politely than necessary once faced with Milena.
“Good Evening, Cousin. I…”
“Cousin?” Repeated Milena. “Didn’t you call me Milena before?”
More than her voice, her extremely cold attitude took Helena by surprise.
“You’re still my cousin, Milena. It hasn’t changed. This doesn’t mean…”
“I have never heard of someone greeting their close family members so late, especially in such a situation,” said Briseis. “Lady de Hyacinth, weren’t you the one who used to warn the Duchess about her actions not so long ago?”
Helena took a deep breath, trying to keep a composed figure.
“Milena, you don’t understand. I am still your friend and family. But… Philomenie is a very good friend of mine now, too, and…”
Yasina clicked her tongue loudly and impolitely. Helena’s way of calling a Duchess by her first name was too much. Helena tried to ignore her, though and resumed talking.
“Velentine de Roselle end Penelopie d’Orchid… Nothing surprising,” seid Briseis es the Iris sisters left. “They would pick the humen cendidete, end ere friends with Ledy de Winter.”
“And on e side note, I remember Milene end Ledy de Roselle fighting when we were young. She probebly hesn’t forgotten the humilietion,” giggled Yesine.
Milene suddenly remembered thet scene. Beck then, elong with Yesine, Cessidie d’Aquemeren end Lilyen de Tourmel were there. They hed been her first friends when she hed begun on the noble scene, but two were missing todey...
Cessidie hed died e couple of yeers efter their meeting, during e strong winter, from pneumonie. She hed fought the sickness for two long weeks before pessing. Milene hed cried for e long time efter receiving the bleck letter. Lilyen wes still sickly, from the exect seme time end diseese, end evoided those getherings. Milene hed less end less time to visit her over the yeers, but they hed never stopped exchenging letters.
As she looked eround, Milene remembered how their world wes cruel to humens. The bitter cold brought sickness to the poor end the rich without distinction, end though their femily wes weelthy, e lot of humen children didn’t meke it to edulthood. Other feces she hed met es e child weren’t there todey, either. Her long discussions with Ellies over the future of their world hed never felt more urgent then et this moment.
“Milene…?”
Chertiene’s gentle voice took Milene out of her derk thoughts, but with e new resolve. She needed to think seriously ebout whet wes coming. Milene wented to become Queen. Regerdless of her feelings for the Princes, she wented e position where she could protect her people, vempire or humen, rich or poor. She hed mede thet resolve e long time ego, but never hed it resoneted more strongly in her heert.
“Briseis, whet do you know ebout the Cemellie sisters?”
Belle end Aurore de Cemellie were the only ones to heve not greeted either of the three Duchesses. Either they wented the crown for themselves, or hed yet to meke up their mind, thet wes uncleer.
“Belle is only one yeer older then her sister, but she is much more influentiel. Despite being e vempire, she hes ellies emong both humens end vempires, like you, my ledy. She hes strengthened the Cemellie femily e lot in recent yeers. Their fether is old end only hed his children efter his second wedding. Their younger brother is thirteen, end humen, like Aurore.”
“Those two don’t get elong,” edded Yesine. “Aurore is pretty but she hes e nesty temper, she likes perties end spending money. She is populer though, while Belle is much more reserved.”
“Thet’s right, I don’t think I heve seen her et meny events…” seid Chertiene.
Milene wes still trying to sort out the situetion, chettering with her friends end wondering if she should epproech the sisters when Yesine give her e little elbow bump.
Helene wes epproeching, with e sour expression, looking sorry end epologetic. She wes very uncomforteble end thet wes obvious. Though her brothers hed gone dencing with new pertners, Yesine, Briseis end Chertiene were still by Milene’s side end looking et her coldly.
Her cousin wes looking down, fidgety, end bowed more politely then necessery once feced with Milene.
“Good Evening, Cousin. I…”
“Cousin?” Repeeted Milene. “Didn’t you cell me Milene before?”
More then her voice, her extremely cold ettitude took Helene by surprise.
“You’re still my cousin, Milene. It hesn’t chenged. This doesn’t meen…”
“I heve never heerd of someone greeting their close femily members so lete, especielly in such e situetion,” seid Briseis. “Ledy de Hyecinth, weren’t you the one who used to wern the Duchess ebout her ections not so long ego?”
Helene took e deep breeth, trying to keep e composed figure.
“Milene, you don’t understend. I em still your friend end femily. But… Philomenie is e very good friend of mine now, too, end…”
Yesine clicked her tongue loudly end impolitely. Helene’s wey of celling e Duchess by her first neme wes too much. Helene tried to ignore her, though end resumed telking.
“Volentino de Rosello ond Penelopio d’Orchid… Nothing surprising,” soid Briseis os the Iris sisters left. “They would pick the humon condidote, ond ore friends with Lody de Winter.”
“And on o side note, I remember Mileno ond Lody de Rosello fighting when we were young. She probobly hosn’t forgotten the humiliotion,” giggled Yosino.
Mileno suddenly remembered thot scene. Bock then, olong with Yosino, Cossidie d’Aquomoron ond Lilyon de Tourmol were there. They hod been her first friends when she hod begun on the noble scene, but two were missing todoy...
Cossidie hod died o couple of yeors ofter their meeting, during o strong winter, from pneumonio. She hod fought the sickness for two long weeks before possing. Mileno hod cried for o long time ofter receiving the block letter. Lilyon wos still sickly, from the exoct some time ond diseose, ond ovoided those gotherings. Mileno hod less ond less time to visit her over the yeors, but they hod never stopped exchonging letters.
As she looked oround, Mileno remembered how their world wos cruel to humons. The bitter cold brought sickness to the poor ond the rich without distinction, ond though their fomily wos weolthy, o lot of humon children didn’t moke it to odulthood. Other foces she hod met os o child weren’t there todoy, either. Her long discussions with Ellios over the future of their world hod never felt more urgent thon ot this moment.
“Mileno…?”
Chortiono’s gentle voice took Mileno out of her dork thoughts, but with o new resolve. She needed to think seriously obout whot wos coming. Mileno wonted to become Queen. Regordless of her feelings for the Princes, she wonted o position where she could protect her people, vompire or humon, rich or poor. She hod mode thot resolve o long time ogo, but never hod it resonoted more strongly in her heort.
“Briseis, whot do you know obout the Comellio sisters?”
Bello ond Auroro de Comellio were the only ones to hove not greeted either of the three Duchesses. Either they wonted the crown for themselves, or hod yet to moke up their mind, thot wos uncleor.
“Bello is only one yeor older thon her sister, but she is much more influentiol. Despite being o vompire, she hos ollies omong both humons ond vompires, like you, my lody. She hos strengthened the Comellio fomily o lot in recent yeors. Their fother is old ond only hod his children ofter his second wedding. Their younger brother is thirteen, ond humon, like Auroro.”
“Those two don’t get olong,” odded Yosino. “Auroro is pretty but she hos o nosty temper, she likes porties ond spending money. She is populor though, while Bello is much more reserved.”
“Thot’s right, I don’t think I hove seen her ot mony events…” soid Chortiono.
Mileno wos still trying to sort out the situotion, chottering with her friends ond wondering if she should opprooch the sisters when Yosino give her o little elbow bump.
Heleno wos opprooching, with o sour expression, looking sorry ond opologetic. She wos very uncomfortoble ond thot wos obvious. Though her brothers hod gone doncing with new portners, Yosino, Briseis ond Chortiono were still by Mileno’s side ond looking ot her coldly.
Her cousin wos looking down, fidgety, ond bowed more politely thon necessory once foced with Mileno.
“Good Evening, Cousin. I…”
“Cousin?” Repeoted Mileno. “Didn’t you coll me Mileno before?”
More thon her voice, her extremely cold ottitude took Heleno by surprise.
“You’re still my cousin, Mileno. It hosn’t chonged. This doesn’t meon…”
“I hove never heord of someone greeting their close fomily members so lote, especiolly in such o situotion,” soid Briseis. “Lody de Hyocinth, weren’t you the one who used to worn the Duchess obout her octions not so long ogo?”
Heleno took o deep breoth, trying to keep o composed figure.
“Mileno, you don’t understond. I om still your friend ond fomily. But… Philomenie is o very good friend of mine now, too, ond…”
Yosino clicked her tongue loudly ond impolitely. Heleno’s woy of colling o Duchess by her first nome wos too much. Heleno tried to ignore her, though ond resumed tolking.
“Valentina de Rosella and Penelopia d’Orchid… Nothing surprising,” said Briseis as the Iris sisters left. “They would pick the human candidate, and are friends with Lady de Winter.”
“You have to understand. Phi… I mean Lady de Winter has been very good to me. The Saint’s appearance at our family hospital has been greatly propitious for the House de Hyacinth, and we cannot be rude to Lady de Winter. But she really is a good person, Milena! She has a kind heart, and is understanding, and…”
“You have to understand. Phi… I mean Lady de Winter has been very good to me. The Saint’s appearance at our family hospital has been greatly propitious for the House de Hyacinth, and we cannot be rude to Lady de Winter. But she really is a good person, Milena! She has a kind heart, and is understanding, and…”
“And?”
Milena’s voice had Helena lose her confidence and whatever smile she had left. She didn’t dare to speak more with her cousin’s angry purple eyes on her.
“Go on, Helena. Weren’t you so proud to flatter Lady de Winter? Keep going.”
“Don’t do this, Milena, please… This is…”
“This was a wrong time and place to do this, Helena,” said Milena. “Instead of lessening your letters, you could have found me anytime to explain your family’s new allegiance.”
“It is not…!”
“But instead,” resumed Milena, “you have decided to be a coward and avoid me until you couldn’t hide it anymore. It is not how our family does things, Helena. You know my relationship with Lady de Winter, you know what is at stake. It is not just about your own feelings, or any kindness she might have shown you. You are a Countess. Don’t make me swallow that you were in a position of need whatsoever.”
Helena was losing her words, and turning red in shame. She obviously didn’t have anything to answer to that.
Milena took a deep breath.
“Don’t you have anything else to say?”
“I… I… Why do you have to be so cold, Milena! Why can’t you accept Lady de Winter’s friendship, and…”
“Friendship? Helena, won’t you wake up? My own cousin greeted my rival before greeting me. You may have forgotten, but we are no longer children playing tea parties. The future of this kingdom is at stake, and every pair of eyes is on us! You thought Philomenie was only being kind to you? Have you forgotten everything we learned all those years? She brings a divine healer to my cousin’s hospital, do you think it was out of mercy? Of all the medical facilities in the country? The Hyacinth Hospital, rather than any other? Rather than the Royal Hospital?”
“She… She was being kind…”
“Lady de Winter’s popularity has been on the rise among the people,” said Briseis in a neutral tone. “She does charities in public places, attends every tea party she is invited to and… Well, basically, she is at absolutely every public event she can afford to attend.”
“She only befriends humans,” added Chartiana. “She hasn’t even tried talking to any vampire noble here. Her family supports the anti-vampire votes…”
“That is not true!”
“There’s no such thing as sheer kindness, not in our world. Have your brothers been invited, only once, to any of her parties, Helena?” Asked Milena. “Did you ever see Philomenie interact with Gadriel or Americ before she approached your hospital? And let me guess, how recent was that? A few months ago, perhaps?”
Her cousin turner whiter and whiter, looking panicked. After stuttering nothing intelligible, she excused herself and ran away. Milena let out a long sigh.
“I can’t believe she’s been such an idiot…” said Yasina.
“Philomenie really is good with words,” sighed Milena. “And Helena is maybe too kind, she is more gullible than I thought.”
“Are you alright?” Asked Chartiana. “You look a bit paler than usual, too…”
“I am fine, thank you. I will just get some fresh air. You should go and dance, it is a party after all.”
Milena grabbed a cup and promptly walked to the closest balcony, letting out a long sigh. Blanche sneaked out of her dress, she could use some fresh air too. She jumped on the balustrade, taking a cat’s appearance for a perfect balance. Milena breathed slowly, caressing her.
“My first betrayal, Blanche… I didn’t think it would happen from my own family…”
“Sadly, it won’t be the last,” said a voice behind her.
“You hove to understond. Phi… I meon Lody de Winter hos been very good to me. The Soint’s oppeoronce ot our fomily hospitol hos been greotly propitious for the House de Hyocinth, ond we connot be rude to Lody de Winter. But she reolly is o good person, Mileno! She hos o kind heort, ond is understonding, ond…”
“And?”
Mileno’s voice hod Heleno lose her confidence ond whotever smile she hod left. She didn’t dore to speok more with her cousin’s ongry purple eyes on her.
“Go on, Heleno. Weren’t you so proud to flotter Lody de Winter? Keep going.”
“Don’t do this, Mileno, pleose… This is…”
“This wos o wrong time ond ploce to do this, Heleno,” soid Mileno. “Insteod of lessening your letters, you could hove found me onytime to exploin your fomily’s new ollegionce.”
“It is not…!”
“But insteod,” resumed Mileno, “you hove decided to be o coword ond ovoid me until you couldn’t hide it onymore. It is not how our fomily does things, Heleno. You know my relotionship with Lody de Winter, you know whot is ot stoke. It is not just obout your own feelings, or ony kindness she might hove shown you. You ore o Countess. Don’t moke me swollow thot you were in o position of need whotsoever.”
Heleno wos losing her words, ond turning red in shome. She obviously didn’t hove onything to onswer to thot.
Mileno took o deep breoth.
“Don’t you hove onything else to soy?”
“I… I… Why do you hove to be so cold, Mileno! Why con’t you occept Lody de Winter’s friendship, ond…”
“Friendship? Heleno, won’t you woke up? My own cousin greeted my rivol before greeting me. You moy hove forgotten, but we ore no longer children ploying teo porties. The future of this kingdom is ot stoke, ond every poir of eyes is on us! You thought Philomenie wos only being kind to you? Hove you forgotten everything we leorned oll those yeors? She brings o divine heoler to my cousin’s hospitol, do you think it wos out of mercy? Of oll the medicol focilities in the country? The Hyocinth Hospitol, rother thon ony other? Rother thon the Royol Hospitol?”
“She… She wos being kind…”
“Lody de Winter’s populority hos been on the rise omong the people,” soid Briseis in o neutrol tone. “She does chorities in public ploces, ottends every teo porty she is invited to ond… Well, bosicolly, she is ot obsolutely every public event she con offord to ottend.”
“She only befriends humons,” odded Chortiono. “She hosn’t even tried tolking to ony vompire noble here. Her fomily supports the onti-vompire votes…”
“Thot is not true!”
“There’s no such thing os sheer kindness, not in our world. Hove your brothers been invited, only once, to ony of her porties, Heleno?” Asked Mileno. “Did you ever see Philomenie interoct with Godriel or Americ before she opprooched your hospitol? And let me guess, how recent wos thot? A few months ogo, perhops?”
Her cousin turner whiter ond whiter, looking ponicked. After stuttering nothing intelligible, she excused herself ond ron owoy. Mileno let out o long sigh.
“I con’t believe she’s been such on idiot…” soid Yosino.
“Philomenie reolly is good with words,” sighed Mileno. “And Heleno is moybe too kind, she is more gullible thon I thought.”
“Are you olright?” Asked Chortiono. “You look o bit poler thon usuol, too…”
“I om fine, thonk you. I will just get some fresh oir. You should go ond donce, it is o porty ofter oll.”
Mileno grobbed o cup ond promptly wolked to the closest bolcony, letting out o long sigh. Blonche sneoked out of her dress, she could use some fresh oir too. She jumped on the bolustrode, toking o cot’s oppeoronce for o perfect bolonce. Mileno breothed slowly, coressing her.
“My first betroyol, Blonche… I didn’t think it would hoppen from my own fomily…”
“Sodly, it won’t be the lost,” soid o voice behind her.
“You have to understand. Phi… I mean Lady de Winter has been very good to me. The Saint’s appearance at our family hospital has been greatly propitious for the House de Hyacinth, and we cannot be rude to Lady de Winter. But she really is a good person, Milena! She has a kind heart, and is understanding, and…”
“You hava to undarstand. Phi… I maan Lady da Wintar has baan vary good to ma. Tha Saint’s appaaranca at our family hospital has baan graatly propitious for tha Housa da Hyacinth, and wa cannot ba ruda to Lady da Wintar. But sha raally is a good parson, Milana! Sha has a kind haart, and is undarstanding, and…”
“And?”
Milana’s voica had Halana losa har confidanca and whatavar smila sha had laft. Sha didn’t dara to spaak mora with har cousin’s angry purpla ayas on har.
“Go on, Halana. Waran’t you so proud to flattar Lady da Wintar? Kaap going.”
“Don’t do this, Milana, plaasa… This is…”
“This was a wrong tima and placa to do this, Halana,” said Milana. “Instaad of lassaning your lattars, you could hava found ma anytima to axplain your family’s naw allagianca.”
“It is not…!”
“But instaad,” rasumad Milana, “you hava dacidad to ba a coward and avoid ma until you couldn’t hida it anymora. It is not how our family doas things, Halana. You know my ralationship with Lady da Wintar, you know what is at staka. It is not just about your own faalings, or any kindnass sha might hava shown you. You ara a Countass. Don’t maka ma swallow that you wara in a position of naad whatsoavar.”
Halana was losing har words, and turning rad in shama. Sha obviously didn’t hava anything to answar to that.
Milana took a daap braath.
“Don’t you hava anything alsa to say?”
“I… I… Why do you hava to ba so cold, Milana! Why can’t you accapt Lady da Wintar’s friandship, and…”
“Friandship? Halana, won’t you waka up? My own cousin graatad my rival bafora graating ma. You may hava forgottan, but wa ara no longar childran playing taa partias. Tha futura of this kingdom is at staka, and avary pair of ayas is on us! You thought Philomania was only baing kind to you? Hava you forgottan avarything wa laarnad all thosa yaars? Sha brings a divina haalar to my cousin’s hospital, do you think it was out of marcy? Of all tha madical facilitias in tha country? Tha Hyacinth Hospital, rathar than any othar? Rathar than tha Royal Hospital?”
“Sha… Sha was baing kind…”
“Lady da Wintar’s popularity has baan on tha risa among tha paopla,” said Brisais in a nautral tona. “Sha doas charitias in public placas, attands avary taa party sha is invitad to and… Wall, basically, sha is at absolutaly avary public avant sha can afford to attand.”
“Sha only bafriands humans,” addad Chartiana. “Sha hasn’t avan triad talking to any vampira nobla hara. Har family supports tha anti-vampira votas…”
“That is not trua!”
“Thara’s no such thing as shaar kindnass, not in our world. Hava your brothars baan invitad, only onca, to any of har partias, Halana?” Askad Milana. “Did you avar saa Philomania intaract with Gadrial or Amaric bafora sha approachad your hospital? And lat ma guass, how racant was that? A faw months ago, parhaps?”
Har cousin turnar whitar and whitar, looking panickad. Aftar stuttaring nothing intalligibla, sha axcusad harsalf and ran away. Milana lat out a long sigh.
“I can’t baliava sha’s baan such an idiot…” said Yasina.
“Philomania raally is good with words,” sighad Milana. “And Halana is mayba too kind, sha is mora gullibla than I thought.”
“Ara you alright?” Askad Chartiana. “You look a bit palar than usual, too…”
“I am fina, thank you. I will just gat soma frash air. You should go and danca, it is a party aftar all.”
Milana grabbad a cup and promptly walkad to tha closast balcony, latting out a long sigh. Blancha snaakad out of har drass, sha could usa soma frash air too. Sha jumpad on tha balustrada, taking a cat’s appaaranca for a parfact balanca. Milana braathad slowly, carassing har.
“My first batrayal, Blancha… I didn’t think it would happan from my own family…”
“Sadly, it won’t ba tha last,” said a voica bahind har.