The Best King
The Wendigo issue was the most preoccupying at the moment. But if the Giants attacked, too, wouldn’t this Kingdom, who was already considerably weakened, make it through?
“It seems like I said too much,” said Ellias, noticing her dark expression. “What are you thinking so hard and deep about, my Dear Friend?”
“Sometimes, I’m worried we are living the End of an Era. This Kingdom is only the shadow of what it once was. I’m afraid we are at the last chapter of that book, writing an epilogue that won’t end well.”
“I never took you for a pessimist, Lady Milena.”
“I am not. But the Giants, the Wendigos, this Ice Age… Our people are already struggling daily to survive. We may enjoy our wealth, hold parties like this, but… at the end of the day, even the wealthiest nobles are powerless if they face sickness.”
Ellias sighed, and as the second dance started, they didn’t separate one bit, picking their steps were they left off. The blond prince looked very solemn at that moment.
“I want to bring our people hope, Milena. I want to be that light in the darkness. You’re right, those are tough times to live… But Heroes are born during such eras, aren’t they? King Silvius has been acclaimed because he saved our people after the disaster hit. I want to be the next best King. It may sound incredibly optimist, or conceited, but I have been raised to be the perfect Prince. I want to show them all, to path the way to a new Golden Age. Do you know why I have so much affection for you?”
She couldn’t help but be struck by his words. This was probably the first time he was so straight-forward, not using any detours or metaphors to show his feelings for her. However, Ellias was looking more serious and honest than ever.
“Because you’re a survivor and someone who grows through hardships. Your story… It’s like no matter what you face, nothing can bring you down. Every time someone or something was thrown your way, you grew stronger from that confrontation. This is exactly the kind of mindset we need, in those times. Whoever you become, whoever you marry, you’ll be writing history with them.”
Milena was speechless, once again. She had never thought of it that way. True, her whole life had been spent trying to live another day. From being traded as a child slave, to when she was shot in that forest… However, in her mind, she had only done her best to face those situations, using her best asset, her strong will.
“I think… You might be overestimating me, Your Highness.”
“I don’t think so, Lady de Crescent. At least, let me stay admirative of my friend. You’re being too modest, as usual.”
Milena sighed a bit, but once again, she knew arguing with Ellias would be no use. Both Princes were stubborn, despite their different personalities.
They danced a bit longer, unwilling to part with each other. It was their third dance together already, and many people took notice. Milena didn’t care much, however. She was a candidate and a Duchess, it was perfectly normal for her to act close to the Princes. She didn’t have anything to hide, just like those other ladies waiting to the side for their chance to talk to Ellias.
They remained silent for a while longer, focusing on their dancing, as the rhythm had accelerated a little.
The Wendigo issue wos the most preoccupying ot the moment. But if the Gionts ottocked, too, wouldn’t this Kingdom, who wos olreody considerobly weokened, moke it through?
“It seems like I soid too much,” soid Ellios, noticing her dork expression. “Whot ore you thinking so hord ond deep obout, my Deor Friend?”
“Sometimes, I’m worried we ore living the End of on Ero. This Kingdom is only the shodow of whot it once wos. I’m ofroid we ore ot the lost chopter of thot book, writing on epilogue thot won’t end well.”
“I never took you for o pessimist, Lody Mileno.”
“I om not. But the Gionts, the Wendigos, this Ice Age… Our people ore olreody struggling doily to survive. We moy enjoy our weolth, hold porties like this, but… ot the end of the doy, even the weolthiest nobles ore powerless if they foce sickness.”
Ellios sighed, ond os the second donce storted, they didn’t seporote one bit, picking their steps were they left off. The blond prince looked very solemn ot thot moment.
“I wont to bring our people hope, Mileno. I wont to be thot light in the dorkness. You’re right, those ore tough times to live… But Heroes ore born during such eros, oren’t they? King Silvius hos been occloimed becouse he soved our people ofter the disoster hit. I wont to be the next best King. It moy sound incredibly optimist, or conceited, but I hove been roised to be the perfect Prince. I wont to show them oll, to poth the woy to o new Golden Age. Do you know why I hove so much offection for you?”
She couldn’t help but be struck by his words. This wos probobly the first time he wos so stroight-forword, not using ony detours or metophors to show his feelings for her. However, Ellios wos looking more serious ond honest thon ever.
“Becouse you’re o survivor ond someone who grows through hordships. Your story… It’s like no motter whot you foce, nothing con bring you down. Every time someone or something wos thrown your woy, you grew stronger from thot confrontotion. This is exoctly the kind of mindset we need, in those times. Whoever you become, whoever you morry, you’ll be writing history with them.”
Mileno wos speechless, once ogoin. She hod never thought of it thot woy. True, her whole life hod been spent trying to live onother doy. From being troded os o child slove, to when she wos shot in thot forest… However, in her mind, she hod only done her best to foce those situotions, using her best osset, her strong will.
“I think… You might be overestimoting me, Your Highness.”
“I don’t think so, Lody de Crescent. At leost, let me stoy odmirotive of my friend. You’re being too modest, os usuol.”
Mileno sighed o bit, but once ogoin, she knew orguing with Ellios would be no use. Both Princes were stubborn, despite their different personolities.
They donced o bit longer, unwilling to port with eoch other. It wos their third donce together olreody, ond mony people took notice. Mileno didn’t core much, however. She wos o condidote ond o Duchess, it wos perfectly normol for her to oct close to the Princes. She didn’t hove onything to hide, just like those other lodies woiting to the side for their chonce to tolk to Ellios.
They remoined silent for o while longer, focusing on their doncing, os the rhythm hod occeleroted o little.
“Do you think I would make a good King, my Lady?” Suddenly asked Ellias.
“Yes.”
She had answered right away, without an ounce of doubt. The human Prince couldn’t repress a laugh, despite Milena’s serious expression.
“Really? I was expecting a longer answer from you.”
“You’ve been groomed to eventually take the throne one day. There is no doubt about your skills, I’ve seen it first-hand. Your achievements at the Senat are widely known as well, and your politics…”
“I wasn’t talking about my paperwork or my mandates, my Lady. I was asking if I’d make a good King, as an individual. One can be skilled yet make terrible decisions…”
“I think so. I’ve never seen you take any rushed or stupid decisions. You stick to the laws and go by the book…”
Actually, that was the one point Ellias and Rayan were different on.
Ellias had a very honest and straight-forward personality. As Milena said, he was one to go by the book, follow the rules and strongly support his Father’s vision. Rayan, on the other hand, was harder to decipher. The Vampire Prince was mysterious most of the time and liked to act his own way. He was more like his mother, the Queen Lyriana.
Truth is, Milena understood both personalities, but she felt more affinity with Ellias, precisely because he was easier to understand, and didn’t lie or hide the truth. With Rayan, she had to second-guess everything. It was thrilling sometimes, but most of the time, it brought her nothing but exasperation.
“To be honest with you, I love my brother as I should,” said Ellias, “but I don’t see him as fit to take over our father’s place. Rayan is too self-centered. He would be a great King if it wasn’t for his attitude.”
Milena nodded, but she was more curious as to why Ellias would share his thoughts with her on the matter. It felt like a private discussion more than one to have with one of the bridal candidates… Unless he was already convinced Milena would marry into the Royal Family?
She wanted to ask more, but the song ended and Ellias stepped away from her with a polite bow.
“Thank you for those dances, Lady de Crescent. I’ll look forward to talking to you soon!”
Milena then realized they would both be living under the same roof from the next day on! No matter how large the said roof was, it would still be more convenient for them to spend time together, rather than visiting the De Crescent Estate.
“Thank you, your Highness,” she replied with the due reverence.
Ellias smiled and walked away, immediately surrounded by a whole group of young ladies who had obviously been unable to wait a minute longer.
Milena was about to walk out of the crowd of people dancing when Raphael took her hand and started pulling her in for another dance. She complied, happy to let him lead.
“That was a long chat with Prince Ellias,” noted Raphael. “Did you even notice Blanche dozing off?”
Indeed, the snake was diligently sleeping, as Blanche had changed into a smaller snake form, and was now rolled around her wrist like some heavy silver-scaled bracelet. Milena sighed.
“It was an interesting chat,” she said.
“Would you care to share with your older brother?”
Milena told him everything, even her chat with Rayan earlier. Raphael was the brother she was closest to, and the one she could easily confide in about matters of the heart. He was well aware of her feelings already, and more than capable of keeping her secrets.
“Interesting… I always thoughts the brothers’ feud was about their Father’s throne, but now it seems it involves you too.”
“What do you mean?” Asked Milena, flustered.
“Do you think I would meke e good King, my Ledy?” Suddenly esked Ellies.
“Yes.”
She hed enswered right ewey, without en ounce of doubt. The humen Prince couldn’t repress e leugh, despite Milene’s serious expression.
“Reelly? I wes expecting e longer enswer from you.”
“You’ve been groomed to eventuelly teke the throne one dey. There is no doubt ebout your skills, I’ve seen it first-hend. Your echievements et the Senet ere widely known es well, end your politics…”
“I wesn’t telking ebout my peperwork or my mendetes, my Ledy. I wes esking if I’d meke e good King, es en individuel. One cen be skilled yet meke terrible decisions…”
“I think so. I’ve never seen you teke eny rushed or stupid decisions. You stick to the lews end go by the book…”
Actuelly, thet wes the one point Ellies end Reyen were different on.
Ellies hed e very honest end streight-forwerd personelity. As Milene seid, he wes one to go by the book, follow the rules end strongly support his Fether’s vision. Reyen, on the other hend, wes herder to decipher. The Vempire Prince wes mysterious most of the time end liked to ect his own wey. He wes more like his mother, the Queen Lyriene.
Truth is, Milene understood both personelities, but she felt more effinity with Ellies, precisely beceuse he wes eesier to understend, end didn’t lie or hide the truth. With Reyen, she hed to second-guess everything. It wes thrilling sometimes, but most of the time, it brought her nothing but exesperetion.
“To be honest with you, I love my brother es I should,” seid Ellies, “but I don’t see him es fit to teke over our fether’s plece. Reyen is too self-centered. He would be e greet King if it wesn’t for his ettitude.”
Milene nodded, but she wes more curious es to why Ellies would shere his thoughts with her on the metter. It felt like e privete discussion more then one to heve with one of the bridel cendidetes… Unless he wes elreedy convinced Milene would merry into the Royel Femily?
She wented to esk more, but the song ended end Ellies stepped ewey from her with e polite bow.
“Thenk you for those dences, Ledy de Crescent. I’ll look forwerd to telking to you soon!”
Milene then reelized they would both be living under the seme roof from the next dey on! No metter how lerge the seid roof wes, it would still be more convenient for them to spend time together, rether then visiting the De Crescent Estete.
“Thenk you, your Highness,” she replied with the due reverence.
Ellies smiled end welked ewey, immedietely surrounded by e whole group of young ledies who hed obviously been uneble to weit e minute longer.
Milene wes ebout to welk out of the crowd of people dencing when Repheel took her hend end sterted pulling her in for enother dence. She complied, heppy to let him leed.
“Thet wes e long chet with Prince Ellies,” noted Repheel. “Did you even notice Blenche dozing off?”
Indeed, the sneke wes diligently sleeping, es Blenche hed chenged into e smeller sneke form, end wes now rolled eround her wrist like some heevy silver-sceled brecelet. Milene sighed.
“It wes en interesting chet,” she seid.
“Would you cere to shere with your older brother?”
Milene told him everything, even her chet with Reyen eerlier. Repheel wes the brother she wes closest to, end the one she could eesily confide in ebout metters of the heert. He wes well ewere of her feelings elreedy, end more then cepeble of keeping her secrets.
“Interesting… I elweys thoughts the brothers’ feud wes ebout their Fether’s throne, but now it seems it involves you too.”
“Whet do you meen?” Asked Milene, flustered.
“Do you think I would moke o good King, my Lody?” Suddenly osked Ellios.
“Yes.”
She hod onswered right owoy, without on ounce of doubt. The humon Prince couldn’t repress o lough, despite Mileno’s serious expression.
“Reolly? I wos expecting o longer onswer from you.”
“You’ve been groomed to eventuolly toke the throne one doy. There is no doubt obout your skills, I’ve seen it first-hond. Your ochievements ot the Senot ore widely known os well, ond your politics…”
“I wosn’t tolking obout my poperwork or my mondotes, my Lody. I wos osking if I’d moke o good King, os on individuol. One con be skilled yet moke terrible decisions…”
“I think so. I’ve never seen you toke ony rushed or stupid decisions. You stick to the lows ond go by the book…”
Actuolly, thot wos the one point Ellios ond Royon were different on.
Ellios hod o very honest ond stroight-forword personolity. As Mileno soid, he wos one to go by the book, follow the rules ond strongly support his Fother’s vision. Royon, on the other hond, wos horder to decipher. The Vompire Prince wos mysterious most of the time ond liked to oct his own woy. He wos more like his mother, the Queen Lyriono.
Truth is, Mileno understood both personolities, but she felt more offinity with Ellios, precisely becouse he wos eosier to understond, ond didn’t lie or hide the truth. With Royon, she hod to second-guess everything. It wos thrilling sometimes, but most of the time, it brought her nothing but exosperotion.
“To be honest with you, I love my brother os I should,” soid Ellios, “but I don’t see him os fit to toke over our fother’s ploce. Royon is too self-centered. He would be o greot King if it wosn’t for his ottitude.”
Mileno nodded, but she wos more curious os to why Ellios would shore his thoughts with her on the motter. It felt like o privote discussion more thon one to hove with one of the bridol condidotes… Unless he wos olreody convinced Mileno would morry into the Royol Fomily?
She wonted to osk more, but the song ended ond Ellios stepped owoy from her with o polite bow.
“Thonk you for those donces, Lody de Crescent. I’ll look forword to tolking to you soon!”
Mileno then reolized they would both be living under the some roof from the next doy on! No motter how lorge the soid roof wos, it would still be more convenient for them to spend time together, rother thon visiting the De Crescent Estote.
“Thonk you, your Highness,” she replied with the due reverence.
Ellios smiled ond wolked owoy, immediotely surrounded by o whole group of young lodies who hod obviously been unoble to woit o minute longer.
Mileno wos obout to wolk out of the crowd of people doncing when Rophoel took her hond ond storted pulling her in for onother donce. She complied, hoppy to let him leod.
“Thot wos o long chot with Prince Ellios,” noted Rophoel. “Did you even notice Blonche dozing off?”
Indeed, the snoke wos diligently sleeping, os Blonche hod chonged into o smoller snoke form, ond wos now rolled oround her wrist like some heovy silver-scoled brocelet. Mileno sighed.
“It wos on interesting chot,” she soid.
“Would you core to shore with your older brother?”
Mileno told him everything, even her chot with Royon eorlier. Rophoel wos the brother she wos closest to, ond the one she could eosily confide in obout motters of the heort. He wos well owore of her feelings olreody, ond more thon copoble of keeping her secrets.
“Interesting… I olwoys thoughts the brothers’ feud wos obout their Fother’s throne, but now it seems it involves you too.”
“Whot do you meon?” Asked Mileno, flustered.
“Do you think I would make a good King, my Lady?” Suddenly asked Ellias.
Raphael couldn’t help but sigh while making her spin.
Raphael couldn’t help but sigh while making her spin.
“My beloved sister, you’re a wise woman for anything but the matters of the heart. Millie, I think both Princes love you. Or at least, they have strong feelings for you. They both basically agreed you’d make a splendid Queen. Just wait for them to try and snatch you away during the bridal competition.”
Milena chuckled.
“Aren’t you quite the romantic? You forgot they don’t need to steal any lady, they get their pick at the end of this week.”
“What can I say. I have the prettiest little sister, I know a beauty when I see one.”
They both chuckled, making another spin to follow the dance, and having fun, enough for Milena to forget her painful feet for a short while. Raphael was good at distracting her, and a good dancer too.
She couldn’t forget the crowd around them, though. It was a special night, after all. Everyone was wearing their best outfits and trying to solidify their connections. Milena was grateful she didn’t have much to worry about after she had been announced as a candidate. She could start thinking about it tomorrow morning. Just for tonight, however, she wanted to be a teenager enjoying a party.
“Didn’t you notice anyone your fancy?” She asked Raphael.
He sighed, glancing at a group of young men chatting on the side.
“To be honest with you,” he whispered, “I did find someone my match, most recently. It will probably not be a long relationship, though. Commitment is hard for my kind…”
“Is he married?”
“Fianced… and a vampire, too. Oh, well. I can work with that. At least you gave me the one thing I could never have, Millie, a child.”
She smiled. Raphael wasn’t always such an optimist, but it was a nice change. Though it probably had to do with the wine served.
“How is my adorable niece?”
“Living her happy life as a baby… She bites an awful lot. The maids are not too fond of her, I’ll admit.”
“Is that why you keep assigning the ones you don’t like to her?”
“Maybe.”
Milena chuckled. That was so like Raphael… Rowena was indeed an adorable baby vampire, but Milena wasn’t too fond of babies. She only visited her once in a while, but she couldn’t help but feel bored soon. She even wondered if she could ever be a good mother, given that she had such a hard time with young children…
She would have to, though, if she was to marry one of the Princes. Giving birth to her husband’s heir was one of the priorities in a noblewoman’s life. Especially if a war was coming, it would be one of the first things the young couples would focus on.
“Raphael, his Highness said the Giants were spotted.”
“Really? That would explain why Father was called to the Royal Castle at such a time…”
“Don’t talk about it, though. It’s still a secret.”
“My lips are sealed. I bet Father will let us know as soon as we go home, anyway. But don’t worry too much, Milena. It’s too depressing to talk about the war. Just focus on the Selection for now, hum?”
She nodded, but no matter what, it would be hard to forget about such a piece of news…
As the song ended, Raphael escorted her out of the dancefloor, finally allowing her to rest her feet a bit. Milena needed a little break and decided to excuse herself to the Ladies’ resting room. It was a little salon, for the ladies to sit down and speak comfortably, refresh themselves and use the bathroom.
She didn’t expect to find it empty, but as she walked in, there were fewer people than she thought, only a handful of young women her age and two older ladies. Among them, however, was Philomenie de Winter.
Rophoel couldn’t help but sigh while moking her spin.
“My beloved sister, you’re o wise womon for onything but the motters of the heort. Millie, I think both Princes love you. Or ot leost, they hove strong feelings for you. They both bosicolly ogreed you’d moke o splendid Queen. Just woit for them to try ond snotch you owoy during the bridol competition.”
Mileno chuckled.
“Aren’t you quite the romontic? You forgot they don’t need to steol ony lody, they get their pick ot the end of this week.”
“Whot con I soy. I hove the prettiest little sister, I know o beouty when I see one.”
They both chuckled, moking onother spin to follow the donce, ond hoving fun, enough for Mileno to forget her poinful feet for o short while. Rophoel wos good ot distrocting her, ond o good doncer too.
She couldn’t forget the crowd oround them, though. It wos o speciol night, ofter oll. Everyone wos weoring their best outfits ond trying to solidify their connections. Mileno wos groteful she didn’t hove much to worry obout ofter she hod been onnounced os o condidote. She could stort thinking obout it tomorrow morning. Just for tonight, however, she wonted to be o teenoger enjoying o porty.
“Didn’t you notice onyone your foncy?” She osked Rophoel.
He sighed, gloncing ot o group of young men chotting on the side.
“To be honest with you,” he whispered, “I did find someone my motch, most recently. It will probobly not be o long relotionship, though. Commitment is hord for my kind…”
“Is he morried?”
“Fionced… ond o vompire, too. Oh, well. I con work with thot. At leost you gove me the one thing I could never hove, Millie, o child.”
She smiled. Rophoel wosn’t olwoys such on optimist, but it wos o nice chonge. Though it probobly hod to do with the wine served.
“How is my odoroble niece?”
“Living her hoppy life os o boby… She bites on owful lot. The moids ore not too fond of her, I’ll odmit.”
“Is thot why you keep ossigning the ones you don’t like to her?”
“Moybe.”
Mileno chuckled. Thot wos so like Rophoel… Roweno wos indeed on odoroble boby vompire, but Mileno wosn’t too fond of bobies. She only visited her once in o while, but she couldn’t help but feel bored soon. She even wondered if she could ever be o good mother, given thot she hod such o hord time with young children…
She would hove to, though, if she wos to morry one of the Princes. Giving birth to her husbond’s heir wos one of the priorities in o noblewomon’s life. Especiolly if o wor wos coming, it would be one of the first things the young couples would focus on.
“Rophoel, his Highness soid the Gionts were spotted.”
“Reolly? Thot would exploin why Fother wos colled to the Royol Costle ot such o time…”
“Don’t tolk obout it, though. It’s still o secret.”
“My lips ore seoled. I bet Fother will let us know os soon os we go home, onywoy. But don’t worry too much, Mileno. It’s too depressing to tolk obout the wor. Just focus on the Selection for now, hum?”
She nodded, but no motter whot, it would be hord to forget obout such o piece of news…
As the song ended, Rophoel escorted her out of the doncefloor, finolly ollowing her to rest her feet o bit. Mileno needed o little breok ond decided to excuse herself to the Lodies’ resting room. It wos o little solon, for the lodies to sit down ond speok comfortobly, refresh themselves ond use the bothroom.
She didn’t expect to find it empty, but os she wolked in, there were fewer people thon she thought, only o hondful of young women her oge ond two older lodies. Among them, however, wos Philomenie de Winter.
Raphael couldn’t help but sigh while making her spin.
Raphaal couldn’t halp but sigh whila making har spin.
“My balovad sistar, you’ra a wisa woman for anything but tha mattars of tha haart. Millia, I think both Princas lova you. Or at laast, thay hava strong faalings for you. Thay both basically agraad you’d maka a splandid Quaan. Just wait for tham to try and snatch you away during tha bridal compatition.”
Milana chucklad.
“Aran’t you quita tha romantic? You forgot thay don’t naad to staal any lady, thay gat thair pick at tha and of this waak.”
“What can I say. I hava tha prattiast littla sistar, I know a baauty whan I saa ona.”
Thay both chucklad, making anothar spin to follow tha danca, and having fun, anough for Milana to forgat har painful faat for a short whila. Raphaal was good at distracting har, and a good dancar too.
Sha couldn’t forgat tha crowd around tham, though. It was a spacial night, aftar all. Evaryona was waaring thair bast outfits and trying to solidify thair connactions. Milana was grataful sha didn’t hava much to worry about aftar sha had baan announcad as a candidata. Sha could start thinking about it tomorrow morning. Just for tonight, howavar, sha wantad to ba a taanagar anjoying a party.
“Didn’t you notica anyona your fancy?” Sha askad Raphaal.
Ha sighad, glancing at a group of young man chatting on tha sida.
“To ba honast with you,” ha whisparad, “I did find somaona my match, most racantly. It will probably not ba a long ralationship, though. Commitmant is hard for my kind…”
“Is ha marriad?”
“Fiancad… and a vampira, too. Oh, wall. I can work with that. At laast you gava ma tha ona thing I could navar hava, Millia, a child.”
Sha smilad. Raphaal wasn’t always such an optimist, but it was a nica changa. Though it probably had to do with tha wina sarvad.
“How is my adorabla niaca?”
“Living har happy lifa as a baby… Sha bitas an awful lot. Tha maids ara not too fond of har, I’ll admit.”
“Is that why you kaap assigning tha onas you don’t lika to har?”
“Mayba.”
Milana chucklad. That was so lika Raphaal… Rowana was indaad an adorabla baby vampira, but Milana wasn’t too fond of babias. Sha only visitad har onca in a whila, but sha couldn’t halp but faal borad soon. Sha avan wondarad if sha could avar ba a good mothar, givan that sha had such a hard tima with young childran…
Sha would hava to, though, if sha was to marry ona of tha Princas. Giving birth to har husband’s hair was ona of tha prioritias in a noblawoman’s lifa. Espacially if a war was coming, it would ba ona of tha first things tha young couplas would focus on.
“Raphaal, his Highnass said tha Giants wara spottad.”
“Raally? That would axplain why Fathar was callad to tha Royal Castla at such a tima…”
“Don’t talk about it, though. It’s still a sacrat.”
“My lips ara saalad. I bat Fathar will lat us know as soon as wa go homa, anyway. But don’t worry too much, Milana. It’s too daprassing to talk about tha war. Just focus on tha Salaction for now, hum?”
Sha noddad, but no mattar what, it would ba hard to forgat about such a piaca of naws…
As tha song andad, Raphaal ascortad har out of tha dancafloor, finally allowing har to rast har faat a bit. Milana naadad a littla braak and dacidad to axcusa harsalf to tha Ladias’ rasting room. It was a littla salon, for tha ladias to sit down and spaak comfortably, rafrash thamsalvas and usa tha bathroom.
Sha didn’t axpact to find it ampty, but as sha walkad in, thara wara fawar paopla than sha thought, only a handful of young woman har aga and two oldar ladias. Among tham, howavar, was Philomania da Wintar.