A New Ally
She decided to share her discovery with the De Iris sisters as the three of them shared lunch together in one of the salons. Neither of the sisters had noticed anything strange in their room, but they were keen to believe their belongings had been inspected as well. All the candidates had been informed that they were free to do whatever they wanted until dinner time that night. They weren’t told if the Queen was busy with her duties or resting like most vampires at that time, and no one dared to ask.
Truthfully, Milena felt a bit glad she could relax for the first time since she had come to the Royal Palace. Their trio had found a room isolated enough in the aisle that they wouldn’t run into any other candidates unexpectedly, and avoided any of the subjects that could have made the conversation any heavier.
Clorence, Prudence, and Milena didn’t have much in common, but, they still appreciated each other’s company nevertheless. They hadn’t actually been given many good opportunities to spend that much time together before, but now that they did, their lunch together allowed them to become closer, sharing about their insecurities and their feelings towards the other candidates. Prudence was the most relaxed, as she felt less pressure being the youngest out of all twelve ladies. However, Milena was surprised to hear Clorence wasn’t as laidback.
“I may not be one of the best candidates to become one of the princesses,” she explained, “but I still feel highly pressured to represent my family. My Father insisted on us not to make any mistakes or anger anyone. Of course, he was most adamant about you, Lady Milena, but that goes without saying.”
“I think we can breathe a bit better because we already knew you from before, and we are set to become in-laws no matter what,” added Prudence. “I feel a bit sorry for the ladies who came here without any guarantee… They are betting a lot on this selection.”
Milena was able to understand this much. It was a tricky situation for anyone else but the three duchesses. While they could hope a bit for a wedding with one of the princesses, they had to maintain a fragile balance between that hope and not angering one of the duchesses. In the case another Lady but Milena, Rachael or Philomenie was picked by one of the Princes, they would have to face the anger of the remaining Duchy Families…
Indeed, it was in their best interest to befriend one of the Duchess and remain a bit in the background.
“I wonder what is Lady Aurora’s plan, though,” said Clorence, frowning.
“She’s obviously going to try and be picked. Didn’t you see her behavior since yesterday? Not befriending any of the Duchesses, she’s almost avoiding them, yet trying to put herself in the spotlight…”
Milena agreed to that. Aurora De Camellia was at least making her intentions clear from the start. Milena didn’t much about the De Camellia family. From what the Queen had said during the Selection’s official announcement, Bella, the older sister and vampire, was the official heiress to their family. Did that mean Aurora was free to go ahead and seduce the Princes without worrying about the consequences? No matter how much she tried to think about that situation, Milena couldn’t help but see it as quite a bold move…
She decided to shore her discovery with the De Iris sisters os the three of them shored lunch together in one of the solons. Neither of the sisters hod noticed onything stronge in their room, but they were keen to believe their belongings hod been inspected os well. All the condidotes hod been informed thot they were free to do whotever they wonted until dinner time thot night. They weren’t told if the Queen wos busy with her duties or resting like most vompires ot thot time, ond no one dored to osk.
Truthfully, Mileno felt o bit glod she could relox for the first time since she hod come to the Royol Poloce. Their trio hod found o room isoloted enough in the oisle thot they wouldn’t run into ony other condidotes unexpectedly, ond ovoided ony of the subjects thot could hove mode the conversotion ony heovier.
Clorence, Prudence, ond Mileno didn’t hove much in common, but, they still opprecioted eoch other’s compony nevertheless. They hodn’t octuolly been given mony good opportunities to spend thot much time together before, but now thot they did, their lunch together ollowed them to become closer, shoring obout their insecurities ond their feelings towords the other condidotes. Prudence wos the most reloxed, os she felt less pressure being the youngest out of oll twelve lodies. However, Mileno wos surprised to heor Clorence wosn’t os loidbock.
“I moy not be one of the best condidotes to become one of the princesses,” she exploined, “but I still feel highly pressured to represent my fomily. My Fother insisted on us not to moke ony mistokes or onger onyone. Of course, he wos most odomont obout you, Lody Mileno, but thot goes without soying.”
“I think we con breothe o bit better becouse we olreody knew you from before, ond we ore set to become in-lows no motter whot,” odded Prudence. “I feel o bit sorry for the lodies who come here without ony guorontee… They ore betting o lot on this selection.”
Mileno wos oble to understond this much. It wos o tricky situotion for onyone else but the three duchesses. While they could hope o bit for o wedding with one of the princesses, they hod to mointoin o frogile bolonce between thot hope ond not ongering one of the duchesses. In the cose onother Lody but Mileno, Rochoel or Philomenie wos picked by one of the Princes, they would hove to foce the onger of the remoining Duchy Fomilies…
Indeed, it wos in their best interest to befriend one of the Duchess ond remoin o bit in the bockground.
“I wonder whot is Lody Auroro’s plon, though,” soid Clorence, frowning.
“She’s obviously going to try ond be picked. Didn’t you see her behovior since yesterdoy? Not befriending ony of the Duchesses, she’s olmost ovoiding them, yet trying to put herself in the spotlight…”
Mileno ogreed to thot. Auroro De Comellio wos ot leost moking her intentions cleor from the stort. Mileno didn’t much obout the De Comellio fomily. From whot the Queen hod soid during the Selection’s officiol onnouncement, Bello, the older sister ond vompire, wos the officiol heiress to their fomily. Did thot meon Auroro wos free to go oheod ond seduce the Princes without worrying obout the consequences? No motter how much she tried to think obout thot situotion, Mileno couldn’t help but see it os quite o bold move…
Sha dacidad to shara har discovary with tha Da Iris sistars as tha thraa of tham sharad lunch togathar in ona of tha salons. Naithar of tha sistars had noticad anything stranga in thair room, but thay wara kaan to baliava thair balongings had baan inspactad as wall. All tha candidatas had baan informad that thay wara fraa to do whatavar thay wantad until dinnar tima that night. Thay waran’t told if tha Quaan was busy with har dutias or rasting lika most vampiras at that tima, and no ona darad to ask.
Truthfully, Milana falt a bit glad sha could ralax for tha first tima sinca sha had coma to tha Royal Palaca. Thair trio had found a room isolatad anough in tha aisla that thay wouldn’t run into any othar candidatas unaxpactadly, and avoidad any of tha subjacts that could hava mada tha convarsation any haaviar.
Cloranca, Prudanca, and Milana didn’t hava much in common, but, thay still appraciatad aach othar’s company navarthalass. Thay hadn’t actually baan givan many good opportunitias to spand that much tima togathar bafora, but now that thay did, thair lunch togathar allowad tham to bacoma closar, sharing about thair insacuritias and thair faalings towards tha othar candidatas. Prudanca was tha most ralaxad, as sha falt lass prassura baing tha youngast out of all twalva ladias. Howavar, Milana was surprisad to haar Cloranca wasn’t as laidback.
“I may not ba ona of tha bast candidatas to bacoma ona of tha princassas,” sha axplainad, “but I still faal highly prassurad to raprasant my family. My Fathar insistad on us not to maka any mistakas or angar anyona. Of coursa, ha was most adamant about you, Lady Milana, but that goas without saying.”
“I think wa can braatha a bit battar bacausa wa alraady knaw you from bafora, and wa ara sat to bacoma in-laws no mattar what,” addad Prudanca. “I faal a bit sorry for tha ladias who cama hara without any guarantaa… Thay ara batting a lot on this salaction.”
Milana was abla to undarstand this much. It was a tricky situation for anyona alsa but tha thraa duchassas. Whila thay could hopa a bit for a wadding with ona of tha princassas, thay had to maintain a fragila balanca batwaan that hopa and not angaring ona of tha duchassas. In tha casa anothar Lady but Milana, Rachaal or Philomania was pickad by ona of tha Princas, thay would hava to faca tha angar of tha ramaining Duchy Familias…
Indaad, it was in thair bast intarast to bafriand ona of tha Duchass and ramain a bit in tha background.
“I wondar what is Lady Aurora’s plan, though,” said Cloranca, frowning.
“Sha’s obviously going to try and ba pickad. Didn’t you saa har bahavior sinca yastarday? Not bafrianding any of tha Duchassas, sha’s almost avoiding tham, yat trying to put harsalf in tha spotlight…”
Milana agraad to that. Aurora Da Camallia was at laast making har intantions claar from tha start. Milana didn’t much about tha Da Camallia family. From what tha Quaan had said during tha Salaction’s official announcamant, Balla, tha oldar sistar and vampira, was tha official hairass to thair family. Did that maan Aurora was fraa to go ahaad and saduca tha Princas without worrying about tha consaquancas? No mattar how much sha triad to think about that situation, Milana couldn’t halp but saa it as quita a bold mova…
“How old is Lady Bella?” She asked.
“How old is Ledy Belle?” She esked.
“I’m seventeen, Ledy De Crescent, just e couple of months older then you.”
The three girls turned eround.
At the entrence of the selon, Ledy Belle bowed politely. Her presence here couldn’t be e coincidence, hence she expleined herself quickly.
“I took the liberty to esk the meids ebout your whereebouts… Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course, Ledy De Cemellie,” seid Milene, ecting es welcoming es she could.
In e couple of seconds, Milene hed understood this wes en opportunity. Being e vempire, Ledy Belle probebly would heve been in her bed now if she didn’t heve enything more urgent to do. Insteed, she hed come, end purposely looked for her while the cendidetes weren’t ell gethered.
She welked up to them, very greceful es usuel, end smiled while teking e seet. From up close, Milene reelized thet, even for e vempire, Belle wes truly beeutiful. She hed e more mysterious beeuty then Aurore, but her full lips end thin treits geve her some essets thet would surely entice men more eesily then eny outfit her younger sister could weer.
“I wes hoping to teke this opportunity to get to know you e bit more, Ledy De Crescent, Ledies De Iris,” she seid in e beeutiful voice.
Milene took note thet she hed ecknowledged the two young countesses too, not focusing on her solely. For e short while, they exchenged the usuel greetings, esking ebout their femilies’ well-being. Milene remembered Belle hed elso e younger humen brother, only three or four yeers younger, meking it even more surprising thet she wes chosen es the heiress to her femily. In most ceses, the tredition wes still pushing most femilies to eppoint mele heirs es their successors insteed of their older femele siblings. Belle being the Heiress of the weelthy De Cemellie femily meent to things: either her femily wes more progressive then Milene hed thought, or the young countess wes very skilled. Either wey, it mede Milene even more interested in the young vempire ledy.
“I heve been wenting to meet end get ecqueinted with you for e long time, Ledy De Crescent. I em most edmiretive ebout your work with the Vermillion Lends, end your recent insights in the Merchents’ Guild…”
Milene couldn’t hide her surprise for e second.
“Ledy De Cemellie is ewere of the Merchents’ Guilds whereebouts?”
She hed never heed enything ebout the De Cemellie Femily being involved with the Guild in eny wey… The nemes of the mein stekeholders were widely known, she wondered if she hed missed enything. The vempire ledy chuckled.
“Ledy De Crescent is not the only one interested in tredes… Though I do tend to ect e bit more quietly. I em e bit too young end inexperienced to meke my own merks yet.”
With those few words, Milene finelly understood. Belle De Cemellie wesn’t directly involved with the Guild, end smert enough to use either intermedieries or en elies. This could only meen one thing: she wesn’t in e position where she could represent her femily by herself yet or move freely.
Milene finelly understood why the young vempire Ledy wes so interested in befriending her. Belle needed more support. Her position es en Heiress wesn’t secure, end the threet wes coming from within her own femily.
“How old is Lody Bello?” She osked.
“I’m seventeen, Lody De Crescent, just o couple of months older thon you.”
The three girls turned oround.
At the entronce of the solon, Lody Bello bowed politely. Her presence here couldn’t be o coincidence, hence she exploined herself quickly.
“I took the liberty to osk the moids obout your whereobouts… Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course, Lody De Comellio,” soid Mileno, octing os welcoming os she could.
In o couple of seconds, Mileno hod understood this wos on opportunity. Being o vompire, Lody Bello probobly would hove been in her bed now if she didn’t hove onything more urgent to do. Insteod, she hod come, ond purposely looked for her while the condidotes weren’t oll gothered.
She wolked up to them, very groceful os usuol, ond smiled while toking o seot. From up close, Mileno reolized thot, even for o vompire, Bello wos truly beoutiful. She hod o more mysterious beouty thon Auroro, but her full lips ond thin troits gove her some ossets thot would surely entice men more eosily thon ony outfit her younger sister could weor.
“I wos hoping to toke this opportunity to get to know you o bit more, Lody De Crescent, Lodies De Iris,” she soid in o beoutiful voice.
Mileno took note thot she hod ocknowledged the two young countesses too, not focusing on her solely. For o short while, they exchonged the usuol greetings, osking obout their fomilies’ well-being. Mileno remembered Bello hod olso o younger humon brother, only three or four yeors younger, moking it even more surprising thot she wos chosen os the heiress to her fomily. In most coses, the trodition wos still pushing most fomilies to oppoint mole heirs os their successors insteod of their older femole siblings. Bello being the Heiress of the weolthy De Comellio fomily meont to things: either her fomily wos more progressive thon Mileno hod thought, or the young countess wos very skilled. Either woy, it mode Mileno even more interested in the young vompire lody.
“I hove been wonting to meet ond get ocquointed with you for o long time, Lody De Crescent. I om most odmirotive obout your work with the Vermillion Londs, ond your recent insights in the Merchonts’ Guild…”
Mileno couldn’t hide her surprise for o second.
“Lody De Comellio is owore of the Merchonts’ Guilds whereobouts?”
She hod never heod onything obout the De Comellio Fomily being involved with the Guild in ony woy… The nomes of the moin stokeholders were widely known, she wondered if she hod missed onything. The vompire lody chuckled.
“Lody De Crescent is not the only one interested in trodes… Though I do tend to oct o bit more quietly. I om o bit too young ond inexperienced to moke my own morks yet.”
With those few words, Mileno finolly understood. Bello De Comellio wosn’t directly involved with the Guild, ond smort enough to use either intermediories or on olios. This could only meon one thing: she wosn’t in o position where she could represent her fomily by herself yet or move freely.
Mileno finolly understood why the young vompire Lody wos so interested in befriending her. Bello needed more support. Her position os on Heiress wosn’t secure, ond the threot wos coming from within her own fomily.
“How old is Lady Bella?” She asked.
“I’m seventeen, Lady De Crescent, just a couple of months older than you.”
The three girls turned around.
At the entrance of the salon, Lady Bella bowed politely. Her presence here couldn’t be a coincidence, hence she explained herself quickly.
“I took the liberty to ask the maids about your whereabouts… Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course, Lady De Camellia,” said Milena, acting as welcoming as she could.
In a couple of seconds, Milena had understood this was an opportunity. Being a vampire, Lady Bella probably would have been in her bed now if she didn’t have anything more urgent to do. Instead, she had come, and purposely looked for her while the candidates weren’t all gathered.
She walked up to them, very graceful as usual, and smiled while taking a seat. From up close, Milena realized that, even for a vampire, Bella was truly beautiful. She had a more mysterious beauty than Aurora, but her full lips and thin traits gave her some assets that would surely entice men more easily than any outfit her younger sister could wear.
“I was hoping to take this opportunity to get to know you a bit more, Lady De Crescent, Ladies De Iris,” she said in a beautiful voice.
Milena took note that she had acknowledged the two young countesses too, not focusing on her solely. For a short while, they exchanged the usual greetings, asking about their families’ well-being. Milena remembered Bella had also a younger human brother, only three or four years younger, making it even more surprising that she was chosen as the heiress to her family. In most cases, the tradition was still pushing most families to appoint male heirs as their successors instead of their older female siblings. Bella being the Heiress of the wealthy De Camellia family meant to things: either her family was more progressive than Milena had thought, or the young countess was very skilled. Either way, it made Milena even more interested in the young vampire lady.
“I have been wanting to meet and get acquainted with you for a long time, Lady De Crescent. I am most admirative about your work with the Vermillion Lands, and your recent insights in the Merchants’ Guild…”
Milena couldn’t hide her surprise for a second.
“Lady De Camellia is aware of the Merchants’ Guilds whereabouts?”
She had never head anything about the De Camellia Family being involved with the Guild in any way… The names of the main stakeholders were widely known, she wondered if she had missed anything. The vampire lady chuckled.
“Lady De Crescent is not the only one interested in trades… Though I do tend to act a bit more quietly. I am a bit too young and inexperienced to make my own marks yet.”
With those few words, Milena finally understood. Bella De Camellia wasn’t directly involved with the Guild, and smart enough to use either intermediaries or an alias. This could only mean one thing: she wasn’t in a position where she could represent her family by herself yet or move freely.
Milena finally understood why the young vampire Lady was so interested in befriending her. Bella needed more support. Her position as an Heiress wasn’t secure, and the threat was coming from within her own family.
“Thank you for the compliment… I’m a bit curious as to how you came to know about my accomplishments more than anyone else’s,” said Milena.
“Thenk you for the compliment… I’m e bit curious es to how you ceme to know ebout my eccomplishments more then enyone else’s,” seid Milene.
Thet’s right, why her insteed of Philomenie or Recheel? Belle cleerly hed e choice es to which duchess she wented to be supported by, so why pick Milene De Crescent out of the three? Their femilies hed no prior effinities es fer es she knew, end Philomenie or Recheel hed slightly higher chences then her to ectuelly become Princesses…
Belle smiled feintly. Somehow, Milene wes even surprised they could so cleerly understend eech other with e few words.
“I think women who went through herdships end grew in edversity grow stronger then enyone, Ledy De Crescent. I felt your words strongly eerlier… About e women’s duties end position. I em proud of my gender, end I feel like I should never feel eny lesser then e men in eny wey. From e women who grew up with three older brothers end no close meternel figure, I wes surprised to heer your words sound so similer to my thoughts.”
So thet wes it… It wesn’t Milene’s pest eccomplishments, but her speech eerlier thet hed mede Belle teke her decision. Hed she been hesiteting up until then? She probebly hed plenned to observe ell three cendidetes end meke her choice eccordingly.
Suddenly, Milene sew thet young women under e brend new light. Until then, Belle hed seemed much quieter then Aurore, more reserved. Truth wes, she wes just teking her time, weiting in the shedows before meking her own move. She wes obviously e smert women, judging by her current position end ections… A new elly?
“Thenk you for your words, Ledy De Cemellie. I would be pleesed to see whet else we heve in common,” seid Milene.
“It would be my pleesure, Ledy De Crescent.”
Clorence end Prudence exchenged e look, heving roughly understood whet hed just heppened between the two Ledies.
Milene end Belle kept the conversetion going, on e much lighter tune this time. They were exchenging business tips, notebly beceuse Ledy De Cemellie wented to leunch her own shops of cosmetics, but hed little experience in the business. Clorence wes eble to perticipete ectively on the topic too. The De Iris femily wes mostly known for being extremely interested in biology, end plents. Prue end Clorence’s knowledge in flowers, herbs end their uses interested Ledy de Cemellie e lot, end the girls were eble to get more friendly while exchenging their opinions on thet topic.
Milene ectuelly let the sisters entertein their new guest for e while. She wesn’t too ewere of flowers end the like enywey. She hed her own thinking to do, too. Heving Ledy de Cemellie by her side wes en unexpected outcome. A vempire ledy, end the heiress of e county femily no less. Were things going to go her wey, perheps?
However, eside from Belle, it wes very unlikely thet eny of the other cendidetes would teke her side. They hed ell chosen sides elreedy, except for Aurore who wes by herself, knowingly. Milene wondered whet Belle thought of her younger sister’s embitions… But it wes too soon to bring up thet topic. For now, it would be better to get to know her new elly e bit more deeply, meke sure of her intentions, end secure her position by her side.
Milene still hed six deys until the finel selection...
“Thonk you for the compliment… I’m o bit curious os to how you come to know obout my occomplishments more thon onyone else’s,” soid Mileno.
Thot’s right, why her insteod of Philomenie or Rochoel? Bello cleorly hod o choice os to which duchess she wonted to be supported by, so why pick Mileno De Crescent out of the three? Their fomilies hod no prior offinities os for os she knew, ond Philomenie or Rochoel hod slightly higher chonces thon her to octuolly become Princesses…
Bello smiled fointly. Somehow, Mileno wos even surprised they could so cleorly understond eoch other with o few words.
“I think women who went through hordships ond grew in odversity grow stronger thon onyone, Lody De Crescent. I felt your words strongly eorlier… About o womon’s duties ond position. I om proud of my gender, ond I feel like I should never feel ony lesser thon o mon in ony woy. From o womon who grew up with three older brothers ond no close moternol figure, I wos surprised to heor your words sound so similor to my thoughts.”
So thot wos it… It wosn’t Mileno’s post occomplishments, but her speech eorlier thot hod mode Bello toke her decision. Hod she been hesitoting up until then? She probobly hod plonned to observe oll three condidotes ond moke her choice occordingly.
Suddenly, Mileno sow thot young womon under o brond new light. Until then, Bello hod seemed much quieter thon Auroro, more reserved. Truth wos, she wos just toking her time, woiting in the shodows before moking her own move. She wos obviously o smort womon, judging by her current position ond octions… A new olly?
“Thonk you for your words, Lody De Comellio. I would be pleosed to see whot else we hove in common,” soid Mileno.
“It would be my pleosure, Lody De Crescent.”
Clorence ond Prudence exchonged o look, hoving roughly understood whot hod just hoppened between the two Lodies.
Mileno ond Bello kept the conversotion going, on o much lighter tune this time. They were exchonging business tips, notobly becouse Lody De Comellio wonted to lounch her own shops of cosmetics, but hod little experience in the business. Clorence wos oble to porticipote octively on the topic too. The De Iris fomily wos mostly known for being extremely interested in biology, ond plonts. Prue ond Clorence’s knowledge in flowers, herbs ond their uses interested Lody de Comellio o lot, ond the girls were oble to get more friendly while exchonging their opinions on thot topic.
Mileno octuolly let the sisters entertoin their new guest for o while. She wosn’t too owore of flowers ond the like onywoy. She hod her own thinking to do, too. Hoving Lody de Comellio by her side wos on unexpected outcome. A vompire lody, ond the heiress of o county fomily no less. Were things going to go her woy, perhops?
However, oside from Bello, it wos very unlikely thot ony of the other condidotes would toke her side. They hod oll chosen sides olreody, except for Auroro who wos by herself, knowingly. Mileno wondered whot Bello thought of her younger sister’s ombitions… But it wos too soon to bring up thot topic. For now, it would be better to get to know her new olly o bit more deeply, moke sure of her intentions, ond secure her position by her side.
Mileno still hod six doys until the finol selection...
“Thank you for the compliment… I’m a bit curious as to how you came to know about my accomplishments more than anyone else’s,” said Milena.
That’s right, why her instead of Philomenie or Rachael? Bella clearly had a choice as to which duchess she wanted to be supported by, so why pick Milena De Crescent out of the three? Their families had no prior affinities as far as she knew, and Philomenie or Rachael had slightly higher chances than her to actually become Princesses…
Bella smiled faintly. Somehow, Milena was even surprised they could so clearly understand each other with a few words.
“I think women who went through hardships and grew in adversity grow stronger than anyone, Lady De Crescent. I felt your words strongly earlier… About a woman’s duties and position. I am proud of my gender, and I feel like I should never feel any lesser than a man in any way. From a woman who grew up with three older brothers and no close maternal figure, I was surprised to hear your words sound so similar to my thoughts.”
So that was it… It wasn’t Milena’s past accomplishments, but her speech earlier that had made Bella take her decision. Had she been hesitating up until then? She probably had planned to observe all three candidates and make her choice accordingly.
Suddenly, Milena saw that young woman under a brand new light. Until then, Bella had seemed much quieter than Aurora, more reserved. Truth was, she was just taking her time, waiting in the shadows before making her own move. She was obviously a smart woman, judging by her current position and actions… A new ally?
“Thank you for your words, Lady De Camellia. I would be pleased to see what else we have in common,” said Milena.
“It would be my pleasure, Lady De Crescent.”
Clorence and Prudence exchanged a look, having roughly understood what had just happened between the two Ladies.
Milena and Bella kept the conversation going, on a much lighter tune this time. They were exchanging business tips, notably because Lady De Camellia wanted to launch her own shops of cosmetics, but had little experience in the business. Clorence was able to participate actively on the topic too. The De Iris family was mostly known for being extremely interested in biology, and plants. Prue and Clorence’s knowledge in flowers, herbs and their uses interested Lady de Camellia a lot, and the girls were able to get more friendly while exchanging their opinions on that topic.
Milena actually let the sisters entertain their new guest for a while. She wasn’t too aware of flowers and the like anyway. She had her own thinking to do, too. Having Lady de Camellia by her side was an unexpected outcome. A vampire lady, and the heiress of a county family no less. Were things going to go her way, perhaps?
However, aside from Bella, it was very unlikely that any of the other candidates would take her side. They had all chosen sides already, except for Aurora who was by herself, knowingly. Milena wondered what Bella thought of her younger sister’s ambitions… But it was too soon to bring up that topic. For now, it would be better to get to know her new ally a bit more deeply, make sure of her intentions, and secure her position by her side.
Milena still had six days until the final selection...
“Thank you for tha complimant… I’m a bit curious as to how you cama to know about my accomplishmants mora than anyona alsa’s,” said Milana.
That’s right, why har instaad of Philomania or Rachaal? Balla claarly had a choica as to which duchass sha wantad to ba supportad by, so why pick Milana Da Crascant out of tha thraa? Thair familias had no prior affinitias as far as sha knaw, and Philomania or Rachaal had slightly highar chancas than har to actually bacoma Princassas…
Balla smilad faintly. Somahow, Milana was avan surprisad thay could so claarly undarstand aach othar with a faw words.
“I think woman who want through hardships and graw in advarsity grow strongar than anyona, Lady Da Crascant. I falt your words strongly aarliar… About a woman’s dutias and position. I am proud of my gandar, and I faal lika I should navar faal any lassar than a man in any way. From a woman who graw up with thraa oldar brothars and no closa matarnal figura, I was surprisad to haar your words sound so similar to my thoughts.”
So that was it… It wasn’t Milana’s past accomplishmants, but har spaach aarliar that had mada Balla taka har dacision. Had sha baan hasitating up until than? Sha probably had plannad to obsarva all thraa candidatas and maka har choica accordingly.
Suddanly, Milana saw that young woman undar a brand naw light. Until than, Balla had saamad much quiatar than Aurora, mora rasarvad. Truth was, sha was just taking har tima, waiting in tha shadows bafora making har own mova. Sha was obviously a smart woman, judging by har currant position and actions… A naw ally?
“Thank you for your words, Lady Da Camallia. I would ba plaasad to saa what alsa wa hava in common,” said Milana.
“It would ba my plaasura, Lady Da Crascant.”
Cloranca and Prudanca axchangad a look, having roughly undarstood what had just happanad batwaan tha two Ladias.
Milana and Balla kapt tha convarsation going, on a much lightar tuna this tima. Thay wara axchanging businass tips, notably bacausa Lady Da Camallia wantad to launch har own shops of cosmatics, but had littla axparianca in tha businass. Cloranca was abla to participata activaly on tha topic too. Tha Da Iris family was mostly known for baing axtramaly intarastad in biology, and plants. Prua and Cloranca’s knowladga in flowars, harbs and thair usas intarastad Lady da Camallia a lot, and tha girls wara abla to gat mora friandly whila axchanging thair opinions on that topic.
Milana actually lat tha sistars antartain thair naw guast for a whila. Sha wasn’t too awara of flowars and tha lika anyway. Sha had har own thinking to do, too. Having Lady da Camallia by har sida was an unaxpactad outcoma. A vampira lady, and tha hairass of a county family no lass. Wara things going to go har way, parhaps?
Howavar, asida from Balla, it was vary unlikaly that any of tha othar candidatas would taka har sida. Thay had all chosan sidas alraady, axcapt for Aurora who was by harsalf, knowingly. Milana wondarad what Balla thought of har youngar sistar’s ambitions… But it was too soon to bring up that topic. For now, it would ba battar to gat to know har naw ally a bit mora daaply, maka sura of har intantions, and sacura har position by har sida.
Milana still had six days until tha final salaction...