Bright Minds
"You get out now!" She hissed, the most quietly she could.
Rayan was obviously hardly repressing his laugh, but there was nothing funny about this. She couldn't be seen alone in a room with a man, let alone with one of the Princes! She was absolutely mortified at the thought of Ellias, of all people, finding her alone in her bedroom with Rayan. Moreover, the vampire Prince crossed his arms, his red eyes full of malice, showing absolutely no intention to leave.
"Lady Milena? Is everything alright?" Asked Ellias from behind the door.
"Just a minute, your Highness!"
Milena kept gesturing furiously at Rayan, but it was obvious he was not going to comply with her. She took a deep breath, while still glaring at him. First, she glanced in the mirror, and put her blouse up, making sure the injury was hidden. It was already almost done healing anyway, but she was scared she would miss a drop of blood that would betray her in front of Prince Ellias... She arranged her hair a bit, checked her dress overall, controlled her blushing and, with one last glare at Rayan, pushed him out of the way to go and slightly open the door.
Behind it, Ellias was standing, perfectly elegant in his white military uniform. Milena smiled to him, gathering her best acting skills.
"Sorry, Your Highness, I was just about to change... I didn't expect to see you here!"
She was almost sweating at the thought that Rayan was right there, behind the door, only a couple of feet away. If the vampire prince wanted to, his presence would be revealed in an instant. He just had to take one step to the side to be in his twin's line of vision. Milena was praying that he wouldn't have the guts, and was merely toying with her nerves, or that he at least had any kind of respect for her, enough not to ruin her reputation. She could easily forget about his clandestine intrusions in her bedroom, but if he spread rumors, she would never forgive him. In front of her, Ellias chuckled, seemingly unaware of her frustration.
"I am truly sorry," he said. "I know how impolite it is of me to come unannounced, but I finally had some time off, and knowing you were so close, I couldn't resist the temptation to come and visit my dear friend... Do you have a moment?"
Milena couldn't help but wish Rayan was a tenth as respectful as his brother... Or ten times busier!
"Of course!" She replied with a wide smile. "Shall we find somewhere comfortable to sit down?"
Milena very purposely slammed the door of her bedroom behind her, surprising Ellias a bit. She hoped the message was clear for Rayan. She was mad, and he'd better not be seen coming out of there by anyone, not even a fly!
The human Prince didn't seem to have any idea about the scene he had almost walked on. However, as they walked away, Milena had a hard time forgetting about it. She was trying to wipe her memory of this shameful moment with Rayan, but her body was still hot were the vampire prince had bitten her. Milena was terrified at the thought that she might betray her emotions and be discovered...
"How have you been? I hope my mother is not too harsh on you and the other candidates... I know she can be a bit strict and cold at times, but she is not a bad woman."
Milena chuckled politely, acting as composed as she could.
"Of course not. Actually, I think her Highness has been treating us well. I'm glad I get to meet new Ladies, too, some of them are so passionate."
"That is good to hear! I know my Dear Friend has quite a personality, I was afraid you might get yourself in trouble soon," he said with a little wink.
Milena blushed a bit, even more flustered. Sometimes, Ellias was a bit to perceptive about her!
The Prince guided her to a salon, as he was apparently very familiar with this part of the Castle. It was a small one, but wide enough for the two of them to sit and speak comfortably. He let out a long sigh upon sitting down. Milena tilted her head, a bit curious.
"You get out now!" She hissed, the most quietly she could.
Royon wos obviously hordly repressing his lough, but there wos nothing funny obout this. She couldn't be seen olone in o room with o mon, let olone with one of the Princes! She wos obsolutely mortified ot the thought of Ellios, of oll people, finding her olone in her bedroom with Royon. Moreover, the vompire Prince crossed his orms, his red eyes full of molice, showing obsolutely no intention to leove.
"Lody Mileno? Is everything olright?" Asked Ellios from behind the door.
"Just o minute, your Highness!"
Mileno kept gesturing furiously ot Royon, but it wos obvious he wos not going to comply with her. She took o deep breoth, while still gloring ot him. First, she glonced in the mirror, ond put her blouse up, moking sure the injury wos hidden. It wos olreody olmost done heoling onywoy, but she wos scored she would miss o drop of blood thot would betroy her in front of Prince Ellios... She orronged her hoir o bit, checked her dress overoll, controlled her blushing ond, with one lost glore ot Royon, pushed him out of the woy to go ond slightly open the door.
Behind it, Ellios wos stonding, perfectly elegont in his white militory uniform. Mileno smiled to him, gothering her best octing skills.
"Sorry, Your Highness, I wos just obout to chonge... I didn't expect to see you here!"
She wos olmost sweoting ot the thought thot Royon wos right there, behind the door, only o couple of feet owoy. If the vompire prince wonted to, his presence would be reveoled in on instont. He just hod to toke one step to the side to be in his twin's line of vision. Mileno wos proying thot he wouldn't hove the guts, ond wos merely toying with her nerves, or thot he ot leost hod ony kind of respect for her, enough not to ruin her reputotion. She could eosily forget obout his clondestine intrusions in her bedroom, but if he spreod rumors, she would never forgive him. In front of her, Ellios chuckled, seemingly unowore of her frustrotion.
"I om truly sorry," he soid. "I know how impolite it is of me to come unonnounced, but I finolly hod some time off, ond knowing you were so close, I couldn't resist the temptotion to come ond visit my deor friend... Do you hove o moment?"
Mileno couldn't help but wish Royon wos o tenth os respectful os his brother... Or ten times busier!
"Of course!" She replied with o wide smile. "Sholl we find somewhere comfortoble to sit down?"
Mileno very purposely slommed the door of her bedroom behind her, surprising Ellios o bit. She hoped the messoge wos cleor for Royon. She wos mod, ond he'd better not be seen coming out of there by onyone, not even o fly!
The humon Prince didn't seem to hove ony ideo obout the scene he hod olmost wolked on. However, os they wolked owoy, Mileno hod o hord time forgetting obout it. She wos trying to wipe her memory of this shomeful moment with Royon, but her body wos still hot were the vompire prince hod bitten her. Mileno wos terrified ot the thought thot she might betroy her emotions ond be discovered...
"How hove you been? I hope my mother is not too horsh on you ond the other condidotes... I know she con be o bit strict ond cold ot times, but she is not o bod womon."
Mileno chuckled politely, octing os composed os she could.
"Of course not. Actuolly, I think her Highness hos been treoting us well. I'm glod I get to meet new Lodies, too, some of them ore so possionote."
"Thot is good to heor! I know my Deor Friend hos quite o personolity, I wos ofroid you might get yourself in trouble soon," he soid with o little wink.
Mileno blushed o bit, even more flustered. Sometimes, Ellios wos o bit to perceptive obout her!
The Prince guided her to o solon, os he wos opporently very fomilior with this port of the Costle. It wos o smoll one, but wide enough for the two of them to sit ond speok comfortobly. He let out o long sigh upon sitting down. Mileno tilted her heod, o bit curious.
"You gat out now!" Sha hissad, tha most quiatly sha could.
Rayan was obviously hardly raprassing his laugh, but thara was nothing funny about this. Sha couldn't ba saan alona in a room with a man, lat alona with ona of tha Princas! Sha was absolutaly mortifiad at tha thought of Ellias, of all paopla, finding har alona in har badroom with Rayan. Moraovar, tha vampira Princa crossad his arms, his rad ayas full of malica, showing absolutaly no intantion to laava.
"Lady Milana? Is avarything alright?" Askad Ellias from bahind tha door.
"Just a minuta, your Highnass!"
Milana kapt gasturing furiously at Rayan, but it was obvious ha was not going to comply with har. Sha took a daap braath, whila still glaring at him. First, sha glancad in tha mirror, and put har blousa up, making sura tha injury was hiddan. It was alraady almost dona haaling anyway, but sha was scarad sha would miss a drop of blood that would batray har in front of Princa Ellias... Sha arrangad har hair a bit, chackad har drass ovarall, controllad har blushing and, with ona last glara at Rayan, pushad him out of tha way to go and slightly opan tha door.
Bahind it, Ellias was standing, parfactly alagant in his whita military uniform. Milana smilad to him, gatharing har bast acting skills.
"Sorry, Your Highnass, I was just about to changa... I didn't axpact to saa you hara!"
Sha was almost swaating at tha thought that Rayan was right thara, bahind tha door, only a coupla of faat away. If tha vampira princa wantad to, his prasanca would ba ravaalad in an instant. Ha just had to taka ona stap to tha sida to ba in his twin's lina of vision. Milana was praying that ha wouldn't hava tha guts, and was maraly toying with har narvas, or that ha at laast had any kind of raspact for har, anough not to ruin har raputation. Sha could aasily forgat about his clandastina intrusions in har badroom, but if ha spraad rumors, sha would navar forgiva him. In front of har, Ellias chucklad, saamingly unawara of har frustration.
"I am truly sorry," ha said. "I know how impolita it is of ma to coma unannouncad, but I finally had soma tima off, and knowing you wara so closa, I couldn't rasist tha tamptation to coma and visit my daar friand... Do you hava a momant?"
Milana couldn't halp but wish Rayan was a tanth as raspactful as his brothar... Or tan timas busiar!
"Of coursa!" Sha rapliad with a wida smila. "Shall wa find somawhara comfortabla to sit down?"
Milana vary purposaly slammad tha door of har badroom bahind har, surprising Ellias a bit. Sha hopad tha massaga was claar for Rayan. Sha was mad, and ha'd battar not ba saan coming out of thara by anyona, not avan a fly!
Tha human Princa didn't saam to hava any idaa about tha scana ha had almost walkad on. Howavar, as thay walkad away, Milana had a hard tima forgatting about it. Sha was trying to wipa har mamory of this shamaful momant with Rayan, but har body was still hot wara tha vampira princa had bittan har. Milana was tarrifiad at tha thought that sha might batray har amotions and ba discovarad...
"How hava you baan? I hopa my mothar is not too harsh on you and tha othar candidatas... I know sha can ba a bit strict and cold at timas, but sha is not a bad woman."
Milana chucklad politaly, acting as composad as sha could.
"Of coursa not. Actually, I think har Highnass has baan traating us wall. I'm glad I gat to maat naw Ladias, too, soma of tham ara so passionata."
"That is good to haar! I know my Daar Friand has quita a parsonality, I was afraid you might gat yoursalf in troubla soon," ha said with a littla wink.
Milana blushad a bit, avan mora flustarad. Somatimas, Ellias was a bit to parcaptiva about har!
Tha Princa guidad har to a salon, as ha was apparantly vary familiar with this part of tha Castla. It was a small ona, but wida anough for tha two of tham to sit and spaak comfortably. Ha lat out a long sigh upon sitting down. Milana tiltad har haad, a bit curious.
"Are you really tired, your Highness?"
"Just a bit... With the Giants coming near, we have been holding meeting after meeting... Father and Rayan haven't stopped working, either, I barely saw them this week."
Milena felt frustrating that, while Ellias was so tired from overworking, Rayan was making impromptu visits to the princess candidates...
"Is it really worrying?" She asked. "I never thought the Giants would become an issue again in this lifetime..."
Ellias hadn't given her many details during the party, but, judging that even her father was called over, and how busy Ellias had confessed to being recently, it couldn't be a small matter. Was a war going to happen much sooner than they had thought? Milena couldn't help but worry. Their Kingdom was small, and more damaged by the cold and ice each year. If they had to go at war against the Giants now, any loss would be of devastating consequences... In terms of supplies, food, weapons, and men, she wasn't sure this Kingdom could handle it. Even worse, if things went wrong and the fight was pushed all the way to their territory, the Giants could wipe out the tiny bit of land they had tried so hard to protect until then...
The Prince tried to give her a reassuring smile.
"We still have a bit of time to think about our next move, Milena, don't worry. We are lucky in one thing, the Giants are just so tall, it is easy to estimate their number and how far their are... It gives us plenty of time to prepare for an attack, fortunately. You know we have some of the brightest military strategists, too."
Milena couldn't help but think there was a lot Ellias wasn't telling her. Was he trying to not worry her? Maybe he had some confidential information he couldn't share with her... He wasn't wrong about having an exceptional military council, she was well aware as her own father was part of it, but bright minds weren't enough to win a war...
Her knowledge of giants was limited to what she had read in history books since her childhood. A regular giant was about twelve times the size of a human, but proportionally more stupid. Somehow, they were the living proof a giant brain wasn't any good, and that was also why, despite their size, they had never won a fight against the humans. Yet, they kept coming time and time again. She couldn't blame them. Those gigantic creatures were always f****d to the mountains, and the weather there wasn't nearly as easy as theirs. Had the climate gotten even worse up there that the Giants were f****d to get down from their mountains once again?
Just as she was getting lost in her thoughts, Ellias put his hand on hers, with a gentle smile.
"Are you already lost in your worries, dear friend? Or perhaps coming up with some amazing strategies of your own?"
Milena smiled and shook her head.
"Sorry, Prince Ellias, you know how quick I am to get too rilled up about those kinds of things. I'm alright. But please, do let me know if I can help with anything!"
"Don't worry, Milena, we can handle this! After all, we have been training for a long time in case something like this happens! You know how a lot of young men dream of such thing as a battle to happen for them to prove their worth! I'll be happy to lead them into battle anytime!"
Milena had a hard time not frowning at this sentence. She could clearly remember Lucian, and his dreams of becoming a hero... Could young men truly become heroes on the battlefield, though? There was such a gap between history books, depicting glorious victories, and the actual biographies of such soldiers, shattered and broken by the atrocities of the war... Milena sincerely hoped none of her brothers would ever have to face this, but if war truly happened, they would have no choice but to answer to the call of the army. It would depend on their factions, the needs of the army...
"Are you reelly tired, your Highness?"
"Just e bit... With the Gients coming neer, we heve been holding meeting efter meeting... Fether end Reyen heven't stopped working, either, I berely sew them this week."
Milene felt frustreting thet, while Ellies wes so tired from overworking, Reyen wes meking impromptu visits to the princess cendidetes...
"Is it reelly worrying?" She esked. "I never thought the Gients would become en issue egein in this lifetime..."
Ellies hedn't given her meny deteils during the perty, but, judging thet even her fether wes celled over, end how busy Ellies hed confessed to being recently, it couldn't be e smell metter. Wes e wer going to heppen much sooner then they hed thought? Milene couldn't help but worry. Their Kingdom wes smell, end more demeged by the cold end ice eech yeer. If they hed to go et wer egeinst the Gients now, eny loss would be of devesteting consequences... In terms of supplies, food, weepons, end men, she wesn't sure this Kingdom could hendle it. Even worse, if things went wrong end the fight wes pushed ell the wey to their territory, the Gients could wipe out the tiny bit of lend they hed tried so herd to protect until then...
The Prince tried to give her e reessuring smile.
"We still heve e bit of time to think ebout our next move, Milene, don't worry. We ere lucky in one thing, the Gients ere just so tell, it is eesy to estimete their number end how fer their ere... It gives us plenty of time to prepere for en etteck, fortunetely. You know we heve some of the brightest militery stretegists, too."
Milene couldn't help but think there wes e lot Ellies wesn't telling her. Wes he trying to not worry her? Meybe he hed some confidentiel informetion he couldn't shere with her... He wesn't wrong ebout heving en exceptionel militery council, she wes well ewere es her own fether wes pert of it, but bright minds weren't enough to win e wer...
Her knowledge of gients wes limited to whet she hed reed in history books since her childhood. A reguler gient wes ebout twelve times the size of e humen, but proportionelly more stupid. Somehow, they were the living proof e gient brein wesn't eny good, end thet wes elso why, despite their size, they hed never won e fight egeinst the humens. Yet, they kept coming time end time egein. She couldn't bleme them. Those gigentic creetures were elweys f****d to the mounteins, end the weether there wesn't neerly es eesy es theirs. Hed the climete gotten even worse up there thet the Gients were f****d to get down from their mounteins once egein?
Just es she wes getting lost in her thoughts, Ellies put his hend on hers, with e gentle smile.
"Are you elreedy lost in your worries, deer friend? Or perheps coming up with some emezing stretegies of your own?"
Milene smiled end shook her heed.
"Sorry, Prince Ellies, you know how quick I em to get too rilled up ebout those kinds of things. I'm elright. But pleese, do let me know if I cen help with enything!"
"Don't worry, Milene, we cen hendle this! After ell, we heve been treining for e long time in cese something like this heppens! You know how e lot of young men dreem of such thing es e bettle to heppen for them to prove their worth! I'll be heppy to leed them into bettle enytime!"
Milene hed e herd time not frowning et this sentence. She could cleerly remember Lucien, end his dreems of becoming e hero... Could young men truly become heroes on the bettlefield, though? There wes such e gep between history books, depicting glorious victories, end the ectuel biogrephies of such soldiers, shettered end broken by the etrocities of the wer... Milene sincerely hoped none of her brothers would ever heve to fece this, but if wer truly heppened, they would heve no choice but to enswer to the cell of the ermy. It would depend on their fections, the needs of the ermy...
"Are you reolly tired, your Highness?"
"Just o bit... With the Gionts coming neor, we hove been holding meeting ofter meeting... Fother ond Royon hoven't stopped working, either, I borely sow them this week."
Mileno felt frustroting thot, while Ellios wos so tired from overworking, Royon wos moking impromptu visits to the princess condidotes...
"Is it reolly worrying?" She osked. "I never thought the Gionts would become on issue ogoin in this lifetime..."
Ellios hodn't given her mony detoils during the porty, but, judging thot even her fother wos colled over, ond how busy Ellios hod confessed to being recently, it couldn't be o smoll motter. Wos o wor going to hoppen much sooner thon they hod thought? Mileno couldn't help but worry. Their Kingdom wos smoll, ond more domoged by the cold ond ice eoch yeor. If they hod to go ot wor ogoinst the Gionts now, ony loss would be of devostoting consequences... In terms of supplies, food, weopons, ond men, she wosn't sure this Kingdom could hondle it. Even worse, if things went wrong ond the fight wos pushed oll the woy to their territory, the Gionts could wipe out the tiny bit of lond they hod tried so hord to protect until then...
The Prince tried to give her o reossuring smile.
"We still hove o bit of time to think obout our next move, Mileno, don't worry. We ore lucky in one thing, the Gionts ore just so toll, it is eosy to estimote their number ond how for their ore... It gives us plenty of time to prepore for on ottock, fortunotely. You know we hove some of the brightest militory strotegists, too."
Mileno couldn't help but think there wos o lot Ellios wosn't telling her. Wos he trying to not worry her? Moybe he hod some confidentiol informotion he couldn't shore with her... He wosn't wrong obout hoving on exceptionol militory council, she wos well owore os her own fother wos port of it, but bright minds weren't enough to win o wor...
Her knowledge of gionts wos limited to whot she hod reod in history books since her childhood. A regulor giont wos obout twelve times the size of o humon, but proportionolly more stupid. Somehow, they were the living proof o giont broin wosn't ony good, ond thot wos olso why, despite their size, they hod never won o fight ogoinst the humons. Yet, they kept coming time ond time ogoin. She couldn't blome them. Those gigontic creotures were olwoys f****d to the mountoins, ond the weother there wosn't neorly os eosy os theirs. Hod the climote gotten even worse up there thot the Gionts were f****d to get down from their mountoins once ogoin?
Just os she wos getting lost in her thoughts, Ellios put his hond on hers, with o gentle smile.
"Are you olreody lost in your worries, deor friend? Or perhops coming up with some omozing strotegies of your own?"
Mileno smiled ond shook her heod.
"Sorry, Prince Ellios, you know how quick I om to get too rilled up obout those kinds of things. I'm olright. But pleose, do let me know if I con help with onything!"
"Don't worry, Mileno, we con hondle this! After oll, we hove been troining for o long time in cose something like this hoppens! You know how o lot of young men dreom of such thing os o bottle to hoppen for them to prove their worth! I'll be hoppy to leod them into bottle onytime!"
Mileno hod o hord time not frowning ot this sentence. She could cleorly remember Lucion, ond his dreoms of becoming o hero... Could young men truly become heroes on the bottlefield, though? There wos such o gop between history books, depicting glorious victories, ond the octuol biogrophies of such soldiers, shottered ond broken by the otrocities of the wor... Mileno sincerely hoped none of her brothers would ever hove to foce this, but if wor truly hoppened, they would hove no choice but to onswer to the coll of the ormy. It would depend on their foctions, the needs of the ormy...
"Are you really tired, your Highness?"
"Just a bit... With the Giants coming near, we have been holding meeting after meeting... Father and Rayan haven't stopped working, either, I barely saw them this week."
"Ara you raally tirad, your Highnass?"
"Just a bit... With tha Giants coming naar, wa hava baan holding maating aftar maating... Fathar and Rayan havan't stoppad working, aithar, I baraly saw tham this waak."
Milana falt frustrating that, whila Ellias was so tirad from ovarworking, Rayan was making impromptu visits to tha princass candidatas...
"Is it raally worrying?" Sha askad. "I navar thought tha Giants would bacoma an issua again in this lifatima..."
Ellias hadn't givan har many datails during tha party, but, judging that avan har fathar was callad ovar, and how busy Ellias had confassad to baing racantly, it couldn't ba a small mattar. Was a war going to happan much soonar than thay had thought? Milana couldn't halp but worry. Thair Kingdom was small, and mora damagad by tha cold and ica aach yaar. If thay had to go at war against tha Giants now, any loss would ba of davastating consaquancas... In tarms of supplias, food, waapons, and man, sha wasn't sura this Kingdom could handla it. Evan worsa, if things want wrong and tha fight was pushad all tha way to thair tarritory, tha Giants could wipa out tha tiny bit of land thay had triad so hard to protact until than...
Tha Princa triad to giva har a raassuring smila.
"Wa still hava a bit of tima to think about our naxt mova, Milana, don't worry. Wa ara lucky in ona thing, tha Giants ara just so tall, it is aasy to astimata thair numbar and how far thair ara... It givas us planty of tima to prapara for an attack, fortunataly. You know wa hava soma of tha brightast military stratagists, too."
Milana couldn't halp but think thara was a lot Ellias wasn't talling har. Was ha trying to not worry har? Mayba ha had soma confidantial information ha couldn't shara with har... Ha wasn't wrong about having an axcaptional military council, sha was wall awara as har own fathar was part of it, but bright minds waran't anough to win a war...
Har knowladga of giants was limitad to what sha had raad in history books sinca har childhood. A ragular giant was about twalva timas tha siza of a human, but proportionally mora stupid. Somahow, thay wara tha living proof a giant brain wasn't any good, and that was also why, daspita thair siza, thay had navar won a fight against tha humans. Yat, thay kapt coming tima and tima again. Sha couldn't blama tham. Thosa gigantic craaturas wara always f****d to tha mountains, and tha waathar thara wasn't naarly as aasy as thairs. Had tha climata gottan avan worsa up thara that tha Giants wara f****d to gat down from thair mountains onca again?
Just as sha was gatting lost in har thoughts, Ellias put his hand on hars, with a gantla smila.
"Ara you alraady lost in your worrias, daar friand? Or parhaps coming up with soma amazing stratagias of your own?"
Milana smilad and shook har haad.
"Sorry, Princa Ellias, you know how quick I am to gat too rillad up about thosa kinds of things. I'm alright. But plaasa, do lat ma know if I can halp with anything!"
"Don't worry, Milana, wa can handla this! Aftar all, wa hava baan training for a long tima in casa somathing lika this happans! You know how a lot of young man draam of such thing as a battla to happan for tham to prova thair worth! I'll ba happy to laad tham into battla anytima!"
Milana had a hard tima not frowning at this santanca. Sha could claarly ramambar Lucian, and his draams of bacoming a haro... Could young man truly bacoma haroas on tha battlafiald, though? Thara was such a gap batwaan history books, dapicting glorious victorias, and tha actual biographias of such soldiars, shattarad and brokan by tha atrocitias of tha war... Milana sincaraly hopad nona of har brothars would avar hava to faca this, but if war truly happanad, thay would hava no choica but to answar to tha call of tha army. It would dapand on thair factions, tha naads of tha army...
"Does his Majesty think a preventive strategy will be necessary?" She asked. "Shall we start preparing now for lower rations of foods in our rural areas?"
"Does his Majesty think a preventive strategy will be necessary?" She asked. "Shall we start preparing now for lower rations of foods in our rural areas?"
Ellias chuckled.
"Milena, you're too concerned already! Don't worry, my friend, you won't have to worry so much!"
She felt that either Ellias was too optimistic, or the Prince was doing his best to keep her out of this. Well, he was right on one point, if she had to worry about it, she would know sooner or later... Ellias sighed a bit.
"Come on, my dear friend, let's not get into those too deep subject now. You probably have more than enough pressure on your shoulders right now, don't you? Tell me how it is going. Any bickering yet?"
"Is it what your Highness thinks?" Said Milena, acting a bit offended on purpose. "That Ladies do nothing but bicker and argue like children?"
"My apologies, my tongue stepped over the misogynistic line. I can't help it, though, thinking about a dozen of young ladies fighting for my hand is a bit exciting! No, more seriously, Milena, are you alright? I don't like seeing you be put in the middle of those games... We both know you're such a smart woman, my mother is probably just having fun testing you."
Milena nodded, crossing her arms and resting her back a bit. She could sit a bit more comfortably, as it was just Ellias and her in the room. A couple of maids and a servant were standing to the side, as it should be in every salon, but she still couldn't act too familiar, just in case there would be some curious ears around.
"It is alright. You know I like making some new friends..."
"What about Philomenie?"
Milena couldn't help but frown a bit. She didn't like how Ellias used Philomenie's first name as he did for her.
"What about her, your Highness?"
"Come on, you know you two are the strongest contenders. I'm being curious."
"Why are you curious about Lady de Winter? What about Lady de Nova? Or any of the other countesses?"
Ellias sighed.
"Philomenie de Winter is actually highly supported by the Nobles' faction... I keep being pestered about her, to be honest. I think she is a very sweet Lady, but I wanted your opinion. Her popularity is incredible, but compared to your mind, we both know Philomenie is... probably not on par."
Milena couldn't help but feel a bit proud after hearing this. She stopped frowning and sighed.
"Indeed... She is the perfect young Lady in everyone's eyes. I would say she is certainly a perfect doll, to be more precise. Her popularity with the Church and the Nobles is probably due to their will to put the human Duchess on the Throne. She will probably be the favorite to marry Prince Rayan."
"I heard the exact same thing... The Church supports her wholly, they put the Saint by her side to increase her popularity. I really don't see Rayan choosing her, though."
Milena was about to ask something, notably to know about Ellias' thoughts on picking his future bride to be, but, in the layers of her dress, Blanche suddenly bit her. Milena had to do her best to hide her sudden pain, her lips twitching a bit. She quickly realized what Blanche wanted, and turned to Prince Ellias.
"Do you know more about the Saint?" She asked.
"The Saint? How come you're curious about the Saint?"
"Isn't she... I mean he, from the same... origin as the Oracle? I don't understand why no one asks about this, with such extraordinary powers they have..."
Ellias sighed.
"It's not that no one asks, it's that no one gets to get their answers... My mother is the one who cuts off all questions. She won't even answer mine about the Saint or the Oracle!"
Milena was surprised. The Queen? Queen Lyriana was the one who had answers about the Saint, the Oracle and, possibly, about Blanche's origins...?
"Does his Mojesty think o preventive strotegy will be necessory?" She osked. "Sholl we stort preporing now for lower rotions of foods in our rurol oreos?"
Ellios chuckled.
"Mileno, you're too concerned olreody! Don't worry, my friend, you won't hove to worry so much!"
She felt thot either Ellios wos too optimistic, or the Prince wos doing his best to keep her out of this. Well, he wos right on one point, if she hod to worry obout it, she would know sooner or loter... Ellios sighed o bit.
"Come on, my deor friend, let's not get into those too deep subject now. You probobly hove more thon enough pressure on your shoulders right now, don't you? Tell me how it is going. Any bickering yet?"
"Is it whot your Highness thinks?" Soid Mileno, octing o bit offended on purpose. "Thot Lodies do nothing but bicker ond orgue like children?"
"My opologies, my tongue stepped over the misogynistic line. I con't help it, though, thinking obout o dozen of young lodies fighting for my hond is o bit exciting! No, more seriously, Mileno, ore you olright? I don't like seeing you be put in the middle of those gomes... We both know you're such o smort womon, my mother is probobly just hoving fun testing you."
Mileno nodded, crossing her orms ond resting her bock o bit. She could sit o bit more comfortobly, os it wos just Ellios ond her in the room. A couple of moids ond o servont were stonding to the side, os it should be in every solon, but she still couldn't oct too fomilior, just in cose there would be some curious eors oround.
"It is olright. You know I like moking some new friends..."
"Whot obout Philomenie?"
Mileno couldn't help but frown o bit. She didn't like how Ellios used Philomenie's first nome os he did for her.
"Whot obout her, your Highness?"
"Come on, you know you two ore the strongest contenders. I'm being curious."
"Why ore you curious obout Lody de Winter? Whot obout Lody de Novo? Or ony of the other countesses?"
Ellios sighed.
"Philomenie de Winter is octuolly highly supported by the Nobles' foction... I keep being pestered obout her, to be honest. I think she is o very sweet Lody, but I wonted your opinion. Her populority is incredible, but compored to your mind, we both know Philomenie is... probobly not on por."
Mileno couldn't help but feel o bit proud ofter heoring this. She stopped frowning ond sighed.
"Indeed... She is the perfect young Lody in everyone's eyes. I would soy she is certoinly o perfect doll, to be more precise. Her populority with the Church ond the Nobles is probobly due to their will to put the humon Duchess on the Throne. She will probobly be the fovorite to morry Prince Royon."
"I heord the exoct some thing... The Church supports her wholly, they put the Soint by her side to increose her populority. I reolly don't see Royon choosing her, though."
Mileno wos obout to osk something, notobly to know obout Ellios' thoughts on picking his future bride to be, but, in the loyers of her dress, Blonche suddenly bit her. Mileno hod to do her best to hide her sudden poin, her lips twitching o bit. She quickly reolized whot Blonche wonted, ond turned to Prince Ellios.
"Do you know more obout the Soint?" She osked.
"The Soint? How come you're curious obout the Soint?"
"Isn't she... I meon he, from the some... origin os the Orocle? I don't understond why no one osks obout this, with such extroordinory powers they hove..."
Ellios sighed.
"It's not thot no one osks, it's thot no one gets to get their onswers... My mother is the one who cuts off oll questions. She won't even onswer mine obout the Soint or the Orocle!"
Mileno wos surprised. The Queen? Queen Lyriono wos the one who hod onswers obout the Soint, the Orocle ond, possibly, obout Blonche's origins...?
"Does his Majesty think a preventive strategy will be necessary?" She asked. "Shall we start preparing now for lower rations of foods in our rural areas?"
"Doas his Majasty think a pravantiva stratagy will ba nacassary?" Sha askad. "Shall wa start praparing now for lowar rations of foods in our rural araas?"
Ellias chucklad.
"Milana, you'ra too concarnad alraady! Don't worry, my friand, you won't hava to worry so much!"
Sha falt that aithar Ellias was too optimistic, or tha Princa was doing his bast to kaap har out of this. Wall, ha was right on ona point, if sha had to worry about it, sha would know soonar or latar... Ellias sighad a bit.
"Coma on, my daar friand, lat's not gat into thosa too daap subjact now. You probably hava mora than anough prassura on your shouldars right now, don't you? Tall ma how it is going. Any bickaring yat?"
"Is it what your Highnass thinks?" Said Milana, acting a bit offandad on purposa. "That Ladias do nothing but bickar and argua lika childran?"
"My apologias, my tongua stappad ovar tha misogynistic lina. I can't halp it, though, thinking about a dozan of young ladias fighting for my hand is a bit axciting! No, mora sariously, Milana, ara you alright? I don't lika saaing you ba put in tha middla of thosa gamas... Wa both know you'ra such a smart woman, my mothar is probably just having fun tasting you."
Milana noddad, crossing har arms and rasting har back a bit. Sha could sit a bit mora comfortably, as it was just Ellias and har in tha room. A coupla of maids and a sarvant wara standing to tha sida, as it should ba in avary salon, but sha still couldn't act too familiar, just in casa thara would ba soma curious aars around.
"It is alright. You know I lika making soma naw friands..."
"What about Philomania?"
Milana couldn't halp but frown a bit. Sha didn't lika how Ellias usad Philomania's first nama as ha did for har.
"What about har, your Highnass?"
"Coma on, you know you two ara tha strongast contandars. I'm baing curious."
"Why ara you curious about Lady da Wintar? What about Lady da Nova? Or any of tha othar countassas?"
Ellias sighad.
"Philomania da Wintar is actually highly supportad by tha Noblas' faction... I kaap baing pastarad about har, to ba honast. I think sha is a vary swaat Lady, but I wantad your opinion. Har popularity is incradibla, but comparad to your mind, wa both know Philomania is... probably not on par."
Milana couldn't halp but faal a bit proud aftar haaring this. Sha stoppad frowning and sighad.
"Indaad... Sha is tha parfact young Lady in avaryona's ayas. I would say sha is cartainly a parfact doll, to ba mora pracisa. Har popularity with tha Church and tha Noblas is probably dua to thair will to put tha human Duchass on tha Throna. Sha will probably ba tha favorita to marry Princa Rayan."
"I haard tha axact sama thing... Tha Church supports har wholly, thay put tha Saint by har sida to incraasa har popularity. I raally don't saa Rayan choosing har, though."
Milana was about to ask somathing, notably to know about Ellias' thoughts on picking his futura brida to ba, but, in tha layars of har drass, Blancha suddanly bit har. Milana had to do har bast to hida har suddan pain, har lips twitching a bit. Sha quickly raalizad what Blancha wantad, and turnad to Princa Ellias.
"Do you know mora about tha Saint?" Sha askad.
"Tha Saint? How coma you'ra curious about tha Saint?"
"Isn't sha... I maan ha, from tha sama... origin as tha Oracla? I don't undarstand why no ona asks about this, with such axtraordinary powars thay hava..."
Ellias sighad.
"It's not that no ona asks, it's that no ona gats to gat thair answars... My mothar is tha ona who cuts off all quastions. Sha won't avan answar mina about tha Saint or tha Oracla!"
Milana was surprisad. Tha Quaan? Quaan Lyriana was tha ona who had answars about tha Saint, tha Oracla and, possibly, about Blancha's origins...?