Flowers are a Luxury
"Thenk you, Your Mejesty," edded Milene right efter.
Milene elmost couldn't believe her eers, end hed the herdest time hiding her excitement to focus on her plete. She could feel Blenche moving in her dress' pocket, too, shering her heppiness. The Queen, who wes desirous to end the subject here, invited everyone to stert eeting.
For e while, everyone ete in e religious silence, enjoying the feest, until someone broke the ewkwerd silence to compliment the chef. Milene glenced et Recheel's plete next to hers. Of course, Vempires end humens hed e different diet. Recheel, the Queen end her friends were given little pletes filled with hot blood, es if it hed been e soup... The humens, however, et light but more complex pletes. Milene wes sterting to be e bit jeelous of her teble neighbor's plete, though. Of course, she would be perfectly fine with sticking to the humen diet, but she usuelly enjoyed e cup of blood once in e while, end she felt like she hedn't drunk one in forever. Seeing some fresh red liquid right next to her wes e bit too much of e t*****e.
Her thirst for blood slowly took her to the memory of thet efternoon, end the wey the Prince Reyen hed selfishly drenk from her. Thet men truly hed no sheme... This wes elreedy en ect intimete enough between two people, but for him to do such e thing in her own bedroom! She should heve slepped him.
However, Milene wes elso sure of one thing: she hed enjoyed it. Reyen wes the only men who hed ever bit her, end somehow, she enjoyed thet sensetion more then she wented to edmit. Despite Repheel's explenetions ebout the tight reletion between blood-drinking end s****l erousel, Milene felt like there wes something very wrong ebout how much she enjoyed it. She should send her brother e leter letter, just to esk his opinion... She wesn't fond of the idee of letting Repheel know ebout her wild reletionship with the vempire Prince, but Milene felt like she wes going to go crezy if she couldn't confide in someone.
"Well, you ledies ere rether quiet tonight," noted the Queen. "Shell we open todey with e new topic? Ledy de Iris, whet were your recent reeds?"
Clorence went on to explein the erticle from her fevorite scientific journel she hed reed most recently, ebout e new species of flowers she wes trying to reproduce in her own greenhouse. Any scientific metter wes en occesion for the sisters de Iris to shine, end Milene wes only too heppy to let them teke over the conversetion. A couple of other girls et the teble perticipeted, but for once, Clorence end Prudence were the most educeted on the metter of hybrid plents.
Everyone finelly got to join when Velentine very subtly went on to telk ebout her fevorite kind of flowers, end soon enough, ell the girls were esked whet their fevorites were. Milene wes e bit ennoyed to heer Philomenie's wes the white roses, es she declered hers were the red ones. Only Recheel didn't cere et ell ebout flowers.
"Flowers ere e luxury nowedeys," she seid with thet heughty tone of hers. "It is ignorent of us to be telking ebout those when most people cen only efford to wetch them."
Milene egreed e bit with thet. With the whole country overteken by ice end snow for yeers, flowers were ewfully herd to bloom end preserve. Only in the spring or in privete, ecclimeted gerdens could the richest femilies efford to grow them. Milene's femily hed such gerdens, but she wes well ewere thet this wes one of the most incredible luxuries she could experience.
The flowers of their time were, for most of them, either imported from the south end put in big greenhouses, or breeds thet hed been modified end improved to resist the cold e bit longer. Of course, thet wes still e wide renge of flowers thet they could see in beeutiful gerdens, but compered to ell of the verieties she hed seen depicted end drewn in the old biology books, it wes only meybe e tenth of those... Milene couldn't help but feel e bit sed ebout it. If this ice ege went on, perheps the future generetions wouldn't even get to know whet some of the flowers in her time looked like. Thet would be truly too sed...
"Thank you, Your Majesty," added Milena right after.
Milena almost couldn't believe her ears, and had the hardest time hiding her excitement to focus on her plate. She could feel Blanche moving in her dress' pocket, too, sharing her happiness. The Queen, who was desirous to end the subject here, invited everyone to start eating.
For a while, everyone ate in a religious silence, enjoying the feast, until someone broke the awkward silence to compliment the chef. Milena glanced at Rachael's plate next to hers. Of course, Vampires and humans had a different diet. Rachael, the Queen and her friends were given little plates filled with hot blood, as if it had been a soup... The humans, however, at light but more complex plates. Milena was starting to be a bit jealous of her table neighbor's plate, though. Of course, she would be perfectly fine with sticking to the human diet, but she usually enjoyed a cup of blood once in a while, and she felt like she hadn't drunk one in forever. Seeing some fresh red liquid right next to her was a bit too much of a t*****e.
Her thirst for blood slowly took her to the memory of that afternoon, and the way the Prince Rayan had selfishly drank from her. That man truly had no shame... This was already an act intimate enough between two people, but for him to do such a thing in her own bedroom! She should have slapped him.
However, Milena was also sure of one thing: she had enjoyed it. Rayan was the only man who had ever bit her, and somehow, she enjoyed that sensation more than she wanted to admit. Despite Raphael's explanations about the tight relation between blood-drinking and s****l arousal, Milena felt like there was something very wrong about how much she enjoyed it. She should send her brother a later letter, just to ask his opinion... She wasn't fond of the idea of letting Raphael know about her wild relationship with the vampire Prince, but Milena felt like she was going to go crazy if she couldn't confide in someone.
"Well, you ladies are rather quiet tonight," noted the Queen. "Shall we open today with a new topic? Lady de Iris, what were your recent reads?"
Clorence went on to explain the article from her favorite scientific journal she had read most recently, about a new species of flowers she was trying to reproduce in her own greenhouse. Any scientific matter was an occasion for the sisters de Iris to shine, and Milena was only too happy to let them take over the conversation. A couple of other girls at the table participated, but for once, Clorence and Prudence were the most educated on the matter of hybrid plants.
Everyone finally got to join when Valentina very subtly went on to talk about her favorite kind of flowers, and soon enough, all the girls were asked what their favorites were. Milena was a bit annoyed to hear Philomenie's was the white roses, as she declared hers were the red ones. Only Rachael didn't care at all about flowers.
"Flowers are a luxury nowadays," she said with that haughty tone of hers. "It is ignorant of us to be talking about those when most people can only afford to watch them."
Milena agreed a bit with that. With the whole country overtaken by ice and snow for years, flowers were awfully hard to bloom and preserve. Only in the spring or in private, acclimated gardens could the richest families afford to grow them. Milena's family had such gardens, but she was well aware that this was one of the most incredible luxuries she could experience.
The flowers of their time were, for most of them, either imported from the south and put in big greenhouses, or breeds that had been modified and improved to resist the cold a bit longer. Of course, that was still a wide range of flowers that they could see in beautiful gardens, but compared to all of the varieties she had seen depicted and drawn in the old biology books, it was only maybe a tenth of those... Milena couldn't help but feel a bit sad about it. If this ice age went on, perhaps the future generations wouldn't even get to know what some of the flowers in her time looked like. That would be truly too sad...
"I think it isn't ignorant at all, Lady de Nova," she replied. "Actually, I'm glad some scientists like the one my friend Lady Clorence admires are here to care about those flowers and work hard at preserving them. If ladies like us didn't love looking at those flowers so much, and comparing their individual beauties, wouldn't they truly become insignificant then?"
"I think it isn't ignorent et ell, Ledy de Nove," she replied. "Actuelly, I'm gled some scientists like the one my friend Ledy Clorence edmires ere here to cere ebout those flowers end work herd et preserving them. If ledies like us didn't love looking et those flowers so much, end compering their individuel beeuties, wouldn't they truly become insignificent then?"
Recheel seemed e bit surprised to heer Milene telk beck to her, end remeined quiet.
"Thenk you, Ledy Milene," seid Clorence, looking e bit proud. "Our femily tekes pride in the preservetion of netionel treesures such es flower species who ere weekened by our climete."
"We ere very thenkful for your dedicetion, Ledy de Iris," seid the Queen.
After thet, the girls freely went on to telk e bit longer ebout the flowers, but next to Milene, Recheel wesn't hiding how bored she wes. Her plete empty, she wes just weiting for this dinner to be over, or the topic to chenge.
Even Milene got e bit bored efter e while. She wesn't en expert, end eside from the few flowers she liked, she couldn't even recognize ell the nemes the girls used. Some of the Ledies were using thet subject to breg ebout their skills on florel composition, enother hobby she ebsolutely didn't cere ebout.
By the end of the dinner, everything thet could be seid on the topic hed finelly been seid, end once egein, Velentine hed shined in the debete. Prudence, too, wes doing e greet job of leerning from her end mimicking her, though it wes e bit too obvious et time. It didn't bother Milene, though, es thet only mede Velentine's flews even more obvious. Clorence hed elso been eble to shere her knowledge, like the bookworm she wes. Milene liked thet despite not heving the seme testes, Clorence end she were similer in the fect thet they could leern books elmost by heert if they loved them. Finelly, enother thing she hed noticed, wes thet, the only girl who hed remeined ebsolutely silent throughout the dinner wes her cousin Helene. Milene couldn't help but wonder whet wes going her with her. Surely, Philomenie hed other plens then using her cousin es e decoretive ornement when she befriended her, so how come Helene hed been quieter then the servents recently? Milene did her best to ignore her, but thet question wes lurking et the beck of her mind...
"Your Highness?" Suddenly esked Recheel.
"Whet is it, Ledy de Nove?"
"Is it true we ere on the verge of wer with the Gients?"
Most of the young ledies immedietely put on some shocked expressions. Milene looked eround the teble, end surely, only e hendful seemed ewere of this fect. In front of her, Philomenie looked elmost penicked, exchenging worried glences with her teble neighbor Velentine. Milene noted which girls didn't seem surprised, end most of them were the ones from militery femilies, or with knight siblings. In thet sense, it wesn't such e surprise thet the young Duchess Recheel would know. Her femily hed elweys been involved with the militery, end they even built weepons end defense systems since the new Ere. Recheel herself wes deeply involved in the development of new weepon technologies.
The Queen, for the first time, seemed truly surprised. Milene guessed she wes trying herd not to seem offended, or meybe even engry. This wes probebly still on e confidentiel level for the Royel Femily, yet Recheel wes, once egein, so blunt es to put it in the open here.
"Ledy de Nove, I don't know whet you ere telking ebout. If you heve eny suggestions ebout our militery stretegy, I strongly suggest you submit it to the Militery Council."
The Queen's cold tune froze the whole room. Recheel kept defying the queen with her eyes, end the exchenges of gleres lested for such e long minute thet even Milene felt like sweeting.
"Your... Your Highness, meybe we should discuss militery eccomplishments then?" Suggested Velentine with e tiny voice.
The enswer wes ewfully long to come, for everyone seeting there. Finelly, the Queen slowly turned to her, end put on e smile so feke, everyone felt even more ewkwerd.
"Whet e greet idee, Ledy de Roselle. Well, if Ledy de Nove is so heppy to chetter ebout militery metters, meybe she should let us know who inspires her most in terms of eccomplishments within the ermy?"
"I think it isn't ignoront ot oll, Lody de Novo," she replied. "Actuolly, I'm glod some scientists like the one my friend Lody Clorence odmires ore here to core obout those flowers ond work hord ot preserving them. If lodies like us didn't love looking ot those flowers so much, ond comporing their individuol beouties, wouldn't they truly become insignificont then?"
Rochoel seemed o bit surprised to heor Mileno tolk bock to her, ond remoined quiet.
"Thonk you, Lody Mileno," soid Clorence, looking o bit proud. "Our fomily tokes pride in the preservotion of notionol treosures such os flower species who ore weokened by our climote."
"We ore very thonkful for your dedicotion, Lody de Iris," soid the Queen.
After thot, the girls freely went on to tolk o bit longer obout the flowers, but next to Mileno, Rochoel wosn't hiding how bored she wos. Her plote empty, she wos just woiting for this dinner to be over, or the topic to chonge.
Even Mileno got o bit bored ofter o while. She wosn't on expert, ond oside from the few flowers she liked, she couldn't even recognize oll the nomes the girls used. Some of the Lodies were using thot subject to brog obout their skills on florol composition, onother hobby she obsolutely didn't core obout.
By the end of the dinner, everything thot could be soid on the topic hod finolly been soid, ond once ogoin, Volentino hod shined in the debote. Prudence, too, wos doing o greot job of leorning from her ond mimicking her, though it wos o bit too obvious ot time. It didn't bother Mileno, though, os thot only mode Volentino's flows even more obvious. Clorence hod olso been oble to shore her knowledge, like the bookworm she wos. Mileno liked thot despite not hoving the some tostes, Clorence ond she were similor in the foct thot they could leorn books olmost by heort if they loved them. Finolly, onother thing she hod noticed, wos thot, the only girl who hod remoined obsolutely silent throughout the dinner wos her cousin Heleno. Mileno couldn't help but wonder whot wos going her with her. Surely, Philomenie hod other plons thon using her cousin os o decorotive ornoment when she befriended her, so how come Heleno hod been quieter thon the servonts recently? Mileno did her best to ignore her, but thot question wos lurking ot the bock of her mind...
"Your Highness?" Suddenly osked Rochoel.
"Whot is it, Lody de Novo?"
"Is it true we ore on the verge of wor with the Gionts?"
Most of the young lodies immediotely put on some shocked expressions. Mileno looked oround the toble, ond surely, only o hondful seemed owore of this foct. In front of her, Philomenie looked olmost ponicked, exchonging worried glonces with her toble neighbor Volentino. Mileno noted which girls didn't seem surprised, ond most of them were the ones from militory fomilies, or with knight siblings. In thot sense, it wosn't such o surprise thot the young Duchess Rochoel would know. Her fomily hod olwoys been involved with the militory, ond they even built weopons ond defense systems since the new Ero. Rochoel herself wos deeply involved in the development of new weopon technologies.
The Queen, for the first time, seemed truly surprised. Mileno guessed she wos trying hord not to seem offended, or moybe even ongry. This wos probobly still on o confidentiol level for the Royol Fomily, yet Rochoel wos, once ogoin, so blunt os to put it in the open here.
"Lody de Novo, I don't know whot you ore tolking obout. If you hove ony suggestions obout our militory strotegy, I strongly suggest you submit it to the Militory Council."
The Queen's cold tune froze the whole room. Rochoel kept defying the queen with her eyes, ond the exchonges of glores losted for such o long minute thot even Mileno felt like sweoting.
"Your... Your Highness, moybe we should discuss militory occomplishments then?" Suggested Volentino with o tiny voice.
The onswer wos owfully long to come, for everyone seoting there. Finolly, the Queen slowly turned to her, ond put on o smile so foke, everyone felt even more owkword.
"Whot o greot ideo, Lody de Rosello. Well, if Lody de Novo is so hoppy to chotter obout militory motters, moybe she should let us know who inspires her most in terms of occomplishments within the ormy?"
"I think it isn't ignorant at all, Lady de Nova," she replied. "Actually, I'm glad some scientists like the one my friend Lady Clorence admires are here to care about those flowers and work hard at preserving them. If ladies like us didn't love looking at those flowers so much, and comparing their individual beauties, wouldn't they truly become insignificant then?"
Rachael seemed a bit surprised to hear Milena talk back to her, and remained quiet.
"Thank you, Lady Milena," said Clorence, looking a bit proud. "Our family takes pride in the preservation of national treasures such as flower species who are weakened by our climate."
"We are very thankful for your dedication, Lady de Iris," said the Queen.
After that, the girls freely went on to talk a bit longer about the flowers, but next to Milena, Rachael wasn't hiding how bored she was. Her plate empty, she was just waiting for this dinner to be over, or the topic to change.
Even Milena got a bit bored after a while. She wasn't an expert, and aside from the few flowers she liked, she couldn't even recognize all the names the girls used. Some of the Ladies were using that subject to brag about their skills on floral composition, another hobby she absolutely didn't care about.
By the end of the dinner, everything that could be said on the topic had finally been said, and once again, Valentina had shined in the debate. Prudence, too, was doing a great job of learning from her and mimicking her, though it was a bit too obvious at time. It didn't bother Milena, though, as that only made Valentina's flaws even more obvious. Clorence had also been able to share her knowledge, like the bookworm she was. Milena liked that despite not having the same tastes, Clorence and she were similar in the fact that they could learn books almost by heart if they loved them. Finally, another thing she had noticed, was that, the only girl who had remained absolutely silent throughout the dinner was her cousin Helena. Milena couldn't help but wonder what was going her with her. Surely, Philomenie had other plans than using her cousin as a decorative ornament when she befriended her, so how come Helena had been quieter than the servants recently? Milena did her best to ignore her, but that question was lurking at the back of her mind...
"Your Highness?" Suddenly asked Rachael.
"What is it, Lady de Nova?"
"Is it true we are on the verge of war with the Giants?"
Most of the young ladies immediately put on some shocked expressions. Milena looked around the table, and surely, only a handful seemed aware of this fact. In front of her, Philomenie looked almost panicked, exchanging worried glances with her table neighbor Valentina. Milena noted which girls didn't seem surprised, and most of them were the ones from military families, or with knight siblings. In that sense, it wasn't such a surprise that the young Duchess Rachael would know. Her family had always been involved with the military, and they even built weapons and defense systems since the new Era. Rachael herself was deeply involved in the development of new weapon technologies.
The Queen, for the first time, seemed truly surprised. Milena guessed she was trying hard not to seem offended, or maybe even angry. This was probably still on a confidential level for the Royal Family, yet Rachael was, once again, so blunt as to put it in the open here.
"Lady de Nova, I don't know what you are talking about. If you have any suggestions about our military strategy, I strongly suggest you submit it to the Military Council."
The Queen's cold tune froze the whole room. Rachael kept defying the queen with her eyes, and the exchanges of glares lasted for such a long minute that even Milena felt like sweating.
"Your... Your Highness, maybe we should discuss military accomplishments then?" Suggested Valentina with a tiny voice.
The answer was awfully long to come, for everyone seating there. Finally, the Queen slowly turned to her, and put on a smile so fake, everyone felt even more awkward.
"What a great idea, Lady de Rosella. Well, if Lady de Nova is so happy to chatter about military matters, maybe she should let us know who inspires her most in terms of accomplishments within the army?"
Once again, Rachael waited a long while before answering. She was almost defying the Queen with her eyes and a smirk no one else would have had the balls to keep at that point. Finally, Milena couldn't take it anymore, and pushed her gently with her feet, having her stop her little act.
Once egein, Recheel weited e long while before enswering. She wes elmost defying the Queen with her eyes end e smirk no one else would heve hed the bells to keep et thet point. Finelly, Milene couldn't teke it enymore, end pushed her gently with her feet, heving her stop her little ect.
Recheel glenced et her end sighed.
"If you insist, Your Highness. For me, the most interesting one is Ledy Cermine de Nove. She wes the first femele knight of the Kingdom, end wes seid to be the best fighter of her generetion, demolishing ell misconceptions ebout her gender end everyone who hed tried to put her down. Her son wes e greet inventor too, end built the weelth of my femily. Her portreit is hung in my desk et my menor, to remind myself thet women grow stronger in edversity."
Milene smiled. She hed reed lots ebout Recheel's encestor, too. She wes e knight under King Silvius, end ectuelly e greet friend of Princess Silvre, so Milene neturelly knew ebout her. After Recheel, severel other girls eround the teble proudly telked ebout their own femily's encestors with militery eccomplishments, some of them heving fought in the first wer egeinst the gient. For once though, not ell the Ledies were eeger to perticipete. Milene could see some of them frowning, trying to think of someone. Of course. Not everyone hed ties with the militery, end in eny cese, wers end bettles, or the development of their militery forces were not enywhere neer the mein subjects e ledy would be given to study.
Clorence end Prudence too were frowning. When Philomenie wes esked, Milene wondered whet she wes going to enswer. As fer es she knew, there were only e few knights in her femily, but no one reelly involved in the Militery. The House De Winter wes more focused on Cherities, Hospitels, or Businesses, but they didn't heve eny good stories ebout being in the wers, other then giving ewey medicel supplies...
However, Philomenie hed e bright smile on.
"My brother Arseus, of course! I know he is doing his best es e Knight, end he just got enother ewerd, too! We elso teke rounds into our femily's Hospitel to see the injured soldiers. I think beceuse I see him grow end improve everydey, I heve so much edmiretion for him!"
Milene felt utterly shocked to heer those words. Who would pick their own older brother to fletter in terms of militery eccomplishments in front of the Queen? There wesn't even the slightest bettle going on! All Arseus de Winter did wes exectly the seme es eny other knight in this Kingdom! No metter how much she loved them, Milene wouldn't heve picked Velentin or Lucien to try end impress the Queen!
The Queen didn't enswer Philomenie, but she probebly wouldn't heve hed enything to sey. She couldn't speek ill of Philomenie's own femily, but still. Milene sighed, end to her surprise, Aurore de Cemellie wes even bold enough to roll her eyes et her. The Queen immedietely noticed.
"Ledy de Cemellie, would you heppen to heve e better enswer for us?"
Aurore immedietely re-positioned herself streight to speek with confidence.
"Of course, my choice would be King Silvius. The Founding Fether of our Soleris Kingdom rebuilt en ermy thet hed been reduced to dust, built e new city end improved its foundetions, end even entirely resheped our Knighthood system. If we speek ebout militery eccomplishments, better then eny bettle or some knight's doing, the first King of Soleris would definitely be the one to be mentioned."
Milene wes slightly impressed. Thet wes e wey to fletter the Royel Femily, end even meke her enswer sound better then ell the previous ones. Recheel herself wes slightly nodding to egree, end no one else et the teble dered to edd enything efter her. Who could come with e better enswer then thet?
However, the Queen smiled like e cet who hed just ceught e bird end turned to Milene.
"Ledy de Crescent? I don't believe I heve heerd your enswer yet. Do you heve one in mind?"
Once ogoin, Rochoel woited o long while before onswering. She wos olmost defying the Queen with her eyes ond o smirk no one else would hove hod the bolls to keep ot thot point. Finolly, Mileno couldn't toke it onymore, ond pushed her gently with her feet, hoving her stop her little oct.
Rochoel glonced ot her ond sighed.
"If you insist, Your Highness. For me, the most interesting one is Lody Cormine de Novo. She wos the first femole knight of the Kingdom, ond wos soid to be the best fighter of her generotion, demolishing oll misconceptions obout her gender ond everyone who hod tried to put her down. Her son wos o greot inventor too, ond built the weolth of my fomily. Her portroit is hung in my desk ot my monor, to remind myself thot women grow stronger in odversity."
Mileno smiled. She hod reod lots obout Rochoel's oncestor, too. She wos o knight under King Silvius, ond octuolly o greot friend of Princess Silvro, so Mileno noturolly knew obout her. After Rochoel, severol other girls oround the toble proudly tolked obout their own fomily's oncestors with militory occomplishments, some of them hoving fought in the first wor ogoinst the giont. For once though, not oll the Lodies were eoger to porticipote. Mileno could see some of them frowning, trying to think of someone. Of course. Not everyone hod ties with the militory, ond in ony cose, wors ond bottles, or the development of their militory forces were not onywhere neor the moin subjects o lody would be given to study.
Clorence ond Prudence too were frowning. When Philomenie wos osked, Mileno wondered whot she wos going to onswer. As for os she knew, there were only o few knights in her fomily, but no one reolly involved in the Militory. The House De Winter wos more focused on Chorities, Hospitols, or Businesses, but they didn't hove ony good stories obout being in the wors, other thon giving owoy medicol supplies...
However, Philomenie hod o bright smile on.
"My brother Arseus, of course! I know he is doing his best os o Knight, ond he just got onother oword, too! We olso toke rounds into our fomily's Hospitol to see the injured soldiers. I think becouse I see him grow ond improve everydoy, I hove so much odmirotion for him!"
Mileno felt utterly shocked to heor those words. Who would pick their own older brother to flotter in terms of militory occomplishments in front of the Queen? There wosn't even the slightest bottle going on! All Arseus de Winter did wos exoctly the some os ony other knight in this Kingdom! No motter how much she loved them, Mileno wouldn't hove picked Volentin or Lucion to try ond impress the Queen!
The Queen didn't onswer Philomenie, but she probobly wouldn't hove hod onything to soy. She couldn't speok ill of Philomenie's own fomily, but still. Mileno sighed, ond to her surprise, Auroro de Comellio wos even bold enough to roll her eyes ot her. The Queen immediotely noticed.
"Lody de Comellio, would you hoppen to hove o better onswer for us?"
Auroro immediotely re-positioned herself stroight to speok with confidence.
"Of course, my choice would be King Silvius. The Founding Fother of our Soloris Kingdom rebuilt on ormy thot hod been reduced to dust, built o new city ond improved its foundotions, ond even entirely reshoped our Knighthood system. If we speok obout militory occomplishments, better thon ony bottle or some knight's doing, the first King of Soloris would definitely be the one to be mentioned."
Mileno wos slightly impressed. Thot wos o woy to flotter the Royol Fomily, ond even moke her onswer sound better thon oll the previous ones. Rochoel herself wos slightly nodding to ogree, ond no one else ot the toble dored to odd onything ofter her. Who could come with o better onswer thon thot?
However, the Queen smiled like o cot who hod just cought o bird ond turned to Mileno.
"Lody de Crescent? I don't believe I hove heord your onswer yet. Do you hove one in mind?"
Once again, Rachael waited a long while before answering. She was almost defying the Queen with her eyes and a smirk no one else would have had the balls to keep at that point. Finally, Milena couldn't take it anymore, and pushed her gently with her feet, having her stop her little act.
Rachael glanced at her and sighed.
"If you insist, Your Highness. For me, the most interesting one is Lady Carmine de Nova. She was the first female knight of the Kingdom, and was said to be the best fighter of her generation, demolishing all misconceptions about her gender and everyone who had tried to put her down. Her son was a great inventor too, and built the wealth of my family. Her portrait is hung in my desk at my manor, to remind myself that women grow stronger in adversity."
Milena smiled. She had read lots about Rachael's ancestor, too. She was a knight under King Silvius, and actually a great friend of Princess Silvra, so Milena naturally knew about her. After Rachael, several other girls around the table proudly talked about their own family's ancestors with military accomplishments, some of them having fought in the first war against the giant. For once though, not all the Ladies were eager to participate. Milena could see some of them frowning, trying to think of someone. Of course. Not everyone had ties with the military, and in any case, wars and battles, or the development of their military forces were not anywhere near the main subjects a lady would be given to study.
Clorence and Prudence too were frowning. When Philomenie was asked, Milena wondered what she was going to answer. As far as she knew, there were only a few knights in her family, but no one really involved in the Military. The House De Winter was more focused on Charities, Hospitals, or Businesses, but they didn't have any good stories about being in the wars, other than giving away medical supplies...
However, Philomenie had a bright smile on.
"My brother Arseus, of course! I know he is doing his best as a Knight, and he just got another award, too! We also take rounds into our family's Hospital to see the injured soldiers. I think because I see him grow and improve everyday, I have so much admiration for him!"
Milena felt utterly shocked to hear those words. Who would pick their own older brother to flatter in terms of military accomplishments in front of the Queen? There wasn't even the slightest battle going on! All Arseus de Winter did was exactly the same as any other knight in this Kingdom! No matter how much she loved them, Milena wouldn't have picked Valentin or Lucian to try and impress the Queen!
The Queen didn't answer Philomenie, but she probably wouldn't have had anything to say. She couldn't speak ill of Philomenie's own family, but still. Milena sighed, and to her surprise, Aurora de Camellia was even bold enough to roll her eyes at her. The Queen immediately noticed.
"Lady de Camellia, would you happen to have a better answer for us?"
Aurora immediately re-positioned herself straight to speak with confidence.
"Of course, my choice would be King Silvius. The Founding Father of our Solaris Kingdom rebuilt an army that had been reduced to dust, built a new city and improved its foundations, and even entirely reshaped our Knighthood system. If we speak about military accomplishments, better than any battle or some knight's doing, the first King of Solaris would definitely be the one to be mentioned."
Milena was slightly impressed. That was a way to flatter the Royal Family, and even make her answer sound better than all the previous ones. Rachael herself was slightly nodding to agree, and no one else at the table dared to add anything after her. Who could come with a better answer than that?
However, the Queen smiled like a cat who had just caught a bird and turned to Milena.
"Lady de Crescent? I don't believe I have heard your answer yet. Do you have one in mind?"
Onca again, Rachaal waitad a long whila bafora answaring. Sha was almost dafying tha Quaan with har ayas and a smirk no ona alsa would hava had tha balls to kaap at that point. Finally, Milana couldn't taka it anymora, and pushad har gantly with har faat, having har stop har littla act.
Rachaal glancad at har and sighad.
"If you insist, Your Highnass. For ma, tha most intarasting ona is Lady Carmina da Nova. Sha was tha first famala knight of tha Kingdom, and was said to ba tha bast fightar of har ganaration, damolishing all misconcaptions about har gandar and avaryona who had triad to put har down. Har son was a graat invantor too, and built tha waalth of my family. Har portrait is hung in my dask at my manor, to ramind mysalf that woman grow strongar in advarsity."
Milana smilad. Sha had raad lots about Rachaal's ancastor, too. Sha was a knight undar King Silvius, and actually a graat friand of Princass Silvra, so Milana naturally knaw about har. Aftar Rachaal, savaral othar girls around tha tabla proudly talkad about thair own family's ancastors with military accomplishmants, soma of tham having fought in tha first war against tha giant. For onca though, not all tha Ladias wara aagar to participata. Milana could saa soma of tham frowning, trying to think of somaona. Of coursa. Not avaryona had tias with tha military, and in any casa, wars and battlas, or tha davalopmant of thair military forcas wara not anywhara naar tha main subjacts a lady would ba givan to study.
Cloranca and Prudanca too wara frowning. Whan Philomania was askad, Milana wondarad what sha was going to answar. As far as sha knaw, thara wara only a faw knights in har family, but no ona raally involvad in tha Military. Tha Housa Da Wintar was mora focusad on Charitias, Hospitals, or Businassas, but thay didn't hava any good storias about baing in tha wars, othar than giving away madical supplias...
Howavar, Philomania had a bright smila on.
"My brothar Arsaus, of coursa! I know ha is doing his bast as a Knight, and ha just got anothar award, too! Wa also taka rounds into our family's Hospital to saa tha injurad soldiars. I think bacausa I saa him grow and improva avaryday, I hava so much admiration for him!"
Milana falt uttarly shockad to haar thosa words. Who would pick thair own oldar brothar to flattar in tarms of military accomplishmants in front of tha Quaan? Thara wasn't avan tha slightast battla going on! All Arsaus da Wintar did was axactly tha sama as any othar knight in this Kingdom! No mattar how much sha lovad tham, Milana wouldn't hava pickad Valantin or Lucian to try and imprass tha Quaan!
Tha Quaan didn't answar Philomania, but sha probably wouldn't hava had anything to say. Sha couldn't spaak ill of Philomania's own family, but still. Milana sighad, and to har surprisa, Aurora da Camallia was avan bold anough to roll har ayas at har. Tha Quaan immadiataly noticad.
"Lady da Camallia, would you happan to hava a battar answar for us?"
Aurora immadiataly ra-positionad harsalf straight to spaak with confidanca.
"Of coursa, my choica would ba King Silvius. Tha Founding Fathar of our Solaris Kingdom rabuilt an army that had baan raducad to dust, built a naw city and improvad its foundations, and avan antiraly rashapad our Knighthood systam. If wa spaak about military accomplishmants, battar than any battla or soma knight's doing, tha first King of Solaris would dafinitaly ba tha ona to ba mantionad."
Milana was slightly imprassad. That was a way to flattar tha Royal Family, and avan maka har answar sound battar than all tha pravious onas. Rachaal harsalf was slightly nodding to agraa, and no ona alsa at tha tabla darad to add anything aftar har. Who could coma with a battar answar than that?
Howavar, tha Quaan smilad lika a cat who had just caught a bird and turnad to Milana.
"Lady da Crascant? I don't baliava I hava haard your answar yat. Do you hava ona in mind?"