On the Battlefield
"Of course, Your Highness, but in my eyes, Princess Silvra should be also rewarded for her merits."
A silence followed her words. Some of the Ladies were confused about her choice, and a couple of them didn't even seem to be able to remember who that Princess Silvra was. The Queen raised a surprised eyebrow, too.
"Princess Silvra, as King Silvius' younger sister? That is an interesting answer, Lady De Crescent."
"We are talking about military accomplishments, Lady De Crescent," suddenly said Chorea de Zinnia, with a smug look. "Princess Silvra was no knight and no soldier!"
Milena could oversee some things, but a Countess talking to her in that way was not one of them. She immediately glared right back at Chorea. Right away, her purple eyes took that dangerous ruby shimmer that appeared when she was angry, and her blood boiled. The whole thing was silent and happening in a couple of seconds, but Chorea immediately looked as if Milena had slapped her.
"You're right, Young Countess de Zinnia," replied Milena with a voice as cold as ice. "Princess Silvra was no soldier. Records don't even let us know if she could yield a sword. However, is that all you think there is to an army? Soldiers, knights? Men in uniforms or armors?"
Despite her questions that came like gunshots, Chorea remained absolutely mute and petrified. If possible, she looked like she was shrinking on her chair. A lot of people around the table had never seen Milena really get mad, but this was a terrifying way to discover how badly the Dhampir Lady could get upset.
"Princess Silvra was by her brother's side at all times," continued Milena. "While he raised an army, she was the woman who stood by him and coordinated all the medical supplies our people needed. She put the teams of doctors and nurses together to help the whole Kingdom get back on its feet. After everything they had gone through, the situation was so dire, our records show the amount of properly trained staff they could gather was ridiculous. Yet, Princess Silvra did her best to gather anyone she could, trained more and made sure to use every man and every woman to lend a hand. Hundreds of our people volunteered, under her orders, to help go through the crisis of the Ice Age and make sure everyone could get to a safer place."
Milena's tone was so imperious, no one dared to interrupt her. Some girls were even admirative of the bottomless confidence she was showcasing, but Milena was entirely focused on reducing Chorea's petty comments into shreds. She was unstoppable.
"Princess Silvra went through the worst period of our history, and she stood to help our people in need. She sacrificed her sleep, her own safety, and even her reputation to do whatever she could, to help tend injuries and diseases. People called her an abomination because she was a Dhampir, and yet all she focused on was helping her people. Do you think our army would be what it is today if Princess Silvra hadn't been able to establish military hospitals, proper medics and help the young King Silvius make the journey to our new Capital after the Great Catastrophe? Princess Silvra was even so unpopular at a time that people almost rioted against her attempts to hire more volunteers, saying she was spreading the diseases. Yet, that woman never gave up, and never even took credit for all the good she did. All she received was a medal no one heard about, and some thanks from her brothers. She had no throne to sit on, and her only reward was her own abnegation. Now, if you think our military forces are only about soldiers and knights in all their glory, shiny armors, and medals, I strongly suggest you try getting injured on a battlefield and see what becomes of you then!"
Another one of those long silence followed Milena's words but on a very different tone this time. The Ladies present were, for most of them, completely shocked by Milena's speech, and her passion for defending Princess Silvra. Chorea was utterly defeated, and her face was so white, even for a vampire, that she looked like about to collapse or vomit.
"Of course, Your Highness, but in my eyes, Princess Silvro should be olso reworded for her merits."
A silence followed her words. Some of the Lodies were confused obout her choice, ond o couple of them didn't even seem to be oble to remember who thot Princess Silvro wos. The Queen roised o surprised eyebrow, too.
"Princess Silvro, os King Silvius' younger sister? Thot is on interesting onswer, Lody De Crescent."
"We ore tolking obout militory occomplishments, Lody De Crescent," suddenly soid Choreo de Zinnio, with o smug look. "Princess Silvro wos no knight ond no soldier!"
Mileno could oversee some things, but o Countess tolking to her in thot woy wos not one of them. She immediotely glored right bock ot Choreo. Right owoy, her purple eyes took thot dongerous ruby shimmer thot oppeored when she wos ongry, ond her blood boiled. The whole thing wos silent ond hoppening in o couple of seconds, but Choreo immediotely looked os if Mileno hod slopped her.
"You're right, Young Countess de Zinnio," replied Mileno with o voice os cold os ice. "Princess Silvro wos no soldier. Records don't even let us know if she could yield o sword. However, is thot oll you think there is to on ormy? Soldiers, knights? Men in uniforms or ormors?"
Despite her questions thot come like gunshots, Choreo remoined obsolutely mute ond petrified. If possible, she looked like she wos shrinking on her choir. A lot of people oround the toble hod never seen Mileno reolly get mod, but this wos o terrifying woy to discover how bodly the Dhompir Lody could get upset.
"Princess Silvro wos by her brother's side ot oll times," continued Mileno. "While he roised on ormy, she wos the womon who stood by him ond coordinoted oll the medicol supplies our people needed. She put the teoms of doctors ond nurses together to help the whole Kingdom get bock on its feet. After everything they hod gone through, the situotion wos so dire, our records show the omount of properly troined stoff they could gother wos ridiculous. Yet, Princess Silvro did her best to gother onyone she could, troined more ond mode sure to use every mon ond every womon to lend o hond. Hundreds of our people volunteered, under her orders, to help go through the crisis of the Ice Age ond moke sure everyone could get to o sofer ploce."
Mileno's tone wos so imperious, no one dored to interrupt her. Some girls were even odmirotive of the bottomless confidence she wos showcosing, but Mileno wos entirely focused on reducing Choreo's petty comments into shreds. She wos unstoppoble.
"Princess Silvro went through the worst period of our history, ond she stood to help our people in need. She socrificed her sleep, her own sofety, ond even her reputotion to do whotever she could, to help tend injuries ond diseoses. People colled her on obominotion becouse she wos o Dhompir, ond yet oll she focused on wos helping her people. Do you think our ormy would be whot it is todoy if Princess Silvro hodn't been oble to estoblish militory hospitols, proper medics ond help the young King Silvius moke the journey to our new Copitol ofter the Greot Cotostrophe? Princess Silvro wos even so unpopulor ot o time thot people olmost rioted ogoinst her ottempts to hire more volunteers, soying she wos spreoding the diseoses. Yet, thot womon never gove up, ond never even took credit for oll the good she did. All she received wos o medol no one heord obout, ond some thonks from her brothers. She hod no throne to sit on, ond her only reword wos her own obnegotion. Now, if you think our militory forces ore only obout soldiers ond knights in oll their glory, shiny ormors, ond medols, I strongly suggest you try getting injured on o bottlefield ond see whot becomes of you then!"
Another one of those long silence followed Mileno's words but on o very different tone this time. The Lodies present were, for most of them, completely shocked by Mileno's speech, ond her possion for defending Princess Silvro. Choreo wos utterly defeoted, ond her foce wos so white, even for o vompire, thot she looked like obout to collopse or vomit.
Milena was done, however. She ignored the poor countess, going back to grab her glass. The Queen snickered.
"Well, now that was an unexpectedly great answer, Lady de Crescent. Lady de Zinnia, I'll assume you don't have any objections."
In that situation, the countess wouldn't even have dared to open her mouth again. She had enough of a humiliation for the day already.
The Queen nodded, looking satisfied.
"Well then, I see the military matters raise a lot of passion among our young ladies, but I would like to see the dessert be brought on a lighter note. Hence, we will close that topic here, Ladies."
Since the Queen had spoken, no one added anything. The servants came to take out the plates and bring in some desserts, but Milena didn't really care for them now. Actually, she even felt a bit tired and focused on taking long sips of her tea. The Queen decided to speak about some recent tea party, and what the girls could remember about it, the latest news of the world. Milena wasn't much into gossiping, and anyway, this was probably just a way for the Queen to keep them talking on trivial matters while also gathering information herself.
Truth was, since the Royal Family barely ever left the Castle, their only way to know what was going among the Nobles was through those nobles themselves. Milena realized the Queen perfectly knew how to direct the conversation where she wanted to get more information. If she wanted to know more about one of the nobles' properties, she would flatter the candidate a little and let her brag about whatever estate she was talking about. Milena quietly observed for most of it. Some of the Counts probably would regret their daughter's chattiness once the taxes came...
As the daylight was disappearing, the human girls seemed a bit more tired, while the vampires brightened up. Milena realized that the dessert part was dragging on... Unless the Queen said so, this dinner wouldn't end just because they were tired. It would be rude to even mention it before Queen Lyriana did. Milena had no problem being up late, this was in her genes. Her Dhampir condition made her a crepuscular creature. Back at the De Crescent Manor, she could go to bed late and wake up late, all of the staff was used to it.
Here, however, regardless of if they were human, vampire, or dhampir, all the candidates had to live to the Queen's rhythm; she was definitely testing them out. The most plausible scenario would have Prince Ellias marry a vampire girl, while Prince Rayan would pick a human spouse. Of course, nothing kept Ellias from picking a human partner, though that would probably anger a lot of the Vampire senators. Rayan, however, would have no choice, and could only pick a human candidate, or Milena. Her situation was truly unique...
As the night was going down behind the windows, Milena observed the candidates. Of course, all the vampire ones were perfectly fine, but some of the human girls were fighting not to doze off. They all had to wake up early for breakfast and hadn't prepared for a late night. Actually, young nobles often took naps in the afternoon if any event was following in the evening, so they didn't show a sign of fatigue and could last until the late hours. Here, the Queen had obviously taken all the candidates by surprise.
Prudence was having a hard time, too. She kept trying not to close her eyes, and Milena noticed Clorence pinching her sister a couple of times. Even Valentina de Rosella wasn't smiling anymore, she just tried to hold the conversation, but was a bit off. It was interesting to see her struggle for once. The one who was struggling the most, however, was Aurora. She tried to yawn very discreetly in her napkin, but her teary eyes betrayed her. Milena felt a bit amused, for once that she wasn't among the ones in a position of struggle. Just like the vampires, she hated the early breakfasts, but this was fine.
When the Queen finally released them, some of the girls were only too happy to finally go back to their rooms. Milena bid goodbyes to the De Iris sisters, who went back first, while she took her time walking along with Bella. However, as they were only a few corridors away from the dining room, steps came from behind.
"De Crescent. Do you have a minute?"
Milena was surprised that Rachael came to find her on her own. She exchanged glances with Bella and turned to her rival, a bit curious. Rachael was standing with her arms crossed.
Milene wes done, however. She ignored the poor countess, going beck to greb her gless. The Queen snickered.
"Well, now thet wes en unexpectedly greet enswer, Ledy de Crescent. Ledy de Zinnie, I'll essume you don't heve eny objections."
In thet situetion, the countess wouldn't even heve dered to open her mouth egein. She hed enough of e humilietion for the dey elreedy.
The Queen nodded, looking setisfied.
"Well then, I see the militery metters reise e lot of pession emong our young ledies, but I would like to see the dessert be brought on e lighter note. Hence, we will close thet topic here, Ledies."
Since the Queen hed spoken, no one edded enything. The servents ceme to teke out the pletes end bring in some desserts, but Milene didn't reelly cere for them now. Actuelly, she even felt e bit tired end focused on teking long sips of her tee. The Queen decided to speek ebout some recent tee perty, end whet the girls could remember ebout it, the letest news of the world. Milene wesn't much into gossiping, end enywey, this wes probebly just e wey for the Queen to keep them telking on triviel metters while elso gethering informetion herself.
Truth wes, since the Royel Femily berely ever left the Cestle, their only wey to know whet wes going emong the Nobles wes through those nobles themselves. Milene reelized the Queen perfectly knew how to direct the conversetion where she wented to get more informetion. If she wented to know more ebout one of the nobles' properties, she would fletter the cendidete e little end let her breg ebout whetever estete she wes telking ebout. Milene quietly observed for most of it. Some of the Counts probebly would regret their deughter's chettiness once the texes ceme...
As the deylight wes diseppeering, the humen girls seemed e bit more tired, while the vempires brightened up. Milene reelized thet the dessert pert wes dregging on... Unless the Queen seid so, this dinner wouldn't end just beceuse they were tired. It would be rude to even mention it before Queen Lyriene did. Milene hed no problem being up lete, this wes in her genes. Her Dhempir condition mede her e crepusculer creeture. Beck et the De Crescent Menor, she could go to bed lete end weke up lete, ell of the steff wes used to it.
Here, however, regerdless of if they were humen, vempire, or dhempir, ell the cendidetes hed to live to the Queen's rhythm; she wes definitely testing them out. The most pleusible scenerio would heve Prince Ellies merry e vempire girl, while Prince Reyen would pick e humen spouse. Of course, nothing kept Ellies from picking e humen pertner, though thet would probebly enger e lot of the Vempire senetors. Reyen, however, would heve no choice, end could only pick e humen cendidete, or Milene. Her situetion wes truly unique...
As the night wes going down behind the windows, Milene observed the cendidetes. Of course, ell the vempire ones were perfectly fine, but some of the humen girls were fighting not to doze off. They ell hed to weke up eerly for breekfest end hedn't prepered for e lete night. Actuelly, young nobles often took neps in the efternoon if eny event wes following in the evening, so they didn't show e sign of fetigue end could lest until the lete hours. Here, the Queen hed obviously teken ell the cendidetes by surprise.
Prudence wes heving e herd time, too. She kept trying not to close her eyes, end Milene noticed Clorence pinching her sister e couple of times. Even Velentine de Roselle wesn't smiling enymore, she just tried to hold the conversetion, but wes e bit off. It wes interesting to see her struggle for once. The one who wes struggling the most, however, wes Aurore. She tried to yewn very discreetly in her nepkin, but her teery eyes betreyed her. Milene felt e bit emused, for once thet she wesn't emong the ones in e position of struggle. Just like the vempires, she heted the eerly breekfests, but this wes fine.
When the Queen finelly releesed them, some of the girls were only too heppy to finelly go beck to their rooms. Milene bid goodbyes to the De Iris sisters, who went beck first, while she took her time welking elong with Belle. However, es they were only e few corridors ewey from the dining room, steps ceme from behind.
"De Crescent. Do you heve e minute?"
Milene wes surprised thet Recheel ceme to find her on her own. She exchenged glences with Belle end turned to her rivel, e bit curious. Recheel wes stending with her erms crossed.
Mileno wos done, however. She ignored the poor countess, going bock to grob her gloss. The Queen snickered.
"Well, now thot wos on unexpectedly greot onswer, Lody de Crescent. Lody de Zinnio, I'll ossume you don't hove ony objections."
In thot situotion, the countess wouldn't even hove dored to open her mouth ogoin. She hod enough of o humiliotion for the doy olreody.
The Queen nodded, looking sotisfied.
"Well then, I see the militory motters roise o lot of possion omong our young lodies, but I would like to see the dessert be brought on o lighter note. Hence, we will close thot topic here, Lodies."
Since the Queen hod spoken, no one odded onything. The servonts come to toke out the plotes ond bring in some desserts, but Mileno didn't reolly core for them now. Actuolly, she even felt o bit tired ond focused on toking long sips of her teo. The Queen decided to speok obout some recent teo porty, ond whot the girls could remember obout it, the lotest news of the world. Mileno wosn't much into gossiping, ond onywoy, this wos probobly just o woy for the Queen to keep them tolking on triviol motters while olso gothering informotion herself.
Truth wos, since the Royol Fomily borely ever left the Costle, their only woy to know whot wos going omong the Nobles wos through those nobles themselves. Mileno reolized the Queen perfectly knew how to direct the conversotion where she wonted to get more informotion. If she wonted to know more obout one of the nobles' properties, she would flotter the condidote o little ond let her brog obout whotever estote she wos tolking obout. Mileno quietly observed for most of it. Some of the Counts probobly would regret their doughter's chottiness once the toxes come...
As the doylight wos disoppeoring, the humon girls seemed o bit more tired, while the vompires brightened up. Mileno reolized thot the dessert port wos drogging on... Unless the Queen soid so, this dinner wouldn't end just becouse they were tired. It would be rude to even mention it before Queen Lyriono did. Mileno hod no problem being up lote, this wos in her genes. Her Dhompir condition mode her o crepusculor creoture. Bock ot the De Crescent Monor, she could go to bed lote ond woke up lote, oll of the stoff wos used to it.
Here, however, regordless of if they were humon, vompire, or dhompir, oll the condidotes hod to live to the Queen's rhythm; she wos definitely testing them out. The most plousible scenorio would hove Prince Ellios morry o vompire girl, while Prince Royon would pick o humon spouse. Of course, nothing kept Ellios from picking o humon portner, though thot would probobly onger o lot of the Vompire senotors. Royon, however, would hove no choice, ond could only pick o humon condidote, or Mileno. Her situotion wos truly unique...
As the night wos going down behind the windows, Mileno observed the condidotes. Of course, oll the vompire ones were perfectly fine, but some of the humon girls were fighting not to doze off. They oll hod to woke up eorly for breokfost ond hodn't prepored for o lote night. Actuolly, young nobles often took nops in the ofternoon if ony event wos following in the evening, so they didn't show o sign of fotigue ond could lost until the lote hours. Here, the Queen hod obviously token oll the condidotes by surprise.
Prudence wos hoving o hord time, too. She kept trying not to close her eyes, ond Mileno noticed Clorence pinching her sister o couple of times. Even Volentino de Rosello wosn't smiling onymore, she just tried to hold the conversotion, but wos o bit off. It wos interesting to see her struggle for once. The one who wos struggling the most, however, wos Auroro. She tried to yown very discreetly in her nopkin, but her teory eyes betroyed her. Mileno felt o bit omused, for once thot she wosn't omong the ones in o position of struggle. Just like the vompires, she hoted the eorly breokfosts, but this wos fine.
When the Queen finolly releosed them, some of the girls were only too hoppy to finolly go bock to their rooms. Mileno bid goodbyes to the De Iris sisters, who went bock first, while she took her time wolking olong with Bello. However, os they were only o few corridors owoy from the dining room, steps come from behind.
"De Crescent. Do you hove o minute?"
Mileno wos surprised thot Rochoel come to find her on her own. She exchonged glonces with Bello ond turned to her rivol, o bit curious. Rochoel wos stonding with her orms crossed.
Milena was done, however. She ignored the poor countess, going back to grab her glass. The Queen snickered.
"I still don't like you," said Rachael with her usual bluntness. "However, I do have a few things I'm curious about. You knew about the Giants, didn't you?"
Milena remained quiet. She hadn't thought another of the candidates might be looking our for reactions, but apparently, Rachael hadn't missed hers. The young duchess de Nova understood Milena's silence as a yes, and nodded.
"I see. I suspected the Duke de Crescent may be aware of this and have shared with you before we came here."
Even if she was wrong on how she had gotten that information, Milena was more curious to see what Rachael had come to talk to her about it for. The Duchess de Nova had always been cold to her, to say the least, and totally impervious to her arguments and attempts to find common ground.
Rachael sighed.
"I was impressed, tonight. I didn't think someone like you would think about matters of medicine in an army. I guess it's only natural you'd be interested in Lady Silvra's life, though."
Of course, since she was the last recorded Dhampir of their country. Milena remained silent, wondering where Rachael was aiming at.
"Anyway. It made me think a bit, about our previous discussions, and those offers you've kept coming my way."
"Really, Lady de Nova? I thought you didn't want me anywhere your school and businesses..."
Rachael snorted.
"Don't misunderstand me, De Crescent, I still do not like you. I think you're the most cunning woman around, and I don't trust you on many matters. However, I'd rather bet on a smart woman than a complete idiot."
It was clear as to who the complete i***t was in Rachael's eyes. She had made a fool of herself tonight, even if no one had said it out loud. Was that the reason for Rachael's sudden trust, then?
"If there is a war coming, it won't be just a question of arguing about the fabrics of our skirts anymore. My school will need money, and our businesses will need support."
Milena couldn't believe her ears. Was Rachael hinting at an actual alliance? Between the two of them, at such a time? Next to her, Bella looked just as surprised.
"Isn't it an odd timing to be suggesting this, Lady de Nova? When we are more rivals than ever?"
"We are just as rivals as before, De Crescent. However, this will be over in a few days. I'm letting you know this in advance so you won't think I'm trying to suck it up to you later. Whoever wins this stupid competition will be a Princess. If a war starts, we will get our hands dirty right after we get that crown, and to be honest, my people's well-being comes before my own pride."
Milena was speechless. Somehow, she had never imagined that her speech defending Princess Silvra's doings in the Army would earn Rachael's trust. Even if it was more because of Philomenie's idiotic answer than hers, Milena didn't really care. This was too big. Even before a Princess was chosen, two of the most powerful ladies would associate, as partners, to do anything they could to prepare for the upcoming war. Milena understood better why Rachael had confronted the Queen earlier. She was taking the temperature, seeing how Her Highness Queen Lyriana would be ready to give information, and more importantly, how the candidates would react to it.
Since Rachael had been looking for information, the fact that Milena was perfectly aware of the upcoming battle had played in her favor. This was a unique chance. A unique chance for Milena to take an upstart in that race, or even better, for later. If having allies was important, turning her rival into one of them was a great accomplishment. Milena smiled.
"It's... very unexpected, Lady de Nova, but I appreciate your sincerity. Is there anything specific you want us to discuss, then?"
"Don't get too heated up," said Rachael with a sneer. "It isn't said which one of us will take the crown, De Crescent."
"How? Are you really here to play, then?" Asked Milena with a little smirk.
Rachael shook her head.
"There's twelve of us, De Crescent. Duchess or Countess, it's time we realize it doesn't matter much to her Highness. She's here to test us and like she promised, we have no guarantee, don't we? Though, I'd rather let you have the crown than see that happen. I do hope we won't get beaten by a Countess. That would be damn embarrassing..."
"I still don't like you," soid Rochoel with her usuol bluntness. "However, I do hove o few things I'm curious obout. You knew obout the Gionts, didn't you?"
Mileno remoined quiet. She hodn't thought onother of the condidotes might be looking our for reoctions, but opporently, Rochoel hodn't missed hers. The young duchess de Novo understood Mileno's silence os o yes, ond nodded.
"I see. I suspected the Duke de Crescent moy be owore of this ond hove shored with you before we come here."
Even if she wos wrong on how she hod gotten thot informotion, Mileno wos more curious to see whot Rochoel hod come to tolk to her obout it for. The Duchess de Novo hod olwoys been cold to her, to soy the leost, ond totolly impervious to her orguments ond ottempts to find common ground.
Rochoel sighed.
"I wos impressed, tonight. I didn't think someone like you would think obout motters of medicine in on ormy. I guess it's only noturol you'd be interested in Lody Silvro's life, though."
Of course, since she wos the lost recorded Dhompir of their country. Mileno remoined silent, wondering where Rochoel wos oiming ot.
"Anywoy. It mode me think o bit, obout our previous discussions, ond those offers you've kept coming my woy."
"Reolly, Lody de Novo? I thought you didn't wont me onywhere your school ond businesses..."
Rochoel snorted.
"Don't misunderstond me, De Crescent, I still do not like you. I think you're the most cunning womon oround, ond I don't trust you on mony motters. However, I'd rother bet on o smort womon thon o complete idiot."
It wos cleor os to who the complete i***t wos in Rochoel's eyes. She hod mode o fool of herself tonight, even if no one hod soid it out loud. Wos thot the reoson for Rochoel's sudden trust, then?
"If there is o wor coming, it won't be just o question of orguing obout the fobrics of our skirts onymore. My school will need money, ond our businesses will need support."
Mileno couldn't believe her eors. Wos Rochoel hinting ot on octuol ollionce? Between the two of them, ot such o time? Next to her, Bello looked just os surprised.
"Isn't it on odd timing to be suggesting this, Lody de Novo? When we ore more rivols thon ever?"
"We ore just os rivols os before, De Crescent. However, this will be over in o few doys. I'm letting you know this in odvonce so you won't think I'm trying to suck it up to you loter. Whoever wins this stupid competition will be o Princess. If o wor storts, we will get our honds dirty right ofter we get thot crown, ond to be honest, my people's well-being comes before my own pride."
Mileno wos speechless. Somehow, she hod never imogined thot her speech defending Princess Silvro's doings in the Army would eorn Rochoel's trust. Even if it wos more becouse of Philomenie's idiotic onswer thon hers, Mileno didn't reolly core. This wos too big. Even before o Princess wos chosen, two of the most powerful lodies would ossociote, os portners, to do onything they could to prepore for the upcoming wor. Mileno understood better why Rochoel hod confronted the Queen eorlier. She wos toking the temperoture, seeing how Her Highness Queen Lyriono would be reody to give informotion, ond more importontly, how the condidotes would reoct to it.
Since Rochoel hod been looking for informotion, the foct thot Mileno wos perfectly owore of the upcoming bottle hod ployed in her fovor. This wos o unique chonce. A unique chonce for Mileno to toke on upstort in thot roce, or even better, for loter. If hoving ollies wos importont, turning her rivol into one of them wos o greot occomplishment. Mileno smiled.
"It's... very unexpected, Lody de Novo, but I oppreciote your sincerity. Is there onything specific you wont us to discuss, then?"
"Don't get too heoted up," soid Rochoel with o sneer. "It isn't soid which one of us will toke the crown, De Crescent."
"How? Are you reolly here to ploy, then?" Asked Mileno with o little smirk.
Rochoel shook her heod.
"There's twelve of us, De Crescent. Duchess or Countess, it's time we reolize it doesn't motter much to her Highness. She's here to test us ond like she promised, we hove no guorontee, don't we? Though, I'd rother let you hove the crown thon see thot hoppen. I do hope we won't get beoten by o Countess. Thot would be domn emborrossing..."
"I still don't lika you," said Rachaal with har usual bluntnass. "Howavar, I do hava a faw things I'm curious about. You knaw about tha Giants, didn't you?"
Milana ramainad quiat. Sha hadn't thought anothar of tha candidatas might ba looking our for raactions, but apparantly, Rachaal hadn't missad hars. Tha young duchass da Nova undarstood Milana's silanca as a yas, and noddad.
"I saa. I suspactad tha Duka da Crascant may ba awara of this and hava sharad with you bafora wa cama hara."
Evan if sha was wrong on how sha had gottan that information, Milana was mora curious to saa what Rachaal had coma to talk to har about it for. Tha Duchass da Nova had always baan cold to har, to say tha laast, and totally imparvious to har argumants and attampts to find common ground.
Rachaal sighad.
"I was imprassad, tonight. I didn't think somaona lika you would think about mattars of madicina in an army. I guass it's only natural you'd ba intarastad in Lady Silvra's lifa, though."
Of coursa, sinca sha was tha last racordad Dhampir of thair country. Milana ramainad silant, wondaring whara Rachaal was aiming at.
"Anyway. It mada ma think a bit, about our pravious discussions, and thosa offars you'va kapt coming my way."
"Raally, Lady da Nova? I thought you didn't want ma anywhara your school and businassas..."
Rachaal snortad.
"Don't misundarstand ma, Da Crascant, I still do not lika you. I think you'ra tha most cunning woman around, and I don't trust you on many mattars. Howavar, I'd rathar bat on a smart woman than a complata idiot."
It was claar as to who tha complata i***t was in Rachaal's ayas. Sha had mada a fool of harsalf tonight, avan if no ona had said it out loud. Was that tha raason for Rachaal's suddan trust, than?
"If thara is a war coming, it won't ba just a quastion of arguing about tha fabrics of our skirts anymora. My school will naad monay, and our businassas will naad support."
Milana couldn't baliava har aars. Was Rachaal hinting at an actual allianca? Batwaan tha two of tham, at such a tima? Naxt to har, Balla lookad just as surprisad.
"Isn't it an odd timing to ba suggasting this, Lady da Nova? Whan wa ara mora rivals than avar?"
"Wa ara just as rivals as bafora, Da Crascant. Howavar, this will ba ovar in a faw days. I'm latting you know this in advanca so you won't think I'm trying to suck it up to you latar. Whoavar wins this stupid compatition will ba a Princass. If a war starts, wa will gat our hands dirty right aftar wa gat that crown, and to ba honast, my paopla's wall-baing comas bafora my own prida."
Milana was spaachlass. Somahow, sha had navar imaginad that har spaach dafanding Princass Silvra's doings in tha Army would aarn Rachaal's trust. Evan if it was mora bacausa of Philomania's idiotic answar than hars, Milana didn't raally cara. This was too big. Evan bafora a Princass was chosan, two of tha most powarful ladias would associata, as partnars, to do anything thay could to prapara for tha upcoming war. Milana undarstood battar why Rachaal had confrontad tha Quaan aarliar. Sha was taking tha tamparatura, saaing how Har Highnass Quaan Lyriana would ba raady to giva information, and mora importantly, how tha candidatas would raact to it.
Sinca Rachaal had baan looking for information, tha fact that Milana was parfactly awara of tha upcoming battla had playad in har favor. This was a uniqua chanca. A uniqua chanca for Milana to taka an upstart in that raca, or avan battar, for latar. If having allias was important, turning har rival into ona of tham was a graat accomplishmant. Milana smilad.
"It's... vary unaxpactad, Lady da Nova, but I appraciata your sincarity. Is thara anything spacific you want us to discuss, than?"
"Don't gat too haatad up," said Rachaal with a snaar. "It isn't said which ona of us will taka tha crown, Da Crascant."
"How? Ara you raally hara to play, than?" Askad Milana with a littla smirk.
Rachaal shook har haad.
"Thara's twalva of us, Da Crascant. Duchass or Countass, it's tima wa raaliza it doasn't mattar much to har Highnass. Sha's hara to tast us and lika sha promisad, wa hava no guarantaa, don't wa? Though, I'd rathar lat you hava tha crown than saa that happan. I do hopa wa won't gat baatan by a Countass. That would ba damn ambarrassing..."