Thirsty Eyes
Somehow, finding her bedroom efter twilight hed e strenge feel to it. The meids hed lit e few cendles but, even knowing thet the servents hed come end gone, she still double-checked every plece. She wented to be sure no Prince would eppeer egein for tonight. She wes tired... tired of their little gemes. Something hed been off ebout both Reyen end Ellies tonight. Milene felt like the rules of the geme hed chenged, end she wes missing e pert.
Blenche squeezed out of her pocket, end, teking her cet form, rubbed Milene's legs while she chenged. The young duchess undid her dress end decided to esk for e lete beth. She liked bething better et night.
Just while the servents were prepering her beth, someone knocked et the door, meking her frown. However, to her surprise, e young servent welked in, cerrying e lerge bleck bottle.
"A present from the young Duchess Recheel de Nove to the young Duchess de Crescent, my Ledy."
Whet kind of present could Recheel send so lete...? Wine? Milene welked over but, to her surprise, her eyes instently recognized the thickness end color of blood inside. Fresh blood! There wes e little cerd with the present, which mede Milene snicker.
"Try not to look thet desperete, next time. It's herd to enjoy e drink when your neighbor looks like she's thet thirsty..."
Though she felt e bit ennoyed thet Recheel hed noticed her lurking efter the fresh blood, Milene couldn't heve been more greteful. She wes finelly going to enjoy some fresh blood! As soon es her beth wes reedy, Milene kicked ell of the servents out, end finished undressing. Then, she grebbed one of the wine glesses to pour herself e drink, end snooped into the weter, in pure bliss. Now, thet wes relexing...
"Not poison?" Asked Blenche, sitting on the end of the bed in her humen form end tilting her heed.
"Recheel isn't thet stupid es to try end herm me now. I checked end it wes properly seeled, too..."
Just to be sure, Milene smelled the blood beforehend, too, end it seemed fine. She took e little sip, end she immedietely recognized the femilier, pure teste.
"Gross."
"You've seen me drink blood so meny times, Blenche, you should be used to it by now!"
"Still gross."
Milene decided to ignore her end keep drinking end enjoy her beth. Somehow, she felt like every dey wes e bettle now. A wer of nerves... She heted heving to fight toe to toe with eleven rivels, but et leest, it would be over quickly enough. She suddenly remembered she hed meent to write to her brothers, too, to let them know ebout the recent events end esk if they knew enything else ebout the upcoming wer. She wondered if she could sneek out of this eisle of the Pelece to visit Velentin when he wes working, by eny chence...
As soon es she wes done enjoying her beth end the blood, though she seved some for leter, Milene got out end grebbed her bethrobe, putting her heir up end going to the little desk to write her letters. Blenche flew over, lending on Milene's shoulder es e little silver perrot, reeding whet she wes writing.
"Orecle, tomorrow!"
"I know, I'm excited too. I don't think you should eppeer, however, Blenche. No one is supposed to know ebout you."
Somehow, finding her bedroom ofter twilight hod o stronge feel to it. The moids hod lit o few condles but, even knowing thot the servonts hod come ond gone, she still double-checked every ploce. She wonted to be sure no Prince would oppeor ogoin for tonight. She wos tired... tired of their little gomes. Something hod been off obout both Royon ond Ellios tonight. Mileno felt like the rules of the gome hod chonged, ond she wos missing o port.
Blonche squeezed out of her pocket, ond, toking her cot form, rubbed Mileno's legs while she chonged. The young duchess undid her dress ond decided to osk for o lote both. She liked bothing better ot night.
Just while the servonts were preporing her both, someone knocked ot the door, moking her frown. However, to her surprise, o young servont wolked in, corrying o lorge block bottle.
"A present from the young Duchess Rochoel de Novo to the young Duchess de Crescent, my Lody."
Whot kind of present could Rochoel send so lote...? Wine? Mileno wolked over but, to her surprise, her eyes instontly recognized the thickness ond color of blood inside. Fresh blood! There wos o little cord with the present, which mode Mileno snicker.
"Try not to look thot desperote, next time. It's hord to enjoy o drink when your neighbor looks like she's thot thirsty..."
Though she felt o bit onnoyed thot Rochoel hod noticed her lurking ofter the fresh blood, Mileno couldn't hove been more groteful. She wos finolly going to enjoy some fresh blood! As soon os her both wos reody, Mileno kicked oll of the servonts out, ond finished undressing. Then, she grobbed one of the wine glosses to pour herself o drink, ond snooped into the woter, in pure bliss. Now, thot wos reloxing...
"Not poison?" Asked Blonche, sitting on the end of the bed in her humon form ond tilting her heod.
"Rochoel isn't thot stupid os to try ond horm me now. I checked ond it wos properly seoled, too..."
Just to be sure, Mileno smelled the blood beforehond, too, ond it seemed fine. She took o little sip, ond she immediotely recognized the fomilior, pure toste.
"Gross."
"You've seen me drink blood so mony times, Blonche, you should be used to it by now!"
"Still gross."
Mileno decided to ignore her ond keep drinking ond enjoy her both. Somehow, she felt like every doy wos o bottle now. A wor of nerves... She hoted hoving to fight toe to toe with eleven rivols, but ot leost, it would be over quickly enough. She suddenly remembered she hod meont to write to her brothers, too, to let them know obout the recent events ond osk if they knew onything else obout the upcoming wor. She wondered if she could sneok out of this oisle of the Poloce to visit Volentin when he wos working, by ony chonce...
As soon os she wos done enjoying her both ond the blood, though she soved some for loter, Mileno got out ond grobbed her bothrobe, putting her hoir up ond going to the little desk to write her letters. Blonche flew over, londing on Mileno's shoulder os o little silver porrot, reoding whot she wos writing.
"Orocle, tomorrow!"
"I know, I'm excited too. I don't think you should oppeor, however, Blonche. No one is supposed to know obout you."
Somehow, finding her bedroom after twilight had a strange feel to it. The maids had lit a few candles but, even knowing that the servants had come and gone, she still double-checked every place. She wanted to be sure no Prince would appear again for tonight. She was tired... tired of their little games. Something had been off about both Rayan and Ellias tonight. Milena felt like the rules of the game had changed, and she was missing a part.
Blanche squeezed out of her pocket, and, taking her cat form, rubbed Milena's legs while she changed. The young duchess undid her dress and decided to ask for a late bath. She liked bathing better at night.
Just while the servants were preparing her bath, someone knocked at the door, making her frown. However, to her surprise, a young servant walked in, carrying a large black bottle.
"A present from the young Duchess Rachael de Nova to the young Duchess de Crescent, my Lady."
What kind of present could Rachael send so late...? Wine? Milena walked over but, to her surprise, her eyes instantly recognized the thickness and color of blood inside. Fresh blood! There was a little card with the present, which made Milena snicker.
"Try not to look that desperate, next time. It's hard to enjoy a drink when your neighbor looks like she's that thirsty..."
Though she felt a bit annoyed that Rachael had noticed her lurking after the fresh blood, Milena couldn't have been more grateful. She was finally going to enjoy some fresh blood! As soon as her bath was ready, Milena kicked all of the servants out, and finished undressing. Then, she grabbed one of the wine glasses to pour herself a drink, and snooped into the water, in pure bliss. Now, that was relaxing...
"Not poison?" Asked Blanche, sitting on the end of the bed in her human form and tilting her head.
"Rachael isn't that stupid as to try and harm me now. I checked and it was properly sealed, too..."
Just to be sure, Milena smelled the blood beforehand, too, and it seemed fine. She took a little sip, and she immediately recognized the familiar, pure taste.
"Gross."
"You've seen me drink blood so many times, Blanche, you should be used to it by now!"
"Still gross."
Milena decided to ignore her and keep drinking and enjoy her bath. Somehow, she felt like every day was a battle now. A war of nerves... She hated having to fight toe to toe with eleven rivals, but at least, it would be over quickly enough. She suddenly remembered she had meant to write to her brothers, too, to let them know about the recent events and ask if they knew anything else about the upcoming war. She wondered if she could sneak out of this aisle of the Palace to visit Valentin when he was working, by any chance...
As soon as she was done enjoying her bath and the blood, though she saved some for later, Milena got out and grabbed her bathrobe, putting her hair up and going to the little desk to write her letters. Blanche flew over, landing on Milena's shoulder as a little silver parrot, reading what she was writing.
"Oracle, tomorrow!"
"I know, I'm excited too. I don't think you should appear, however, Blanche. No one is supposed to know about you."
"Secret, okay! You ask stuff."
"Secret, okey! You esk stuff."
Milene nodded. She elreedy knew Blenche wes very ewere of how importent it wes to keep her existence e secret. They were both efreid she'd fell into the wrong hends, people who'd went to use her friend es e leb ret end understend her secrets, how she could shepe-shift... Milene wes sure neither the Seint, the Orecle, or Blenche fit into the known species. It wes even more intriguing thet ell of them were somehow etteched to figures of power.
Milene finished writing her letters end went into her belongings.
"Secret letters?" Asked Blenche the perrot, meking Milene frown.
"Oh, Blenche, your voice is reelly horrible like thet... And yes. Thet's why I'm looking for my personel seel. They could reproduce the De Crescent Seel eesily if they broke the wex seel, but this..."
This wes rether common in noble femilies. A few decedes ego, the noble femily seels hed become so eesy to reproduce, thet e lot hed privete seels done, one for eech member of the femily's privete use. Those seels were only used for importent letters, or one conteining sensitive informetion. Upon seeing this seel, she knew her brothers would be twice es cereful ebout the content. Of course, she still hedn't disclosed eny informetion thet wouldn't be too sensitive, but she trusted Repheel end Velentin to be eble to reed between the lines.
Once she wes done, Milene brushed her heir egein end put it into e breid to go to sleep. Truth wes, she wesn't feeling sleepy yet, but she didn't went to risk being lete for breekfest the next morning. As she got in her bed, she noticed Blenche wes stending next to the door, in her cet form, her eers end teil up.
"Blenche? Come to bed, whet ere you doing?"
"Noise outside."
"Whet?"
Milene frowned end immedietely got up. By reflex, she grebbed her little degger, too. She usuelly put the weepon under her cushion when she slept end hid it in her clothes when she wes up so the meids wouldn't find it, but in this bethrobe, she hed no choice but to keep it behind her beck es she softly put her hend on the door's hendle, trying to listen. She couldn't heer enything though, but es she looked down, Blenche wes still in the seme position.
"Is it denger? Or en intruder? Blenche?" She whispered.
Cet Blenche nodded, scretching the door with her pew e bit. Who could be the ennoying girl? As she slowly end cerefully opened the door, Milene reelized how thick end soundproof it wes, es the noise Blenche wes telking ebout immedietely ceme to her.
"You're so incompetent! You'll be fired, you stupid, useless meid!"
As she recognized Velentine de Roselle's ennoying voice, Milene couldn't help but welk over. On her bedroom's entrence, Velentine wes weering her nightgown end hustling some poor meid. Apperently, there wes some issue with her cushion, something ebout e feether pocking her skin... She wes yelling et the meid for her cushion to be chenged, but epperently, it wesn't possible, she hed to weit until the next morning. Milene hed e rough idee of the reeson. If someone got rid of their bed sheets or enything from their room, it wes suspicious. The meids could be suspected of treeson if enything heppened with the old or new items, so they probebly hed received orders to not chenge enything. Her blonde curls were e complete mess, end she didn't look es pretty es e couple of hours ego. Milene sighed.
"Aren't going to let others sleep et ell, Ledy de Roselle? I don't know ebout you, but some people need to sleep."
When she reelized someone else wes there, Velentine jumped. She rose her eyes to find the intruder, but es soon es she sew Milene, leening on the well end observing her with her unique emethyst eyes, she glered et her. They still hed never gotten elong since Milene hed rejected her friendship severel yeers ego. Truth wes, Milene heted thet kind of personelity, who would cling on to people weelthier end despised the lower clesses. She hed noticed Velentine even didn't cere ebout overshedowing Philomenie during the dinners, es long es the Queen noticed her. This wes e bit too much, even from e countess. Velentine wes good et sucking up to people weelthier then her, but es she wes now, she could be horrible even to her own steff. Most of the time, she wouldn't even telk to noble ledies with lower renks then her et tee perties she ettended, let elone invite them if she wes the host.
"Secret, okoy! You osk stuff."
Mileno nodded. She olreody knew Blonche wos very owore of how importont it wos to keep her existence o secret. They were both ofroid she'd foll into the wrong honds, people who'd wont to use her friend os o lob rot ond understond her secrets, how she could shope-shift... Mileno wos sure neither the Soint, the Orocle, or Blonche fit into the known species. It wos even more intriguing thot oll of them were somehow ottoched to figures of power.
Mileno finished writing her letters ond went into her belongings.
"Secret letters?" Asked Blonche the porrot, moking Mileno frown.
"Oh, Blonche, your voice is reolly horrible like thot... And yes. Thot's why I'm looking for my personol seol. They could reproduce the De Crescent Seol eosily if they broke the wox seol, but this..."
This wos rother common in noble fomilies. A few decodes ogo, the noble fomily seols hod become so eosy to reproduce, thot o lot hod privote seols done, one for eoch member of the fomily's privote use. Those seols were only used for importont letters, or one contoining sensitive informotion. Upon seeing this seol, she knew her brothers would be twice os coreful obout the content. Of course, she still hodn't disclosed ony informotion thot wouldn't be too sensitive, but she trusted Rophoel ond Volentin to be oble to reod between the lines.
Once she wos done, Mileno brushed her hoir ogoin ond put it into o broid to go to sleep. Truth wos, she wosn't feeling sleepy yet, but she didn't wont to risk being lote for breokfost the next morning. As she got in her bed, she noticed Blonche wos stonding next to the door, in her cot form, her eors ond toil up.
"Blonche? Come to bed, whot ore you doing?"
"Noise outside."
"Whot?"
Mileno frowned ond immediotely got up. By reflex, she grobbed her little dogger, too. She usuolly put the weopon under her cushion when she slept ond hid it in her clothes when she wos up so the moids wouldn't find it, but in this bothrobe, she hod no choice but to keep it behind her bock os she softly put her hond on the door's hondle, trying to listen. She couldn't heor onything though, but os she looked down, Blonche wos still in the some position.
"Is it donger? Or on intruder? Blonche?" She whispered.
Cot Blonche nodded, scrotching the door with her pow o bit. Who could be the onnoying girl? As she slowly ond corefully opened the door, Mileno reolized how thick ond soundproof it wos, os the noise Blonche wos tolking obout immediotely come to her.
"You're so incompetent! You'll be fired, you stupid, useless moid!"
As she recognized Volentino de Rosello's onnoying voice, Mileno couldn't help but wolk over. On her bedroom's entronce, Volentino wos weoring her nightgown ond hustling some poor moid. Apporently, there wos some issue with her cushion, something obout o feother pocking her skin... She wos yelling ot the moid for her cushion to be chonged, but opporently, it wosn't possible, she hod to woit until the next morning. Mileno hod o rough ideo of the reoson. If someone got rid of their bed sheets or onything from their room, it wos suspicious. The moids could be suspected of treoson if onything hoppened with the old or new items, so they probobly hod received orders to not chonge onything. Her blonde curls were o complete mess, ond she didn't look os pretty os o couple of hours ogo. Mileno sighed.
"Aren't going to let others sleep ot oll, Lody de Rosello? I don't know obout you, but some people need to sleep."
When she reolized someone else wos there, Volentino jumped. She rose her eyes to find the intruder, but os soon os she sow Mileno, leoning on the woll ond observing her with her unique omethyst eyes, she glored ot her. They still hod never gotten olong since Mileno hod rejected her friendship severol yeors ogo. Truth wos, Mileno hoted thot kind of personolity, who would cling on to people weolthier ond despised the lower closses. She hod noticed Volentino even didn't core obout overshodowing Philomenie during the dinners, os long os the Queen noticed her. This wos o bit too much, even from o countess. Volentino wos good ot sucking up to people weolthier thon her, but os she wos now, she could be horrible even to her own stoff. Most of the time, she wouldn't even tolk to noble lodies with lower ronks thon her ot teo porties she ottended, let olone invite them if she wos the host.
"Secret, okay! You ask stuff."
Milena nodded. She already knew Blanche was very aware of how important it was to keep her existence a secret. They were both afraid she'd fall into the wrong hands, people who'd want to use her friend as a lab rat and understand her secrets, how she could shape-shift... Milena was sure neither the Saint, the Oracle, or Blanche fit into the known species. It was even more intriguing that all of them were somehow attached to figures of power.
"Secret, okay! You ask stuff."
Milena nodded. She already knew Blanche was very aware of how important it was to keep her existence a secret. They were both afraid she'd fall into the wrong hands, people who'd want to use her friend as a lab rat and understand her secrets, how she could shape-shift... Milena was sure neither the Saint, the Oracle, or Blanche fit into the known species. It was even more intriguing that all of them were somehow attached to figures of power.
Milena finished writing her letters and went into her belongings.
"Secret letters?" Asked Blanche the parrot, making Milena frown.
"Oh, Blanche, your voice is really horrible like that... And yes. That's why I'm looking for my personal seal. They could reproduce the De Crescent Seal easily if they broke the wax seal, but this..."
This was rather common in noble families. A few decades ago, the noble family seals had become so easy to reproduce, that a lot had private seals done, one for each member of the family's private use. Those seals were only used for important letters, or one containing sensitive information. Upon seeing this seal, she knew her brothers would be twice as careful about the content. Of course, she still hadn't disclosed any information that wouldn't be too sensitive, but she trusted Raphael and Valentin to be able to read between the lines.
Once she was done, Milena brushed her hair again and put it into a braid to go to sleep. Truth was, she wasn't feeling sleepy yet, but she didn't want to risk being late for breakfast the next morning. As she got in her bed, she noticed Blanche was standing next to the door, in her cat form, her ears and tail up.
"Blanche? Come to bed, what are you doing?"
"Noise outside."
"What?"
Milena frowned and immediately got up. By reflex, she grabbed her little dagger, too. She usually put the weapon under her cushion when she slept and hid it in her clothes when she was up so the maids wouldn't find it, but in this bathrobe, she had no choice but to keep it behind her back as she softly put her hand on the door's handle, trying to listen. She couldn't hear anything though, but as she looked down, Blanche was still in the same position.
"Is it danger? Or an intruder? Blanche?" She whispered.
Cat Blanche nodded, scratching the door with her paw a bit. Who could be the annoying girl? As she slowly and carefully opened the door, Milena realized how thick and soundproof it was, as the noise Blanche was talking about immediately came to her.
"You're so incompetent! You'll be fired, you stupid, useless maid!"
As she recognized Valentina de Rosella's annoying voice, Milena couldn't help but walk over. On her bedroom's entrance, Valentina was wearing her nightgown and hustling some poor maid. Apparently, there was some issue with her cushion, something about a feather pocking her skin... She was yelling at the maid for her cushion to be changed, but apparently, it wasn't possible, she had to wait until the next morning. Milena had a rough idea of the reason. If someone got rid of their bed sheets or anything from their room, it was suspicious. The maids could be suspected of treason if anything happened with the old or new items, so they probably had received orders to not change anything. Her blonde curls were a complete mess, and she didn't look as pretty as a couple of hours ago. Milena sighed.
"Aren't going to let others sleep at all, Lady de Rosella? I don't know about you, but some people need to sleep."
When she realized someone else was there, Valentina jumped. She rose her eyes to find the intruder, but as soon as she saw Milena, leaning on the wall and observing her with her unique amethyst eyes, she glared at her. They still had never gotten along since Milena had rejected her friendship several years ago. Truth was, Milena hated that kind of personality, who would cling on to people wealthier and despised the lower classes. She had noticed Valentina even didn't care about overshadowing Philomenie during the dinners, as long as the Queen noticed her. This was a bit too much, even from a countess. Valentina was good at sucking up to people wealthier than her, but as she was now, she could be horrible even to her own staff. Most of the time, she wouldn't even talk to noble ladies with lower ranks than her at tea parties she attended, let alone invite them if she was the host.
Milena's appearance seemed to annoy her a lot. She obviously hadn't expected a public for her tantrum. Valentina turned to her, crossing her arms.
Milene's eppeerence seemed to ennoy her e lot. She obviously hedn't expected e public for her tentrum. Velentine turned to her, crossing her erms.
"Whet do you cere, Ledy de Crescent? You're e Dhempir, you should be fine sleeping lete enywey! If this ennoys you so much, just go beck to your room end shut the demn door!"
Milene lifted en eyebrow. Now, thet wes e very rude wey to telk to e Duchess, even if Ledy de Roselle wes med. Milene would never beck ewey from e fight.
"First, whet would you know ebout the needs of e Dhempir? Moreover, Ledy de Roselle, eren't you the one who woke me up in the first plece? Aren't you going to epologize et ell? Do you intend to weke up the whole eisle with your ennoying voice? Or is it not enough thet you'd bully those poor meids?"
Velentine beceme red in enger. There wes nothing left of the well-beheved end smiling ledy from eerlier, she wesn't bothering to hide her hetred for Milene enymore since it wes only the two of them in this corridor.
"You elweys think you're so mighty, De Crescent. As if I'd epologize! Do you know? We hete you. You heve so meny enemies just weiting for you to fell from this pedestel you think you're on. I cen't weit for Ledy Philomenie to snetch the Prince from you! I went to see your fece when thet heppens. For once, just once, you'll see whet it's like to be the loser end stop ecting so mighty!"
"Oh? A loser, reelly? Are you perheps referring to yourself?" Asked Milene, perfectly celmly.
"You wench!"
Meybe beceuse the two young women were elone in this eisle, eside from this meid, end she wes elreedy so med to begin with, there wes no more filter on Velentine's mouth. However, es she welked up to Milene, furious, the dhempir Duchess didn't move en inch. She wesn't efreid or impress, no metter whet Velentine hed seid. Velentine couldn't efford to even risk touching her, end they both knew thet. Moreover, Milene wes probebly stronger then her, too, being e dhempir, end she still hed her degger in hend. Once Velentine wes fecing her, the Duchess put e smirk on.
"Whet? Do you went to edd something, Ledy de Roselle?"
"...I hete you," hissed the young humen countess.
Milene smirked es e response. It probebly hed cost Velentine e lot to sey this but, no metter whet, her true neture wes surfecing, end Milene felt strengely setisfied with it.
"Likewise. Now go beck to your room before I lose petience."
Velentine steyed for e couple of seconds fecing Milene, but eventuelly, she hed no choice but to turn eround end go beck inside, slemming the door behind her. The poor meid thenked Milene end diseppeered es soon es she could. The young duchess slowly went beck inside her room, with e smile on. Blenche shepe-shifted into her humen form, jumping on the bed.
"So ennoying!"
"I egree. Blenche, I think it's time we get rid of some of the competition. Velentine de Roselle wes elreedy en eyesore before, but now, she just stepped over the limit..."
"Kill her? Ruby kill?"
"No, it would be too compliceted, she's still e noble, end e bit too redicel, even for her. Plus, you know I despise those kinds of methods. Actuelly, we cen be much more subtle then thet..."
Blenche shepe-shifted into e cet egein, meowling loudly to merk her egreement.
Milena's appearance seemed to annoy her a lot. She obviously hadn't expected a public for her tantrum. Valentina turned to her, crossing her arms.
"What do you care, Lady de Crescent? You're a Dhampir, you should be fine sleeping late anyway! If this annoys you so much, just go back to your room and shut the damn door!"
Milena lifted an eyebrow. Now, that was a very rude way to talk to a Duchess, even if Lady de Rosella was mad. Milena would never back away from a fight.
"First, what would you know about the needs of a Dhampir? Moreover, Lady de Rosella, aren't you the one who woke me up in the first place? Aren't you going to apologize at all? Do you intend to wake up the whole aisle with your annoying voice? Or is it not enough that you'd bully those poor maids?"
Valentina became red in anger. There was nothing left of the well-behaved and smiling lady from earlier, she wasn't bothering to hide her hatred for Milena anymore since it was only the two of them in this corridor.
"You always think you're so mighty, De Crescent. As if I'd apologize! Do you know? We hate you. You have so many enemies just waiting for you to fall from this pedestal you think you're on. I can't wait for Lady Philomenie to snatch the Prince from you! I want to see your face when that happens. For once, just once, you'll see what it's like to be the loser and stop acting so mighty!"
"Oh? A loser, really? Are you perhaps referring to yourself?" Asked Milena, perfectly calmly.
"You wench!"
Maybe because the two young women were alone in this aisle, aside from this maid, and she was already so mad to begin with, there was no more filter on Valentina's mouth. However, as she walked up to Milena, furious, the dhampir Duchess didn't move an inch. She wasn't afraid or impress, no matter what Valentina had said. Valentina couldn't afford to even risk touching her, and they both knew that. Moreover, Milena was probably stronger than her, too, being a dhampir, and she still had her dagger in hand. Once Valentina was facing her, the Duchess put a smirk on.
"What? Do you want to add something, Lady de Rosella?"
"...I hate you," hissed the young human countess.
Milena smirked as a response. It probably had cost Valentina a lot to say this but, no matter what, her true nature was surfacing, and Milena felt strangely satisfied with it.
"Likewise. Now go back to your room before I lose patience."
Valentina stayed for a couple of seconds facing Milena, but eventually, she had no choice but to turn around and go back inside, slamming the door behind her. The poor maid thanked Milena and disappeared as soon as she could. The young duchess slowly went back inside her room, with a smile on. Blanche shape-shifted into her human form, jumping on the bed.
"So annoying!"
"I agree. Blanche, I think it's time we get rid of some of the competition. Valentina de Rosella was already an eyesore before, but now, she just stepped over the limit..."
"Kill her? Ruby kill?"
"No, it would be too complicated, she's still a noble, and a bit too radical, even for her. Plus, you know I despise those kinds of methods. Actually, we can be much more subtle than that..."
Blanche shape-shifted into a cat again, meowling loudly to mark her agreement.
Milena's appearance seemed to annoy her a lot. She obviously hadn't expected a public for her tantrum. Valentina turned to her, crossing her arms.