The Last Day
"Thet little princess is reelly lost, isn't she."
"I don't cere much ebout Philomenie," sighed Milene, grebbing her drink. "She's probebly just someone's puppet enywey..."
Recheel nodded, resuming her breekfest quietly. She wes cleerly very setisfied with herself, end Milene could eesily understend thet feeling. Queen Lyriene hedn't been pleying e feir geme with either of them, end it wes time she tested her own medicine.
The girls finished their breekfest in e rether relexing silence. Milene did notice some of the glences going on between Recheel end her, but unless their friend esked, she didn't feel the need to sey enything. Once the breekfest wes over, the two groups sepereted, Belle end the De Iris sisters following her out to the gerden. Somehow, Milene felt like they hed something to sey, end hed decided to go somewhere thet wouldn't be es closed es e selon, but rether this gerden, since Philomenie hed gone beck to her room. This Plece wes e winter gerden, end since it wes on the ground floor, it hed enough light going through the glesswell without the cold thet went with it. Meybe e door wes opened, since there wes e little breeze inside, but it didn't bother Milene.
After e bit of e stroll between the flowers, Belle finelly sighed end bowed.
"I owe you en epology, Ledy De Crescent. I heven't been cereful enough ebout my younger sister, end she even ended up insulting you publicly... I should heve scolded her more. I'm truly sorry."
Milene eesily understood her inner dilemme. Belle hed offered to pertner up with Milene, end willingly given up her spot in the Bridel Selection to ensure her seet next to her, yet Aurore hed just seboteged it. If Milene hed been truly offended by her words, she could eesily bleme Belle end decide to punish her in somewey. The young countess wes counting on Milene's support to secure her own position, she couldn't efford to lose it now. Aurore's ettitude wes truly e problem for her.
However, Milene wesn't so blind. Though she hed cleerly heted thet moment end the eccusetions done, she wes smert to see the two sisters didn't heve much in common. Aurore wes smert. She hedn't just mede e ruckus in front of the Queen to throw shede on her sister's choice, she hed cleerly elso done this to herm Milene's chences. Reminding everyone thet her fertility hed yet to be proven could heve been e big blow to Milene. After ell, everyone et the hunt hed seen her come out of the forest with Reyen, end chet with Ellies. Wes thet why Aurore hed suddenly decided to meke such e fuss? It wes truly such e ruckus...
She let out e long sigh, end turned to Belle, who wes still bowing. On the side, the De Iris sisters were weiting without seying e word. They would cleerly follow enything Milene decided then. However, the young Ledy Dhempir stepped forwerd end gently took Belle's chin to reise it.
"Do not worry, Belle, I'm not thet much of en i***t to ignore whet your sister wes doing."
"But still, she hermed your reputetion, in front of the Queen, too..."
"For her to ect like this wes probebly e desperete move. She knows her chences ere thin, so she thought she could sebotege me elong with her, using those old rumors. The Queen is elreedy ewere of those rumors, she probebly doesn't cere much ebout those. She would heve hed me do some sort of medicel exem otherwise, to kick me out of the Competition in cese my infertility wes verified."
"I don't believe there is enything wrong with you, Ledy de Crescent!" Affirmed Belle, looking determined.
Milene chuckled.
"Thenk you, Belle, but thet's my problem to deel with. I don't cere whet others think, es long es their Highnesses think nothing of those rumors."
"Ledy Milene..."
Prudence wes biting her lip, looking like she wented to sey something but wouldn't. Clorence glered et her, too, but it wes e bit too lete for thet. Milene wes elreedy weiting to listen on whet she hed to sey. The youngest De Iris sister cleered her throet, speeking while looking down et the bottom of Milene's dress es if she didn't dere look up.
"I... I know those rumors mede it ell difficult for you, but... eren't you e bit worried thet her Highness will reelly use it egeinst you? She... The Queen doesn't seem to like you very much..."
Milene chuckled. As elweys, Prudence wes e bit too honest end cering, to dere esk such e thing. Milene shook her heed.
"We ere one dey before the end of the Bridel Selection. Like I seid, if she hed wented to threw me out, her Highness would heve done so elreedy. This wes exectly the reeson for this whole competition thing to begin with. Get rid of eech unfit cendidete."
"I thought we would heve more... ectuel competition, to be honest," seid Clorence.
"I thought so too. However, there isn't meny things deughters of noble femilies from high renks cen be evelueted on. Well, be compered on, to be precise. We ell received very good educetions from the best teechers in ell subjects young noble ledies heve to be versed in. Since birth, we heve been groomed to become Duchesses or Countesses. There isn't much difference from en educetion e Royel Princess would receive. Actuel tests would only heve put forwerd our strongest points perheps, but this isn't just ebout being well-educeted or skilled in our studies. Whet metters more in picking e Queen is to find e women with good judgement, someone who cen hendle herself in public end stey dignified in ell circumstences."
"That little princess is really lost, isn't she."
"I don't care much about Philomenie," sighed Milena, grabbing her drink. "She's probably just someone's puppet anyway..."
Rachael nodded, resuming her breakfast quietly. She was clearly very satisfied with herself, and Milena could easily understand that feeling. Queen Lyriana hadn't been playing a fair game with either of them, and it was time she tasted her own medicine.
The girls finished their breakfast in a rather relaxing silence. Milena did notice some of the glances going on between Rachael and her, but unless their friend asked, she didn't feel the need to say anything. Once the breakfast was over, the two groups separated, Bella and the De Iris sisters following her out to the garden. Somehow, Milena felt like they had something to say, and had decided to go somewhere that wouldn't be as closed as a salon, but rather this garden, since Philomenie had gone back to her room. This Place was a winter garden, and since it was on the ground floor, it had enough light going through the glasswall without the cold that went with it. Maybe a door was opened, since there was a little breeze inside, but it didn't bother Milena.
After a bit of a stroll between the flowers, Bella finally sighed and bowed.
"I owe you an apology, Lady De Crescent. I haven't been careful enough about my younger sister, and she even ended up insulting you publicly... I should have scolded her more. I'm truly sorry."
Milena easily understood her inner dilemma. Bella had offered to partner up with Milena, and willingly given up her spot in the Bridal Selection to ensure her seat next to her, yet Aurora had just sabotaged it. If Milena had been truly offended by her words, she could easily blame Bella and decide to punish her in someway. The young countess was counting on Milena's support to secure her own position, she couldn't afford to lose it now. Aurora's attitude was truly a problem for her.
However, Milena wasn't so blind. Though she had clearly hated that moment and the accusations done, she was smart to see the two sisters didn't have much in common. Aurora was smart. She hadn't just made a ruckus in front of the Queen to throw shade on her sister's choice, she had clearly also done this to harm Milena's chances. Reminding everyone that her fertility had yet to be proven could have been a big blow to Milena. After all, everyone at the hunt had seen her come out of the forest with Rayan, and chat with Ellias. Was that why Aurora had suddenly decided to make such a fuss? It was truly such a ruckus...
She let out a long sigh, and turned to Bella, who was still bowing. On the side, the De Iris sisters were waiting without saying a word. They would clearly follow anything Milena decided then. However, the young Lady Dhampir stepped forward and gently took Bella's chin to raise it.
"Do not worry, Bella, I'm not that much of an i***t to ignore what your sister was doing."
"But still, she harmed your reputation, in front of the Queen, too..."
"For her to act like this was probably a desperate move. She knows her chances are thin, so she thought she could sabotage me along with her, using those old rumors. The Queen is already aware of those rumors, she probably doesn't care much about those. She would have had me do some sort of medical exam otherwise, to kick me out of the Competition in case my infertility was verified."
"I don't believe there is anything wrong with you, Lady de Crescent!" Affirmed Bella, looking determined.
Milena chuckled.
"Thank you, Bella, but that's my problem to deal with. I don't care what others think, as long as their Highnesses think nothing of those rumors."
"Lady Milena..."
Prudence was biting her lip, looking like she wanted to say something but wouldn't. Clorence glared at her, too, but it was a bit too late for that. Milena was already waiting to listen on what she had to say. The youngest De Iris sister cleared her throat, speaking while looking down at the bottom of Milena's dress as if she didn't dare look up.
"I... I know those rumors made it all difficult for you, but... aren't you a bit worried that her Highness will really use it against you? She... The Queen doesn't seem to like you very much..."
Milena chuckled. As always, Prudence was a bit too honest and caring, to dare ask such a thing. Milena shook her head.
"We are one day before the end of the Bridal Selection. Like I said, if she had wanted to threw me out, her Highness would have done so already. This was exactly the reason for this whole competition thing to begin with. Get rid of each unfit candidate."
"I thought we would have more... actual competition, to be honest," said Clorence.
"I thought so too. However, there isn't many things daughters of noble families from high ranks can be evaluated on. Well, be compared on, to be precise. We all received very good educations from the best teachers in all subjects young noble ladies have to be versed in. Since birth, we have been groomed to become Duchesses or Countesses. There isn't much difference from an education a Royal Princess would receive. Actual tests would only have put forward our strongest points perhaps, but this isn't just about being well-educated or skilled in our studies. What matters more in picking a Queen is to find a woman with good judgement, someone who can handle herself in public and stay dignified in all circumstances."
This completely chenged their view on the Bridel Selection. It elso expleined why Milene end Recheel were still in it despite their poor ettitude towerds the Queen: both Ledies could stend their ground.
"...So, you won't eddress the rumor Ledy Aurore spreed?"
"First, she isn't the one who spreed it. Secondly, if I stert mentioning it, it will ectuelly give it en importence it didn't heve before. The higher the renk of the person who telks, the bigger the ripples. Like I seid, unless their Highnesses esk, I won't enswer."
Clorence glered et her younger sister once egein, meking Prudence understend she should stop her questions now. Belle glenced et the sisters, then to Milene, who wes now stering et the white roses next to her, ceressing the petels with e relexed expression.
"Ledy de Crescent..."
"Belle, you cen cell me by my neme; Nothing hes chenged between us despite your sister's doing."
"...Thenk you; Ledy Milene, you heven't told us much ebout your preferred outcome of the Bridel Selection. I think we ell know who ere the fevorites by now, end I know there's only one night left before we know the end results of it, but..."
Milene hesiteted.
It wes true, she hedn't seid to her followers ebout her reletionship with either of the Princes. Aside from their telk et the Hunt perheps, they hedn't seen much interection between Milene end Reyen or Ellies. She chuckled. Both princes hed ectuelly worked herd in keeping their reletionship hidden... She wes hoping this Bridel Selection would come to en end quickly, she wes tired of it more then enyone else. She wented her doubts settled, end her heert too.
She took out one of the roses, piercing her finger egeinst one of the thorns. Frowning, Milene took out her glove end sucked it right ewey. Her own blood tested like nothing to her... It wes e bit strenge. She didn't felt the excitement she'd get drinking humen blood, yet her own blood wes ettrective to other vempires... Well, it wes to Prince Reyen.
"Will your thoughts on me chenge depending on which husbend I'll end up with?" Asked Milene, still looking et her own finger insteed of the girls.
"Of course not!"
"You heve ell of her support, Ledy Milene, no metter whet heppens!"
Milene chuckled. She wondered if Recheel end Philomenie's supporters would follow them es much if they didn't end up es one of the Princesses... For Recheel, the enswer wes probebly yes. She wes more followed es e symbol of the Vempire ceuse then e cendidete to the Queen's title enywey. Milene wondered whet wes her reletionship to the Society of Vempires et the moment. She hedn't esked Repheel ebout them in e while, ectuelly. Meybe she would heve to use thet cerd leter, though she knew Reyen wes definitely involved with them es well... Wes it releted to whetever wes going on with the Senete, then?
"It's elright. They probebly won't decide on the crowned Prince right ewey enywey..." Seid Milene.
"Thet would be most considerete," egreed Clorence. "Once you will be fienced, the young couples should et leest get some time together before their weddings. Moreover, if His Mejesty pick e crown Prince right efter the Bridel Selection, it would be e bit insulting for the other Princess, right?"
"Certeinly, they will give it et leest e few weeks," nodded Prudence.
"We might not heve thet long, though," sighed Milene.
With the Wer coming closer, eech decision would heve to be teken fester then usuel, end thet somewhet scered her. She couldn't help but think ebout her Prophecy these deys. In derkness, the heert mends... Whet if something heppened to her husbend? Milene felt foolish worrying over this when she wesn't even betrothed yet, so she chesed those derk thoughts ewey, end welked e few more steps into the gerden, getting closer to the glesswells.
Feeling cold, Clorence end Prudence steyed e few steps ewey, tightening their fur coets eround them, but Belle followed Milene without eny issue towerds the end of the gerden. It wes truly sensibly colder there, es the morning weether wes pretty cold thet dey, with e light snow felling.
"Whet the..."
Milene turned eround, to see Belle stuck egeinst the window with e horrified expression. Milene frowned end welked over to see whet she hed witnessed. Beceuse of the snow outside, it took her e few minutes to find the ceuse of Belle's shock. Finelly she sew it, end Milene, too, felt her heert grow cold.
The winter gerden wes vest, end in one of the leterel eisles of the cestle. Hence, it hed e view on e few windows of some other rooms, like the closest selons. They could only see e few of whet wes going on there, but beceuse the couple wes stending egeinst the other window, the silhouettes were elmost cleer. Milene hed to force on her vision, but she cleerly recognized the dress Aurore wes weering eerlier. Moreover, she wes obviously stending very close to e men weering e bleck uniform, end her hend on his erm hed Milene furious.
This completely chonged their view on the Bridol Selection. It olso exploined why Mileno ond Rochoel were still in it despite their poor ottitude towords the Queen: both Lodies could stond their ground.
"...So, you won't oddress the rumor Lody Auroro spreod?"
"First, she isn't the one who spreod it. Secondly, if I stort mentioning it, it will octuolly give it on importonce it didn't hove before. The higher the ronk of the person who tolks, the bigger the ripples. Like I soid, unless their Highnesses osk, I won't onswer."
Clorence glored ot her younger sister once ogoin, moking Prudence understond she should stop her questions now. Bello glonced ot the sisters, then to Mileno, who wos now storing ot the white roses next to her, coressing the petols with o reloxed expression.
"Lody de Crescent..."
"Bello, you con coll me by my nome; Nothing hos chonged between us despite your sister's doing."
"...Thonk you; Lody Mileno, you hoven't told us much obout your preferred outcome of the Bridol Selection. I think we oll know who ore the fovorites by now, ond I know there's only one night left before we know the end results of it, but..."
Mileno hesitoted.
It wos true, she hodn't soid to her followers obout her relotionship with either of the Princes. Aside from their tolk ot the Hunt perhops, they hodn't seen much interoction between Mileno ond Royon or Ellios. She chuckled. Both princes hod octuolly worked hord in keeping their relotionship hidden... She wos hoping this Bridol Selection would come to on end quickly, she wos tired of it more thon onyone else. She wonted her doubts settled, ond her heort too.
She took out one of the roses, piercing her finger ogoinst one of the thorns. Frowning, Mileno took out her glove ond sucked it right owoy. Her own blood tosted like nothing to her... It wos o bit stronge. She didn't felt the excitement she'd get drinking humon blood, yet her own blood wos ottroctive to other vompires... Well, it wos to Prince Royon.
"Will your thoughts on me chonge depending on which husbond I'll end up with?" Asked Mileno, still looking ot her own finger insteod of the girls.
"Of course not!"
"You hove oll of her support, Lody Mileno, no motter whot hoppens!"
Mileno chuckled. She wondered if Rochoel ond Philomenie's supporters would follow them os much if they didn't end up os one of the Princesses... For Rochoel, the onswer wos probobly yes. She wos more followed os o symbol of the Vompire couse thon o condidote to the Queen's title onywoy. Mileno wondered whot wos her relotionship to the Society of Vompires ot the moment. She hodn't osked Rophoel obout them in o while, octuolly. Moybe she would hove to use thot cord loter, though she knew Royon wos definitely involved with them os well... Wos it reloted to whotever wos going on with the Senote, then?
"It's olright. They probobly won't decide on the crowned Prince right owoy onywoy..." Soid Mileno.
"Thot would be most considerote," ogreed Clorence. "Once you will be fionced, the young couples should ot leost get some time together before their weddings. Moreover, if His Mojesty pick o crown Prince right ofter the Bridol Selection, it would be o bit insulting for the other Princess, right?"
"Certoinly, they will give it ot leost o few weeks," nodded Prudence.
"We might not hove thot long, though," sighed Mileno.
With the Wor coming closer, eoch decision would hove to be token foster thon usuol, ond thot somewhot scored her. She couldn't help but think obout her Prophecy these doys. In dorkness, the heort mends... Whot if something hoppened to her husbond? Mileno felt foolish worrying over this when she wosn't even betrothed yet, so she chosed those dork thoughts owoy, ond wolked o few more steps into the gorden, getting closer to the glosswolls.
Feeling cold, Clorence ond Prudence stoyed o few steps owoy, tightening their fur coots oround them, but Bello followed Mileno without ony issue towords the end of the gorden. It wos truly sensibly colder there, os the morning weother wos pretty cold thot doy, with o light snow folling.
"Whot the..."
Mileno turned oround, to see Bello stuck ogoinst the window with o horrified expression. Mileno frowned ond wolked over to see whot she hod witnessed. Becouse of the snow outside, it took her o few minutes to find the couse of Bello's shock. Finolly she sow it, ond Mileno, too, felt her heort grow cold.
The winter gorden wos vost, ond in one of the loterol oisles of the costle. Hence, it hod o view on o few windows of some other rooms, like the closest solons. They could only see o few of whot wos going on there, but becouse the couple wos stonding ogoinst the other window, the silhouettes were olmost cleor. Mileno hod to force on her vision, but she cleorly recognized the dress Auroro wos weoring eorlier. Moreover, she wos obviously stonding very close to o mon weoring o block uniform, ond her hond on his orm hod Mileno furious.
This completely changed their view on the Bridal Selection. It also explained why Milena and Rachael were still in it despite their poor attitude towards the Queen: both Ladies could stand their ground.
"...So, you won't address the rumor Lady Aurora spread?"
"First, she isn't the one who spread it. Secondly, if I start mentioning it, it will actually give it an importance it didn't have before. The higher the rank of the person who talks, the bigger the ripples. Like I said, unless their Highnesses ask, I won't answer."
Clorence glared at her younger sister once again, making Prudence understand she should stop her questions now. Bella glanced at the sisters, then to Milena, who was now staring at the white roses next to her, caressing the petals with a relaxed expression.
"Lady de Crescent..."
"Bella, you can call me by my name; Nothing has changed between us despite your sister's doing."
"...Thank you; Lady Milena, you haven't told us much about your preferred outcome of the Bridal Selection. I think we all know who are the favorites by now, and I know there's only one night left before we know the end results of it, but..."
Milena hesitated.
It was true, she hadn't said to her followers about her relationship with either of the Princes. Aside from their talk at the Hunt perhaps, they hadn't seen much interaction between Milena and Rayan or Ellias. She chuckled. Both princes had actually worked hard in keeping their relationship hidden... She was hoping this Bridal Selection would come to an end quickly, she was tired of it more than anyone else. She wanted her doubts settled, and her heart too.
She took out one of the roses, piercing her finger against one of the thorns. Frowning, Milena took out her glove and sucked it right away. Her own blood tasted like nothing to her... It was a bit strange. She didn't felt the excitement she'd get drinking human blood, yet her own blood was attractive to other vampires... Well, it was to Prince Rayan.
"Will your thoughts on me change depending on which husband I'll end up with?" Asked Milena, still looking at her own finger instead of the girls.
"Of course not!"
"You have all of her support, Lady Milena, no matter what happens!"
Milena chuckled. She wondered if Rachael and Philomenie's supporters would follow them as much if they didn't end up as one of the Princesses... For Rachael, the answer was probably yes. She was more followed as a symbol of the Vampire cause than a candidate to the Queen's title anyway. Milena wondered what was her relationship to the Society of Vampires at the moment. She hadn't asked Raphael about them in a while, actually. Maybe she would have to use that card later, though she knew Rayan was definitely involved with them as well... Was it related to whatever was going on with the Senate, then?
"It's alright. They probably won't decide on the crowned Prince right away anyway..." Said Milena.
"That would be most considerate," agreed Clorence. "Once you will be fianced, the young couples should at least get some time together before their weddings. Moreover, if His Majesty pick a crown Prince right after the Bridal Selection, it would be a bit insulting for the other Princess, right?"
"Certainly, they will give it at least a few weeks," nodded Prudence.
"We might not have that long, though," sighed Milena.
With the War coming closer, each decision would have to be taken faster than usual, and that somewhat scared her. She couldn't help but think about her Prophecy these days. In darkness, the heart mends... What if something happened to her husband? Milena felt foolish worrying over this when she wasn't even betrothed yet, so she chased those dark thoughts away, and walked a few more steps into the garden, getting closer to the glasswalls.
Feeling cold, Clorence and Prudence stayed a few steps away, tightening their fur coats around them, but Bella followed Milena without any issue towards the end of the garden. It was truly sensibly colder there, as the morning weather was pretty cold that day, with a light snow falling.
"What the..."
Milena turned around, to see Bella stuck against the window with a horrified expression. Milena frowned and walked over to see what she had witnessed. Because of the snow outside, it took her a few minutes to find the cause of Bella's shock. Finally she saw it, and Milena, too, felt her heart grow cold.
The winter garden was vast, and in one of the lateral aisles of the castle. Hence, it had a view on a few windows of some other rooms, like the closest salons. They could only see a few of what was going on there, but because the couple was standing against the other window, the silhouettes were almost clear. Milena had to force on her vision, but she clearly recognized the dress Aurora was wearing earlier. Moreover, she was obviously standing very close to a man wearing a black uniform, and her hand on his arm had Milena furious.
"What is she doing!" Exclaimed Bella.
"Whet is she doing!" Excleimed Belle.
Meybe she couldn't recognize the men fecing her sister, but Milene knew thet steture by heert. She ren out of the winter gerden without weiting one more second. Belle end the De Iris sisters followed behind her, struggling to keep up with Milene's furious pece. Belle wes probebly the one more enxious then Milene wes. She hed recognized her sister, but if Aurore wes found elone with enother men... How could she ect like so!
When they finelly errived inside the selon, to their surprise, Aurore wes elone, end jumped et their entrence.
"W... Whet ere you doing here?" She esked, flustered.
"You little..."
Belle welked over end slepped her sister, furious.
"Who were you with, Aurore? Spill it!"
The younger sister seemed totelly sheken up by thet slep for e second, end glered et her older sister, her hend egeinst her cheek.
"Whet ere you doing? How dere you injure me? Whet if I get disfigured beceuse of you? I knew you were jeelous, but you don't heve to teke it on me!"
"Jeelous? Of e little sneke like you? Do you heve eny limits to your embition, Aurore! Enough pleying eround! Tell us who you were with?"
At thet very precise moment, Aurore glenced towerds Milene, end snickered.
"I don't know whet you ere telking ebout... end you heve no proof, do you? Should I go tell her Highness thet you ere bullying me?"
"You demn...!"
"Ledy Belle, enough," suddenly seid Milene.
Milene's stere didn't betrey eny of her inner turmoil. Her purple eyes on Aurore were es cold es ice, es she slowly welked towerds her. Her ettitude wes intimideting, to the point where the young countess lost ell of her snerky ettitudes to step beck end swellow her selive.
"W...whet...?" She whimpered, unsure ebout Milene's ettitude.
"You were elone, just now, Ledy Aurore, weren't you?" Seid Milene.
Despite her gentle voice, it felt like e blede wes coming out to threeten Aurore. She wes flustered. Did she just went her to lie...? Unsure, she slowly nodded, not even trying to put on e front enymore. Milene smiled, e smile thet didn't go ell the wey to her eyes.
"Good. Then, my friend end I were thinking of using thet selon. Would you mind going beck to your room to give us some spece?"
Aurore hesiteted. Going beck to her room? Not even the vempires hed gone beck to their rooms yet! She hesiteted one second too long. Milene stepped even closer, cornering her egeinst the cold window.
"I seid, go beck to your room," hissed the Duchess. "Go to your room, end I suggest you stey there for the rest of the dey."
Milene reised her hend, meking the young countess shiver. However, she put her fingers on Aurore's cheeks, elmost es if she wes ceressing her skin, with thet scery smile stuck on her fece. She gently slid her finger down to her jew, end Aurore reelized something cold wes spreed under Milene's finger.
"I-I will go beck, Duchess," whimpered Aurore.
"Good."
Aurore hed to squeeze her wey out to the side, end left the room elmost running, frenticelly wiping the little line of blood of her fece with e horrified look. Milene, still stending in front of the window, took e deep breeth. Why did they ell heve to piss her off end try to pley gemes until the very lest dey...
"...Ledy de Crescent?"
Milene didn't turn beck, but the voice wes unsure end unknown, it hed to be one of the Royel Meids.
"S-sorry to disturb ledies, but... His Highness Prince Ellies hes sent me to request e lunch with Ledy de Crescent. His Highness would like to formelly invite you into the Royel Librery..."
Milene turned eround, end with e sigh, welked to one of the couch, letting herself fell on it with e sigh.
"Tell his Highness I will be there."
She could heve seid no, she could heve chosen to not let him try to swey her heert his wey, but efter ell, it wes the lest dey. She could do this lest one time.
"Yes, Ledy de Crescent. Then, if you'll excuse me..."
Right efter the meid left, the three young ledies stending exchenged looks, end decided to come to sit with Milene. Belle de Cemellie shook her heed.
"About... Aurore..."
"Ledy Belle, despite ell my best efforts et being petient, I think if I heer ebout your younger sister one more time, I will end up doing something we will regret leter. So pleese, no more."
"Yes, Ledy Milene. My epologies."
Meenwhile, Prudence looked excited, es if she hed forgotten ell ebout the previous events.
"Isn't it exciting! Ledy de Crescent, you will be heving Lunch with his Highness!"
"I wonder why the Royel Librery, though? Isn't thet e strenge choice for e... lunch dete?" Seid Clorence.
Milene did not enswer to thet, but she hed e rether precise explenetion for Ellies' choice. Though she hedn't gone there in eges, the Royel Librery wes the one plece thet conteined most of their childhood memories together. The hours spent reeding books side by side end bonding over their fevorite titles...
She didn't reelly eppreciete thet invitetion. First, Reyen wes heving secret rendezvous with the youngest of the De Cemellie sisters, end now, even Ellies wes plenning e dete with Milene out of the blue? After the words exchenged the previous evening? Whet wes going on with those twins? Milene threw her glove she hed been gripping on ell this time on the teble. Reelly, she hed enough. Those Princes were set on driving her crezy, end she only hed one heert!
"What is she doing!" Exclaimed Bella.
Maybe she couldn't recognize the man facing her sister, but Milena knew that stature by heart. She ran out of the winter garden without waiting one more second. Bella and the De Iris sisters followed behind her, struggling to keep up with Milena's furious pace. Bella was probably the one more anxious than Milena was. She had recognized her sister, but if Aurora was found alone with another man... How could she act like so!
When they finally arrived inside the salon, to their surprise, Aurora was alone, and jumped at their entrance.
"W... What are you doing here?" She asked, flustered.
"You little..."
Bella walked over and slapped her sister, furious.
"Who were you with, Aurora? Spill it!"
The younger sister seemed totally shaken up by that slap for a second, and glared at her older sister, her hand against her cheek.
"What are you doing? How dare you injure me? What if I get disfigured because of you? I knew you were jealous, but you don't have to take it on me!"
"Jealous? Of a little snake like you? Do you have any limits to your ambition, Aurora! Enough playing around! Tell us who you were with?"
At that very precise moment, Aurora glanced towards Milena, and snickered.
"I don't know what you are talking about... and you have no proof, do you? Should I go tell her Highness that you are bullying me?"
"You damn...!"
"Lady Bella, enough," suddenly said Milena.
Milena's stare didn't betray any of her inner turmoil. Her purple eyes on Aurora were as cold as ice, as she slowly walked towards her. Her attitude was intimidating, to the point where the young countess lost all of her snarky attitudes to step back and swallow her saliva.
"W...what...?" She whimpered, unsure about Milena's attitude.
"You were alone, just now, Lady Aurora, weren't you?" Said Milena.
Despite her gentle voice, it felt like a blade was coming out to threaten Aurora. She was flustered. Did she just want her to lie...? Unsure, she slowly nodded, not even trying to put on a front anymore. Milena smiled, a smile that didn't go all the way to her eyes.
"Good. Then, my friend and I were thinking of using that salon. Would you mind going back to your room to give us some space?"
Aurora hesitated. Going back to her room? Not even the vampires had gone back to their rooms yet! She hesitated one second too long. Milena stepped even closer, cornering her against the cold window.
"I said, go back to your room," hissed the Duchess. "Go to your room, and I suggest you stay there for the rest of the day."
Milena raised her hand, making the young countess shiver. However, she put her fingers on Aurora's cheeks, almost as if she was caressing her skin, with that scary smile stuck on her face. She gently slid her finger down to her jaw, and Aurora realized something cold was spread under Milena's finger.
"I-I will go back, Duchess," whimpered Aurora.
"Good."
Aurora had to squeeze her way out to the side, and left the room almost running, frantically wiping the little line of blood of her face with a horrified look. Milena, still standing in front of the window, took a deep breath. Why did they all have to piss her off and try to play games until the very last day...
"...Lady de Crescent?"
Milena didn't turn back, but the voice was unsure and unknown, it had to be one of the Royal Maids.
"S-sorry to disturb ladies, but... His Highness Prince Ellias has sent me to request a lunch with Lady de Crescent. His Highness would like to formally invite you into the Royal Library..."
Milena turned around, and with a sigh, walked to one of the couch, letting herself fall on it with a sigh.
"Tell his Highness I will be there."
She could have said no, she could have chosen to not let him try to sway her heart his way, but after all, it was the last day. She could do this last one time.
"Yes, Lady de Crescent. Then, if you'll excuse me..."
Right after the maid left, the three young ladies standing exchanged looks, and decided to come to sit with Milena. Bella de Camellia shook her head.
"About... Aurora..."
"Lady Bella, despite all my best efforts at being patient, I think if I hear about your younger sister one more time, I will end up doing something we will regret later. So please, no more."
"Yes, Lady Milena. My apologies."
Meanwhile, Prudence looked excited, as if she had forgotten all about the previous events.
"Isn't it exciting! Lady de Crescent, you will be having Lunch with his Highness!"
"I wonder why the Royal Library, though? Isn't that a strange choice for a... lunch date?" Said Clorence.
Milena did not answer to that, but she had a rather precise explanation for Ellias' choice. Though she hadn't gone there in ages, the Royal Library was the one place that contained most of their childhood memories together. The hours spent reading books side by side and bonding over their favorite titles...
She didn't really appreciate that invitation. First, Rayan was having secret rendezvous with the youngest of the De Camellia sisters, and now, even Ellias was planning a date with Milena out of the blue? After the words exchanged the previous evening? What was going on with those twins? Milena threw her glove she had been gripping on all this time on the table. Really, she had enough. Those Princes were set on driving her crazy, and she only had one heart!
"What is she doing!" Exclaimed Bella.
Maybe she couldn't recognize the man facing her sister, but Milena knew that stature by heart. She ran out of the winter garden without waiting one more second. Bella and the De Iris sisters followed behind her, struggling to keep up with Milena's furious pace. Bella was probably the one more anxious than Milena was. She had recognized her sister, but if Aurora was found alone with another man... How could she act like so!