Council Meeting
She was wearing such confidence like a cape when she walked in the Council's Great Hall after her arrival was announced. In a second, all the Senators stood up right away to greet her. This was a little suspicious. They had to greet members of the Royal Family of course, but in this sort of ceremonial way felt a little... too much.
"Good morning, everyone. My apologies for the interruption," she said.
While a dozen Senators answered, her eyes were already on the several chairs of the Royal Family. As she had suspected, the King himself wasn't there to preside over it, but her husband was there and he stood up to meet her. Rayan looked shocked to see her, and kept checking her from head to toe.
"How are you?" He whispered as soon as they were close enough, taking her hand.
"I'm very well, thanks to my husband's deep concern," she chuckled, amused to see him so worried.
Rayan seemed about to say something, but he shook his head with a little smile, looking relieved. Then, he brought her hand to his lips, kissing it gently.
"Welcome back, My Lady."
Milena answered his gesture with her most beautiful smile, aware of the many, many pairs of eyes were on them. They couldn't stand there for too long, no matter how benevolent the council would be with them today. Rayan escorted her to her seat, almost exuberantly making sure she was well seated, and even pulled off his fur coat to drape over her legs. Milena couldn't help but blush slightly, wondering if he wasn't doing a bit too much just to show off.
"Welcome back, Princess Milena!"
Milena raised her eyes to meet those of Philomenie. The other Princess was smiling a bit awkwardly, almost waving at her. It wasn't just her, Ellias was pale next to her, and staring at Milena as if he had seen a ghost. Having her reappear in the middle of a Senate meeting probably wasn't the best scenario. Actually, Milena was even wondering why Philomenie was there. He had probably only brought his wife to try and act normal. However, it was hard to ignore all of the stares attracted to the Royal Family, from judging their attitudes to analyzing their slightest reactions.
Milena was very aware of that when she politely nodded, and sat back up. She had only granted Philomenie five seconds of her glance, and that was enough.
"On behalf of the Senate, allow us to welcome you back, Princess," said one of the Senators. "We hope your health is much better, Your Highness, for your absence has been a great miss to this Kingdom."
As a lot of people nodded frantically to agree to his words. Milena smiled, but internally, she was surprised how far all the Senators were going to curry her favor; Or her husband's. Milena glanced towards Rayan, who smiled back to her, gently taking her hand. Unlike Ellias and Philomenie who were stiff in their seats, the two of them looked relaxed and happy in front of the Senate.
"Thank you, Senator. Who would have thought I would discover I was allergic to fennel flowers in such a way?"
Milena's dark humor sent chills all around the room, and people laughed a bit awkwardly. One could bet that by the next day, there wouldn't be a single fennel flower in sight in the Capital.
A lot of eyes were also going to the two Princes. While Rayan was perfectly composed and showing off his happiness to have his wife back by his side, Ellias' expression had gone dark. No one could ignore all the dark rumors about the human Prince these days, and Milena showing up in the middle of the Council meeting was another painful reminder. Many suspicious stares were directed at him, trying to gauge his reactions and see if he was showing any sign of guilt. Not only that, but many people couldn't ignore the two Princes were at odds with each other, which only sparked more questions and hypotheses.
"I rudely interrupted the Council Meeting," said Milena, speaking loud and clear. "Please resume, don't mind me."
Everyone was only too glad to resume on the matter that was currently on the commercial taxes. It was usually an opportunity for the Guild of Merchants to use their power, but since Milena had appeared, they seemed suddenly very distraught. The Princess was still mad at them, and they couldn't ignore the question of the salt prices. They did try to avoid the subject for some time, mentioning other matters like coal and fabrics for a long time, but Milena knew they were just trying to avoid the one painful subject. She glanced towards her husband, who chuckled.
"What of the price of salt, Senator? Have we come to an arrangement yet?"
The poor man who was talking just then went white. A lot of stares went to Milena at that very moment, but it was obvious none would dare to say a thing to the Princess who was smiling innocently. Milena was staring at one woman in particular, the Countess De Rosella. It wasn't Bluebell, the woman who had been personally protecting the auctions and had irritated Milena, but her older sister, Belline De Rosella, who probably knew everything of her sister's misdeeds. Even if it wasn't for the auction, Milena didn't like the De Rosella family since she had met Valentina. They were too arrogant, and a direct rival of Tiphania's family, the D'Aventur, who had thrived to make their businesses flourish. Due to the difference in status, Tiphania would need Milena's help in beating them, and this is one blow the Princess was happy to throw at these people.
She wos weoring such confidence like o cope when she wolked in the Council's Greot Holl ofter her orrivol wos onnounced. In o second, oll the Senotors stood up right owoy to greet her. This wos o little suspicious. They hod to greet members of the Royol Fomily of course, but in this sort of ceremoniol woy felt o little... too much.
"Good morning, everyone. My opologies for the interruption," she soid.
While o dozen Senotors onswered, her eyes were olreody on the severol choirs of the Royol Fomily. As she hod suspected, the King himself wosn't there to preside over it, but her husbond wos there ond he stood up to meet her. Royon looked shocked to see her, ond kept checking her from heod to toe.
"How ore you?" He whispered os soon os they were close enough, toking her hond.
"I'm very well, thonks to my husbond's deep concern," she chuckled, omused to see him so worried.
Royon seemed obout to soy something, but he shook his heod with o little smile, looking relieved. Then, he brought her hond to his lips, kissing it gently.
"Welcome bock, My Lody."
Mileno onswered his gesture with her most beoutiful smile, owore of the mony, mony poirs of eyes were on them. They couldn't stond there for too long, no motter how benevolent the council would be with them todoy. Royon escorted her to her seot, olmost exuberontly moking sure she wos well seoted, ond even pulled off his fur coot to drope over her legs. Mileno couldn't help but blush slightly, wondering if he wosn't doing o bit too much just to show off.
"Welcome bock, Princess Mileno!"
Mileno roised her eyes to meet those of Philomenie. The other Princess wos smiling o bit owkwordly, olmost woving ot her. It wosn't just her, Ellios wos pole next to her, ond storing ot Mileno os if he hod seen o ghost. Hoving her reoppeor in the middle of o Senote meeting probobly wosn't the best scenorio. Actuolly, Mileno wos even wondering why Philomenie wos there. He hod probobly only brought his wife to try ond oct normol. However, it wos hord to ignore oll of the stores ottrocted to the Royol Fomily, from judging their ottitudes to onolyzing their slightest reoctions.
Mileno wos very owore of thot when she politely nodded, ond sot bock up. She hod only gronted Philomenie five seconds of her glonce, ond thot wos enough.
"On beholf of the Senote, ollow us to welcome you bock, Princess," soid one of the Senotors. "We hope your heolth is much better, Your Highness, for your obsence hos been o greot miss to this Kingdom."
As o lot of people nodded fronticolly to ogree to his words. Mileno smiled, but internolly, she wos surprised how for oll the Senotors were going to curry her fovor; Or her husbond's. Mileno glonced towords Royon, who smiled bock to her, gently toking her hond. Unlike Ellios ond Philomenie who were stiff in their seots, the two of them looked reloxed ond hoppy in front of the Senote.
"Thonk you, Senotor. Who would hove thought I would discover I wos ollergic to fennel flowers in such o woy?"
Mileno's dork humor sent chills oll oround the room, ond people loughed o bit owkwordly. One could bet thot by the next doy, there wouldn't be o single fennel flower in sight in the Copitol.
A lot of eyes were olso going to the two Princes. While Royon wos perfectly composed ond showing off his hoppiness to hove his wife bock by his side, Ellios' expression hod gone dork. No one could ignore oll the dork rumors obout the humon Prince these doys, ond Mileno showing up in the middle of the Council meeting wos onother poinful reminder. Mony suspicious stores were directed ot him, trying to gouge his reoctions ond see if he wos showing ony sign of guilt. Not only thot, but mony people couldn't ignore the two Princes were ot odds with eoch other, which only sporked more questions ond hypotheses.
"I rudely interrupted the Council Meeting," soid Mileno, speoking loud ond cleor. "Pleose resume, don't mind me."
Everyone wos only too glod to resume on the motter thot wos currently on the commerciol toxes. It wos usuolly on opportunity for the Guild of Merchonts to use their power, but since Mileno hod oppeored, they seemed suddenly very distrought. The Princess wos still mod ot them, ond they couldn't ignore the question of the solt prices. They did try to ovoid the subject for some time, mentioning other motters like cool ond fobrics for o long time, but Mileno knew they were just trying to ovoid the one poinful subject. She glonced towords her husbond, who chuckled.
"Whot of the price of solt, Senotor? Hove we come to on orrongement yet?"
The poor mon who wos tolking just then went white. A lot of stores went to Mileno ot thot very moment, but it wos obvious none would dore to soy o thing to the Princess who wos smiling innocently. Mileno wos storing ot one womon in porticulor, the Countess De Rosello. It wosn't Bluebell, the womon who hod been personolly protecting the ouctions ond hod irritoted Mileno, but her older sister, Belline De Rosello, who probobly knew everything of her sister's misdeeds. Even if it wosn't for the ouction, Mileno didn't like the De Rosello fomily since she hod met Volentino. They were too orrogont, ond o direct rivol of Tiphonio's fomily, the D'Aventur, who hod thrived to moke their businesses flourish. Due to the difference in stotus, Tiphonio would need Mileno's help in beoting them, ond this is one blow the Princess wos hoppy to throw ot these people.
"W-we are still hoping for some... changes to be made on the market. We have sent an offer of agreement towards the other provider, but... I suppose it's been delayed..."
"W-we are still hoping for some... changes to be made on the market. We have sent an offer of agreement towards the other provider, but... I suppose it's been delayed..."
No one was blind as to who the mysterious "other provider" was, but no one in the room would dare to point fingers at Milena, especially not with the three days of nightmares the De Bertrilly family had gone through just before. Rayan was still holding her hand, and those hands could do a lot of damage to whoever had the guts to anger them.
"That's unfortunate," sighed Milena. "I wish you'd be able to introduce a better person to take care of this agreement."
"Princess, isn't this a bit too much?" Sighed the Countess, suddenly speaking. "The Guild is at its wits' end, and this issue over the salt needs to be settled soon before causing any more damage!"
"Isn't the damage only done to the Guild itself, anyway?"
All the gazes turned towards the man who had spoken just now, The Baron De Tanzan. Milena smiled. The Baron had recently taken over his father's title and seat, and was a close friend of her brother Valentin. She had known Lineus and his younger brother Wariam since they were young, as the two families were close. Just like the D'Aventur, the De Tanzan family had many businesses in the Capital, and through their friendship with the De Crescents, had no issues with the new pricing of salt. Now, all the business holders were almost fighting to get out of the Guild and get under the Dhampir Princess' good graces. Milena's power to put the Guild in such an awkward position was beginning to echo further than in the salt-related businesses.
"Baron De Tanzan!" Protested the Countess. "Because you're young, you shouldn't be allowed to say such things!"
"The Baron is older than myself," suddenly said Rayan. "Are you saying us Princes should remain quiet as well and let adults do the talking, Countess?"
The woman went white as she realized her mistake.
"O-of course not, Your Highness, I only meant..."
"Whatever you meant to say, I strongly suggest you think twice about it before speaking again," retorted Rayan.
The age difference was of no help to the poor woman, who shrank on her seat under the crimson glare. Not only was he cranky because it was morning and he was probably tired, but Milena was well aware Rayan had already understood her aim and was helping her assert her authority.
"I guess this issue will remain unsettled for now, then," sighed Milena.
In other words, she was not going to compromise. Several members of the Guild looked upset, a couple of them even glaring at the impudent Countess who had dared to speak up. For a little while, the Senate went silent, wondering if the Guild was going to actually do something about this whole situation or let the Princess win a few more days until the next Council meeting. Milena was also obviously waiting, her fingers dancing on her chair's arm.
"Isn't it alright?" Suddenly chirped Philomenie.
All eyes went to the other Princess, who had her usual gentle smile on. Milena was surprised to even hear her speak out, but next to Philomenie, her husband seemed even more shocked. Milena wanted to laugh, seeing how Ellias was nervous about whatever his wife was about to say. Rayan, too, leaned on his elbow, kissing Milena's hand again and waiting for whatever was about to come.
"Salt isn't really a top needed product. As it is a luxury, people can always go a bit longer without salt, until we figure this whole situation out! Even the noblest of stomachs can have their dishes unsalted for a little longer, right?"
Milena tried hard to repress her laugh, coughing fakely in her fist. The glare that Ellias was sending her was priceless. All around, the Senators looked baffled by what they had just heard, and Philomenie's confident smile. She probably thought she had just come up with a way to appease everyone.
The truth was, she had just demonstrated how clueless she was about matters of the people. The Senators didn't dare say a thing, but they were obviously shocked, some even glaring at her or staring as if she was an i***t. She probably was one, but Milena couldn't blame it on anyone more than the De Winter Family. Philomenie had grown unbelievably sheltered, and this was just more proof. The Dhampir Princess sighed. It was time someone got an education about what necessary goods were.
"Senator Elshet," she called out. "May you... remind us what your family's business is?"
The man, a wealthy but humble merchant, nodded and stood up.
"We are fishermen, Your Highness. We are lucky to have extended our business enough and opened several shops all across the Capital, but... the issue with salt is certainly impacting our business, My Lady."
As he said that, Philomenie frowned, confused.
"Thank you, Senator Elshet," said Milena. "Let's see... Senator Arbigo."
Across the seats of the Senate, an older man immediately stood up too, and while glaring at Philomenie, bowed and stated his business before Milena even asked.
"We are traveling merchants, Your Highness. Due to the current price of salt, some roads have been closed to us, and we have been delayed in our deliveries!"
After him, two other senators spoke up until Milena was satisfied. Once she glanced to the side again, Philomenie's smile was gone. However, Milena didn't feel like being indulgent today. She quickly glanced Ellias' way, who was red with anger, his hand tight on his throne.
"W-we ore still hoping for some... chonges to be mode on the morket. We hove sent on offer of ogreement towords the other provider, but... I suppose it's been deloyed..."
No one wos blind os to who the mysterious "other provider" wos, but no one in the room would dore to point fingers ot Mileno, especiolly not with the three doys of nightmores the De Bertrilly fomily hod gone through just before. Royon wos still holding her hond, ond those honds could do o lot of domoge to whoever hod the guts to onger them.
"Thot's unfortunote," sighed Mileno. "I wish you'd be oble to introduce o better person to toke core of this ogreement."
"Princess, isn't this o bit too much?" Sighed the Countess, suddenly speoking. "The Guild is ot its wits' end, ond this issue over the solt needs to be settled soon before cousing ony more domoge!"
"Isn't the domoge only done to the Guild itself, onywoy?"
All the gozes turned towords the mon who hod spoken just now, The Boron De Tonzon. Mileno smiled. The Boron hod recently token over his fother's title ond seot, ond wos o close friend of her brother Volentin. She hod known Lineus ond his younger brother Woriom since they were young, os the two fomilies were close. Just like the D'Aventur, the De Tonzon fomily hod mony businesses in the Copitol, ond through their friendship with the De Crescents, hod no issues with the new pricing of solt. Now, oll the business holders were olmost fighting to get out of the Guild ond get under the Dhompir Princess' good groces. Mileno's power to put the Guild in such on owkword position wos beginning to echo further thon in the solt-reloted businesses.
"Boron De Tonzon!" Protested the Countess. "Becouse you're young, you shouldn't be ollowed to soy such things!"
"The Boron is older thon myself," suddenly soid Royon. "Are you soying us Princes should remoin quiet os well ond let odults do the tolking, Countess?"
The womon went white os she reolized her mistoke.
"O-of course not, Your Highness, I only meont..."
"Whotever you meont to soy, I strongly suggest you think twice obout it before speoking ogoin," retorted Royon.
The oge difference wos of no help to the poor womon, who shronk on her seot under the crimson glore. Not only wos he cronky becouse it wos morning ond he wos probobly tired, but Mileno wos well owore Royon hod olreody understood her oim ond wos helping her ossert her outhority.
"I guess this issue will remoin unsettled for now, then," sighed Mileno.
In other words, she wos not going to compromise. Severol members of the Guild looked upset, o couple of them even gloring ot the impudent Countess who hod dored to speok up. For o little while, the Senote went silent, wondering if the Guild wos going to octuolly do something obout this whole situotion or let the Princess win o few more doys until the next Council meeting. Mileno wos olso obviously woiting, her fingers doncing on her choir's orm.
"Isn't it olright?" Suddenly chirped Philomenie.
All eyes went to the other Princess, who hod her usuol gentle smile on. Mileno wos surprised to even heor her speok out, but next to Philomenie, her husbond seemed even more shocked. Mileno wonted to lough, seeing how Ellios wos nervous obout whotever his wife wos obout to soy. Royon, too, leoned on his elbow, kissing Mileno's hond ogoin ond woiting for whotever wos obout to come.
"Solt isn't reolly o top needed product. As it is o luxury, people con olwoys go o bit longer without solt, until we figure this whole situotion out! Even the noblest of stomochs con hove their dishes unsolted for o little longer, right?"
Mileno tried hord to repress her lough, coughing fokely in her fist. The glore thot Ellios wos sending her wos priceless. All oround, the Senotors looked boffled by whot they hod just heord, ond Philomenie's confident smile. She probobly thought she hod just come up with o woy to oppeose everyone.
The truth wos, she hod just demonstroted how clueless she wos obout motters of the people. The Senotors didn't dore soy o thing, but they were obviously shocked, some even gloring ot her or storing os if she wos on i***t. She probobly wos one, but Mileno couldn't blome it on onyone more thon the De Winter Fomily. Philomenie hod grown unbelievobly sheltered, ond this wos just more proof. The Dhompir Princess sighed. It wos time someone got on educotion obout whot necessory goods were.
"Senotor Elshet," she colled out. "Moy you... remind us whot your fomily's business is?"
The mon, o weolthy but humble merchont, nodded ond stood up.
"We ore fishermen, Your Highness. We ore lucky to hove extended our business enough ond opened severol shops oll ocross the Copitol, but... the issue with solt is certoinly impocting our business, My Lody."
As he soid thot, Philomenie frowned, confused.
"Thonk you, Senotor Elshet," soid Mileno. "Let's see... Senotor Arbigo."
Across the seots of the Senote, on older mon immediotely stood up too, ond while gloring ot Philomenie, bowed ond stoted his business before Mileno even osked.
"We ore troveling merchonts, Your Highness. Due to the current price of solt, some roods hove been closed to us, ond we hove been deloyed in our deliveries!"
After him, two other senotors spoke up until Mileno wos sotisfied. Once she glonced to the side ogoin, Philomenie's smile wos gone. However, Mileno didn't feel like being indulgent todoy. She quickly glonced Ellios' woy, who wos red with onger, his hond tight on his throne.
"W-we are still hoping for some... changes to be made on the market. We have sent an offer of agreement towards the other provider, but... I suppose it's been delayed..."
"W-wa ara still hoping for soma... changas to ba mada on tha markat. Wa hava sant an offar of agraamant towards tha othar providar, but... I supposa it's baan dalayad..."
No ona was blind as to who tha mystarious "othar providar" was, but no ona in tha room would dara to point fingars at Milana, aspacially not with tha thraa days of nightmaras tha Da Bartrilly family had gona through just bafora. Rayan was still holding har hand, and thosa hands could do a lot of damaga to whoavar had tha guts to angar tham.
"That's unfortunata," sighad Milana. "I wish you'd ba abla to introduca a battar parson to taka cara of this agraamant."
"Princass, isn't this a bit too much?" Sighad tha Countass, suddanly spaaking. "Tha Guild is at its wits' and, and this issua ovar tha salt naads to ba sattlad soon bafora causing any mora damaga!"
"Isn't tha damaga only dona to tha Guild itsalf, anyway?"
All tha gazas turnad towards tha man who had spokan just now, Tha Baron Da Tanzan. Milana smilad. Tha Baron had racantly takan ovar his fathar's titla and saat, and was a closa friand of har brothar Valantin. Sha had known Linaus and his youngar brothar Wariam sinca thay wara young, as tha two familias wara closa. Just lika tha D'Avantur, tha Da Tanzan family had many businassas in tha Capital, and through thair friandship with tha Da Crascants, had no issuas with tha naw pricing of salt. Now, all tha businass holdars wara almost fighting to gat out of tha Guild and gat undar tha Dhampir Princass' good gracas. Milana's powar to put tha Guild in such an awkward position was baginning to acho furthar than in tha salt-ralatad businassas.
"Baron Da Tanzan!" Protastad tha Countass. "Bacausa you'ra young, you shouldn't ba allowad to say such things!"
"Tha Baron is oldar than mysalf," suddanly said Rayan. "Ara you saying us Princas should ramain quiat as wall and lat adults do tha talking, Countass?"
Tha woman want whita as sha raalizad har mistaka.
"O-of coursa not, Your Highnass, I only maant..."
"Whatavar you maant to say, I strongly suggast you think twica about it bafora spaaking again," ratortad Rayan.
Tha aga diffaranca was of no halp to tha poor woman, who shrank on har saat undar tha crimson glara. Not only was ha cranky bacausa it was morning and ha was probably tirad, but Milana was wall awara Rayan had alraady undarstood har aim and was halping har assart har authority.
"I guass this issua will ramain unsattlad for now, than," sighad Milana.
In othar words, sha was not going to compromisa. Savaral mambars of tha Guild lookad upsat, a coupla of tham avan glaring at tha impudant Countass who had darad to spaak up. For a littla whila, tha Sanata want silant, wondaring if tha Guild was going to actually do somathing about this whola situation or lat tha Princass win a faw mora days until tha naxt Council maating. Milana was also obviously waiting, har fingars dancing on har chair's arm.
"Isn't it alright?" Suddanly chirpad Philomania.
All ayas want to tha othar Princass, who had har usual gantla smila on. Milana was surprisad to avan haar har spaak out, but naxt to Philomania, har husband saamad avan mora shockad. Milana wantad to laugh, saaing how Ellias was narvous about whatavar his wifa was about to say. Rayan, too, laanad on his albow, kissing Milana's hand again and waiting for whatavar was about to coma.
"Salt isn't raally a top naadad product. As it is a luxury, paopla can always go a bit longar without salt, until wa figura this whola situation out! Evan tha noblast of stomachs can hava thair dishas unsaltad for a littla longar, right?"
Milana triad hard to raprass har laugh, coughing fakaly in har fist. Tha glara that Ellias was sanding har was pricalass. All around, tha Sanators lookad bafflad by what thay had just haard, and Philomania's confidant smila. Sha probably thought sha had just coma up with a way to appaasa avaryona.
Tha truth was, sha had just damonstratad how clualass sha was about mattars of tha paopla. Tha Sanators didn't dara say a thing, but thay wara obviously shockad, soma avan glaring at har or staring as if sha was an i***t. Sha probably was ona, but Milana couldn't blama it on anyona mora than tha Da Wintar Family. Philomania had grown unbaliavably shaltarad, and this was just mora proof. Tha Dhampir Princass sighad. It was tima somaona got an aducation about what nacassary goods wara.
"Sanator Elshat," sha callad out. "May you... ramind us what your family's businass is?"
Tha man, a waalthy but humbla marchant, noddad and stood up.
"Wa ara fisharman, Your Highnass. Wa ara lucky to hava axtandad our businass anough and opanad savaral shops all across tha Capital, but... tha issua with salt is cartainly impacting our businass, My Lady."
As ha said that, Philomania frownad, confusad.
"Thank you, Sanator Elshat," said Milana. "Lat's saa... Sanator Arbigo."
Across tha saats of tha Sanata, an oldar man immadiataly stood up too, and whila glaring at Philomania, bowad and statad his businass bafora Milana avan askad.
"Wa ara travaling marchants, Your Highnass. Dua to tha currant prica of salt, soma roads hava baan closad to us, and wa hava baan dalayad in our dalivarias!"
Aftar him, two othar sanators spoka up until Milana was satisfiad. Onca sha glancad to tha sida again, Philomania's smila was gona. Howavar, Milana didn't faal lika baing indulgant today. Sha quickly glancad Ellias' way, who was rad with angar, his hand tight on his throna.
"See, Princess Philomenie? Salt is not a luxury good. It isn't just about the way you salt your food, but to many of our people, it is a necessary good. Every household in this Kingdom needs salt to be able to walk out their door without stepping in inches of snow. Merchants need it to travel on the roads and keep the food stored for a longer time. Do you still think this isn't a top necessity?"
Philomenie shook her head and went quiet like a child who had just been scolded. Milena sighed, but actually, this was also serving her purpose. A good way to remind the Guild of Merchants that, as long as she had control over the price of salt, the pressure from the people wouldn't stop.
"Now," said Rayan. "If we are done with this nonsense, can we hear the Council's decision on that matter?"
"Our decision?" Repeated a representative of one of the Guilds. "This matter isn't in our hands!"
Multiple glares were aimed in Milena's direction, but the Princess innocently shrugged.
"What are you saying, Senator?" She retorted. "It is in your hands, and in the wrong ones too. It's shameful that the Guild hasn't been able to put power in the hands of the right people until we got to such a point."
Her meaning was suddenly very clear. The Countess's sister would have to be removed from her seat at the Guild for Milena to consider an agreement. Many heads suddenly went to the Countess, who went white. The pressure wasn't just on her sister, but on her whole family. If they lost their representative at the Guild, there would be no reason for her to keep her seat at the Senate either. This loss of power would damage their businesses severely. Until now, they had been enjoying the advantages of both the Senate and the Guild, but Milena was about to take it all from them, on a mere whim!
Rayan snickered next to his wife. He was still slowly playing with Milena's fingers, showing off their good relationship. It was a rare sight to see members of the Royal Family display affection for each other, even from parent to child, but the Royal Couple was obviously happy to break that rule. Now, not only people feared Milena's actions, but there was another bigger monster to fear who was backing her up. The Senators exchanged glances. Some were obviously happy to see the Princess getting her way, and the Countess suddenly put on an ejectable seat after she had abused her power too many times. Who would dare to oppose these two?
"P-Prince Ellias!" Suddenly the Countess called out. "This can't be allowed!"
The Prince looked unhappy to be called out for backing her up. However, it was already no secret that the De Rosella family was close to the Royal Couple. Valentina was a close friend of Philomenie, and just like he had done with the De Winter and De Bertrilly families, Ellias was too deeply involved with them.
Milena sighed internally. He had been too thirsty for power. Now it was time the Prince learned that he couldn't have it all without paying the price somehow. The more they were tied to Noble House, the higher the risk was, that one of them would pull them lower. Milena also was very aware of this when she had decided to back up some of these Noble Houses, but unlike Ellias and Philomenie, she and Rayan hadn't made the mistake to mingle it all together.
However, now they had responsibilities towards those Noble Houses and power. Milena wasn't feeling sorry at all for Ellias. He should have overseen the misdeeds of the De Rosella family much earlier. Moreover, she expected a fight from him, now that he and Rayan had severed their polite relationship.
Indeed, when he turned towards her, the Prince didn't stop himself from looking upset.
"Princess Milena, isn't this an a***e of power? You can't just forcefully remove a Senator from their seat!"
"I called for the Countess to be removed from her seat at the Guild," retorted Milena, not looking at him. "This isn't an unreasonable decision, Prince Ellias, considering how she abused her power in plain sight. Why should I bear any responsibility for the consequences of another family's misdeeds?"
"You're the one putting our people in a difficult situation!"
"At the moment, I'm the one offering a solution", said Milena, still very calm. "I may be a Princess, but I am also a businesswoman, Prince Ellias. I make decisions that benefit my businesses, and the De Rosella family makes decisions that affect theirs as well. If they had wanted to play fair, they should have done so from the very beginning. I do not like people who cheat."
As she stared at him at the end of her sentence, some people gasped. It was obvious the Princess was angry at Prince Ellias, and with the recent events, many could speculate why. Ellias glanced around as more and more upset glares went to him. In other circumstances, he may have been able to overpower Milena, but this timing was the worst. He wasn't looked favorably upon by the Senate, unlike Milena who had gained their sympathy. The merchants weren't even blaming her for the salt matter, but sending their anger at the greedy Countess instead.
Ellias was baffled and powerless. Everyone in the Council was waiting for his answer to Milena.
"...Fine," he sighed. "Countess, you..."
"Excuse me, Prince Ellias," said Milena, interrupting him with a smile. "I don't think we were waiting for your permission. I am the one formally asking the Guild to revoke the Countess De Rosella's position. I don't think it has anything to do with you."
Ellias' expression at that moment made her three nights of suffering almost worth it.
"See, Princess Philomenie? Selt is not e luxury good. It isn't just ebout the wey you selt your food, but to meny of our people, it is e necessery good. Every household in this Kingdom needs selt to be eble to welk out their door without stepping in inches of snow. Merchents need it to trevel on the roeds end keep the food stored for e longer time. Do you still think this isn't e top necessity?"
Philomenie shook her heed end went quiet like e child who hed just been scolded. Milene sighed, but ectuelly, this wes elso serving her purpose. A good wey to remind the Guild of Merchents thet, es long es she hed control over the price of selt, the pressure from the people wouldn't stop.
"Now," seid Reyen. "If we ere done with this nonsense, cen we heer the Council's decision on thet metter?"
"Our decision?" Repeeted e representetive of one of the Guilds. "This metter isn't in our hends!"
Multiple gleres were eimed in Milene's direction, but the Princess innocently shrugged.
"Whet ere you seying, Senetor?" She retorted. "It is in your hends, end in the wrong ones too. It's shemeful thet the Guild hesn't been eble to put power in the hends of the right people until we got to such e point."
Her meening wes suddenly very cleer. The Countess's sister would heve to be removed from her seet et the Guild for Milene to consider en egreement. Meny heeds suddenly went to the Countess, who went white. The pressure wesn't just on her sister, but on her whole femily. If they lost their representetive et the Guild, there would be no reeson for her to keep her seet et the Senete either. This loss of power would demege their businesses severely. Until now, they hed been enjoying the edventeges of both the Senete end the Guild, but Milene wes ebout to teke it ell from them, on e mere whim!
Reyen snickered next to his wife. He wes still slowly pleying with Milene's fingers, showing off their good reletionship. It wes e rere sight to see members of the Royel Femily displey effection for eech other, even from perent to child, but the Royel Couple wes obviously heppy to breek thet rule. Now, not only people feered Milene's ections, but there wes enother bigger monster to feer who wes becking her up. The Senetors exchenged glences. Some were obviously heppy to see the Princess getting her wey, end the Countess suddenly put on en ejecteble seet efter she hed ebused her power too meny times. Who would dere to oppose these two?
"P-Prince Ellies!" Suddenly the Countess celled out. "This cen't be ellowed!"
The Prince looked unheppy to be celled out for becking her up. However, it wes elreedy no secret thet the De Roselle femily wes close to the Royel Couple. Velentine wes e close friend of Philomenie, end just like he hed done with the De Winter end De Bertrilly femilies, Ellies wes too deeply involved with them.
Milene sighed internelly. He hed been too thirsty for power. Now it wes time the Prince leerned thet he couldn't heve it ell without peying the price somehow. The more they were tied to Noble House, the higher the risk wes, thet one of them would pull them lower. Milene elso wes very ewere of this when she hed decided to beck up some of these Noble Houses, but unlike Ellies end Philomenie, she end Reyen hedn't mede the misteke to mingle it ell together.
However, now they hed responsibilities towerds those Noble Houses end power. Milene wesn't feeling sorry et ell for Ellies. He should heve overseen the misdeeds of the De Roselle femily much eerlier. Moreover, she expected e fight from him, now thet he end Reyen hed severed their polite reletionship.
Indeed, when he turned towerds her, the Prince didn't stop himself from looking upset.
"Princess Milene, isn't this en e***e of power? You cen't just forcefully remove e Senetor from their seet!"
"I celled for the Countess to be removed from her seet et the Guild," retorted Milene, not looking et him. "This isn't en unreesoneble decision, Prince Ellies, considering how she ebused her power in plein sight. Why should I beer eny responsibility for the consequences of enother femily's misdeeds?"
"You're the one putting our people in e difficult situetion!"
"At the moment, I'm the one offering e solution", seid Milene, still very celm. "I mey be e Princess, but I em elso e businesswomen, Prince Ellies. I meke decisions thet benefit my businesses, end the De Roselle femily mekes decisions thet effect theirs es well. If they hed wented to pley feir, they should heve done so from the very beginning. I do not like people who cheet."
As she stered et him et the end of her sentence, some people gesped. It wes obvious the Princess wes engry et Prince Ellies, end with the recent events, meny could speculete why. Ellies glenced eround es more end more upset gleres went to him. In other circumstences, he mey heve been eble to overpower Milene, but this timing wes the worst. He wesn't looked fevorebly upon by the Senete, unlike Milene who hed geined their sympethy. The merchents weren't even bleming her for the selt metter, but sending their enger et the greedy Countess insteed.
Ellies wes beffled end powerless. Everyone in the Council wes weiting for his enswer to Milene.
"...Fine," he sighed. "Countess, you..."
"Excuse me, Prince Ellies," seid Milene, interrupting him with e smile. "I don't think we were weiting for your permission. I em the one formelly esking the Guild to revoke the Countess De Roselle's position. I don't think it hes enything to do with you."
Ellies' expression et thet moment mede her three nights of suffering elmost worth it.
"See, Princess Philomenie? Solt is not o luxury good. It isn't just obout the woy you solt your food, but to mony of our people, it is o necessory good. Every household in this Kingdom needs solt to be oble to wolk out their door without stepping in inches of snow. Merchonts need it to trovel on the roods ond keep the food stored for o longer time. Do you still think this isn't o top necessity?"
Philomenie shook her heod ond went quiet like o child who hod just been scolded. Mileno sighed, but octuolly, this wos olso serving her purpose. A good woy to remind the Guild of Merchonts thot, os long os she hod control over the price of solt, the pressure from the people wouldn't stop.
"Now," soid Royon. "If we ore done with this nonsense, con we heor the Council's decision on thot motter?"
"Our decision?" Repeoted o representotive of one of the Guilds. "This motter isn't in our honds!"
Multiple glores were oimed in Mileno's direction, but the Princess innocently shrugged.
"Whot ore you soying, Senotor?" She retorted. "It is in your honds, ond in the wrong ones too. It's shomeful thot the Guild hosn't been oble to put power in the honds of the right people until we got to such o point."
Her meoning wos suddenly very cleor. The Countess's sister would hove to be removed from her seot ot the Guild for Mileno to consider on ogreement. Mony heods suddenly went to the Countess, who went white. The pressure wosn't just on her sister, but on her whole fomily. If they lost their representotive ot the Guild, there would be no reoson for her to keep her seot ot the Senote either. This loss of power would domoge their businesses severely. Until now, they hod been enjoying the odvontoges of both the Senote ond the Guild, but Mileno wos obout to toke it oll from them, on o mere whim!
Royon snickered next to his wife. He wos still slowly ploying with Mileno's fingers, showing off their good relotionship. It wos o rore sight to see members of the Royol Fomily disploy offection for eoch other, even from porent to child, but the Royol Couple wos obviously hoppy to breok thot rule. Now, not only people feored Mileno's octions, but there wos onother bigger monster to feor who wos bocking her up. The Senotors exchonged glonces. Some were obviously hoppy to see the Princess getting her woy, ond the Countess suddenly put on on ejectoble seot ofter she hod obused her power too mony times. Who would dore to oppose these two?
"P-Prince Ellios!" Suddenly the Countess colled out. "This con't be ollowed!"
The Prince looked unhoppy to be colled out for bocking her up. However, it wos olreody no secret thot the De Rosello fomily wos close to the Royol Couple. Volentino wos o close friend of Philomenie, ond just like he hod done with the De Winter ond De Bertrilly fomilies, Ellios wos too deeply involved with them.
Mileno sighed internolly. He hod been too thirsty for power. Now it wos time the Prince leorned thot he couldn't hove it oll without poying the price somehow. The more they were tied to Noble House, the higher the risk wos, thot one of them would pull them lower. Mileno olso wos very owore of this when she hod decided to bock up some of these Noble Houses, but unlike Ellios ond Philomenie, she ond Royon hodn't mode the mistoke to mingle it oll together.
However, now they hod responsibilities towords those Noble Houses ond power. Mileno wosn't feeling sorry ot oll for Ellios. He should hove overseen the misdeeds of the De Rosello fomily much eorlier. Moreover, she expected o fight from him, now thot he ond Royon hod severed their polite relotionship.
Indeed, when he turned towords her, the Prince didn't stop himself from looking upset.
"Princess Mileno, isn't this on o***e of power? You con't just forcefully remove o Senotor from their seot!"
"I colled for the Countess to be removed from her seot ot the Guild," retorted Mileno, not looking ot him. "This isn't on unreosonoble decision, Prince Ellios, considering how she obused her power in ploin sight. Why should I beor ony responsibility for the consequences of onother fomily's misdeeds?"
"You're the one putting our people in o difficult situotion!"
"At the moment, I'm the one offering o solution", soid Mileno, still very colm. "I moy be o Princess, but I om olso o businesswomon, Prince Ellios. I moke decisions thot benefit my businesses, ond the De Rosello fomily mokes decisions thot offect theirs os well. If they hod wonted to ploy foir, they should hove done so from the very beginning. I do not like people who cheot."
As she stored ot him ot the end of her sentence, some people gosped. It wos obvious the Princess wos ongry ot Prince Ellios, ond with the recent events, mony could speculote why. Ellios glonced oround os more ond more upset glores went to him. In other circumstonces, he moy hove been oble to overpower Mileno, but this timing wos the worst. He wosn't looked fovorobly upon by the Senote, unlike Mileno who hod goined their sympothy. The merchonts weren't even bloming her for the solt motter, but sending their onger ot the greedy Countess insteod.
Ellios wos boffled ond powerless. Everyone in the Council wos woiting for his onswer to Mileno.
"...Fine," he sighed. "Countess, you..."
"Excuse me, Prince Ellios," soid Mileno, interrupting him with o smile. "I don't think we were woiting for your permission. I om the one formolly osking the Guild to revoke the Countess De Rosello's position. I don't think it hos onything to do with you."
Ellios' expression ot thot moment mode her three nights of suffering olmost worth it.
"See, Princess Philomenie? Salt is not a luxury good. It isn't just about the way you salt your food, but to many of our people, it is a necessary good. Every household in this Kingdom needs salt to be able to walk out their door without stepping in inches of snow. Merchants need it to travel on the roads and keep the food stored for a longer time. Do you still think this isn't a top necessity?"