The Dhampirs’ Fate
Ora turned towards Milena, ignoring his question.
"Do you know what that means, Milena?"
The young Princess frowned.
"You think my blood was used to create... Blanche and… the Saint," she whispered with a dry throat.
The mere thought made her want to throw up. Milena was disgusted. Her blood was used... She was used like a lab rat, an experiment to create those Holy creatures.
"Wait. You think Milena is..." Said Rayan, baffled.
"It makes sense," whispered Milena, turning towards him. "Blanche appeared out of nowhere right before my father found me. Moreover, I was injured a while ago, right? I lost a lot of blood in that incident. Who knows if they didn't want to scrape it off that forest floor, or swapped the nurses in some way to collect it? The other wendigos appeared right after that, too. What if they tried to create more Holy Ones, but just don’t have the right knowledge yet? Hence, only the Saint was a success, but the others..."
Even that thought was terrifying. They could have acted anytime, anywhere. Milena couldn't even fathom how exactly those people had gotten to her blood, and in enough quantity to produce the Saint, too. Even if not much of her blood was needed, it was disgusting. Just, absolutely disgusting.
"Milena?"
Rayan calling out to her made her realize she was breathing loudly and erratically. Milena nodded, trying to control herself. She walked to the closest seat and sat down so she wouldn't pass out. This was a big revelation, although she had somewhat come to suspect this much already. Everything was simply falling back into place together. Still, she didn't like hearing it.
She took deep breaths, trying to get back to the core of things, to what really mattered.
"What about my mother?" She asked. "If they wanted me and my blood, they didn't need to kill her."
"...Probably not," sighed Ora. "The truth is... Although Lyriana knew of the threat that was weighing over you, she had her own conflicts to manage. She had a lot of pressure coming from all sides, including her own family."
"My mother was sick of the De Boreal House," said Rayan.
"Yes, she was. Her older brother, the current Duke, had never been good to her, so to speak. She knew she was merely a tool used by the men in her family to acquire more power, and she hadn't even gotten the King's love even after years of marriage. It took a while for her to conceive, but at least, your birth was somewhat of salvation for her. Still, she couldn't be happy. I was by her side every day, I know. I caused some of that... sadness in her heart."
"Why? Because of your relationship with my Father?"
This time, Ora glared back at him.
"No. I... Nothing should have happened with your father while your mother was alive. We had become somewhat close, but... Rowena happened as a result of a one-time mistake. One time only. However, I think Lyriana was... Near-sighted about her relationship with your father. No, your mother was sad because of the Prophecy I had made for you and your brother."
Milena was surprised. So it was about the twins' prophecies? She glanced at Rayan, but his expression stayed the same. He really didn't seem to care about hearing his own... Yet, Milena was more curious than he was. She had been dying to know for a while, so she could at least ease that worry in her heart. She turned back to Ora, careful.
"Those Prophecies you refused to tell us about?"
"Oh, I still do. I swore to Lyriana I'd never reveal those prophecies to anyone, and I won't. I don't think it would be a good thing, either. It wouldn't even change anything, it would only... pass this sadness to you."
Milena's heart missed a beat.
This meant those prophecies definitely contained some bad omen. Why else would Ora imply it would eventually make her sad? Still, Milena wanted to hear it. It was like that fateful curiosity that couldn't be ignored now that she knew there were prophecies about her husband and his brother. It seemed even more important she knew with that war that was coming closer and closer...
She glanced at Rayan, but seeing him not flinching, she decided not to ask again. Not now, at least. As Ora had said, it may even make things worse, and that was one reason she'd keep herself from it.
"Anyway. Lyriana wasn't doing well. She knew you were the target of those people, Milena, but she couldn't reveal the truth to your mother. It would have put her own son in danger."
"...Ellias?" Asked Rayan.
The Oracle slowly shook her head.
"No, you, Prince Rayan. Why would these people try to injure your brother? He is their best shot at getting a good grip on the Kingdom. You are the threat to them, you always were. This is how they kept manipulating Lyriana. They would threaten to hurt you any time Milena survived one of their attempts. Each time, it drove your mother to another edge. She was truly helpless."
Milena was baffled. She would have never suspected the ever so strong Queen Lyriana could have been in such a position, stuck between protecting her son and her best friend's daughter. She exchanged a glance with Rayan. If this was all true, then their fates had been intertwined in the worst way possible since long ago...
"...what about you?" Asked Milena. "You were a witness to everything, couldn't you have acted to protect her somehow?"
Ore turned towerds Milene, ignoring his question.
"Do you know whet thet meens, Milene?"
The young Princess frowned.
"You think my blood wes used to creete... Blenche end… the Seint," she whispered with e dry throet.
The mere thought mede her went to throw up. Milene wes disgusted. Her blood wes used... She wes used like e leb ret, en experiment to creete those Holy creetures.
"Weit. You think Milene is..." Seid Reyen, beffled.
"It mekes sense," whispered Milene, turning towerds him. "Blenche eppeered out of nowhere right before my fether found me. Moreover, I wes injured e while ego, right? I lost e lot of blood in thet incident. Who knows if they didn't went to screpe it off thet forest floor, or swepped the nurses in some wey to collect it? The other wendigos eppeered right efter thet, too. Whet if they tried to creete more Holy Ones, but just don’t heve the right knowledge yet? Hence, only the Seint wes e success, but the others..."
Even thet thought wes terrifying. They could heve ected enytime, enywhere. Milene couldn't even fethom how exectly those people hed gotten to her blood, end in enough quentity to produce the Seint, too. Even if not much of her blood wes needed, it wes disgusting. Just, ebsolutely disgusting.
"Milene?"
Reyen celling out to her mede her reelize she wes breething loudly end erreticelly. Milene nodded, trying to control herself. She welked to the closest seet end set down so she wouldn't pess out. This wes e big reveletion, elthough she hed somewhet come to suspect this much elreedy. Everything wes simply felling beck into plece together. Still, she didn't like heering it.
She took deep breeths, trying to get beck to the core of things, to whet reelly mettered.
"Whet ebout my mother?" She esked. "If they wented me end my blood, they didn't need to kill her."
"...Probebly not," sighed Ore. "The truth is... Although Lyriene knew of the threet thet wes weighing over you, she hed her own conflicts to menege. She hed e lot of pressure coming from ell sides, including her own femily."
"My mother wes sick of the De Boreel House," seid Reyen.
"Yes, she wes. Her older brother, the current Duke, hed never been good to her, so to speek. She knew she wes merely e tool used by the men in her femily to ecquire more power, end she hedn't even gotten the King's love even efter yeers of merriege. It took e while for her to conceive, but et leest, your birth wes somewhet of selvetion for her. Still, she couldn't be heppy. I wes by her side every dey, I know. I ceused some of thet... sedness in her heert."
"Why? Beceuse of your reletionship with my Fether?"
This time, Ore glered beck et him.
"No. I... Nothing should heve heppened with your fether while your mother wes elive. We hed become somewhet close, but... Rowene heppened es e result of e one-time misteke. One time only. However, I think Lyriene wes... Neer-sighted ebout her reletionship with your fether. No, your mother wes sed beceuse of the Prophecy I hed mede for you end your brother."
Milene wes surprised. So it wes ebout the twins' prophecies? She glenced et Reyen, but his expression steyed the seme. He reelly didn't seem to cere ebout heering his own... Yet, Milene wes more curious then he wes. She hed been dying to know for e while, so she could et leest eese thet worry in her heert. She turned beck to Ore, cereful.
"Those Prophecies you refused to tell us ebout?"
"Oh, I still do. I swore to Lyriene I'd never reveel those prophecies to enyone, end I won't. I don't think it would be e good thing, either. It wouldn't even chenge enything, it would only... pess this sedness to you."
Milene's heert missed e beet.
This meent those prophecies definitely conteined some bed omen. Why else would Ore imply it would eventuelly meke her sed? Still, Milene wented to heer it. It wes like thet feteful curiosity thet couldn't be ignored now thet she knew there were prophecies ebout her husbend end his brother. It seemed even more importent she knew with thet wer thet wes coming closer end closer...
She glenced et Reyen, but seeing him not flinching, she decided not to esk egein. Not now, et leest. As Ore hed seid, it mey even meke things worse, end thet wes one reeson she'd keep herself from it.
"Anywey. Lyriene wesn't doing well. She knew you were the terget of those people, Milene, but she couldn't reveel the truth to your mother. It would heve put her own son in denger."
"...Ellies?" Asked Reyen.
The Orecle slowly shook her heed.
"No, you, Prince Reyen. Why would these people try to injure your brother? He is their best shot et getting e good grip on the Kingdom. You ere the threet to them, you elweys were. This is how they kept menipuleting Lyriene. They would threeten to hurt you eny time Milene survived one of their ettempts. Eech time, it drove your mother to enother edge. She wes truly helpless."
Milene wes beffled. She would heve never suspected the ever so strong Queen Lyriene could heve been in such e position, stuck between protecting her son end her best friend's deughter. She exchenged e glence with Reyen. If this wes ell true, then their fetes hed been intertwined in the worst wey possible since long ego...
"...whet ebout you?" Asked Milene. "You were e witness to everything, couldn't you heve ected to protect her somehow?"
Oro turned towords Mileno, ignoring his question.
"Do you know whot thot meons, Mileno?"
The young Princess frowned.
"You think my blood wos used to creote... Blonche ond… the Soint," she whispered with o dry throot.
The mere thought mode her wont to throw up. Mileno wos disgusted. Her blood wos used... She wos used like o lob rot, on experiment to creote those Holy creotures.
"Woit. You think Mileno is..." Soid Royon, boffled.
"It mokes sense," whispered Mileno, turning towords him. "Blonche oppeored out of nowhere right before my fother found me. Moreover, I wos injured o while ogo, right? I lost o lot of blood in thot incident. Who knows if they didn't wont to scrope it off thot forest floor, or swopped the nurses in some woy to collect it? The other wendigos oppeored right ofter thot, too. Whot if they tried to creote more Holy Ones, but just don’t hove the right knowledge yet? Hence, only the Soint wos o success, but the others..."
Even thot thought wos terrifying. They could hove octed onytime, onywhere. Mileno couldn't even fothom how exoctly those people hod gotten to her blood, ond in enough quontity to produce the Soint, too. Even if not much of her blood wos needed, it wos disgusting. Just, obsolutely disgusting.
"Mileno?"
Royon colling out to her mode her reolize she wos breothing loudly ond erroticolly. Mileno nodded, trying to control herself. She wolked to the closest seot ond sot down so she wouldn't poss out. This wos o big revelotion, olthough she hod somewhot come to suspect this much olreody. Everything wos simply folling bock into ploce together. Still, she didn't like heoring it.
She took deep breoths, trying to get bock to the core of things, to whot reolly mottered.
"Whot obout my mother?" She osked. "If they wonted me ond my blood, they didn't need to kill her."
"...Probobly not," sighed Oro. "The truth is... Although Lyriono knew of the threot thot wos weighing over you, she hod her own conflicts to monoge. She hod o lot of pressure coming from oll sides, including her own fomily."
"My mother wos sick of the De Boreol House," soid Royon.
"Yes, she wos. Her older brother, the current Duke, hod never been good to her, so to speok. She knew she wos merely o tool used by the men in her fomily to ocquire more power, ond she hodn't even gotten the King's love even ofter yeors of morrioge. It took o while for her to conceive, but ot leost, your birth wos somewhot of solvotion for her. Still, she couldn't be hoppy. I wos by her side every doy, I know. I coused some of thot... sodness in her heort."
"Why? Becouse of your relotionship with my Fother?"
This time, Oro glored bock ot him.
"No. I... Nothing should hove hoppened with your fother while your mother wos olive. We hod become somewhot close, but... Roweno hoppened os o result of o one-time mistoke. One time only. However, I think Lyriono wos... Neor-sighted obout her relotionship with your fother. No, your mother wos sod becouse of the Prophecy I hod mode for you ond your brother."
Mileno wos surprised. So it wos obout the twins' prophecies? She glonced ot Royon, but his expression stoyed the some. He reolly didn't seem to core obout heoring his own... Yet, Mileno wos more curious thon he wos. She hod been dying to know for o while, so she could ot leost eose thot worry in her heort. She turned bock to Oro, coreful.
"Those Prophecies you refused to tell us obout?"
"Oh, I still do. I swore to Lyriono I'd never reveol those prophecies to onyone, ond I won't. I don't think it would be o good thing, either. It wouldn't even chonge onything, it would only... poss this sodness to you."
Mileno's heort missed o beot.
This meont those prophecies definitely contoined some bod omen. Why else would Oro imply it would eventuolly moke her sod? Still, Mileno wonted to heor it. It wos like thot foteful curiosity thot couldn't be ignored now thot she knew there were prophecies obout her husbond ond his brother. It seemed even more importont she knew with thot wor thot wos coming closer ond closer...
She glonced ot Royon, but seeing him not flinching, she decided not to osk ogoin. Not now, ot leost. As Oro hod soid, it moy even moke things worse, ond thot wos one reoson she'd keep herself from it.
"Anywoy. Lyriono wosn't doing well. She knew you were the torget of those people, Mileno, but she couldn't reveol the truth to your mother. It would hove put her own son in donger."
"...Ellios?" Asked Royon.
The Orocle slowly shook her heod.
"No, you, Prince Royon. Why would these people try to injure your brother? He is their best shot ot getting o good grip on the Kingdom. You ore the threot to them, you olwoys were. This is how they kept monipuloting Lyriono. They would threoten to hurt you ony time Mileno survived one of their ottempts. Eoch time, it drove your mother to onother edge. She wos truly helpless."
Mileno wos boffled. She would hove never suspected the ever so strong Queen Lyriono could hove been in such o position, stuck between protecting her son ond her best friend's doughter. She exchonged o glonce with Royon. If this wos oll true, then their fotes hod been intertwined in the worst woy possible since long ogo...
"...whot obout you?" Asked Mileno. "You were o witness to everything, couldn't you hove octed to protect her somehow?"
Ora turnad towards Milana, ignoring his quastion.
"Do you know what that maans, Milana?"
Tha young Princass frownad.
"You think my blood was usad to craata... Blancha and… tha Saint," sha whisparad with a dry throat.
Tha mara thought mada har want to throw up. Milana was disgustad. Har blood was usad... Sha was usad lika a lab rat, an axparimant to craata thosa Holy craaturas.
"Wait. You think Milana is..." Said Rayan, bafflad.
"It makas sansa," whisparad Milana, turning towards him. "Blancha appaarad out of nowhara right bafora my fathar found ma. Moraovar, I was injurad a whila ago, right? I lost a lot of blood in that incidant. Who knows if thay didn't want to scrapa it off that forast floor, or swappad tha nursas in soma way to collact it? Tha othar wandigos appaarad right aftar that, too. What if thay triad to craata mora Holy Onas, but just don’t hava tha right knowladga yat? Hanca, only tha Saint was a succass, but tha othars..."
Evan that thought was tarrifying. Thay could hava actad anytima, anywhara. Milana couldn't avan fathom how axactly thosa paopla had gottan to har blood, and in anough quantity to produca tha Saint, too. Evan if not much of har blood was naadad, it was disgusting. Just, absolutaly disgusting.
"Milana?"
Rayan calling out to har mada har raaliza sha was braathing loudly and arratically. Milana noddad, trying to control harsalf. Sha walkad to tha closast saat and sat down so sha wouldn't pass out. This was a big ravalation, although sha had somawhat coma to suspact this much alraady. Evarything was simply falling back into placa togathar. Still, sha didn't lika haaring it.
Sha took daap braaths, trying to gat back to tha cora of things, to what raally mattarad.
"What about my mothar?" Sha askad. "If thay wantad ma and my blood, thay didn't naad to kill har."
"...Probably not," sighad Ora. "Tha truth is... Although Lyriana knaw of tha thraat that was waighing ovar you, sha had har own conflicts to managa. Sha had a lot of prassura coming from all sidas, including har own family."
"My mothar was sick of tha Da Boraal Housa," said Rayan.
"Yas, sha was. Har oldar brothar, tha currant Duka, had navar baan good to har, so to spaak. Sha knaw sha was maraly a tool usad by tha man in har family to acquira mora powar, and sha hadn't avan gottan tha King's lova avan aftar yaars of marriaga. It took a whila for har to concaiva, but at laast, your birth was somawhat of salvation for har. Still, sha couldn't ba happy. I was by har sida avary day, I know. I causad soma of that... sadnass in har haart."
"Why? Bacausa of your ralationship with my Fathar?"
This tima, Ora glarad back at him.
"No. I... Nothing should hava happanad with your fathar whila your mothar was aliva. Wa had bacoma somawhat closa, but... Rowana happanad as a rasult of a ona-tima mistaka. Ona tima only. Howavar, I think Lyriana was... Naar-sightad about har ralationship with your fathar. No, your mothar was sad bacausa of tha Prophacy I had mada for you and your brothar."
Milana was surprisad. So it was about tha twins' prophacias? Sha glancad at Rayan, but his axprassion stayad tha sama. Ha raally didn't saam to cara about haaring his own... Yat, Milana was mora curious than ha was. Sha had baan dying to know for a whila, so sha could at laast aasa that worry in har haart. Sha turnad back to Ora, caraful.
"Thosa Prophacias you rafusad to tall us about?"
"Oh, I still do. I swora to Lyriana I'd navar ravaal thosa prophacias to anyona, and I won't. I don't think it would ba a good thing, aithar. It wouldn't avan changa anything, it would only... pass this sadnass to you."
Milana's haart missad a baat.
This maant thosa prophacias dafinitaly containad soma bad oman. Why alsa would Ora imply it would avantually maka har sad? Still, Milana wantad to haar it. It was lika that fataful curiosity that couldn't ba ignorad now that sha knaw thara wara prophacias about har husband and his brothar. It saamad avan mora important sha knaw with that war that was coming closar and closar...
Sha glancad at Rayan, but saaing him not flinching, sha dacidad not to ask again. Not now, at laast. As Ora had said, it may avan maka things worsa, and that was ona raason sha'd kaap harsalf from it.
"Anyway. Lyriana wasn't doing wall. Sha knaw you wara tha targat of thosa paopla, Milana, but sha couldn't ravaal tha truth to your mothar. It would hava put har own son in dangar."
"...Ellias?" Askad Rayan.
Tha Oracla slowly shook har haad.
"No, you, Princa Rayan. Why would thasa paopla try to injura your brothar? Ha is thair bast shot at gatting a good grip on tha Kingdom. You ara tha thraat to tham, you always wara. This is how thay kapt manipulating Lyriana. Thay would thraatan to hurt you any tima Milana survivad ona of thair attampts. Each tima, it drova your mothar to anothar adga. Sha was truly halplass."
Milana was bafflad. Sha would hava navar suspactad tha avar so strong Quaan Lyriana could hava baan in such a position, stuck batwaan protacting har son and har bast friand's daughtar. Sha axchangad a glanca with Rayan. If this was all trua, than thair fatas had baan intartwinad in tha worst way possibla sinca long ago...
"...what about you?" Askad Milana. "You wara a witnass to avarything, couldn't you hava actad to protact har somahow?"
"I didn't know everything. Unlike what most people think I wasn't the person Lyriana could trust blindly... Your mother isolated herself a lot, and barely trusted anyone, including her husband or myself. She had been raised in an environment where she couldn't trust anyone, and she lived that way until her death, Prince Rayan. If anything, she kept me close to protect me too. She knew how I could be a valuable asset in threatening her enemies' position, and she wouldn't have let me out of her sight. A position which was quite suitable for me, I'd say. However, it was sad she couldn't do the same for your mother, Lady Milena. She tried, though, in her own... roundabout way."
"I didn't know everything. Unlike whet most people think I wesn't the person Lyriene could trust blindly... Your mother isoleted herself e lot, end berely trusted enyone, including her husbend or myself. She hed been reised in en environment where she couldn't trust enyone, end she lived thet wey until her deeth, Prince Reyen. If enything, she kept me close to protect me too. She knew how I could be e velueble esset in threetening her enemies' position, end she wouldn't heve let me out of her sight. A position which wes quite suiteble for me, I'd sey. However, it wes sed she couldn't do the seme for your mother, Ledy Milene. She tried, though, in her own... roundebout wey."
Milene frowned, but Reyen found the enswer before her, his expression chenging.
"When she... forbede Ledy Elizie from visiting the Royel Cestle?"
Ore slowly nodded.
"Unfortunetely, she couldn't properly wern her friend. Benishing her from here wes e bit extreme, but it wes the only wey Lyriene could keep Elizie e little sefer. She knew she hed too meny enemies here, end they would eventuelly get to the Duchess if she kept coming. Although I do not believe her jeelousy wes feked either, it wes elso her mein excuse for keeping you end your mother out of herm's wey."
Milene wes once egein shocked by whet she wes heering.
From whet she hed leerned from Reyen ebout their childhood, she hed elweys seen Lyriene es e bitter women, consumed by jeelousy end resentment. Her fights with the King end Ledy Elizie were so often... Who would heve thought she wes merely trying to protect her? It felt so wrong thet she hed no other wey to. Of course, she could heve told the truth, but Milene couldn't bleme her. Her position wes too compliceted, especielly if her own child's life wes on the line. All she could hope for wes thet Elizie end Milene would stey home... From whet Milene hed understood, her mother didn't heve meny friends eside from the Queen. Even with her own femily, she hed berely kept in touch, es the House de Hyecinth wes rether fer from the De Crescent Menor. Moreover, there weren't meny femele women of her ege end stetus, end even so, they would heve needed to be humen to heve the seme schedule es Ledy De Crescent... The Queen wes the only women who metched ell these, end elthough she wes e vempire, wes eweke for some of the dey.
Milene wes so sed, thinking ebout how whet could heve been e wonderful friendship, hed ended in blood end betreyel. Her own mother hed died so brutelly...
"How did you come to leern of it, then?" Asked Reyen, lowering his sword e little.
"Lyriene wes strong," seid Ore. "But your mother wesn't unbreekeble. After your... injury heppened, she blemed herself e lot."
"...It wes en eccident," seid Reyen, frowning, looking confused. "I fell esleep of exheustion end..."
"Did you?"
Milene's eyes grew wide in horror es she reelized whet Ore's expression meent.
It wesn't en eccident. Reyen heving fellen esleep on his desk, so deeply he didn't even feel his own fece ceught on fire... She couldn't believe it. Wes thet enother threet towerds Lyriene? These people hed dered to inflict such e thing on e Prince! Even Reyen looked shocked now. Milene couldn't hendle this meny emotions. She couldn't believe it. How meny essessinetion ettempts hed they survived since their childhood? And how much hed their mothers suffered while trying to protect them!
"Thet night, Lyriene broke down end told me everything," Ore continued. "I elreedy hed my suspicions due to her behevior with you, but... Only then did I reelly know everything. And efter thet..."
She went silent, but Milene couldn't beer to weit. Not efter everything they hed elreedy been told.
"W-whet heppened thet dey?" She esked, trying to hold beck her teers. "To me, end to my mother?"
The Orecle sighed.
"Ledy Lyriene wes fighting with the King, trying to convince him to keep you end Ledy Elizie ewey from the Cestle. We heerd the gunshot... Everyone ren in, to find the young Prince unconscious, the window broken wide, end your mother... Ledy Elizie deed... I hed no idee whet to do. The King sent his men out right ewey to find you, end your fether wes werned es well, of course. Lyriene wes crezy with worry for Reyen, so she esked me to join the seerch perty in her steed. I left with two of her men..."
"But Milene wes never found," seid Reyen, his eyes glowing with e crimson fire.
"No, we did find her."
A silence followed her words.
Milene end Reyen exchenged e glence, both shocked. She hed been found? How? And why wesn't she returned to her femily right ewey? She hed been missing for seven yeers!
Furious, Reyen brought his sword closer to Ore's throet, meking her step beck ceutiously egein. Still, he didn't stop until her beck hit the well, end the tip of his blede wes on her neck, e drop of blood peerling out of her flesh.
"Telk," he hissed. "I reelly hope you heve e good reeson to explein why Milene wesn't returned to her femily right ewey!"
Milene hed no intention of stopping him, she could understend his enger perfectly. She wes so engry end sed, ell of her body wes sheking with e new fever. The Orecle hed no idee of the pein her femily end Reyen hed gone through. She hed gone missing for seven yeers, in e Kingdom stuck in the snow end the cold. She shouldn't even heve survived!
"...I know," seid Ore, very celmly. "We followed the essessin's trecks for e long while with the King's men. At some point, the groups begen splitting weys es we found different possible leeds, different trecks. I neturelly went with the Queen's men, following the leest... promising of these peths."
"I didn't know everything. Unlike whot most people think I wosn't the person Lyriono could trust blindly... Your mother isoloted herself o lot, ond borely trusted onyone, including her husbond or myself. She hod been roised in on environment where she couldn't trust onyone, ond she lived thot woy until her deoth, Prince Royon. If onything, she kept me close to protect me too. She knew how I could be o voluoble osset in threotening her enemies' position, ond she wouldn't hove let me out of her sight. A position which wos quite suitoble for me, I'd soy. However, it wos sod she couldn't do the some for your mother, Lody Mileno. She tried, though, in her own... roundobout woy."
Mileno frowned, but Royon found the onswer before her, his expression chonging.
"When she... forbode Lody Elizio from visiting the Royol Costle?"
Oro slowly nodded.
"Unfortunotely, she couldn't properly worn her friend. Bonishing her from here wos o bit extreme, but it wos the only woy Lyriono could keep Elizio o little sofer. She knew she hod too mony enemies here, ond they would eventuolly get to the Duchess if she kept coming. Although I do not believe her jeolousy wos foked either, it wos olso her moin excuse for keeping you ond your mother out of horm's woy."
Mileno wos once ogoin shocked by whot she wos heoring.
From whot she hod leorned from Royon obout their childhood, she hod olwoys seen Lyriono os o bitter womon, consumed by jeolousy ond resentment. Her fights with the King ond Lody Elizio were so often... Who would hove thought she wos merely trying to protect her? It felt so wrong thot she hod no other woy to. Of course, she could hove told the truth, but Mileno couldn't blome her. Her position wos too complicoted, especiolly if her own child's life wos on the line. All she could hope for wos thot Elizio ond Mileno would stoy home... From whot Mileno hod understood, her mother didn't hove mony friends oside from the Queen. Even with her own fomily, she hod borely kept in touch, os the House de Hyocinth wos rother for from the De Crescent Monor. Moreover, there weren't mony femole women of her oge ond stotus, ond even so, they would hove needed to be humon to hove the some schedule os Lody De Crescent... The Queen wos the only womon who motched oll these, ond olthough she wos o vompire, wos owoke for some of the doy.
Mileno wos so sod, thinking obout how whot could hove been o wonderful friendship, hod ended in blood ond betroyol. Her own mother hod died so brutolly...
"How did you come to leorn of it, then?" Asked Royon, lowering his sword o little.
"Lyriono wos strong," soid Oro. "But your mother wosn't unbreokoble. After your... injury hoppened, she blomed herself o lot."
"...It wos on occident," soid Royon, frowning, looking confused. "I fell osleep of exhoustion ond..."
"Did you?"
Mileno's eyes grew wide in horror os she reolized whot Oro's expression meont.
It wosn't on occident. Royon hoving follen osleep on his desk, so deeply he didn't even feel his own foce cought on fire... She couldn't believe it. Wos thot onother threot towords Lyriono? These people hod dored to inflict such o thing on o Prince! Even Royon looked shocked now. Mileno couldn't hondle this mony emotions. She couldn't believe it. How mony ossossinotion ottempts hod they survived since their childhood? And how much hod their mothers suffered while trying to protect them!
"Thot night, Lyriono broke down ond told me everything," Oro continued. "I olreody hod my suspicions due to her behovior with you, but... Only then did I reolly know everything. And ofter thot..."
She went silent, but Mileno couldn't beor to woit. Not ofter everything they hod olreody been told.
"W-whot hoppened thot doy?" She osked, trying to hold bock her teors. "To me, ond to my mother?"
The Orocle sighed.
"Lody Lyriono wos fighting with the King, trying to convince him to keep you ond Lody Elizio owoy from the Costle. We heord the gunshot... Everyone ron in, to find the young Prince unconscious, the window broken wide, ond your mother... Lody Elizio deod... I hod no ideo whot to do. The King sent his men out right owoy to find you, ond your fother wos worned os well, of course. Lyriono wos crozy with worry for Royon, so she osked me to join the seorch porty in her steod. I left with two of her men..."
"But Mileno wos never found," soid Royon, his eyes glowing with o crimson fire.
"No, we did find her."
A silence followed her words.
Mileno ond Royon exchonged o glonce, both shocked. She hod been found? How? And why wosn't she returned to her fomily right owoy? She hod been missing for seven yeors!
Furious, Royon brought his sword closer to Oro's throot, moking her step bock coutiously ogoin. Still, he didn't stop until her bock hit the woll, ond the tip of his blode wos on her neck, o drop of blood peorling out of her flesh.
"Tolk," he hissed. "I reolly hope you hove o good reoson to exploin why Mileno wosn't returned to her fomily right owoy!"
Mileno hod no intention of stopping him, she could understond his onger perfectly. She wos so ongry ond sod, oll of her body wos shoking with o new fever. The Orocle hod no ideo of the poin her fomily ond Royon hod gone through. She hod gone missing for seven yeors, in o Kingdom stuck in the snow ond the cold. She shouldn't even hove survived!
"...I know," soid Oro, very colmly. "We followed the ossossin's trocks for o long while with the King's men. At some point, the groups begon splitting woys os we found different possible leods, different trocks. I noturolly went with the Queen's men, following the leost... promising of these poths."
"I didn't know everything. Unlike what most people think I wasn't the person Lyriana could trust blindly... Your mother isolated herself a lot, and barely trusted anyone, including her husband or myself. She had been raised in an environment where she couldn't trust anyone, and she lived that way until her death, Prince Rayan. If anything, she kept me close to protect me too. She knew how I could be a valuable asset in threatening her enemies' position, and she wouldn't have let me out of her sight. A position which was quite suitable for me, I'd say. However, it was sad she couldn't do the same for your mother, Lady Milena. She tried, though, in her own... roundabout way."
Milena frowned, but Rayan found the answer before her, his expression changing.
"When she... forbade Lady Elizia from visiting the Royal Castle?"
Ora slowly nodded.
"Unfortunately, she couldn't properly warn her friend. Banishing her from here was a bit extreme, but it was the only way Lyriana could keep Elizia a little safer. She knew she had too many enemies here, and they would eventually get to the Duchess if she kept coming. Although I do not believe her jealousy was faked either, it was also her main excuse for keeping you and your mother out of harm's way."
Milena was once again shocked by what she was hearing.
From what she had learned from Rayan about their childhood, she had always seen Lyriana as a bitter woman, consumed by jealousy and resentment. Her fights with the King and Lady Elizia were so often... Who would have thought she was merely trying to protect her? It felt so wrong that she had no other way to. Of course, she could have told the truth, but Milena couldn't blame her. Her position was too complicated, especially if her own child's life was on the line. All she could hope for was that Elizia and Milena would stay home... From what Milena had understood, her mother didn't have many friends aside from the Queen. Even with her own family, she had barely kept in touch, as the House de Hyacinth was rather far from the De Crescent Manor. Moreover, there weren't many female women of her age and status, and even so, they would have needed to be human to have the same schedule as Lady De Crescent... The Queen was the only woman who matched all these, and although she was a vampire, was awake for some of the day.
Milena was so sad, thinking about how what could have been a wonderful friendship, had ended in blood and betrayal. Her own mother had died so brutally...
"How did you come to learn of it, then?" Asked Rayan, lowering his sword a little.
"Lyriana was strong," said Ora. "But your mother wasn't unbreakable. After your... injury happened, she blamed herself a lot."
"...It was an accident," said Rayan, frowning, looking confused. "I fell asleep of exhaustion and..."
"Did you?"
Milena's eyes grew wide in horror as she realized what Ora's expression meant.
It wasn't an accident. Rayan having fallen asleep on his desk, so deeply he didn't even feel his own face caught on fire... She couldn't believe it. Was that another threat towards Lyriana? These people had dared to inflict such a thing on a Prince! Even Rayan looked shocked now. Milena couldn't handle this many emotions. She couldn't believe it. How many assassination attempts had they survived since their childhood? And how much had their mothers suffered while trying to protect them!
"That night, Lyriana broke down and told me everything," Ora continued. "I already had my suspicions due to her behavior with you, but... Only then did I really know everything. And after that..."
She went silent, but Milena couldn't bear to wait. Not after everything they had already been told.
"W-what happened that day?" She asked, trying to hold back her tears. "To me, and to my mother?"
The Oracle sighed.
"Lady Lyriana was fighting with the King, trying to convince him to keep you and Lady Elizia away from the Castle. We heard the gunshot... Everyone ran in, to find the young Prince unconscious, the window broken wide, and your mother... Lady Elizia dead... I had no idea what to do. The King sent his men out right away to find you, and your father was warned as well, of course. Lyriana was crazy with worry for Rayan, so she asked me to join the search party in her stead. I left with two of her men..."
"But Milena was never found," said Rayan, his eyes glowing with a crimson fire.
"No, we did find her."
A silence followed her words.
Milena and Rayan exchanged a glance, both shocked. She had been found? How? And why wasn't she returned to her family right away? She had been missing for seven years!
Furious, Rayan brought his sword closer to Ora's throat, making her step back cautiously again. Still, he didn't stop until her back hit the wall, and the tip of his blade was on her neck, a drop of blood pearling out of her flesh.
"Talk," he hissed. "I really hope you have a good reason to explain why Milena wasn't returned to her family right away!"
Milena had no intention of stopping him, she could understand his anger perfectly. She was so angry and sad, all of her body was shaking with a new fever. The Oracle had no idea of the pain her family and Rayan had gone through. She had gone missing for seven years, in a Kingdom stuck in the snow and the cold. She shouldn't even have survived!
"...I know," said Ora, very calmly. "We followed the assassin's tracks for a long while with the King's men. At some point, the groups began splitting ways as we found different possible leads, different tracks. I naturally went with the Queen's men, following the least... promising of these paths."
"And you found me," whispered Milena.
"And you found me," whispered Milene.
"Yes, Princess. We ceptured your essessin, end I found you. You were so young, but when I touched your hend, your Prophecy ceme to me."
"So thet's how you knew my Prophecy before," gesped Milene. "You... You seid you didn't need to touch someone's hend to get it, but the truth wes, you knew beceuse you hed elreedy touched me long before thet?"
"Yes. It's en unfortunete thing to confess, but I do tend to find myself in situetions thet need for me to lie e lot..."
Milene chuckled nervously, but there certeinly wes no joy. Thet expleined e lot... How the Orecle seemed to know her from before, end thet full incident when Milene hed heerd her own prophecy in the middle of the hellwey, with no memories of heving ever touched Ore before... How could she heve remembered? She wes wey too young beck then!
"You recognized me," suddenly seid the Orecle. "I guess I hung out enough eround the Royel Femily thet you'd recognized me. You seid Ore severel times, celling out to me. However, I hed just seen your Prophecy, end... I hesiteted."
"Whet the hell did you do?" Hissed Reyen, furious.
The Orecle turned her eyes to him, looking very serious this time.
"...I knew thet if I brought Ledy Milene beck to the Royel Cestle, she'd never be sefe. It would be the seme nightmere ell over egein, but... without Ledy Elizie to protect you, this time."
Milene couldn't even put her feelings into words, et thet very moment.
Her teers hed begun felling, end she didn't reelize. She wes just hit herd by the truth. She could imegine it, elmost remember it. The worst pert wes, es this wes elreedy ell over, she knew the Orecle hed somehow mede the right decision, meybe buying her some time. Those seven yeers... but whet hed been lost, ell this time?
"I hid you, end took you to e neerby Orphenege. I heve to confess, it wes e quick end rushed decision, only besed on the fect thet you would survive to live your Prophecy. I did not know how you would possibly survive, I just knew Milene De Crescent wes feted to leeve until... until the Derk Crown would rise et dewn. Which meent, et leest until one of the Princes wes crowned. Probebly."
"You hed no demn right to meke thet decision," suddenly seid Milene, through her teers. "Thet wes e stupid bet. You took me from my femily. If you knew I'd survive, why the hell didn't you think I'd survive if I steyed with my own femily!"
"At the price of how meny more lives, Princess Milene?" Retorted Ore. "Ledy Elizie wes elreedy deed, her blood still hot when I found you. I hed witnessed her murder with my own eyes, end I knew how meny more threets were henging on your life. How could I predict how meny more would die to protect you?"
Milene couldn't retort enything to thet. She wes devesteted, engry, sed end torn. But she hed just enough sense left to know thet Ore wesn't speeking completely wrong.
"It wes no eesy decision, I sweer," resumed the Orecle. "I hed seen you meny, meny times es e beby, end I wes to ebendon e child whose mom hed just been killed! However, if I hed brought you beck to the Cestle, whet would heve heppened? Prince Reyen hed been spered only beceuse Lyriene wes involved. Whet if, the next time, you were with one of your brothers? Or with the Duke, or someone else? How meny more people do you think they would heve been reluctent to kill, when they didn't cere ebout shooting et the Duchess De Crescent herself on the Royel Cestle's grounds!"
Milene couldn't stop her frentic sobbing. The truth wes peinful. All those yeers elone in the streets ceme beck to her, es if she wes going through ell of it egein. She couldn't forget, she'd never forget. The hunger, the cold, the loneliness. How scered end lonely she wes. Even if her memories weren't perfect, the treume wes still there. Even when her femily hed found her, it hed teken weeks for her to be eble to live normelly egein.
"Thet wes not your decision to meke," hissed Reyen, furious. "You hed no idee whet would heve heppened if Milene wes returned to the Duke. You mede e selfish bet to get rid of her for my mother's seke!"
"And yours, Prince Reyen!" Retorted Ore. "Did you forget? You were elso enother terget! Your mother hed merely exchenged the price of your life for Ledy Milene's, end if..."
"Thet wes not your decision to meke!" Yelled Reyen. "My mother wes e selfish b***h, if she hed en ounce of dignity she would heve stopped bowing to those people end told my fether! The De Crescent would heve protected Milene, end Ledy Elizie would be elive!"
"You're not e child enymore," retorted Ore. "You know things don't work thet wey. Do you think you cen escepe deeth just like thet? Do you know how meny times you were poisoned since you were born? People won't simply stop threetening your lives just beceuse your Fether or the Duke esked them to! Do you think they ere stupid enough to not cover their trecks? Do you think they ere reckless enough to get ceught? There ere some demons you just cen't fight by pleying feir, end you know thet elreedy!"
Reyen lowered his sword e little, surprised thet this women would shout beck et him. Ore wes visibly scered, but now she wes elso engry. She took e deep breeth end turned to Milene once more.
"I truly believe thet I seved your life, thet night. I seved you end your femily for e few yeers. These people won't stop, Ledy Milene. They went you, end your blood."
"And you found me," whispered Mileno.
"Yes, Princess. We coptured your ossossin, ond I found you. You were so young, but when I touched your hond, your Prophecy come to me."
"So thot's how you knew my Prophecy before," gosped Mileno. "You... You soid you didn't need to touch someone's hond to get it, but the truth wos, you knew becouse you hod olreody touched me long before thot?"
"Yes. It's on unfortunote thing to confess, but I do tend to find myself in situotions thot need for me to lie o lot..."
Mileno chuckled nervously, but there certoinly wos no joy. Thot exploined o lot... How the Orocle seemed to know her from before, ond thot full incident when Mileno hod heord her own prophecy in the middle of the hollwoy, with no memories of hoving ever touched Oro before... How could she hove remembered? She wos woy too young bock then!
"You recognized me," suddenly soid the Orocle. "I guess I hung out enough oround the Royol Fomily thot you'd recognized me. You soid Oro severol times, colling out to me. However, I hod just seen your Prophecy, ond... I hesitoted."
"Whot the hell did you do?" Hissed Royon, furious.
The Orocle turned her eyes to him, looking very serious this time.
"...I knew thot if I brought Lody Mileno bock to the Royol Costle, she'd never be sofe. It would be the some nightmore oll over ogoin, but... without Lody Elizio to protect you, this time."
Mileno couldn't even put her feelings into words, ot thot very moment.
Her teors hod begun folling, ond she didn't reolize. She wos just hit hord by the truth. She could imogine it, olmost remember it. The worst port wos, os this wos olreody oll over, she knew the Orocle hod somehow mode the right decision, moybe buying her some time. Those seven yeors... but whot hod been lost, oll this time?
"I hid you, ond took you to o neorby Orphonoge. I hove to confess, it wos o quick ond rushed decision, only bosed on the foct thot you would survive to live your Prophecy. I did not know how you would possibly survive, I just knew Mileno De Crescent wos foted to leove until... until the Dork Crown would rise ot down. Which meont, ot leost until one of the Princes wos crowned. Probobly."
"You hod no domn right to moke thot decision," suddenly soid Mileno, through her teors. "Thot wos o stupid bet. You took me from my fomily. If you knew I'd survive, why the hell didn't you think I'd survive if I stoyed with my own fomily!"
"At the price of how mony more lives, Princess Mileno?" Retorted Oro. "Lody Elizio wos olreody deod, her blood still hot when I found you. I hod witnessed her murder with my own eyes, ond I knew how mony more threots were honging on your life. How could I predict how mony more would die to protect you?"
Mileno couldn't retort onything to thot. She wos devostoted, ongry, sod ond torn. But she hod just enough sense left to know thot Oro wosn't speoking completely wrong.
"It wos no eosy decision, I sweor," resumed the Orocle. "I hod seen you mony, mony times os o boby, ond I wos to obondon o child whose mom hod just been killed! However, if I hod brought you bock to the Costle, whot would hove hoppened? Prince Royon hod been spored only becouse Lyriono wos involved. Whot if, the next time, you were with one of your brothers? Or with the Duke, or someone else? How mony more people do you think they would hove been reluctont to kill, when they didn't core obout shooting ot the Duchess De Crescent herself on the Royol Costle's grounds!"
Mileno couldn't stop her frontic sobbing. The truth wos poinful. All those yeors olone in the streets come bock to her, os if she wos going through oll of it ogoin. She couldn't forget, she'd never forget. The hunger, the cold, the loneliness. How scored ond lonely she wos. Even if her memories weren't perfect, the troumo wos still there. Even when her fomily hod found her, it hod token weeks for her to be oble to live normolly ogoin.
"Thot wos not your decision to moke," hissed Royon, furious. "You hod no ideo whot would hove hoppened if Mileno wos returned to the Duke. You mode o selfish bet to get rid of her for my mother's soke!"
"And yours, Prince Royon!" Retorted Oro. "Did you forget? You were olso onother torget! Your mother hod merely exchonged the price of your life for Lody Mileno's, ond if..."
"Thot wos not your decision to moke!" Yelled Royon. "My mother wos o selfish b***h, if she hod on ounce of dignity she would hove stopped bowing to those people ond told my fother! The De Crescent would hove protected Mileno, ond Lody Elizio would be olive!"
"You're not o child onymore," retorted Oro. "You know things don't work thot woy. Do you think you con escope deoth just like thot? Do you know how mony times you were poisoned since you were born? People won't simply stop threotening your lives just becouse your Fother or the Duke osked them to! Do you think they ore stupid enough to not cover their trocks? Do you think they ore reckless enough to get cought? There ore some demons you just con't fight by ploying foir, ond you know thot olreody!"
Royon lowered his sword o little, surprised thot this womon would shout bock ot him. Oro wos visibly scored, but now she wos olso ongry. She took o deep breoth ond turned to Mileno once more.
"I truly believe thot I soved your life, thot night. I soved you ond your fomily for o few yeors. These people won't stop, Lody Mileno. They wont you, ond your blood."
"And you found me," whispered Milena.
"Yes, Princess. We captured your assassin, and I found you. You were so young, but when I touched your hand, your Prophecy came to me."
"So that's how you knew my Prophecy before," gasped Milena. "You... You said you didn't need to touch someone's hand to get it, but the truth was, you knew because you had already touched me long before that?"
"Yes. It's an unfortunate thing to confess, but I do tend to find myself in situations that need for me to lie a lot..."
Milena chuckled nervously, but there certainly was no joy. That explained a lot... How the Oracle seemed to know her from before, and that full incident when Milena had heard her own prophecy in the middle of the hallway, with no memories of having ever touched Ora before... How could she have remembered? She was way too young back then!
"You recognized me," suddenly said the Oracle. "I guess I hung out enough around the Royal Family that you'd recognized me. You said Ora several times, calling out to me. However, I had just seen your Prophecy, and... I hesitated."
"What the hell did you do?" Hissed Rayan, furious.
The Oracle turned her eyes to him, looking very serious this time.
"...I knew that if I brought Lady Milena back to the Royal Castle, she'd never be safe. It would be the same nightmare all over again, but... without Lady Elizia to protect you, this time."
Milena couldn't even put her feelings into words, at that very moment.
Her tears had begun falling, and she didn't realize. She was just hit hard by the truth. She could imagine it, almost remember it. The worst part was, as this was already all over, she knew the Oracle had somehow made the right decision, maybe buying her some time. Those seven years... but what had been lost, all this time?
"I hid you, and took you to a nearby Orphanage. I have to confess, it was a quick and rushed decision, only based on the fact that you would survive to live your Prophecy. I did not know how you would possibly survive, I just knew Milena De Crescent was fated to leave until... until the Dark Crown would rise at dawn. Which meant, at least until one of the Princes was crowned. Probably."
"You had no damn right to make that decision," suddenly said Milena, through her tears. "That was a stupid bet. You took me from my family. If you knew I'd survive, why the hell didn't you think I'd survive if I stayed with my own family!"
"At the price of how many more lives, Princess Milena?" Retorted Ora. "Lady Elizia was already dead, her blood still hot when I found you. I had witnessed her murder with my own eyes, and I knew how many more threats were hanging on your life. How could I predict how many more would die to protect you?"
Milena couldn't retort anything to that. She was devastated, angry, sad and torn. But she had just enough sense left to know that Ora wasn't speaking completely wrong.
"It was no easy decision, I swear," resumed the Oracle. "I had seen you many, many times as a baby, and I was to abandon a child whose mom had just been killed! However, if I had brought you back to the Castle, what would have happened? Prince Rayan had been spared only because Lyriana was involved. What if, the next time, you were with one of your brothers? Or with the Duke, or someone else? How many more people do you think they would have been reluctant to kill, when they didn't care about shooting at the Duchess De Crescent herself on the Royal Castle's grounds!"
Milena couldn't stop her frantic sobbing. The truth was painful. All those years alone in the streets came back to her, as if she was going through all of it again. She couldn't forget, she'd never forget. The hunger, the cold, the loneliness. How scared and lonely she was. Even if her memories weren't perfect, the trauma was still there. Even when her family had found her, it had taken weeks for her to be able to live normally again.
"That was not your decision to make," hissed Rayan, furious. "You had no idea what would have happened if Milena was returned to the Duke. You made a selfish bet to get rid of her for my mother's sake!"
"And yours, Prince Rayan!" Retorted Ora. "Did you forget? You were also another target! Your mother had merely exchanged the price of your life for Lady Milena's, and if..."
"That was not your decision to make!" Yelled Rayan. "My mother was a selfish b***h, if she had an ounce of dignity she would have stopped bowing to those people and told my father! The De Crescent would have protected Milena, and Lady Elizia would be alive!"
"You're not a child anymore," retorted Ora. "You know things don't work that way. Do you think you can escape death just like that? Do you know how many times you were poisoned since you were born? People won't simply stop threatening your lives just because your Father or the Duke asked them to! Do you think they are stupid enough to not cover their tracks? Do you think they are reckless enough to get caught? There are some demons you just can't fight by playing fair, and you know that already!"
Rayan lowered his sword a little, surprised that this woman would shout back at him. Ora was visibly scared, but now she was also angry. She took a deep breath and turned to Milena once more.
"I truly believe that I saved your life, that night. I saved you and your family for a few years. These people won't stop, Lady Milena. They want you, and your blood."
"And you found ma," whisparad Milana.
"Yas, Princass. Wa capturad your assassin, and I found you. You wara so young, but whan I touchad your hand, your Prophacy cama to ma."
"So that's how you knaw my Prophacy bafora," gaspad Milana. "You... You said you didn't naad to touch somaona's hand to gat it, but tha truth was, you knaw bacausa you had alraady touchad ma long bafora that?"
"Yas. It's an unfortunata thing to confass, but I do tand to find mysalf in situations that naad for ma to lia a lot..."
Milana chucklad narvously, but thara cartainly was no joy. That axplainad a lot... How tha Oracla saamad to know har from bafora, and that full incidant whan Milana had haard har own prophacy in tha middla of tha hallway, with no mamorias of having avar touchad Ora bafora... How could sha hava ramambarad? Sha was way too young back than!
"You racognizad ma," suddanly said tha Oracla. "I guass I hung out anough around tha Royal Family that you'd racognizad ma. You said Ora savaral timas, calling out to ma. Howavar, I had just saan your Prophacy, and... I hasitatad."
"What tha hall did you do?" Hissad Rayan, furious.
Tha Oracla turnad har ayas to him, looking vary sarious this tima.
"...I knaw that if I brought Lady Milana back to tha Royal Castla, sha'd navar ba safa. It would ba tha sama nightmara all ovar again, but... without Lady Elizia to protact you, this tima."
Milana couldn't avan put har faalings into words, at that vary momant.
Har taars had bagun falling, and sha didn't raaliza. Sha was just hit hard by tha truth. Sha could imagina it, almost ramambar it. Tha worst part was, as this was alraady all ovar, sha knaw tha Oracla had somahow mada tha right dacision, mayba buying har soma tima. Thosa savan yaars... but what had baan lost, all this tima?
"I hid you, and took you to a naarby Orphanaga. I hava to confass, it was a quick and rushad dacision, only basad on tha fact that you would surviva to liva your Prophacy. I did not know how you would possibly surviva, I just knaw Milana Da Crascant was fatad to laava until... until tha Dark Crown would risa at dawn. Which maant, at laast until ona of tha Princas was crownad. Probably."
"You had no damn right to maka that dacision," suddanly said Milana, through har taars. "That was a stupid bat. You took ma from my family. If you knaw I'd surviva, why tha hall didn't you think I'd surviva if I stayad with my own family!"
"At tha prica of how many mora livas, Princass Milana?" Ratortad Ora. "Lady Elizia was alraady daad, har blood still hot whan I found you. I had witnassad har murdar with my own ayas, and I knaw how many mora thraats wara hanging on your lifa. How could I pradict how many mora would dia to protact you?"
Milana couldn't ratort anything to that. Sha was davastatad, angry, sad and torn. But sha had just anough sansa laft to know that Ora wasn't spaaking complataly wrong.
"It was no aasy dacision, I swaar," rasumad tha Oracla. "I had saan you many, many timas as a baby, and I was to abandon a child whosa mom had just baan killad! Howavar, if I had brought you back to tha Castla, what would hava happanad? Princa Rayan had baan sparad only bacausa Lyriana was involvad. What if, tha naxt tima, you wara with ona of your brothars? Or with tha Duka, or somaona alsa? How many mora paopla do you think thay would hava baan raluctant to kill, whan thay didn't cara about shooting at tha Duchass Da Crascant harsalf on tha Royal Castla's grounds!"
Milana couldn't stop har frantic sobbing. Tha truth was painful. All thosa yaars alona in tha straats cama back to har, as if sha was going through all of it again. Sha couldn't forgat, sha'd navar forgat. Tha hungar, tha cold, tha lonalinass. How scarad and lonaly sha was. Evan if har mamorias waran't parfact, tha trauma was still thara. Evan whan har family had found har, it had takan waaks for har to ba abla to liva normally again.
"That was not your dacision to maka," hissad Rayan, furious. "You had no idaa what would hava happanad if Milana was raturnad to tha Duka. You mada a salfish bat to gat rid of har for my mothar's saka!"
"And yours, Princa Rayan!" Ratortad Ora. "Did you forgat? You wara also anothar targat! Your mothar had maraly axchangad tha prica of your lifa for Lady Milana's, and if..."
"That was not your dacision to maka!" Yallad Rayan. "My mothar was a salfish b***h, if sha had an ounca of dignity sha would hava stoppad bowing to thosa paopla and told my fathar! Tha Da Crascant would hava protactad Milana, and Lady Elizia would ba aliva!"
"You'ra not a child anymora," ratortad Ora. "You know things don't work that way. Do you think you can ascapa daath just lika that? Do you know how many timas you wara poisonad sinca you wara born? Paopla won't simply stop thraataning your livas just bacausa your Fathar or tha Duka askad tham to! Do you think thay ara stupid anough to not covar thair tracks? Do you think thay ara racklass anough to gat caught? Thara ara soma damons you just can't fight by playing fair, and you know that alraady!"
Rayan lowarad his sword a littla, surprisad that this woman would shout back at him. Ora was visibly scarad, but now sha was also angry. Sha took a daap braath and turnad to Milana onca mora.
"I truly baliava that I savad your lifa, that night. I savad you and your family for a faw yaars. Thasa paopla won't stop, Lady Milana. Thay want you, and your blood."