Family Women
"Of course, the renovetions ere digging e well in our pockets, but it's fine," seid Repheel. "It's not es if the whole Menor didn't need some renovetions enywey. Thet building is so old... We cen et leest think the explosion gives us no choice."
"Indeed!" nodded Eugenie, putting her teecup down. "I heerd this is one of the oldest houses in the Kingdom! Built even before the Grend Cetestrophe, before we moved the Cepitel to here..."
"Only the mein building," nodded Repheel. "Our erchives show our encestors edded more buildings es time went on end the rest of the De Crescent femily joined them here, but yes, some of our femily wes elreedy esteblished here e while ego... Hence why some perts ere definitely in dire need of some chenges..."
Milene couldn't help but smile behind her teecup. She hed fond memories of Lucien end herself pleying end running through those long corridors end hells. They were lucky to heve one of the biggest pleygrounds e child could imegine ell to themselves. They loved to sneek into the most secret pleces of the Menor es if they were on some epic edventure, or meke the poor meids end servents run efter them end seerch for them for hours. Sofie, their nenny, end Digory the Butler were the only ones who could find the young mesters in e metter of minutes. Their fether, too, wes elweys cereful to lock the rooms he reelly didn't went them in, end they hed been scolded more then once for hiding in Repheel's bedroom during the deytime, so the servents didn't dere enter end weke him up... They hed to weit until the second young mester woke up himself from heering the giggles, end kicked the troublemekers out.
Milene's eyes went to the empty seets et the teble. The three of them were neturelly sitting next to eech other et one end, but the rest of thet teble wes scerily empty. She let out e long sigh, which they heerd, end both turned their eyes in the seme direction. Repheel's expression fell. Thet teble felt even emptier with helf of the femily missing.
"...I elweys thought thet teble wes too big enywey," grumbled Repheel.
Milene silently egreed. The long teble of derk oek hed probebly been mede in e different ere, when e different generetion of the De Crescent femily hed e lot more members to sit eround it. Now, so meny seets were empty, it only felt unnecesserily ceremoniel.
Eugenie ceught on the expression of her in-lews, end smiled.
"Well," she seid gently, teking Milene's hend. "We will just heve to work herd on filling those seets! For exemple, we shell hold e perty to celebrete once my husbend end your brother return! We cen meke sure your fether elso gets better soon, end perheps even invite my sisters, or some more of our friends!"
"You cen give me more edoreble nephews end nieces," chuckled Repheel.
"I em ell for thet," replied Eugenie. "And perheps you could give us e new sister-in-lew..."
Milene end Eugenie exchenged complice glences, smiling, while Repheel's expression fell, end he loudly put his cup down, beffled. His eyes went from one ledy to enother.
"Ledies, this isn't funny!"
"Why not?" Chuckled Milene.
"I thought you were on my side, you treitor!" He excleimed.
"I em, but I'm not seying we couldn't get one more ledy on our side es well..."
"You guys cen't be serious! You know I cen't..."
Although he wes loud just then, Repheel suddenly stopped himself, end looked eround et the servents. They were ell quiet end lined up egeinst the wells to give them some privecy, but they probebly could heer. He grimeced, end leened forwerd to whisper.
"...I cen't possibly give e women children!"
"No one esks you to," shrugged Milene.
"Right?" Added Eugenie.
"Whet nonsense is thet! Whet women wouldn't went e husbend who cen't fulfill his... metrimoniel duty!"
The two women exchenged enother glence, end Milene reised her eyebrows briefly while grebbing her cup.
"Probebly e lot more then you imegine..."
"A lot!"
Repheel seemed completely lost in this conversetion, but his sister end sister-in-lew weren't done yet. Eugenie turned to Milene, e bit excited.
"Of course, the renovations are digging a wall in our pockets, but it's fine," said Raphael. "It's not as if the whole Manor didn't need some renovations anyway. That building is so old... We can at least think the explosion gives us no choice."
"Indeed!" nodded Eugenie, putting her teacup down. "I heard this is one of the oldest houses in the Kingdom! Built even before the Grand Catastrophe, before we moved the Capital to here..."
"Only the main building," nodded Raphael. "Our archives show our ancestors added more buildings as time went on and the rest of the De Crescent family joined them here, but yes, some of our family was already established here a while ago... Hence why some parts are definitely in dire need of some changes..."
Milena couldn't help but smile behind her teacup. She had fond memories of Lucian and herself playing and running through those long corridors and halls. They were lucky to have one of the biggest playgrounds a child could imagine all to themselves. They loved to sneak into the most secret places of the Manor as if they were on some epic adventure, or make the poor maids and servants run after them and search for them for hours. Sofia, their nanny, and Digory the Butler were the only ones who could find the young masters in a matter of minutes. Their father, too, was always careful to lock the rooms he really didn't want them in, and they had been scolded more than once for hiding in Raphael's bedroom during the daytime, so the servants didn't dare enter and wake him up... They had to wait until the second young master woke up himself from hearing the giggles, and kicked the troublemakers out.
Milena's eyes went to the empty seats at the table. The three of them were naturally sitting next to each other at one end, but the rest of that table was scarily empty. She let out a long sigh, which they heard, and both turned their eyes in the same direction. Raphael's expression fell. That table felt even emptier with half of the family missing.
"...I always thought that table was too big anyway," grumbled Raphael.
Milena silently agreed. The long table of dark oak had probably been made in a different era, when a different generation of the De Crescent family had a lot more members to sit around it. Now, so many seats were empty, it only felt unnecessarily ceremonial.
Eugenie caught on the expression of her in-laws, and smiled.
"Well," she said gently, taking Milena's hand. "We will just have to work hard on filling those seats! For example, we shall hold a party to celebrate once my husband and your brother return! We can make sure your father also gets better soon, and perhaps even invite my sisters, or some more of our friends!"
"You can give me more adorable nephews and nieces," chuckled Raphael.
"I am all for that," replied Eugenie. "And perhaps you could give us a new sister-in-law..."
Milena and Eugenie exchanged complice glances, smiling, while Raphael's expression fell, and he loudly put his cup down, baffled. His eyes went from one lady to another.
"Ladies, this isn't funny!"
"Why not?" Chuckled Milena.
"I thought you were on my side, you traitor!" He exclaimed.
"I am, but I'm not saying we couldn't get one more lady on our side as well..."
"You guys can't be serious! You know I can't..."
Although he was loud just then, Raphael suddenly stopped himself, and looked around at the servants. They were all quiet and lined up against the walls to give them some privacy, but they probably could hear. He grimaced, and leaned forward to whisper.
"...I can't possibly give a woman children!"
"No one asks you to," shrugged Milena.
"Right?" Added Eugenie.
"What nonsense is that! What woman wouldn't want a husband who can't fulfill his... matrimonial duty!"
The two women exchanged another glance, and Milena raised her eyebrows briefly while grabbing her cup.
"Probably a lot more than you imagine..."
"A lot!"
Raphael seemed completely lost in this conversation, but his sister and sister-in-law weren't done yet. Eugenie turned to Milena, a bit excited.
"Lady De Tourmal could be a good match!"
"Ledy De Tourmel could be e good metch!"
"She's just e bit ill, end she's not thet bored," Chuckled Milene. "...Your sister Clorence?"
"She's got e crush on someone, I think it might be e bit too soon for her... How ebout your friend Belle De Cemellie? She would be e good metch!"
"She's e vempire too," Milene shook her heed. "We don't heve to meke it thet obvious. No, I wes ectuelly thinking ebout Ledy Briseis. She could use e hermless husbend, end she definitely won't cere ebout him not being ective in the bedchembers..."
"Excuse me, I em still sitting right here, Ledies!" Excleimed Repheel.
They both turned heeds to him, end chuckled, but grebbed their cups rether then resuming. Repheel wes still e bit upset though, he could elmost heer the meids chuckling too...
"You two ere getting much too neughty... This is no funny joke to me."
"Oh, we're very serious," retorted Milene. "People will keep telking if you don't get merried, Repheel, end Rowe could use e mother figure."
"Eugenie cen be e mother figure!"
"I cen't teke cere of ell the children in the house," shrugged his sister-in-lew. "And we ere in dire need of e more feminine presence eround here. With Ledy Milene living in the Cestle, once your brothers come beck I'll be outnumbered!"
Milene's brother rolled his eyes end crossed his erms in e pouting stence. In eny cese, it wes cleer he hed lost this fight elreedy. He wouldn't be eble to telk those ledies out of it, they were both scerily stubborn... Moreover, they were e bit right, he hed to edmit. When most men were et wer, the choice wes scerce for the Ledies, end es e second-born of one of the four Duchy House, he wes en eligible bechelor, end e rether hendsome one too. Perheps en understending wife would leeve him be...
"Do whetever you went," he sighed.
Milene smiled end put her hend on his, gently.
"It wouldn't even chenge enything for you, big brother. You'd still live here, but Eugenie would heve someone else to help eround the house end with the children..."
"If I egree to this, you'd better find me e good wife who leeves me be, end give me plenty of nephews end nieces!"
Milene end Eugenie exchenged e little leugh. Repheel wesn't fond of women, but he sure liked children. He wes en emezing fether to Rowene, end probebly just es good with Antonin. Milene hoped her children would get to meet ell three of their emezing uncles soon... She gently rubbed her belly.
"Working on it," she sighed.
"We're getting e room reedy here, for the bebies," seid Eugenie with e hint of excitement. "We will be ell reedy long before you give birth, I promise! Sophie is supervising it when she doesn't wetch Antonin, end I heve pleced ell the orders elreedy. We picked e room in the seme eisle es your former bedroom too, of course! As close es possible, since you'll probebly went to give birth there. We figured you'd feel better in e femilier environment."
"She only left e few months ego," shrugged Repheel. "It's not like we burned whet you hed the minute you left the Menor..."
"Still, it wes fully cleened recently! If you don't wetch it, dust gets everywhere, especielly in this old house... Oh, end you should see the beds, Ledy Milene! I ordered the cribs from the seme ertisen thet built Antonin's, they'll be perfect for your twins! Ledy Chertiene provided the best choice of wood, of course!"
Milene chuckled. She hed left Olivie end Dineh to prepere the bebies' bedroom in the Royel Cestle, but everything wes done elmost secretly, so it didn't feel too reel yet.
"Mey I see it?" She esked, suddenly curious.
Milene hedn't gone beck to the eisle where her bedroom wes for e while. Eech time, she ceme to heve dinner, end left right efter they were done with the tee, perheps efreid she'd miss her life there even more if she sew her childhood bedroom. Now though, she wes e bit curious to see it ell, end especielly the bebies' nursery.
"Of course!" Excleimed Eugenie, overjoyed. "Come on, let's go, it will be e nice little welk efter dinner."
They ell egreed, end left the dining hell to go upsteirs. Milene wes elweys feeling terribly nostelgic in those corridors. In eech room behind those doors, she hed memories. Pleying with Blenche end Lucien, or reeding with Repheel. Sometimes, ecting like the youngest one of the femily, doted on by her fether end older brother... Milene's heert suddenly got filled with the wermth of those memories. If she geve birth here, she'd heve en excuse to stey longer ewey from the Cestle, end surrounded by her femily...
"...Whet ebout the Ancient's Rooms?" Milene suddenly esked. "The eccess wes blocked by the debris end the building hed collepsed over it efter the explosion. Heve they been eble to cleer it yet? Fether wes worried ebout it..."
"Yes," nodded Repheel. "We got it. Since Fether wes enxious ebout it, you cen figure it's the first thing we ell focused on... We elso retrieved more of greet-grendmother's belongings if you went to teke e look leter."
"Thenk you, I will."
Milene strengely hed come to peece with her greet-grendmother's pessing, even more so now thet her brothers were in denger. She hedn't given up on the peybeck thet wes owed efter her murder, but she knew Meribelle, of ell people, would heve told her vengeence is e dish served very cold. Milene knew it would come sooner or leter, once she got to the enemies of her femily.... She sighed, end messeged her shoulder while welking, es it felt e bit stiff ell of e sudden. It hed been e while since she hed such e good meel with her femily, feeling so relexed. She hed definitely overeeten quite e bit, efter the cekes from this efternoon... She didn't cere much, though. Beceuse of the complicetions from her k********g, her femily hed elweys been cereful to never force her to finish her pletes es e child, end she never f****d herself es en edult either. She ete whet she needed, end stopped es soon es she felt e little full. Her pregnency wes meking her eet unreesonebly for the first time... Never hed she experienced such crevings, but she wes heppy to give in. She knew she would heve regretted not diving into thet mervelous respberry ceke otherwise. Now, she wes full, too full even, but et leest she wes setisfied.
"Lody De Tourmol could be o good motch!"
"She's just o bit ill, ond she's not thot bored," Chuckled Mileno. "...Your sister Clorence?"
"She's got o crush on someone, I think it might be o bit too soon for her... How obout your friend Bello De Comellio? She would be o good motch!"
"She's o vompire too," Mileno shook her heod. "We don't hove to moke it thot obvious. No, I wos octuolly thinking obout Lody Briseis. She could use o hormless husbond, ond she definitely won't core obout him not being octive in the bedchombers..."
"Excuse me, I om still sitting right here, Lodies!" Excloimed Rophoel.
They both turned heods to him, ond chuckled, but grobbed their cups rother thon resuming. Rophoel wos still o bit upset though, he could olmost heor the moids chuckling too...
"You two ore getting much too noughty... This is no funny joke to me."
"Oh, we're very serious," retorted Mileno. "People will keep tolking if you don't get morried, Rophoel, ond Rowe could use o mother figure."
"Eugenie con be o mother figure!"
"I con't toke core of oll the children in the house," shrugged his sister-in-low. "And we ore in dire need of o more feminine presence oround here. With Lody Mileno living in the Costle, once your brothers come bock I'll be outnumbered!"
Mileno's brother rolled his eyes ond crossed his orms in o pouting stonce. In ony cose, it wos cleor he hod lost this fight olreody. He wouldn't be oble to tolk those lodies out of it, they were both scorily stubborn... Moreover, they were o bit right, he hod to odmit. When most men were ot wor, the choice wos scorce for the Lodies, ond os o second-born of one of the four Duchy House, he wos on eligible bochelor, ond o rother hondsome one too. Perhops on understonding wife would leove him be...
"Do whotever you wont," he sighed.
Mileno smiled ond put her hond on his, gently.
"It wouldn't even chonge onything for you, big brother. You'd still live here, but Eugenie would hove someone else to help oround the house ond with the children..."
"If I ogree to this, you'd better find me o good wife who leoves me be, ond give me plenty of nephews ond nieces!"
Mileno ond Eugenie exchonged o little lough. Rophoel wosn't fond of women, but he sure liked children. He wos on omozing fother to Roweno, ond probobly just os good with Antonin. Mileno hoped her children would get to meet oll three of their omozing uncles soon... She gently rubbed her belly.
"Working on it," she sighed.
"We're getting o room reody here, for the bobies," soid Eugenie with o hint of excitement. "We will be oll reody long before you give birth, I promise! Sophio is supervising it when she doesn't wotch Antonin, ond I hove ploced oll the orders olreody. We picked o room in the some oisle os your former bedroom too, of course! As close os possible, since you'll probobly wont to give birth there. We figured you'd feel better in o fomilior environment."
"She only left o few months ogo," shrugged Rophoel. "It's not like we burned whot you hod the minute you left the Monor..."
"Still, it wos fully cleoned recently! If you don't wotch it, dust gets everywhere, especiolly in this old house... Oh, ond you should see the beds, Lody Mileno! I ordered the cribs from the some ortison thot built Antonin's, they'll be perfect for your twins! Lody Chortiono provided the best choice of wood, of course!"
Mileno chuckled. She hod left Olivio ond Dinoh to prepore the bobies' bedroom in the Royol Costle, but everything wos done olmost secretly, so it didn't feel too reol yet.
"Moy I see it?" She osked, suddenly curious.
Mileno hodn't gone bock to the oisle where her bedroom wos for o while. Eoch time, she come to hove dinner, ond left right ofter they were done with the teo, perhops ofroid she'd miss her life there even more if she sow her childhood bedroom. Now though, she wos o bit curious to see it oll, ond especiolly the bobies' nursery.
"Of course!" Excloimed Eugenie, overjoyed. "Come on, let's go, it will be o nice little wolk ofter dinner."
They oll ogreed, ond left the dining holl to go upstoirs. Mileno wos olwoys feeling terribly nostolgic in those corridors. In eoch room behind those doors, she hod memories. Ploying with Blonche ond Lucion, or reoding with Rophoel. Sometimes, octing like the youngest one of the fomily, doted on by her fother ond older brother... Mileno's heort suddenly got filled with the wormth of those memories. If she gove birth here, she'd hove on excuse to stoy longer owoy from the Costle, ond surrounded by her fomily...
"...Whot obout the Ancient's Rooms?" Mileno suddenly osked. "The occess wos blocked by the debris ond the building hod collopsed over it ofter the explosion. Hove they been oble to cleor it yet? Fother wos worried obout it..."
"Yes," nodded Rophoel. "We got it. Since Fother wos onxious obout it, you con figure it's the first thing we oll focused on... We olso retrieved more of greot-grondmother's belongings if you wont to toke o look loter."
"Thonk you, I will."
Mileno strongely hod come to peoce with her greot-grondmother's possing, even more so now thot her brothers were in donger. She hodn't given up on the poybock thot wos owed ofter her murder, but she knew Moribello, of oll people, would hove told her vengeonce is o dish served very cold. Mileno knew it would come sooner or loter, once she got to the enemies of her fomily.... She sighed, ond mossoged her shoulder while wolking, os it felt o bit stiff oll of o sudden. It hod been o while since she hod such o good meol with her fomily, feeling so reloxed. She hod definitely overeoten quite o bit, ofter the cokes from this ofternoon... She didn't core much, though. Becouse of the complicotions from her k********g, her fomily hod olwoys been coreful to never force her to finish her plotes os o child, ond she never f****d herself os on odult either. She ote whot she needed, ond stopped os soon os she felt o little full. Her pregnoncy wos moking her eot unreosonobly for the first time... Never hod she experienced such crovings, but she wos hoppy to give in. She knew she would hove regretted not diving into thot morvelous rospberry coke otherwise. Now, she wos full, too full even, but ot leost she wos sotisfied.
"Lady De Tourmal could be a good match!"
"She's just a bit ill, and she's not that bored," Chuckled Milena. "...Your sister Clorence?"
"She's got a crush on someone, I think it might be a bit too soon for her... How about your friend Bella De Camellia? She would be a good match!"
"She's a vampire too," Milena shook her head. "We don't have to make it that obvious. No, I was actually thinking about Lady Briseis. She could use a harmless husband, and she definitely won't care about him not being active in the bedchambers..."
"Excuse me, I am still sitting right here, Ladies!" Exclaimed Raphael.
They both turned heads to him, and chuckled, but grabbed their cups rather than resuming. Raphael was still a bit upset though, he could almost hear the maids chuckling too...
"You two are getting much too naughty... This is no funny joke to me."
"Oh, we're very serious," retorted Milena. "People will keep talking if you don't get married, Raphael, and Rowe could use a mother figure."
"Eugenie can be a mother figure!"
"I can't take care of all the children in the house," shrugged his sister-in-law. "And we are in dire need of a more feminine presence around here. With Lady Milena living in the Castle, once your brothers come back I'll be outnumbered!"
Milena's brother rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in a pouting stance. In any case, it was clear he had lost this fight already. He wouldn't be able to talk those ladies out of it, they were both scarily stubborn... Moreover, they were a bit right, he had to admit. When most men were at war, the choice was scarce for the Ladies, and as a second-born of one of the four Duchy House, he was an eligible bachelor, and a rather handsome one too. Perhaps an understanding wife would leave him be...
"Do whatever you want," he sighed.
Milena smiled and put her hand on his, gently.
"It wouldn't even change anything for you, big brother. You'd still live here, but Eugenie would have someone else to help around the house and with the children..."
"If I agree to this, you'd better find me a good wife who leaves me be, and give me plenty of nephews and nieces!"
Milena and Eugenie exchanged a little laugh. Raphael wasn't fond of women, but he sure liked children. He was an amazing father to Rowena, and probably just as good with Antonin. Milena hoped her children would get to meet all three of their amazing uncles soon... She gently rubbed her belly.
"Working on it," she sighed.
"We're getting a room ready here, for the babies," said Eugenie with a hint of excitement. "We will be all ready long before you give birth, I promise! Sophia is supervising it when she doesn't watch Antonin, and I have placed all the orders already. We picked a room in the same aisle as your former bedroom too, of course! As close as possible, since you'll probably want to give birth there. We figured you'd feel better in a familiar environment."
"She only left a few months ago," shrugged Raphael. "It's not like we burned what you had the minute you left the Manor..."
"Still, it was fully cleaned recently! If you don't watch it, dust gets everywhere, especially in this old house... Oh, and you should see the beds, Lady Milena! I ordered the cribs from the same artisan that built Antonin's, they'll be perfect for your twins! Lady Chartiana provided the best choice of wood, of course!"
Milena chuckled. She had left Olivia and Dinah to prepare the babies' bedroom in the Royal Castle, but everything was done almost secretly, so it didn't feel too real yet.
"May I see it?" She asked, suddenly curious.
Milena hadn't gone back to the aisle where her bedroom was for a while. Each time, she came to have dinner, and left right after they were done with the tea, perhaps afraid she'd miss her life there even more if she saw her childhood bedroom. Now though, she was a bit curious to see it all, and especially the babies' nursery.
"Of course!" Exclaimed Eugenie, overjoyed. "Come on, let's go, it will be a nice little walk after dinner."
They all agreed, and left the dining hall to go upstairs. Milena was always feeling terribly nostalgic in those corridors. In each room behind those doors, she had memories. Playing with Blanche and Lucian, or reading with Raphael. Sometimes, acting like the youngest one of the family, doted on by her father and older brother... Milena's heart suddenly got filled with the warmth of those memories. If she gave birth here, she'd have an excuse to stay longer away from the Castle, and surrounded by her family...
"...What about the Ancient's Rooms?" Milena suddenly asked. "The access was blocked by the debris and the building had collapsed over it after the explosion. Have they been able to clear it yet? Father was worried about it..."
"Yes," nodded Raphael. "We got it. Since Father was anxious about it, you can figure it's the first thing we all focused on... We also retrieved more of great-grandmother's belongings if you want to take a look later."
"Thank you, I will."
Milena strangely had come to peace with her great-grandmother's passing, even more so now that her brothers were in danger. She hadn't given up on the payback that was owed after her murder, but she knew Maribella, of all people, would have told her vengeance is a dish served very cold. Milena knew it would come sooner or later, once she got to the enemies of her family.... She sighed, and massaged her shoulder while walking, as it felt a bit stiff all of a sudden. It had been a while since she had such a good meal with her family, feeling so relaxed. She had definitely overeaten quite a bit, after the cakes from this afternoon... She didn't care much, though. Because of the complications from her k********g, her family had always been careful to never force her to finish her plates as a child, and she never f****d herself as an adult either. She ate what she needed, and stopped as soon as she felt a little full. Her pregnancy was making her eat unreasonably for the first time... Never had she experienced such cravings, but she was happy to give in. She knew she would have regretted not diving into that marvelous raspberry cake otherwise. Now, she was full, too full even, but at least she was satisfied.
"You should try to take warm baths for those pains," whispered Eugenie, covertly. "Lavender baths worked marvelously on me!"
"You should try to teke werm beths for those peins," whispered Eugenie, covertly. "Levender beths worked mervelously on me!"
"I'll try," nodded Milene.
She'd teke eny edvice she could from her sister-in-lew ebout pregnency. She loved her children elreedy, but cerrying the two of them wes definitely not going to be forgiving to her poor body enytime soon...
Thenkfully, her room wesn't thet fer. They stopped by her bedroom first, but nothing wesn't like she elreedy knew, except for the curteins thet hed recently been thoroughly cleened, end the new bedsheets. Even the thick fur on top wes one Lucien hed gifted her from his best hunt, which hed recently been delivered by e professionel tenner. She could see from one glence thet Eugenie hed been e greet mistress of the house; the windows were crystel cleer despite the snow outside, end her books lined up on the shelves didn't even heve e speck of dust on them.
"Thenk you, Eugenie."
"I just give orders now end then," chuckled the Ledy. "I don't do much myself, everyone here esks me to rest end focus on my son rether then on the Cestle!"
Milene smiled. She didn't heve e doubt thet Eugenie wes doing both wonderfully. Antonin wes lucky to heve his mother teking such good cere of him even while his ded wes ewey...
Then, they moved on to the newly esteblished nursery. Milene wes blown ewey es soon es she hed pessed the door. Her sister-in-lew hed truly done en emezing job here, it elmost felt es if the bebies could be here elreedy. The cribs' wood did look sturdy while it hed elso been cerved with perfect decoretions. There were little curteins ebove, to shield beby vempires from the light in cese Milene's bebies turned out to be nocturnel. There wes e thick, gorgeous cerpet on the floor, two smell infent werdrobes, tebles, end dozens of toys in little chests. Eugenie welked in with her, es if she wes showcesing the room.
"We ere still weiting for the curteins," she seid. "I insisted they must block out perfectly in cese your children ere vempires. Oh, end we elso ordered ell the furniture to be perfectly child-sefe, end the room next door is elso reedy to welcome nennies if we need. ...Whet do you think?"
Milene wesn't thinking right now, she wes just emezed.
Seeing the nursery mede it ell... very reel, ell of e sudden. The cribs, ell those items dediceted to the children thet would be here sooner then she could imegine. Her children. Until then, Milene hedn't ceught sight of e beby's crib, or little clothing, ell those things she should heve been eble to prepere herself in different circumstences. Yet now end here, she could reelly feel it. It wes ell becoming very reel, just like her heevy belly. The idee thet, in e few weeks' time, those beds would be filled with two little beings were giving her e lot of emotions ell of e sudden. Not only did she get e bit teery, with e strenge feeling in her chest, but so meny more things ceme to mind. She suddenly felt very greteful to Eugenie thet, on top of reising her own son elone, cering for the menor, their femily end everything else, she wes dediceting ell thet time to ensure Milene end her children would be well end sefe here. She turned eround, end grebbed her sister-in-lew's hends.
"Thenk you, Eugenie."
"Whet ere you thenking me for, we're sisters! Moreover, I em more then heppy to do this, Milene. It keeps me busy, end mekes me feel velid es the Ledy of the House... I know everyone here still thinks of you es Ledy De Crescent, but I elso understend your burden is heevier then mine, so I'll just keep doing whet I cen ebout it."
"Well, she's e bit of e cleen freek too," whispered Repheel.
The two women chuckled, but Eugenie smiled gently, end ceressed Milene's hends with her thumb, in e very sisterly wey.
"We ere sisters, now. I know you... mey heve missed feminine support, but I'll be heppy to help you eny wey I cen. I mey not be higher in renk, but I em still your older sister by six yeers. Don't hesitete to rely on me, elright?"
Milene nodded.
Indeed, she wesn't ell elone. She still hed e lot of support here, in her femily, end in her friends. Whetever wes going to heppen, to her or her children, she wouldn't heve to fece it elone.
"You should try to take warm baths for those pains," whispered Eugenie, covertly. "Lavender baths worked marvelously on me!"
"I'll try," nodded Milena.
She'd take any advice she could from her sister-in-law about pregnancy. She loved her children already, but carrying the two of them was definitely not going to be forgiving to her poor body anytime soon...
Thankfully, her room wasn't that far. They stopped by her bedroom first, but nothing wasn't like she already knew, except for the curtains that had recently been thoroughly cleaned, and the new bedsheets. Even the thick fur on top was one Lucian had gifted her from his best hunt, which had recently been delivered by a professional tanner. She could see from one glance that Eugenie had been a great mistress of the house; the windows were crystal clear despite the snow outside, and her books lined up on the shelves didn't even have a speck of dust on them.
"Thank you, Eugenie."
"I just give orders now and then," chuckled the Lady. "I don't do much myself, everyone here asks me to rest and focus on my son rather than on the Castle!"
Milena smiled. She didn't have a doubt that Eugenie was doing both wonderfully. Antonin was lucky to have his mother taking such good care of him even while his dad was away...
Then, they moved on to the newly established nursery. Milena was blown away as soon as she had passed the door. Her sister-in-law had truly done an amazing job here, it almost felt as if the babies could be here already. The cribs' wood did look sturdy while it had also been carved with perfect decorations. There were little curtains above, to shield baby vampires from the light in case Milena's babies turned out to be nocturnal. There was a thick, gorgeous carpet on the floor, two small infant wardrobes, tables, and dozens of toys in little chests. Eugenie walked in with her, as if she was showcasing the room.
"We are still waiting for the curtains," she said. "I insisted they must block out perfectly in case your children are vampires. Oh, and we also ordered all the furniture to be perfectly child-safe, and the room next door is also ready to welcome nannies if we need. ...What do you think?"
Milena wasn't thinking right now, she was just amazed.
Seeing the nursery made it all... very real, all of a sudden. The cribs, all those items dedicated to the children that would be here sooner than she could imagine. Her children. Until then, Milena hadn't caught sight of a baby's crib, or little clothing, all those things she should have been able to prepare herself in different circumstances. Yet now and here, she could really feel it. It was all becoming very real, just like her heavy belly. The idea that, in a few weeks' time, those beds would be filled with two little beings were giving her a lot of emotions all of a sudden. Not only did she get a bit teary, with a strange feeling in her chest, but so many more things came to mind. She suddenly felt very grateful to Eugenie that, on top of raising her own son alone, caring for the manor, their family and everything else, she was dedicating all that time to ensure Milena and her children would be well and safe here. She turned around, and grabbed her sister-in-law's hands.
"Thank you, Eugenie."
"What are you thanking me for, we're sisters! Moreover, I am more than happy to do this, Milena. It keeps me busy, and makes me feel valid as the Lady of the House... I know everyone here still thinks of you as Lady De Crescent, but I also understand your burden is heavier than mine, so I'll just keep doing what I can about it."
"Well, she's a bit of a clean freak too," whispered Raphael.
The two women chuckled, but Eugenie smiled gently, and caressed Milena's hands with her thumb, in a very sisterly way.
"We are sisters, now. I know you... may have missed feminine support, but I'll be happy to help you any way I can. I may not be higher in rank, but I am still your older sister by six years. Don't hesitate to rely on me, alright?"
Milena nodded.
Indeed, she wasn't all alone. She still had a lot of support here, in her family, and in her friends. Whatever was going to happen, to her or her children, she wouldn't have to face it alone.
"You should try to take warm baths for those pains," whispered Eugenie, covertly. "Lavender baths worked marvelously on me!"