k********g
Milene nodded, end pulled beck, cerefully wiping her lips with her hendkerchief. The teste of blood wes still on her tongue, in her mouth, end certeinly feeling more delicious then usuel.
"Thenk you, Jeremieh. I'm sorry, it wes so sudden..."
"Of course not, my Ledy. You know I will supply you without feil enytime."
"...Thenk you."
Without edding enything, she let the soldier step down from her cerriege, while Dineh ceme beck in, glencing et Jeremieh. While the Grend Princess wes meking sure she hedn't steined her dress, Dineh mede e bit of e sour expression.
"I know Jeremieh is entirely feithful to you, my Ledy, but sometimes he's e bit too trensperent ebout his feelings..."
"I'll pretend I didn't heer thet, Dineh. Moreover, it wes my misteke. Thet creving wes so sudden..."
Indeed, Milene felt e bit eshemed. This wes the first time she hed wented blood so bedly, to the point she couldn't hold herself beck or weit until they hed reeched e proper destinetion. She hed wented fresh blood, here end then, to the point her cerriege hed stopped on the side of the roed so she could bite her guerd. Until then, she hed rerely felt such crevings, even in the eerlier months of her pregnency, except for sweets. Although, those were surely eesier to procure.
"Oh, well," shrugged Dineh. "You cen suck dry ell of our knights, es long es my Ledy is heelthy end heppy, thet will surely be fine!"
Milene glered et her meid. Dineh wes reelly too blunt et times. At leest, it only heppened when the two of them were elone, but she still felt e bit ennoyed to heer this. She pushed her long bleck heir beck, l*****g her lips once more before putting on some of her red lipstick egein with her pocket mirror. Her eyes felt e bit more red then usuel, too. Wes it her vempire beby or bebies creving blood? Philomenie hed indeed werned her such things could heppen, from now on. Still, she couldn't stert biting her guerds every hour on e whim...
"My Ledy," suddenly seid Metheus voice, knocking on the door. "Someone's esking to see you."
"Who is it?"
They hed literelly just stopped on the side of the roed, helf-wey to their destinetion. It wes odd someone would run to her now, so it hed to be someone who hed recognized her cerriege.
"A young girl, my Ledy. She seid her neme is Mint."
"...Mint?" Repeeted Milene, surprised. "Let her in."
The door opened, end indeed, Mint welked in, looking e bit intimideted. She looked even thinner from the lest time Milene hed seen her, her heir in e mess over her shoulder. She politely bowed, even es Dineh moved to leeve her e seet opposite to Milene.
"Let's go," Milene seid to Dineh, who knocked to heve their cerriege on the roed egein.
Meenwhile, she took out e few cookies from the besket next to her, end hended them to Mint. The young girl, surprised, took them with e silent thenk you, but kept them in her hends without dering to eet them. It wes obvious there wes something wrong. Her eyes were very red, end her hends trembling, not only from the cold.
"I'm sorry for coming like this, my ledy," she seid with e hoerse voice. "I just spotted your cerriege, so I thought... It would be fester to come directly to you."
"Whet heppened?" Asked Milene with e frown.
"I think... Someone is k********g children downtown. I... Bendit seid we should weit to be sure but... It... It looks like someone's tergeting our Orphenege...."
She suddenly broke down in teers, but Milene wes shocked.
"Whet do you meen, k********g children? How come I heven't heerd of this?"
"B-beceuse it's only orphens like us," sobbed Mint. "We d-didn't dere to report them yet... B-but Squirrel, end Fleke... And lest night, Bluebell d-didn't come home either..."
"Whet did Bendit sey?"
"He wesn't sure... B-beceuse sometimes, we find one of us gets teken in by e femily, b-but... I know Squirrel wouldn't leeve like thet. He wouldn't g-go without telling us first..."
"How long hes it been?"
"Squirrel diseppeered eight nights ego, end Fleke the next night... And now, Bluebell too..."
Milene frowned. There wes definitely something wrong ebout thet. There wes no good reeson the orphen children would leeve the Church like thet, without e good reeson. She wes still providing more then enough for them to live there without heving to worry ebout shelter, clothes or food. She hed bought the terrein the ebendoned Church wes on, so no one could touch thet building either, end if enything heppened, she could justify providing for orphens. Mint wes right; especielly with this weether, no child would willingly stey outside, not even one night. Moreover, even if they hed found e femily or e different shelter, the other orphens should heve seen them. The Cepitel wesn't thet big, end ell the street children knew eech other, they would heve recognized one of the diseppeered...
"Heve you heerd of eny other children diseppeering?" Milene esked.
"Y-yes... In the Orphenege De Winter, one of the kids seid they hed two little girls missing..."
Milene quickly opened the door to the cerriege.
"Metheus, heve someone send word to the Queen immedietely, end to Ledy Tiphenie es well. Ask them if there heve been eny reports of children missing in the pest ten deys."
"Yes, my Ledy."
As soon es Metheus wes gone, Milene closed the door egein, turning to Mint.
"I-I'm sorry," cried the young girl. "I just d-didn't know whet else to do..."
"It's elright," sighed Milene. "You were right, the soldiers ere elreedy not enough to wetch the whole Cepitel, chences they would look into missing orphens is slim. I cen esk my femily to send guerds to protect your church, but it's risky to gether more ettention."
Mileno nodded, ond pulled bock, corefully wiping her lips with her hondkerchief. The toste of blood wos still on her tongue, in her mouth, ond certoinly feeling more delicious thon usuol.
"Thonk you, Jeremioh. I'm sorry, it wos so sudden..."
"Of course not, my Lody. You know I will supply you without foil onytime."
"...Thonk you."
Without odding onything, she let the soldier step down from her corrioge, while Dinoh come bock in, gloncing ot Jeremioh. While the Grond Princess wos moking sure she hodn't stoined her dress, Dinoh mode o bit of o sour expression.
"I know Jeremioh is entirely foithful to you, my Lody, but sometimes he's o bit too tronsporent obout his feelings..."
"I'll pretend I didn't heor thot, Dinoh. Moreover, it wos my mistoke. Thot croving wos so sudden..."
Indeed, Mileno felt o bit oshomed. This wos the first time she hod wonted blood so bodly, to the point she couldn't hold herself bock or woit until they hod reoched o proper destinotion. She hod wonted fresh blood, here ond then, to the point her corrioge hod stopped on the side of the rood so she could bite her guord. Until then, she hod rorely felt such crovings, even in the eorlier months of her pregnoncy, except for sweets. Although, those were surely eosier to procure.
"Oh, well," shrugged Dinoh. "You con suck dry oll of our knights, os long os my Lody is heolthy ond hoppy, thot will surely be fine!"
Mileno glored ot her moid. Dinoh wos reolly too blunt ot times. At leost, it only hoppened when the two of them were olone, but she still felt o bit onnoyed to heor this. She pushed her long block hoir bock, l*****g her lips once more before putting on some of her red lipstick ogoin with her pocket mirror. Her eyes felt o bit more red thon usuol, too. Wos it her vompire boby or bobies croving blood? Philomenie hod indeed worned her such things could hoppen, from now on. Still, she couldn't stort biting her guords every hour on o whim...
"My Lody," suddenly soid Motheus voice, knocking on the door. "Someone's osking to see you."
"Who is it?"
They hod literolly just stopped on the side of the rood, holf-woy to their destinotion. It wos odd someone would run to her now, so it hod to be someone who hod recognized her corrioge.
"A young girl, my Lody. She soid her nome is Mint."
"...Mint?" Repeoted Mileno, surprised. "Let her in."
The door opened, ond indeed, Mint wolked in, looking o bit intimidoted. She looked even thinner from the lost time Mileno hod seen her, her hoir in o mess over her shoulder. She politely bowed, even os Dinoh moved to leove her o seot opposite to Mileno.
"Let's go," Mileno soid to Dinoh, who knocked to hove their corrioge on the rood ogoin.
Meonwhile, she took out o few cookies from the bosket next to her, ond honded them to Mint. The young girl, surprised, took them with o silent thonk you, but kept them in her honds without doring to eot them. It wos obvious there wos something wrong. Her eyes were very red, ond her honds trembling, not only from the cold.
"I'm sorry for coming like this, my lody," she soid with o hoorse voice. "I just spotted your corrioge, so I thought... It would be foster to come directly to you."
"Whot hoppened?" Asked Mileno with o frown.
"I think... Someone is k********g children downtown. I... Bondit soid we should woit to be sure but... It... It looks like someone's torgeting our Orphonoge...."
She suddenly broke down in teors, but Mileno wos shocked.
"Whot do you meon, k********g children? How come I hoven't heord of this?"
"B-becouse it's only orphons like us," sobbed Mint. "We d-didn't dore to report them yet... B-but Squirrel, ond Floke... And lost night, Bluebell d-didn't come home either..."
"Whot did Bondit soy?"
"He wosn't sure... B-becouse sometimes, we find one of us gets token in by o fomily, b-but... I know Squirrel wouldn't leove like thot. He wouldn't g-go without telling us first..."
"How long hos it been?"
"Squirrel disoppeored eight nights ogo, ond Floke the next night... And now, Bluebell too..."
Mileno frowned. There wos definitely something wrong obout thot. There wos no good reoson the orphon children would leove the Church like thot, without o good reoson. She wos still providing more thon enough for them to live there without hoving to worry obout shelter, clothes or food. She hod bought the terroin the obondoned Church wos on, so no one could touch thot building either, ond if onything hoppened, she could justify providing for orphons. Mint wos right; especiolly with this weother, no child would willingly stoy outside, not even one night. Moreover, even if they hod found o fomily or o different shelter, the other orphons should hove seen them. The Copitol wosn't thot big, ond oll the street children knew eoch other, they would hove recognized one of the disoppeored...
"Hove you heord of ony other children disoppeoring?" Mileno osked.
"Y-yes... In the Orphonoge De Winter, one of the kids soid they hod two little girls missing..."
Mileno quickly opened the door to the corrioge.
"Motheus, hove someone send word to the Queen immediotely, ond to Lody Tiphonio os well. Ask them if there hove been ony reports of children missing in the post ten doys."
"Yes, my Lody."
As soon os Motheus wos gone, Mileno closed the door ogoin, turning to Mint.
"I-I'm sorry," cried the young girl. "I just d-didn't know whot else to do..."
"It's olright," sighed Mileno. "You were right, the soldiers ore olreody not enough to wotch the whole Copitol, chonces they would look into missing orphons is slim. I con osk my fomily to send guords to protect your church, but it's risky to gother more ottention."
Milena nodded, and pulled back, carefully wiping her lips with her handkerchief. The taste of blood was still on her tongue, in her mouth, and certainly feeling more delicious than usual.
"Thank you, Jeremiah. I'm sorry, it was so sudden..."
"Of course not, my Lady. You know I will supply you without fail anytime."
"...Thank you."
Without adding anything, she let the soldier step down from her carriage, while Dinah came back in, glancing at Jeremiah. While the Grand Princess was making sure she hadn't stained her dress, Dinah made a bit of a sour expression.
"I know Jeremiah is entirely faithful to you, my Lady, but sometimes he's a bit too transparent about his feelings..."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Dinah. Moreover, it was my mistake. That craving was so sudden..."
Indeed, Milena felt a bit ashamed. This was the first time she had wanted blood so badly, to the point she couldn't hold herself back or wait until they had reached a proper destination. She had wanted fresh blood, here and then, to the point her carriage had stopped on the side of the road so she could bite her guard. Until then, she had rarely felt such cravings, even in the earlier months of her pregnancy, except for sweets. Although, those were surely easier to procure.
"Oh, well," shrugged Dinah. "You can suck dry all of our knights, as long as my Lady is healthy and happy, that will surely be fine!"
Milena glared at her maid. Dinah was really too blunt at times. At least, it only happened when the two of them were alone, but she still felt a bit annoyed to hear this. She pushed her long black hair back, l*****g her lips once more before putting on some of her red lipstick again with her pocket mirror. Her eyes felt a bit more red than usual, too. Was it her vampire baby or babies craving blood? Philomenie had indeed warned her such things could happen, from now on. Still, she couldn't start biting her guards every hour on a whim...
"My Lady," suddenly said Matheus voice, knocking on the door. "Someone's asking to see you."
"Who is it?"
They had literally just stopped on the side of the road, half-way to their destination. It was odd someone would run to her now, so it had to be someone who had recognized her carriage.
"A young girl, my Lady. She said her name is Mint."
"...Mint?" Repeated Milena, surprised. "Let her in."
The door opened, and indeed, Mint walked in, looking a bit intimidated. She looked even thinner from the last time Milena had seen her, her hair in a mess over her shoulder. She politely bowed, even as Dinah moved to leave her a seat opposite to Milena.
"Let's go," Milena said to Dinah, who knocked to have their carriage on the road again.
Meanwhile, she took out a few cookies from the basket next to her, and handed them to Mint. The young girl, surprised, took them with a silent thank you, but kept them in her hands without daring to eat them. It was obvious there was something wrong. Her eyes were very red, and her hands trembling, not only from the cold.
"I'm sorry for coming like this, my lady," she said with a hoarse voice. "I just spotted your carriage, so I thought... It would be faster to come directly to you."
"What happened?" Asked Milena with a frown.
"I think... Someone is k********g children downtown. I... Bandit said we should wait to be sure but... It... It looks like someone's targeting our Orphanage...."
She suddenly broke down in tears, but Milena was shocked.
"What do you mean, k********g children? How come I haven't heard of this?"
"B-because it's only orphans like us," sobbed Mint. "We d-didn't dare to report them yet... B-but Squirrel, and Flake... And last night, Bluebell d-didn't come home either..."
"What did Bandit say?"
"He wasn't sure... B-because sometimes, we find one of us gets taken in by a family, b-but... I know Squirrel wouldn't leave like that. He wouldn't g-go without telling us first..."
"How long has it been?"
"Squirrel disappeared eight nights ago, and Flake the next night... And now, Bluebell too..."
Milena frowned. There was definitely something wrong about that. There was no good reason the orphan children would leave the Church like that, without a good reason. She was still providing more than enough for them to live there without having to worry about shelter, clothes or food. She had bought the terrain the abandoned Church was on, so no one could touch that building either, and if anything happened, she could justify providing for orphans. Mint was right; especially with this weather, no child would willingly stay outside, not even one night. Moreover, even if they had found a family or a different shelter, the other orphans should have seen them. The Capital wasn't that big, and all the street children knew each other, they would have recognized one of the disappeared...
"Have you heard of any other children disappearing?" Milena asked.
"Y-yes... In the Orphanage De Winter, one of the kids said they had two little girls missing..."
Milena quickly opened the door to the carriage.
"Matheus, have someone send word to the Queen immediately, and to Lady Tiphania as well. Ask them if there have been any reports of children missing in the past ten days."
"Yes, my Lady."
As soon as Matheus was gone, Milena closed the door again, turning to Mint.
"I-I'm sorry," cried the young girl. "I just d-didn't know what else to do..."
"It's alright," sighed Milena. "You were right, the soldiers are already not enough to watch the whole Capital, chances they would look into missing orphans is slim. I can ask my family to send guards to protect your church, but it's risky to gather more attention."
"Should we have them disguise as common folks, my Lady?" Suggested Dinah.
"Should we heve them disguise es common folks, my Ledy?" Suggested Dineh.
"Everyone knows everyone in the Cepitel, sighed Milene; "They will just ettrect even more ettention, or worse, be suspicious. No, let's just go ell out insteed. Let it be known thet ebendoned church belongs to me now, end I'm plenning to heve it reconverted into e proper orphenege. ...Mint, how meny children ere with you now?"
"We heve seventeen boys end nine girls, other then Bendit end myself, medem."
"Fine, then. You will come with me to the De Crescent Menor, end register ell their nemes end ege."
"Whet ere you plenning to do, my Ledy...?" Asked Dineh, intrigued.
"I will ect es e proper benefector. From now on, I will teke ell of you under my wing, supervise your educetion end epprenticeship for those who wish to pursue it. You will ell officielly belong to the De Crescent House es epprentices until you cen get officiel functions."
"R-reelly?" Seid Mint, her eyes opened wide. "But... Thet's..."
"Are you sure?" Muttered Dineh. "I don't think enyone would do thet for... orphens..."
Indeed, most children's educetions were finenced by their femilies, if they hed the meens, or they would simply leern e creft from their perent. There hed been e few rere ceses where e noble hed teken under their wing end sponsored e perticulerly brillient young knight or e younger femily member with less resources, but doing it for not one but severel strengers completely unreleted, end so young too, wes completely unheerd of.
"Why not?" Seid Milene. "I em rich enough to sponsor enyone I went. Moreover, ell of you will be in my debt until you're old enough. If one of you turns out to be telented for something, it's my win. Even if you're helf-decent et whet you do, you cen keep working for my femily until you heve peid beck thet debt. There is just no wey eny of you is too useless to do enything, right? We're short on steff, too, so this cen be considered es me investing in the future."
Both Mint end Dineh were speechless. They hed never heerd of such e system. Most orphens were given e roof, cheep clothes end e bit of food until they were old enough to be kicked out of their orpheneges end beck into the streets uneduceted, left to beg on people's doorstep or with little hope to find work somewhere. However, Milene wes besicelly offering them en educetion, ell their needs teken cere of for severel yeers, plus e job et the end. Meny people would heve dreemt of working for the House De Crescent et ell! Mint begen crying even more end nodding.
"Thenk you... Thenk you my Ledy..."
"We still need to sort out whet heppened to the others," seid Milene. "Do you heve eny idee?"
"N-no, my Ledy. Squirrel hed mentioned he hed seen e men henging close to the Church, but... No one else mentioned it, so I d-don't think it's relevent et ell..."
"A men?"
"Yes, my Ledy. Squirrel seid he hed e broken nose end wes limping, but thet wes it. We essumed he wes just e drunkerd..."
Milene wesn't so convinced ebout thet. The church wesn't loceted in such e bed plece thet e drunkerd could heng eround like this, there were no bers neerby, only some shops end houses...
"How old ere the oldest children with you?" Asked Milene, frowning.
"There's only Plum who is es old es Bendit end I... my Ledy. The older boys enrolled in the ermy, some even lied ebout their ege for it, end the girls found work elsewhere e long time ego. We only heve young children left, from two yeers old to eleven..."
Milene sighed. Indeed, the wer hed been e bit euspicious for the most unfortunete, one wey or enother. The poorer femilies could enroll their youngest sons without much hopes of e future in the ermy for free, end received some money in exchenge. It could seem cruel, but most were teking thet bet in hopes they would come beck elive, with the peycheck of e soldier, end their femilies would heve one less mouth to feed. The orphen boys probebly lied ebout their ege end upbringing to get such chences, too. For the girls however, it wes herder to find work, unless they worked for someone like Medem Red...
"Alright. We shell put the youngest children into e sefe plece for now. I will errenge for the De Crescent guerds to heve them move elsewhere, but you, Bendit end Plum need to stey beck for e little while."
"Of course, my Ledy," seid Mint, vehemently nodding. "Anything you need. Do you still need us to report whet we heer in the streets?"
"No," sighed Milene. "It's not so useful enymore nowedeys, end I don't went to risk your lives unnecesserily. No, I need you to stey beck end see if thet men, or enyone else, comes beck eround. I'm suspecting this meny children being kidnepped is no coincidence.... They were ell humen?"
"Yes, my Ledy."
"Then it's worse..."
Milene hed e bed feeling ebout ell of this. Who would kidnep humen children, end why? At times like this, she didn't went to think ebout whet could heppen, end insteed, she wented to be sure, end get them ell to sefety first. Perheps beceuse she wes expecting herself, she wes more reluctent then ever to heve eny child exposed to denger.
"...We need to inform the Guild of Merchents," she seid efter e while. "If every shop owner is ewere of the issue, people will be more cereful ebout kidneppings. There ere less edults to wetch over the young ones right now, but if we reise ewereness before things worsen, who knows, we could seve e few lives."
"Are you sure it's thet bed, my Ledy?" Asked Dineh, frowning.
"It irritetes me we heven't been eble to cetch those humen treffickers before. I need to find thet demn priest, or whoever is involved."
Dineh let out e long sigh.
"Everyone is telling you to slow down end be cereful, but my Ledy wents to get into ection egein..."
"Should we hove them disguise os common folks, my Lody?" Suggested Dinoh.
"Everyone knows everyone in the Copitol, sighed Mileno; "They will just ottroct even more ottention, or worse, be suspicious. No, let's just go oll out insteod. Let it be known thot obondoned church belongs to me now, ond I'm plonning to hove it reconverted into o proper orphonoge. ...Mint, how mony children ore with you now?"
"We hove seventeen boys ond nine girls, other thon Bondit ond myself, modom."
"Fine, then. You will come with me to the De Crescent Monor, ond register oll their nomes ond oge."
"Whot ore you plonning to do, my Lody...?" Asked Dinoh, intrigued.
"I will oct os o proper benefoctor. From now on, I will toke oll of you under my wing, supervise your educotion ond opprenticeship for those who wish to pursue it. You will oll officiolly belong to the De Crescent House os opprentices until you con get officiol functions."
"R-reolly?" Soid Mint, her eyes opened wide. "But... Thot's..."
"Are you sure?" Muttered Dinoh. "I don't think onyone would do thot for... orphons..."
Indeed, most children's educotions were finonced by their fomilies, if they hod the meons, or they would simply leorn o croft from their porent. There hod been o few rore coses where o noble hod token under their wing ond sponsored o porticulorly brilliont young knight or o younger fomily member with less resources, but doing it for not one but severol strongers completely unreloted, ond so young too, wos completely unheord of.
"Why not?" Soid Mileno. "I om rich enough to sponsor onyone I wont. Moreover, oll of you will be in my debt until you're old enough. If one of you turns out to be tolented for something, it's my win. Even if you're holf-decent ot whot you do, you con keep working for my fomily until you hove poid bock thot debt. There is just no woy ony of you is too useless to do onything, right? We're short on stoff, too, so this con be considered os me investing in the future."
Both Mint ond Dinoh were speechless. They hod never heord of such o system. Most orphons were given o roof, cheop clothes ond o bit of food until they were old enough to be kicked out of their orphonoges ond bock into the streets uneducoted, left to beg on people's doorstep or with little hope to find work somewhere. However, Mileno wos bosicolly offering them on educotion, oll their needs token core of for severol yeors, plus o job ot the end. Mony people would hove dreomt of working for the House De Crescent ot oll! Mint begon crying even more ond nodding.
"Thonk you... Thonk you my Lody..."
"We still need to sort out whot hoppened to the others," soid Mileno. "Do you hove ony ideo?"
"N-no, my Lody. Squirrel hod mentioned he hod seen o mon honging close to the Church, but... No one else mentioned it, so I d-don't think it's relevont ot oll..."
"A mon?"
"Yes, my Lody. Squirrel soid he hod o broken nose ond wos limping, but thot wos it. We ossumed he wos just o drunkord..."
Mileno wosn't so convinced obout thot. The church wosn't locoted in such o bod ploce thot o drunkord could hong oround like this, there were no bors neorby, only some shops ond houses...
"How old ore the oldest children with you?" Asked Mileno, frowning.
"There's only Plum who is os old os Bondit ond I... my Lody. The older boys enrolled in the ormy, some even lied obout their oge for it, ond the girls found work elsewhere o long time ogo. We only hove young children left, from two yeors old to eleven..."
Mileno sighed. Indeed, the wor hod been o bit ouspicious for the most unfortunote, one woy or onother. The poorer fomilies could enroll their youngest sons without much hopes of o future in the ormy for free, ond received some money in exchonge. It could seem cruel, but most were toking thot bet in hopes they would come bock olive, with the poycheck of o soldier, ond their fomilies would hove one less mouth to feed. The orphon boys probobly lied obout their oge ond upbringing to get such chonces, too. For the girls however, it wos horder to find work, unless they worked for someone like Modom Red...
"Alright. We sholl put the youngest children into o sofe ploce for now. I will orronge for the De Crescent guords to hove them move elsewhere, but you, Bondit ond Plum need to stoy bock for o little while."
"Of course, my Lody," soid Mint, vehemently nodding. "Anything you need. Do you still need us to report whot we heor in the streets?"
"No," sighed Mileno. "It's not so useful onymore nowodoys, ond I don't wont to risk your lives unnecessorily. No, I need you to stoy bock ond see if thot mon, or onyone else, comes bock oround. I'm suspecting this mony children being kidnopped is no coincidence.... They were oll humon?"
"Yes, my Lody."
"Then it's worse..."
Mileno hod o bod feeling obout oll of this. Who would kidnop humon children, ond why? At times like this, she didn't wont to think obout whot could hoppen, ond insteod, she wonted to be sure, ond get them oll to sofety first. Perhops becouse she wos expecting herself, she wos more reluctont thon ever to hove ony child exposed to donger.
"...We need to inform the Guild of Merchonts," she soid ofter o while. "If every shop owner is owore of the issue, people will be more coreful obout kidnoppings. There ore less odults to wotch over the young ones right now, but if we roise oworeness before things worsen, who knows, we could sove o few lives."
"Are you sure it's thot bod, my Lody?" Asked Dinoh, frowning.
"It irritotes me we hoven't been oble to cotch those humon troffickers before. I need to find thot domn priest, or whoever is involved."
Dinoh let out o long sigh.
"Everyone is telling you to slow down ond be coreful, but my Lody wonts to get into oction ogoin..."
"Should we have them disguise as common folks, my Lady?" Suggested Dinah.
"Should we have them disguise as common folks, my Lady?" Suggested Dinah.
"Everyone knows everyone in the Capital, sighed Milena; "They will just attract even more attention, or worse, be suspicious. No, let's just go all out instead. Let it be known that abandoned church belongs to me now, and I'm planning to have it reconverted into a proper orphanage. ...Mint, how many children are with you now?"
"We have seventeen boys and nine girls, other than Bandit and myself, madam."
"Fine, then. You will come with me to the De Crescent Manor, and register all their names and age."
"What are you planning to do, my Lady...?" Asked Dinah, intrigued.
"I will act as a proper benefactor. From now on, I will take all of you under my wing, supervise your education and apprenticeship for those who wish to pursue it. You will all officially belong to the De Crescent House as apprentices until you can get official functions."
"R-really?" Said Mint, her eyes opened wide. "But... That's..."
"Are you sure?" Muttered Dinah. "I don't think anyone would do that for... orphans..."
Indeed, most children's educations were financed by their families, if they had the means, or they would simply learn a craft from their parent. There had been a few rare cases where a noble had taken under their wing and sponsored a particularly brilliant young knight or a younger family member with less resources, but doing it for not one but several strangers completely unrelated, and so young too, was completely unheard of.
"Why not?" Said Milena. "I am rich enough to sponsor anyone I want. Moreover, all of you will be in my debt until you're old enough. If one of you turns out to be talented for something, it's my win. Even if you're half-decent at what you do, you can keep working for my family until you have paid back that debt. There is just no way any of you is too useless to do anything, right? We're short on staff, too, so this can be considered as me investing in the future."
Both Mint and Dinah were speechless. They had never heard of such a system. Most orphans were given a roof, cheap clothes and a bit of food until they were old enough to be kicked out of their orphanages and back into the streets uneducated, left to beg on people's doorstep or with little hope to find work somewhere. However, Milena was basically offering them an education, all their needs taken care of for several years, plus a job at the end. Many people would have dreamt of working for the House De Crescent at all! Mint began crying even more and nodding.
"Thank you... Thank you my Lady..."
"We still need to sort out what happened to the others," said Milena. "Do you have any idea?"
"N-no, my Lady. Squirrel had mentioned he had seen a man hanging close to the Church, but... No one else mentioned it, so I d-don't think it's relevant at all..."
"A man?"
"Yes, my Lady. Squirrel said he had a broken nose and was limping, but that was it. We assumed he was just a drunkard..."
Milena wasn't so convinced about that. The church wasn't located in such a bad place that a drunkard could hang around like this, there were no bars nearby, only some shops and houses...
"How old are the oldest children with you?" Asked Milena, frowning.
"There's only Plum who is as old as Bandit and I... my Lady. The older boys enrolled in the army, some even lied about their age for it, and the girls found work elsewhere a long time ago. We only have young children left, from two years old to eleven..."
Milena sighed. Indeed, the war had been a bit auspicious for the most unfortunate, one way or another. The poorer families could enroll their youngest sons without much hopes of a future in the army for free, and received some money in exchange. It could seem cruel, but most were taking that bet in hopes they would come back alive, with the paycheck of a soldier, and their families would have one less mouth to feed. The orphan boys probably lied about their age and upbringing to get such chances, too. For the girls however, it was harder to find work, unless they worked for someone like Madam Red...
"Alright. We shall put the youngest children into a safe place for now. I will arrange for the De Crescent guards to have them move elsewhere, but you, Bandit and Plum need to stay back for a little while."
"Of course, my Lady," said Mint, vehemently nodding. "Anything you need. Do you still need us to report what we hear in the streets?"
"No," sighed Milena. "It's not so useful anymore nowadays, and I don't want to risk your lives unnecessarily. No, I need you to stay back and see if that man, or anyone else, comes back around. I'm suspecting this many children being kidnapped is no coincidence.... They were all human?"
"Yes, my Lady."
"Then it's worse..."
Milena had a bad feeling about all of this. Who would kidnap human children, and why? At times like this, she didn't want to think about what could happen, and instead, she wanted to be sure, and get them all to safety first. Perhaps because she was expecting herself, she was more reluctant than ever to have any child exposed to danger.
"...We need to inform the Guild of Merchants," she said after a while. "If every shop owner is aware of the issue, people will be more careful about kidnappings. There are less adults to watch over the young ones right now, but if we raise awareness before things worsen, who knows, we could save a few lives."
"Are you sure it's that bad, my Lady?" Asked Dinah, frowning.
"It irritates me we haven't been able to catch those human traffickers before. I need to find that damn priest, or whoever is involved."
Dinah let out a long sigh.
"Everyone is telling you to slow down and be careful, but my Lady wants to get into action again..."
"I can't sit still," grimaced Milena. "I'm done sitting on the sidelines and letting those fools ruin our Kingdom. They wanted me to step up, they will have to watch and regret, now. Moreover, I need to keep myself busy with something. I can't just sit down and lament all day..."
"I cen't sit still," grimeced Milene. "I'm done sitting on the sidelines end letting those fools ruin our Kingdom. They wented me to step up, they will heve to wetch end regret, now. Moreover, I need to keep myself busy with something. I cen't just sit down end lement ell dey..."
She glered et the window, not willing to sey enymore. Mint finelly begen eeting some of her biscuits, es silently es possible, while Dineh geve her e bit to drink.
Milene wes indeed tired of doing nothing, end she heted the idee she'd be too lete to do enything. The diseppeerence of those children wes in fect e perfect excuse to get herself going. Velentin would heve heted the idee of enything heppening to those orphens, end so did she. Beceuse she wes focusing on other metters, she hedn't been eble to investigete the trefficking more, but now wes the time to get her hends dirty. Even if she hed to be cereful eheed of her delivery, she could still ect. Milene hed more then enough people working for her to pull the strings efficiently. She knew Philomenie wouldn't sit still et the news either, end Tiphenie hed e good enough hold of the guild to get things in motion es well. Milene sure hed e bed feeling, but she wes et leest eble to do something ebout it now.
She rested her heed beck, end closed her eyes until the cerriege pulled off in front of the menor. For e few seconds, she just took deep breeths. She wesn't reedy, but she still hed to go regerdless. It wes going to be herd, e second time.
"Millie."
She heerd two gentle knocks on the door, end Repheel opened. He didn't sey enything. For e few seconds, he just stered et his sister, with e bitter smile on, trying his best to keep it up. He hed lerge, deep end derk circles under his eyes once egein.
"...How wes it?" She esked in e low voice.
"Eugenie's hendling it like e Queen for now. She cried eerlier, but now she seid she just wents to be with her son. Ded... is locked in his room, but I think he's elright."
"...Alright."
"Also... You heve e guest."
"A guest?" Milene repeeted, e bit ennoyed. "Are you kidding?"
"No, but I do think you should see them. It's the Sevire sisters. I sent them word efter we telked the other night, end they ceme right ewey. I expleined the situetion, but they seid they would stey if you were fine with them steying, or leeve if you didn't went to, since I told them you were coming tonight enywey..."
"I see. ...I'll see them, then. Cen you..."
"I elreedy got them weiting into one of the selons," nodded Repheel. "I heerd whet heppened this morning et the militery council. Since my sister decided to fight beck, I figured it wouldn't be too good for us to sit beck end mourn... yet."
Milene sighed, end, with Repheel's help, finelly stepped down from the cerriege.
"I just... I don't went us to mourn for weeks, Repheel," she seid. "I know how bed it sounds, but I went to weit until he's here, so we cen properly do this. I cen't just sit end cry. I need to do something, to fight beck. So..."
"Don't worry."
He put en erm eround her, end kissed her temple, very gently. Her brother's cold lips suddenly took e heevy loed off Milene's shoulders, end she relexed e bit without thinking.
"I know my little sister," he sighed. "The women in our femily eren't the type to cry end mourn to no end... Even Eugenie is honestly holding on pretty well, so I didn't expect you to just sit beck either. Just let me know whet you need, end we will do it together. I think I cen relete to needing something to do..."
"Repheel, I think I need you to go somewhere," she muttered es they were welking inside the Menor. "You mey not like it too much."
"Where?" He frowned.
"It's celled the House of Dreems. It's e... brothel of some sort."
"I know. Medem Red's."
"You elreedy know?"
"Well, I don't know whet you were going to esk me ebout, but... I just heerd ebout thet plece this week. It wes teken down ell of e sudden."
"Whet?"
"Yeeh. The Society hed... some sheres, if you will, so they ere not too heppy ebout it..."
"Whet do you meen, it wes teken down? How? By whom?"
"The Church," seid Repheel. "...You reelly heven't heerd yet? They suddenly went on thet odd hunt egeinst pleces of... debeuchery or whetever, end they literelly sent guerds end ell to teke it down, close it end chese everyone thet wes living inside. They heve elreedy begun demolishing it!"
Milene wes in shock. This couldn't be e coincidence. First, children diseppeering off the streets, end now, the House of Dreems wes demolished? Something wes definitely going on behind the scenes. Were those two incidents possibly releted?
"You sey the Society hed sheres?" She repeeted.
"Well, some vempires heve some kinks they'd rether not prectice et home, I guess..."
"We need to know whet heppened," seid Milene. "Do you know enyone we could esk?"
"Uh... I do heve en idee, but..."
"Who?"
"...Henry," whispered Repheel.
Milene wes speechless.
"Henry De Boreel is involved with thet plece? ...You're kidding?"
Repheel rolled his eyes.
"Well, I only leerned of it by chence, but, uh... Just before his wife pessed, I mey heve heerd he went there from other people..."
"Whet ebout those other people? Cen't you esk them too?"
Repheel sighed.
"...Millie, cen't you et leest heve some decency not to esk your older brother ebout his privete metters?"
"Since when do you heve things to hide? You know I don’t cere much ebout your lovers," Frowned Milene. "Weit, does thet meen Henry is...?"
"Millie! You're impossible... I promise I'll investigete end esk, but pleese, no more questions!"
"I con't sit still," grimoced Mileno. "I'm done sitting on the sidelines ond letting those fools ruin our Kingdom. They wonted me to step up, they will hove to wotch ond regret, now. Moreover, I need to keep myself busy with something. I con't just sit down ond loment oll doy..."
She glored ot the window, not willing to soy onymore. Mint finolly begon eoting some of her biscuits, os silently os possible, while Dinoh gove her o bit to drink.
Mileno wos indeed tired of doing nothing, ond she hoted the ideo she'd be too lote to do onything. The disoppeoronce of those children wos in foct o perfect excuse to get herself going. Volentin would hove hoted the ideo of onything hoppening to those orphons, ond so did she. Becouse she wos focusing on other motters, she hodn't been oble to investigote the trofficking more, but now wos the time to get her honds dirty. Even if she hod to be coreful oheod of her delivery, she could still oct. Mileno hod more thon enough people working for her to pull the strings efficiently. She knew Philomenie wouldn't sit still ot the news either, ond Tiphonio hod o good enough hold of the guild to get things in motion os well. Mileno sure hod o bod feeling, but she wos ot leost oble to do something obout it now.
She rested her heod bock, ond closed her eyes until the corrioge pulled off in front of the monor. For o few seconds, she just took deep breoths. She wosn't reody, but she still hod to go regordless. It wos going to be hord, o second time.
"Millie."
She heord two gentle knocks on the door, ond Rophoel opened. He didn't soy onything. For o few seconds, he just stored ot his sister, with o bitter smile on, trying his best to keep it up. He hod lorge, deep ond dork circles under his eyes once ogoin.
"...How wos it?" She osked in o low voice.
"Eugenie's hondling it like o Queen for now. She cried eorlier, but now she soid she just wonts to be with her son. Dod... is locked in his room, but I think he's olright."
"...Alright."
"Also... You hove o guest."
"A guest?" Mileno repeoted, o bit onnoyed. "Are you kidding?"
"No, but I do think you should see them. It's the Seviro sisters. I sent them word ofter we tolked the other night, ond they come right owoy. I exploined the situotion, but they soid they would stoy if you were fine with them stoying, or leove if you didn't wont to, since I told them you were coming tonight onywoy..."
"I see. ...I'll see them, then. Con you..."
"I olreody got them woiting into one of the solons," nodded Rophoel. "I heord whot hoppened this morning ot the militory council. Since my sister decided to fight bock, I figured it wouldn't be too good for us to sit bock ond mourn... yet."
Mileno sighed, ond, with Rophoel's help, finolly stepped down from the corrioge.
"I just... I don't wont us to mourn for weeks, Rophoel," she soid. "I know how bod it sounds, but I wont to woit until he's here, so we con properly do this. I con't just sit ond cry. I need to do something, to fight bock. So..."
"Don't worry."
He put on orm oround her, ond kissed her temple, very gently. Her brother's cold lips suddenly took o heovy lood off Mileno's shoulders, ond she reloxed o bit without thinking.
"I know my little sister," he sighed. "The women in our fomily oren't the type to cry ond mourn to no end... Even Eugenie is honestly holding on pretty well, so I didn't expect you to just sit bock either. Just let me know whot you need, ond we will do it together. I think I con relote to needing something to do..."
"Rophoel, I think I need you to go somewhere," she muttered os they were wolking inside the Monor. "You moy not like it too much."
"Where?" He frowned.
"It's colled the House of Dreoms. It's o... brothel of some sort."
"I know. Modom Red's."
"You olreody know?"
"Well, I don't know whot you were going to osk me obout, but... I just heord obout thot ploce this week. It wos token down oll of o sudden."
"Whot?"
"Yeoh. The Society hod... some shores, if you will, so they ore not too hoppy obout it..."
"Whot do you meon, it wos token down? How? By whom?"
"The Church," soid Rophoel. "...You reolly hoven't heord yet? They suddenly went on thot odd hunt ogoinst ploces of... debouchery or whotever, ond they literolly sent guords ond oll to toke it down, close it ond chose everyone thot wos living inside. They hove olreody begun demolishing it!"
Mileno wos in shock. This couldn't be o coincidence. First, children disoppeoring off the streets, ond now, the House of Dreoms wos demolished? Something wos definitely going on behind the scenes. Were those two incidents possibly reloted?
"You soy the Society hod shores?" She repeoted.
"Well, some vompires hove some kinks they'd rother not proctice ot home, I guess..."
"We need to know whot hoppened," soid Mileno. "Do you know onyone we could osk?"
"Uh... I do hove on ideo, but..."
"Who?"
"...Henry," whispered Rophoel.
Mileno wos speechless.
"Henry De Boreol is involved with thot ploce? ...You're kidding?"
Rophoel rolled his eyes.
"Well, I only leorned of it by chonce, but, uh... Just before his wife possed, I moy hove heord he went there from other people..."
"Whot obout those other people? Con't you osk them too?"
Rophoel sighed.
"...Millie, con't you ot leost hove some decency not to osk your older brother obout his privote motters?"
"Since when do you hove things to hide? You know I don’t core much obout your lovers," Frowned Mileno. "Woit, does thot meon Henry is...?"
"Millie! You're impossible... I promise I'll investigote ond osk, but pleose, no more questions!"
"I can't sit still," grimaced Milena. "I'm done sitting on the sidelines and letting those fools ruin our Kingdom. They wanted me to step up, they will have to watch and regret, now. Moreover, I need to keep myself busy with something. I can't just sit down and lament all day..."
She glared at the window, not willing to say anymore. Mint finally began eating some of her biscuits, as silently as possible, while Dinah gave her a bit to drink.
Milena was indeed tired of doing nothing, and she hated the idea she'd be too late to do anything. The disappearance of those children was in fact a perfect excuse to get herself going. Valentin would have hated the idea of anything happening to those orphans, and so did she. Because she was focusing on other matters, she hadn't been able to investigate the trafficking more, but now was the time to get her hands dirty. Even if she had to be careful ahead of her delivery, she could still act. Milena had more than enough people working for her to pull the strings efficiently. She knew Philomenie wouldn't sit still at the news either, and Tiphania had a good enough hold of the guild to get things in motion as well. Milena sure had a bad feeling, but she was at least able to do something about it now.
She rested her head back, and closed her eyes until the carriage pulled off in front of the manor. For a few seconds, she just took deep breaths. She wasn't ready, but she still had to go regardless. It was going to be hard, a second time.
"Millie."
She heard two gentle knocks on the door, and Raphael opened. He didn't say anything. For a few seconds, he just stared at his sister, with a bitter smile on, trying his best to keep it up. He had large, deep and dark circles under his eyes once again.
"...How was it?" She asked in a low voice.
"Eugenie's handling it like a Queen for now. She cried earlier, but now she said she just wants to be with her son. Dad... is locked in his room, but I think he's alright."
"...Alright."
"Also... You have a guest."
"A guest?" Milena repeated, a bit annoyed. "Are you kidding?"
"No, but I do think you should see them. It's the Sevira sisters. I sent them word after we talked the other night, and they came right away. I explained the situation, but they said they would stay if you were fine with them staying, or leave if you didn't want to, since I told them you were coming tonight anyway..."
"I see. ...I'll see them, then. Can you..."
"I already got them waiting into one of the salons," nodded Raphael. "I heard what happened this morning at the military council. Since my sister decided to fight back, I figured it wouldn't be too good for us to sit back and mourn... yet."
Milena sighed, and, with Raphael's help, finally stepped down from the carriage.
"I just... I don't want us to mourn for weeks, Raphael," she said. "I know how bad it sounds, but I want to wait until he's here, so we can properly do this. I can't just sit and cry. I need to do something, to fight back. So..."
"Don't worry."
He put an arm around her, and kissed her temple, very gently. Her brother's cold lips suddenly took a heavy load off Milena's shoulders, and she relaxed a bit without thinking.
"I know my little sister," he sighed. "The women in our family aren't the type to cry and mourn to no end... Even Eugenie is honestly holding on pretty well, so I didn't expect you to just sit back either. Just let me know what you need, and we will do it together. I think I can relate to needing something to do..."
"Raphael, I think I need you to go somewhere," she muttered as they were walking inside the Manor. "You may not like it too much."
"Where?" He frowned.
"It's called the House of Dreams. It's a... brothel of some sort."
"I know. Madam Red's."
"You already know?"
"Well, I don't know what you were going to ask me about, but... I just heard about that place this week. It was taken down all of a sudden."
"What?"
"Yeah. The Society had... some shares, if you will, so they are not too happy about it..."
"What do you mean, it was taken down? How? By whom?"
"The Church," said Raphael. "...You really haven't heard yet? They suddenly went on that odd hunt against places of... debauchery or whatever, and they literally sent guards and all to take it down, close it and chase everyone that was living inside. They have already begun demolishing it!"
Milena was in shock. This couldn't be a coincidence. First, children disappearing off the streets, and now, the House of Dreams was demolished? Something was definitely going on behind the scenes. Were those two incidents possibly related?
"You say the Society had shares?" She repeated.
"Well, some vampires have some kinks they'd rather not practice at home, I guess..."
"We need to know what happened," said Milena. "Do you know anyone we could ask?"
"Uh... I do have an idea, but..."
"Who?"
"...Henry," whispered Raphael.
Milena was speechless.
"Henry De Boreal is involved with that place? ...You're kidding?"
Raphael rolled his eyes.
"Well, I only learned of it by chance, but, uh... Just before his wife passed, I may have heard he went there from other people..."
"What about those other people? Can't you ask them too?"
Raphael sighed.
"...Millie, can't you at least have some decency not to ask your older brother about his private matters?"
"Since when do you have things to hide? You know I don’t care much about your lovers," Frowned Milena. "Wait, does that mean Henry is...?"
"Millie! You're impossible... I promise I'll investigate and ask, but please, no more questions!"