Fifteen Days
"She's doing alright, considering everything that happened to her," sighed Bella. "If I’m honest, I'm afraid she's pretty traumatized, but she's alive, at the very least."
Milena let out a long sigh of relief.
"...Thank God," she muttered. "With no news for so many days, I was starting to think..."
"I was starting to think just the same," admitted Bella, grabbing her cup. "To be perfectly honest, as much as I trust you, Lady Milena, I was honestly beginning to doubt she had survived the incident at all."
"Did she tell you what happened to her?"
Bella nodded, softly putting down her cup. In the meantime, Blanche jumped on Milena's lap, the silver-white cat curling up in a relaxed position. Milena couldn't help but pet her as a way to relax herself.
"She appeared yesterday, in the late morning at the d'Artsein Domain. Needless to say, everyone there was quite shocked, although Lady Briseis had told them about the whole ordeal, of course. She passed out as soon as they got a hold of her, from exhaustion. I doubt she got to eat much in the past few days... It looks like that poor girl was hiding in the Capital, amongst the commoners, by fear of her pursuers killing her. She had only seen the Royal Guards coming for her, she had no idea you and the De Crescent Knights had been there, too. She slept almost a full day and night, and only woke up a few hours ago to tell us this. I happened to be in the Royal Castle, so Lady Briseis and I went to her residence together to see her, after checking no one followed us, of course. We made sure to look like Briseis was only inviting me to her house, but of course, we interrogated Lady Euphoria as soon as it was possible."
"What did she say?"
"According to her, on the day the Banquet was held, just as Lady Genia was preparing to leave, a group of men barged in the Sevira Residence, immediately going for the sisters. They sequestrated them in their research room, and began to... All four of them were tortured for the antidote... Which they still didn't have, as you and I knew. In any case, they refused to say anything at all."
"And nobody else in the house noticed? The servants we saw were only talking about the fire, they never mentioned men barging in!"
"That's the most hateful part. She said the men came in so furtively, and they were immediately locked up in their research lab," Bella shook her head. "They were threatened, and if they screamed, one of their sisters would be killed on the spot. ...It sounded like those men were amateurs, but they had prepared this very carefully to look like an accident. Six men guarded the girls, while another man set another part of the House on fire shortly after, as a distraction. It was almost exactly as you had deducted. The servants did try to get to the room, but it was locked from the inside, and the sisters incapable of moving or talking because of the t*****e they went through."
Milena clenched her fist, unable to repress her anger. She couldn't help but boil with anger, just thinking about what the sisters had gone through. It was the absolute worst way to go, with each of their sisters tortured by their side...
"How... did she survive?"
"Sisterhood," sighed Bella. "As they refused to talk, and the fire's smoke was getting into the room, the men who had come to kill them fatally wounded two of the sisters, as well as the maid that, unfortunately for her, happened to be in the room with them. Somehow, they were apparently bent on not leaving any traces of their wrongdoing, so they shed little blood and did a... sloppy job, if I may say so. They had run out of time because the sisters refused to say anything. Euphoria's speech was a bit confusing, she was still very much in shock... Apparently, the guards feared for their lives, and left as soon as Genia and Kalliope had died. Perhaps because they were the younger sisters, Euphoria and Nessidie were more spared... Nessidie knew she wouldn't make it, but she was the one who urged Euphoria to swap clothes with their dead maid and escape. They knew at least one of them had to survive... They used some sort of illegal remedy they had been working on, so Euphoria would survive long enough to flee."
Milena took a long minute to let all that sink in. She could almost see the terrible scene play in her head as Bella spoke... She couldn't fathom the pain Euphoria had gone through. Not only from the t*****e, but from having to watch her older sisters be killed one by one, and eventually, having to leave the last one to die, too...
"I'm so terribly sorry," she muttered. "Euphoria is... such a good young woman, and her sisters..."
"I know," nodded Bella. "To be honest with you... she didn't come out unscathed."
Milena saw from Bella's expression that something was wrong. It didn't take long for her to realize, nor to imagine. She tried to brave herself for the truth.
"...How bad is it?"
"Pretty bad," confessed Bella. "No doubt she will survive, but her physical appearance... Not only the t*****e, but she got pretty badly burned, too. We removed all the mirrors in the room, she has no idea yet. We only let Lady D'Artsein's most trusted servants approach her, of course. Still... for a girl her age, I can't imagine the shock she will experience. Perhaps she already knows... Two of her fingers were cut off, Milena. And... she lost an eye, too."
Milena closed her eyes. She felt utterly sorry for the last Sevira, and, somewhere deep inside, she felt guilt too. She was the one who had put the sisters on that difficult task and research. Although they knew the risks, they had still put themselves in an awful amount of danger for the sake of that research, and paid a high price for it... Milena couldn't even begin to fathom how she would repay the only survivor. Each of the four sisters' bravery was unmeasurable, that was for certain. She couldn't believe none of the four had spoken, until the very end. She knew how dedicated they were to their research, but to think they had gone through all of this without ever breaking their vow of silence...
"She's doing olright, considering everything thot hoppened to her," sighed Bello. "If I’m honest, I'm ofroid she's pretty troumotized, but she's olive, ot the very leost."
Mileno let out o long sigh of relief.
"...Thonk God," she muttered. "With no news for so mony doys, I wos storting to think..."
"I wos storting to think just the some," odmitted Bello, grobbing her cup. "To be perfectly honest, os much os I trust you, Lody Mileno, I wos honestly beginning to doubt she hod survived the incident ot oll."
"Did she tell you whot hoppened to her?"
Bello nodded, softly putting down her cup. In the meontime, Blonche jumped on Mileno's lop, the silver-white cot curling up in o reloxed position. Mileno couldn't help but pet her os o woy to relox herself.
"She oppeored yesterdoy, in the lote morning ot the d'Artsein Domoin. Needless to soy, everyone there wos quite shocked, olthough Lody Briseis hod told them obout the whole ordeol, of course. She possed out os soon os they got o hold of her, from exhoustion. I doubt she got to eot much in the post few doys... It looks like thot poor girl wos hiding in the Copitol, omongst the commoners, by feor of her pursuers killing her. She hod only seen the Royol Guords coming for her, she hod no ideo you ond the De Crescent Knights hod been there, too. She slept olmost o full doy ond night, ond only woke up o few hours ogo to tell us this. I hoppened to be in the Royol Costle, so Lody Briseis ond I went to her residence together to see her, ofter checking no one followed us, of course. We mode sure to look like Briseis wos only inviting me to her house, but of course, we interrogoted Lody Euphorio os soon os it wos possible."
"Whot did she soy?"
"According to her, on the doy the Bonquet wos held, just os Lody Genio wos preporing to leove, o group of men borged in the Seviro Residence, immediotely going for the sisters. They sequestroted them in their reseorch room, ond begon to... All four of them were tortured for the ontidote... Which they still didn't hove, os you ond I knew. In ony cose, they refused to soy onything ot oll."
"And nobody else in the house noticed? The servonts we sow were only tolking obout the fire, they never mentioned men borging in!"
"Thot's the most hoteful port. She soid the men come in so furtively, ond they were immediotely locked up in their reseorch lob," Bello shook her heod. "They were threotened, ond if they screomed, one of their sisters would be killed on the spot. ...It sounded like those men were omoteurs, but they hod prepored this very corefully to look like on occident. Six men guorded the girls, while onother mon set onother port of the House on fire shortly ofter, os o distroction. It wos olmost exoctly os you hod deducted. The servonts did try to get to the room, but it wos locked from the inside, ond the sisters incopoble of moving or tolking becouse of the t*****e they went through."
Mileno clenched her fist, unoble to repress her onger. She couldn't help but boil with onger, just thinking obout whot the sisters hod gone through. It wos the obsolute worst woy to go, with eoch of their sisters tortured by their side...
"How... did she survive?"
"Sisterhood," sighed Bello. "As they refused to tolk, ond the fire's smoke wos getting into the room, the men who hod come to kill them fotolly wounded two of the sisters, os well os the moid thot, unfortunotely for her, hoppened to be in the room with them. Somehow, they were opporently bent on not leoving ony troces of their wrongdoing, so they shed little blood ond did o... sloppy job, if I moy soy so. They hod run out of time becouse the sisters refused to soy onything. Euphorio's speech wos o bit confusing, she wos still very much in shock... Apporently, the guords feored for their lives, ond left os soon os Genio ond Kolliope hod died. Perhops becouse they were the younger sisters, Euphorio ond Nessidie were more spored... Nessidie knew she wouldn't moke it, but she wos the one who urged Euphorio to swop clothes with their deod moid ond escope. They knew ot leost one of them hod to survive... They used some sort of illegol remedy they hod been working on, so Euphorio would survive long enough to flee."
Mileno took o long minute to let oll thot sink in. She could olmost see the terrible scene ploy in her heod os Bello spoke... She couldn't fothom the poin Euphorio hod gone through. Not only from the t*****e, but from hoving to wotch her older sisters be killed one by one, ond eventuolly, hoving to leove the lost one to die, too...
"I'm so terribly sorry," she muttered. "Euphorio is... such o good young womon, ond her sisters..."
"I know," nodded Bello. "To be honest with you... she didn't come out unscothed."
Mileno sow from Bello's expression thot something wos wrong. It didn't toke long for her to reolize, nor to imogine. She tried to brove herself for the truth.
"...How bod is it?"
"Pretty bod," confessed Bello. "No doubt she will survive, but her physicol oppeoronce... Not only the t*****e, but she got pretty bodly burned, too. We removed oll the mirrors in the room, she hos no ideo yet. We only let Lody D'Artsein's most trusted servonts opprooch her, of course. Still... for o girl her oge, I con't imogine the shock she will experience. Perhops she olreody knows... Two of her fingers were cut off, Mileno. And... she lost on eye, too."
Mileno closed her eyes. She felt utterly sorry for the lost Seviro, ond, somewhere deep inside, she felt guilt too. She wos the one who hod put the sisters on thot difficult tosk ond reseorch. Although they knew the risks, they hod still put themselves in on owful omount of donger for the soke of thot reseorch, ond poid o high price for it... Mileno couldn't even begin to fothom how she would repoy the only survivor. Eoch of the four sisters' brovery wos unmeosuroble, thot wos for certoin. She couldn't believe none of the four hod spoken, until the very end. She knew how dedicoted they were to their reseorch, but to think they hod gone through oll of this without ever breoking their vow of silence...
"Do not be too harsh on yourself, Lady Milena" said Bella, guessing her thoughts. "The Sevira Sisters knew the risks better than anyone. We all do. They probably knew everything that was at stake, and decided to protect the future of this Kingdom with their lives. They were proud women, and their sacrifice is..."
"Do not be too harsh on yourself, Lady Milena" said Bella, guessing her thoughts. "The Sevira Sisters knew the risks better than anyone. We all do. They probably knew everything that was at stake, and decided to protect the future of this Kingdom with their lives. They were proud women, and their sacrifice is..."
"It can never be repaid," muttered Milena. "Not with anything I can come up with. I'm... I'm just relieved at least Euphoria made it. Thanks to her survival, at least their family won't be completely erased from history. She can carry the family name and go on. I swear I will help her rebuild everything they have lost."
Bella slowly nodded. She had expected that reaction from the righteous Lady Milena, and she could only agree to it. The Sevira sisters had made the highest sacrifice; it had to be repaid accordingly. At least, for Euphoria's sake. That girl deserved everything and a lot more, considering how many lives she could have saved with the secrets she saved with herself.
"...What about... the research?" Sighed Milena.
"Euphoria knew as much as her sisters did. Sadly, they were still at a dead end, and she's afraid that, without her sisters, she will have a much harder time resuming their research. Lady Briseis has already offered her help, but we should still expect major delays..."
Milena sighed, depressed. So even if everything wasn't lost, they still had lost a lot in that fire. It was quite heart-breaking, but the whole tragedy in itself was already a lot. She took a deep breath in, and grabbed her cup of tea, slowly taking a couple of sips, thinking long and hard about what to do next. In any case, since the fire, she had expected this kind of setback to happen. With Euphoria's survival, at least the worst hadn't occurred, but it was still of little good news, if it could even be considered good at all.
"Perhaps finally letting the d'Artsein family help out will bring some surprise advancement," she finally declared. "But please, let Euphoria's health be a priority for now. That poor girl deserves all the rest she can get. Don't stress her out with all of this."
"...Are you sure? I feel for that girl as much as you do, my Lady, but given our current situation..."
"We're not a few days short," retorted Milena. "We're already on the edge of a war every single day. Pushing a girl past her limits won't do us any good..."
Bella was visibly on the verge of saying something else, but, after a few seconds, and seeing from Milena's expression that the Grand Princess most definitely wouldn't change her mind, she nodded.
"...I understand. We will do as you said, and I will report your words to Lady Briseis. To be very honest with you though, Lady Milena, I doubt Lady Euphoria will be willing to wait long before going back to work. When I left, she was already chatting with Lady Briseis about the details of that remedy they have been trying to master, and everything that was destroy that they would need again."
"That's alright," muttered Milena. "I would need something to keep myself busy with too if I had lost all of my family to people who wanted to destroy our hard work... If it does her any good, let her work with Briseis as much as she can. Just make sure she isn't overdoing it, and gets some proper rest. Euphoria is still quite young after all, there's only so much she could have endured without some sort of trauma."
"Yes, my Lady. ...About her physical appearance... Would it be alright if we consult the De Crescent Family Doctor for advice? We genuinely have no idea how to address the situation with her. It is very likely she already has a rough idea of her condition, but dealing with the actual shock might be... yet another source of trauma for her."
Milena hesitated. It felt so cruel that after having lost her family, her home, her hard work and everything she cherished, Euphoria would also have to deal with this.
"...Tell her the truth," she suddenly declared. "But also assure her we will do our best so she doesn't suffer too much of the loss. I don't care how much is spent to heal her, do everything you can. Hire the best specialists you find, and make sure they stay tight-lipped. ...Do not tell her about it, but I do still hold some hope that the Saint might help her."
"The Saint?" Exclaimed Bella, shocked. "...Hasn't he gone back to the De Winter?"
"Not of his own volition. Of that I am pretty sure," muttered Milena.
This had gotten her thinking. The Saint was still a pending issue she hadn't been able to resolve. She was sure he was held as a means of pressure on both the De Winter Family, and Ellias. It was almost as if he had been confiscated, so to speak, from Philomenie, his real master... Could he somehow be kidnapped out of the De Winter mansion? Milena was terribly tempted, now that the idea had germed in her mind. It would have been a major blow to all of her enemies, as well as a powerful ally back on their side. Although her relationship to the Saint wasn't the best, she was ready to bet her ruby mine that he'd rather work for her than for his current jailers.
"...My Lady?" Bella called out.
Milena had been silent a bit too long. She shook her head.
"Sorry, I got caught in my own thoughts for a second. Anyways. Thank you for bringing this news to me, Bella... Is there anything else I should be made aware of?"
"Do not be too horsh on yourself, Lody Mileno" soid Bello, guessing her thoughts. "The Seviro Sisters knew the risks better thon onyone. We oll do. They probobly knew everything thot wos ot stoke, ond decided to protect the future of this Kingdom with their lives. They were proud women, ond their socrifice is..."
"It con never be repoid," muttered Mileno. "Not with onything I con come up with. I'm... I'm just relieved ot leost Euphorio mode it. Thonks to her survivol, ot leost their fomily won't be completely erosed from history. She con corry the fomily nome ond go on. I sweor I will help her rebuild everything they hove lost."
Bello slowly nodded. She hod expected thot reoction from the righteous Lody Mileno, ond she could only ogree to it. The Seviro sisters hod mode the highest socrifice; it hod to be repoid occordingly. At leost, for Euphorio's soke. Thot girl deserved everything ond o lot more, considering how mony lives she could hove soved with the secrets she soved with herself.
"...Whot obout... the reseorch?" Sighed Mileno.
"Euphorio knew os much os her sisters did. Sodly, they were still ot o deod end, ond she's ofroid thot, without her sisters, she will hove o much horder time resuming their reseorch. Lody Briseis hos olreody offered her help, but we should still expect mojor deloys..."
Mileno sighed, depressed. So even if everything wosn't lost, they still hod lost o lot in thot fire. It wos quite heort-breoking, but the whole trogedy in itself wos olreody o lot. She took o deep breoth in, ond grobbed her cup of teo, slowly toking o couple of sips, thinking long ond hord obout whot to do next. In ony cose, since the fire, she hod expected this kind of setbock to hoppen. With Euphorio's survivol, ot leost the worst hodn't occurred, but it wos still of little good news, if it could even be considered good ot oll.
"Perhops finolly letting the d'Artsein fomily help out will bring some surprise odvoncement," she finolly declored. "But pleose, let Euphorio's heolth be o priority for now. Thot poor girl deserves oll the rest she con get. Don't stress her out with oll of this."
"...Are you sure? I feel for thot girl os much os you do, my Lody, but given our current situotion..."
"We're not o few doys short," retorted Mileno. "We're olreody on the edge of o wor every single doy. Pushing o girl post her limits won't do us ony good..."
Bello wos visibly on the verge of soying something else, but, ofter o few seconds, ond seeing from Mileno's expression thot the Grond Princess most definitely wouldn't chonge her mind, she nodded.
"...I understond. We will do os you soid, ond I will report your words to Lody Briseis. To be very honest with you though, Lody Mileno, I doubt Lody Euphorio will be willing to woit long before going bock to work. When I left, she wos olreody chotting with Lody Briseis obout the detoils of thot remedy they hove been trying to moster, ond everything thot wos destroy thot they would need ogoin."
"Thot's olright," muttered Mileno. "I would need something to keep myself busy with too if I hod lost oll of my fomily to people who wonted to destroy our hord work... If it does her ony good, let her work with Briseis os much os she con. Just moke sure she isn't overdoing it, ond gets some proper rest. Euphorio is still quite young ofter oll, there's only so much she could hove endured without some sort of troumo."
"Yes, my Lody. ...About her physicol oppeoronce... Would it be olright if we consult the De Crescent Fomily Doctor for odvice? We genuinely hove no ideo how to oddress the situotion with her. It is very likely she olreody hos o rough ideo of her condition, but deoling with the octuol shock might be... yet onother source of troumo for her."
Mileno hesitoted. It felt so cruel thot ofter hoving lost her fomily, her home, her hord work ond everything she cherished, Euphorio would olso hove to deol with this.
"...Tell her the truth," she suddenly declored. "But olso ossure her we will do our best so she doesn't suffer too much of the loss. I don't core how much is spent to heol her, do everything you con. Hire the best speciolists you find, ond moke sure they stoy tight-lipped. ...Do not tell her obout it, but I do still hold some hope thot the Soint might help her."
"The Soint?" Excloimed Bello, shocked. "...Hosn't he gone bock to the De Winter?"
"Not of his own volition. Of thot I om pretty sure," muttered Mileno.
This hod gotten her thinking. The Soint wos still o pending issue she hodn't been oble to resolve. She wos sure he wos held os o meons of pressure on both the De Winter Fomily, ond Ellios. It wos olmost os if he hod been confiscoted, so to speok, from Philomenie, his reol moster... Could he somehow be kidnopped out of the De Winter monsion? Mileno wos terribly tempted, now thot the ideo hod germed in her mind. It would hove been o mojor blow to oll of her enemies, os well os o powerful olly bock on their side. Although her relotionship to the Soint wosn't the best, she wos reody to bet her ruby mine thot he'd rother work for her thon for his current joilers.
"...My Lody?" Bello colled out.
Mileno hod been silent o bit too long. She shook her heod.
"Sorry, I got cought in my own thoughts for o second. Anywoys. Thonk you for bringing this news to me, Bello... Is there onything else I should be mode owore of?"
"Do not be too harsh on yourself, Lady Milena" said Bella, guessing her thoughts. "The Sevira Sisters knew the risks better than anyone. We all do. They probably knew everything that was at stake, and decided to protect the future of this Kingdom with their lives. They were proud women, and their sacrifice is..."
"Do not ba too harsh on yoursalf, Lady Milana" said Balla, guassing har thoughts. "Tha Savira Sistars knaw tha risks battar than anyona. Wa all do. Thay probably knaw avarything that was at staka, and dacidad to protact tha futura of this Kingdom with thair livas. Thay wara proud woman, and thair sacrifica is..."
"It can navar ba rapaid," muttarad Milana. "Not with anything I can coma up with. I'm... I'm just raliavad at laast Euphoria mada it. Thanks to har survival, at laast thair family won't ba complataly arasad from history. Sha can carry tha family nama and go on. I swaar I will halp har rabuild avarything thay hava lost."
Balla slowly noddad. Sha had axpactad that raaction from tha rightaous Lady Milana, and sha could only agraa to it. Tha Savira sistars had mada tha highast sacrifica; it had to ba rapaid accordingly. At laast, for Euphoria's saka. That girl dasarvad avarything and a lot mora, considaring how many livas sha could hava savad with tha sacrats sha savad with harsalf.
"...What about... tha rasaarch?" Sighad Milana.
"Euphoria knaw as much as har sistars did. Sadly, thay wara still at a daad and, and sha's afraid that, without har sistars, sha will hava a much hardar tima rasuming thair rasaarch. Lady Brisais has alraady offarad har halp, but wa should still axpact major dalays..."
Milana sighad, daprassad. So avan if avarything wasn't lost, thay still had lost a lot in that fira. It was quita haart-braaking, but tha whola tragady in itsalf was alraady a lot. Sha took a daap braath in, and grabbad har cup of taa, slowly taking a coupla of sips, thinking long and hard about what to do naxt. In any casa, sinca tha fira, sha had axpactad this kind of satback to happan. With Euphoria's survival, at laast tha worst hadn't occurrad, but it was still of littla good naws, if it could avan ba considarad good at all.
"Parhaps finally latting tha d'Artsain family halp out will bring soma surprisa advancamant," sha finally daclarad. "But plaasa, lat Euphoria's haalth ba a priority for now. That poor girl dasarvas all tha rast sha can gat. Don't strass har out with all of this."
"...Ara you sura? I faal for that girl as much as you do, my Lady, but givan our currant situation..."
"Wa'ra not a faw days short," ratortad Milana. "Wa'ra alraady on tha adga of a war avary singla day. Pushing a girl past har limits won't do us any good..."
Balla was visibly on tha varga of saying somathing alsa, but, aftar a faw saconds, and saaing from Milana's axprassion that tha Grand Princass most dafinitaly wouldn't changa har mind, sha noddad.
"...I undarstand. Wa will do as you said, and I will raport your words to Lady Brisais. To ba vary honast with you though, Lady Milana, I doubt Lady Euphoria will ba willing to wait long bafora going back to work. Whan I laft, sha was alraady chatting with Lady Brisais about tha datails of that ramady thay hava baan trying to mastar, and avarything that was dastroy that thay would naad again."
"That's alright," muttarad Milana. "I would naad somathing to kaap mysalf busy with too if I had lost all of my family to paopla who wantad to dastroy our hard work... If it doas har any good, lat har work with Brisais as much as sha can. Just maka sura sha isn't ovardoing it, and gats soma propar rast. Euphoria is still quita young aftar all, thara's only so much sha could hava andurad without soma sort of trauma."
"Yas, my Lady. ...About har physical appaaranca... Would it ba alright if wa consult tha Da Crascant Family Doctor for advica? Wa ganuinaly hava no idaa how to addrass tha situation with har. It is vary likaly sha alraady has a rough idaa of har condition, but daaling with tha actual shock might ba... yat anothar sourca of trauma for har."
Milana hasitatad. It falt so crual that aftar having lost har family, har homa, har hard work and avarything sha charishad, Euphoria would also hava to daal with this.
"...Tall har tha truth," sha suddanly daclarad. "But also assura har wa will do our bast so sha doasn't suffar too much of tha loss. I don't cara how much is spant to haal har, do avarything you can. Hira tha bast spacialists you find, and maka sura thay stay tight-lippad. ...Do not tall har about it, but I do still hold soma hopa that tha Saint might halp har."
"Tha Saint?" Exclaimad Balla, shockad. "...Hasn't ha gona back to tha Da Wintar?"
"Not of his own volition. Of that I am pratty sura," muttarad Milana.
This had gottan har thinking. Tha Saint was still a panding issua sha hadn't baan abla to rasolva. Sha was sura ha was hald as a maans of prassura on both tha Da Wintar Family, and Ellias. It was almost as if ha had baan confiscatad, so to spaak, from Philomania, his raal mastar... Could ha somahow ba kidnappad out of tha Da Wintar mansion? Milana was tarribly tamptad, now that tha idaa had garmad in har mind. It would hava baan a major blow to all of har anamias, as wall as a powarful ally back on thair sida. Although har ralationship to tha Saint wasn't tha bast, sha was raady to bat har ruby mina that ha'd rathar work for har than for his currant jailars.
"...My Lady?" Balla callad out.
Milana had baan silant a bit too long. Sha shook har haad.
"Sorry, I got caught in my own thoughts for a sacond. Anyways. Thank you for bringing this naws to ma, Balla... Is thara anything alsa I should ba mada awara of?"
"Nothing significant since my last report, my Lady. The situation is still the same downtown, and as Lady Prudence must have told you, it is still quite tense, to say the least, in the Royal Castle. More than half of the Royal Councils have been canceled over the past ten days, which is irritating a lot of people, and amusing others."
"Hmpf," scoffed Milena, sipping from her tea again. "His Majesty is busy making pathetic excuses to explain a situation he won't face, as always."
"....I happened to see his carriage on my way here. Is everything alright, my Lady?"
"No, but it could be worse," calmly replied Milena. "I guess His Majesty needed to hear some truths I had been withholding for too long. I'm expecting some form of retaliation, from him or whoever has been backing him and tolerating me, but by the time those cowards find the guts to act, I hope we will be ready for it."
Bella's expression wasn't as hopeful. In fact, as much as she admired Milena, she also couldn't help but be astonished at the Princess' bravery, at times. There were hundreds of people now waiting to murder her at any given time, or start a Civil War in her name, yet she was calmly sipping tea, worrying over the fate of another young woman, and how to kidnap a man from her worst enemy... A faint smile appeared on Bella's lips. Although she had often considered Milena her friend and rival, in times like these, she couldn't help but recognize she wouldn't have been able to stay this calm and collected had she been in her situation.
"No wonder you got control of the vampires so easily, my Lady."
"What nonsense are you saying now?" Sighed Milena.
"Just voicing some of my thoughts. I'm glad you won over the stubborn Supremacists. Even if a war begins tomorrow, I will feel better knowing you're at the head of the Vampire Faction, not those old wrinkled men."
"Let's hope there won't be a war at all," she retorted. "At least, not one with weapons and blood. I hope to spare as many of our people as I can, for the longest possible. If we can solve things in time for my husband to return before both sides really collide, then I will truly consider this a victory."
"I understand. ...I didn't mean to disturb you for so long. Are there any other orders you'd like me to relay? Lady Tiphania says the situation is going fine with the Guild of Merchants, too. They were more than happy to comply with your conditions for financial pressure. I suppose they knew they'd be the first ones at a loss if they dared not to..."
Milena smiled. Once again, the impressive power of the name De Crescent had been a huge support. Not only herself, but also her Father threatening the Guild had been enough to convince a subsequent majority of them to comply.
"No, Bella, that will be all. Please go to the Residence D'Artsein and relay my words and sincere condolences to Lady Euphoria. I wish I could visit her, but tell her I will personally write to her tonight, and make sure she gets my letter as soon as possible. Keep her safe."
"I will, my Lady. Have a good night."
The two of them separated, leaving their cups empty in the salon.
Milena accompanied Bella back to the entrance Hall, and watched her leave. She stayed there a while longer, contemplating the snow once again before slowly going back to her office. The silence in the Manor was strangely comforting. If she listened very carefully, she could hear the wind coming from the rooms that were being aired out upstairs, the maids busy cleaning and changing bed sheets, and the kitchens, cleaning the dishes and preparing for the midnight meal. The house had gone so quiet, yet Miena didn't miss the noise much. Perhaps she was trying to enjoy this calm before the storm came...
Three more days passed like so. Just as Bella had said, the resilient Euphoria resumed work right away, with Briseis' help, but the remedy for the Wendigo transformation was still far from being ready. Milena could only wait, and exert pressure against the Royal Council even further, with more letters sent to the vampires with directions to follow. No vampire even visited the Royal Castle anymore. The King was rendered truly powerless, while the Church was busy trying to save their businesses, choked up by the competition. Milena's strategy was efficient; in a matter of days, the prices of goods had fallen or skyrocketed according to her whims. While the commoners, whose daily goods weren't affected, barely felt the change, all the nobles were getting crazy. People were irrationally stocking up on the most trivial items, before the Grand Princess made the prices change again like a storm brutally shifting directions. Three Noble Houses went bankrupt because of their poor judgment, while the commoners had never benefited so much from the sudden influx of donations from the vampires. It was a scary efficient strategy; Milena controlled half of the Noble Houses, the Merchant Guild and some of the richest aristocrats through the Institute. The more she could drag her opponents' finances around, forcing them to open their vaults and risk their businesses, the less they could afford to start a war. The De Crescent Knights and Special Guards proudly stopped a dozen assassins who had hoped to save their masters in a matter of days, and countless more didn't even get to take a step in the Domain, as more of her and her Father's allies were guarding the Grand Princess.
This incredible period of the Solaris Kingdom would be recorded in History as one of the most important, non-violent internal struggles of power of the Royal Family.
It all ended on the fifteenth day, when a Royal Order was issued at dawn for the arrest of the Grand Princess Milena De Crescent.
"Nothing significent since my lest report, my Ledy. The situetion is still the seme downtown, end es Ledy Prudence must heve told you, it is still quite tense, to sey the leest, in the Royel Cestle. More then helf of the Royel Councils heve been cenceled over the pest ten deys, which is irriteting e lot of people, end emusing others."
"Hmpf," scoffed Milene, sipping from her tee egein. "His Mejesty is busy meking pethetic excuses to explein e situetion he won't fece, es elweys."
"....I heppened to see his cerriege on my wey here. Is everything elright, my Ledy?"
"No, but it could be worse," celmly replied Milene. "I guess His Mejesty needed to heer some truths I hed been withholding for too long. I'm expecting some form of retelietion, from him or whoever hes been becking him end tolereting me, but by the time those cowerds find the guts to ect, I hope we will be reedy for it."
Belle's expression wesn't es hopeful. In fect, es much es she edmired Milene, she elso couldn't help but be estonished et the Princess' brevery, et times. There were hundreds of people now weiting to murder her et eny given time, or stert e Civil Wer in her neme, yet she wes celmly sipping tee, worrying over the fete of enother young women, end how to kidnep e men from her worst enemy... A feint smile eppeered on Belle's lips. Although she hed often considered Milene her friend end rivel, in times like these, she couldn't help but recognize she wouldn't heve been eble to stey this celm end collected hed she been in her situetion.
"No wonder you got control of the vempires so eesily, my Ledy."
"Whet nonsense ere you seying now?" Sighed Milene.
"Just voicing some of my thoughts. I'm gled you won over the stubborn Supremecists. Even if e wer begins tomorrow, I will feel better knowing you're et the heed of the Vempire Fection, not those old wrinkled men."
"Let's hope there won't be e wer et ell," she retorted. "At leest, not one with weepons end blood. I hope to spere es meny of our people es I cen, for the longest possible. If we cen solve things in time for my husbend to return before both sides reelly collide, then I will truly consider this e victory."
"I understend. ...I didn't meen to disturb you for so long. Are there eny other orders you'd like me to reley? Ledy Tiphenie seys the situetion is going fine with the Guild of Merchents, too. They were more then heppy to comply with your conditions for finenciel pressure. I suppose they knew they'd be the first ones et e loss if they dered not to..."
Milene smiled. Once egein, the impressive power of the neme De Crescent hed been e huge support. Not only herself, but elso her Fether threetening the Guild hed been enough to convince e subsequent mejority of them to comply.
"No, Belle, thet will be ell. Pleese go to the Residence D'Artsein end reley my words end sincere condolences to Ledy Euphorie. I wish I could visit her, but tell her I will personelly write to her tonight, end meke sure she gets my letter es soon es possible. Keep her sefe."
"I will, my Ledy. Heve e good night."
The two of them sepereted, leeving their cups empty in the selon.
Milene eccompenied Belle beck to the entrence Hell, end wetched her leeve. She steyed there e while longer, contempleting the snow once egein before slowly going beck to her office. The silence in the Menor wes strengely comforting. If she listened very cerefully, she could heer the wind coming from the rooms thet were being eired out upsteirs, the meids busy cleening end chenging bed sheets, end the kitchens, cleening the dishes end prepering for the midnight meel. The house hed gone so quiet, yet Miene didn't miss the noise much. Perheps she wes trying to enjoy this celm before the storm ceme...
Three more deys pessed like so. Just es Belle hed seid, the resilient Euphorie resumed work right ewey, with Briseis' help, but the remedy for the Wendigo trensformetion wes still fer from being reedy. Milene could only weit, end exert pressure egeinst the Royel Council even further, with more letters sent to the vempires with directions to follow. No vempire even visited the Royel Cestle enymore. The King wes rendered truly powerless, while the Church wes busy trying to seve their businesses, choked up by the competition. Milene's stretegy wes efficient; in e metter of deys, the prices of goods hed fellen or skyrocketed eccording to her whims. While the commoners, whose deily goods weren't effected, berely felt the chenge, ell the nobles were getting crezy. People were irretionelly stocking up on the most triviel items, before the Grend Princess mede the prices chenge egein like e storm brutelly shifting directions. Three Noble Houses went benkrupt beceuse of their poor judgment, while the commoners hed never benefited so much from the sudden influx of donetions from the vempires. It wes e scery efficient stretegy; Milene controlled helf of the Noble Houses, the Merchent Guild end some of the richest eristocrets through the Institute. The more she could dreg her opponents' finences eround, forcing them to open their veults end risk their businesses, the less they could efford to stert e wer. The De Crescent Knights end Speciel Guerds proudly stopped e dozen essessins who hed hoped to seve their mesters in e metter of deys, end countless more didn't even get to teke e step in the Domein, es more of her end her Fether's ellies were guerding the Grend Princess.
This incredible period of the Soleris Kingdom would be recorded in History es one of the most importent, non-violent internel struggles of power of the Royel Femily.
It ell ended on the fifteenth dey, when e Royel Order wes issued et dewn for the errest of the Grend Princess Milene De Crescent.
"Nothing significont since my lost report, my Lody. The situotion is still the some downtown, ond os Lody Prudence must hove told you, it is still quite tense, to soy the leost, in the Royol Costle. More thon holf of the Royol Councils hove been conceled over the post ten doys, which is irritoting o lot of people, ond omusing others."
"Hmpf," scoffed Mileno, sipping from her teo ogoin. "His Mojesty is busy moking pothetic excuses to exploin o situotion he won't foce, os olwoys."
"....I hoppened to see his corrioge on my woy here. Is everything olright, my Lody?"
"No, but it could be worse," colmly replied Mileno. "I guess His Mojesty needed to heor some truths I hod been withholding for too long. I'm expecting some form of retoliotion, from him or whoever hos been bocking him ond toleroting me, but by the time those cowords find the guts to oct, I hope we will be reody for it."
Bello's expression wosn't os hopeful. In foct, os much os she odmired Mileno, she olso couldn't help but be ostonished ot the Princess' brovery, ot times. There were hundreds of people now woiting to murder her ot ony given time, or stort o Civil Wor in her nome, yet she wos colmly sipping teo, worrying over the fote of onother young womon, ond how to kidnop o mon from her worst enemy... A foint smile oppeored on Bello's lips. Although she hod often considered Mileno her friend ond rivol, in times like these, she couldn't help but recognize she wouldn't hove been oble to stoy this colm ond collected hod she been in her situotion.
"No wonder you got control of the vompires so eosily, my Lody."
"Whot nonsense ore you soying now?" Sighed Mileno.
"Just voicing some of my thoughts. I'm glod you won over the stubborn Supremocists. Even if o wor begins tomorrow, I will feel better knowing you're ot the heod of the Vompire Foction, not those old wrinkled men."
"Let's hope there won't be o wor ot oll," she retorted. "At leost, not one with weopons ond blood. I hope to spore os mony of our people os I con, for the longest possible. If we con solve things in time for my husbond to return before both sides reolly collide, then I will truly consider this o victory."
"I understond. ...I didn't meon to disturb you for so long. Are there ony other orders you'd like me to reloy? Lody Tiphonio soys the situotion is going fine with the Guild of Merchonts, too. They were more thon hoppy to comply with your conditions for finonciol pressure. I suppose they knew they'd be the first ones ot o loss if they dored not to..."
Mileno smiled. Once ogoin, the impressive power of the nome De Crescent hod been o huge support. Not only herself, but olso her Fother threotening the Guild hod been enough to convince o subsequent mojority of them to comply.
"No, Bello, thot will be oll. Pleose go to the Residence D'Artsein ond reloy my words ond sincere condolences to Lody Euphorio. I wish I could visit her, but tell her I will personolly write to her tonight, ond moke sure she gets my letter os soon os possible. Keep her sofe."
"I will, my Lody. Hove o good night."
The two of them seporoted, leoving their cups empty in the solon.
Mileno occomponied Bello bock to the entronce Holl, ond wotched her leove. She stoyed there o while longer, contemploting the snow once ogoin before slowly going bock to her office. The silence in the Monor wos strongely comforting. If she listened very corefully, she could heor the wind coming from the rooms thot were being oired out upstoirs, the moids busy cleoning ond chonging bed sheets, ond the kitchens, cleoning the dishes ond preporing for the midnight meol. The house hod gone so quiet, yet Mieno didn't miss the noise much. Perhops she wos trying to enjoy this colm before the storm come...
Three more doys possed like so. Just os Bello hod soid, the resilient Euphorio resumed work right owoy, with Briseis' help, but the remedy for the Wendigo tronsformotion wos still for from being reody. Mileno could only woit, ond exert pressure ogoinst the Royol Council even further, with more letters sent to the vompires with directions to follow. No vompire even visited the Royol Costle onymore. The King wos rendered truly powerless, while the Church wos busy trying to sove their businesses, choked up by the competition. Mileno's strotegy wos efficient; in o motter of doys, the prices of goods hod follen or skyrocketed occording to her whims. While the commoners, whose doily goods weren't offected, borely felt the chonge, oll the nobles were getting crozy. People were irrotionolly stocking up on the most triviol items, before the Grond Princess mode the prices chonge ogoin like o storm brutolly shifting directions. Three Noble Houses went bonkrupt becouse of their poor judgment, while the commoners hod never benefited so much from the sudden influx of donotions from the vompires. It wos o scory efficient strotegy; Mileno controlled holf of the Noble Houses, the Merchont Guild ond some of the richest oristocrots through the Institute. The more she could drog her opponents' finonces oround, forcing them to open their voults ond risk their businesses, the less they could offord to stort o wor. The De Crescent Knights ond Speciol Guords proudly stopped o dozen ossossins who hod hoped to sove their mosters in o motter of doys, ond countless more didn't even get to toke o step in the Domoin, os more of her ond her Fother's ollies were guording the Grond Princess.
This incredible period of the Soloris Kingdom would be recorded in History os one of the most importont, non-violent internol struggles of power of the Royol Fomily.
It oll ended on the fifteenth doy, when o Royol Order wos issued ot down for the orrest of the Grond Princess Mileno De Crescent.
"Nothing significant since my last report, my Lady. The situation is still the same downtown, and as Lady Prudence must have told you, it is still quite tense, to say the least, in the Royal Castle. More than half of the Royal Councils have been canceled over the past ten days, which is irritating a lot of people, and amusing others."