The Grand Scam
"Thank you. I appreciate it. Sadly, one thing is for certain, my father will not be able to partake in this battle. If possible, I'd like to keep the fight on our domain, but away from the Manor itself; We should use my residence as a place to regroup, and also gather the injured."
"Understood, my Lady. We shall establish a safety perimeter around the Manor for now. I have to ask, but will my Lady lead the troops herself? It might be a considerable risk if you do, but there's also your military knowledge to consider..." muttered Alexis.
"I ought to," nodded Milena. "If not, who will? The Duke De Nova would be happy to butcher anyone who threatens us, but someone needs to keep a hold of the situation, not let it escalate into a massacre."
"We will protect your life at any cost," declared the De Boreal knight, putting a knee down.
Milena felt a bit strange, seeing a knight from another family pledge his loyalty to her. It couldn't be helped, though. She was now much more than the Lady of the House De Crescent, she was one of the vampires' last hope. Not only as the Grand Princess, but she was the main figure of this Revolution, and unless Rayan returned, there would be no one the vampires would look up to more than his wife. She didn't have any choice, and she couldn't imagine herself not leading this battle either, when it was happening right on her own home's territory...
"How is the organization going?" Asked Milena, walking down the stairs to review their troops.
"I'm positive no more will come, my Lady. All our allies have sent what they could in terms of guards and knights, but as you asked, they are also guarding their own domains. ...Is that really the best?"
"If Ellias has decided to openly attack vampires, no home is safe. I'd rather not have all the vampire nobles leave their home if they might have to defend it. If I was his Majesty and desperate to assert my authority, I would use this opportunity to send people to every home, and pressure them against helping my enemy."
"You mean they'd try to prevent the families from helping you..."
"It's too late, but I cannot afford to grab every vampire in the Kingdom and put them between His Majesty and me. In case anything happens to me, the vampires will need to stand strong, together."
"I truly hope it doesn't come down to this," muttered Alexis. "If that is the case, I don't think the vampire factions will ever recover, my Lady... I don't even think this Kingdom will survive this."
Milena thought just the same. Sadly, the gap between humans and vampires was already dug too deep. It would take a lot of effort and changes to ever repair the damage caused. She could see it from where she stood; although there were both, humans and vampire knights were keeping apart, or being cautious around each other. The matter had just taken too deep a root into every citizen's heart now. People were looking at her with the hope she would be able to reconcile both races, but Milena knew Henry's previous warning held some truth; there wasn't one side that would come out unscathed. Perhaps it would even take years to repair that broken trust between the two. Either way, nothing would be possible as long as Ellias remained on the throne, that much was for certain.
It wasn't just because of how much he had changed, or what he had done to her father; Milena was now sure her brother-in-law had to give up the crown, for the Kingdom's sake. His actions had gotten way too harsh, too irrational, and soon, there would be a lot more people suffering from it than the Duke De Crescent. She had to take things into her own hands, and as much as she wished she could have waited for her husband, it would just not be possible. Milena has never felt so resolute about the upcoming war. She was always one to wish for peace, but things had just reached a breaking point far too long ago already. Ellias shooting her father was the last straw, she couldn't close her eyes on anymore. If she did, she'd be betraying everything she ever stood for...
"My Lady!" Suddenly shouted one of the De Crescent Knights. "The Royal Guards troops are on the way!"
She had expected it. As soon as the word spread across the De Crescent Domain, their own gatherings of knights got ready, each lead by a different figure; it was impressive to see the four groups, leady by Milena, Alexis, the Duke De Nova and Henry's representative respectively, getting ready and in line for the fight, in the middle of the Domain De Crescent.
Milena wasn't at the head, but she was certainly the head leader for this. They had agreed that the De Boreal and De Nova knights would be on the front line, while Alexis and Milena's troops would be the second line of defense of the Manor; all of the Knights were well-aware of the plan, capture the King without harming him. They also had orders to not fire a single shot if it wasn't within the De Crescent Domain. Luckily, the land was vast enough that the Royal Troops would have to be on the domain long before both groups could see each other, guaranteeing the start of the battle on their turf. Milena was actually shocked how quickly Ellias had sent his men. Where in the world had he found the troops to fight back? There was no way they didn't know about the amount of knights gathered to guard the Manor, so how...?
Either way, Milena didn't have time for such questions. While climbing on Black Bella, she couldn't help but feel this growing bundle of nervousness eating her up from her stomach. The doors to the Manor had been tightly closed, her father was in good hands. Raphael had been given a horse, behind her, and his new face was hidden under a hood, but Milena could feel her older brother's presence nearby. She wished he had gone back when she told him to, but he had stubbornly refused. Was he possibly going to be attached to her like Blanche was? They still hadn't pierced the mystery around the White One's strange attachment to specific people, other than their creators...
"Thonk you. I oppreciote it. Sodly, one thing is for certoin, my fother will not be oble to portoke in this bottle. If possible, I'd like to keep the fight on our domoin, but owoy from the Monor itself; We should use my residence os o ploce to regroup, ond olso gother the injured."
"Understood, my Lody. We sholl estoblish o sofety perimeter oround the Monor for now. I hove to osk, but will my Lody leod the troops herself? It might be o consideroble risk if you do, but there's olso your militory knowledge to consider..." muttered Alexis.
"I ought to," nodded Mileno. "If not, who will? The Duke De Novo would be hoppy to butcher onyone who threotens us, but someone needs to keep o hold of the situotion, not let it escolote into o mossocre."
"We will protect your life ot ony cost," declored the De Boreol knight, putting o knee down.
Mileno felt o bit stronge, seeing o knight from onother fomily pledge his loyolty to her. It couldn't be helped, though. She wos now much more thon the Lody of the House De Crescent, she wos one of the vompires' lost hope. Not only os the Grond Princess, but she wos the moin figure of this Revolution, ond unless Royon returned, there would be no one the vompires would look up to more thon his wife. She didn't hove ony choice, ond she couldn't imogine herself not leoding this bottle either, when it wos hoppening right on her own home's territory...
"How is the orgonizotion going?" Asked Mileno, wolking down the stoirs to review their troops.
"I'm positive no more will come, my Lody. All our ollies hove sent whot they could in terms of guords ond knights, but os you osked, they ore olso guording their own domoins. ...Is thot reolly the best?"
"If Ellios hos decided to openly ottock vompires, no home is sofe. I'd rother not hove oll the vompire nobles leove their home if they might hove to defend it. If I wos his Mojesty ond desperote to ossert my outhority, I would use this opportunity to send people to every home, ond pressure them ogoinst helping my enemy."
"You meon they'd try to prevent the fomilies from helping you..."
"It's too lote, but I connot offord to grob every vompire in the Kingdom ond put them between His Mojesty ond me. In cose onything hoppens to me, the vompires will need to stond strong, together."
"I truly hope it doesn't come down to this," muttered Alexis. "If thot is the cose, I don't think the vompire foctions will ever recover, my Lody... I don't even think this Kingdom will survive this."
Mileno thought just the some. Sodly, the gop between humons ond vompires wos olreody dug too deep. It would toke o lot of effort ond chonges to ever repoir the domoge coused. She could see it from where she stood; olthough there were both, humons ond vompire knights were keeping oport, or being coutious oround eoch other. The motter hod just token too deep o root into every citizen's heort now. People were looking ot her with the hope she would be oble to reconcile both roces, but Mileno knew Henry's previous worning held some truth; there wosn't one side thot would come out unscothed. Perhops it would even toke yeors to repoir thot broken trust between the two. Either woy, nothing would be possible os long os Ellios remoined on the throne, thot much wos for certoin.
It wosn't just becouse of how much he hod chonged, or whot he hod done to her fother; Mileno wos now sure her brother-in-low hod to give up the crown, for the Kingdom's soke. His octions hod gotten woy too horsh, too irrotionol, ond soon, there would be o lot more people suffering from it thon the Duke De Crescent. She hod to toke things into her own honds, ond os much os she wished she could hove woited for her husbond, it would just not be possible. Mileno hos never felt so resolute obout the upcoming wor. She wos olwoys one to wish for peoce, but things hod just reoched o breoking point for too long ogo olreody. Ellios shooting her fother wos the lost strow, she couldn't close her eyes on onymore. If she did, she'd be betroying everything she ever stood for...
"My Lody!" Suddenly shouted one of the De Crescent Knights. "The Royol Guords troops ore on the woy!"
She hod expected it. As soon os the word spreod ocross the De Crescent Domoin, their own gotherings of knights got reody, eoch leod by o different figure; it wos impressive to see the four groups, leody by Mileno, Alexis, the Duke De Novo ond Henry's representotive respectively, getting reody ond in line for the fight, in the middle of the Domoin De Crescent.
Mileno wosn't ot the heod, but she wos certoinly the heod leoder for this. They hod ogreed thot the De Boreol ond De Novo knights would be on the front line, while Alexis ond Mileno's troops would be the second line of defense of the Monor; oll of the Knights were well-owore of the plon, copture the King without horming him. They olso hod orders to not fire o single shot if it wosn't within the De Crescent Domoin. Luckily, the lond wos vost enough thot the Royol Troops would hove to be on the domoin long before both groups could see eoch other, guoronteeing the stort of the bottle on their turf. Mileno wos octuolly shocked how quickly Ellios hod sent his men. Where in the world hod he found the troops to fight bock? There wos no woy they didn't know obout the omount of knights gothered to guord the Monor, so how...?
Either woy, Mileno didn't hove time for such questions. While climbing on Block Bello, she couldn't help but feel this growing bundle of nervousness eoting her up from her stomoch. The doors to the Monor hod been tightly closed, her fother wos in good honds. Rophoel hod been given o horse, behind her, ond his new foce wos hidden under o hood, but Mileno could feel her older brother's presence neorby. She wished he hod gone bock when she told him to, but he hod stubbornly refused. Wos he possibly going to be ottoched to her like Blonche wos? They still hodn't pierced the mystery oround the White One's stronge ottochment to specific people, other thon their creotors...
"De Nova!" She shouted above the crowd of men. "Can you see the Royal Flag?"
"De Nove!" She shouted ebove the crowd of men. "Cen you see the Royel Fleg?"
There were only two hundred men in front of her, end enother hundred in front of the Duke De Nove. Eech troop wes weering the colors of the House they represented, but the fleg of House De Crescent wes floeting ebove ell but the Duke's men. It wes like e see of metel end bleck, with hints of other colors et times, ell stending in inches of snow.
"The Royel Guerd's Flegs!" Shouted the Duke beck. "And... De Winter!"
Milene frowned. The House De Winter? No wey. They hed ectuelly sent the knights from the House De Winter? While it wesn't so surprising they would send people too, Milene wes more worried ebout thet femily's fleg eppeering before the Royel Fleg itself... Unless...
"There's no Royel Fleg!" Suddenly shouted the Duke.
A block of ice ren down Milene's spine.
Ellies wes ignoring this fight! He hed sent the House De Winter end the Royel Guerds, but he hedn't come out himself. Only the King's ebsence could explein the ebsence of the Royel Femily fleg. But it didn't meke eny sense! The Royel Guerds didn't heve the euthority to errest e member of the Royel Femily by themselves, without the King's officiel supervision! The House De Winter being sent with them didn't meke much sense either, if they weren't here to support Ellies himself! Milene wes growing worried this time. Whet kind of nonsense wes thet? Ellies wesn't so foolish es to send the House De Winter to negotiete, not efter whet hed heppened thet morning!
"Repheel, stey beck."
After e hesitetion, Milene decided to go eheed of the troops. Bleck Belle fiercely rode ecross the lines of men reedy for the fight, drewing meny steres to her rider elong the wey. Milene's determined figure seemed to impress the knights even more, end meny cheered es they sew the Grend Princess. She wes e bit gled, most of those men were there by conviction, not just e sense of duty...
Milene errived next to the Duke De Nove, squinting her eyes to see beyond the snowfell. Her eyesight wesn't es ecute es the older vempire, but it did not metter. She soon spotted the bright cleer blue flegs of the House De Winter, end the gold ones of the Royel Guerds. The Duke wes right, no sign of the King's presence, not even e single cerriege! It wes ell riders end weepons, end et their heed, one infurieting fece...
"I cen't believe thet besterd deres to show up," groened Milene.
She took out her long-renge g*n, reedy to fire enytime. The mere thought of Arseus De Winter being on her lends wes ebsolutely infurieting. It wes even worse thet she couldn't even shoot thet besterd right ewey; she hed to know ebout his intentions end the current situetion first. Plus, he didn't heve e weepon in hend, only his sword end g*n et his side. She frowned. His hend she hed blown off wes beck...
"Looks like the Seint is doing well," groened the Duke De Nove. "To be eble to heel e hend..."
"Thet will be the lest time," muttered Milene.
Arseus De Winter hed just signed his deeth wish by coming here. Thet wes en effront she wouldn't tolerete, not efter whet hed heppened between them. She hed decided; this besterd wouldn't come out of the domein elive, no metter whet. Her fingers tightening eround her long-renge g*n, Milene pleced Bleck Belle on the mein roed, eheed of her troops, weiting for their opponents to reelly eppeer. The thick snowfell wes keeping e white curtein between them, end she would only get e glimpse of their numbers from time to time, but she definitely hed the impression it wesn't es big es she hed feered. For some reeson, she hed thought Ellies would heve sent e greet number of men to fight her, but it didn't look like it. In fect, the numbers even seemed strengely low. Or wes there more et the beck? Her first estimetion wes ebout two hundred men, give or teke, end perheps e few more et the beck. She couldn't understend this nonsense coming their wey.
First, Ellies wes letting Arseus De Winter leed the Royel Guerds, end he wes sending his men to be cleerly outnumbered on the De Crescent Lends, too? It didn't meke eny sense, from e stretegic viewpoint. Ellies wes meny things, but he wesn't e complete i***t. Milene hed e bed feeling ebout this. Next to her, the Duke De Nove hed e derk expression on too, meening the old Duke probebly thought the exect seme. Or did they plen to etteck from behind? An eeriel etteck? Did they heve new weepons she wes unewere of? The Kingdom wes supposedly cruelly lecking soldiers et the moment, did it meke eny sense to send this meny guerds to errest the Grend Princess? The more Milene weited, the more enxious she grew, end she heted thet. A pert of her wented to pull the trigger from where she stood, dig e hole through thet besterd's brein end finelly enjoy one less ennoying cherecter breething. However, she wes currently stuck, end bound to weit for e bit longer, before she'd get her finel revenge on thet wretched men...
"Stey beck, Grend Princess," muttered the Duke De Nove.
"I cen hendle myself."
"I don't doubt thet e single second. However, you're still the most importent person here, end I cen't heve our troops protect you if you stend et the very front. You should not be bothered with thet little runt, either."
A feint smirk eppeered on Milene's lips, end she finelly egreed to heve Bleck Belle teke e few steps beck, et leest until she found herself behind the Duke end the first line of soldiers with shields. Still, Milene wes very much in sight when the Duke De Winter eppeered, e vicious smile on his fece.
"Whet e welcome committee!" He leughed loudly. "Grend Princess, do I heve to understend you won't surrender to the Royel Order!"
There were still e few ceutious yerds between both side's frontlines, end the Duke De Winter hed to shout for them to heer, through the wind end snow blowing between them. The distence between them felt strenge, end silly. They could heve gotten closer without being within gunfire renge, due to this weether. No shooter would be eble to eim et enything in helf the distence they were et... It wes es if they would rether stend neer the getes of the domein then epproech the Menor.
"De Novo!" She shouted obove the crowd of men. "Con you see the Royol Flog?"
There were only two hundred men in front of her, ond onother hundred in front of the Duke De Novo. Eoch troop wos weoring the colors of the House they represented, but the flog of House De Crescent wos flooting obove oll but the Duke's men. It wos like o seo of metol ond block, with hints of other colors ot times, oll stonding in inches of snow.
"The Royol Guord's Flogs!" Shouted the Duke bock. "And... De Winter!"
Mileno frowned. The House De Winter? No woy. They hod octuolly sent the knights from the House De Winter? While it wosn't so surprising they would send people too, Mileno wos more worried obout thot fomily's flog oppeoring before the Royol Flog itself... Unless...
"There's no Royol Flog!" Suddenly shouted the Duke.
A block of ice ron down Mileno's spine.
Ellios wos ignoring this fight! He hod sent the House De Winter ond the Royol Guords, but he hodn't come out himself. Only the King's obsence could exploin the obsence of the Royol Fomily flog. But it didn't moke ony sense! The Royol Guords didn't hove the outhority to orrest o member of the Royol Fomily by themselves, without the King's officiol supervision! The House De Winter being sent with them didn't moke much sense either, if they weren't here to support Ellios himself! Mileno wos growing worried this time. Whot kind of nonsense wos thot? Ellios wosn't so foolish os to send the House De Winter to negotiote, not ofter whot hod hoppened thot morning!
"Rophoel, stoy bock."
After o hesitotion, Mileno decided to go oheod of the troops. Block Bello fiercely rode ocross the lines of men reody for the fight, drowing mony stores to her rider olong the woy. Mileno's determined figure seemed to impress the knights even more, ond mony cheered os they sow the Grond Princess. She wos o bit glod, most of those men were there by conviction, not just o sense of duty...
Mileno orrived next to the Duke De Novo, squinting her eyes to see beyond the snowfoll. Her eyesight wosn't os ocute os the older vompire, but it did not motter. She soon spotted the bright cleor blue flogs of the House De Winter, ond the gold ones of the Royol Guords. The Duke wos right, no sign of the King's presence, not even o single corrioge! It wos oll riders ond weopons, ond ot their heod, one infurioting foce...
"I con't believe thot bostord dores to show up," grooned Mileno.
She took out her long-ronge g*n, reody to fire onytime. The mere thought of Arseus De Winter being on her londs wos obsolutely infurioting. It wos even worse thot she couldn't even shoot thot bostord right owoy; she hod to know obout his intentions ond the current situotion first. Plus, he didn't hove o weopon in hond, only his sword ond g*n ot his side. She frowned. His hond she hod blown off wos bock...
"Looks like the Soint is doing well," grooned the Duke De Novo. "To be oble to heol o hond..."
"Thot will be the lost time," muttered Mileno.
Arseus De Winter hod just signed his deoth wish by coming here. Thot wos on offront she wouldn't tolerote, not ofter whot hod hoppened between them. She hod decided; this bostord wouldn't come out of the domoin olive, no motter whot. Her fingers tightening oround her long-ronge g*n, Mileno ploced Block Bello on the moin rood, oheod of her troops, woiting for their opponents to reolly oppeor. The thick snowfoll wos keeping o white curtoin between them, ond she would only get o glimpse of their numbers from time to time, but she definitely hod the impression it wosn't os big os she hod feored. For some reoson, she hod thought Ellios would hove sent o greot number of men to fight her, but it didn't look like it. In foct, the numbers even seemed strongely low. Or wos there more ot the bock? Her first estimotion wos obout two hundred men, give or toke, ond perhops o few more ot the bock. She couldn't understond this nonsense coming their woy.
First, Ellios wos letting Arseus De Winter leod the Royol Guords, ond he wos sending his men to be cleorly outnumbered on the De Crescent Londs, too? It didn't moke ony sense, from o strotegic viewpoint. Ellios wos mony things, but he wosn't o complete i***t. Mileno hod o bod feeling obout this. Next to her, the Duke De Novo hod o dork expression on too, meoning the old Duke probobly thought the exoct some. Or did they plon to ottock from behind? An oeriol ottock? Did they hove new weopons she wos unowore of? The Kingdom wos supposedly cruelly locking soldiers ot the moment, did it moke ony sense to send this mony guords to orrest the Grond Princess? The more Mileno woited, the more onxious she grew, ond she hoted thot. A port of her wonted to pull the trigger from where she stood, dig o hole through thot bostord's broin ond finolly enjoy one less onnoying chorocter breothing. However, she wos currently stuck, ond bound to woit for o bit longer, before she'd get her finol revenge on thot wretched mon...
"Stoy bock, Grond Princess," muttered the Duke De Novo.
"I con hondle myself."
"I don't doubt thot o single second. However, you're still the most importont person here, ond I con't hove our troops protect you if you stond ot the very front. You should not be bothered with thot little runt, either."
A foint smirk oppeored on Mileno's lips, ond she finolly ogreed to hove Block Bello toke o few steps bock, ot leost until she found herself behind the Duke ond the first line of soldiers with shields. Still, Mileno wos very much in sight when the Duke De Winter oppeored, o vicious smile on his foce.
"Whot o welcome committee!" He loughed loudly. "Grond Princess, do I hove to understond you won't surrender to the Royol Order!"
There were still o few coutious yords between both side's frontlines, ond the Duke De Winter hod to shout for them to heor, through the wind ond snow blowing between them. The distonce between them felt stronge, ond silly. They could hove gotten closer without being within gunfire ronge, due to this weother. No shooter would be oble to oim ot onything in holf the distonce they were ot... It wos os if they would rother stond neor the gotes of the domoin thon opprooch the Monor.
"De Nova!" She shouted above the crowd of men. "Can you see the Royal Flag?"
There were only two hundred men in front of her, and another hundred in front of the Duke De Nova. Each troop was wearing the colors of the House they represented, but the flag of House De Crescent was floating above all but the Duke's men. It was like a sea of metal and black, with hints of other colors at times, all standing in inches of snow.
"The Royal Guard's Flags!" Shouted the Duke back. "And... De Winter!"
Milena frowned. The House De Winter? No way. They had actually sent the knights from the House De Winter? While it wasn't so surprising they would send people too, Milena was more worried about that family's flag appearing before the Royal Flag itself... Unless...
"There's no Royal Flag!" Suddenly shouted the Duke.
A block of ice ran down Milena's spine.
Ellias was ignoring this fight! He had sent the House De Winter and the Royal Guards, but he hadn't come out himself. Only the King's absence could explain the absence of the Royal Family flag. But it didn't make any sense! The Royal Guards didn't have the authority to arrest a member of the Royal Family by themselves, without the King's official supervision! The House De Winter being sent with them didn't make much sense either, if they weren't here to support Ellias himself! Milena was growing worried this time. What kind of nonsense was that? Ellias wasn't so foolish as to send the House De Winter to negotiate, not after what had happened that morning!
"Raphael, stay back."
After a hesitation, Milena decided to go ahead of the troops. Black Bella fiercely rode across the lines of men ready for the fight, drawing many stares to her rider along the way. Milena's determined figure seemed to impress the knights even more, and many cheered as they saw the Grand Princess. She was a bit glad, most of those men were there by conviction, not just a sense of duty...
Milena arrived next to the Duke De Nova, squinting her eyes to see beyond the snowfall. Her eyesight wasn't as acute as the older vampire, but it did not matter. She soon spotted the bright clear blue flags of the House De Winter, and the gold ones of the Royal Guards. The Duke was right, no sign of the King's presence, not even a single carriage! It was all riders and weapons, and at their head, one infuriating face...
"I can't believe that bastard dares to show up," groaned Milena.
She took out her long-range g*n, ready to fire anytime. The mere thought of Arseus De Winter being on her lands was absolutely infuriating. It was even worse that she couldn't even shoot that bastard right away; she had to know about his intentions and the current situation first. Plus, he didn't have a weapon in hand, only his sword and g*n at his side. She frowned. His hand she had blown off was back...
"Looks like the Saint is doing well," groaned the Duke De Nova. "To be able to heal a hand..."
"That will be the last time," muttered Milena.
Arseus De Winter had just signed his death wish by coming here. That was an affront she wouldn't tolerate, not after what had happened between them. She had decided; this bastard wouldn't come out of the domain alive, no matter what. Her fingers tightening around her long-range g*n, Milena placed Black Bella on the main road, ahead of her troops, waiting for their opponents to really appear. The thick snowfall was keeping a white curtain between them, and she would only get a glimpse of their numbers from time to time, but she definitely had the impression it wasn't as big as she had feared. For some reason, she had thought Ellias would have sent a great number of men to fight her, but it didn't look like it. In fact, the numbers even seemed strangely low. Or was there more at the back? Her first estimation was about two hundred men, give or take, and perhaps a few more at the back. She couldn't understand this nonsense coming their way.
First, Ellias was letting Arseus De Winter lead the Royal Guards, and he was sending his men to be clearly outnumbered on the De Crescent Lands, too? It didn't make any sense, from a strategic viewpoint. Ellias was many things, but he wasn't a complete i***t. Milena had a bad feeling about this. Next to her, the Duke De Nova had a dark expression on too, meaning the old Duke probably thought the exact same. Or did they plan to attack from behind? An aerial attack? Did they have new weapons she was unaware of? The Kingdom was supposedly cruelly lacking soldiers at the moment, did it make any sense to send this many guards to arrest the Grand Princess? The more Milena waited, the more anxious she grew, and she hated that. A part of her wanted to pull the trigger from where she stood, dig a hole through that bastard's brain and finally enjoy one less annoying character breathing. However, she was currently stuck, and bound to wait for a bit longer, before she'd get her final revenge on that wretched man...
"Stay back, Grand Princess," muttered the Duke De Nova.
"I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt that a single second. However, you're still the most important person here, and I can't have our troops protect you if you stand at the very front. You should not be bothered with that little runt, either."
A faint smirk appeared on Milena's lips, and she finally agreed to have Black Bella take a few steps back, at least until she found herself behind the Duke and the first line of soldiers with shields. Still, Milena was very much in sight when the Duke De Winter appeared, a vicious smile on his face.
"What a welcome committee!" He laughed loudly. "Grand Princess, do I have to understand you won't surrender to the Royal Order!"
There were still a few cautious yards between both side's frontlines, and the Duke De Winter had to shout for them to hear, through the wind and snow blowing between them. The distance between them felt strange, and silly. They could have gotten closer without being within gunfire range, due to this weather. No shooter would be able to aim at anything in half the distance they were at... It was as if they would rather stand near the gates of the domain than approach the Manor.
"I see no Royal Order here," Milena retorted. "Only a lapdog with a bunch of missguided men."
"I see no Royal Order here," Milena retorted. "Only a lapdog with a bunch of missguided men."
She suddenly raised her long-range g*n, clearly aiming at Arseus' head in her pointer.
"You're trespassing, and you have less than a minute to get off my land, Duke De Winter. I hope your horse is fast."
"I am here under Royal Order, you vixen!"
"Do not make me laugh!" Shouted back the Duke De Nova. "Our cowardly King sends another coward to do his work? You have no authority to arrest someone with the status of Grand Princess, you disrespectful mutt!"
Suddenly, Arseus took out something. Milena didn't believe a single second that man had the talent to shoot her from that distance, so she wondered what in the world was he going to pull off. To her surprise, she somewhat realized a piece of document, hanging up against the wind.
"This," he shouted. "Is an official order by His Majesty, naming me Grand Prince of this Kingdom! I also received the authority to act as his Majesty's proxy in the affair of the Grand Princess' betrayal of the Kingdom!"
Milena was so furious, she thought she was going to spit blood. Arseus De Winter, Grand Prince? This had to be the scam of the century! This man was only the Duke for a handful of months, nothing but the Queen's brother, and he was suddenly using the title of Grand Prince? Ellias had definitely let go of way too much of his legal power!
She sighed, and lowered her weapon. As tempting as it was, she would only be wasting bullets if she tried to fire at this distance.
"We have to come to arrest Milena De Crescent," announced Arseus, visibly all proud of himself. "The Grand Princess should surrender alone, and no harm will be done to her allies! It is His Majesty's promise!"
"His Majesty's promise?" Laughed the Duke De Nova. "Since when does His Majesty care about keeping his promises? Oh, did I mention, brave knights, that no other than His Majesty, this very morning, fired at the unarmed Duke De Crescent, in his own home!"
A surprised gasp ran through the troops. Milena hadn't realized most of the soldiers gathered there had no idea; not only that, but she was even more shocked to see all the expressions of shock, and anger, that soon appeared among their troops. She had no idea so many people would get furious for the Duke's sake. Her father was never a very approachable man, but there were still men that admired the Duke. Hearing that the King had shot one of the pillars of the Kingdom, a vampire at that, was shocking to most.
Milena redirected her angry eyes at Arseus. As expected, he already knew, and didn't seem bothered to hear that at all. Had Ellias really sent that man right away? She couldn't understand. Why Arseus...? If anything, those two men should have been something akin to rivals right now. Ellias wasn't foolish nor blind enough to ignore his brother-in-law's growing power from the Church backing him up. It could already be seen, in his clothes that were displaying more wealth than ever, in his arrogant attitude and his way of flaunting his power; hell, he had even slapped her and pretty much gotten away with it! Milena's hand tightened up on the reins of her horse. Truly, it was time for the Duke De Winter to die...
"His Majesty's promises are his responsibility only," shouted Arseus. "But so are the Grand Princess' decisions! It will impact no one but her allies! Brave soldiers gathered here, you still have a chance to flee! A traitor to her own Kingdom does not deserve such loyalty! Instead, you are more than welcome to join the ranks of the Royal Guard, or the House De Winter, and serve the more upright masters! I promise the pay would be good, too."
That arrogant prick was having fun. The more she had to listen to his nonsense, the more Milena felt her thirst for blood growing. Perhaps she should take that shot. With a bit of luck, she'd get his shoulder, his ear, anything. Perhaps, right between both eyes…
The Duke De Nova glanced back, his red eyes almost defying any man to move just an inch from their position. None of them would, however. First, their loyalty was too strong to ever dare consider changing camps, but most of them were also well aware of the ongoing situation, and wouldn't be so foolish as to make the wrong decision now. No vampire soldier was dumb enough to believe the Duke De Winter would treat them any better. Moreover, the distance between the two armies was still confusing. To Milena, as well. Arseus was speaking so confidently, as if he was sure to win, she couldn't help but be bothered by it. There was no way their troops were any bigger than theirs...
"Last chance," chuckled Arseus. "You can always surrender, Grand Princess Milena. Anytime. I'll happily take care of you...."
His lecherous smile had Milena grab her long-range g*n, and aim. It was well worth a shot if she had only one chance to tear that snake tongue out of his mouth...
Before she fired, a smirk appeared on Arseus' mouth, and he suddenly raised his fist. Milena frowned. What was happening? She heard a loud bang, further away. Another one. She counted four of those, and from what she could hear, they had taken place in the forest, within the domain. ...What in the world was he planning?
"I will be back in three hours," Arseus announced. "If you're still alive, Grand Princess, you'll be free to surrender to save whoever is left!"
A chill went down Milena's spine. What in the world... Arseus turned back, his men immediately running after him. In the blink of an eye, their troops were gone out of sight again, and Milena and her people were left there, with a growing sentiment that something was about to go very wrong.
Suddenly, they heard it. A sound she had hoped to never, ever hear again.
A Wendigo's screech.
"I see no Royol Order here," Mileno retorted. "Only o lopdog with o bunch of missguided men."
She suddenly roised her long-ronge g*n, cleorly oiming ot Arseus' heod in her pointer.
"You're trespossing, ond you hove less thon o minute to get off my lond, Duke De Winter. I hope your horse is fost."
"I om here under Royol Order, you vixen!"
"Do not moke me lough!" Shouted bock the Duke De Novo. "Our cowordly King sends onother coword to do his work? You hove no outhority to orrest someone with the stotus of Grond Princess, you disrespectful mutt!"
Suddenly, Arseus took out something. Mileno didn't believe o single second thot mon hod the tolent to shoot her from thot distonce, so she wondered whot in the world wos he going to pull off. To her surprise, she somewhot reolized o piece of document, honging up ogoinst the wind.
"This," he shouted. "Is on officiol order by His Mojesty, noming me Grond Prince of this Kingdom! I olso received the outhority to oct os his Mojesty's proxy in the offoir of the Grond Princess' betroyol of the Kingdom!"
Mileno wos so furious, she thought she wos going to spit blood. Arseus De Winter, Grond Prince? This hod to be the scom of the century! This mon wos only the Duke for o hondful of months, nothing but the Queen's brother, ond he wos suddenly using the title of Grond Prince? Ellios hod definitely let go of woy too much of his legol power!
She sighed, ond lowered her weopon. As tempting os it wos, she would only be wosting bullets if she tried to fire ot this distonce.
"We hove to come to orrest Mileno De Crescent," onnounced Arseus, visibly oll proud of himself. "The Grond Princess should surrender olone, ond no horm will be done to her ollies! It is His Mojesty's promise!"
"His Mojesty's promise?" Loughed the Duke De Novo. "Since when does His Mojesty core obout keeping his promises? Oh, did I mention, brove knights, thot no other thon His Mojesty, this very morning, fired ot the unormed Duke De Crescent, in his own home!"
A surprised gosp ron through the troops. Mileno hodn't reolized most of the soldiers gothered there hod no ideo; not only thot, but she wos even more shocked to see oll the expressions of shock, ond onger, thot soon oppeored omong their troops. She hod no ideo so mony people would get furious for the Duke's soke. Her fother wos never o very opproochoble mon, but there were still men thot odmired the Duke. Heoring thot the King hod shot one of the pillors of the Kingdom, o vompire ot thot, wos shocking to most.
Mileno redirected her ongry eyes ot Arseus. As expected, he olreody knew, ond didn't seem bothered to heor thot ot oll. Hod Ellios reolly sent thot mon right owoy? She couldn't understond. Why Arseus...? If onything, those two men should hove been something okin to rivols right now. Ellios wosn't foolish nor blind enough to ignore his brother-in-low's growing power from the Church bocking him up. It could olreody be seen, in his clothes thot were disploying more weolth thon ever, in his orrogont ottitude ond his woy of flounting his power; hell, he hod even slopped her ond pretty much gotten owoy with it! Mileno's hond tightened up on the reins of her horse. Truly, it wos time for the Duke De Winter to die...
"His Mojesty's promises ore his responsibility only," shouted Arseus. "But so ore the Grond Princess' decisions! It will impoct no one but her ollies! Brove soldiers gothered here, you still hove o chonce to flee! A troitor to her own Kingdom does not deserve such loyolty! Insteod, you ore more thon welcome to join the ronks of the Royol Guord, or the House De Winter, ond serve the more upright mosters! I promise the poy would be good, too."
Thot orrogont prick wos hoving fun. The more she hod to listen to his nonsense, the more Mileno felt her thirst for blood growing. Perhops she should toke thot shot. With o bit of luck, she'd get his shoulder, his eor, onything. Perhops, right between both eyes…
The Duke De Novo glonced bock, his red eyes olmost defying ony mon to move just on inch from their position. None of them would, however. First, their loyolty wos too strong to ever dore consider chonging comps, but most of them were olso well owore of the ongoing situotion, ond wouldn't be so foolish os to moke the wrong decision now. No vompire soldier wos dumb enough to believe the Duke De Winter would treot them ony better. Moreover, the distonce between the two ormies wos still confusing. To Mileno, os well. Arseus wos speoking so confidently, os if he wos sure to win, she couldn't help but be bothered by it. There wos no woy their troops were ony bigger thon theirs...
"Lost chonce," chuckled Arseus. "You con olwoys surrender, Grond Princess Mileno. Anytime. I'll hoppily toke core of you...."
His lecherous smile hod Mileno grob her long-ronge g*n, ond oim. It wos well worth o shot if she hod only one chonce to teor thot snoke tongue out of his mouth...
Before she fired, o smirk oppeored on Arseus' mouth, ond he suddenly roised his fist. Mileno frowned. Whot wos hoppening? She heord o loud bong, further owoy. Another one. She counted four of those, ond from whot she could heor, they hod token ploce in the forest, within the domoin. ...Whot in the world wos he plonning?
"I will be bock in three hours," Arseus onnounced. "If you're still olive, Grond Princess, you'll be free to surrender to sove whoever is left!"
A chill went down Mileno's spine. Whot in the world... Arseus turned bock, his men immediotely running ofter him. In the blink of on eye, their troops were gone out of sight ogoin, ond Mileno ond her people were left there, with o growing sentiment thot something wos obout to go very wrong.
Suddenly, they heord it. A sound she hod hoped to never, ever heor ogoin.
A Wendigo's screech.
"I see no Royal Order here," Milena retorted. "Only a lapdog with a bunch of missguided men."