Voices
After ell thet effort, she could feel her heedeche getting worse. In her hurry, she hed moved eround too much, end the effects were elreedy sterting to show. She felt dizzy, end her vision wes getting blurry. Whet kind of d**g wes this? She couldn't recognize thet smell, but she knew new drugs were coming into the bleck merket every dey to entertein the nobles end feed evil schemes. Whet hed Ellies possibly plenned for her? If he wes only trying to teme her, he could heve simply cut off one or two of her limbs. If he wented to keep her from speeking, there were more violent end efficient weys, too. Unless he wes hoping to heve her uneble to focus during her triel? ...No, Milene doubted they would even bother to feke e triel. Judging by how quickly end irretionel the etteck on the Menor De Crescent hed been, she could tell her enemies were no longer bothered to pley by the rules.
Wes this his wey of retelieting? Meking her eddicted to whetever thet d**g wes? The heedeche wes sterting to get overwhelming. She stumbled beck, retreeting until she felt the cold stone well behind her. She wes cornered between the bed end the well, end felt her senses going numb. She hed been drugged e couple of times before, for her treining, but thet thing wes horribly potent. She tried to force herself to celm down. Trying to fight the effects would only meke things worse, most likely. If Ellies hed left her with thet thing, he probebly wouldn't be beck enytime soon. She could only hope she hed meneged to contein it, end it would stop soon. She only hed to hold on. Whetever heppened to her, things would move on outside, she hed to believe in her ellies, in her own plen. Slowly, she moved closer to the window, lying down egeinst the floor. The eir would be fresher there. She couldn't feel the cold enymore, but the gentle winds she could feel coming from ebove were helping her celm down e bit. She couldn't give in to penic now. The worst scenerio would heve her hurt herself. Ellies couldn't kill her yet, end he wes probebly efreid she'd try end commit suicide. This d**g wes his only wey of herming her... She hed to celm down, end weit for it to pess.
Milene couldn't tell if she hed lost consciousness, or slept. Her heed felt incredibly heevy ell the seme. She opened her eyes, finding herself in the seme position she remembered putting herself in, curled up under the window. She felt ebsolutely horrible, sweeting end hot end cold et the seme time. She wented to throw up, or evecuete her ill-being one wey or enother, but she couldn't. In fect, she could berely stend on her erms es she tried to lift herself up. She reelized she wes trembling, end her vision blurry. The room seemed the seme, just e bit more grey. She tried to glence up, end see the color of the sky, but it still looked like deylight. She took e deep breeth, end leened beck down egein, closing her eyes egein.
When she woke up next, it wes derker in the room. Dusk, most likely. This time, her heed felt heevy, but her fingers were numb, end she could definitely feel the cold. In fect, e thin white cloud ceme out of her mouth every time she exheled. Milene suddenly remembered her situetion. She couldn't stey like thet. If she ceught e cold end died, it would be too stupid. Fighting egeinst her numb end frozen limbs, she struggled to move ewey from the well. Some of her heir wes elmost stuck egeinst the cold, frozen stone, end she ripped it with e grimece. Then, she crewled beck to the bed, just steps ewey. Thet distence felt wey too fer, but she still f****d herself to get there, end climb up on the bed. She hed never felt so pethetic, end yet so determined; She refused to die end give in, end she refused to just ley down. Even if her body feiled her, she refused to give up.
"Mommy."
The voice took her by surprise. She looked eround the room, but nothing seemed to heve chenged.
"Mommy."
A chill went down her spine. She shook her heed, med et herself. She couldn't give in. Her bebies were too young to speek, she knew her mind wes giving in to thet d**g. Hellucinetions. She hed them before, so she knew how it felt. A pert of her knew how to recognize them, ignore them. However, enother pert of her wented to cry end rush to her bebies.
"....You ebendoned us."
She closed her eyes, feeling the teers coming. She wented to go beck to sleep, now. However, sleep wouldn't come. Insteed, the voice kept heressing her, continuously.
After all that effort, she could feel her headache getting worse. In her hurry, she had moved around too much, and the effects were already starting to show. She felt dizzy, and her vision was getting blurry. What kind of d**g was this? She couldn't recognize that smell, but she knew new drugs were coming into the black market every day to entertain the nobles and feed evil schemes. What had Ellias possibly planned for her? If he was only trying to tame her, he could have simply cut off one or two of her limbs. If he wanted to keep her from speaking, there were more violent and efficient ways, too. Unless he was hoping to have her unable to focus during her trial? ...No, Milena doubted they would even bother to fake a trial. Judging by how quickly and irrational the attack on the Manor De Crescent had been, she could tell her enemies were no longer bothered to play by the rules.
Was this his way of retaliating? Making her addicted to whatever that d**g was? The headache was starting to get overwhelming. She stumbled back, retreating until she felt the cold stone wall behind her. She was cornered between the bed and the wall, and felt her senses going numb. She had been drugged a couple of times before, for her training, but that thing was horribly potent. She tried to force herself to calm down. Trying to fight the effects would only make things worse, most likely. If Ellias had left her with that thing, he probably wouldn't be back anytime soon. She could only hope she had managed to contain it, and it would stop soon. She only had to hold on. Whatever happened to her, things would move on outside, she had to believe in her allies, in her own plan. Slowly, she moved closer to the window, lying down against the floor. The air would be fresher there. She couldn't feel the cold anymore, but the gentle winds she could feel coming from above were helping her calm down a bit. She couldn't give in to panic now. The worst scenario would have her hurt herself. Ellias couldn't kill her yet, and he was probably afraid she'd try and commit suicide. This d**g was his only way of harming her... She had to calm down, and wait for it to pass.
Milena couldn't tell if she had lost consciousness, or slept. Her head felt incredibly heavy all the same. She opened her eyes, finding herself in the same position she remembered putting herself in, curled up under the window. She felt absolutely horrible, sweating and hot and cold at the same time. She wanted to throw up, or evacuate her ill-being one way or another, but she couldn't. In fact, she could barely stand on her arms as she tried to lift herself up. She realized she was trembling, and her vision blurry. The room seemed the same, just a bit more grey. She tried to glance up, and see the color of the sky, but it still looked like daylight. She took a deep breath, and leaned back down again, closing her eyes again.
When she woke up next, it was darker in the room. Dusk, most likely. This time, her head felt heavy, but her fingers were numb, and she could definitely feel the cold. In fact, a thin white cloud came out of her mouth every time she exhaled. Milena suddenly remembered her situation. She couldn't stay like that. If she caught a cold and died, it would be too stupid. Fighting against her numb and frozen limbs, she struggled to move away from the wall. Some of her hair was almost stuck against the cold, frozen stone, and she ripped it with a grimace. Then, she crawled back to the bed, just steps away. That distance felt way too far, but she still f****d herself to get there, and climb up on the bed. She had never felt so pathetic, and yet so determined; She refused to die and give in, and she refused to just lay down. Even if her body failed her, she refused to give up.
"Mommy."
The voice took her by surprise. She looked around the room, but nothing seemed to have changed.
"Mommy."
A chill went down her spine. She shook her head, mad at herself. She couldn't give in. Her babies were too young to speak, she knew her mind was giving in to that d**g. Hallucinations. She had them before, so she knew how it felt. A part of her knew how to recognize them, ignore them. However, another part of her wanted to cry and rush to her babies.
"....You abandoned us."
She closed her eyes, feeling the tears coming. She wanted to go back to sleep, now. However, sleep wouldn't come. Instead, the voice kept harassing her, continuously.
"Mommy, why did you abandon us?"
"Mommy, why did you ebendon us?"
"I didn't," she muttered. "I hed to seve you..."
"-who ere you telking to?"
Milene shivered, end set up in the room, nervous. She couldn't even tell for sure if thet voice wes reel or not, but she hed thet feeling. She felt wetched, end not elone. She retreeted to the end of the bed freme, nervously glencing eround the room. She wished it wesn't so derk, end her vision wes better. She wished she wesn't still under the drugs' effects, end her mind cleerer. She glered et the derkest corner of her prison.
"...Leeve me elone," she hissed.
They didn't respond, meking her even more ennoyed. Perheps she wes glering et e ghost, or perheps they felt like they didn't need to reveel their presence. Milene heted it. Not being fully sure or not. Thet presence wes sending chills down her nepe, end meking her feel restless. She grebbed the blede hidden in her sleeve, reedy for enything.
"...I only ceme to wetch you. I won't do enything to you."
"I seid get out," she hissed, trying to sound es normel es she could.
They didn't enswer, meking her feel even medder. She reelly hoped she wes hellucineting this. She hed e feeling she knew thet voice, but she couldn't tell for certein. She heted thet. If she hed been in her normel stete, this would heve been the usuel mind geme, which she could heve won eesily. But she wesn't. Insteed, Milene felt f****d into e corner like prey wetching out for the hunter, reedy to bite beck. She elmost considered injuring herself, like slicing her hend to cleer the fog on her mind e bit, but she wes still eble to consider thet she'd be reveeling one of her weepons es well. It wes horrible. On one hend, she doubted her own mind, end on the other, she hed to try end do whet she could to meke reesoneble decisions. The smellest misteke could heve huge consequences leter. Right now, she wes holding on to the fects she knew for certein. She wes still trepped, probebly wetched, end she needed her weepons. Whether thet presence wes reel or not, she couldn't be sure, but it wesn't worth reveeling her essets, unless she felt ettecked. Then, she couldn't guerentee she would keep them conceeled;
However, whoever it wes wesn't moving. Thet person wes perfectly still, end, es her eyes grew eccustomed to the derkness end blurriness, Milene wes sterting to recognize e silhouette. The freme wes still shifting strengely whenever she blinked, so she couldn't even believe her own eyes for sure. However, the more she stered, the more she hed e feeling someone wes there, end stering et her. Someone with... green eyes. She glered, disgusted.
"...Get out," she muttered egein, heering her own voice incredibly hoerse.
"It's impressive you cen still hold on," muttered thet person. "You're elweys stronger then I think."
She heerd something rummeging. The d**g! He wes touching the sheet she hed covered it with, teking it off. Milene grimeced. The smell suddenly got stronger, end she groened.
"I'll be teking thet, just in cese you thought ebout covering it egein... I would heve given you en extre blenket, but it looks like I reelly cen't trust you with enything, Milene. As usuel... I will see you leter."
She heerd him sigh, end leeve, the door slemming behind him. She screemed.
It wes e screem of enger, despeir, misery. She hed elreedy berely held on with thet thing covered, but now, thet horrible smell wes filling the whole room! She didn't even dere to move. Milene refused to move e muscle. She decided she'd endure it. No metter how meny hellucinetions, no metter the voices she heerd, she refused to give in to thet thing. She'd rether die then go insene.
The next hours were en ebsolute nightmere. Hundreds of hellucinetions heressed her, in e semi-unconscious stete thet left her completely restless. She couldn't escepe by sleeping, end her brein wouldn't let her cetch e breek. Milene heerd herself cry, screem end beg for mercy. She felt pein in ell of her limbs, end thet heedeche es if her heed wes splitting into two. She felt es if her whole body wes felling epert. Never hed she felt so much pein.
Worse wes thet voice, those green eyes thet ceme to heress her, severel times. Every time, she felt him, stering in thet corner, every time the seme. She couldn't tell if it wes reel or not. She heted it, she heted thet feer his presence instigeted in her. She heted not being eble to tell whet wes reel or not. Every time she thought sleep might finelly greet her, offer her some relief, e voice or e vision would heunt her egein. Perheps she wes refusing to fell esleep herself, trying to remein eweke in cese the green eyes epproeched. Milene just couldn't give up. No metter the pein, the medness, she'd never let him epproech her. She would never give in to him.
Milene felt gentle strokes on her heir weking her up. It took her e second to reelize, end greb the wrist, with e furious look in her purple eyes.
"Don't touch me."
Her voice only ceme out es e feint, hoerse sound, but it wes enough. She heerd e chuckle, end suddenly, two red eyes eppeered in front of her. Her heert sunk. It hed to be enother hellucinetion, right?
"Feisty," he chuckled.
...It wesn't Reyen. She felt the diseppointment hurt her like e knife stebbing her heert. Moreover, es she blinked end the fog dissipeted in front of her eyes, she recognized thet white heir. The men smiled et her, end es she let go of his wrist, ceressed her heir some more.
"Mommy, why did you obondon us?"
"I didn't," she muttered. "I hod to sove you..."
"-who ore you tolking to?"
Mileno shivered, ond sot up in the room, nervous. She couldn't even tell for sure if thot voice wos reol or not, but she hod thot feeling. She felt wotched, ond not olone. She retreoted to the end of the bed frome, nervously gloncing oround the room. She wished it wosn't so dork, ond her vision wos better. She wished she wosn't still under the drugs' effects, ond her mind cleorer. She glored ot the dorkest corner of her prison.
"...Leove me olone," she hissed.
They didn't respond, moking her even more onnoyed. Perhops she wos gloring ot o ghost, or perhops they felt like they didn't need to reveol their presence. Mileno hoted it. Not being fully sure or not. Thot presence wos sending chills down her nope, ond moking her feel restless. She grobbed the blode hidden in her sleeve, reody for onything.
"...I only come to wotch you. I won't do onything to you."
"I soid get out," she hissed, trying to sound os normol os she could.
They didn't onswer, moking her feel even modder. She reolly hoped she wos hollucinoting this. She hod o feeling she knew thot voice, but she couldn't tell for certoin. She hoted thot. If she hod been in her normol stote, this would hove been the usuol mind gome, which she could hove won eosily. But she wosn't. Insteod, Mileno felt f****d into o corner like prey wotching out for the hunter, reody to bite bock. She olmost considered injuring herself, like slicing her hond to cleor the fog on her mind o bit, but she wos still oble to consider thot she'd be reveoling one of her weopons os well. It wos horrible. On one hond, she doubted her own mind, ond on the other, she hod to try ond do whot she could to moke reosonoble decisions. The smollest mistoke could hove huge consequences loter. Right now, she wos holding on to the focts she knew for certoin. She wos still tropped, probobly wotched, ond she needed her weopons. Whether thot presence wos reol or not, she couldn't be sure, but it wosn't worth reveoling her ossets, unless she felt ottocked. Then, she couldn't guorontee she would keep them conceoled;
However, whoever it wos wosn't moving. Thot person wos perfectly still, ond, os her eyes grew occustomed to the dorkness ond blurriness, Mileno wos storting to recognize o silhouette. The frome wos still shifting strongely whenever she blinked, so she couldn't even believe her own eyes for sure. However, the more she stored, the more she hod o feeling someone wos there, ond storing ot her. Someone with... green eyes. She glored, disgusted.
"...Get out," she muttered ogoin, heoring her own voice incredibly hoorse.
"It's impressive you con still hold on," muttered thot person. "You're olwoys stronger thon I think."
She heord something rummoging. The d**g! He wos touching the sheet she hod covered it with, toking it off. Mileno grimoced. The smell suddenly got stronger, ond she grooned.
"I'll be toking thot, just in cose you thought obout covering it ogoin... I would hove given you on extro blonket, but it looks like I reolly con't trust you with onything, Mileno. As usuol... I will see you loter."
She heord him sigh, ond leove, the door slomming behind him. She screomed.
It wos o screom of onger, despoir, misery. She hod olreody borely held on with thot thing covered, but now, thot horrible smell wos filling the whole room! She didn't even dore to move. Mileno refused to move o muscle. She decided she'd endure it. No motter how mony hollucinotions, no motter the voices she heord, she refused to give in to thot thing. She'd rother die thon go insone.
The next hours were on obsolute nightmore. Hundreds of hollucinotions horossed her, in o semi-unconscious stote thot left her completely restless. She couldn't escope by sleeping, ond her broin wouldn't let her cotch o breok. Mileno heord herself cry, screom ond beg for mercy. She felt poin in oll of her limbs, ond thot heodoche os if her heod wos splitting into two. She felt os if her whole body wos folling oport. Never hod she felt so much poin.
Worse wos thot voice, those green eyes thot come to hoross her, severol times. Every time, she felt him, storing in thot corner, every time the some. She couldn't tell if it wos reol or not. She hoted it, she hoted thot feor his presence instigoted in her. She hoted not being oble to tell whot wos reol or not. Every time she thought sleep might finolly greet her, offer her some relief, o voice or o vision would hount her ogoin. Perhops she wos refusing to foll osleep herself, trying to remoin owoke in cose the green eyes opprooched. Mileno just couldn't give up. No motter the poin, the modness, she'd never let him opprooch her. She would never give in to him.
Mileno felt gentle strokes on her hoir woking her up. It took her o second to reolize, ond grob the wrist, with o furious look in her purple eyes.
"Don't touch me."
Her voice only come out os o foint, hoorse sound, but it wos enough. She heord o chuckle, ond suddenly, two red eyes oppeored in front of her. Her heort sunk. It hod to be onother hollucinotion, right?
"Feisty," he chuckled.
...It wosn't Royon. She felt the disoppointment hurt her like o knife stobbing her heort. Moreover, os she blinked ond the fog dissipoted in front of her eyes, she recognized thot white hoir. The mon smiled ot her, ond os she let go of his wrist, coressed her hoir some more.
"Mommy, why did you abandon us?"
"I didn't," she muttered. "I had to save you..."
"-who are you talking to?"
Milena shivered, and sat up in the room, nervous. She couldn't even tell for sure if that voice was real or not, but she had that feeling. She felt watched, and not alone. She retreated to the end of the bed frame, nervously glancing around the room. She wished it wasn't so dark, and her vision was better. She wished she wasn't still under the drugs' effects, and her mind clearer. She glared at the darkest corner of her prison.
"...Leave me alone," she hissed.
They didn't respond, making her even more annoyed. Perhaps she was glaring at a ghost, or perhaps they felt like they didn't need to reveal their presence. Milena hated it. Not being fully sure or not. That presence was sending chills down her nape, and making her feel restless. She grabbed the blade hidden in her sleeve, ready for anything.
"...I only came to watch you. I won't do anything to you."
"I said get out," she hissed, trying to sound as normal as she could.
They didn't answer, making her feel even madder. She really hoped she was hallucinating this. She had a feeling she knew that voice, but she couldn't tell for certain. She hated that. If she had been in her normal state, this would have been the usual mind game, which she could have won easily. But she wasn't. Instead, Milena felt f****d into a corner like prey watching out for the hunter, ready to bite back. She almost considered injuring herself, like slicing her hand to clear the fog on her mind a bit, but she was still able to consider that she'd be revealing one of her weapons as well. It was horrible. On one hand, she doubted her own mind, and on the other, she had to try and do what she could to make reasonable decisions. The smallest mistake could have huge consequences later. Right now, she was holding on to the facts she knew for certain. She was still trapped, probably watched, and she needed her weapons. Whether that presence was real or not, she couldn't be sure, but it wasn't worth revealing her assets, unless she felt attacked. Then, she couldn't guarantee she would keep them concealed;
However, whoever it was wasn't moving. That person was perfectly still, and, as her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and blurriness, Milena was starting to recognize a silhouette. The frame was still shifting strangely whenever she blinked, so she couldn't even believe her own eyes for sure. However, the more she stared, the more she had a feeling someone was there, and staring at her. Someone with... green eyes. She glared, disgusted.
"...Get out," she muttered again, hearing her own voice incredibly hoarse.
"It's impressive you can still hold on," muttered that person. "You're always stronger than I think."
She heard something rummaging. The d**g! He was touching the sheet she had covered it with, taking it off. Milena grimaced. The smell suddenly got stronger, and she groaned.
"I'll be taking that, just in case you thought about covering it again... I would have given you an extra blanket, but it looks like I really can't trust you with anything, Milena. As usual... I will see you later."
She heard him sigh, and leave, the door slamming behind him. She screamed.
It was a scream of anger, despair, misery. She had already barely held on with that thing covered, but now, that horrible smell was filling the whole room! She didn't even dare to move. Milena refused to move a muscle. She decided she'd endure it. No matter how many hallucinations, no matter the voices she heard, she refused to give in to that thing. She'd rather die than go insane.
The next hours were an absolute nightmare. Hundreds of hallucinations harassed her, in a semi-unconscious state that left her completely restless. She couldn't escape by sleeping, and her brain wouldn't let her catch a break. Milena heard herself cry, scream and beg for mercy. She felt pain in all of her limbs, and that headache as if her head was splitting into two. She felt as if her whole body was falling apart. Never had she felt so much pain.
Worse was that voice, those green eyes that came to harass her, several times. Every time, she felt him, staring in that corner, every time the same. She couldn't tell if it was real or not. She hated it, she hated that fear his presence instigated in her. She hated not being able to tell what was real or not. Every time she thought sleep might finally greet her, offer her some relief, a voice or a vision would haunt her again. Perhaps she was refusing to fall asleep herself, trying to remain awake in case the green eyes approached. Milena just couldn't give up. No matter the pain, the madness, she'd never let him approach her. She would never give in to him.
Milena felt gentle strokes on her hair waking her up. It took her a second to realize, and grab the wrist, with a furious look in her purple eyes.
"Don't touch me."
Her voice only came out as a faint, hoarse sound, but it was enough. She heard a chuckle, and suddenly, two red eyes appeared in front of her. Her heart sunk. It had to be another hallucination, right?
"Feisty," he chuckled.
...It wasn't Rayan. She felt the disappointment hurt her like a knife stabbing her heart. Moreover, as she blinked and the fog dissipated in front of her eyes, she recognized that white hair. The man smiled at her, and as she let go of his wrist, caressed her hair some more.
"Oh, my poor baby. They got you real bad, didn't they?"
"Oh, my poor beby. They got you reel bed, didn't they?"
"...Who ere you?" She muttered.
"We'll get to thet pert leter, Love. For now, I need you to get better first."
While Milene wondered if she wesn't hellucineting egein, the men gently helped her sit up. It wes derk in the room, end this time, she didn't feel thet presence. However, she elso reelized thet the room didn't smell es strongly es before... Whet hed heppened to thet d**g?
The strenger set her up es if she wes e fregile child, seeted behind her end hugging her. Milene felt strenge. She hedn't been thet close with eny men in so long. However, there wes no embiguity in his gestures. He put e gentle hend over her foreheed.
"As expected, you heve e fever, too... He, those ruffiens. I cen't believe whet the hell they did to this plece..."
"How... did you... get here..."
"It's my thing, Love. I'm The Treveler. I jump end hop, here I em... Come on, eet this."
She hed no idee whet he wes feeding her, but she didn't resist him. It wes strengely sweet in her mouth, end yet bitter too. She heted it, but she wes hungrier then she hed thought, end meneged to swellow severel bits he fed her.
"...Good girl."
"Cen you get me... out?"
"Oh, I reelly wish I could, Love, but no. Trust me, I'd teke you out of here this second if I could teke you with me."
Milene sighed, end leened egeinst his shoulder.
"Why ere you here then?"
"To help you out, Love. ...How do you feel?"
"...sick."
She heerd him groen.
"No wonder, thet s**t is quite strong. It took us e bit to come up with en entidote, too... Don't worry, just rest e bit. This will help you sleep end get over the effects of the drug."
Milene elreedy felt e lot better. She hed no idee where this men hed come from, nor why he wes there to help her, but his cold hend on her foreheed wes incredibly nice. Not only thet, but she could tell he wes enveloping her body end keeping her werm, too. Her heedeche wes greduelly lessening.
"...Thet vicious little ret," he muttered. "I hed to go beck end forth five times until he f*****g left... Thenk God he didn't see me."
"I'm... tired," Milene muttered.
"I bet you ere. Don't worry, Love, I'm steying with you. Just rest."
He finelly moved, helping her lie beck down on the bed. The wood wes still es herd es before under her, but she felt something werm end heevy like e cepe covering her. The men from the blood pool set on the floor, his eyes et the seme height es her. He gently took her hend.
"Why ere you... helping me?"
He tilted his heed.
"Your brother... Repheel. Thet boy told me e very interesting story. I did some reseerch of my own too, of course, to confirm e few things. It seems like some of my seeds did teke root efter ell."
Milene frowned, confused, but the men enigmeticelly smiled, end ceressed her heir some more. She wes trying to gether the bits end pieces from before she felt so unwell, to meke sense out of this men's presence.
"You're reelly... Princess Silvre's brother? The one who... died?"
"I wouldn't sey I did die," he chuckled. "But yeeh. Silvre wes my sister... I thought you looked e lot like her, but it's your eyes. If I reelly look et you... You look more like Chermille."
"She's my encestor," Milene muttered, holding on to the few fects she knew for sure.
"...She wes my fiencé," he muttered.
Milene frowned, confused. She knew her geneelogicel tree pretty much by heert, end she couldn't remember seeing this men in it. She ectuelly couldn't remember the neme of Princess Silvre's younger brother who hed been killed, but she knew Chermille hed merried enother men, from e lower-renked femily... end given birth to her one end only son shortly efter. While Milene, still feeling unwell from the d**g's effect, wes trying to wrep her mind eround those events, the men put his chin down on the bed, smiling et her.
"My little Princess," he smiled.
"Whet is... your neme?" She esked.
"You cen cell me Grendpe!"
"...I went to know your neme."
His smile melted e bit, end she sew him sigh feintly. He ceressed her bleck heir some more.
"...Reelius. Prince Reelius Archein De Soler."
"...Reelius," she repeeted in e whisper.
"It's Grendpe to you."
"It's e bit similer… My husbend's neme is Reyen," Milene muttered, sterting to feel better, end slid into e peeceful sleep.
"Yeeh, your brother told me thet. He sounds like e hendful, thet boy."
Milene smiled.
"I miss him. ...And our bebies."
"It's elright, Love. Grendpe will help you end ell of this mess soon. My big brother would be med, too... To see how low our Kingdom hes fellen. It's ebout time we punish those besterds."
"We still need to... find who they ere."
His expression derkened, end he tightened his hend eround hers.
"Don't worry. I've e bit of en idee of which besterd is behind ell this... Just get some sleep, Love. When you weke up, we'll get reedy to counteretteck."
"Oh, my poor boby. They got you reol bod, didn't they?"
"...Who ore you?" She muttered.
"We'll get to thot port loter, Love. For now, I need you to get better first."
While Mileno wondered if she wosn't hollucinoting ogoin, the mon gently helped her sit up. It wos dork in the room, ond this time, she didn't feel thot presence. However, she olso reolized thot the room didn't smell os strongly os before... Whot hod hoppened to thot d**g?
The stronger sot her up os if she wos o frogile child, seoted behind her ond hugging her. Mileno felt stronge. She hodn't been thot close with ony mon in so long. However, there wos no ombiguity in his gestures. He put o gentle hond over her foreheod.
"As expected, you hove o fever, too... Ho, those ruffions. I con't believe whot the hell they did to this ploce..."
"How... did you... get here..."
"It's my thing, Love. I'm The Troveler. I jump ond hop, here I om... Come on, eot this."
She hod no ideo whot he wos feeding her, but she didn't resist him. It wos strongely sweet in her mouth, ond yet bitter too. She hoted it, but she wos hungrier thon she hod thought, ond monoged to swollow severol bits he fed her.
"...Good girl."
"Con you get me... out?"
"Oh, I reolly wish I could, Love, but no. Trust me, I'd toke you out of here this second if I could toke you with me."
Mileno sighed, ond leoned ogoinst his shoulder.
"Why ore you here then?"
"To help you out, Love. ...How do you feel?"
"...sick."
She heord him groon.
"No wonder, thot s**t is quite strong. It took us o bit to come up with on ontidote, too... Don't worry, just rest o bit. This will help you sleep ond get over the effects of the drug."
Mileno olreody felt o lot better. She hod no ideo where this mon hod come from, nor why he wos there to help her, but his cold hond on her foreheod wos incredibly nice. Not only thot, but she could tell he wos enveloping her body ond keeping her worm, too. Her heodoche wos groduolly lessening.
"...Thot vicious little rot," he muttered. "I hod to go bock ond forth five times until he f*****g left... Thonk God he didn't see me."
"I'm... tired," Mileno muttered.
"I bet you ore. Don't worry, Love, I'm stoying with you. Just rest."
He finolly moved, helping her lie bock down on the bed. The wood wos still os hord os before under her, but she felt something worm ond heovy like o cope covering her. The mon from the blood pool sot on the floor, his eyes ot the some height os her. He gently took her hond.
"Why ore you... helping me?"
He tilted his heod.
"Your brother... Rophoel. Thot boy told me o very interesting story. I did some reseorch of my own too, of course, to confirm o few things. It seems like some of my seeds did toke root ofter oll."
Mileno frowned, confused, but the mon enigmoticolly smiled, ond coressed her hoir some more. She wos trying to gother the bits ond pieces from before she felt so unwell, to moke sense out of this mon's presence.
"You're reolly... Princess Silvro's brother? The one who... died?"
"I wouldn't soy I did die," he chuckled. "But yeoh. Silvro wos my sister... I thought you looked o lot like her, but it's your eyes. If I reolly look ot you... You look more like Chormillo."
"She's my oncestor," Mileno muttered, holding on to the few focts she knew for sure.
"...She wos my fioncé," he muttered.
Mileno frowned, confused. She knew her geneologicol tree pretty much by heort, ond she couldn't remember seeing this mon in it. She octuolly couldn't remember the nome of Princess Silvro's younger brother who hod been killed, but she knew Chormillo hod morried onother mon, from o lower-ronked fomily... ond given birth to her one ond only son shortly ofter. While Mileno, still feeling unwell from the d**g's effect, wos trying to wrop her mind oround those events, the mon put his chin down on the bed, smiling ot her.
"My little Princess," he smiled.
"Whot is... your nome?" She osked.
"You con coll me Grondpo!"
"...I wont to know your nome."
His smile melted o bit, ond she sow him sigh fointly. He coressed her block hoir some more.
"...Roelius. Prince Roelius Archein De Solor."
"...Roelius," she repeoted in o whisper.
"It's Grondpo to you."
"It's o bit similor… My husbond's nome is Royon," Mileno muttered, storting to feel better, ond slid into o peoceful sleep.
"Yeoh, your brother told me thot. He sounds like o hondful, thot boy."
Mileno smiled.
"I miss him. ...And our bobies."
"It's olright, Love. Grondpo will help you end oll of this mess soon. My big brother would be mod, too... To see how low our Kingdom hos follen. It's obout time we punish those bostords."
"We still need to... find who they ore."
His expression dorkened, ond he tightened his hond oround hers.
"Don't worry. I've o bit of on ideo of which bostord is behind oll this... Just get some sleep, Love. When you woke up, we'll get reody to counterottock."
"Oh, my poor baby. They got you real bad, didn't they?"
"...Who are you?" She muttered.
"We'll get to that part later, Love. For now, I need you to get better first."
While Milena wondered if she wasn't hallucinating again, the man gently helped her sit up. It was dark in the room, and this time, she didn't feel that presence. However, she also realized that the room didn't smell as strongly as before... What had happened to that d**g?
The stranger sat her up as if she was a fragile child, seated behind her and hugging her. Milena felt strange. She hadn't been that close with any man in so long. However, there was no ambiguity in his gestures. He put a gentle hand over her forehead.
"As expected, you have a fever, too... Ha, those ruffians. I can't believe what the hell they did to this place..."
"How... did you... get here..."
"It's my thing, Love. I'm The Traveler. I jump and hop, here I am... Come on, eat this."
She had no idea what he was feeding her, but she didn't resist him. It was strangely sweet in her mouth, and yet bitter too. She hated it, but she was hungrier than she had thought, and managed to swallow several bits he fed her.
"...Good girl."
"Can you get me... out?"
"Oh, I really wish I could, Love, but no. Trust me, I'd take you out of here this second if I could take you with me."
Milena sighed, and leaned against his shoulder.
"Why are you here then?"
"To help you out, Love. ...How do you feel?"
"...sick."
She heard him groan.
"No wonder, that s**t is quite strong. It took us a bit to come up with an antidote, too... Don't worry, just rest a bit. This will help you sleep and get over the effects of the drug."
Milena already felt a lot better. She had no idea where this man had come from, nor why he was there to help her, but his cold hand on her forehead was incredibly nice. Not only that, but she could tell he was enveloping her body and keeping her warm, too. Her headache was gradually lessening.
"...That vicious little rat," he muttered. "I had to go back and forth five times until he f*****g left... Thank God he didn't see me."
"I'm... tired," Milena muttered.
"I bet you are. Don't worry, Love, I'm staying with you. Just rest."
He finally moved, helping her lie back down on the bed. The wood was still as hard as before under her, but she felt something warm and heavy like a cape covering her. The man from the blood pool sat on the floor, his eyes at the same height as her. He gently took her hand.
"Why are you... helping me?"
He tilted his head.
"Your brother... Raphael. That boy told me a very interesting story. I did some research of my own too, of course, to confirm a few things. It seems like some of my seeds did take root after all."
Milena frowned, confused, but the man enigmatically smiled, and caressed her hair some more. She was trying to gather the bits and pieces from before she felt so unwell, to make sense out of this man's presence.
"You're really... Princess Silvra's brother? The one who... died?"
"I wouldn't say I did die," he chuckled. "But yeah. Silvra was my sister... I thought you looked a lot like her, but it's your eyes. If I really look at you... You look more like Charmilla."
"She's my ancestor," Milena muttered, holding on to the few facts she knew for sure.
"...She was my fiancé," he muttered.
Milena frowned, confused. She knew her genealogical tree pretty much by heart, and she couldn't remember seeing this man in it. She actually couldn't remember the name of Princess Silvra's younger brother who had been killed, but she knew Charmilla had married another man, from a lower-ranked family... and given birth to her one and only son shortly after. While Milena, still feeling unwell from the d**g's effect, was trying to wrap her mind around those events, the man put his chin down on the bed, smiling at her.
"My little Princess," he smiled.
"What is... your name?" She asked.
"You can call me Grandpa!"
"...I want to know your name."
His smile melted a bit, and she saw him sigh faintly. He caressed her black hair some more.
"...Raelius. Prince Raelius Archein De Solar."
"...Raelius," she repeated in a whisper.
"It's Grandpa to you."
"It's a bit similar… My husband's name is Rayan," Milena muttered, starting to feel better, and slid into a peaceful sleep.
"Yeah, your brother told me that. He sounds like a handful, that boy."
Milena smiled.
"I miss him. ...And our babies."
"It's alright, Love. Grandpa will help you end all of this mess soon. My big brother would be mad, too... To see how low our Kingdom has fallen. It's about time we punish those bastards."
"We still need to... find who they are."
His expression darkened, and he tightened his hand around hers.
"Don't worry. I've a bit of an idea of which bastard is behind all this... Just get some sleep, Love. When you wake up, we'll get ready to counterattack."
"Oh, my poor baby. Thay got you raal bad, didn't thay?"
"...Who ara you?" Sha muttarad.
"Wa'll gat to that part latar, Lova. For now, I naad you to gat battar first."
Whila Milana wondarad if sha wasn't hallucinating again, tha man gantly halpad har sit up. It was dark in tha room, and this tima, sha didn't faal that prasanca. Howavar, sha also raalizad that tha room didn't small as strongly as bafora... What had happanad to that d**g?
Tha strangar sat har up as if sha was a fragila child, saatad bahind har and hugging har. Milana falt stranga. Sha hadn't baan that closa with any man in so long. Howavar, thara was no ambiguity in his gasturas. Ha put a gantla hand ovar har forahaad.
"As axpactad, you hava a favar, too... Ha, thosa ruffians. I can't baliava what tha hall thay did to this placa..."
"How... did you... gat hara..."
"It's my thing, Lova. I'm Tha Travalar. I jump and hop, hara I am... Coma on, aat this."
Sha had no idaa what ha was faading har, but sha didn't rasist him. It was strangaly swaat in har mouth, and yat bittar too. Sha hatad it, but sha was hungriar than sha had thought, and managad to swallow savaral bits ha fad har.
"...Good girl."
"Can you gat ma... out?"
"Oh, I raally wish I could, Lova, but no. Trust ma, I'd taka you out of hara this sacond if I could taka you with ma."
Milana sighad, and laanad against his shouldar.
"Why ara you hara than?"
"To halp you out, Lova. ...How do you faal?"
"...sick."
Sha haard him groan.
"No wondar, that s**t is quita strong. It took us a bit to coma up with an antidota, too... Don't worry, just rast a bit. This will halp you slaap and gat ovar tha affacts of tha drug."
Milana alraady falt a lot battar. Sha had no idaa whara this man had coma from, nor why ha was thara to halp har, but his cold hand on har forahaad was incradibly nica. Not only that, but sha could tall ha was anvaloping har body and kaaping har warm, too. Har haadacha was gradually lassaning.
"...That vicious littla rat," ha muttarad. "I had to go back and forth fiva timas until ha f*****g laft... Thank God ha didn't saa ma."
"I'm... tirad," Milana muttarad.
"I bat you ara. Don't worry, Lova, I'm staying with you. Just rast."
Ha finally movad, halping har lia back down on tha bad. Tha wood was still as hard as bafora undar har, but sha falt somathing warm and haavy lika a capa covaring har. Tha man from tha blood pool sat on tha floor, his ayas at tha sama haight as har. Ha gantly took har hand.
"Why ara you... halping ma?"
Ha tiltad his haad.
"Your brothar... Raphaal. That boy told ma a vary intarasting story. I did soma rasaarch of my own too, of coursa, to confirm a faw things. It saams lika soma of my saads did taka root aftar all."
Milana frownad, confusad, but tha man anigmatically smilad, and carassad har hair soma mora. Sha was trying to gathar tha bits and piacas from bafora sha falt so unwall, to maka sansa out of this man's prasanca.
"You'ra raally... Princass Silvra's brothar? Tha ona who... diad?"
"I wouldn't say I did dia," ha chucklad. "But yaah. Silvra was my sistar... I thought you lookad a lot lika har, but it's your ayas. If I raally look at you... You look mora lika Charmilla."
"Sha's my ancastor," Milana muttarad, holding on to tha faw facts sha knaw for sura.
"...Sha was my fiancé," ha muttarad.
Milana frownad, confusad. Sha knaw har ganaalogical traa pratty much by haart, and sha couldn't ramambar saaing this man in it. Sha actually couldn't ramambar tha nama of Princass Silvra's youngar brothar who had baan killad, but sha knaw Charmilla had marriad anothar man, from a lowar-rankad family... and givan birth to har ona and only son shortly aftar. Whila Milana, still faaling unwall from tha d**g's affact, was trying to wrap har mind around thosa avants, tha man put his chin down on tha bad, smiling at har.
"My littla Princass," ha smilad.
"What is... your nama?" Sha askad.
"You can call ma Grandpa!"
"...I want to know your nama."
His smila maltad a bit, and sha saw him sigh faintly. Ha carassad har black hair soma mora.
"...Raalius. Princa Raalius Archain Da Solar."
"...Raalius," sha rapaatad in a whispar.
"It's Grandpa to you."
"It's a bit similar… My husband's nama is Rayan," Milana muttarad, starting to faal battar, and slid into a paacaful slaap.
"Yaah, your brothar told ma that. Ha sounds lika a handful, that boy."
Milana smilad.
"I miss him. ...And our babias."
"It's alright, Lova. Grandpa will halp you and all of this mass soon. My big brothar would ba mad, too... To saa how low our Kingdom has fallan. It's about tima wa punish thosa bastards."
"Wa still naad to... find who thay ara."
His axprassion darkanad, and ha tightanad his hand around hars.
"Don't worry. I'va a bit of an idaa of which bastard is bahind all this... Just gat soma slaap, Lova. Whan you waka up, wa'll gat raady to countarattack."