Lady Dhampir
Chapter 127

10 Days Later.

"I have to admit, I did think that was one crazy idea for a moment, but..."

Milena chuckled. She let down her last prey on the little pile at her feet, which obviously made her the winner of their little Hunt. Yasina, sporting a superb fur skirt and a new leather jacket, shook her head and sighed. "There's only the Duchess De Crescent to think of such a thing. A hunt for a bridal party?"

"It's actually not a new concept," said Briseis, coming down from her horse. "After the great Catastrophe, it was quite common for any event to include a little hunt." "Maybe, but those hunts had the purpose of feeding the people, not to help a lady unwind..."

Next to Milena, Tiphania chuckled, glancing at the future princess with the glance of an accomplice.

"Why not? Lady De Crescent is known as one of the best hunter noble ladies out there, and she deserves to unwind the way she wants after all of the latest events. I actually think this is an excellent idea, and we do have the best security measures, don't we?" Talking about security measures was a bit of an understatement.

After Maribella's funeral, Milena had been more than cautious. The Church was barely hiding their threats anymore, and with what had happened at the De Crescent Manor, both Milena's father, her fiancé, and father-in-law had insisted she resides secretly in another location. The Royal Castle was her official retreat, but only a few people knew that, actually, the young Duchess had been spending her time at the Tourmal domain.

It was a modest House that her friend Lilyn had, but it was less obvious for her enemies than the Royal Castle, or any secondary residence she might have. Moreover, it was also the best way her fiancé had found for her to take some time off before the wedding. Milena had barely eaten in the days following the ArchDuchess' funeral, and if it wasn't for her friends visiting her almost every day, she might have lost some more weight.

However, all of them had taken turns in keeping the future Princess busy. Some excuses were so fake even Milena had to pretend to believe it, but it worked nevertheless. From Yasina always making her try more clothes, Tiphania working on her business expansions, to Briseis helping her research about the wendigos, there wasn't a day Milena had been left alone. She had very much appreciated her ladies-in-waiting's support. The truth was, any of them could have been scared after what had happened to the Manor and to her great-grandmother, but none of them had said a word about it. Even the usually quiet Chartiana had been very involved in the repairs of the Manor, using all of her energy and contacts for it. She updated Milena so often that it felt like the Manor would be back as new next week.

"I'll only be glad once her Highness finally becomes a Royal Princess," said Yasina as they were making their way back inside. "Those people of the Church are so reckless."

All the ladies agreed, but Milena was the only one to remain quiet. She handed her gloves to Olivia, who had been following her like her shadow, and walked inside the Tourmal Winter Garden.

This one was quite different from hers. Unlike her tidy Winter Garden filled with roses, the Tourmal Winter Garden was completely left to grow with whatever made its way in, mostly blue ivy and some tenacious winter flowers. There was also a beautiful fountain, meant to keep the air humid for Lilyn's health, and a little artificial pound. Milena felt her heart pinch a little bit, thinking about how her favorite garden had disappeared in flames. She couldn't tell how she truly felt about it, though. In a way, she was glad to have had an excuse to say goodbye to all those red roses, but it also happened that her mother's favorites had been burned down. She wanted to redo this garden anew, and decide absolutely everything this time. Although, it wouldn't be possible until the next spring. All the gardeners she had seen since had been sorry to explain how this winter was expected to be one of the worst ones, and there would be the time needed before anything could grow...

The young ladies sat down around the table, and Lilyn arrived, followed by a whole queue of maids. She was the only one too weak to have followed for the hunt, but she had insisted they took the tea together as soon as they were done. The other ladies had decided to go for a hunt at dawn, but now, everyone's lips were a bit blue, and their cheeks red. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, to fit everyone's busy schedule, but the cold outside hadn't been that understanding. Lilyn was a little bit worried anyone would get sick now, and she ordered the servants to bring more quilts to put on their legs.

They waited for the maids to be done serving the tea, and Lilyn had everyone but Olivia leave. It wasn't that she didn't trust her staff, but lately, the ladies simply wouldn't trust anyone that Milena didn't. Blanche, who had been waiting outside, walked in as a wolf and sat at Milena's feet. If her friends were curious about the shape-shifter, they didn't allow themselves to ask.

"Alright, that was quite entertaining," said Milena, grabbing her cup of hot tea. "Shall we discuss our most pressing matters?"

"Everything is ready for your wedding tomorrow!" Exclaimed Yasina, all excited. "I have absolutely everything perfect and ready, and please, do try to eat a little bit more today. I'm worried you'll faint otherwise. Also, about the evening gown and the veil..." "Yasina, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the matter Lady Milena had in mind," whispered Lilyn with a gentle smile.

As always, her voice was very soft, but with her pale complexion and thin body, no one would have dared to make a comment about that. Milena's oldest friend had been enjoying living away from the world, but everyone knew she didn't have much of a choice in that either. Her disease made her so weak, it was a bit of a miracle when she could be sitting there with them like this.

However, Lilyn hadn't hesitated once when Milena had asked her help. She had been sorry not to be able to go to the funeral, but she had been delighted to provide assistance in hiding Milena for a short while. Even Prince Rayan had sent a formal but secret request, meaning the situation was probably more dangerous than Milena had told her.

"The Guild is finally opening to negotiations," said Tiphania, her cat-like smile on. "I heard more and more merchants have asked for a formal trial, hence they won't have any choice but to follow any of our conditions. It had worked both as a warning shot and as a punishment, Lady Milena."

"Do you already know what you'll request of them?" Asked Briseis, frowning.

Milena nodded slowly, and put down her hand to pet Blanche's head. The white wolf sat to put her head on Milena's lap, enjoying the hand against her fur. The two of them had been even more inseparable than usual lately.

"I'll make sure they remember the lesson," said Milena. "I won't allow them to try and double-cross me again. Plus, I want to be sure they'll do what I ask next time I need them. Things like those Auctions shouldn't even be able to happen in the first place if the Guild was applying what they said they should be doing. It's high time they learn to live by the rules that they write."

All the young women nodded with a little smile, Briseis and Tiphania exchanging a glance. They liked the young Duchess to be back to her usual proud and determined self. Even if she was further from the Capital, Milena was still perfectly able to manipulate her business and relationships as if she was next door.

Then, Milena turned to Yasina, who nodded slowly.

"We are still searching for the Oracle and your niece. We have sent their description absolutely everywhere. I hope we will find them soon."

Milena's biggest worry at the moment was finding the young Rowena; More than confirming her doubts, she wanted to be sure the young girl was safe. She had grown fond of the little orphan she had picked up without thinking too much, and moreover, she wanted to see her reunited with her adoptive father soon.

"How is your brother, my Lady?" Asked Lilyn.

"...I will go and visit him today," whispered Milena. "I was set to return to the Capital before my wedding, my fiancé agreed to it as well. I hope he's awake, but I haven't had news of that yet."

"I sure hope we will see a beautiful miracle for your wedding..."

Although it may have sounded a harsh thing to say from someone else's point of view, Milena appreciated Lilyn's words. She knew best the young Baroness' sweet nature and pure kindness. Strangely, Lilyn reminded her of Philomenie.

She had tried her best not to think about the Duchess De Winter's unusual kindness these last few days, but it had been bugging Milena. She didn't know how she could repay her, and it annoyed her, even more, to know she ought to do something to repay her. No matter what, Philomenie had probably saved Raphael's life and a few others that day. Milena had taken a harsh lesson, never to underestimate her rivals, no matter what she thought she already knew of them.

"... Do you think the Church will try something again?" Asked Tiphania.

"Not during a Royal Wedding," said Briseis. "They know the King wouldn't allow anything to happen now. He's already hell bent on finding proof of who attacked the De Crescent Manor, although we have our answers already. Moreover, Lady Milena and His Highness haven't asked for the Church's blessing, as expected. If anything happens to them, enough people will be pointing fingers at the Church."

".... still think it doesn't make much sense," sighed Yasina. "Why did the Church target you a few days ahead of your wedding?"

"My guess is that those cowards tried to kill two birds with one stone," suddenly said a voice behind them.

Everyone turned their glances towards Rachael, who had just walked in, a heavy cape on her shoulders and her hand on her hips. As usual, she was wearing a military uniform. The Duchess didn't even wait for anyone to greet her politely or bow, and went to take a seat next to Milena.

"Lady De Nova? I didn't expect you..."

"Last-minute change. I know Prince Rayan was supposed to come and collect you, but at the last minute, we agreed it might be safe for me to come. He thinks someone is following him."

Milena's blood went cold. Who was following her fiancé, and why? Was Rayan going to be the next target? They couldn't succeed in killing her, so her fiancé would be next? Seeing her expression, Rachael sighed and shook her head.

"I come to get you, and this is the thanks I get? Don't worry, Princess, he will be fine. This isn't his first time being followed. He's like a cat playing with his prey, he'll just make them run until they're exhausted and he can catch the snakes out of their nest. Really, do not worry. You'll get wrinkles before your wedding."

"As if I'd let her be anything but perfect..." grumbled Yasina, sending daggers at Rachael.

Milena took a deep breath.

Rachael was right. She couldn't afford to get worried for every single little thing that happened anymore, not now. She'd had time to grieve, rest and get stronger. She felt stronger. That fire and her great-grandmother's death had been like an alarm that she seriously needed to get her backbone and fight back. Milena had become so focused on being chosen as a Princess, she had forgotten the real enemy was out there.

She hadn't forgotten her objectives. She didn't want to be a Princess just to beat Philomenie, or to win a man's heart. She had much greater ambitions in mind. Seeing her expression change, Rachael smiled, liking what she was seeing. She nodded, and leaned towards Milena.

"You may want to hurry and come home... your brother has woken up, earlier this morning."

Milena kept thinking about it over and over as she started packing her things, with her friends' help. She was excited to go home, to see Raphael again. She knew what she had to do now. She wanted to be a great Princess, like Princess Silvra. Not just someone who'd be remembered as a part of the Royal Family, but as a woman who would have done her best for her people, for her kind. She couldn't simply sit back and play games of push and pull anymore.

The Guild of Merchants was about to learn how powerful she could be. The Society of Vampires already was on her side, but it would take more effort to make sure they obeyed her. Moreover, those two were only some of the bigger stones on her pathway. The Senate, the Noble Houses, the other Guilds, the Bureaucrats, the Military... From the next day on, every single day would be a new fight. No matter how good of a politician she was, nothing would be done without proving herself, asserting her authority. Milena was so determined, she could almost feel the fire she had revived inside.

A different Duchess De Crescent was coming back to the Capital. Stronger, more determined, and not afraid anymore. She wasn't going to cry anymore, she needed to be tougher. Milena wasn't a child, she was a wife to be. She'd soon have more people to protect, and she wasn't going to allow being the one needing others again.

As the horses took the way back to the Capital, no one talked, but Milena had a smile on her lips.

She'd had more than enough time to self-reflect and put her thoughts back in order. Every day had been like a train speeding forward, she hadn't been able to pause a second to look at the bigger picture. Now, it was much clearer. She wasn't going to make the mistake again. She was ready.

As she had mentioned, her first destination wasn't the Castle or the De Crescent Domain. She and her friends split up at the entrance of the Capital, and only Briseis followed her to the Royal Hospital, as Rachael's guards would have drawn too much attention. Moreover, no one supposedly knew she was back, yet. She just had a few minutes ahead before the news spread that the future Princess had been spotted downtown...

Once her name and status were known in the hospital, she was taken to Raphael's room immediately. He had been placed in a very secure location, and the De Crescent Guards in front of the room looked relieved to see her, opening the doors immediately. "Hey..."

Milena felt a wave of relief. Even if Rachael had told her, seeing her brother sitting in his bed, supported by several pillows, made her feel a whole lot better. She would have hugged him if she wasn't so afraid to hurt him again. Instead, she came to sit by his side, and he immediately grabbed her hand.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I should be the one asking you that..."

"No, no. Milena, I... Val updated me on everything two hours ago. I'm sorry you guys had to deal with... all of that. And Grandmother's passing, too. Is father all right?" Milena nodded slowly.

"He's doing fine, but he's still refusing to rest properly... You know him."

"Yeah, Valentin told me the same thing. I heard... We owe a couple of thanks to the House De Winter? Is that true?"

Milena made a sour expression, but she had no choice.

"Yes... the young Duchess probably saved your life while I was frozen by the shock. It hurts to admit it, but I'm just glad you're fine, for now."

Raphael nodded. He was aware of how much it probably had cost her to admit this much.

"He also told me about Rowena... I hope we find her soon."

"Raphael, what happened? With the Oracle? She took Rowena? Did she... I mean, who attacked you?"

Her brother's expression went dark.

"Milena, she... The Oracle was the one who stabbed me. She said I'd survive, but she needed enough time to escape. She took Rowena while I was injured, I couldn't do anything." "... Did she say anything else?"

"She was sorry you were the one who found Rowena, but... She had to take her away, before the Church found her."

"The Church? Why would the Church want Rowe?"

Raphael's expression suddenly became so sad, as if he was about to cry. He grabbed Milena's hand, and asked her to lean forward, so close only she could hear what he whispered to her ear. "...She's her daughter."