Lady Dhampir
Chapter 172

"Prince Ellias, you are not King yet," Milena said, unhappy. "You're not even Crown Prince yet, until that Council ends."

"Are we going to fight over technicalities now, future Grand Princess?" Retorted the Prince. "If that's the case, then you aren't Grand Princess yet either."

Milena frowned. She had, for a few seconds, thought about using her Royal Pardon granted by her new title as a Grand Princess to save those currently imprisoned. It would have been a big loss even before Rayan left for the war, but it wouldn't have been meaningless. Milena knew they couldn't afford to let the army leave with so many of those who should have been among it missing. Although it was only a few people, one single person could change everything with one decision, at the right time. She had read enough history books to know this much, and moreover, she knew well some of those people incarcerated. It was already a tragedy that they wouldn't be able to take their rightful spots among the military leaders, but as it had been said, they couldn't afford to not send them at all.

Even in the ranks of the Council, Milena could see many Senators worried or upset. They simply couldn't let Ellias keep so many people under the house of arrest under such a thin wall of suspicions. Although Milena did think some of them might have been Supremacists indeed, it was just ridiculous. They had failed to kill him and Philomenie, and from the witnesses they'd heard, it almost felt like the reckless actions of misguided young people under someone else's orders. In any case, they had to take the path of freeing those people, and send them to the battlefield regardless of their crimes.

"Now that we've all established all of us will only be able to take their new titles at the end of this Council," sighed Rayan. "May we actually get on a proper decision over this matter?"

"I won't back down, brother," insisted Ellias. "I am in charge of this Kingdom, and its inhabitants' safety from today on. I won't let a group of reckless criminals roam free!"

"How about not letting them exactly free, then? This will solve both our issues. They will all be coming to the battlefield, brother. They will be far from our Kingdom, far from your scope of supervision, while risking their lives to amend for their deeds." "I am not granting a pardon," hissed Ellias. "I'll send those who ought to be on the battlefield once they've been properly interrogated, cleared, and allowed to take their duties. What kind of message will we send to our soldiers and citizens if we allow all of them to go free!"

"What a wonderful freedom, being sent to the battlefield, with a promise of a trial once they come back," smirked Milena, still bitter enough for this. "In my humble opinion as a not-yet Grand-Princess but still the daughter of a highly respected military family, member of the Council and, mind you, member of the Royal Family, I'll suggest that the battlefield will be plenty of a trial in itself!"

She had clearly made her point about her titles. Ellias may refuse yet for her to use any of her privileges as a Grand Princess, but she still had a word to say in this.

"I support Prince Ellias!" Roared one of the young human Senators. "We can't allow criminals into our Army! What if they do some even worse deeds once there! Sabotage our supplies, or kill their human peers!" "And then die under the feet of the Giant?" Sighed his neighbor, rolling their eyes.

"If Prince Ellias could curb his desire for mind-blowing justice," sighed Rachael. "We could sort this out in seconds. Send them all to the battlefield. Guilty or not, and let them fill their duty. We have military justice on the battlefield, and it will be faster than bureaucrats..."

"You're forgetting the main aim of those trials would be to seek out their secrets and allies as well," retorted the Duke De Winter. "This isn't as simple as getting rid of them by sending them to the battlefield. We have to evaluate the risk even if they do leave..." "I'm sure Prince Ellias will have fun hunting all of them down, then. Seriously, are we wasting time over this?"

"This isn't so simple as leaving it all to fate, Duchess De Nova!" Roared Ellias. "The Society of Vampires has already proven to reach out to more families than we thought. What if the Supremacists are more numerous as well? The whole Solaris Army will be gone to war, who will be left behind to protect our citizens against those people!"

"I can assure you we will be plenty enough," hissed Milena. "This isn't as if every man, knight, and soldier will be sent to the North. Only two men of each Noble family will be sent, and, thanks to the new De Winter amendment, we may even have some legitimate heirs and firstborns left here as well."

"This is precisely why we ought to be careful", sighed a Senator. "If I were our enemies, I would send my expendable progeny to the battlefield and focus here!"

"Your sons would have loved to hear that, I'm sure..." Scoffed Rachael.

"That's enough," said Rayan. "As Commander-in-Chief of the Army, I will take full responsibility for all those people leaving with me. Each man and woman standing on that battlefield will be my responsibility, and if mistakes are done, my responsibility as well." "That's...!"

"Prince Ellias," suddenly said Philomenie.

Everyone turned to the Princess, surprised to hear her speak. She had been rather silent since her proposal was accepted, and she had stayed completely calm and quiet too when the Crown Prince was chosen... Milena wondered if she had felt relieved over the announcement that she would be Queen soon.

Right now, Philomenie was doing a great job of keeping a composed expression. Compared to her husband, Philomenie was actually acting more like her future title, and the dignity that came along... With what Milena thought to be bravery, she put a hand on her husband's, with a gentle smile.

"I believe we should leave this matter for God and this War to decide. Regardless of the Supremacist Vampires that will be spared, I believe our Royal Family has already done well in arresting a lot of them. For now, we should focus and help our Army to leave with as many men... and women as they can. They can be considered like military prisoners, perhaps?"

Hearing such words in Philomenie's mouth was truly surprising.

Rayan glanced at his wife, at his sister-in-law's way of speech sounded strangely familiar... Had she taken inspiration from Milena? Her speech wasn't actually that great itself, but she didn't need to expand more than that. Given her own position, her usual position, and her relationship to the future King, everything was enough of a surprise for all the people in the room to pay attention to her.

Ellias was probably the most surprised as well. In a way, Philomenie had made both him and Rayan right, although it was a bit too subtle, perhaps... For a minute, Milena thought he was about to get mad at her. He frowned, and mixed emotions appeared on his face one after the other, until he seemed to calm down. He took a deep breath, and Milena knew they had avoided a new storm with a surprising ally. If she had guessed Philomenie would ever help them in a matter that involved War, Supremacists vampires and criminals... Maybe the human Princess was truly learning, after all...

"Fine," groaned Ellias. "Royal Secretary, take that down. Commander-in-Chief and Prince Rayan De Solar will henceforth be held accountable for all the people the Royal Guard arrested last night. If they are held responsible for any crime here or on the battlefield, the martial law of punishment shall apply."

"I personally guarantee, any traitors will be executed on spot."

The twins were now glaring at each other, and the tension in the room was palpable. Milena sighed. The truth was, this was almost too good of an agreement, and she didn't really like that they owed it to Philomenie, of all people. The Vampire arrested, even if there were Supremacists among them, wouldn't be so stupid as to do something that would risk putting Prince Rayan in danger. This would be nothing short of a betrayal towards the man they had hoped to have crowned King. It would make no sense. Hence, this was the best resolution possible... for now.

"Alright," sighed the exhausted Royal Secretary. "If everyone is alright with this, I suggest we end this already... long Council Meeting here. All important matters have been addressed and will be recorded by the Royal Archives shortly. All decisions agreed by the Royal Council today shall be executed right away, including the new titles given to their Highnesses, as well as the immediate release of all the witnesses in the investigation about the Society of Vampires. If they were not part of the military army of the Kingdom, every person proven to be part of the Society shall be placed under House of Arrest, effective immediately. Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Highnesses, unless any Senator raises an objection, I think our Princesses deserve some rest."

Milena let out a long sigh without thinking.

Indeed, she was absolutely exhausted. From too much emotions, too much crying, and absolutely everything else. She was tired from the hundred stares on her, the glares and the pressure of thousands of lives relying on the decisions taken in this room by self- centered people. To her surprise, Lucian suddenly leaned on her shoulder to give her a quick kiss on her temple. "Well done, Millie."

She smiled without thinking. She had almost forgotten her brother was there, but now that she was reminded, it felt good to know he was by her side.

Milena felt as if, with the end of this Council, a wave had been washed over her. It didn't change the tragic end of that Council, the decisions taken, or the fact that her husband was about to be sent to the battlefront, but at least, it was over. She was just relieved and would enjoy the little bit she could. Decisions were over, now she just had to adjust to the outcome... not matter how much she hated it.

Milena glanced towards her father, who was slowly standing up, and already surrounded by some nobles. One of the rare Duke's apparitions were bound to gather a lot of attention. Her father had certainly come for her sake, but now, he was simply staring at her from afar. She could read everything she needed to in those stern, cold eyes of his. Milena smiled with the bit of strength she had left. She at least didn't want her father to be too worried for her sake. Pretend she was fine, make sure he left with that worry off his heart.

Milena could only imagine how he ought to feel, as a Father. Now that she was married, her father wasn't just her father anymore, he was a man with his own battles, and four children to watch over. A grandchild too, soon. With Valentin and Lucian getting geared up for battle, Raphael implied all the way up to his neck into the Vampire's Society issues, Milena felt a bit sorry that, no matter what she said tonight, her father probably wouldn't be able to sleep soundly for a long while... Hence, all she could do was smile. Even if it was faint, and fake, she ought to. The Duke didn't reply to her smile, and simply nodded, before turning his heels. Milena had more pressing matters now, but she promised herself she'd visit her Father once she got the chance... She owed him that much, and it probably would be a good thing for herself as well.

Once Lucian had bid her proper goodbye and left with her father, many Senators came to congratulate her for her new title, and reality hit Milena.

She was about to become Grand Princess... A title that had only been granted a handful of times in history, and more importantly, at least in her eyes, Princess Silvra had received it too. She thought it was a mere consolation compared to Rayan going to war, though. Milena would have even given up her title as a Princess if it could have spared her husband from going to the battlefront. Knowing this decision was for the sake of their Kingdom and everyone in it didn't make it any easier... So she had no choice but to answer politely and coldly each time those congratulation words were repeated. A few steps on her right, Rayan was chatting with some vampire Senators, who were about as glad he became Commander-in-Chief as they were worried. Meanwhile, Ellias and his wife had left. She hadn't even seen them leave the room, making her wonder if she had missed anything...

Still, the long line of Senators dying to talk to her exhausted Milena as much as they annoyed her. Didn't they had any delicacy? Rachael, at least, had left the room after just one glance exchange, probably dying to escort the Royal Knights to the detention rooms and unsure they opened the cells of her friends... That was one good thing done, and Milena still couldn't believe they owed it to Philomenie, of all people. Maybe sometime, she should perhaps talk about it with her sister-in-law, decide how much of an ally or foe she could really be...

Finally, most of those Senators left, and Rayan turned to her.

Without a word exchanged, he held his princess and wife in his arms, and Milena closed her eyes, hiding her face in his coat. She felt as if she had already cried too much before. She didn't feel like she could cry anymore. Not because she wasn't sad, but because she had exhausted her tears. Her eyes were too dry, and her heart the same. She just had enough. She needed silence, calm and loneliness. Nothing but him.

Nothing was said, but the Prince gently put his arm around her waist, and ignoring anyone who still wanted to talk, Rayan dismissed them with a crimson glare before walking out. Milena let out a long sigh as soon as they were out of the room, and if he hadn't been supporting her with such a strong grip, her legs might have given up under her as well.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

He didn't say anything and kept pulling her across the corridors.

No one dared to follow them. The Royal servants scattered as soon as they caught a glimpse of the royal couple, and no one dared to follow them. Even Milena's maids and Blanche weren't close. It was just the two of them, all the way to their apartments, until Rayan closed the door and the lock between them.

Without a word, he hugged Milena. She was well aware he wasn't mad or even upset, but she felt like an absolute wreck inside. She wanted to cry, again. She wanted to scream and get crazy, just so she could vent out her frustration. It didn't feel like they had won anything. It just felt like a painful, bitter loss; Because it was just the two of them right there and then, Milena just wanted to weep, and for a few minutes, forget she was a Princess, a noblewoman, a De Crescent daughter. She wanted to be Rayan's wife, a desperate wife who had to face her husband going to war.

As soon as the lock of the door clicked, Milena turned around, grabbed his collar, and kissed him.

It was an insane movement at that very moment, but it just felt necessary for the young Princess. They had been seating next to each other for hours, but he had felt further than ever. Milena thought she was selfish to think she was the one to need him at that very moment, but she just... she couldn't help it. He was her man, her husband, the only one she'd have. The only one she could lose.

And she didn't even want to dare think she could lose him.