Lady Dhampir
Chapter 312

"...She's been upset all morning," whispered Valentin.

"I don't know," sighed Raphael. "Did Lucian annoy her again?"

"The servants said no, he was with the knights since he woke up."

The two brothers, both with their arms crossed in a similar stance, were secretly peeking at their little sister.

The little girl's attitude was a bit curious indeed today. Milena had a book on her legs, but she had been staring at the window with that sad expression for a long time now. At times, she was trying to get back to her book, but her eyes would get lost again, visibly not focused on the content. Then, her purple eyes would peek at the snow again. Raphael sighed. Their little sister was so young, but since she had been brought home a few months ago, she was doing well. All of her needs were taken care of, she didn't have a single thing to worry about. She had all she wanted to eat, three big brothers always happy to entertain her, and dozens of servants to find her adorable and cater to her every need. Moreover, everyone was really mindful of the young girl's trauma, and doing their best to make her feel nothing but happy, cherished and protected.

Hence, their little sister's bothered expression had been making them quite unsettled. No one in the Manor would have dared to utter a single word that could upset the young Lady, so what was going on behind those pretty purple eyes of hers? "Could she have heard some maids gossiping?" Raphael whispered. "You've heard it too. Some of them who can't keep their mouths shut commented on her amnesia, or on her manners. Our Millie is so sensitive. Could she have heard some of that?" "Father already punished those as soon as we reported them, they were fired."

The older brother frowned a bit. Now that he thought about it, their Father had come back late the previous night, after an inspection of the territory that had taken a couple of days.

"... Father talked to Millie late last night." "Father did?" Raphael exclaimed, surprised.

Valentin nodded. He knew for sure, because his father had come to see him next, to let him know about the recent changes of their territory. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but he remembered well because their Father had chatted with him late into the night. Valentin was human, but unlike his little sister, he was much more capable of staying awake until late at night. He was also ten years older than her, so he couldn't help but worry a lot about the young girl, whose birth and disappearance he remembered all too well.

He stepped forward, making some light footfall sounds so she'd hear his presence beforehand. Milena still was surprisingly weary of people around her, anyone entering from a blind spot could make her jump without warning. The first few nights, she even had trouble sleeping in her bed and they had found her cornered in one end of the room with her blanket and her shape-shifting friend more than once. Blanche actually popped her head out of Milena's lap first, her little cat ears perking up. "Millie," Valentin gently called her.

Raphael followed a couple of steps behind him, but Valentin was the one Milena set her purple eyes on. "Big brother..."

She closed her book on her lap, and while Blanche jumped down to come and curl around Raphael's ankles, Valentin put a knee down in front of her. "Millie, Raphael and I noticed you were quite bothered today. Is your book not interesting?"

"My book? Oh..."

Her eyes set on the book's cover, as if she was just noticing it. Valentin couldn't help but let out a faint sigh. Ever since she'd been able to read, Milena's favorite thing was books... For her to even lose interest in a book she had picked herself was a first. The little girl caressed the cover, with a conflicted expression. Valentin glanced down. It was another history book, she quite enjoyed those... He gave her a smile, and offered his hand for her to take. Milena didn't like to be touched out of the blue, but she had come to like physical contact with her older brothers, at least. She placed her tiny hand in his.

"Did you see Father last night?" He asked. "He told me he went to see you first..."

Milena suddenly froze, her cute lips turning into a faint pout. Valentin raised his eyebrows. So he had been right, it was about their Dad's visit to her the previous night. He exchanged a glance with Raphael, who seemed just as baffled. Raphael walked over to stand next to the seat.

"Dad can be a bit... cold, sometimes, Millie. Did he say something that upset you? Don't worry, we won't tell him. You can talk to us." Milena slowly shook her head.

"N-no..."

"Millie, what is it?"

He could see she was hesitant to speak, almost... embarrassed. Blanche jumped back on the armchair, and rubbed her head against her mistress' arm with a purr before curling back up on her lap. Raphael got closer, sitting on the chair's arm and smiling gently at his little sister. "Mh... Big brother, can I ask you... what do you want?"

Her question baffled both of them. The two brothers exchanged a glance, slightly confused.

"Right now, I would like to understand what my adorable little sister is upset about," Valentin smiled gently.

"N-no, I mean... as a present?" She muttered.

"What is this about, Millie?" Raphael frowned, tilting his head. "Is there something you want? You know you don't have to be worried about the cost, we..."

He stopped, catching Valentin's glare. This definitely wasn't a money question, and his words were only making their little sister even more uneasy. He bit his lower lip, realizing his mistake. Now Milena was even more closed off, so Valentin tried to smile gently at her, rubbing her tiny hand in his.

"Let's see..." he said. "I would like a new pair of leather gloves. Mine got ripped during training last week. What about you Raphael?"

"W-well... Maybe a cute drawing from Millie! Last time only Valentin got one."

"That's because he was next to me when I drew..." Milena blushed. "B-but don't you want something from a store? S-something that costs money... something that dad can just buy."

"I like handmade gifts better," Raphael sighed. "If I know the person who spent time on it, it makes it more precious!"

"I agree with Raphael," Valentin nodded. "Any present made by Millie would make me happier than something from a shop!"

Milena petted Blanche a bit, visibly thinking again.

"...Does Millie have something she wants from a store, then?"

Their little sister slowly shook her head.

"N-not really... But Dad said... He wants to take me to a store for a gift, but... I don't know what I want..."

The two brothers exchanged another look, both baffled. So that was what it was! To think a simple sentence from their Dad had put such a dilemma in their little sister's head! Raphael had to pinch his lips to repress a laugh. She really was too cute for words! "Millie..." Valentin sighed. "Father said he'd take you to a store?"

She nodded.

"Yes... Last night, he promised to take me to the big toy store on the main avenue to buy me what I want, but... I really don't know what I want... I'm worried Dad will be disappointed if I don't know what I want... I tried really hard to think about it, but... what if there's nothing I want at the store?"

"Millie..."

Valentin gently caressed his younger sister's dark locks.

"You know, Father is only taking you to the toy store because he hopes to make you happy," he gently explained. "It doesn't really matter which toy you get. Father wasn't here for a couple of days, so I think he just wants to spend time with you, and it makes him happy to spoil you with a new toy. It's not about what he's going to buy you, it's about you two spending time together, and Father is happy if you're happy. If you're getting sad about it, it defeats the purpose, doesn't it?"

"Don't worry," added Raphael. "Perhaps you'll see a toy you really want once you're there, they always have new ones! And if there's really none you like, you can always ask Dad to go to a bookstore instead!"

"He only cares about making you happy, Millie," Valentin smiled. "Father can be a bit cold at times, but he's just a bit clumsy. I am sure he said this thinking it would make you happy to visit the toy store. You know, the person giving a gift is usually more concerned about the receiver's happiness than the gift itself. Just think of it as a simple outing with Father. Instead of thinking you need to come up with a toy you'd want, try to be honest with Father, and tell him what you'd really want from him instead!" "What I'd want from Dad...?"

Milena seemed to seriously think about this question again. The two brothers exchanged a smile, glad they had resolved that little problem and took that gloomy expression off their little sister's face. After a little while, a faint smile appeared on Millie's face. "I want to ride the big horse with Dad!"

"A horse?" They both exclaimed, surprised.

"Dad's horse is really, really tall so I always wonder how fun it is from so high... Do you think I could ride with Dad?"

A large smile appeared on her older brother's face. If that was all it took to make Milena happy, no doubt their father would agree. Young noble ladies like her usually traveled by carriage for safety reasons, but it was no problem for her to ride with their dad next time they went downtown. "Definitely. Just tell Father it would make you happy to ride with him on his horse when you go, alright? I'm certain he'll agree."

"In just a few years you'll be big enough to get your own horse," nodded Raphael. "This would definitely be good practice! And you can ask Dad for a toy horse to commemorate it!"

Milena's eyes were now sparkling with excitement, and her brothers were all the more happy in response. Valentin opened his arms, and Milena put her book aside, Blanche jumping off her lap, to get into his embrace and hug him. He stood up carrying his little sister in his arms, and Raphael walked up to them with a happy smile, carrying her book.

"Promise me you'll always be honest with us if something troubles you, Millie," Valentin said.

"It's alright to act spoiled, so if anything bothers you, you can come and complain to your big brothers," nodded Raphael. "If anything comes up, we will help you!"

Milena nodded, wrapping her little arms around Valentin's neck.

"I will make you a new drawing," she promised Raphael all of a sudden. "Although I'm not very good at it..."

"Anything you give me would make me happy," he reassured her.

"Let's ask Sofia to get you a nice outfit suitable for riding," said Valentin, walking out of the room carrying her. "Some pants and boots would be great. I'm sure we have some of Lucian's old clothes that should fit you... It's better to be comfortable when riding." "We need to buy her a whole outfit," suggested Raphael, following close behind. "She would be so cute in a little horse-riding outfit!"

The three of them left the room, chatting about Milena's upcoming ride with their dad, Blanche walking behind them. There were no more frowns on the little girl's face, and their happy voices echoed around the corridors.

A few hours later, Milena would come back, all happy from her outing with her dad, having bought no toy for herself.

The only item she asked for was a new pair of leather gloves for her older brother.