Mistakes are for Children

"...You disgust me, Ellias. Leveraging unborn children to get to me? Seriously, again? Don't you ever get tired?"

"You're twisting my words, and making me the villain, Milena... As I said, I have been very benevolent, so far. You're the one who chose to act like some recluse."

"I chose to protect myself, Ellias! You have the guts to call yourself benevolent? For not letting your allies poison me into miscarriage? How can you even look at yourself in the mirror!"

"This is war, Milena," he hissed. "Here, in those walls, those political matters are constantly being hammered over my head, and I have to do what I can."

"War?" She scoffed. "Can't you see? You're the one who creates more wars and nurtures them! Why do you think people like the Society of Vampires exist in the first place?"

"They are conceited, ...even, snooty."

"No, Ellias. They are afraid. Afraid that humans will eventually get tired of feeding them, and chase them instead. Vampires are getting more and more scarce. Unlike humans, their own genes are playing against them. Vampires have to leave with the idea that in a few generations, there might be a handful of them left!"

"So what, if that happens?" Scoffed Ellias. "Is a nation of only humans so bad? Vampires are such egomaniacs, they believe this Kingdom needs them! How did so many vampire families become nobles, in the first place, Milena? Fear. Fear over someone who can literally feed on you. Humans are their food, Milena! Why should I think they would care so much if they didn't need humans in the first place? They would be fine bringing us down to be their slaves!"

"You're talking as if each vampire was a supremacist!" She shouted back. "Can't you see that you fear is exactly what we are trying hard to prevent? The vampires have taken humans for wives, they give birth to human children! Do you copulate and make a family with your food?!"

"...You're really talking as if you were one of them, Milena."

"I'm half of them, Ellias. And my other half is human."

"Good for you. It would help if I could make the vampires trust me so easily, but it doesn't work like that, Lady Dhampir."

"You made them hate you regardless of the fact that you're human, Ellias. You showed your fear and hatred first. Don't come complaining to me now that you're struggling to gain their trust back."

"I get it, I made a mistake. Now, you have the power to help me, Milena, and you're deliberately refusing. So what choice do I have left?"

"A mistake?" Repeated the Princess, shocked. "You call that a mere mistake... Children make mistakes, Ellias. What you did was an act of war against the noble Vampire Families, and you knew that when you first started. You just didn't care about the consequences, the people you'd hurt. You were so damn obsessed with beating your twin that you went full-out against his allies, and now you're paying a price you can't handle. This isn't your mistake. This is a damn crime acted by your damn selfishness. ...and yet you still don't believe you're guilty."

The King clenched his fists, his anger fuming silently. Milena could see right through him. He was trying to use her, again. To use her children, her feelings, even Rayan's absence. Ellias wasn't ready to give the vampires half of the trust he was asking from them. How could he even act like this? His own mother was a vampire, but she had raised her favorite son against her own kind... Milena took a deep breath.

She couldn't let anger close all of her rational judgment into a firm, stern refusal. She didn't care much about Ellias' fits of anger nor his selfishness, but this was still all for the sake of their Kingdom. She knew she would have to make concessions, whether she would like it or not. Milena sighed, and gently put a hand on her large belly, gently caressing it. This was for their future, too... She had no idea if her children would be vampire, or human. It was unlikely it would be a little dhampir or two, but in any case, she had to keep all possibilities open. No, even without that, Milena had always been proud of her dual heritage, and the unique position her nature put her in. She was the living proof both kinds could coexist. Dhampirs were rare, but rarer was a perfectly balanced world, when it had to be shared between two races...

The King frowned slightly at the sight of the Princess' hand on her tummy. It was faint, but there was still a small irk in his reaction. Of course. She was bearing the children of his lifetime rival...

"...Why are you researching more about the White Ones?" He suddenly asked, taking her by surprise.

"Why wouldn't I? We are still looking for answers, and since there are rumors of Wendigos attacking our army, I want to know who is spreading those rumors, and why."

"Is it really just about the rumors?"

Milena frowned. Why else would she be researching about the Wendigos? She knew Ellias. His suspicious green stare meant he was expecting something more. For what kind of secret other reason would she be researching? Milena was trying hard not to look down at Blanche, but even without that, she doubted her white-furred companion would be the real issue.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Oracle," declared Ellias. "That woman kept all of my mother's secrets, and she suddenly vanished... Aren't you going to look for her?"

So it was about the Oracle, after all. Milena relaxed.

"...Not really. Why would I care about Queen Lyriana's former aide? As you said, she vanished months ago, and even without that, I doubt she would have been of any help. We already can assume she was behind Queen Lyriana's death. What else could she possibly know? Moreover, don't you have the Saint already? If you are curious about the White Ones..."

"The Saint is Philomenie's pet!" He suddenly spitted.

So it was probably true that the King and Philomenie's white-haired friend didn't get along much... That thought put a smirk on the Grand Princess' face. At least, there was someone else doing a great job of pissing Ellias off. The King's annoyance could be seen at the mere mention of the White One. It meant more than a little rivalry between the two men, however. It meant there also was a gap between the King and the Church...

"Interesting," said Milena. "So the De Winter family aren't keeping all their promises, after all? I thought once the new Duke rose to the title, the Church would support you fully, but... it turns out they are not your bridge with the Church as you hoped, Ellias."

The King glared at her, visibly annoyed. Milena wasn't afraid of him, and she wasn't mindful of his position enough to stop herself from grinning, or have any issue with calling him by his first name.

"...It's none of your business," he retorted. "Just you wait, Milena. I'm growing tired of your mighty attitude, as well as all those bad habits you've taken from my brother. I strongly suggest you..."

"Careful, Your Majesty," she interrupted him with a severe tone. "I suggest you think twice before threatening someone you initially came to beg for help."

"Beg?" He repeated, visibly shocked. "You think I came to beg you! You're misunderstanding something here, Milena! I came here to make peace with you!"

"Not at all motivated by the current tensions with the Council?" Scoffed Milena.

"Don't misunderstand, Milena," he resumed, taking a step forward. "I am the King. I am the one in the position of power here, I don't have to beg anyone for anything."

"Good then," she shrugged. "In that case, you don't need my help either, and I'll finally be able to resume my appointment with Lady De Cictrin."

"No, you're the one who needs my help," he said, suddenly looking very confident. "Don't forget, Milena, you are not in a position of power anymore."

"As far as I can remember, my position of power in the Kingdom is still very, very high."

"Not enough to oppose me. Don't you try to play your mind games with me like my brother did, Milena; You refused to agree to a truce with me, and you think you can still sit back and hide. Just you wait, Milena. I'm done playing nice with you, and letting you lock yourself up in your tower. You're going to show yourself properly to those events, and play the part as you should."

A long silence installed itself after that. Dinah discreetly glanced towards her mistress, impressed by her cool and collected attitude. Despite the King's attitude, there was no fear and no anger on the Grand Princess' face. Milena was simply staring at him. She wasn't grinning or smiling anymore, though. She had taken that threat seriously.

There was no way to tell how much the King had really been keeping his allies from attacking Milena. Perhaps he was only bluffing, and had done absolutely nothing for the past weeks. Dinah didn't know much about politics, or how those people really thought, but she was almost sure the King had not had much to do with her Lady's pregnancy going well. He hadn't even tried to see her outside of the official events, and... his reaction upon discovering her today spoke volumes, even for a young and lowly-educated maid like her. There was no man who could conceal his horror at the sight of a woman he loved -or had loved once- carrying the child of his greatest rival. No, in her mind, the King was just playing tricks too, and trying to pressure Lady Milena. 

However, her mistress' expression was serious. Perhaps, despite the lies, the threat was real... Did that mean the Grand Princess would have no choice but really attend all those official events now? She was already far along in her pregnancy, she couldn't afford to be much more tired than that.

"...Careful what you wish for, your Highness," finally said Milena, with a haughty attitude.

Dinah hid a smile, lowering her head. Of course. Her Lady was not to be underestimated. She hated to be f****d to do anything, so if she had to appear against her will in those social events like the King wanted, she would make sure things didn't go his way at all. Dinah felt a little spark of excitement in her heart.

So what if her husband was gone? So what if she was alone, secluded, or tired from her pregnancy? She was still Milena De Crescent, Lady of the House De Crescent, Grand Princess of the Kingdom. She had many nicknames among the population, from Lady Dhampir to the Queen of Glass. She rarely saw it for herself, but she was loved by a lot of people, and Dinah was proud to be able to serve the Lady many young girls admired so much.

The King stared at the young woman for a long, long while before letting out a little sigh.

"Unlike what you seem to think, I have no desire to get into a fight with you, Milena. And I do not wish ill to Rayan, either. He is still my brother, although he also happens to be a humongous annoyance."

"I will be doomed, is that a hint of honesty I hear in your voice, Your Highness?" Sighed Milena.

"Again, that sarcasm won't protect you for long, Grand Princess. You should watch out. With Rayan gone, you may think you're replacing him, but..."

"I'm not replacing anybody, Your Highness. I was someone important before my husband left and I will remain one regardless of if he comes back or not. I strongly suggest you stop underestimating the women around you. All of them."

The hint at his wife had the King grimace again.

"Hate me if you must, Milena, but the situation with the Vampires will be your responsibility. I'm sure our differences aren't worth a Civil War, so regardless of how you find a solution, find one! ...and keep my wife out of this mess!"

Milena crossed her arms over her belly with an annoyed look. There he was giving her orders again, yelling his way out of this, as usual. He really had gotten more and more irritable in those past few months. This was no easy mess to solve, and after he had come to argue with her about a piece in the newspapers, he was using his status as the King to force her to come back into the midst of all that political action...

"...are we done, Your Majesty?" Finally sighed Milena.

"I suppose we are. But do not expect I will forget you for another five months, Milena."

"Oh, I truly would doubt so," the Princess tilted her head, caressing her belly.

Ellias once again glared at her tummy, but finally turned around, with a nervous movement of his shoulders. Milena knew the pregnancy was now going to be a real issue, at least for him. She had hidden that she was pregnant, but more importantly, how far along she was. With the large belly she was carrying, there wouldn't be any rumors about the Father, but people were inevitably going to argue about her delivery date. She looked much further along than the Queen...

"Your Majesty!" Suddenly yelled a voice outside.

Milena's body froze, as that sole voice brought a wave of disgust inside her again, some nausea even. She wrapped her bathrobe tighter around her body, and Dinah subtly moved to place herself in front of her Lady, again.

"Your Majesty, did you..."

Just like the King's attendants, the Duke De Winter was firmly stopped by the De Crescents Knights. Arseus, wearing a thick bear coat over a blue attire, made a grimace.

"How dare you stop a Duke!"

Neither Jeremiah or Matheus even spared him an answer, their eyes resolutely stuck on the wall. However, if they could block the entry with their weapons, they couldn't keep the Duke from seeing the Lady De Crescent standing a few steps behind, as the King was about to leave. The Duke's expression fell, one second after his eyes had gone down on her body. Milena didn't even try to repress her eye roll.

"There really isn't a shred of manners left in those lands..." She muttered for herself.

"Lady De Crescent, what... happened to you?" Groaned the Duke, disgusted.

"Have you never seen a pregnant woman, Duke?" She sighed. "What is it with everyone in this castle barging in like ruffians today? His Majesty was on his way out, and you shall wait for him in the corridor without peeking rudely!"

Almost as if she had slapped him, the Duke took a step back, although he still had that shocked expression. Milena sighed. This was the worst possible timing... Ellias, who was almost at the door, chuckled and glanced over his shoulder.

"...Remember, Milena. I have been protecting you. There are worse men than me out there..."

She glared furiously, even long after the door had been closed behind him.

"Those damn pigs!" She suddenly roared, throwing a cushion on the floor. "I can't believe how rude and ruthless they are!"

"My Lady, you shouldn't get too agitated..." muttered Dinah, worried.

"He shall see!" Shouted Milena, ignoring her. "If he wants to see me at those damn events, he will see me. They all will! I will show them exactly what they have been missing so far! Benevolent, he says! What a self-conceited bastard! He thinks everything and everyone is his ownership, in his good grace! Damn Ellias! If Rayan was there, he wouldn't even dare to talk to me like this!"

Dinah grimaced as the tea set was thrown across the room. At least it had been almost empty... Right away, Blanche took her cat shape, and trotted to sniff the spilled drink. She suddenly hissed at it, making Dinah frown. So there was a trace of poison... At least, her lady was more or less resistant to it, seeing how she had no symptom whatsoever.

"Dinah, call Yasina back in," suddenly declared Milena. "I need to place a new order."

"A-a new order, my Lady?" Repeated the servant, confused.

The sudden smile that had appeared on Milena's lips meant nothing good. At least, nothing good for her enemies. It had been a while since the Grand Princess had looked so fired up, but now, she was Milena De Crescent, in her full splendor. She took a deep breath, and brushed her raven locks back with her fingers, a more subtle smile appearing on her lips.

"Yes. It's time to remind all those miscreants who they are dealing with..."