Pathetic Excuses

Milena lazily threw another letter to the fire, a satisfied smile on her face. To most people, that kind of smile would have been scary and a warning of more disaster to come, but to her servants, this was only a good sign. The fire burning in the chimney was vividly glowing, its flames nourished by the many other letters that had been thrown before this one. She sighed, and grabbed another one to read, although the content was hardly any different. It had been a few days since they had begun flowing to the Manor, all addressed to her. She couldn't have cared less for them, they were almost expected, and the result of the current situation outside.

She finished reading, one after another, a scary smile appearing on her lips almost each time. When she got to the last letter, recognizing the handwriting, Milena didn't even bother to open it. She tilted her head. Her raven locks were still a bit wet from her bath earlier. She had woken up not too long ago, and was wearing a thick, black bathrobe that surrounded her body like a cozy embrace. The warmth in the room contrasted with the cold she could feel from the weather outside, another cold and snowy night.

"I've been doing great, big brother. If only you could witness this, too. All those cowards, running around, panicking and begging for us to change our mind..."

She turned around, smiling at her brother's silhouette.

"I've succeeded, you know. I've reached the end of the road you so carefully pathed away for me. The Society of Vampires... No, there is no more Society of Vampires anymore. The Vampire Faction is all mine... All under our orders only. Of course, I know the Duke De Nova is probably waiting for the first opportunity to fight anyway. He will make me a martyr, if I ever take the fall, and lead this war in my name... So will Father."

Milena let out a long sigh, and walked up to the bed. She had gotten used to this appearance of her brother. Raphael, lying still in his bed, like in a deep coma. Her heart ached every single time she saw him, but, now, it was only a faint pinch, rather than the painful heartache she had endured for a while. His hair was nearly completely white. Only a few black strands left... She wondered if all White Ones' transformations lasted for so long. There were even bars of blood ready for his use, carefully placed on the bedside table and ready to be drunk any time.

It had become a habit of hers to chat with her brother when she woke up. Milena was never the type to talk alone, but she felt as if Raphael could hear her. Plus, a little part of her was hoping this would help him remember his younger sister, and everything about his life and family once he woke up.

"...Now, we've put the House De Winter and their allies on their knees," she chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You would have loved this. The vampires are all cutting off every fund they used to provide. The whole Kingdom is choked up by the financial pressure, and Ellias is the one left coughing. It's been... Already ten days. Now, I'm just waiting. No vampire has attended the Royal Council either, since. I didn't think those cowards would keep their word, but Prue has confirmed it. I bet all those old rats are bitterly regretting ever trying to hold a Council in our back, now. There is no politics that can function if nobody is listening. They are enforcing their stupid laws every day, but what's the point? We aren't moving. Nobody is. The knights are staying attached to the main residences. The shops are staying cold, the commoners can only rely on themselves. They tried to close the charities held by vampires, but the townsfolk are the ones to suffer from it, and the anger is rising amongst the humans. This cold war is such an interesting twist of situation, Raphael. I hope they will record it in history books, at least. "

She chuckled, a bit proud of herself. To think she had always admired Princess Silvra so much, yet right now, she felt closer to her than ever. Perhaps Princess Silvra herself had never been so powerful.

"They have always underestimated the old gold... Vampires are much richer than they like to show, unlike the human nobles who love to flaunt it. So now, they are only slowly realizing how much of our economy needs that old money, especially in times of war. It's pathetic, really. And food for thoughts. I already have a plan in case the vampires ever decide to threaten us the same way, but we both know Ellias isn't smart enough to get there. So now, all that's left is to wait... and see which side will concede first."

She let out a long sigh.

"I wish we could find Euphoria... The more days pass, the more worried I am about that girl, and the future. They confirmed the three bodies were the sisters... And we paid enough money to keep them lying about the fourth one. I kept the De Crescent knights as long as I could there, but she somehow evaded us. I wonder where she's headed, where she's hiding. I can't help but think the sisters were smart enough to have a safehouse or two,  but if that's that case, when will she come to me, or one of our allies? It's been a while now... I wonder what she's up to."

Milena suddenly got back on her feet. She had picked up on something from the outside. She walked back to the window, quickly spotting the carriage that was coming into the De Crescent Domain. It was stopped by the knights, of course, and a new wry smile appeared on Milena's lips. A Royal Carriage. Whoever was inside, she'd be happy to see here, although for very different reasons...

She bid goodbye to her brother, leaving a quick kiss on his cheek, and exited his room, finding Olivia waiting for her in the corridor.

"Olivia, I'd love some warm blood tonight," she said.

"No wine, my lady?"

"No, not tonight Olivia. I feel like I'm going to need all my senses, for what's coming our direction..."

The two of them walked down the corridor, Blanche guiding their way with her fluffy cat tail perking up. Once they got closer to the entrance, though, she quickly changed into a wolf, her demeanor much more aggressive. Milena sighed. So it wasn't Philomenie, after all.

Before she even reached the entrance hall, she heard male voices loudly arguing. Milena decided to stop her steps, gesturing for Olivia she could go already to retrieve the blood for her. Meanwhile, Milena listened to the ruckus in their reception hall, and the King's voice that echoed against their walls.

"I said you go and fetch the Grand Princess right away! Since when does she dare to make the King come all this way and actually wait for her!"

"We were not expecting Your Majesty's visit," said Digory, with an applause-worthy calm. "I strongly suggest you reconduct your visit at a more suitable time and after the Grand Princess has accepted your invitation. My Lady is extremely busy and cannot accommodate impromptu visits, I'm afraid."

"...Who the hell do you f*****g think you are!" Vociferated Ellias. "How dare a mere butler tell me to leave! Who the f**k dares to tell me what to do! I am the King, and I am here to see the Grand Princess! This is not an invitation, I came all the way here to request her presence here and now! I already sent countless letter to summon her to the Castle, she never bothered to respond!"

"Even if a Lady doesn't answer, courtesy isn't to show up at people's houses uninvited, even for his Majesty."

Ellias answered with a flow of insults, while Milena barely kept her laugh in. Seeing Digory's legendary stoicism making Ellias lose his composure was an amazing show even just to hear. She had been a bit worried about the Butler De Crescent, but even Ellias couldn't afford to really get violent with someone from the House De Crescent. This was enemy turf to him, and any act of violence in those walls would result in a legitimate retaliation from one of the most powerful Houses in the Kingdom. Not only that, but since a week ago, Milena's Father had called back all of their knights scattered across the continent to guard this Mansion. Those working at the Vermillion Lands, those guarding their businesses inside and outside the Capital, even those they had lent to other Household and the military garnisons had come home, increasing the Manor's security by three fold. There were even a handful of knights lent by the noble houses supporting Milena, willing to go the extra mile to protect her. The Residence had become a fortress filled with guards wearing red and black.

"I said, you call her," hissed Ellias. "I am not leaving until I have seen this stubborn wench!"

"If Your Majesty keeps insulting the Lady of this House," retorted Digory. "I will have no choice but to answer with the appropriate response. Moreover, my Lord is still sleeping. I would ask you to please not make such a scene so early for my vampire masters."

Milena chuckled, but a bit too loud this time. Notwithstanding herself, she showed up too, standing at the top of the stairs leading to the personal residences of the House owners. From there, she could stare down at that King that was making such a fuss on their doorstep.

"Your Majesty," she said with a mocking tone. "What an honor to have you come all the way here for me!"

"Milena De Crescent! How dare you ignore all the letters I sent to summon you to the Royal Castle!"

"I'm confused. Why would your Majesty summon me to my own home?"

Milena was having fun playing dumb, and getting down the stairs slowly to taunt him. She was also aware her outfit was inappropriate, and infuriating Ellias even more. Despite most of her body being covered, her collarbones were showing, and her ankles as well, as she only wore light slippers. Her half-wet hair was scattered in savage curls around her face and down her shoulders, and despite the complete lack of makeup, her beauty was blinding.

"You know exactly why!" Shouted Ellias. "How dare you play dumb! You've been ignoring all your responsibilities for so long, and now you dare to make me wait, and only appear like this?"

"How funny," frowned Milena. "I can't seem to remember Your Majesty being so mad the first time I took a leave from my Royal Duties. Or are you going to say that was leniency towards a pregnant woman? I have a hard time believing that. Yet now, you come all the way here to my Father's main residence, to seek me out?"

"Stop playing around! You know exactly what I am here for! I know you're behind that ridiculous boycott of the Royal Council! You can control the vampires, so have them all come back right now!"

"...Oh, Your Majesty is missing the vampires at the Council?"

Milena's smile suddenly dropped, and behind her, still in the stairs, Blanche growled even louder.

"Are you joking?" She hissed. "Stop whining, Ellias. You're the one who was only too happy to kick the vampires out of the Royal Council to make your little friends from the Church all happy. You're the one who tried to get rid of Henry De Boreal under my nose, and got me to even lose my one right to immunity!"

"Fine, I did it once!" He shouted. "It was a one-time thing, and you all got away with it! I'll reinstaure your right to immunity, if that's what you want! We can wipe out the table and I can even get that stupid Arseus to take off that complain about you... s-shooting his hand off."

"Oh, don't bother," retorted Milena. "You'll only make me want to shoot the one he's got left."

"His hand was healed."

Milena froze, suddenly understanding.

"...Of course," she scoffed. "The Saint. I should have known... That bastard Arseus kept his own sister's captive all for the sake of healing his own a*s; I hope he suffered a bunch anyway. Also, does he know the Saint can only heal and save one's life once? Because that means he won't be able to heal the next time I shoot him!"

The King rolled his eyes, and put his hands on his hips, visibly annoyed.

"Why are you getting mad at such a thing... You know he's an idiot."

"I do not care. He wasn't an idiot when he understood how to lick the Church's boots to elevate his status. He didn't seem like much of an idiot when he barged into my Banquet to threaten me, and attack my guest, standing by your side!"

Ellias took a step back. He had calmed down from earlier, but only because he couldn't actually afford to piss her off.

"...Well, you got your revenge, didn't you? You chopped off his hand."

"As far as my understanding goes, he still got his hand. Even if he didn't, I'm far from calling this even, Ellias. I don't let that piece of s**t insult me and threaten me and simply walk out alive. Next time I see him, I'll shoot, I'm warning you."

His green eyes expressed uncertainty for a second, but she was telling the truth; Milena was calm, composed, but also determined, and cold as ice. She wasn't going to make any concessions anymore, and she wasn't even afraid to announce she was going to try to kill the Duke De Winter. His mouth stayed open for a few seconds, before he regained his composure, trying to hold on to what he had come there for.

"F-Fine... The Duke De Winter is your problem. But can you please stop this madness with the vampires? Do you even realize what you're doing to the Kingdom! The whole economy is put to a complete stop, people are getting mad and rioting!"

"How is that my problem?" Chuckled Milena. "...Ellias, you didn't think you were going to come here and simply sweet-talk me into calling all the vampires back, did you? Let me guess. You tried to talk to Duke De Nova, and failed. You tried every Vampire Count there, and when you understood they were all going to give you the same answer, you came to me. Are you a coward, or are you just now realizing how deep in s**t you are?"

"That's enough. I'll give you back your immunity, and I'll never allow a Council to be held without the vampires again, so please..."

Milena chuckled again, shaking her head.

"You're really at your last wit, aren't you, Ellias? To come all the way here and swallow your pride, offering me even that immunity you worked so hard to rip off my hands."

"I didn't-"

"Oh shut up! I'm done with your pathetic excuses! Nothing is ever your fault, is it? What are you going to call it? Collateral damage? A side effect of you begging the Church for that power you've already lost? Stop it, Ellias. You're out of power already, and your only ally has become the master holding your leash. It's way too late. I don't care anymore for that immunity, and you can't stop me either. If you had looked into your pants earlier and actually found the balls to step up, things might have ended differently. Now, this is war, and you're going to be the one who's on the frontline."

He looked as if she had slapped him, his green eyes wide open, as if he couldn't even recognize her.

"...So this is payback?" He muttered. "That's what this is about? For me sending Rayan to the front?"

"No," she said. "Rayan went to the frontline of his own volition. You, however, decided to stay back and become a shitty King regardless. That was your decision. You spent your time fearing vampires, consolidating your power, and this is what you get. A sandcastle on the verge of crumbling."

"Milena, you're about to start a Civil War! The one you tried so hard to avoid!"

"No," she retorted. "A Civil War is between the citizens of the Kingdom. This is no Civil War, Ellias. This is how the Church suddenly alienates the rest of the Kingdom. By monopolizing the King. If you had listened, you would have realized the vampires aren't the ones putting the Kingdom on its knees. The Church simply cannot cope with them getting stronger, so they are holding on to their gold-filled chests, leaving our people to their hunger. And who are the people turning to? To the noble families who will feed them if the Church won't. See, you thought it would be alright to hide behind a power greater than yourself. However, the only thing that matches their power is their greed. We won't leave them any way to make more money from our people, and now that the dessert is withheld, they won't like it. Those who stand by the corrupt heads of the Church will fall with them, Ellias. See? This is no Civil War that's preparing in our Kingdom. ...This is a Revolution." 

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*Author Note: Thank you for reading! Please drop a comment if you enjoyed this, check out my other Stories or Social Media for more, and see ya soon! ;)