Lady Dhampir
Chapter 55

Milena stayed silent a few seconds. She had expected a lot of things, but not this... Sterile? Seriously? She even had thought those wenches would invent an affair or something, but this was truly so stupid and low! "Don't worry," said Yasina, "Tiphania is already speaking her mind to them, and Lady de Iris is furious!"

She wasn't the only one. Not only Milena hated when people used her unique condition against her, but to doubt her ability to have children was such an obvious tactic to have her removed as a bridal candidate! She clenched her fists, wondering how she should handle this. She couldn't make a scene during a Royal Bal, but if she let this go, she would truly allow those girls to disrespect her, and she was not fine with that.

So few people knew about the truth of her condition, like her diet and her body's resistance, what parts she took from the human side and the ones she had from the vampire side!

Raphael and Valentin, from across a few guests, noticed her expression and walked up to her. It was rare, very rare for their younger sister to let her emotions show, but Milena was clearly upset.

Once they both got there, Chartiana quickly explained the situation to them, while Milena remained silent, glaring in the little group's way. Philomenie had only just come out of the resting room, but her friends were glued in one corner and clearly sending disdainful or mocking glances at Milena.

So they were proud of their foolish rumor, then?

Milena took a deep breath and walked over, clearly aiming to their side. Some of the ladies looked unsure, seeing the young duchess coming towards them, and left the group, looking down and ashamed. Milena didn't care for those sheep. She was aiming at the duo from earlier.

When she arrived at their side, the ladies didn't bulge, but their confidence did seem shaken a bit. Moreover, two of Milena's brothers were clearly following behind her, making this more serious.

"Do you have anything you'd like to speak directly with me, Ladies?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," boldly replied one of them, looking away as if to ignore Milena.

To everyone's surprise, Valentin suddenly stepped forward.

"You will address my younger sister with all the respect you should! Since when do you dare speak to a Duchess so rudely! Or are you bold enough to look down on the House De Crescent!"

Everyone around was struck. No one had ever seen the Heir De Crescent get mad before, but Valentin's eyes were throwing daggers. The young ladies, no matter what brave front they had tried to put on before, couldn't keep their stance any longer. They looked down and mumbled some sort of apology for not calling Milena by her proper title.

"Louder," growled Valentin.

Even Milena was impressed. She truly hadn't expected their usually so composed older brother to speak out for her or get this angry for her sake. This simple fact made her feel a bit better.

The two girls gulped and blurted the few words with some difficulties.

"A...Accept our apologies, Lady de Crescent."

"Fine," said Milena. "So now, you'll share with me this interesting rumor going on about me suddenly."

"We do not know where it came from," said one of the girls.

Those two were truly shameless. The timing was way too obvious, but they had decided to play dumb and act as if they hadn't started it so Milena wouldn't be able to accuse them.

"Oh?" Said Eugenie, who had shifted on her fiance's side upon his arrival. "Surely, you two girls were only too happy to slander my sister-in-law and talk about it just before she arrived here! Now, I strongly advise you two to start talking!" "It... It has been said that Lady De Crescent's condition may raise an issue," said one.

"There is some truth," added her friend. "No one has proof dhampirs can conceive children, after all. How do we know you.... The young Duchess de Crescent is truly an eligible candidate?"

Milena was furious. How would her different kind be any barrier for her to become a mother, carry her children? She was like any girl, and even vampire ladies could bear children! Since her birth, there was nothing about her condition that would have hinted otherwise!

"Why couldn't I bear children, may I ask? Is there something so different about me that would make you doubt me? Or are you just pointing out groundless rumors because I am different? Is it so easy to pick on a race you cannot understand?" "We were... just... Lady de Crescent is so different. Your kind is unique."

"Since when do you call yourself experts in Dhampirs?" Hissed back Milena. "Yes, I am unique, not a monster you can expect the differences from humans and vampires in one glance! Are you implying I am less of a woman than you are?"

The girls went white, slowly understanding they would not get away with it. Then one of them shook her head, trying to regain her composure.

"We only said what others said! You cannot accuse us of those rumors, Lady de Crescent!"

"Really? Who did it come from then? Surely, you have a name if you didn't start it yourself?" Asked Milena, crossing her arms.

The girls were taken aback. They hadn't thought Milena would not let go of the rumor thing! Did she truly intend to go all the way up the chain of gossips? This woman was truly too tenacious! "We... We just heard it..."

"From who?" Asked Milena, her amethyst eyes suddenly glowing dangerously with her anger rise.

The angrier she was, the more her purple eyes showed hints of red, as if her vampire blood was awakening to her anger. The girls gasped, a bit afraid by her appearance.

Suddenly, Philomenie arrived, stepping in front of her friends, standing between Milena and her friends, looking panicked.

"Lady de Crescent, I am so sorry! I do not know who spread this insane rumor about you! I didn't think my friend would speak about it either, so..."

"You knew," coldly said Milena.

Philomenie suddenly stayed silent. The furious eyes of Milena were accusing her. She nodded, a bit pitifully.

"Yes... I mean... We... we were talking about your unique condition the other day, and... The fact that Princess Silvra hadn't mothered any child..."

"Lady Silvra died young and unmarried," retorted Milena. "What was she supposed to do? Have a child out of wedlock before twenty, just to prove Dhampirs are not useless creatures?"

Her violent words shocked everyone. It was a taboo to say such things in a public place, especially a Royal ball, but Milena's anger couldn't be stopped by politeness. She had enough of Philomenie and her friends. Moreover, Princess Silvra was her own personal heroine since her childhood. She admired that brave woman to no end, and hearing those girls use her against her had driven her mad.

The girls were too shocked to reply, and Philomenie looked on the verge of tears.

"I'm so sorry... I didn't think it would upset you so much..."

Milena didn't even want to look at her. People around were starting to whisper about the Lady De Crescent going overboard, and taking pity on Lady De Winter's tears. Eugenie de Iris, however, crossed her arms, making a clear stance. It would have been perceived as bullying if one of Milena's brothers got angry for her against younger girls, but the countess and duchess-to-be had no problem standing up for Milena, to which she considered like a younger sister.

"If you truly feel sorry, you young Ladies should apologize to Lady de Crescent already! Aren't you just going to stand there and act pitiful when you started this to begin with? How fun is it to gossip in someone's back at your parties? How about you learn some manners!"

Philomenie's friends, who didn't fear Eugenie as much as Milena, were frowning and about to reply something when someone they hadn't expected suddenly spoke up.

"Now, now, it seems like the De Crescent Family is about to have one more formidable Lady in the house."

"Your Highness!"

Everyone around bowed for the Queen, who had just made her way to their little group. From red, the girls who had begun all the gossiping went livid. They bowed clumsily, and mumbled immediately, trying to get some pity from her.

"Your Highness, Lady De Crescent has been acting so rude! Bullying us simply because of some rumor, when..."

"Some rumor? Who dares to make up rumors about our subjects? To stir trouble, of all things? What kind of disgusting, shameful, unladylike practice is that?"

"We... we..."

The girls were absolutely petrified. The Queen was clearly not going to have it their way at all. She was looking at them with an ice-cold gaze as if they had been mere insects boldly daring to stand on her path. Queen Lyriana was known to be cold, stern and unforgiving, but now she was truly scary.

"I personally selected the young Duchess de Crescent as a bridal candidate for both of my sons. Do you ladies think you have anything to say against that?"

They were shaking, shaking their heads but also shaking in fear. No one wanted to anger the Queen. This was a tiny Kingdom, and no noble family could afford to lose the support of the Royal Family. Eventually, all noble families were tied and needing each other, but surely, one could be destroyed overnight if they made themselves a target.

Those two girls had done something stupid and were just starting to understand why they should not and could not speak against a Duchess in public. Because families of lower ranks simply couldn't stand against a Duchy Family unpunished. "No... No, Your Highness... We..."

"We, what?" coldly repeated the Queen. "Who are you, to speak against my words?"

"We didn't, your Highness!"

"Then who said Lady De Crescent was unfit as a bridal Candidate! If you give me no name I shall hold you both guilty!"

The girls went livid. The looked at Philomenie, who was just as desperate. Milena couldn't tell if her acting skill was over the roof, or she truly wasn't a part of this, but she was clearly letting those girls point themselves out as the main culprits. "Nothing to say?" Said the Queen as the girls stayed silent. "Well then, you are both guilty of speaking against your Queen!"

"We didn't! We truly didn't, your Highness, we wouldn't dare to speak..."

"Silence!"

They both shut their mouth immediately.

"There is no such behavior in my court. I have no sight for ladies who just can't behave themselves and have the boldness to make up absurd rumors about one of the young Duchesses! Don't you know how to keep your rank, you disrespectful children!" "We're sorry, your Highness!"

"Enough! I cannot bear this sight any longer. You've managed to make this Queen angry and make such a fuss during a Royal Bal. Leave the premises immediately or I'll have you both expelled by force! And trust me, we are not done with this yet!"