Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 57: When Porcelain Breaks

"What?" Ruelle uttered, not because she didn’t hear it. But because she was in shock. "But m—"

"Incomplete. What’s the point of bringing water when it doesn’t even touch the dying man’s lips?" Ms. Gemma asked, looking straight into Ruelle’s eyes. "Sexton prepares you for the world. You should have known when you and your family signed up to study here. To advance yourself."

But Ruelle had never wished or thought of attending here in the first place. And now she couldn’t pull away from it.

"Maybe you will not fail the next time. If there’s one, that is, hoping you pass in other subjects. You may leave now, Ms. Belmont," the older woman politely waved to the door, and Ruelle exited the room.

A chill ran down Ruelle’s spine because there was a possibility of failing... as she had missed the questions in the stuck sheet of the questionnaire. The image of the Groundling tied in chains flashed through her eyes.

"Ruelle?" Hailey called, who had been waiting for her.

"Do you know when the results are going to be announced? All the subjects that we wrote," Ruelle asked, worried.

"It should be put up the day after tomorrow on the board. Before we leave for the weekend," Hailey replied, before coming to realise what might have Ms. Gemma told her friend. She placed her hand on Ruelle’s arm. "Let us not think of the worst now."

Ruelle nodded her head, but she couldn’t get rid of the hopelessness she felt sink into her. She had studied hard. She had gotten her ears pierced. Yet things didn’t go the way they were supposed to. She began to imagine the worst direction her life could shift in once the results came out and she felt her stomach ache.

She followed Hailey through the quiet corridor, their footsteps muted against the stone floor. They reached the stairwell. A few students hurried past, chatting about the river trip and also the prince’s arrival.

"...they’ll have lanterns strung across the trees at night," one of the female Groundlings said in a hushed voice. "It will look like starlight fallen onto water."

"Not until evening though. I heard the Elites will be attending the river festivities. In fact, it is hosted by one of them," said her friend, as they walked behind Ruelle and Hailey. "Someone said merchants are bringing wine and food. Isn’t that exciting."

"If it is hosted by the Elites..." the first one whispered, "the rest of us can still linger by the riverbanks. So long as we don’t cross their boundaries."

"Ruelle! You and Hailey are coming, aren’t you?" asked another girl, quickly coming to her side.

"Where?" Ruelle asked, pulled back to the present.

"The river. Tomorrow, of course!" the girls responded, their voices bubbling with unkempt excitement.

"I haven’t thought about it yet," Ruelle replied honestly.

"Oh, you must come! You’re one of the bravest Groundlings in our year. At least we know we would have someone to stand with!"

But Ruelle didn’t share the same sentiment. Brave? When had she been brave here? All she had done was fall into trouble—unwanted, uninvited, unavoidable.

She wasn’t in the mood either. Yet as she thought about it... it was likely one of the last days she would be free. Free, before the chains came. A shiver ran down her spine, even as the two girls drifted away down the hall, their voices still laced with excitement.

you don’t want to," Hailey supported her with a

it is better than sitting in the

Hailey asked and Ruelle

Kevin is eager to attend too," Ruelle replied, and

to look around the place as if to catch sight of Kevin, but he wasn’t there. "He should have been out from submitting the assignment long ago. Maybe Mr. Henley has held him back," she

left the room. His steps were uneven, his face looked pale beneath the candle lit chandeliers hanging in

eased himself down onto the bench

frowned, leaning forward.

eyes half-lidded. "That’s because I almost did faint," he muttered

pitcher and poured juice into a glass, sliding it across to him. "Here," she urged gently. "Drink. And eat. You need to replenish as

gave her a faint smile—tired, yet far warmer than it should have been. His gaze lingered on her for a beat too long, something unspoken flickering in his eyes. Then he lowered them quickly and took the glass, draining it in one go. Without

and red marks beneath the skin. "I thought... wasn’t it supposed to be a

Kevin replied with

enjoy this,"

a hollow laugh. "Enjoy it? Not for a second. It hurts like hell. Every single time." He dragged a tired hand through his hair. "But you know... when you’ve already been marked once, some of them start offering

her brows rising faintly. "You’re risking

earn quickly," Kevin’s fingers curled faintly around the glass. It wasn’t for

her brows knit with quiet concern as she watched him. The soft glow of candlelight caught in her hair, her features worn out but kind. And for a moment—longer than

put yourself at stake this soon. It would be reckless," Ruelle said,

he was being practical, Ruelle thought to herself. She knew it would be wise

her eyebrows furrowed out of the discomfort she

stepped lightly through its door. The air still carried the faintest trace of ink. Candles burned low along the arched

pretense of collecting the graded sheet of the female Groundlings. He had finished grading the other male Groundlings. The result needed

home yet?" Gemma’s voice floated towards him, who was sitting

me well. I’ve come to collect the results," he replied with ease, his gaze drifted to

Gemma’s mouth. "Perhaps it’s time you found yourself a proper reason to hurry back.

is worth pursuing," Ezekiel’s smile deepened a shade

the edges of the parchment stack. His eyes flicked over the names, while looking only for

have the results been?" he asked casually. "The test was quite easy for

thought, but one failed. Ruelle Belmont," Gemma informed him with a faint note of disappointment. "She lost the assignment’s required item. I had

such simple task? She could have come to him! "I will compile this with

in the dining area, Rulle, Hailey and Kevin stepped out of the room and walked through the corridor. One’s mind was heavy with failure, one’s face pale and

I heard there are always games, and dipping into

Ruelle barely heard her. A faint rustle of papers caught her

Ezekiel emerged carrying a stack of parchments in one hand, while looking polished as always. His eyes were quick

smooth as silk, a pleasant smile curving his lips. "A word, if

two go ahead. I’ll catch up." The last thing she needed was for Kevin to faint as he