Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 84: Prince Edward's chaos

Sexton's dining hall, which was usually alive with chatter, had fallen into whispers behind the students hands. Their eyes were trained on the Crown Prince of the kingdom standing not among Elites but beside the Groundlings' table.

Ruelle's head felt jammed under every pair of eyes pressing on her and questioning her audacity. She had hoped for the prince to leave, but he continued to stand there and she could hear the faint sound of her heart, painfully alive.

"You know, I just realised," Prince Edward began, while everyone in the room hung on every word that left his lips. "I've never had someone work oil on me with such patience. We must do it again sometime. Perhaps regularly!" he looked utterly unaware of the storm he was unleashing.

"I think there are better people suited for it, Your Highness," Ruelle tried to put an end to their conversation.

But the prince was not done talking and continued, ​​"Most women would have fled in horror, but you were attentive with that thing," he meant the glue, as if announcing a royal achievement. "I don't think anyone has ever handled me like that before."

Gasps rippled through the hall, while someone choked on their drink after hearing what the prince uttered.

Ruelle's eyes widened in absolute horror at how he sounded and she hoped the floor would swallow her whole. No, not her, but him!

"Crown Prince's thing?!"

"Did first-year Groundlings begin with physical classes for Seduction Techniques already?"

"Groundlings truly are ambitious…!"

Heat rushed to Ruelle's cheeks. She forced to breathe, trying to steady her trembling fingers against her sides. She began, "Your Highness—"

"I ordered you to call me Edward," he corrected with a harumph, drawing an imaginary slice across his throat. "Unless you wish to be beheaded."

"Edward," Ruelle corrected carefully, because defying a prince was worse than death, "I merely helped you remove a… hunting mishap. I am quite certain there are many capable men who can tend to such matters."

Or knock some sense into your head, she thought weakly.

Prince Edward looked genuinely offended. He narrowed his eyes and remarked,

"I should reward those who serve me well. Also, you made some excellent points, ahem. So I have decided you will be summoned whenever I require assistance. Consider yourself fortunate, as most people spend their entire lives praying for the honour of serving me. You have simply stumbled into greatness, which most only dream of."

Lucian was right… Ruelle thought to herself. The act of kindness did not always reward. Because right now she could feel the glares burning through her.

She didn't dare to look in Lucian's direction right now. She could imagine the look of disappointment in his eyes and she bit the inside of her cheek.

Then there were her friends, who had turned into nothing less than a pair of statue. Thankfully, before the Crown Prince could fuel more misunderstandings, a tall, lean man in his late twenties entered the dining room. His brown hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail that brushed past his shoulders, and he wore the king's crest upon his coat.

The attendant bowed his head slightly beside Edward and leaned close, speaking in a low voice meant only for royal ears. The prince's brows knit together in immediate annoyance.

"What? Now?" Edward hissed under his breath. His voice was low, but not enough to mask his displeasure. "Ask them to wait. I am busy right now."

The attendant whispered something to the prince again, and Edward looked irritated. He turned to Ruelle and said begrudgingly,

"It seems that people desire to share in my greatness," he said before leaving with his attendant.

The steady click of the prince's shoes followed him out of the dining hall and down the corridor. And once they faded, the silence in the hall broke. Voices turned louder than before, buzzing frantically while most of the students stared at Ruelle.

commented, "I told you she was sponsored by

sat down, she stared at her plate full of food, where she had eaten only three bites. While her friends were trying to wrap their heads around what happened, one of the second-year groundlings leaned towards

be punished. "I'm already at the bottom… I don't want to be

half an hour ago and the people were misunderstanding things. She also realised the severity of Sexton and what could happen if humans

right! She could help

"Ruelle, you should—"

"Excuse me. I have

of the dining hall, the noise fading behind her. Only when she reached almost the end of the corridor

us that you know the Crown Prince?! Do you think

Kevin

in his shoulders. The warmth he usually held in his gaze felt dimmer now, shadowed by something caught between

you have to tell me everything. How did it happen? Is it because your father knows the royal

hand on her friend's shoulder. She

minutes ago?" Hailey's excitement turned into confusion. "He was talking to you comfortably. I don't think a prince would ever

second and then opened them. She explained what had happened before she arrived at the dining room and finished, "He

name. You must have made quite some impression on him," Hailey thought loudly. That was because it wasn't every day a commoner helped a royal

forget that 'Groundlings' don't turn into someone's wife in the royal family. Our kind are always assigned as mistress."

and replied, "I don't mind being the prince's mistress. He

jaws of a crocodile,

an anti-liquid remedy against poisons. The room was

sat in the front, because it was easier to focus and look at

was making rounds, and when he came to her side, he pointed, "You

Ruelle

"Yes, Miss Belmont?"

Ruelled asked him, her voice not

always try in hope. But no one can succeed at it even if they somehow gather all the ingredients listed in there," Mr.

say that?" Ruelle

it was a creation born not just of alchemy but of blood. Her blood," Mr. Savantique answered her. "Records had it that she did give birth to a child which was given away. And she, well, she had gone mad and

the assignment, her eyes had briefly strayed to Lucian's desk. One of his parchments was filled with layered equations, ink scratched out, rewritten, then scratched again… as if he had

fingers curled tightly

doors to Sexton's administrative office stood firmly

edge its way into the lines around his

presence here would

as if gathering the last fragments of patience remaining inside him. "Your education and combat records place you easily alongside our third-year students. However, considering your responsibilities as Crown Prince, we will need to coordinate your schedule thoroughly

Prince Edward interrupted

brows and asked,

leaned back further into his seat, making

"..."

said that there existed several unfortunate souls who had once been tasked with educating the Crown Prince. Most of them had either

years have only just begun foundational work and is not suitable for you. What you require

revise. If not for my father, I would not be here at all. Let us be grateful I

spoke in the same tone as before, "Sexton Academy does not exist for your

prince's eyes narrowed and questioned, "And how do you suppose my mood feels about