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.

"I told you she was sponsored by someone. Groundlings can't afford that. Apparently it

her plate full of food, where she had eaten only three bites. While her friends were

already at the bottom… I don't want to be thrown out like scraps. If you ask the prince,

ago and the people were misunderstanding things. She also realised the severity of Sexton and

She could help

"Ruelle, you should—"

and murmured, "Excuse me. I have somewhere to

behind her. Only when she reached almost the end of the corridor

hurried behind her. It was Hailey and Kevin who caught up to her. Hailey looked excited and asked, "Why didn't you tell us that

Kevin

stiffness in his shoulders. The warmth he usually held in

to tell me everything. How did it happen? Is it because

her friend's shoulder. She sighed, "I

you mean a few minutes ago?" Hailey's excitement turned into confusion. "He was talking to you comfortably. I

a lot," Ruelle closed her eyes for a brief second and then opened them. She explained what had happened

by his 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 family member to rid glue. "What if one day he turns you into

tried to ground Hailey. "You forget that 'Groundlings' don't turn into someone's wife in the royal family. Our kind are always assigned as mistress." In her case, the prince had openly suggested to turn her into his

dejected sigh but then brightened up and replied, "I don't mind being the prince's mistress. He is good looking and of higher status." It made Ruelle shake her head with

Prince Edward looked like the sort who would wander straight toward the jaws of a crocodile, dragging others alongside him,

potions class. They were working on an anti-liquid remedy against poisons. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and burnt

focus and look at the board than her peers who would

and when he came to her side, he pointed, "You are

Savantique?" Ruelle

"Yes, Miss Belmont?"

it since then?" Ruelled asked him, her

it even if they somehow gather all the ingredients

that?" Ruelle

blood. Her blood," Mr. Savantique answered her. "Records had it that she did give

looking for her lost earrings from 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

fingers curled tightly around her

the doors to Sexton's administrative office stood firmly shut, as though

with his usual grave composure, though a faint strain had begun to edge its way into the lines around his eyes. Opposite him lounged Crown Prince Edward, one leg crossed leisurely over the other as he looked around

bright with politeness and ambition. He believed his presence here would prove professionally advantageous in the

alongside our third-year students. However, considering your responsibilities as Crown Prince, we will need to coordinate your schedule

it," Prince Edward interrupted without

his brows and asked, "…Pardon

seat, making himself

"..."

existed several unfortunate souls who had once been tasked with educating the Crown Prince. Most of them had either retired early, developed

Mortis tried again, "Your Highness, with the utmost respect, the first years have only just begun

flicked his wrist dismissively and replied, "Even geniuses must revise. If not for my father, I would not be here at all. Let us be grateful I have

spoke in the same tone as before, "Sexton Academy does not exist for your personal amusement. You are to be assigned to the final year as per instruction from

narrowed and questioned, "And how do you