Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 90: What is buried beneath

The prince rubbed his eyes, hoping for Lucian's face to change into Ruelle if he tried hard enough. But it didn't.

Edward lowered his hand slowly. He had, in fact, closed his eyes all the way here, picturing how Ruelle might look upon waking. That vision had now been thoroughly ruined!

"May I help you, Your Highness?" Lucian asked, his tone polite and his expression aloof.

"Yes," Edward replied at once, lifting his chin. "I came to see someone important. However, it appears my attendant has failed me again." He flicked a glance at the pillar.

"Your Highness, this is—" Hermes began, who stood behind the pillar.

"Quiet, Hermes," Edward shushed without looking at him. "You already misled me once. Do not compound it by speaking." He turned back to Lucian, continuing as if uninterrupted. "I am looking for Ruelle. Although, I suppose you wouldn't know—"

"This is her room," came Lucian's calm response.

"—when you are—what?" Edward paused. He frowned before demanding, "Then what are you doing here?"

"This is also my room."

The silence that followed was quietly filled with the sound of crickets. Edward's eyes widened and he questioned, "You—what—why is she sleeping in the same room as you?"

Behind Lucian, Ruelle appeared at the doorway, eyes still clouded with sleep. She took in the sight before her and blinked in surprise.

"Your Highness? What are you doing here?" She asked the prince, confused.

Edward turned to her with a look of shock and repeated, "What are you doing here?"

"I was sleeping. It is five thirty in the morning," Ruelle frowned.

Edward looked as though he were one heartbeat away from tearing his hair out. Lucian's expression did not change.

Ruelle noticed how Edward had dressed as if he were going somewhere. Was he returning to the castle? She noticed him take a step forward. But at the same time, Lucian shifted, just enough to block the path.

"What do you think you are doing?" Edward asked in a low, threatening voice.

Lucian sneezed once, quietly, bringing a knuckle to his nose. He murmured, "Flowers."

"Oh…" Ruelle glanced at the flowers. "He is allergic." When Lucian took a step back, she noticed his eyes water faintly.

Edward stared at Lucian, dumbstruck, before the moment turned into a glare. Because the prince had almost buried Lucian's face in those same flowers earlier, and he had been perfectly fine!

The prince then stated, placing one hand on his chest, "I picked these for you, Ruelle. It is customary to celebrate new beginnings. To our new friendship." He extended the bouquet further, as if intent on placing it directly into her hands.

But at the same time Lucian sneezed again. He turned his face away and walked inside.

Ruelle's eyes flicked between Lucian and the flowers. She hesitantly accepted them, and replied sincerely,

"Thank you, Edward. They are lovely." After a pause, she added, "But I cannot keep them in here… I will have them placed somewhere nice where everyone can admire your handiwork."

She noticed the prince think about it with a deep frown. She then said, "I will see you later at the dining hall. And in the meantime, I will think about what gift I should give you in return."

once. The earlier displeasure melted into something brighter,

I shall look forward

with Hermes hurrying after him. But once they reached the bottom

"Hermes!"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

was a

the room after placing the bouquet outside. She crossed to the window

door this early," she apologised. She added, "I will have the flowers placed

standing before his cupboard as he reached for a clean shirt. "You're not responsible for

feeling that she had caused him

had wrapped her scarf around her neck, which kept her warm. She entered the

"Ruelle!"

the Elite's table with his sides and the front

caught Edward patting the seat beside him and

never left Ruelle. Lowering her voice, Hailey leaned in and murmured,

already begun to step back when Ruelle's fingers grabbed

then walked towards the table and asked the prince, "If you don't mind, I was hoping

gaze

seat is just for

cheeks turning red. "I already have a

offering Edward a polite smile. "But I cannot leave my

place, he would have punished them for rejecting him more than once. But he didn't know why he couldn't do the same

you… refusing? You would leave?" he added looking

hope my new friend would wish to get along with the people important to me and not push them away." After a pause,

close to panic. After a second, he exhaled and waved his hand as if

mostly drawn. In the bedroom, the Halfling restlessly searched through

he closed one drawer, footsteps entered the

excited. "Are you taking

replied, "I will need to return.

while hugging him. "I

is a wonderful idea," Ezekiel continued to smile at

grinned before saying, "I should go bathe now. "I don't want the water to turn cold," she laughed,

later and wait for you

of his view. At first he didn't

slipping it into the inner pocket of

him to another town and he parked it there. From there he took a local carriage, stepping down

back to make sure no

around, he knelt without hesitation and began to pull out the dark mud, which clung to his fingers. He kept digging for a while until a

softly. He rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his hands. From his pocket, he withdrew Caroline's chain and let it fall

be no one to see you host a soiree, Caroline. As you will

Ruelle's attention needed to be drawn back where it belonged before it strayed too far toward the prince or anything that had nothing to do with him

passed, and the clink of cutlery gradually filled the spaces

ate quietly while feeling people's eyes at the table she sat at. Simply because it was an

out of nervousness. And next to Hailey sat Kevin, who had joined them after he had entered the hall. He sat

was so special about them that Ruelle was ready to let him eat alone. He found them to be ordinary and rather

his voice, despite the fact that half the hall was already

any more friends coming?" Edward asked, already assessing