Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 95: Ruelle’s realisation

After twenty minutes at the front of the Belmonts’ house, a carriage rolled and stopped. Out stepped Caroline before she headed inside the house, where the door was open.

"Mother? Father? I’m home!" Her voice was bright. She stepped inside the living room and frowned. "Why is it so quiet?"

Upon noticing the bare room before her, she wondered loudly, "Where is the couch? They must have finally decided to replace that dreadful thing. It was uncomfortable. Hm? Even the dining table is gone," she noted obliviously.

"Caroline, you are here! The journey wasn’t too tiring, was it?" Mrs. Belmont enquired warmly as she came out of the kitchen.

"Not at all," Caroline replied cheerfully. "But Mother, have you decided to redecorate? The room looks so... spacious."

"We were hoping Mr. Henley and you would gift a couch to us this Christmas," Mrs. Belmont replied, and Caroline laughed, unsure if her mother was joking or being serious.

Ruelle, who was still in the bathroom, heard her mother and sister speak. She stepped out of there, even though she was in no condition to be moving. Her body protested, but she steadied her expression and stepped out into the corridor.

By the time she reached the living room, Caroline was already standing in the centre of it, turning slowly in a circle.

"Ruelle!" her sister exclaimed, stepping forward. She caught Ruelle’s hands and gave them a squeeze in excitement. "When did you arrive? I am so glad that you are here."

"This morning," Ruelle replied quietly, biting down the pain.

Caroline tilted her head and stated, "You look tired. What’s the dirt on your face? Travelling must have been exhausting or is Sexton being hard on you? If it is, you can let me know. I will have Ezekiel take care of it!"

"Ruelle is smart enough to handle herself in Sexton. You don’t have to trouble Mr. Henley about it," Mrs. Belmont intervened with a smile, while not wanting Ruelle reaching out to Caroline’s husband. She noticed him missing and asked, "Where is Mr. Henley?"

"Oh, he told he had some work to attend to and would arrive later," Caroline waved her hand. She then turned to her mother and said, "You would be pleased to hear that I am going to host a soiree."

"That must cost a lot..." Mrs. Belmont murmured, and Caroline nodded.

me hold it. I just hope it

that what her parents gave her was affection. She had convinced herself that they were strict

the way affection came easily to them without being earned first. It had been a strange thing to witness. For love to be given so freely without conditions. She had felt a small part of

seen Lord Azriel look at his sons with open pride, as if he was happy simply because they existed. Even vampires offered love, in

an expression from her parents. Only that it had never been for her. It had always been

Belmont encouraged Caroline, patting her younger daughter’s back, behaving as though the room were still full of furniture and nothing unpleasant had

"Of course I will," as if success had always been a natural expectation for her. Her gaze drifted around the room once more and

at Ruelle’s dress. "Nice dress, Ruelle. The vampires must have spent a fortune on you that day. You must be

and she replied, "It was a gift for helping." She moved her

agreed it looked... ill-mannered. We are only worried about

know if it was because her wounds were wide open

treated with respect and was not made to feel insignificant like other places do.... They treated me with respect," she

tilted her head, unconvinced. She responded, "Well, just remember I said so." She turned to her mother and said, "Mother, can you prepare

bathroom, her gaze drifted toward her parents’ bedroom.

they have finally thought of the rooms too,"

and took a quick look inside. Everything

replace that dreadful thing," she muttered, staring at the old bed. She was about to leave when something on the

of

as they locked into place.

me,"

washing her hands, she walked back into the kitchen,

these earrings. I think I will

at her sister and froze, noticing they were the earrings from

carefully, "those are mine. You need to take them off, as I

did spend the money on