Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 106: Charcoal and Rose

Ruelle didn’t know a Christmas gift could be stressful. Too many eyes lingered on her, waiting for her to oblige and her shoulders stiffened.

"I was thinking blue, since it’s my favourite colour. But perhaps it’s better if you choose your favourite colour for me," Edward continued, already imagining himself wearing the sweater.

Her lips parted. "I—"

"Red."

The word came calmly from behind the prince. Lucian had stopped a short distance away with Sawyer, who had stopped mid-sentence now forgetting what he was talking about earlier.

Lucian’s posture was relaxed with his expression unreadable and his gaze settled on Edward.

"I don’t remember asking you," Edward grumbled, as he was still bitter about the day he had brought Ruelle flowers. He frowned, stating, "I believe I asked Ruelle."

Ruelle blinked at Lucian.

Did he not tell her to concentrate on her studies and pause on knitting? She asked herself. Had he changed his mind? But the unnerving calm in his eyes suggested otherwise.

"You asked in a public corridor. I assumed it was open to answer," Lucian replied.

Sawyer frowned slightly, thinking aloud before he could stop himself, "I always thought red made it easier to aim at."

Edward turned towards Sawyer with an obvious scowl. He asked, "Ravencroft... Are you volunteering to test how sharp the royal axe is?"

Sawyer straightened at once and bowed, "My apologies, Your Highness. I misspoke. I should see if Angelina has arrived," and he slipped away.

Before things could escalate further, Ruelle spoke up, "Edward," drawing the prince’s attention immediately. She offered him a warm smile before continuing, "It is very kind of you to ask for something made by me. But I’m afraid I won’t be able to start any knitting for a while."

"Eh? Why ever not?" Edward looked offended.

to Lucian for something

to place well... just like you are. I would hate

to be pleased or to

you desire, I would be honoured to make one for you, Your Highness," Caroline stepped forward

this peasant?" Edward looked annoyed with the number of people disrupting

fell at once, but she fixed her expression and replied, "My name is Caroline.

while she stood there in

have never heard about you?" Edward asked, giving her a look of

for the chance to be of service instead. We did knit together before coming here, didn’t we, Ruelle? Such

was unconvinced, turned to Ruelle to question, "Is she

stand there smiling, speaking as if nothing between them had cracked beyond repair. The memory her sister reached for did not exist in her

share a father," Ruelle replied quietly. "Caroline

Ruelle’s words were soft but they landed like a door closing on her face. Hurt flashed across her face before it was replaced with

"Ruelle—"

turning at the end of the corridor murmured politely, "Excuse me," already stepping away. "I have somewhere to

his expression soured. He turned slowly toward the human who

don’t need your

took this as a cue to

froze at

took the prince’s wish, the favour would spill onto her too. All that would be needed was for the prince to say the

corridor, cheeks burning, while the prince walked past her without

the corner and saw Lucian already several paces ahead, the distance between them slowly widening. The sound of her shoes echoed softly against the corridor

"Lucian—"

than a voice but his steps halted at once. He turned, his gaze finding hers without surprise. She reached him a moment later, faintly out of breath, though she couldn’t tell if it was from the hasty walk or from everything else still weighing on her

you do that... back there?" she

moving briefly to the flush still clinging to her cheek before

wasn’t, Edward was." Then she asked, almost thoughtfully,

wondering if her friends had got

her, Lucian did