Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 107: Seven Days Before the Ball

After the lunch hour, the bell from the nearby tower rang across Sexton, its deep toll rolling through the corridors and open courtyards, Ruelle made her way towards Seduction Technique class with Hailey, Kevin, and Edward walking at her side.

Apparently, Edward had been pushed to attend the session with the first years. And the prince was more than happy to attend it, as Ruelle was there.

When they entered the slightly darkened room, Ruelle picked up the scent of lavender oil and roses. Once she took a seat, she sensed someone staring and she turned to catch her sister.

Caroline sat one row behind with a stiff back and eyes fixed on Ruelle with a wounded expression. Before Ruelle could look away, Edward followed the direction of her gaze. Caroline, who noticed the prince looking at her, immediately dropped her eyes to her lap.

"If she’s bothering you, do you want me to have her removed from this class?" Edward asked as if offering to move a chair.

Ruelle turned to him at once. "No. Please don’t... She has every right to be here."

Just because she wasn’t on talking terms with Caroline, it didn’t mean she wished ill upon her sister. It was just that she had decided to remove herself from her younger sister’s life.

Edward’s gaze lingered on Caroline a moment longer before he leaned back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other. He began,

"You know I have several half-siblings. Most of them are tolerable," he continued with a dismissive wave of his hand. "One or two are even useful. But the one I liked the most..." His voice lowered, "He tried to poison me, but my mother was the one who drank it."

Ruelle stared at him, unsure of what to say before uttering, "I’m sorry. It must have been terribly hard for you."

Edward’s gaze drifted somewhere distant for a heartbeat. "It was," he answered before continuing, "So I recognised that look, the one you had this morning when she spoke to you. It’s often the people we try to protect who rest the gun on your shoulder when they want to take their shot," he sighed.

Ruelle stared at him. No one would believe it, but beneath the pride and arrogance people saw, there was a softness. The understanding that only grew in places where something had once been broken.

"You are a strong person, Edward," she said gently. "I don’t know if I would be able to carry something like that and still smile the way you do."

His chin lifted at once. The Edward everyone knew snapped back into place and he declared, "That I am. The mental fortitude I possess is such that even fear flees in my presence."

A small laugh escaped Ruelle before she could stop it, light and genuine. She murmured,

"I suppose it would." Seeing him wait for her to say something after what he had offered, she folded her hands on her lap and said, "My sister didn’t try to kill me. It’s just that our journey together has come to an end and it was time to part."

Edward watched her closely and the earlier seriousness in him softened into something almost boyish. A pleased smile tugged at his lips, as if the small piece of honesty she had shared made him feel chosen. He then suggested,

"How about we meet at the library this evening to study together?" as he wanted to spend more time with her.

But Ruelle hesitated. She apologised, "I would but Hailey and Kevin don’t have the pass to enter the library. We usually study in one of the spare rooms."

To him, fewer people meant fewer distractions. Fewer distractions

room, interrupting the chatter as she made her way to the

days away, I trust many of you are still in the delicate process of securing your partners." Her eyes swept over the students as she continued,

her that he would find a way to get her out of the contract and had left her here in

to find her as it moved across the room, but

eyes followed his line of sight, Caroline caught Ezekiel

Ruelle was

nothing had happened as if she had not vanished from his reach for

Ezekiel’s

there, unaware of the

take this side of the room, and ladies, please pick your fan. You will see that

seats, moving, while Ezekiel stepped forward with a stack of folded fans which were made of silk. Caroline pushed one of the human girls out of

"Ezel—"

her hand without glancing at her as if she didn’t exist. This had her fingers curl around the fan, while other

away but had

Ruelle stepped after Hailey to pick up her fan, Ezekiel offered it to her with a

you all these days, Ruelle? I am glad

him like she always did nor did she

loudly, "Ezekiel!" resulting in

marring her face. "This is a classroom and you will follow its decorum. Your personal attachments may resume

embarrassment. Her hands clenched before snapping,

back at Ezekiel, expecting support, she faltered. He did not smile or step forward. Instead, he wore a tight and distant look right now, as if

Gilbert," a groundling asked with worry in his voice, "is it true we were tricked into

"You can’t bind people without their knowledge.

could answer, an

being paid because you blessed Sexton with your presence? You are housed, fed

themselves before Caroline asked the female instructor, "What

her?" Ms. Gilbert questioned back,

her sister’s eyes, who looked like she had been wronged

eyes briefly meeting Ruelle’s before she said, "She’s a student of Sexton too, isn’t she? If the rest of us

the test," Ruelle defended herself, turning back toward Ms. Gilbert, her

began, "It is

she isn’t a slave. Otherwise you wouldn’t stand a chance competing with her,"

one of the Groundlings spoke up, rising halfway from her seat. "This isn’t fair. Ruelle should be bound to

added, emboldened. "She must have been told to fail on purpose.