Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 111: Static Before Lightning

At the time of dusk on Monday, the sky looked ready to drop the season’s first snow as if waiting to veil the world in white. A thin mist clung to Sexton’s tall and narrow windows. Inside, dozens of long candles were lit, their glow staining the stone walls. From the direction of the main hall, the distant sounds of violins and cellos spilled into the passageways.

In the corridors, the students’ voices filled themselves with excitement. Some were already dressed and ready while some were hurrying up and down to borrow what they needed from their friends.

In one of the buildings, Prince Edward now walked through the corridors with Hermes right behind him. The prince was dressed in a grey suit and wore a confident expression as he finally arrived at the door.

"Today is the day Ruelle Belmont finally realises how lucky she is to have handsome me next to her," Edward declared before a pair of students who were walking by bowed at him. He turned to his attendant and whispered, "Hermes, stand guard. I don’t want any interruptions. Not even if the building is on fire. Ruelle should look only at me."

"Of course, Your Highness," Hermes obliged, standing at the side near the wall.

"Good. Because when she opens this door," Edward said, straightening his coat, "history may very well change direction."

He knocked once, then immediately stepped back into what he clearly believed was a charming pose while holding out a bouquet of roses in front of him.

"This is for you—" Edward’s rehearsed smile turned sour when the door opened. "You again..."

Lucian stood at the doorway, one hand resting against the wood. He was dressed in dark clothes, the black shirt’s collar slightly open. His eyes moved from the flowers to Edward’s face.

"You keep appearing at my door with flowers," Lucian remarked, his tone almost idle. "You might start rumours you can’t control."

Edward’s eyebrow twitched at those words. He said through his gritted teeth lowly, "These are for Ruelle. You know... you have been particularly irritating lately, Slater."

"And yet you keep coming closer, Your Highness," Lucian responded, before saying, "You’re blocking my way." Without another word, he took a step into the corridor and closed the door behind him with a light click.

This had the prince take three steps back and scowl at the sheer audacity.

"Careful, Slater," Edward’s jaw clenched, warning him quietly. "If you become a problem for the royal family you might disappear permanently. You hide behind an old name and think it makes you untouchable?"

Lucian stared at the prince, who was an inch shorter than him. "Mm."

"..." Edward scoffed, before nodding. "Very well. I suppose some lessons must be delivered personally. If your blood is as impressive against the royal family’. Let us see it today."

Hermes turned alarmed and he quickly pacified the prince, saying, "Your Highness, the guests will already be gathering. It would not do to keep them waiting."

"Did you hear that? Be grateful I have better things to attend to tonight," Edward scoffed, as though granting mercy. "Besides, Ruelle would be disappointed if I kept her waiting for our dance and the air in the gardens is particularly romantic this time of year." A faint smile touched his lips as he murmured, "It’s only a matter of time before we are properly together."

Lucian’s unreadable eyes stayed on Edward a moment longer than they should have, watching the prince unblinkingly. Then he stated calmly,

"Be careful in the gardens," his voice dipping low. "There are creatures that maul couples this time of year."

He then slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away, leaving the prince’s words hanging uselessly in the air.

Edward turned back to the door and knocked again. "Ruelle?" He leaned closer, listening and after a second his eyebrows drew together. He murmured, "I don’t think she’s here. If she was, she would have stepped out at my voice."

"That is true," Hermes agreed, before clearing his throat and adding, "Perhaps it would be wise to inform a lady in advance when you intend to escort her. A lady may require time to prepare, Your Highness. Maybe it is best we go to the main hall as the ministers must have arrived."

And while the prince and his attendant disappeared down the corridor, two floors below in Blake Stellaris’ room, Ruelle stood before the mirror, carefully combing her hair. Beside her, Hailey had sliced a strawberry in half and was rubbing the juicier side against her cheeks, leaving behind a faint blush.

"I just need to wear the gown and I am ready!" Hailey announced, her voice turning louder out of excitement.

Ruelle smiled faintly at the reflection before her. She had shaped the ends of her blonde hair with a warmed iron rod. She had then twisted pieces of her hair from the side before pinning half of the portion and letting the rest of her hair fall loose down her back in gentle waves.

Placing the comb aside, Ruelle carefully slipped into her gown.

almost like vines in thread, catching the light when she moved. The neckline dipped

sheer and weightless, falling all the way to

finished strapping her heeled shoes, was about to leave the room when she noticed Ruelle struggle with

vampiress said, "Allow

with a small smile as

chimed, "Oh! Blake, I forgot to tell you. I’ll be moving

you been hired already?" the vampiress asked

laughed. "I’ll be moving into the new quarters with Ruelle. Mr. Mortis has

able to tell Lucian about

to inform him when he returned the night before. She had tried to stay awake but by the time he came back, she had fallen asleep on the couch. And this morning, Hailey had come by

tiring.’ His words echoed from

cruel but honest. And

pursed, her fingers curling at the thought of

Blake remarked, giving the laces a final tug before tying them into

helping me," Ruelle said with

them before

other’s gowns and sleeves, and before they

blush," picking up the

and her lips. And once it was done, they finally stepped

way, someone collided sharply with Ruelle’s

lip curling as she hid something in her

away, Ruelle spoke to her, "How unfortunate. Prince Edward was just asking after me, as I am his partner.

jaw tightened. For a moment, it looked as though she wanted to say more

Hailey snickered, watching the vampiress walking quickly before disappearing around the corner of

one of the Halflings appeared before her, "Would

turned to Ruelle, who said, "Go. I will see if

looked ahead of her, her

corridor, Lucian stood half-turned in quiet conversation with a minister she vaguely remembered seeing once at

looked untamed at first glance, yet somehow intentional. Like a balance between rebellion and refinement that suited him too

sensing the weight of her stare,

was handsome in a bright way, while Lucian’s appearance was darker, his jaw

Edward’s voice as he stepped into her path, blocking her view.

back in all at

her, "Well, you look more beautiful than anyone inside the hall, Ruelle. I even endured an hour of practice

She couldn’t address him just by his name, because they were surrounded by people who came from

hall. His eyes briefly moved to Ruelle and he remarked, "Is this the rumoured human you

Ruelle’s face as she turned to look at Edward, who

letter to my father before, but there have been certain changes. I have to write

the Count turned back to look at her,

name sounds familiar," Count Westerling hummed. The two men continued to speak of subject Ruelle wasn’t aware of. When she took a peek inside the adjacent room, her eyes

here? Ruelle questioned in worry, noticing the minister she had come across once at Dane’s birthday celebration. She forgot what his name was. Something grease, she thought. She could still feel her skin crawl at the memory of how he had looked at her. Would he recognise

now. Our first dance awaits," Edward informed the man he was talking to before whisking Ruelle inside and leading her to the dance floor. "Why does it look like you are going to stomp my foot?" he wore

king a

all about it. Father must have forgotten it too, considering I didn’t

wandering before colliding with Lucian’s, who stood not too far from them. He was watching her with the quiet focus of a predator and she

special for you. "A little boating later." This had Ruelle look back at the prince. Did he

But Ruelle wasn’t convinced.

she slipped to where her friends were, while Edward got occupied talking to men from high ranks. But she soon returned to the dance floor with

in her

looked beautiful tonight, almost luminous beneath the chandeliers and yet rigid shoulders made her seem less like a young woman at a celebration and more like prey caught in too much attention.