Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 116: Under His Roof

"It is my fault."

Ruelle’s chest tightened. Lucian offered Edward a polite bow, his demeanour composed as ever, while the prince stared at the pureblooded vampire for a single beat before rage flooded his face.

Edward strode forward, fists clenched. He looked one second away from throwing a punch, while Ruelle’s heart leapt to her throat.

"If Ruelle had not attended the celebration at the Slater Mansion," Lucian continued, "she wouldn’t have crossed paths with Minister Maverick Griswold."

Ruelle’s eyes snapped back at Lucian, his expression nonchalant compared to the furious prince. He had admitted his involvement, yet gently turned the blame toward the minister.

"Maverick Griswold?" Edward lowered his raised hand slightly, frowning. "Who is that?"

Hermes answered at once, "Minister Griswold is a first-rank minister of the Royal Courthouse, Your Highness. His position is overseeing civil enforcement and human registry matters."

Edward’s jaw tightened. His gaze snapped back to Lucian. "Then why did you make it sound like you were the one who did it?"

Because he did, Ruelle thought, her heart beginning to race.

Lucian didn’t flinch. He responded,

"She is under my roof. That makes her my responsibility. She returns to my side at the end of the day," he paused coolly, before adding, "My room. And the details of what I heard would not please you. He came looking for her again this morning."

Edward continued to stare at Lucian, as if he wanted to get into a brawl but at the same time worried about his interest. His gaze shifted to Ruelle and the fury in his eyes made her fingers curl at her sides. The prince demanded, "Is that true?"

She nodded. "He came to my class earlier—"

"How dare he," Edward hissed. His hands trembled with anger. He ordered, "Hermes, I want his position stripped."

The attendant wore a weary look as he answered, "That is not within your direct authority, Your Highness. It requires the King’s seal..."

Edward waved him off, snapping, "My authority is not nonexistent. There is nothing I cannot do." He then turned to Ruelle and added, "Nothing."

"You don’t need to go that far, Your Highness," Ruelle said quietly.

"Why not? He has sullied your reputation."

"I believe," Lucian interrupted smoothly, "she is not worried about what he did. She is worried about what he will do if this matter is handled poorly."

For a moment the prince simply stared at Lucian, jaw tight. He then asked coldly, "Is that what she is saying or what you are suggesting, Slater?"

Lucian met Edward’s gaze, responding to him in the same tone that barely rose or dropped, "I’m suggesting she should not suffer for someone else’s mistake."

Now," and he strode down

watched Edward disappear around the corner. When he was about to step back inside

minister... What if Edward learns

unruffled and

of protecting you. Removing a nuisance while hoping you’ll look at him

about what if things went wrong. She asked, "How

very good at hiding your emotions," Lucian pointed out, watching her doe-like eyes look up to meet his eyes. There was something sweet in there that drew unnecessary bees to

eyes widened as she remembered it. She murmured,

acknowledgement before saying, "Get back

eating?"

have something to do," Lucian answered. Ruelle gave a nod before

the area where the carriages were parked, his coachman, who was sitting idly, stood up at the

Slater," the coachman, Claude, offered

out who bought siren bone powder in the last sixty days," Lucian ordered. Having meddled with several potions since he was young, he was aware of the ingredients used and their symptoms. And last night, someone had drugged him. There were only a handful of ingredients that were

belonging to the

before adding, "Look for the merchants in the East Harbour. They usually deal with things that are hard to find." He then pulled out a rolled parchment from his coat before extending it, which

course, Sire," the coachman obliged with a

and the procedure of removing a minister from the courthouse was a long one, something Lucian

someone crossed a line, he ruined them. Slowly and carefully, until misery pressed in from all sides and the person was

a seat at the

birdy told me you had been breaking test tubes and beakers before you stormed out without a word," Dane chimed,

to shoot the bird," Lucian remarked lightly,

messenger! I was just worried," Sawyer offered a solemn

then commented, "He looks fine. Maybe more than fine. Is it perhaps last night’s dance?" He wiggled his eyebrows. But the younger Slater didn’t bother to answer

corrected her brother, who sat

of the room, Ruelle sat with her friends, her movements careful, as though the way

that her eyes drifted toward the Elite

When Dane noticed her looking his way, he

the marquis’s cousin’s nephew," Hailey explained after she swallowed her food. "I suggested that I secure a position in his household as a maid. But somehow he seemed offended. As if I was asking him to be

more," Ruelle replied, tucking

to dream on that," Hailey replied.

small hum of agreement, still focused on his

to speak to anyone about the guard position?" Ruelle asked, as he had mentioned about it in the

Kevin sighed softly. He hesitated before adding, "Hailey isn’t wrong. Elites don’t raise Groundlings positions. They can’t make humans from Sexton their legitimate wives. Just like how the prince has been pinning for you to be his mistress. The closest place a lower human gets is being kept and that

to Lucian, who was still conversing with those around him, composed and untouched by the thoughts now

sure fancies you to skip classes and go after the minister," Hailey commented thoughtfully.

was the least for him to do,"

sitting with a scissor today," Hailey muttered under her breath, while Kevin sent her a

am having a headache. I will be returning to my room," Kevin informed them, before heading out of the