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."

My carriage. Now," and he

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

sent him after the minister... What if Edward learns the

unruffled

until he has made a spectacle of protecting

hand, was worried about what if things went wrong. She asked, "How did

his eyes. There was something sweet in there that drew unnecessary bees to the

widened as she remembered it. She murmured, "I

Lucian made a low sound of acknowledgement before saying, "Get back

be eating?" Ruelle asked him

gave

stairs. When he reached the area where the carriages were parked, his coachman, who was

Slater," the coachman,

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

ingredients belonging to the merfolk turn

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

coachman

return to Sexton until the deed was completed and the procedure of removing a minister from the courthouse was a long one, something Lucian was quite familiar with. As for Griswold, he had been warned but the

line, he ruined them. Slowly and carefully, until misery pressed in from all sides and the person was nowhere left to

seat at the table

you stormed out without a word," Dane chimed, picking up a fork and

shoot the bird," Lucian remarked lightly, for Sawyer’s eyes

messenger! I was

Is it perhaps last night’s

corrected her brother,

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

she looked up. Only that her eyes drifted toward the Elite table

hadn’t just stopped her from leaving or said those things in that quiet voice. When Dane noticed her looking his way, he

her food. "I suggested that I secure a position in his household as a maid. But somehow he seemed offended.

to turn you into something more," Ruelle replied, tucking a piece of hair behind her

replied. "But not something a Groundling

gave a small hum of

position?" Ruelle asked, as he had mentioned about it

seemed more interested in talking to women to give any of us time," 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

Ruelle thought, her gaze drifting back to Lucian, who was still conversing with those around him, composed and untouched by the thoughts

you to skip classes and go after the minister," Hailey commented thoughtfully. "That’s manly of him. Taking responsibility," she

what he did, it was the least for him to do," came

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

headache. I will be returning to my room," Kevin informed them, before heading