Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 125: Elite’s Invitation

Music Recommendation: Lies We Tell – Lee Sang Min

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Three hours had passed since Ruelle had left Mr. Swan’s class, yet she still couldn’t stop thinking about the way Lucian’s sculpture had been ruined. The instructor had apologised before passing him with a high grade, while Lucian had stood there as though the damage meant nothing to him.

Was there anything that ever truly bothered him? Ruelle wondered who now sat in the potion class. Yet the thought faltered when she remembered the way he had questioned her about moving out of his room.

Ruelle’s gaze drifted to Hailey who sat beside her, who was just about to throw the siren’s scales into her cauldron when she stopped and turned to ask,

"How many am I supposed to add? Two?"

"Keep adding them until it turns blue. Give it a second before you add another," Ruelle patiently explained. "If you add more after the colour changes, the antidote will turn poisonous."

"So I’ll either be saving or killing a vampire..." Hailey muttered grimly. "You’ll come visit me in the dungeon, won’t you?"

"Without doubt," Ruelle smiled before a shadow fell on their table. When she looked up, she found an Elite vampire leaning over it, his forearms resting casually beside her cauldron. He wore a lazy grin as he said,

"There’s a private soiree after this class." His eyes moved between the two young women. "Only a few people are invited. You two are invited."

Ruelle didn’t even have to imagine what kind of soiree he was trying to invite them into. She replied, "We are occupied this evening."

"Occupied?" the vampire repeated.

"That is right," Hailey laughed, "We skipped lunch and need to—"

Before she could finish, the vampire reached forward and dropped several more siren scales into Ruelle’s cauldron. The liquid inside hissed violently and a sharp, sour smell rose from it.

"Whatever occupies you," he murmured, watching the potion bubble, "can wait. What could possibly be more important than attending the soiree?" he tilted his head in question.

"You shouldn’t push it. The prince wouldn’t take it kindly..." Hailey said hesitantly.

A chuckle slipped from the vampire’s lips. He responded, "The prince isn’t here. And besides... all of you groundlings are free for us to choose and pick from."

"We’ll have to refuse the invitation," Ruelle said firmly.

The vampire studied her for a moment, as though the refusal amused him.

"Are you sure?" he asked and lowered his voice, "I hear your father carries quite a lot of debt. It would be unfortunate if something... unexpected happened to him. Debt has a way of growing," he continued thoughtfully. "Imagine it swelling so large that it crushes the family entirely."

Ruelle stared at the vampire’s threat and after a second she answered, "If that is what pleases you."

For a moment, the vampire blinked as humans rarely spoke that way when their families were mentioned. He murmured,

"Is that so..." Then his gaze slowly shifted to Hailey. "I hear your father works as a coachman. It would be terrible if he were accused of stealing from the earl’s family."

Colour drained from Hailey’s face and her hands tightened. She said, "Keep my father out of it."

The vampire straightened with a soft laugh. He responded, "Then perhaps you two should think carefully. It would sadden me—and the others—if something unfortunate happened to your families."

He stepped back from the table.

"And the invitation is only for the two of you. No need to share it with anyone else."

"Mr. Orpheus, what are you doing away from your table?" The instructor’s voice cut through the air.

help fixing it," the vampire replied with an

to Ruelle’s ruined potion and his lips thinned. He stated, "Miss Belmont, you need to pay attention rather than waste the ingredients. Dispose of it

young women spoke. Then Ruelle said in a

been until now." They could only fend for themselves for a short while, she thought to herself. Her voice then dropped to a whisper. "By any

him," Ruelle assured her, "I can

he said about not inviting anyone... We just have to attend the soiree. I thought having the prince’s favour

noticed how Hailey was getting nervous, while not wanting any harm to befall on her family. Maybe if there was a gap in the window, she thought

parents, she wondered if they had gone to visit another relative’s house to avoid being harassed by the debt

carriage headed with speed and intention before it stopped at the Henleys’ residence. Out stepped Ezekiel, who had returned home to kick the Belmonts out of his house.

towards the door, he caught sight of a carriage parked outside and he questioned whom the Belmonts had invited into his house. When he stepped inside, he

good, you are here, Ezekiel," Lorenzo said upon

me, I didn’t know you

I must say, you are fortunate to have such affectionate in-laws. Mrs. Belmont was just telling me how dearly you care for your wife... even

met Mrs. Belmont’s, who offered him the sweetest smile. "Did she now?" he asked with

works so hard for her," Mrs. Belmont said with a small sigh. "But I do worry

shall mention about Mrs. Henley’s special case at court

She turned her eyes to Ezekiel and added sweetly, "Isn’t it wonderful,

Your help is greatly appreciated." He offered a small bow before retrieving a document from his study room

be announced," Lorenzo said as he accepted the document.

the door closed, Ezekiel’s hand shot out and wrapped around Mrs. Belmont’s throat. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "Stay out of my affairs.

to turn red. She replied hoarsely, "Try it and you

tightened before he pushed the woman away, who coughed for

Caroline aside and hide behind Sexton’s contract, you are mistaken," Mrs. Belmont said. "She is your wife, Ezekiel. You are bound to her whether

have wrung the woman’s neck until her life

secured Mr. Belmont?" Ezekiel asked with a thin smile. "Caroline mentioned you wasted no time after his first

at Ezekiel. She answered, "Harold was drowning in grief. I merely offered him a shoulder during his time of need."

room with a bow. "Prepare a feast for the

be today,

can accompany you while feeding the poor if

the kitchen staff right

where Ezekiel was, placing her hand on

I will make sure the ministers hear how devoted you are to your wife." She paused before adding with a faint smile, "And the next

tried to kick her and her husband out of his house.

with only his eyes and hair in view as he walked through the cold weather and

is Harold Belmont?" Ezekiel demanded from the men seated inside.

since more than a week now. Not since

stepped out of the establishment, a few men

house to someone else instead of settling his debt with us. He owes us one

is married, Sexton has placed a hefty price on her head,"

laughed. He pointed and said, "Married ones don’t sell well. It is

hadn’t caught up to her as

you know so much, why aren’t you doing it yourself?" the debt collector questioned,

other." His gaze shifted between them before offering, "I know someone who can lure them to the fair this weekend. There will be a lot of

the groceries in the house finished by the end of the day, the Belmonts would soon have nothing left to eat. How long could

end of class as students began to disperse. Ruelle and Hailey exchanged a glance before rising from their seats and heading towards the door. They had barely taken a few steps when

asked

He questioned,

you, Reynolds," the Elite replied, flicking his hand dismissively.

it does concern me," Kevin shot back. When he came to stand beside Hailey, she lightly tugged at his sleeve, trying to

to the restroom," Ruelle said, attempting to draw the vampire’s attention back to herself. But Orpheus’s

a little brave today? I don’t remember seeing that courage when you’re running for your life during hunt and stake," the vampire remarked with a sly grin, before his eyes narrowed slightly and he said, "Why don’t you step outside now, Reynolds—if you’re done