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.

it," the vampire replied with

his lips thinned. He stated, "Miss Belmont, you need to pay attention rather than waste the ingredients. Dispose of it

a moment neither of the young women spoke. Then Ruelle said in

until now." They could only fend for themselves for a short while, she thought to herself. Her voice

won’t let anything happen to him," Ruelle assured her,

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

was getting nervous, while not wanting any harm to befall on her family. Maybe if

had gone to visit another

who had returned home to kick the Belmonts out of his house. Since

carriage parked outside and he questioned whom the Belmonts had invited into his house. When he stepped inside, he found Lorenzo Helsing seated

Ezekiel," Lorenzo said upon

I didn’t know you were

your mother in-law insisted I sit and have some tea. 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 to the point of considering selling this house to buy

as they met Mrs. Belmont’s, who offered him the sweetest

loves our Caroline dearly and works so hard for her," Mrs. Belmont said with a small sigh. "But I do worry about where they

iron rules. I shall mention about Mrs. Henley’s special case at court and see if the price on her

thoughtful of you, Mr. Helsing," Mrs. Belmont thanked him. She turned her eyes to Ezekiel and added sweetly, "Isn’t it wonderful,

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

new minister’s selection will be announced," Lorenzo said as he accepted the document. "Hopefully your name

voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "Stay

her face started to turn red. She replied hoarsely, "Try it and you will be behind bars instead of being

pushed the woman away, who coughed

Ezekiel. You are bound to her whether you like it or not. And if you are foolish enough to sell her,

bitter laugh. He would have wrung the woman’s neck until her life was taken, but things weren’t the same as in

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

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

living room with a bow. "Prepare a feast for the poor with what

be today,

it and Mrs. Belmont can accompany you while feeding the poor if she wishes to," Ezekiel said without looking

course, sire. I will go inform the kitchen staff right away," the servant bowed once

walked to where Ezekiel was, placing

knew you would see reason, Ezekiel. Help me, and 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 time

jaw tightened, and he knew she would pull some stunt if he tried to kick her and her husband out of his house. With that

stepped down with only his eyes and hair in view as

demanded from the

since more than a week now. Not since he pawned his house," said the owner of

stepped out of the establishment, a few men followed him

money too. Bastard gave his house to someone else instead of settling his debt with us. He owes us

has placed a hefty price on her

"Married

Ezekiel stated. He wanted Caroline out of the way, as it seemed the investigation hadn’t caught up to her as she was in Sexton. "Don’t you know that the Belmonts dote on the married one?

you doing it yourself?" the

don’t have the men to do it," Ezekiel explained calmly. "I thought we could help each other." His gaze shifted between them before offering, "I know

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

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

Orpheus asked

him, frowned. He questioned, "Why do you need to know,

Reynolds," the Elite replied, flicking his hand

When he came to stand beside Hailey, she lightly tugged at his

attempting to draw the vampire’s attention back to herself. But Orpheus’s gaze remained

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