Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 187: Step Aside

As the snowfall grew heavier, it whitened the glass dome above and the guests were eventually led back inside the mansion.

The room they entered was larger than the one before, softer too. Fire burned brightly in the fireplace, filling the air with the smell of burning wood and warm spice. Velvet chairs sat around low tables, and candles flickered against polished walls.

"Do you enjoy playing cards, Mrs. Belmont?" One of the women asked as the others settled around the round table. "Though perhaps cards are less appealing in your household. I heard your husband favours them a little too much."

Ruelle saw the tightness in her stepmother’s smile.

If not for coming along as Ruelle’s chaperone, Mrs. Belmont would have never entered this place or bothered to mingle with these people.

"Ruelle, you should come to the soiree I’m hosting in four days," another vampiress spoke up. At those words, Mrs. Belmont rubbed her forehead as though the thought alone wearied her.

Ruelle smiled politely, "That is kind of you, Mrs. Witherspoon."

Mrs. Witherspoon waved her hand. She said, "You will soon be part of a vampire household. It is better to know the people around you before then. When I first entered society, I struggled terribly. Of course, I doubt you will have such difficulty with Maxine beside you."

Ruelle glanced at Lady Maxine.

"Then I will be in good hands," Ruelle replied, receiving a grin from Lady Maxine.

"Isn’t she lovely?" Lady Maxine said proudly. "Even Olivia has taken to her."

Ruelle smiled faintly at that. One of the older vampiresses from earlier leaned forward. "She is very pretty," the woman said, studying Ruelle openly. "Tell me, Miss Ruelle, do you know how to play the pianoforte?"

Before Ruelle could answer, Mrs. Belmont spoke, "Ruelle plays quite well." Ruelle turned slightly at that. "Why don’t you play for them, dear? The one with the lilacs."

"I don’t believe I know one by that name. Let us hear it," another vampiress said.

And before she knew it, Ruelle was seated at the pianoforte.

Lady Maxine stepped behind her and leaned down. She whispered only for Ruelle’s ears, "You do know how to play, don’t you? Or I can have Angelina faint and distract everyone."

The warmth of being quietly defended made Ruelle’s chest warm. She said softly, "I can manage."

Lady Maxine gave a small nod before returning to the others with a glass in her hand.

In the meantime, Ruelle stretched her fingers once, feeling the stiffness leave them. Then she placed her fingers on the keys before the first notes came softly. The room slowly quieted around her, while she let her eyes fall to the keys and followed the music instead of the people.

It was a song that she had learned for her sister years ago. It was warm and simple, like sunlight after rain. And for a few minutes, the noise in her mind quieted.

When the final note faded in the room, Ruelle looked up to catch several women giving nods.

"That was lovely, Ruelle," Lady Ravencroft said, smiling at her. "I enjoyed it very much. You must sit beside me now. I feel everyone has been stealing you away."

to see her at all, Mother," Angelina muttered behind her third

mouth twitch. Ruelle left the pianoforte and made her way back to the seats, settling beside Lucian’s

daughter plays beautifully," Mrs. Belmont said,

the older woman asked suddenly, tapping her finger against the

of the

"That’s the one. Play it

hesitation. Ever since learning that Lia had once been considered as Lucian’s possible bride, her eyes kept returning to the young

her life. When she began to play, the song rose quickly without pause. The song made one feel a quiet despair that sat beneath the notes and made Ruelle’s chest feel heavier the longer

herself holding

here. Like she had always belonged in rooms like these and

The older woman clapped loudly, and the others

takes real control to play that one," one of the women

again,

two slipped away toward the powder

mansion. Even the walls seemed to glow gold beneath the candlelight, and the mirrors were so clear Ruelle could see every loose strand of hair near her face. The

herself not long after, muttering something about drinking

to the basin and washed her hands in warm water. She stood there longer than she needed to, staring at the water, when the powder room door opened, and Lia stepped inside with the older vampiress

lilacs piece, Miss Ruelle," Lia said as she

Ruelle looked at

than her. There is no one in that room who

shoulders stiffened

bowed her head slightly and said, "I would agree. You played wonderfully.

older vampiress answered before Lia could speak. "That

It was obvious what she was doing. Trying to prick her pride. But she had no wish to measure

questioned her bluntly. "The poor girl has been waiting for him all this time.

red. She tried to intervene, "Lady Martha,

will," the older woman waved her off. Her sharp eyes turned on Ruelle. "She and her mother think they can simply walk in and change everything. After what they put that poor boy through? Driving him toward corruption because she claimed she

understand you dislike the decision. But there is nothing

You can step aside and let

quickly, stepping closer. She turned to Ruelle and apologised, "I am sorry about this. This wasn’t

wasn’t supposed to happen!" Lady Martha

but this woman was hardly difficult compared to what waited for her at home. A

let Elder Minister Carnifex

that you will step away from the current

no longer wish to marry him. Tell

of the stall that Lady Martha shot her a pointed look, as if forgetting why she had entered the

"Please forgive me. You should not have had to hear something like that. Not after Lucian has already

of it. The woman hadn’t said those words. Both of them looked equally uncomfortable

to apologise. I’ve heard worse," Ruelle said,

can imagine." Her fingers tightened lightly over her skirt as she added, "But I promise you, nothing happened between Lucian and me. It was several years ago and it fell