Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 185: Under His Roof

An hour had passed since Lucian and the court officers had left, leaving guards posted at every entrance of the mansion. Right now, Ruelle sat at the dining table with her parents.

She could smell the fresh wax on the wooden floor, which made it obvious that the house had been prepared on short notice. Her fingers rested quietly on her lap while her eyes stayed on one of the vases as they waited for the food.

"The seat here is empty. Why are you sitting there?" Her father’s voice drew her attention away from the empty vase.

Ruelle looked at him, surprised. She replied, "That is Caroline’s seat... And you always preferred I sit beside Mother."

Something seemed to pass behind her father’s eyes, which she couldn’t deduce as it faded quicker than it had appeared.

"Well, Caroline isn’t here," her father said, as if that explained it. "Sit here now."

But Ruelle did not move. Was it easier for him to strike her that he was asking her to sit there? No, thought Ruelle. He was too much of a coward right now. With Lucian in the picture and one of the guards in the dining room, her father was too much of a coward for that. She said,

"I am comfortable here. And I would rather sit beside Mother."

Her father’s lips twisted before he spoke, "You must have missed your mother. Fine. Sit there. But from tonight onward, you will sit on this side."

"Why? So you can look at me while blaming your bad fortune on me?" Ruelle’s hands clenched tightly, before what she wanted to say this morning came to her lips, "There was no reason for you to insist we live together. You could have stayed in this mansion while I returned to the Slaters."

"Ruelle," her father’s voice sharpened. The look in his eyes changed into something she knew well. It was the same look he used before his temper broke. "Do you no longer care to honour the treaty? Or have you forgotten how little humans matter to them? Do you think the courthouse would hesitate to replace us? You? They could find another family just as easily."

Did he think everyone was like him, who would use and dispose of people whenever he saw fit?

"They may find another human woman. But what makes you think Lucian would take another bride?" She trusted Lucian. More than she had ever trusted the man across from her.

Mrs. Belmont quickly placed a hand over her husband’s. "What matters is that we are eating together after so long," she said softly. "If only Caroline were here too."

The food arrived soon after.

Warm bread, thick soup, roasted meat. The smell filled the room, rich enough to make one want to eat it, but Ruelle barely tasted any of it. She could feel her father’s eyes on her the whole time, and with every bite it felt harder to swallow. If he wanted to say something, she wished he would be done with it.

After only a few mouthfuls, she pushed her chair back.

"Done so soon?" her father asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Sit down and eat more. I would hate for the ministers to think we are starving you."

Ruelle wiped her mouth with the napkin. "I have no appetite. I fear I will throw up if I take another bite." She was about to leave when his voice stopped her again. "Then have dessert. You like sweets, don’t you?"

How odd for her father to even remember what she liked.

Beside her, Mrs. Belmont began, "Harold, if she does not feel well, there is no reason to force—"

"Are you the head of this family?" His voice cut through the room.

Ruelle saw the sharp irritation in his eyes shift to her stepmother, and for a second it felt strange seeing someone else receive the look she had grown up with.

Mrs. Belmont’s face reddened at once. "I apologise," she murmured.

Ruelle stood there for a moment. The smell of meat, wine, and candle wax suddenly felt too thick. The room felt smaller than before.

"I am unwell. So, I would like to rest for now and eat when I have an appetite." And before he could stop her again, she turned and walked out of the dining room.

It was obvious that he wanted to keep this mansion to himself after he had lost two houses in the past. One from the war and the other by Lucian.

When she entered her room, she locked the door behind her at once.

The firewood in the hearth had burned low, leaving behind only warmth in the stone and the faint smell of ash. The bed was soft beneath her when she lay down, her eyes fixed on the pale ceiling above. Even here, she could not stop thinking of the dining table.

She closed her eyes as she felt her forehead grow warm again. She let out a breath and wished for time to move faster. For the wedding to come.

point,

her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. Beyond the windows, the sky had turned dark and the only light

The knocking came again.

asked, her voice carrying

room barefoot, she finally opened the door. Two arms suddenly wrapped around her so tightly that she froze for

"I missed you, Ruelle!"

to believe it. Was this a dream? "What

borrowed for a few days until the wedding." Her eyes flickered toward the guards outside before returning to Ruelle. "So here I am!

her body seemed to fade little by little, as if her

sat on the bed together, catching up on everything that had happened since the auction. By the time Hailey had heard about Caroline escaping, the pudding in her hand was

said. "But in some ways, I understand. If you’re standing at the gallows, of course you’d run. Still... this makes everything worse.

"They are," Ruelle nodded.

Are

shook her head. "That

don’t understand. You’re unhappy

"No... it isn’t that." She looked toward the dark window. "Something feels strange. They’re trying to fix things with me. As if none of those

Especially her father.

made her skin crawl even now. Was he thinking of what he could still gain from her? Because with Lucian’s mark there, harming her was

of Lucian. I would be too if I treated you the way they did

when she saw it. Pushing the thought away, she asked, "How is the castle? I hope King Septimus

hands and looked at them. "Not as bad

That made Ruelle smile.

has helped me a lot. He watches over me. Kevin is doing well too. Prince Edward hardly stays in the castle. He spends most of his time at his own place," while skipping the part where the prince had torn the wedding invitation

Ruelle nodded.

given books to study," Hailey said, making a face. "King Septimus

surprised. "He did?" She heard

memorise the streets of Rimebridge. Either from the books or by going there myself. I think

king was trying to promote her friend from maid to a better position, thought

once, as if trying to throw the idea away. "I refuse! I’ve seen what that job

were dressed and ready to leave for the soiree at Lady Maxine’s mansion. Ruelle adjusted the sleeves of her dress as

you off to, Ruelle?"

found Mrs. Belmont standing near the

attend," Ruelle said. "I will be

before she saw him. He stepped out of

she had heard wrong. Her brows pulled

unwell since yesterday afternoon and have not gotten better by dinner. It wouldn’t be right to force yourself out when you

into the palms of her

days she had worked through bruises and pain, and not once had he told her to rest.

him, but she had not thought her father would truly stop her from leaving

feel the irritation

looked at her

fell sick while staying at the Slaters’ mansion..."

Ruelle’s jaw tightened.

are to be married in a few days, it is only

have treated me far better than you ever have. I will not listen to you speak poorly of them," Ruelle said firmly. For a moment, she caught the flash in his eyes. It was anger that was sudden and then it

us? You said you were unwell. Yet this morning you

to have a meal with you," Ruelle couldn’t get

grew heavy with something that almost looked like regret. "I realised I have been too harsh with you and I want to fix our relationship. Do

her, Mrs. Belmont

she would have waited for this. For him to look at her properly, to show even a little affection.

faltered slightly, as if some old part of her still wanted to believe him. "In a few

caught off guard, as if she too was struggling to understand what had taken hold of him. "Don’t

Mrs. Belmont hesitated.

Megan Belmont had first met Ruelle as a child, Harold had hardly spared his eldest daughter a glance. Back then, she had not cared enough