Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 177: Price of simplicity

Since the first moment Ezekiel Henley’s eyes had fallen on Ruelle Belmont, he had been taken in by her. Beneath the old clothes, small house and the fear sitting in her brown eyes at the sight of the debt collectors, the misery surrounding her had only made her seem more beautiful to him.

Though he had ended up marrying the younger sister in pursuit of a position within the courthouse, he had always believed Ruelle would eventually find her way toward him on her own.

The position he had sacrificed so much for no longer felt nearly as important as the growing realisation that Ruelle was slipping further beyond his reach.

He was aware that she had spent her entire life starving for affection. The thought that she had found comfort in another man settled bitterly in his mind.

"Mr. Henley?" The man who had lent the newsletter noticed Ezekiel’s hands crumple it.

"My apologies. I got distracted lately." Ezekiel turned to the man while loosening his fingers around the ruined paper. "I will buy you a fresh one," offering a polite smile.

"That’s alright. It can still be read. For a moment there, you looked as though you wanted to strangle someone," the man laughed, taking the newsletter from Ezekiel’s hand. He then said, "Oh, isn’t she your wife’s sister? The Slaters are from the old bloodlines, aren’t they? Looks like she climbed rather high. Congratulations!"

Something cold passed through Ezekiel’s eyes. He murmured, "It certainly appears that way..."

"I must say, when I first heard you were getting married to one of the Belmonts’ daughters, I wondered why you would do it at all. Harold had too much debt. Might I add he didn’t seem to want to stop last night either. But it seems you will be gaining the favour of the Slaters now," the man patted Ezekiel’s back before he started to walk. "You ought to treat me to a cup of tea for your sister-in-law’s news!"

Ezekiel’s jaw tightened faintly and he tried to smile. "Right."

Instead of taking the carriage, Ezekiel continued walking deeper into the forest until the sounds of the town disappeared entirely behind him. Before he realised it himself, his fist collided against the rough bark of the nearest tree. The impact sent snow cascading from the branches above, scattering heavily onto the ground around him.

"I should have gotten rid of Caroline before the marriage," the thought escaped from his gritted teeth.

His hand slipped into his coat pocket, and he pulled out the embroidered handkerchief that belonged to Ruelle. "I am finding it hard to forgive your actions... but I will make you understand with whom you should have remained beside."

After several hours, Ezekiel arrived before a shabby house that stood at the edge of a quiet village, smoke curling slowly from the chimney, which was hidden by the winter’s air. He knocked on the door before the wooden door creaked open. A woman peered through the narrow crack of the door.

"I need your help," Ezekiel said calmly. "I brought you souvenirs."

Stepping aside, he revealed the carriage waiting behind him. Inside, two unconscious children sat slumped against the seats.

Back in the Slater mansion, by the hour of noon, Ruelle had spent much of her time accompanying Maude through the mansion while the head housekeeper carried out her duties. Despite the sheer size of the place, everything somehow continued running with careful order beneath Maude’s watchful eye.

"Please remember that you cannot carry things from here, Miss Ruelle," Maude informed her, as if remembering what she had tried last time in the kitchen. "The future lady of the house should not be carrying things through the kitchen."

"Even if it is for her family?" Ruelle asked, puffing one side of her cheek slightly.

The older woman’s expression remained as composed as ever. "Yes, even then. It might seem strange, but the staff will grow uncomfortable if you continue trying to work alongside them. You can ask the minister’s assistant. This is what is followed."

Ruelle turned to look at Peyton, who quietly followed them at a distance without bothering them.

"But what if..." Ruelle hesitated briefly before continuing beside Maude. "I want to cook for my husband and his family? That is how women back where I come from usually showed affection."

The words left her mouth naturally before she properly realised it. Heat crept faintly into her face, though she kept her gaze forward while walking beside Maude.

Maude’s lips pursed faintly at Ruelle’s words before she replied, "If you truly wish to do so, Miss Ruelle, then inform me beforehand so the kitchen may prepare the necessary ingredients and staff for you."

"Miss Ruelle, Master Lucian has returned to the mansion."

Ruelle’s eyes brightened at the words. "I will take up the next lessons later. I forgot my scarf upstairs."

Before the older woman could properly respond, Ruelle had already turned and begun making her way back through the corridor, her footsteps quickening against the floor.

"Miss Ruelle, one of t—" Maude began, only for her words to trail off as she watched the young woman disappear around the corridor.

By the time Ruelle returned downstairs with her scarf in her hand, she caught sight of Lucian standing at the bottom of the stairs. His wine-red eyes lifted the moment she appeared. It was only while hurrying down the remaining stairs that Ruelle suddenly became far too aware that she had rushed downstairs simply because Lucian had returned.

And lost in that thought, her foot missed the step.

A startled breath nearly escaped Ruelle when her body tilted forward, only for Lucian’s hand to catch firmly around her waist before she could fall further. She felt herself being pulled back into balance before their eyes met. She could feel the strength of his hand holding her through the layers of her dress.

treaty’s conditions. Were you that eager to see me?" Lucian’s voice

all, the human

wish to keep you waiting," Ruelle replied softly, only to realise a

Lucian’s head tilted subtly.

are still the one making me wait," he murmured before his fingers loosened

"She has been teaching me a lot of things I didn’t know about the mansion," she answered as they made their way out of the mansion. "Have you

Lucian hummed in response.

too far behind them while not crowding them. She wondered if one of the humans had been summoned

met. He said, "With the number of

would have precautions against something like that," Ruelle murmured as an internal

feeling inside her chest. The humans willingly arrived at Sexton before they were eventually sold to others, yet the image of blood being

on the rest of

keep out predictable threats," Lucian said

coat from the stand. But before it could be

it dawned on her that he wanted to help her wear

"I can wear it."

know," Lucian answered before adding quietly, "But I want to dote

affection wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t

her back to him and raised her arms. Her hands slipped into the

achingly close. His fingers adjusted the collar and she felt the brush of

felt

her throat from the look in his eyes. It was a hunger so carefully controlled that

His voice was soft

The doors opened and they stepped outside into the cold, before climbing inside

down the travel, they finally arrived at the house

past it and the path to the door had been cleared of the snow. Just as Ruelle was about to

way to the drawing room, she walked to where the plant had grown taller, its leaves spread out. When she put her hands on the pot, nothing changed, and a slight disappointment

hear the boy’s voice

it," Peyton offered, taking the pot in her hands before stepping

the room, her fingers gliding against the wall as if she would

parents, a young Caroline and... her, whose side appeared torn and attached. "It looks like even time didn’t want me part of the family..." there was a hint

his lips pursed for a brief moment. He then said, "I will ask the local painter to fix

her head. "You don’t have to go through that trouble. It isn’t like you tore it," a small laugh escaped her lips, but when she turned to

to hate you then than love you," Lucian murmured in the end.

anger as he made it

was torn, where only she in the portrait had been torn and almost looked crumpled, Ruelle felt the weight of his suffering in

least you placed me back there instead of burning it. People become who they are because of the things they survive. I know it was never something within my control,

old portrait

parents never thought of returning

he found out that Harold sold it to one of the human families for money," Lucian explained, his hands slipping into his coat pockets. "The transaction

we never did..." Ruelle said

peace and quiet down the uproar," Lucian explained to her, and they began to walk down the corridor. "But in less than two months, it was given up. Harold hid

before they stepped inside the kitchen. Her eyes

doing here, young miss?’

a young

But only until Mr. Belmont wakes

a slight frown. She

head. "All of

see..." her voice trailed. She felt guilty for losing her memory of someone kind. Someone who must have cared for her between these cold walls that had refused to accept her. She then added, "She must be the one who gave the plant in the pot." It was because the last time, she remembered the voice saying they were going to water the plant. "Pink peonies

hummed

enthusiastically. "I told you that my favourite colour

she subconsciously picked a colour he had given her when

considered desirable because of its location,

taken advantage of that fear when he bought

something to him, Ruelle was left standing

about Lucian with her coat. Or perhaps she had

gesture," Peyton remarked, though even she appeared aware of how close it had come to crossing the condition. She then added,