Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 168: The Tree of Winter

Ruelle noticed Dane’s eyes stayed on the tranquil painting, though it was unclear whether he was looking at it at all. He stared at it for a moment before saying,

"Come take a closer look. You’ll see it."

She did as he told her, staring at the painting closely and after almost a minute, when her focus almost turned blurry, did she notice the markings on the bark. Her eyes widened in surprise and she asked,

"Lucian painted this?"

Ruelle looked slightly taken aback by it. It seemed like the skills Lucian possessed was balanced by the existence of corruption inside of him. And even that he had tried to get under his control, she thought.

"Interesting, isn’t it? One must first lose oneself in it before seeing what lies in plain sight." Dane raised his hand to trace the aggressive brushstrokes. He said, "The governess suggested he paint so that it would help ease his mind, seeing how aggressive and bloodthirsty he appeared during combat lessons. He was only ten."

"At ten?" Ruelle repeated, because that was too young.

"My father thought it was best we honed our skills after what happened. It was better to be prepared as we didn’t want to lose another person," Dane smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

Ruelle’s lips set in a thin line. The way he smiled made it difficult to tell where the truth ended and whatever lay beneath it began.

Dane placed his hand on top of her head. "Don’t look sad," his words gentle.

A deliberate clearing of the throat was heard behind them.

"You should go rest if you have a cold. Don’t want dear Ruelle catching it," Dane stated, smoothening Ruelle’s hair before dropping his hand.

"Mr. Slater, I trust I made it clear that Miss Belmont’s chastity is to be preserved," Peyton spoke in a firm voice.

"Did you not hear her address me? We even share the same hair colour—surely that ought to reassure you that we are siblings," Dane said lightly, and when he turned, he caught the woman pursing her lips.

"You aren’t a sibling by blood, Mr. Slater. Please refrain from touching her," the woman stared back at him.

intact. He turned back to Ruelle and asked, "Now then, where were we? The paintings, yes. I am not sure when he started variations of this painting, but I caught the

aback by the information. She murmured, "But they are stunning." Not to mention,

guess his emotions were running too deep and dark. Rage and pain can be quite a combination. It seemed like he would unconsciously make them in a single sitting, but he wouldn’t want to see it. I found one even broken in two halves," he chuckled at the

asked and he

"People took a particular interest in them. The king heard of it and claimed one for himself," he

to Lucian, Ruelle thought. Selling his

asked because she doubted Lucian

kept to myself." He cast a brief glance toward Peyton.

slightly. The thought of holding something over Lucian, of using it against

don’t believe I would

the smile lingering on his lips. "You wouldn’t need to find anything. You already

where Lucian was in the mansion right now and what

same time, she

at the painting, Dane watched her briefly before accompanying her while his

popular when it came to holding

the painting isn’t valuable

to some of them,’ the woman replied before her eyes moved to the painting.’It has become a collector’s choice now. The tree of winter. Especially when you are hiding the painter’s name. I will

things. Though he didn’t know the story behind why his brother kept painting the same thing,

servants burning them, he had given them out. Distributed them to people who ran in the same circles as the Belmonts. Each painting was a possible breadcrumb that could guide

telling when it would let loose. Corruption never disappeared. Everything needed an anchor and Ruelle was

had changed his circles to the point he would never return to the same circles, Dane clicked his

you thought about what to

a betrothal gift?"

escaped from his lips, and he replied, "I suppose I ought to get you a betrothal gift as well. But no, that’s not what I meant. It is his birthday

surprised, as Lucian and she hadn’t ever touched those subjects. With how secretive he was, it

she would have never known unless someone decided to wish Lucian out loud. "I have time to

wouldn’t compare to others. Her blood? Though he had tasted her