Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 167: Stolen Art

"To avoid what happened before, I have arranged more staff here until the wedding," the elder minister said, just as the sound of carriage wheels came to a halt outside the mansion.

Ruelle’s attention briefly flickered towards the window.

The minister continued, "I hope you will accept it, Lord Azriel. After all, this is an important step."

"That is understandable," Lord Azriel replied, rising from the couch with the fluid grace of nobility. The minister followed, before they headed to the door—

"Make it two weeks. The wedding."

The elder minister paused and looked back at Lucian. His expression did not change and he replied,

"I only offered more time, as arrangements must be made and the matter announced."

"It is too long," Lucian returned.

"A short wait rarely harms a union," the minister replied with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Restriction tends to make temptation far more... appealing," Dane chipped in with a sly smile, his eyes flicking to Ruelle’s neck briefly.

"Then it is for the best that Peyton oversees Miss Belmont. The consequences of breaching the treaty are already well understood," Minister Carnifex answered. "Given what such bonds entail, let us settle for twenty days."

The minister then turned to look at Ruelle as if assessing her. He informed, "I will have the midwife sent early tomorrow to the Slaters’ mansion. Good day."

Ruelle’s cheeks flushed slightly as she offered a polite bow.

Lord Azriel and the minister left the room, their footsteps fading.

"Twenty days is quite short to arrange a wedding, brother," Dane hummed, sitting one leg crossed over the chair while idly turning a toffee between his fingers. "Not to mention, from what I’ve heard, wedding gowns take longer than that. A month and a half, at the very least."

"There is already a gown, if time is the concern," Ruelle said as she remembered it. "It has not been used and it should still be at the tailor’s shop..." her voice trailed off when she caught Lucian staring at her unblinkingly.

"You won’t be wearing it," Lucian said, his fingers pressing lightly against the armrest before easing again.

any

was meant for someone else," Lucian remarked and Ruelle’s heart skipped a beat. His fingers closed over hers, firm enough to keep them

it can be used." They could drop by Brackenwell tomorrow. Someone who wouldn’t be able to afford it would

had been engaged to another man while Lucian had stayed single. She wondered how he had felt about it

heart fluttered at the sheer weight of his gaze. The knowledge that this man, corrupted heart and dangerous

cleared their throat and Ruelle looked

for Ms. Belmont and Mr. Slater to keep distance during this duration

proximity to Lucian were a spark laid too near to dry hay. Ruelle noticed a flicker

chastity was under threat with a simple hold

it had gone sharp. And despite the words, he

the emptiness where his warm hand

mark, you seem to be unnecessarily strict, Peyton," Dane commented with a hint of amusement. He uncrossed his legs, standing from

her voice mechanical. She turned her attention back to Ruelle. "Now if I could

in the

Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

on Ruelle that Lucian and she wouldn’t be sharing

a treaty condition to comply." A muscle worked beneath

utterly unfazed. She replied, "Mr. Slater, you seem to be under a misunderstanding with the thought that we are keeping your beloved away from you. The soul bond will begin to cement in the

anger, and she placed a hand on Lucian’s hand before he could break the woman’s ribs. His gaze seemed to break away from the woman and fall on

take a look

Ruelle got up and made her way towards the doors. In a way, she wanted to respect

leaving, she took a glimpse at Lucian

appeared in the corridor and led them

High ceilings with windows that let one view the garden and the front of the mansion. A bed too big. The room

to step in," Maude let her know as the woman stepped away from the bath. "Your trunk isn’t here yet, but I have laid out two dresses for you to

managing a smile. "Thank you." After a moment,

found

you meet me before Brother Dane’s

"I have, Miss."

met Lucian’s mother too. It was a shame... that she couldn’t remember anything. She wondered why she didn’t have any

"I see," Ruelle murmured.

bow before stepping out of the room, closing the