Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 150: The King’s Word

[Music Recommendation: It’s a Girl - Johannes Lehniger]

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Ruelle felt her hands grow cold, which spread through her body, until even her breath turned short. This couldn’t be happening, she thought to herself. It didn’t feel real, and yet when her gaze dropped, it was there, the dark stain of blood smeared on the ground. Her stomach turned from worry.

For a moment the room seemed to tilt, the walls too far and yet too close at once and she could not tell if it was the metallic smell of blood or the silence that pressed harder against her chest.

She needed to say something, anything before her fate would be sealed.

"My king, I do not wish to be the prince’s mistress. I had already conveyed this to him, and he accepted it," Ruelle said, forcing the words out before they could falter.

King Septimus did not respond immediately though his gaze remained on her. Then, slowly, his head tilted as he asked,

"Are you unaware that a king’s word is final or do you simply believe it does not apply to you?"

Ruelle stepped aside, moving away from where the blood had trailed before she lowered herself to her knees. She immediately bent forward, her forehead touching the ground.

"I did not mean to offend you. I only beg that you reconsider... please," she pleaded, the words coming quicker than she intended. Her fingers pressed against the cold stone floor. "There are others who would accept it willingly. Many who would want what you are offering."

When King Septimus chuckled, Ruelle lifted her head without meaning to. The sound did not ease anything. She heard him say,

"Edward has never taken an interest in any person. Nor has he ever asked anything of me. So no, others are of no concern. You should consider yourself fortunate. You will suit him."

"But I do not wish for this," Ruelle replied, the words tightening as they left her and she noticed him narrow his eyes. "Would it not be better... for the prince to have someone who returns the same interest as his?"

But King Septimus clicked his tongue as if in distaste. He stated,

"You speak too freely for someone who was not meant to leave this room alive. Putting the prince in harm’s way. Do not mistake circumstance for permission and do not forget your position, woman," his words were sharp. He then said, "Sexton appears to have grown careless in what it teaches its humans about how easily a life may be lost. Almost makes it seem you were raised sheltered."

The king then called without raising his voice, "Hermes. You have failed in your duty. Edward does as he pleases, and you allow it. And now the human mistakes me for him. She believes she may refuse my orders. You should correct it, yes?"

The attendant replied curtly without looking up, "Yes, my king."

"Remove your shoe and sock," King Septimus ordered, his deep voice filling the room.

Ruelle stared at the king at his odd order. Remove it? For a moment, it didn’t make sense. Her thoughts stalled before she felt a similar dread she had felt in the pit of her stomach.

Hermes did not hesitate. He removed his left shoe, then the sock, his movements quick as he revealed the pale foot. For a moment nothing happened, but the next second King Septimus didn’t even lean forward, but his hand shifted as it elongated and morphed into sharpened metal. The motion was swift and with one clean strike, the attendant’s big toe was severed.

Her eyes widened in horror, blood draining from her face as she noticed another toe sliced out with blood spilling.

Hermes didn’t make a noise or move as if it would warrant something far worse.

"...stop!" Ruelle said, her voice unsteady. "Please... he’s done nothing—don’t hurt him!"

But the king did not stop. The third toe was severed as cleanly as the first two as though her voice had not reached him at all. Hermes’s body trembled despite his effort to remain still, his breath breaking under control he could barely keep.

"Edward has never been one to remain within the castle. Especially after his mother’s death," King Septimus said, his voice unchanged and calm. He paused before continuing, "But this will please him. I do not wish to see him displeased and I would hate for another rift to appear between us."

king’s gaze returned to fall

would not stop shaking, the feeling in her chest tightening until it felt as though there was no

him. It had only been... what it always was. Conversation. Passing time like with the others. Nothing that should have led here. She couldn’t bring herself to utter another word at the fear of Hermes

King Septimus said. "I

the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor, while leaving a frightened Ruelle still on the ground. She felt what little control she had

as though they weighed nothing, gathering

nothing as he wrapped his kerchief around what remained of

her mind. Her gaze dropped to his foot, where

Hermes said, managing a faint smile as

collectors to chase

her voice quivering. "I told him I didn’t want this.

half in pain and

His Highness..." He paused for a second and added, "I have known the prince since he was seven and he has never asked the king for anything

feet when one of the servants moved closer to clean where she had been sitting. Her limbs

she asked, "Where is the powder

Ruelle to the powder room," Hermes ordered the

giving nothing

about to step

"Miss Ruelle—"

"I understand it is not what you want. But please heed

that

warning. The king’s ability she had never heard about, the blood spraying and spilling, the sound she could not unhear. The king’s voice followed it,’You will be his mistress. That

breathe, the walls pressing closer with each step as though there was less and

arriving at the powder room the servant left, and Ruelle burst through the doors, already moving toward the basin while the doors gently closed behind her. Soon, her trembling hands found the edge of the basin, gripping

there was nothing left, her breath uneven as she held on to the

her head, she noticed her pale face staring back at her in the mirror. Turning the faucet, the sound of water filled the silence as she splashed it over her face again

soaking into the front of her clothes. When she reached for her handkerchief in her pocket, her fingers brushed against the

just enough to check. It was still there—the bracelet with purple crystals that

Ruelle reached in, her fingers closing around it before she drew it out, the black onyx pendant that was cold against her skin, the silver

man you will end up with is a

the pendant with water still dripping from the line of

entrance quickly, pushing the chain back into the cloth bag before slipping it

he called

wanted to speak about the debt collectors... about punishing them," Ruelle said, her voice heavier

"Ruelle... are you alright? You

said, forcing a smile. Her hand tightened around the edge of the basin as she told herself that she could

would have been better if they had never grown close at all... If Hailey and

replied, "King Septimus wasn’t pleased. He made that... very clear by punishing the

see," Hailey frowned before patting Ruelle’s back. "Your body feels ice-cold and you

at the fair didn’t agree with me. I threw up," Ruelle explained, managing a

Hailey whispered, lowering her voice as if someone might overhear. "It wasn’t your fault. Things like that, they happen, and Edward should have noticed instead of talking..." she muttered the

and Hailey were led to the gardens by Edward, just as he had promised to show the beauty of the rarest flowers. But the moment they arrived at the place, the prince’s expression

to send her a look that made her quickly turn her gaze

been filled with colour

her thoughts, Ruelle stood quietly, her gaze resting on the garden without truly seeing it. Edward, noticing this,