Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 149: What Is Given Cannot Be Refused

On their way to the castle, two royal guards rode ahead of the carriage, their silhouettes steady while four followed behind. Inside the carriage, Ruelle sat quietly with the others, a faint dread settling low in her stomach, which only deepened with every beat of the horses’ hooves.

The place was less than an hour’s ride from the fair and as they neared and soon the castle came into view. Tall spires pierced the sky, their peaks nearly swallowed by the heavy stretch of darkened clouds above.

"Why has the king summoned us as well?" Ruelle asked, glancing at Edward, who seemed far more interested in the passing view beyond the window.

"The guards must have noticed a group of humans lingering around me at the fair," Edward said lightly. "Though I suspect it was the drunken man who started the fight that drew their attention. Otherwise, I doubt anyone would have recognised me. My disguise was rather good."

"Your Highness, I think it would be best if we got you into a fresh pair of clothes before meeting the king," Hermes suggested quietly.

"Sure. By the way, Ruelle, I would like to show you the gardens," Edward said, bright with enthusiasm. "They are rather well kept. I do not think you would have seen anything quite like them."

This was not the time to think of gardens, Ruelle thought in worry.

When the carriage finally came to a stop before the castle’s entrance, one of the guards stepped forward and opened the carriage door.

As Ruelle stepped down, her eyes took in her surroundings. Her gaze did not linger long before it fell on the men who had attacked them earlier. They were being taken down from the back of the carriage now as though they were luggage.

Edward stepped inside and Hermes followed just behind him. As Ruelle and her friends crossed the threshold, a guard’s voice spoke behind them.

"Not you."

Ruelle turned at once and noticed two guards had stopped Claude from entering the castle. The guard spoke firmly, "Coachmen remain outside."

Edward had already walked a few steps ahead, unaware of what happened at the entrance. When Ruelle’s eyes met Claude’s, he offered her a small, reassuring smile. He informed her, "I will be waiting here, Miss Ruelle."

For a brief moment, her lips pursed. Then she gave a quiet nod before turning back and continuing inside.

She walked with the others, her gaze lifting briefly to the high ceiling above, when the sound of approaching footsteps was heard loud and clear.

Her eyes lowered in time to catch a tall man approaching, his broad shoulders draped in a coat lined with dark fur, moving with quiet authority. His dark red eyes were steady, unyielding, a faint cut resting across his left brow as though it had never quite faded. A trimmed beard framed the man’s jaw, making his expression severe.

This was Edward’s father, King Septimus, Ruelle realised.

A brief silence fell with the footsteps coming to a halt. Soon she and the others were quick to offer a bow.

"And what exactly am I to make of this?" King Septimus hummed, his deep voice reverberated through the hall. His gaze moved from the tattered clothes to the blood that soaked through it. "You seem to have injured yourself rather carelessly, Edward."

"It is a small injury," Edward replied. "Nothing worth concern, Father."

"Is that so?"

There was no haste in the king’s movement as he stepped towards his son. When he stood before him, his gaze lowered briefly to the wound, and he murmured, "Let us see how small it truly is."

Before Edward could respond, the king’s hand lifted. His index and middle finger pressed into the injury without warning.

Ruelle, who caught sight of this, her eyes widened. What was he doing...? She noticed how Edward’s body tensed, his hands tightening and his teeth clenched. He had begun to bleed once again.

withdrew his

testing the word. His gaze lifted back to Edward’s face. "You would do well not to misjudge your own condition. A

that..." Edward’s face tightened

want to see you in this state again. Else it would make me think you have grown weary of your royal name," King Septimus stated, and as if to make a point, his fingers curled, making Edward cough

palms. He was hurting an already injured person! As if sensing her gaze, the king’s

king’s fingers finally withdrew. He drew

a moment, I thought you meant to examine my heart more closely,

son’s words. His gaze returning to the prince, he remarked, "One must be certain that nothing of value

breath out of place might be wrong. After all, he was the prince’s attendant, and the prince had been hurt

stood next to her had turned pale in the king’s presence, while she could only see Hailey’s hands trembling so that she tried to

under his breath, his tone light despite the strain. "You seem particularly thorough

gaze fell on Hermes. He demanded, "Who dared to lay hands on

collective thought from everyone standing there. But no one dared to say it out

king,"

gaze moved and

and she instantly felt a weight press against her chest. She quickly

was three men at

men," Hailey added, lifting her head only briefly before

to know how the king would react if the truth came to light. That this had begun because of her... no, because of her father. She had seen how he treated his own son and she

them, Father," Edward answered, a trace of dismissal in his

Edward’s back, the gesture

an example must be set." His gaze then shifted. "Hermes, have them brought to the

replied, more than willing

seep through his clothes. When he looked up again, he noticed his

"Father, this is Ruelle."

forward at once and offered another bow.

the king didn’t react to it, apart from staring at her. Feeling

Hailey felt the urge to disappear entirely,

them at the fair, he had finally taken note

over the three of them, slow and assessing, as though weighing something

curious about your choice of company in Sexton, Edward. All humans. Are

first-year students in Sexton,

King

tell if the king was displeased, but his attention did not feel casual. It was clear why they had been summoned. The king wanted to see who the

I should change my clothes and get some blood to drink," Edward muttered, glancing briefly at the blood that had begun

walked away. Then King Septimus spoke, "There is a patio at the back."

Ruelle stopped at the king’s voice.

heard

get the time to look back at her friends as King Septimus had already begun to

wide with tall windows and curtains draping them. There was no one except for the two of

Septimus moved ahead and he took his seat with ease, one leg crossing over the other.

are you just

lifted her head, and she replied, "My king, it would be foolish not to feel

and assessing. "Your family must be doing well. Velvet from the north is not something one comes by

me as a gift," Ruelle