Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 145: Fortune Teller’s Cards

Soon after arriving at the fair, Hailey pulled Ruelle toward a stall where polished metal hairpins with small coloured stones were laid out on the table beneath the glow of hanging lanterns. A small crowd of women had gathered around it, each examining the pieces and holding them up to their hair.

Ruelle smiled at Hailey, who was eagerly looking through the pins, and she glanced back toward the rest of their group.

Edward and Kevin stood in the middle of the path. While Kevin appeared perfectly at ease, the same could not be said for the prince. Edward’s shoulders stiffened each time someone brushed too close, his gaze darkening as he glared at the passing crowd.

As Ruelle’s gaze drifted further across the fair, she spotted Claude standing near another stall, casually eating what looked like a potato bun as though he had come only to enjoy the festivities. Yet she knew better than to believe that.

"Is there any place you two want to go to?" Ruelle asked once they returned to rescue the prince.

Away from these people, Edward thought immediately, as someone bumped into his shoulder again.

"There is a hit-the-target winning stall. We should go there," Kevin suggested, and hearing this, Edward’s eyes lit up.

"Win a prize?" questioned the prince as an idea quickly formed in his mind. "Alright, let us go there next. Make way!"

On their way, they passed rows of food stalls where the scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat drifted through the cold air. The deeper they walked into the fair, the chatter of the crowd grew louder mixed with laughter, music, and the occasional shout from vendors trying to draw people in.

By the time they reached the target stall, a small crowd had already gathered at the place. Ruelle watched as one of the men threw an axe, only for it to fly off and strike the wooden post above the vendor’s head. The vendor glared at him while the people around laughed.

"Ah, amateurs," Edward clicked his tongue. "Why don’t you try first?" he suggested to Kevin, as if wanting to show his skill in the last.

"Feel free to use dagger, crossbow or the axe to hit the bullseye! Win this doll for the fair maidens," the vendor advertised loudly.

Soon Kevin picked up the daggers and threw them at the board. And though they hit the board, they never touched the centre. Hailey patted his back to comfort him.

Just as Edward stepped forward, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles before reaching for the axe, another hand reached past him and picked up the crossbow. He frowned slightly and followed the hand upward, only to realise it was Ruelle.

"You are going to try as well?" Edward asked, genuine surprise in his voice.

"Yes," Ruelle replied calmly as she checked the weight of the crossbow in her hands. Then she glanced at him and asked, "Would you like to go first?"

"That is quite alright, I am in no hurry," Edward said. "You may go first. Though if you want to hit the centre, I could give you a few pointers. I am very good at it."

"Maybe if I don’t hit the target," Ruelle smiled and turned to the front, taking a deep breath.

"The young lady wishes to try! Take a look," the vendor called out, and a few people nearby paused, curious to see how she would fare.

Ruelle lifted the crossbow and set the arrow in place before pulling the string back. Her elbow angled slightly as she steadied herself, and for a brief moment, she remembered cold fingers brushing lightly against her arm, adjusting her stance.

She focused on the centre of the board and released the arrow. The arrow struck the bullseye with a sharp sound. The next two arrows followed the first one, each landing cleanly in the centre.

Edward’s mouth fell open as cheers erupted and the vendor handed the doll to Ruelle, something he had intended to win for her himself.

"Ruelle! That was incredible!" Hailey exclaimed, clapping her hands.

luck," Kevin

not expected to hit the centre on the first try, and the small cheer that followed gave

it was Edward’s turn, he stepped forward and picked up the axe, testing its weight once before drawing his arm

the next second the entire board split cleanly into

the boards split up. The prince murmured in

Hermes quickly pushed some coins on the

please restrain your strength. People

didn’t pay attention as he turned to catch Ruelle’s surprised reaction and he

the fair, Ezekiel stepped down

share whatever food they managed to buy. The memory made her smile faintly, but the smile did not

we stay once the house and the rest of

of the ministers has been kind enough to offer it to

is very kind of him," she said. "We must prepare

delivered as instructed, things should already be in motion, and he questioned where the

stopped in front of a snowcone stall, where

like to try this?" Hermes asked with

have very simple tastes," he said, folding his arms. "I cannot believe you

Ruelle replied, which drew Edward’s attention. She held out her own snowcone toward

sky? Do people truly spend money on this?"

to look at him. "Looks like a madman,"

strong opinions on

his expression darkening instantly. He demanded, "Whom are you calling a beggar, you insolent peasant? I will have you

and quickly disappeared into

Hermes tried to quieten

clicked his tongue and turned away, only to notice that Ruelle was still holding the snowcone

it first," Ruelle insisted. "Then you

it from her hand and taking a cautious bite. He paused for two seconds as if his

at

continued further into the fair, where the crowd thinned and the

Her hair was completely grey, and so were her eyes. Deep lines ran across her face, and in

Ruelle staring, turned to notice the

table carried a crystal ball where smoke seemed to coil inside it slowly. It was fascinating to watch it. Though when her

knife beneath her

try a reading?" Hailey

the next stall. He said,

because of how they often stared at her when her

turned to see Edward take a seat across from the old woman. He tapped his fingers lightly on

mine. Tell me how long I will

slowly in her hands before drawing three cards and placing them on the table one by one. She studied them for

said. "You will lead one day... that is if

shuffle again if it says