Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Beneath the Apple Tree

The following morning, Ruelle woke earlier than usual.

The kitchen was quiet when she entered it and she had the space to herself, as Maude was on outdoor duties. Right now, her fingers were dusted with flour and she mixed the cake’s batter in the bowl. She had baked several times in the past and her skills in the kitchen were something she counted on.

She had tried to find out through Peyton on Lucian’s schedule for the day and apart from meeting Minister Gaile, he would be off work by the hour of noon. She had planned the day to begin with family breakfast and then have lunch with him alone. Then a visit to Lady Irina’s grave together.

And then—if he wanted—they would go out to hunt. She had heard it was popular for vampires of the higher class to do so.

When the batter was smooth and golden, Ruelle poured it into the prepared pan and slid it into the fire with sand beneath it.

When the cake was ready, Ruelle carried it to Lucian’s room with excitement. She hadn’t used too much sugar, knowing he didn’t have a sweet tooth. She requested Peyton stand at the end of the corridor than follow into the room.

Knocking on the door, she waited. Wondering if he was sleeping or in the bath, she turned the knob while announcing,

"I am coming in, Lucian."

But when the door opened, the room was empty. Her eyebrows furrowed as her eyes scanned the place once again. Taking a step back, she turned and caught Peyton talking to a servant before the vampiress turned to look at her.

"Mr. Slater was summoned as one of the ministers was found dead in his house," Peyton informed.

"Oh..." Ruelle’s eyebrows rose. Even though she had rushed through, it seemed like she had missed seeing Lucian. "I guess I will preserve it in the ice box so that it stays fresh by the time he returns."

But when afternoon approached, still there was no sign of Lucian or his carriage and while waiting, she fell asleep at the window.

At the hour that was approaching evening, Lucian finally returned, and Ruelle was quick to appear next to the carriage before the door even opened. Once the pureblooded vampire stepped down on the ground, catching sight of her, he stated,

"The weather is cold and you might fall sick standing out here."

"I didn’t want more numbers appearing before me in the list of people who have wished you," Ruelle replied with an awkward smile. Taking a deep breath, she wished, "Happy birthday, Lucian."

His eyes remained on her before the corner of his mouth lifted faintly. He said,

"Then I am glad I came back before the day ended. I would have regretted missing it."

"Here," Ruelle cleared her throat as she raised her hand. It was a small box that could fit in one hand.

"When did you buy it?" Lucian asked, because even though he wasn’t home, he had been receiving information about what she was up to.

"I didn’t," Ruelle said softly. "I—uh, borrowed it from the attic."

Lucian’s head tilted slightly in curiosity as he opened the box. Nestled inside was a small brass dial, no larger than his palm. Ruelle explained,

"It looks like an ordinary compass, but I bound it with my blood. No matter where I am, it will point towards me."

"I like it." Lucian ran his thumb across the glass of the dial and he murmured, "I will treasure it." He then slipped it carefully into his coat pocket.

Ruelle beamed at his words. She had thought long and hard before she had used what she had with her. It was something she had learnt in potion class and she had simply applied it. She noticed how his fingers tightened around his gift as if it were something precious.

She was about to ask about his work before bringing up the dinner she had arranged with Peyton’s help when she heard the sound of carriage wheels. Soon carriages appeared at the gates of the Slaters’ Mansion. What seemed like just two at first was soon followed by four more.

The carriages were made of dark woods and metal that looked freshly polished, enough to let one know by the look of it, along with the coachmen, that the people inside were all pureblooded vampires. Upon catching sight of Mr. Elliot, Hailey’s father, Ruelle guessed Lady Maxine’s arrival.

"Mr. Elliot," Ruelle greeted her friend’s father, who looked happy to see her.

"Miss Ruelle, how have you been? I heard the news, congratulations. My wife and I were very excited hearing it," Mr. Elliot uttered with a kind smile.

"Just Ruelle is fine, Mr. Elliot. I am Hailey’s friend before anything," Ruelle reasoned, not liking the distance that would form between her or her friends just because she was marrying into a lord’s house.

"Lucian! Happy birthday!!" Sawyer was the first one to step outside the carriage with a bright grin.

"I don’t recall inviting anyone," Lucian remarked as more carriage doors opened.

"Well, it is your birthday and the wedding news is all over the towns. We wanted to celebrate it and others wanted to meet Ruelle," Sawyer replied, unfazed by his cousin’s displeased expression. "Hey, Ruelle," he turned to look at her.

"Good evening, Sawyer," Ruelle greeted. "Have you been well?"

"Utterly well, but now even more fantastic," Sawyer said and he turned to catch his twin step down, followed by Oliver. As the others began to wish Lucian, he said to Ruelle, "He just acts displeased, but he secretly likes that the entire family is here together. I mean what better way to celebrate, right?"

"You are mistaking tolerance for enjoyment," Lucian shook his head.

"See? He’s happy," Sawyer grinned.

Ruelle smiled at Sawyer’s words and nodded. "Birthdays should be celebrated with loved ones." Unlike her lonely ones, it was good to see that even though Lucian was aloof in nature, there were family members who cared about him. To know that he was loved brought some peace in her mind.

"Wonderful to see you again, Ruelle," Lady Maxine spoke, and before she knew, Lucian’s cousin leaned forward to kiss the sides of her cheeks. "Congratulations on the treaty and the wedding to take place. I guess it makes us sister-in-law now," and she pulled away.

"Isn’t that supposed to be cousin sisters-in-law?" A man came to stand beside Lady Maxine, who was as tall as her, and he had blue eyes and blond hair. He carried a little girl in his arms. "I am Jeremiah Valentin, Maxine’s husband and this is our daughter, Olivia."

Ruelle offered a polite bow to the man, noticing the little one staring at her.

"Oh, isn’t she lovely?" one of the vampiress, whose hair had grey streaks, remarked as she made her way to where Ruelle was. "I am Francoise Ravencroft. We met when you were little as Livvy, but I doubt you remember it."

The next minute, the older vampiress engulfed Ruelle in a warm and unexpected embrace which had the young woman’s eyes widen before her cheeks turned red.

"Mother, you are going to overwhelm her," Angelina uttered in an emotionless voice.

"Pardon me," the older vampiress laughed before pulling back. "I can’t believe that there are only a few days left for the wedding. Feels almost fast."

At those words, Ruelle smiled because Lucian and she didn’t feel the same. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Francoise."

"You don’t have to use titles, as we are a family, just call me Auntie Francoise," Lady Francoise stated and patted Ruelle’s back. "Honey," the woman turned to her husband.

"Looks like it is Ruelle’s birthday more than Lucian’s," one of the vampires chuckled at how Ruelle was surrounded by Lucian’s relatives.

"I don’t mind," Lucian remarked when his eyes met Ruelle’s.

Ruelle met the Duke, who was less intimidating, while his eyebrows were heavy and raised. He looked slightly gruff, along with his voice,

"Good to see that the soul bonding has already been done." He then asked, "Have you settled in fine?"

"I have. The Slaters’ mansion is very comfortable. Thank you for asking," Ruelle bowed once again.

The twin’s mother only smiled before saying, "I cannot get over the fact of how sweet she looks. Irina would have loved her."

At the mention of Lady Irina, Ruelle felt a knot in her stomach, her smile faltering.

"She would have. She would be happy to see Lucian’s day is going to be celebrated," Lady Francoise’s husband replied while wrapping a hand over her shoulders.

Lady Maxine’s daughter, who stared at Ruelle murmured in trance, "Looks just like my doll."

"Unfortunately, I doubt your uncle would be willing to let you take her home, Livvy," Sawyer teased. He expected Lucian to glare or turn flustered. Instead, Lucian remarked,

"This one is mine alone."

Ruelle couldn’t believe how easily Lucian said it before everyone and she didn’t know what to do with all the attention. It was obvious to notice that Lucian’s family were warm and loving and close to each other. Like spring, she thought to herself.

"What were you two doing standing out here in cold?" Another vampiress appeared, who was Lady Maxine’s mother. "Were you planning to head out?"

"I just returned from the courthouse," Ruelle heard Lucian respond, and she decided to stay quiet, as it would be rude to leave everyone... when they were here for Lucian.

A sigh escaped from his aunt’s lips. "How awful of them to make you work even this day. Frankly, I thought Dane was well suited to the ministry and you taking your father’s title."

"I think we can all agree that with Dane in the courthouse, half of the human population might disappear," Lady Maxine said, shaking her head.

"My, where are the manners? Speaking right behind my back," Dane who had just stepped out of the mansion, wore a look of mock dismay as he kissed his aunts’s cheeks.

"It is hardly speaking behind your back when you are approaching at the front." Lady Maxine rolled her eyes.

"Uncle Dane!" The little girl raised her hands and was soon picked up by Dane.

Soon everyone got inside the mansion and lounged in the drawing room. The room was filled with chatter and laughter, as if the mansion had come to life with the warmth people brought with them. To Ruelle, it felt new, something she had never witnessed nor experienced.

"Have you thought about where you want to go after the wedding?" one of the cousins spoke.

"We haven’t thought that far yet," Ruelle responded. She was still letting herself be soaked in the news that she was going to marry Lucian. There had been times when she would question if this was all just a dream.

Her eyes moved across the drawing room and found Lucian, who was talking to his cousins and his expression carried faint amusement.

"You should definitely pick one," said the cousin, and Lady Maxine nodded. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Bobbi is right. If you stay here, work is going to keep pulling Lucian," Lady Maxine gave a pointed look. In the meanwhile, her daughter had found her way to Ruelle before climbing on her lap.

"I’ve never thought that far ahead," Ruelle admitted with a small laugh while letting the little girl play with her hair. "I will have to discuss it with Lucian."

Ruelle caught the vampiress’s eyes move behind her and when she turned, she found Peyton, who had leaned forward.

"Miss Ruelle, I have been summoned to visit the Elder Minister. I will finish there and return," Peyton informed her.

"Travel and return safe," Ruelle responded and soon the vampiress took her leave from the room.

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