Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186: The Other Choice

Instead of heading to her room, Ruelle quickly returned to the carriage and climbed inside.

"Where are your gloves?" Mrs. Belmont asked when she noticed Ruelle’s bare hands.

"I couldn’t find them," Ruelle lied. "I will need to buy a new pair."

She had barely finished wrapping the loose ends of her scarf around her hands when a pair of gloves was suddenly placed in front of her. She looked at her stepmother.

"I don’t need you falling sick while under our care," Mrs. Belmont said before placing the gloves firmly on her lap.

Ruelle stared at them for a moment before she wore them. The carriage began to move, the wheels grinding against the snow-covered road. She turned her head to the window, watching the world blur past.

She knew her father despised Lucian, but to go this far... Her fingers pressed against each other. So much for wanting to be a family. Not that she had expected anything from her father anymore, but somehow this still felt lower than she had imagined him capable of.

The society they lived in despised and looked down at the corrupted vampires in the same way as they did at the existence of a witch. In a way, both Lucian and she had something in common.

Was Minister Sylvan threatened by Lucian’s presence in the courthouse? Why else would he try to stir the corruption in Lucian’s heart again?

Ruelle tried to remember what she knew of corruption. It often came after something sudden. Trauma, grief or a violent shift. But no one knew about resumed corruption. She didn’t want to lose Lucian. He had held it back for years. He would do it again...

"Can we pay a visit to the local library later? There is a book I wanted to borrow," Ruelle said suddenly.

Mrs. Belmont turned to her with a look of surprise. Her lips pursed and she then said, "If you want a book, I will have one of the guards fetch it."

The rest of their journey passed in silence. When the carriage finally stopped before the grand gates of the Valentin mansion, a servant hurried forward to open the door.

Cold air brushed Ruelle’s face when she stepped down. Several carriages were already lined outside.

"Ruelle!" Lady Maxine’s voice rang through the front hall. The vampiress crossed the distance quickly and pulled Ruelle into an embrace, pressing kisses to both her cheeks. She said, "I am so glad you came. I heard you were unwell and was planning to visit you myself. Are you feeling better?"

"I am. Forgive the confusion," Ruelle replied, offering a small smile.

Lady Maxine waved a hand, replying, "It is nothing at all. I am delighted to have you here."

When the vampiress’s eyes fell on the other two women, Ruelle introduced, "This is my friend, Hailey Elliot."

Hailey bowed quickly.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Elliot," Lady Maxine said warmly, offering her hand. "Your father speaks of you."

Hailey smiled as she shook it, slightly taken aback by the vampiress’ beauty, "Thank you for giving him work when he needed it. He speaks much better of this place than his last employer. The earl’s nephew was awful."

Mrs. Belmont nudged her at once and Hailey looked confused.

Lady Maxine laughed. "Ruelle’s friends are welcome here. Considering her family didn’t do a good job."

Mrs. Belmont’s face seemed to lose its colour at the lady’s words.

Ruelle glanced at Lady Maxine. She doubted Lucian had spoken openly of her family. Did that mean the woman had seen it herself... they had shared the room once, but she hadn’t expected for the vampiress to see what had been done to her body.

"Come," Lady Maxine said, placing a hand lightly against Ruelle’s back, while ignoring Mrs. Belmont’s presence. "Everyone is waiting."

They walked deeper into the mansion until the end of the hall opened into a wide garden.

Ruelle was greeted by glass covering the entire space overhead, stretching so high above that the whole place stayed warm. Through the glass she could see white flakes drifting from the grey sky, while inside the air smelled faintly of flowers and sweet wine. It felt like standing between winter and spring.

Several women sat gathered at the tables. They were mostly vampiresses and a few human women. And among them, Ruelle caught sight of Angelina. The young vampiress gave a small nod and Ruelle returned it with a faint smile.

"Everyone," Lady Maxine announced brightly, "I would like to introduce my dear cousin Lucian’s beloved, Ruelle Belmont."

Ruelle felt the curious eyes on her.

"How wonderful to finally see you in person," one of the vampiresses said. "Most of us have been waiting to see who the courthouse chose. It is lovely to meet you, Miss Ruelle."

"Come, sit here," another offered, pulling out an empty chair beside her.

Ruelle sat, smoothing her dress beneath her. Some of them seemed eager to know more about her, while there were a few who watched her as if waiting to make a mistake.

One of the older women, her white hair pinned neatly and her skin untouched by age, turned to Mrs. Belmont and said, "You must be feeling fortunate to gain a son-in-law like Lucian Slater."

Fortunate? Megan Belmont didn’t know if that was how she felt. One son-in-law had sent her daughter to the gallows and the other future son-in-law had almost burned her and her husband in the house. Instead of feeling out of place, she put on a polite smile and replied,

"I am. It is not every day you find such a son-in-law."

Ruelle’s eyes met up with her stepmother’s, as if sharing a quiet look between each other. She could already imagine what was running in her stepmother’s mind.

"This is Lia Sloane," one of the older women said, introducing a young woman, a human, who sat across from her. She looked close to her age. Dark eyes and her lips painted red. Her brown hair was tied to one side, loose strands falling over her forehead.

"It is good to meet you, Miss Ruelle," Lia greeted, her voice gentle like wind brushing through bells.

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