Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236: Pulling Out the Roots

Lucian was close to burning the house down. He said, "I asked where Ruelle is. She’s not in the house."

"We don’t know!" Mr. Belmont insisted. "We don’t know—"

A sigh escaped from Lucian’s lips. The sound of it was small, carrying almost a world of contempt in just the breath of it. He murmured, "Useless even now. Is there any point living?"

"What? Even now?" Mr. Belmont gritted his teeth at the audacity of the young pureblooded vampire.

The tendrils moved, sliding over the floor, swift and curious, which brushed against Mrs. Belmont’s leg before winding around her ankle with a light touch, which was enough to make the woman shriek. She exclaimed,

"We don’t know! We don’t! Our maid Daisy took her somewhere! We’re trying to look for her, we are now, we—"

This morning, when Lucian had woken up, things he didn’t remember yesterday came flooding in like a dam that had broken. His memories had returned sooner than he had estimated for it to return.

Though Lucian had known the solution to what was going on, he could not have given it to Ruelle himself at the fear of changing things between them. The choice had needed to be hers alone, or else people getting involved would find their position changed from what it was meant to be. Still, with the ingredients already gathered and the path laid before her, he had hoped she would arrive at it on her own.

In the past, Ruelle was never kidnapped when she was young. Which meant she had chosen to leave on her own accord.

But where could she be?

He doubted she had gone to Hailey or Kevin, given how they didn’t have a strong standing against the Belmonts and were young with no memories.

That left one place, Lucian realised. Without another word, he turned and left the house.

Only when the door had shut behind him did some of Harold’s courage return. His jaw clenched and then scowled. "I will report him! Damn him." He turned sharply towards his wife, ordering, "Get ready. We’re going to visit the courthouse!"

With their own carriage broken, they had to wait to catch the local carriage before they headed towards the courthouse. Stepping down, he strode through the entrance with his wife.

"I need to speak with the Elder Minister immediately. One of the Slater boys entered my house without permission and threatened my family. I want—Oh good, there’s the minister," he said, catching sight of Carnifex.

But before he could approach, two officers stepped into their path and Harold stopped.

"What?"

One of them unfolded a document, questioning him, "Harold Belmont?"

"Yes?" Mr. Belmont looked slightly irritated.

"You and your wife are under arrest for treason and fraud."

"What?" Mr. Belmont looked confused. "I think there’s a confusion. My daughter is missing. I am not the one who kidnapped her."

The guard informed him, "Anything you say or do will be held against you later."

Harold’s confusion slowly gave way to unease. His eyes moved past the officers towards Carnifex.

"Minister?" But the elder minister did not approach and only stared back. "What is going to happen to my daughter?!"

Carnifex’s expression remained unreadable. "Which one?"

Harold froze.

"If you mean the daughter you hid from the treaty, arrangements will be made for her to stay with your sister."

"H—Hid?" Harold’s face drained of colour. "I was talking about Ruelle."

Carnifex’s eyes narrowed slightly. He remarked firmly, "Ruelle is bound to the treaty. I will personally see to it that she is well cared for. Take them to the dungeon."

While a stunned Mr and Mrs Belmont were escorted away, the Elder Minister’s mansion remained quiet, Ruelle had yet to wake. Unaware of everything that had unfolded that morning, she continued to sleep peacefully beneath the warmth of the blankets.

Reversing time had taken a greater toll on her than she had realised. Her young body was still recovering from the strain of it.

A shadow slipped across Ruelle’s sleeping face. Lucian had come to stand beside the bed, his gaze resting quietly on her. His gaze lowered to the delicate vines along her neck, which was absent last evening when they had met with the parents.

His hand lifted to her face, carefully brushing a loose strand of hair away from her cheek.

Ruelle stirred in her sleep, her brows drawing together before her eyes slowly fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. As her eyes adjusted to the morning light, she caught the young Lucian sitting on the edge of the bed, and she sat up suddenly.

Then another thought surfaced. If her mother’s interference in keeping her alive had created the imbalance, perhaps reversing time had finally corrected it.

She murmured, "He didn’t come to kill me, did he?"

But then Lucian pulled her into his embrace, remarking, "I am rather attached to do that."

Ruelle’s eyes widened upon hearing this, and she asked, "You... remember?"

Lucian pulled back before leaning in to kiss her forehead.

Taken aback, she said, "I thought you and the others wouldn’t remember."

"Ideally, only the person who reverses time retains their memories," Lucian answered, his gaze fixed on hers. "Reversal maintains balance. The knowledge you carry is compensated for elsewhere, while everyone else remains unaware of what was erased."

"But I remember because of who you soul bonded with," he paused briefly. "But the bond carried part of my corruption with it. When time reversed, that tether remained."

"A tether..." Ruelle murmured. It wasn’t only something that bound them beyond death. Somehow, it had endured even before it. Her expression softened. "I am glad you remember. I mean... I had prepared myself to rebuild the memories together, but it makes me happy knowing you are here with me."

Lucian’s thumb brushed against the back of her hand. "I know."

Remembering something, the smile on Ruelle’s lips faltered and her gaze dropped. She whispered,

"I met Belladonna beyond the mirror. She told me things wouldn’t return exactly as they were. There is no Lachlan. The Belmonts didn’t know who he was when I asked."

Lucian remained quiet, listening.

"I need to find Hailey. I need to know that she still exists," Ruelle continued.

"Then we’ll find her," Lucian said simply. His fingers closed around hers. "If seeing her will put your mind at ease, there is no reason to remain here worrying about it."

Someone cleared their throat at the doorway. Ruelle and Lucian turned at the sound and found Lady Amelia standing there, watching them. The vampiress remarked with slight amusement,

"Well. I was under the impression that one of you was asleep and the other lived elsewhere."

Ruelle began, "Lady Amelia—we need to go see someone."

Lady Amelia nodded. But she said, "I understand, but it would be rude to send you away without being fed. Mr Slater, I assume you haven’t had breakfast either. You may join us."

In the short span of time, clothes had been arranged for her, and she was changed into them. Instead of a maid taking care of it, Lady Amelia had gently braided Ruelle’s hair, working it carefully around the crown of her head before pinning it in place.

She was then brought to the dining room, where there were so many varieties that she couldn’t help but gawk at it. The silver trays gleamed under the chandelier’s light, filled with warm bread, roasted meats, glazed vegetables, small bowls of fruit preserved in syrup, a tureen of soup still steaming gently and many desserts.

"I wasn’t sure what you like and asked the cook to make a little of everything," Lady Amelia said, pulling the chair next to the head of the table. "Come, sit."

Ruelle picked up her fork and took the first bite. The food was comforting and she realised how hungry she was.

And once she was done eating with Lucian, who had drunk blood that was offered to him, she asked, "Where is the elder minister?"

’Even if you were a frog, you would be my friend, Ruelle. It doesn’t matter.’

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