Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Prince Edward’s chaos

Sexton’s dining hall, which was usually alive with chatter, had fallen into whispers behind the students hands. Their eyes were trained on the Crown Prince of the kingdom standing not among Elites but beside the Groundlings’ table.

Ruelle’s head felt jammed under every pair of eyes pressing on her and questioning her audacity. She had hoped for the prince to leave, but he continued to stand there and she could hear the faint sound of her heart, painfully alive.

"You know, I just realised," Prince Edward began, while everyone in the room hung on every word that left his lips. "I’ve never had someone work oil on me with such patience. We must do it again sometime. Perhaps regularly!" he looked utterly unaware of the storm he was unleashing.

"I think there are better people suited for it, Your Highness," Ruelle tried to put an end to their conversation.

But the prince was not done talking and continued, ​​"Most women would have fled in horror, but you were attentive with that thing," he meant the glue, as if announcing a royal achievement. "I don’t think anyone has ever handled me like that before."

Gasps rippled through the hall, while someone choked on their drink after hearing what the prince uttered.

Ruelle’s eyes widened in absolute horror at how he sounded and she hoped the floor would swallow her whole. No, not her, but him!

"Crown Prince’s thing?!"

"Did first-year Groundlings begin with physical classes for Seduction Techniques already?"

"Groundlings truly are ambitious...!"

Heat rushed to Ruelle’s cheeks. She forced to breathe, trying to steady her trembling fingers against her sides. She began, "Your Highness—"

"I ordered you to call me Edward," he corrected with a harumph, drawing an imaginary slice across his throat. "Unless you wish to be beheaded."

"Edward," Ruelle corrected carefully, because defying a prince was worse than death, "I merely helped you remove a... hunting mishap. I am quite certain there are many capable men who can tend to such matters."

Or knock some sense into your head, she thought weakly.

Prince Edward looked genuinely offended. He narrowed his eyes and remarked,

"I should reward those who serve me well. Also, you made some excellent points, ahem. So I have decided you will be summoned whenever I require assistance. Consider yourself fortunate, as most people spend their entire lives praying for the honour of serving me. You have simply stumbled into greatness, which most only dream of."

Lucian was right... Ruelle thought to herself. The act of kindness did not always reward. Because right now she could feel the glares burning through her.

She didn’t dare to look in Lucian’s direction right now. She could imagine the look of disappointment in his eyes and she bit the inside of her cheek.

Then there were her friends, who had turned into nothing less than a pair of statue. Thankfully, before the Crown Prince could fuel more misunderstandings, a tall, lean man in his late twenties entered the dining room. His brown hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail that brushed past his shoulders, and he wore the king’s crest upon his coat.

The attendant bowed his head slightly beside Edward and leaned close, speaking in a low voice meant only for royal ears. The prince’s brows knit together in immediate annoyance.

"What? Now?" Edward hissed under his breath. His voice was low, but not enough to mask his displeasure. "Ask them to wait. I am busy right now."

The attendant whispered something to the prince again, and Edward looked irritated. He turned to Ruelle and said begrudgingly,

"It seems that people desire to share in my greatness," he said before leaving with his attendant.

The steady click of the prince’s shoes followed him out of the dining hall and down the corridor. And once they faded, the silence in the hall broke. Voices turned louder than before, buzzing frantically while most of the students stared at Ruelle.

One of the Halflings commented, "I told you she was sponsored by someone. Groundlings can’t afford that. Apparently it was Prince Edward."

And though Ruelle sat down, she stared at her plate full of food, where she had eaten only three bites. While her friends were trying to wrap their heads around what happened, one of the second-year groundlings leaned towards them.

"My name is Kelis," she whispered, as if afraid even hope might be punished. "I’m already at the bottom... I don’t want to be thrown out like scraps. If you ask the prince, he might listen, please."

But Ruelle had only met the prince half an hour ago and the people were misunderstanding things. She also realised the severity of Sexton and what could happen if humans like her failed. A few nearby humans’ eyes suddenly lit with hope.

"Oh! That’s right! She could help all of us—"

"Ruelle, you should—"

Ruelle stood up and murmured, "Excuse me. I have somewhere to be."

She quickly stepped out of the dining hall, the noise fading behind her. Only when she reached almost the end of the corridor did she realise she had been holding her breath.

"Ruelle!!" Footsteps hurried behind her. It was Hailey and Kevin who caught up to her. Hailey looked excited and asked, "Why didn’t you tell us that you know the Crown Prince?! Do you think he will take you to the castle? This is so exciting," she clapped her hands together.

Behind Hailey, Kevin remained silent.

There was a faint stiffness in his shoulders. The warmth he usually held in his gaze felt dimmer now, shadowed by something caught between disbelief and quiet resignation.

Hailey continued, breathless, "Ruelle, you have to tell me everything. How did it happen? Is it because your father knows the royal family? Woah—"

"Hailey, calm down." Ruelle placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder. She sighed, "I didn’t know the prince until a few minutes ago."

"Huh? What do you mean a few minutes ago?" Hailey’s excitement turned into confusion. "He was talking to you comfortably. I don’t think a prince would ever do that."

"He... he likes to talk a lot," Ruelle closed her eyes for a brief second and then opened them. She explained what had happened before she arrived at the dining room and finished, "He needed help and I did. There is nothing more to it."

"But he told you to address him by his name. You must have made quite some impression on him," Hailey thought loudly. That was because it wasn’t every day a commoner helped a royal family member to rid glue. "What if one day he turns you into his wife?"

"You are getting carried away now, Hailey," Ruelle tried to ground Hailey. "You forget that ’Groundlings’ don’t turn into someone’s wife in the royal family. Our kind are always assigned as mistress." In her case, the prince had openly suggested to turn her into his attendant.

Hailey nodded with a dejected sigh but then brightened up and replied, "I don’t mind being the prince’s mistress. He is good looking and of higher status." It made Ruelle shake her head with an amused smile.

To Ruelle, Prince Edward looked like the sort who would wander straight toward the jaws of a crocodile, dragging others alongside him, only for them to be bitten while he walked away laughing.

It was close to noon, and the first years of Sexton were attending the potions class. They were working on an anti-liquid remedy against poisons. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and burnt ash, which were being added into a flask.

Ruelle sat in the front, because it was easier to focus and look at the board than her peers who would turn to face her.

The instructor was making rounds, and when he came to her side, he pointed, "You are a pinch short of ash."

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