Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Decision sent to the King

In the evening, the corridor hummed with conversations as some of the students made their way towards the dining hall. The rich scent of roasted meat and herbs drifted through the air. Ruelle heard Hailey sighed beside her,

"I’m not certain I recovered from the dance lesson, Rue. My toes escaped unharmed, but Sawyer dances like he was trying to summon a storm. I was only there to be flung along with it."

"I am sorry about it. But I am glad you didn’t fall," Ruelle patted her friend’s back with a smile.

"That could have been embarrassing," Hailey thought grimly before noticing a stain on her sleeve. She pulled out her handkerchief and began dabbing it while mindlessly asking, "How about you? Did Lucian glare at you?"

"Actually, it was the opposite," Ruelle replied with a small smile. Contrary to what people believed, Lucian was thoughtful even if he wasn’t loud about it.

Hailey opened her mouth to respond when a royal guard stepped in front of them, blocking their path. Hailey’s hand went defensively near Ruelle’s arm. The guard announced with a bow,

"Miss Ruelle Belmont. His Highness, Crown Prince Edward, demands your presence for dinner this evening."

Ruelle blinked. "Dinner... with the prince?" she repeated faintly.

Every conversation near them stopped and heads not so subtly turned in their direction. A hushed murmur began to spread around the corridor.

"A chaperone has already been arranged," the guard added smoothly, as though the whispers were beneath his notice. "So that the chaperone will ensure proper conduct. You need not concern yourself with impropriety or speculation."

"May I ask why?" Ruelle asked carefully.

"His Highness did not share his reasons. Only that he does not want to be kept waiting," the guard replied. He continued, "If you would follow me now, Miss Belmont."

Ruelle glanced at Hailey. Her friend squeezed out a smile. This was something one couldn’t refuse and it wasn’t every day humans like her were invited to have a meal with the royal family member.

"I’ll go ahead to the dining hall," Hailey whispered, leaning close. "Kevin should be waiting." Then, she said reassuringly, "You’ll be fine. Tell me everything later!" she winked.

Ruelle followed as the guard turned. Her footsteps fell quietly behind his, echoing against the polished marble floor and the hushed murmurs dimmed out. She clasped her hands together in front of her to keep them from fidgeting. They walked past the tall windows lining the corridor and when she took a peek outside, the sky looked starless.

The guard led her to a wide balcony. Two guards stood at the entrance and beyond them, lamplight glowed warmly. A long table was set near the railing, where one could view the academy grounds and the horizon.

"Miss Belmont has arrived, Your Highness," the guard announced.

Prince Edward sat comfortably at one end of the table, dressed as if this were a soiree.

"If only you had longer legs, you would have come sooner and spared me from waiting for you. I am famished," Edward shook his head in disappointment.

Ruelle offered him a tight smile and a bow. The chair opposite to him was pulled out for her. She asked him cautiously,

"Your Highness...is there a reason why I have been invited here?"

"Well, I am here. What better reason do you need?" Edward looked genuinely perplexed. He gestured lazily to himself up and down with his hand like the answer was so obvious it pained him to explain it. "It looks like you are slow, but that’s alright. Sit down."

Ruelle didn’t know what Prince Edward’s intentions were, and that alone unsettled her far more than she wished to admit. Having dinner with a prince should have been a blessing. A privilege. Something young women whispered about with awe. Instead, it felt like she had stepped onto thin ice without knowing where it would crack.

But this was...this prince. And she didn’t want to plunge into cold water.

"It is a shame we didn’t get to speak more during the ballroom lesson," Edward sighed dramatically, as if fate itself had personally wronged him. He then frowned, "They changed the song without telling me. Once I have learnt this one, we shall dance again, Ruelle."

"So I thought," he went on proudly, "what better solution than to have you sit with me? I am very generous like that."

Servants arrived with the food. A roasted bird on a platter was set before her, which had a golden, crispy skin. The prince finally noticed her silence and remarked,

"You have turned far too quiet." He looked displeased by the lack of enthusiasm from her.

"That might be easier," Ruelle murmured softly, "if you didn’t threaten execution so frequently."

"I am quite reasonable. I have barely executed anyone," Edward countered without shame and he ran his fingers through his hair. "It is but a modest number."

"One hundred and twelve," Hermes corrected gently from behind. Ruelle nearly choked on her breath.

Far away from the balcony that was arranged upon Prince Edward’s word, in the dining room candles and the fireplace burned warmly. Hailey hurriedly stepped inside before taking a seat at the Groundlings’ table next to Kevin.

"They prepared pumpkin soup with broth and cream. You ought to taste it," Kevin remarked, tapping the empty rim of his bowl with his spoon. He glanced around the table once. Then again. He asked, "Where is Ruelle?"

Hailey hesitated a heartbeat too long before she said in a lowered voice, "She was summoned to have dinner." She didn’t say with whom, as she felt the dining hall didn’t need more gossip.

Kevin blinked once before giving her a polite nod. He murmured, "I see." His hand, however, tightened around his spoon.

Hailey watched him from the corner of her eye and she asked, "You okay?"

"I’m fine," he replied with a smile that didn’t quite make it to his eyes.

"Kevin," Hailey turned fully toward him, her voice gentler now, "you should tell her how you feel."

"She was summoned to have dinner."

Uncle? Ruelle’s gaze slipped to Ezekiel and noticed him tighten his jaw. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

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