Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 186 - 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.

"The pleasure is mine," Ruelle replied.

By the time all the introductions were done, her head felt full of names, where some had already fallen out of her head.

Soon little footsteps pattered across the floor, making their way to one of the tables. It was Lady Maxine's daughter, Olivia, who looked sleepy. The child lifted her arms toward her mother.

"Come here, child. Sit with me," one of the older vampiresses called, stretching her hand out.

Olivia looked at her and then murmured, "Ugly."

The word dropped into the room so suddenly that everything went quiet. Even the spoons stopped moving and one clattered loudly. Lady Maxine gave a nervous smile and the only sound that followed was Angelina calmly sipping her tea.

"Olivia, honey. It is rude to say such things," Lady Maxine said carefully. She then turned to the older woman, "Forgive her, Lady Daisy. She has picked up bad habits from spending time with her uncle."

Lady Daisy clicked her tongue and remarked, "I don't need to guess which uncle." She leaned toward Olivia and advised, "Don't repeat the foolish things he says."

Before Olivia could speak again, Lady Maxine quickly covered her mouth and lifted her into her arms. "I will be back," she said, hurrying off.

The room slowly breathed again and Ruelle noticed a plate being pushed in front of her.

"Would you like a biscuit? I baked them this morning," it was the young woman named Lia who had spoken to her.

Ruelle accepted one. "Thank you."

When she bit into it, she felt the pieces of chocolate melt on her tongue with the warm taste of butter and flour. She praised, "This is good. You must share the recipe."

Lia smiled brightly, answering, "I would be happy to."

As the conversation at the table shifted to soirees, servants and whose maid had ruined what gown, Ruelle had slowly stopped listening. After a while, she quietly slipped away from the table, letting the noise of the women fade behind her. At the edge of the glass-covered garden, she caught sight of Angelina standing with her eyes fixed on the frozen branches beyond the glass.

"You must want to go home," Ruelle said as she stopped beside her.

Angelina glanced at her, a small smile touching her lips. "Can you tell?" Her gaze settled on Ruelle again. "And you? Are you enjoying yourself?"

Ruelle thought about it. "I suppose." The truth was, she didn't know what to do at gatherings like these. Still, it was better than sitting across from her father.

Angelina gave a quiet hum. "I don't enjoy these. But my mother insists on certain things, especially for letting me have some things," her voice was calm, but something in it felt heavier than the words. "I heard you moved back with your family," Angelina said.

Ruelle smiled. It seemed like news travelled fast among vampires. She replied, "Yes. Only for a short while though."

"With the ministers you never know," came the aloof words from Angelina.

She hesitated before speaking, "May I ask you something?" When Angelina nodded, she lowered her voice, "When does the soul bond start becoming difficult?"

She had seen enough between Angelina and Oliver to know there was one between them. The way they stood near each other, moved around each other, as if pulled by something invisible.

The vampiress studied her for a moment before she said, "Sometimes a few days. Some people can't handle hours. It depends. Not everyone feels it the same."

"Do you think it can trigger corruption?"

This time Angelina's eyes stayed on her longer as if considering those words. She explained, "Pain and need are not the same thing. I don't think it should. Knowing Lucian, he has likely buried himself in work to keep it under control."

Ruelle's chest eased slightly, though not enough. Soon Angelina was summoned by her mother, leaving her by herself.

Her eyes moved from them to Hailey, who was busy eating, before her gaze shifted to Lia. The young woman moved with an ease that drew one's attention. Every gesture felt polished. Like someone raised in comfort and taught where to place her hands, how to lower her eyes and how to smile.

"I suppose the younger ones are more agreeable than us old folks. Or maybe it is just that they are humans," a voice came from behind them.

Ruelle turned to see an older vampiress approach. "I meant you and Lia."

"It is surprising," the woman continued. "How well you and Miss Lia seem to get along."

Ruelle responded with a smile, "She seems kind enough. It would be rude not to get along."

The vampiress laughed, correcting her, "That is not what I meant. When there is a prize involved, women usually become rivals."

The word prize sat unpleasantly in Ruelle's ears.

"Not many know this," the older vampiress went on, lowering her voice as though sharing gossip, "but the courthouse had looked into several human families for the treaty. Yours was not the only one."

Ruelle's eyes returned to Lia. She could see why they would have chosen her.

"If your family had not been found," the woman continued, "the ministers were prepared to push for another treaty. Miss Lia was among the choices. Many thought Miss Lia would be the more suitable match. He was calmer around her and treated her well too."

Ruelle then noticed the look in the woman's eyes. It was judgement, as if Lia would have been a better fit. It was an emotion she had been greeted with in the past.

Without responding, Ruelle stepped away. The woman asked, "Are you leaving, Miss Ruelle?"

Ruelle paused and turned back with a smile. "Not at all," she replied lightly. "I thought I should thank Miss Lia for being kind to Lucian when my family could not be found."

Once she sat at the table, she took another biscuit. Though she wasn't sure it was because she wanted to appreciate it or if she didn't want anyone talking more about what she just found out. It wasn't as if she could change the past. And if there was anyone to blame, it was her parents. Yet at the same time, some corner of her mind played the what-if.