The cold lingered beyond the walls of the castle, but the burning fireplace kept the dining room warm. The food was rich yet Ruelle found herself eating only a little as the king’s gaze returned to her more than once. It was probably because Hermes had not stayed silent about her parchment.

To think she had folded another parchment on a whim and she closed her eyes for a second. She then heard King Septimus question, 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Are you a quick learner, Ruelle?" without looking up from his plate and her eyes opened.

"That would depend on what is required of me, Your Majesty..." Ruelle replied politely, even though the grip on her spoon tightened. "I do my best to follow what I am taught."

"I heard you hunt well. That you even won at the fair today. A doll was it?" King Septimus stated before meeting her gaze.

Given Edward’s nature, it seemed hardly surprising that the king kept watch over where his son went and what he did, thought Ruelle to herself. So the king would know about others around the prince.

"It was effort and a little luck," Ruelle replied, feeling the heavy feeling returning once more, while his gaze carried curiosity.

A soft hum escaped from King Septimus. He responded, "It would seem fortune has favoured you and the others as well today. You there. Tell me, what do you make of it?"

Ruelle kicked Hailey’s foot under the table, who looked up startled. "Me?" she asked before answering quickly, "I am a quick learner, Your Majesty."

"That is good to hear," King Septimus laughed lightly as he cut into the meat. He continued, "There should be at least one capable person present. It would be unfortunate if the others were made to answer for a lapse, right?"

Hailey swallowed before giving a small nod as her voice failed her.

"Father, the final examinations will be conducted soon. I shall be finished with Sexton soon and I intend to take first place," Edward said, glancing toward his father.

"We shall see," King Septimus replied, his movements remaining smooth and unhurried as if he had everything and everyone under control.

Ruelle had never met anyone like King Septimus. She wondered if it was the weight and the glitter of the crown that formed such a powerful presence. A word from him, and people obeyed. A movement of his hand, and death seemed never far behind.

When a servant came to serve Ruelle the meat, Edward shooed the person with a frown, "Don’t serve her that. Her stomach was in pain. Where’s the porridge?"

"Forgive me, Your Highness," the servant apologised. "I will bring it right away."

"That is quite alright. I feel better now," Ruelle said. Was Edward always so attentive, or had the king’s presence made every small action feel magnified?

When the dinner came to an end, she slipped away with Hailey, making her way to the room assigned to them.

"Oh God, I was terrified back there. He was warn—mmph!" Ruelle covered Hailey’s mouth before she could finish. She pressed a finger to her own lips, then pointed toward her ear.

"We are going hunting tomorrow. We should rest," Ruelle said and Hailey nodded. Pulling her hand away, she moved toward the bed and dropped onto it with a soft sigh and murmured, "I am tired..."

"So am I," Hailey said, moving to lie beside Ruelle. "Can you believe it has only been a week since the Winter Ball?"

"Has it?" Ruelle asked, staring at the ceiling.

"Mm," Hailey nodded, a yawn escaping her. She turned onto her side to look at Ruelle and praised, "You are a strong person."

A small chuckle escaped from Ruelle, and she turned to look at Hailey before asking, "What brought that on?"

"I am serious. If it had been me, I would have tried to escape through the window and likely be lying beneath the snow by now," Hailey whispered with her brows furrowing.

"Then Kevin and I would have come looking for you. Hopefully dig you out," Ruelle replied at the thought of it.

Hailey’s voice then fell even lower as she asked, "Do you think we should...tell Kevin?" the last words being mouthed.

Ruelle shook her head. "He’s been ecstatic since the king told him he would be hired."

As the night continued, Ruelle pulled the blanket closer, her eyes tracing the empty ceiling as each moment of the day replayed in her mind. The castle felt suffocating and she could not wait to leave it. If she were back at Sexton, she would be lying in her bed, and Lucian would be there either asleep or working as he always did.

Her hand moved unconsciously to her lips as though recalling the moment from the morning.

She pressed her fingers there, mirroring the touch she had not forgotten, and a quiet warmth climbed to her cheeks. But the moment did not last. Her eyes flashed through the memory of blood spilled across the floor and bodies severed.

Pulling her hand away, she turned toward the window, where the snow continued to fall, burying everything beneath it.

The following morning, the weather had settled but the ground had hardened beneath the snow. Right now, Ruelle sat on one of the horses, and though she had planned for Hailey to ride with the prince, Hermes intervened,

"Miss Elliot, you shall ride with me."

"But Edward had intended to guide her," Ruelle said, her tone light as she glanced toward the prince. "He is quite skilled."

Hermes’ lips pressed together before he replied, "His Highness was taught under my guidance. It would be better that I guide her instead, while you and he continue with the hunt."

Edward adjusted his hair unbothered. He called, "Let us begin," pressing his heels to the horse. The horse leapt forward at once and soon the castle fell behind as they disappeared into the forest.

Ruelle held the reins tightly as her horse moved ahead and the trees rushed past on either side. They rode deeper into the forest, where the silence thickened and she hoped the distance would swallow any word that might carry back to the king.

"There is the hare!" came Edward’s excited voice. He brought his crossbow up and released the arrow in one swift motion.

And as expected from the prince, the shot landed cleanly, dropping the animal dead. When a guard moved to collect the animal, the prince glanced back at Ruelle with a pleased expression. He said, "This is only the beginning. We shall have something larger soon."

"Let us continue then," Ruelle responded, urging her horse forward as they looked for their next target.

"Hermes...can’t we ride a little faster?" Hailey called, holding the crossbow close to her side. "At this rate, the prince will leave nothing for us to practise on."

Hermes rode just behind Ruelle, while the prince had already moved ahead, leaving the guards and Kevin trailing behind him. The attendant spoke,

"One does not compete with the prince, Miss. Just as one would not compete with the king in a bid. It is considered nothing less than treason."

Ruelle’s lips tightened at Hermes’s words. Because with each passing hour, the weight of the situation deepened, as though she had fallen into something without end, where the light above grew smaller, dimmer, and harder to reach.

"We shall find a bird for you, while the others continue the hunt on the ground," Hermes said to Hailey.

They now rode alongside a gushing river, the sound of water rushing beside them as the horses moved forward. Even though it was winter, it seemed like it was still flowing, how strange, Ruelle thought to herself.

"I believe I hear an elk ahead, Your Highness," one of the royal guards informed.

Without wasting a second, Ruelle pulled out the small vial from her pocket, which was filled with human blood that she had taken before leaving the dining room in the morning. She poured it over her ankle. The next moment, she tipped sideways and let herself fall. Her body hit the ground hard, rolling once before coming to a stop.

"Ruelle!" Kevin shouted, pulling the reins of his horse and so did the others in the back.

Edward turned his horse at once, his eyes widening at the sight of Ruelle on the ground. He pulled the reins to a sharp halt before jumping down and rushing to her.

"Are you alright, Ruelle? Are you hurt?" Edward asked in worry. "You are bleeding!"

"It is nothing. I must have lost my balance while trying to look for the elk," Ruelle smiled while clutching her leg.

"Your Highness, perhaps we should have Miss Ruelle sit with you, so we return to the castle," Hermes proposed with a frown.

Ruelle shook her head, insisting, "I am perfectly alright. All of us were looking forward to the hunt. I would hate for Hailey, Kevin and you to miss it because of me."

"Rubbish. You are more important," Edward said at once, already turning away. Ruelle reached out and caught his arm.

"It is just a small cut. It only needs to be wrapped and I will be fine. I can rest here while the rest of you continue the hunt... bring back something big. A bear, perhaps. Right?" Ruelle said with a small smile but the prince looked torn.

Ruelle didn’t like to lie. In fact, right now, she felt terrible looking at Edward’s worried face. But she needed to speak to Edward and with Hermes always tagging along, she felt it would be hard. She then heard him say,

"Let two guards stay here and the rest of you continue to hunt."

"But Your Highness—"

"Leave," Edward waved his hand, and Hermes’ frown only deepened before they finally left.

With the others out of sight, Ruelle turned to the guards standing nearby in silence. As if catching on to it, Edward ordered, "You two take a walk. And don’t turn back unless you’ve no use for your eyes."

When it was just the two of them, Edward’s eyes fell on the blood-smeared fabric of her skirt. His hand reached out and his fingers brushed the blood that had soaked through. He paused, then brought them to his mouth.

Ruelle’s brows lifted slightly at the sight. He cleared his throat and murmured, "I was always curious how your blood would taste. I must say though," his eyebrows furrowed, "it is not fresh."

"Your Highness," Ruelle spoke, and Edward leaned closer.

"I need your help but can you promise to keep a secret? That you won’t tell it to anyone," Ruelle began and the prince nodded.

"I promise!" Edward replied, eager to listen to whatever secret she was going to share.

"I am not hurt. I needed a moment to speak with you alone," Ruelle said, revealing her ankle, which was perfectly fine and Edward frowned while half distracted by her delicate ankle. She lowered her voice further, "The king told me yesterday that he chose me to be your mistress. Is there any way... to make him reconsider it?"

Edward moved back as seriousness fell on his face. He asked, "Father spoke to you about it...?"

He then asked, "Tell me, Ruelle. Why do you oppose it so strongly?" Because she was a student of Sexton and she would be auctioned. "I did mention I am going to win you and your friends in the bidding. You mentioned you didn’t want to be someone’s mistress, wasn’t that right?"

Ruelle gave him a nod and was about to speak when he said, "There is a way to fix it all. I should make you my wife."

"What? No," Ruelle responded with her eyes widening. "We have spent many days together, and I have never felt that way. I like you as my friend, Edward, and perhaps you feel the same way."

"I know how I feel about you, Ruelle," Edward’s expression was sombre as he stared back at her. "Give me two days of yours. If I can’t win you over, I will give up."

"I am not even that good, Your Highness, to be pursued," Ruelle answered back, while hearing the sound of the horses galloping approaching them. "I am more worried about the king’s decision. The action—"

"I will have time to work on how to solve the issue with my father so he won’t hold you guilty for it. It is two days from tomorrow," Edward replied, the focus in his eyes turning intense.

How was two days going to do anything? This was like a glass ready to break and shatter. Before they could speak anything more, Hermes and the others returned.

Edward stood up and turned to them. He asked annoyed, "Why did you return so early?"

"We didn’t find any footprints of the bear, Your Highness. I thought it would be better to head back to the castle with Miss Ruelle as she is injured," Hermes replied, looking down at where Ruelle was.

"Right. Let us return to the castle," Edward decided. He then turned back and noticed her going to stand up when he offered his hand. "You should be careful, as you are hurt," and he smiled.

Ruelle wondered if she could just jump into the cold river and flow away from there. She then caught his hand and got up before they left the heart of the forest.

When it was time to leave the castle with Claude, who had arrived early, Ruelle was about to step out of the entrance when King Septimus appeared. He said to her,

"I look forward to your visit soon."

"Thank you for having us," Ruelle offered him a bow, ready to jump into the carriage, when she heard the king speak,

"Kevin, you can start your start your work from today. Hermes informed me that you were excellent during the hunt this morning."

"I will be happy to... but my things," Kevin replied.

"The guards will pick them up from Sexton," King Septimus stated, to which Kevin obliged.

After Kevin shared a quick word with Hailey and her, Ruelle was about to turn, when the king remarked,

"Ah... Ruelle. I seem to have something of yours."

She paused at the king’s voice. When she turned, he was already holding the parchment and she took it from him. Upon unfolding it, her face paled. Her and Hailey’s conversation... but she had burned it. "I believe it belongs to you. Be more careful next time or someone might damage your things."