Chapter 198: In The Minister’s Chamber
The last thing Ruelle expected was for her stepmother’s voice to ring through the courthouse. She continued to point straight at Ezekiel, and cry,
"Put him behind the bars for killing my husband! He’s been trying to kill us all! First my daughter, and now my husband!"
Ruelle’s eyes immediately flew to the people gathering around them. Caroline looked from her stepmother to Ezekiel, confusion and disbelief slowly settling across her tired face at her father’s news. Her stepmother wasn’t trying to convince Caroline but she was trying to separate her from Ezekiel.
And to Ruelle, it felt like the right opportunity. If everyone believed Ezekiel had murdered Harold, no one would pay attention to anything else. Perhaps...Whatever the guard had overheard would disappear beneath this accusation.
"What’s the commotion?" The familiar voice made Ruelle look up. It was Minister Sylvan, who approached with a frown, his sharp gaze sweeping over the humans before settling on Peyton. "It seems you aren’t carrying out your duties very well, Peyton."
Ruelle barely heard the remark when her eyes fell on the familiar-looking guard standing a few steps behind the minister.
"Please calm down," Peyton said as she moved towards Mrs. Belmont. "This is the courthouse. Allow me to escort you to another room."
"No!" Mrs. Belmont pulled away before pointing again. "Caroline! Stay away from him! He isn’t to be trusted!"
"Enough," Minister Sylvan’s voice cut cleanly through the courtyard. "We will settle this properly." His eyes moved across each of them. "My chambers," and he turned without another word.
One by one, everyone began following him.
Caroline remained rooted for only a second before her mother dragged her along. Ezekiel followed a few steps behind, his expression unreadable, while Peyton stayed close enough to prevent another outburst from the woman.
Ruelle caught Lucian’s sleeve before they could move. She whispered, "He knows. The guard... he heard us."
Lucian’s gaze shifted immediately towards the guard walking behind Minister Sylvan and his eyes narrowed. Then he looked back at her and said,
"Don’t worry." The warmth of his hand settled against the small of her back. "Come."
With most of the people walking through the courthouse being pureblooded vampires, Ruelle knew better than to whisper anything further. There were too many ears around them and too many people who didn’t need to be invited into their conversation.
Yet it didn’t stop Lucian from speaking with his brother. His voice dropped no more than a breath, but they spoke in a language that made even the men walking past them curious. She wondered if this was Coven language. It had hard and soft consonants.
Dane’s lips twisted in displeasure before he answered in the same quiet tone.
When they finally reached Minister Sylvan’s chambers, the first thing Ruelle noticed was the cold. It settled over her skin almost immediately, making the hairs on her arms rise beneath her sleeves. Her eyes instinctively searched for the fireplace, which had no remnants of logs.
The doors remained wide open behind them, allowing the winter air to drift through the chamber until the room felt scarcely warmer than the corridor outside.
Ruelle caught Minister Sylvan seated behind the desk while everyone else remained standing. His fingers tapped the polished wood once before his gaze swept leisurely across the room.
"Who would like to begin?" he asked. "And preferably one at a time. I have little interest in feeling as though I am presiding over a marketplace."
"I would like to speak first."
Mrs. Belmont didn’t wait for anyone else. When Minister Sylvan gave a nod, she immediately said, "My husband was killed by Ezekiel Henley. He needs to be executed for it!"
Ruelle’s eyes shifted to Ezekiel. The man looked every bit the picture of bewilderment.
"Why would I do such a thing?" he asked, his brows drawing together. "What would I gain from killing a man who didn’t have a single penny to his name?" He turned briefly towards Caroline before looking back at the minister. "Father-in-law’s death came as a shock to me as well. But to accuse me of it..." He shook his head. "I have been here at the courthouse waiting for Caroline."
Ruelle glanced at her sister. The last time they had met, Caroline would have stood between her husband and anyone accusing him. But this time... something was different.
"That may explain this morning. What about last night?" Mrs. Belmont shot back. She had already decided who Harold’s murderer was.
Ezekiel let out a humourless scoff before turning towards Minister Sylvan. "Minister, I am being falsely accused."
"But you can verify where he has been. Last night and the nights before that. If you investigate properly, you’ll find the truth," Mrs. Belmont insisted.
The steady tapping of a quill against wood interrupted the room. Minister Sylvan rolled the quill slowly between his fingers before setting it down with deliberate care. The faint tapping that had filled the room ceased at once and he then spoke to the woman in distress,
"Mrs. Belmont, we will gladly assist you in uncovering the truth." A faint smile touched his lips. "But accusing Mr. Henley requires more than suspicion. It requires proof."
And that was something her stepmother didn’t have because the woman had accused him just because she felt it was convenient and a quick solution.
His gaze drifted across the room before stopping on Lucian. He then said, "It would be unfortunate if the two of you spent your time accusing one another while the true culprit slipped away."
Dane lazily adjusted one of the cuffs beneath his coat before saying,
"The officer believed it was a witch."
But Minister Sylvan didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked as though he had expected someone to say it.
Her fingernails pressed deeper into her palms beneath her sleeves and she forced herself to keep her face still while her stepmother spoke again.
"Mr. Henley also tried to frame my daughter for the murders. Your own men took our statements after the arrest. My husband and I both—"
"Mrs. Belmont," Minister Sylvan’s calm interruption was enough to halt her. "I have read both your statement and your husband’s. And that is precisely why I find this difficult. Your husband spoke very highly of Mr. Henley."
The room fell quieter.
"He described him as a generous son-in-law. A man who supported your family financially when no one else did. One who asked for no dowry, married your daughter, and later welcomed you into his home. So you must understand my confusion," as his gaze rested on Mrs. Belmont. "I am unsure which account I am meant to believe."
Ruelle watched the colour drain from her stepmother’s face before anger quietly took its place. For a brief moment, the woman closed her eyes and if her father was alive, she might have killed him herself.
"Cimerian. Bring me Mr. Belmont’s statement from his previous visit," Minister Sylvan looked towards one of the guards. The guard bowed before leaving the chamber. The minister then continued, "In fact, it wasn’t Mr. Henley whom your husband seemed wary of." His eyes drifted to Lucian.
Ruelle felt the air turn thick as eyes turned on Lucian, but he remained as composed as ever.
"It is possible," Lucian agreed with the minister, before continuing, "that he simply struggled to accept his daughter marrying into a pureblooded family. Wasn’t that the reason he kept himself hidden for so many years? He trusted neither the courthouse nor those within it."
Minister Sylvan smiled faintly and it was a smile that Ruelle had grown uncomfortable towards. "It is possible." Then his gaze returned to Mrs. Belmont and he asked, "Tell me... Did your husband ever suffer at Lucian Slater’s hands?"
If this had happened weeks ago, Ruelle knew exactly what her stepmother would have said. But not today. Her stepmother lowered her eyes before shaking her head and replied,
"Not that I am aware of."
"I suppose they are only rumours then," Minister Sylvan mused. "Though people often say there is no smoke without fire." His eyes settled on Lucian. "And Mr. Slater has quite the fondness for fire."
Lucian didn’t so much as blink. "And who witnessed this fire?" he asked.
The question hung in the room, a silent challenge that the minister looked happy to unravel.
Mrs. Belmont drew a slow breath and said,
"My husband... I never wished to speak ill of the dead, but he disliked pureblooded vampires. He believed neither the Elder Minister nor the council could be trusted." She paused briefly before adding, "Caroline had just been taken away at the time. He was frightened... and under a great deal of stress. I don’t believe he was thinking clearly with whatever he wrote."
"And you weren’t in stress, Mrs. Belmont?" Minister Sylvn probed, his red eyes settling heavily on her.
"I was, but less. As you know, women handle stress better than men do," Mrs. Belmont offered him a naive expression.
Whatever her stepmother’s reasons, she was protecting Lucian. Relief quietly settled in Ruelle’s chest. The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted them and when she turned, she caught Elder Minister Carnifex enter the chamber with Peyton following a respectful step behind. His eyes swept across those gathered before settling on Minister Sylvan.
"Was a meeting arranged without my knowledge?"
"There was no intention to trouble you," Minister Sylvan replied as he rose from his chair. "The Belmont family wished to discuss Mr. Belmont’s death. Though the discussion has taken an interesting turn."
Minister Sylvan looked towards Lucian and continued, "It appears Mr. Lucian Slater may have had reason to involve himself with Harold Belmont’s death. Mr. Belmont was known to strike his daughter, who left scars on her. And Mr. Slater has never been known for overlooking such things."
If only someone could stuff cotton into this man’s mouth, Ruelle thought to herself. He was taking everyone to the end.
Elder Minister Carnifex’s expression remained unreadable and he then looked at Ruelle, asking,
"Is that true, Miss Belmont?"
"It is false," Ruelle lied.
Minister Sylvan clicked his tongue and he murmured, "No daughter wishes to admit her own father tormented her. Why don’t we examine Miss Belmont, and the matter is put to rest." His eyes shifted to Elder Minister Carnifex. "After all, the treaty wasn’t established so its conditions could become a laughing stock."
Ruelle’s stomach tightened and she pressed her trembling fingers against her sides. Her thoughts darted to her stepmother, who wore a similar expression as her.
How did her actual mother survive living beneath the same roof as a man like this? Did Lady Sylvan ever know she had sheltered a witch? Ruelle doubted it. One whisper would have been enough to send her mother to the gallows.
"Isn’t it enough that you treat the woman as an object to satisfy a condition? And now you expect my fiancée to strip herself simply to satisfy your curiosity," Lucian’s voice had grown eerie and his eyes cold. "You are overstepping yourself, Minister."
"It will take only a moment and in private," Minister Sylvan replied with a pleased expression. "Unless...Miss Belmont is protecting a lie." Then he looked to Carnifex.
Elder Minister Carnifex turned to Peyton, but Minister Sylvan spoke again "If I may. Ms. Belmont and Peyton have spent considerable time together. I fear familiarity may cloud impartial judgement. Perhaps another examiner would be more appropriate. Send for Kristine."
A weary sigh escaped Elder Minister Carnifex and he said, "So be it." He looked towards Peyton, "Take Miss Belmont to the adjoining room."
Everything around Ruelle seemed to grow strangely distant. As Ruelle stepped past Lucian, his fingers closed around her hand and felt a faint sting. Only when he released her did warmth spread beneath the fabric at her waist.
"Sorry," he said, as their eyes met for the briefest moment. "I’ll be waiting."
Giving a small nod, Ruelle stepped out of the chamber with Peyton. Only when the door closed behind them did she feel the sting deepen. Her fingers instinctively brushed the spot beneath her dress and her fingers were quick to coat with her blood. Understanding dawned on her almost immediately that he had done it on purpose. She needed blood for the spell to work.
The room Peyton led her into was empty except for a narrow table, a jug of water and a few chairs pushed against the wall. She asked,
"Could you bring me a bandage for my waist?" trying to keep the urgency from creeping into her voice. "It is bleeding."
Peyton glanced at the stain before giving a short nod. "I’ll return."
The moment the door shut, Ruelle hurried to the table. She poured it across the wooden surface before quickly tracing the familiar circle with trembling fingers. The lines blurred where her shaking hand dragged through the water.
Once that was done, she pressed her fingers against the shallow cut Lucian had made until fresh blood welled up. The blood drops fell into the centre of the markings and the door opened.
Ruelle felt her heart slip from her ribcage.
A vampiress stepped inside and immediately frowned on catching the scent of blood. For a moment, Ruelle forgot the last three words of the spell and she felt her heart thud faster. But then Peyton appeared with the first aid box.
"What’s that for?" asked the other vampiress.
"Miss Belmont cut herself."
Finally remembering the last three words, Ruelle placed her hand on the marking she had made. Peyton came to her and said, "Your hand."
When Ruelle moved her hand, she made sure to scatter the water design into a puddle. While Peyton secured the bandage around her wrist, while the other woman came behind her and unbuttoned the back of her dress to examine her.
It lasted for less than a minute, and soon Ruelle was dressed again. The three of them returned to Minister Sylvan’s chamber and the vampiress announced,
"There are no scars."
Ruelle’s knees suddenly felt lighter, as though the floor had returned beneath them.
Mrs. Belmont stood rigid, her fingers twisting the damp handkerchief until her knuckles had turned white. And all that time, Ruelle couldn’t bring herself to look at her or her sister as they knew the scars existed.
"This family has lost someone today," Lucian said, turning to Elder Minister Carnifex. "Yet instead of allowing them to grieve, they have been questioned, accused and forced to defend themselves. I believe they have endured enough and ask of you that they be allowed to return home."
"But we need to find—" Minister Sylvan let out a quiet laugh.
"Enough, Sylvan," Elder Minister Carnifex’s voice rang through the chamber. "You are no longer questioning the Belmonts but my judgement."
Minister Sylvan’s smile faded.
"There was never any need to examine Miss Belmont. In the interest of this family..." His eyes swept briefly towards Ruelle before moving across the room. "...and in the interest of ending these needless disputes, I am revoking every remaining condition attached to the treaty. After all, they were all met when the treaty was signed again. There’s no need to keep it in check anymore. What I want is for them to be married."
Did she just hear it right? Ruelle asked herself, because of that meant, they wouldn’t be any more restrictions, she could spend her time near Lucian without being monitored.
The glint in Minister Sylvan’s eyes turned vile as he stared at the Elder Minister, while a small smile settled on his lips. He stated, "The Council will have questions about this decision, Elder Minister."
Carnifex didn’t hesitate to respond, "Then send them to me. I will explain precisely why a grieving family was denied the dignity of mourning." He then turned to Mrs. Belmont and offered a bow, "My condolences. You should all return home."
With how it started, Ruelle couldn’t believe this is how it had ended. But her stepmother wasn’t done talking and she turned to Ezekiel and said,
"This man here, he is the culprit. He’s the only one who was with my daughter."
Ezekiel’s face tightened at those. He turned to look at Caroline for support, but her sister’s voice shook as she murmured, "Mother is right... It was just us two in the room when my chain disappeared."
"Me? Caroline, honey. How could you think that?" Ezekiel asked, frowning with a look of disappointment.
"Mr. Henley, why don’t you let the officer cross-examine you to clear your name?" Elder Minister Carnifex asked, "I am sure your wife and others will have less to worry about," he then turned to the guards and gave a nod.
Ezekiel’s lips pursed but he then replied, "Okay." He then stepped out of the room with the guards on either side of him.
"Lucian and Ms. Belmont," the Elder Minister spoke to them. "Why don’t you two join me at my chambers?" With those words, he stepped away from the room and Peyton followed him.
The rest of them stepped away from the room too, with Dane taking Mrs. Belmont and Caroline out of there. Lucian and Ruelle made their way to the Elder Minister’s chambers. On their way, Lucian apologised,
"I should have been more careful."
Ruelle shook her head and replied, "The guard or other people must have been sitting around waiting to catch something. I am relieved it is over." After a pause, and looking around to see the place deserted, she asked, "Was it because of the wound on my palm...?" That he knew she needed blood for the spell to bind with her?
Lucian’s hand reached for her wrist that was bandaged. "Yes. Also, most of what you try will require the smallest sacrifice."
Once they arrived at the chamber, they walked through the double doors before another set of double doors appeared, and they finally appeared in front of the man.
"Take a seat."
Elder Minister Carnifex didn’t look up immediately. The quill continued to glide across the parchment while the spectacles resting low on the bridge of his nose made him appear more scholar than the man who oversaw the courthouse. Only after signing the document did he lift his head. He asked,
"How are the wedding preparations coming along? Mine aren’t even ready yet. Work has been relentless, thanks to certain people."
For the first time since entering the courthouse, Ruelle felt some of the stiffness leave her shoulders. She and Lucian took their seats opposite the desk.
"Our clothes are still being prepared," she replied politely.
The older vampire hummed. "I remember my own wedding." The corners of his mouth softened with the memory. "It was arranged for political reasons, much like many unions in those days. We learned to understand one another after. It is good to see how much you two are taken with each other."
His gaze moved between Lucian and Ruelle, and Ruelle smiled.
"The treaty conditions existed because families have a habit of destroying one another once a marriage is announced," Carnifex leaned back in his chair. "Some have gone so far as to use the bride or groom to force the other’s hand."
Ruelle offered him a bow and thanked him, "Thank you for removing the conditions, Elder Minister. I don’t have to worry about every step I take anymore."
"I had to," came the man’s answer and for a moment, Ruelle thought that was all. "Especially when you aren’t entirely human. Are you, Miss Belmont?"
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