Chapter 30: It is official

The hour was creeping closer to midnight, and the Sexton tower bell would soon chime softly to announce the late hour.

Inside the room where Ruelle had fled hours ago, June sat stiffly on the edge of her bed. Stupid Ruelle, she thought, as the memory of her roommate stabbing Alanna resurfaced. There was still a flicker of worry—Alanna had stormed off in fury, but neither she nor Ruelle had returned. Would she have to face the consequences for letting Ruelle escape?

Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots thudded down the corridor, growing louder with every step. June turned wary, nervously smiling as the door swung open, but it wasn’t Alanna.

A guard stood in the doorway—tall, stoic, his face unreadable. His eyes scanned the room before he questioned,

“Ruelle Belmont. Which are her belongings?”

June blinked in confusion, her mind catching up to the moment. “Her belongings?” she repeated, her tone bordering on doubt.

Her heart skipped with excitement. Could this be it? Was Ruelle being expelled from Sexton? She barely managed to keep her voice steady as she gestured to the opposite side of the room. “That side. Is she being kicked out?”

The guard crossed the room without responding and began methodically pulling open drawers, gathering Ruelle’s sparse belongings—clothes, a few worn books, and the knitting needles that had fallen to the floor earlier. Each item he collected felt like confirmation that her roommate was finally being removed from her life.

Of course, June thought. Ruelle had been stupid enough to stab a vampiress, and now she was going to pay the price. She muttered to herself, “She was never cut out for this place.”

The guard remained quiet, finishing his task in silence. Without so much as a glance at June, he left the room, Ruelle’s belongings in hand. As the door clicked shut behind him, she smiled. No more sharing a room with that low-born girl.

After a few minutes, the door creaked open, and Alanna stepped through. Her light red eyes burning with fury and her earlier stabbed hand wrapped in bandage. June couldn’t help but wonder why the vampiress’s hand hadn’t immediately healed. She barked,

“I couldn’t find her outside! She must be hiding in Stelaris’ room!”

June flinched at the intensity of Alanna’s tone but quickly seized the opportunity to share the news that had brightened her own mood. She said eagerly, “Her things were just taken by the guard! I think she’s getting kicked out!”

Alanna’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. She responded, “That can’t be right. Sexton doesn’t just kick Groundlings out like that.”

June’s excitement faltered. She suggested, “Maybe she did something worse.” Then, unable to stop herself with her imagination running wild, she added, “She must be living in the stables by now.”

“She should be put behind bars for what she did,” Alanna sneered, her voice dripping with malice. The idea of the stables was far too easy for a lowly human like Ruelle. No, the stables would be a kindness, Alanna thought with disgust. That girl was probably used to filth, to the stench of lowborn life. A place like that wouldn’t humiliate her nearly enough.

Alanna’s lips curled into a venomous smile. “She doesn’t deserve the luxury of stables. I will make sure to pay her back for this,” she said, looking down at her bandaged hand.

The guard, who had collected Ruelle’s belongings, briskly moved through the cold, endless corridors. Meanwhile, back at Mr. Mortis’ office, the air felt thick with the tension. The sound of the quill scratching against parchment broke the otherwise quiet room, with Mr. Mortis continuing his work with skeletal precision.

Dane stood beside Ruelle, his casual air contrasting with the growing tension in the room. On her other side stood Lucian, quiet and brooding. The gravity of what lay ahead weighed heavily on her, pressing down on her with every second. She was going to share a room with Lucian Slater. The thought alone sent a nervous chill racing down her spine.

Dane, sensing her unease, leaned in slightly and whispered, “You’ll be alright.” Ruelle could barely manage a nod in return.

Mr. Mortis finally spoke, his dry voice cutting through the silence, “Miss Belmont, you are aware of the implications of your reassignment of room, yes?”

Ruelle swallowed hard, the sound of her own heartbeat filling her ears. Her voice barely above a whisper, she nodded, “Yes.”

Mr. Mortis’s gaze shifted to Lucian, his voice holding the same dispassionate formality. “You understand the terms, Mr. Slater? Miss Belmont will be your temporary roommate until further notice.”

There was a heavy pause, the kind that made the silence almost unbearable. Ruelle’s heart hammered in her chest as she sensed Lucian’s reluctance, the weight of his unwillingness. Then, finally, his voice came—cold and restrained, “Yes.”

Mr. Mortis gestured to the parchment in front of them. “Alright. You both can sign your names here.”

Ruelle stepped forward first, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the quill, the ink barely flowing as she scrawled her name. The reality of the situation sank deeper with each shaky stroke. When she finished, she stepped back, watching Lucian as he took the quill with a cool, detached motion. His name flowed smoothly across the page.

The silence that followed was broken by Dane’s chuckle, his tone light and teasing as he remarked,

“Well, Mr. Mortis, if I didn’t know better, I would have said you’re officiating more than just room assignments. Perhaps we should start calling you Reverend Mortis?”

Lucian’s gaze flickered with clear irritation at his brother’s remark, while Mr. Mortis remained impassive, unfazed by the humour. Ruelle, on the other hand, wished the comment hadn’t been made, sensing Lucian’s displeasure.

In a curt tone, Mr. Mortis replied, “Sexton does not wish to take responsibility for the safety of a Groundling in such situations, particularly when the arrangement is made with their willingness.” He then took the signed parchment and addressed Ruelle directly. “Very well. Your new room has been approved.”

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