Chapter 31: Collision of Worlds

Ruelle stood outside Lucian’s door, staring at the handle as if it might bite her. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest.

To her side, her belongings were piled neatly at the entrance. She had agreed to this arrangement, but the thought of sharing a room with Lucian Slater was far from comforting. She hadn’t even had the chance to thank him properly—he had immediately left Mr. Mortis’ office without a word.

Just breathe, she told herself, her hand hovering over the door handle. He probably already thought she was a nuisance.

Ruelle hesitated for another moment before finally pushing the door open. The room was dim, the faint light from the hallway casting long shadows. Lucian was absent, and she released a breath.

How had Mr. S even convinced him to let her stay here? She wondered. She had been so sure he would refuse outright.

As she entered the room, hesitantly taking a step, she noticed—Lucian’s room was nothing like hers or Hailey’s room. It was larger than she expected. Dark, sleek furniture dominated the space, with shelves lined with meticulously ordered books and cabinets. Heavy velvet curtains hung across the windows. In one corner, a single bed, draped in black silk sheets, lay against the wall. It was as cold and unwelcoming as its owner.

A shiver ran down her spine as the icy air settled around her. The fireplace was nothing more than an empty, cold relic. Ruelle quickly moved her things inside and shut the door softly behind her. She wanted to let Hailey know she was safe, but the thought of running into Alanna kept her rooted to the spot.

“I’ll tell her tomorrow,” she whispered to herself. She hurried to light a few candles to chase away the gloom.

Her eyes darted to the lone bed in the room. It was obviously Lucian’s, and the thought of lying there made her stomach twist with anxiety. She wasn’t going to share the bed with a man. Grabbing a blanket from her belongings, she spread it across the floor, trying to make herself comfortable. The cold seeped through the stone floor, chilling her even as she curled.

Her thoughts swirled with uncertainty and guilt. And though she tried to fall asleep, it was difficult knowing she was rooming with a male.

The next morning, Ruelle woke up early with light filtering in through the cracks in the curtains. Her back didn’t ache as she sat upright, as she was used to the floor.

The room was silent— with no sign of Lucian yet.

Ruelle glanced around, noticing the disarray—some books scattered across the windows, loose parchments strewn haphazardly on the desk, and cushions tossed carelessly on the couch.

“Maybe I should clean this place up,” she thought loudly. She didn’t have anything to offer him for letting her stay here, but she could show him she wasn’t a burden.

As she moved to pick up a book, an old memory resurfaced, her mother’s harsh voice echoing in her mind.

“Are you a princess now? Too good to clean your own room?” her mother looked at her with a frown.

A young Ruelle replied, “No, Caroline was supposed to—”

Her mother’s scowl was all the response she received, who said, “Caroline is busy. You should be grateful you have a room at all. Now stop waiting around and clean up. And don’t expect anyone to thank you for something so basic.”

She shook the memory away, biting the inside of her cheek. She just wanted to make things a little easier.

Ruelle started by folding the blanket she had slept on and stacking it neatly in the corner. Then she gathered the books, carefully placing them back on the shelves in the order they seemed to belong. Loose parchments were smoothed and arranged on the desk, and she straightened the cushions on the couch, fluffing them slightly.

Her gaze then fell on a small pot sitting by the bedside. She gently picked it up, intending to place it on the desk with the other items.

It was then that door creaked open behind her.

Startled, Ruelle turned to catch Lucian step into the room, his presence immediately filling the space. His sharp red eyes scanned the room as though sensing that something had shifted. Then they locked onto her—and the pot in her hands. She felt the sudden shift in the air.

“What,” Lucian said, his voice low and dangerous, “do you think you’re doing?”

“I was just tidying up. I—I thought since I’m staying here, I should help—” Ruelle replied, not knowing what was wrong. The simmering anger beneath his words made her hands tremble.

Lucian crossed the room in swift strides, snatching the pot from her hands with a sharp motion. His glare pinned her in place and he warned her, “Don’t you ever

touch my things again. Unless, you don’t want to live another day.”

Ruelle’s heart raced, her breath catching in her throat. She explained, “I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I just thought—”

“You thought?” Lucian cut her off, his voice dripping with cold disdain. His eyes narrowed to slits, sharp and predatory. “For someone who goes touching things that don’t belong to them, I am surprised you think at all.”

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She replied, “That wasn’t my intention! I was just trying to show gratitude for—”

“For what exactly?” Lucian’s tone was biting. “We both know this arrangement wasn’t something I agreed to out of charity. Somehow you successfully stirred trouble and asked my brother to help you find a room. I have to give you credit—you certainly know how to play your cards right. Moving up the ladder by rooming with an Elite.”

Brother? It took her a moment to piece together that Mr. S—Dane Slater—was Lucian’s brother!

Ruelle’s breath faltered, hurt and disbelief flooding her chest. She replied, “I don’t know why you keep insisting I am climbing a ladder when I am not. My scarf was stolen, and the vampiress—”

“Of course,” Lucian interrupted with condescension. “Because it’s someone else’s fault, isn’t it? You’re just an innocent human, just like other humans caught in unfortunate circumstances. How convenient. If you are going to live here, then don’t touch anything, and it would do you well if you didn’t get in my way.”

The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Lucian stood there, his gaze locked onto hers with a coldness that made her feel small.

“Forgive me for touching your things. I’ll stay out of your way,” Ruelle finally said, her voice quiet and strained. “I’ll keep to myself and not touch anything again.”

“Good,” Lucian said flatly, cutting her off. He placed the pot back on the side table with an almost deliberate gentleness that contrasted the icy rage simmering in his eyes. He then stated, “And there’s only one bed, so you’ll sleep on the couch.”

Ruelle blinked, and asked, “The couch?”

His eyes narrowed further, a dangerous glint flashing within them. “You have a problem with that?”

She quickly shook her head. The couch was a luxury compared to what she had expected. She murmured, “No. No problem at all.”

Right now, Ruelle stood just outside the door, her hands clasped nervously as she waited for Lucian to finish getting ready. The last thing she needed was to be labelled as a peeping-tom on top of already being accused of being ’ladder climber.’

Moments later, she heard the door behind her open. Lucian stepped out in his pristine attire, every button neatly fastened, his expression as unreadable as ever. He walked past her, without so much as a glance, while she caught the faint scent of crisp morning air clinging to his clothes as he strode down the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the distance until he disappeared around the corner.

She hurried to get ready herself, dressing quickly before heading to the dining hall.

The dining room was filled with the usual morning clamour—the clinking of plates, the murmur of conversation—and Ruelle’s eyes swept over the sea of faces until she spotted her friend. Hailey’s face lit up the moment she saw her, visible relief washing over her features as she rushed over.

“Ruelle!” Hailey’s voice was a mixture of joy and concern. “Thank God you’re alive! I was so worried the entire night. So, I’m guessing you found a roommate?”

“I did,” Ruelle managed a faint smile, though weariness lingered in her eyes.

Before she could say more, Kevin appeared at her side, concern etched across his face. He asked, “Ruelle, are you alright? Hailey told me what happened. You should have said something to me.”

“I’m alright now,” Ruelle assured him as they all sat down at the Groundlings table. “It all happened so fast… I was worried about running into June and Alanna.”

Hailey leaned forward, her curiosity barely contained. “So, who’s the saint—or devil—who offered to room with you?”

Ruelle hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Then, in a low voice, she whispered, “Lucian Slater.”

Both Kevin and Hailey stared at her, wide-eyed.

“Lucian? As in the Lucian Slater?” Kevin asked, his brow furrowing in disbelief. “You’re rooming with a man?”

Ruelle explained what happened last night, to which Hailey replied just above a whisper, “So Mr. S helped you. How wonderful of him!”

Kevin, however, remained sceptical, his voice taking on a cynical edge. He stated, “It’s possible he wanted to give his brother easy access to blood.”

“I doubt it,” Ruelle replied. So far, Lucian had been very clear that he didn’t want anything to do with her. Not to mention how he despised her.

But even as she spoke, she could feel the weight of the other students’ stares. Someone nearby had overheard their conversation, and whispers began to ripple through the dining hall, like wildfire catching onto dry grass. The murmurs spread from table to table, fuelled by curiosity and scandal.

June, ever the eager gossiper, caught wind of it quickly. She made her way towards the Elites’ table, eager to be the newsbearer. Alanna was sipping her morning blood tea when June reached her, her eyes glittering with venomous excitement.

“Alanna,” June began, her voice quiet but sharp. “Did you hear? Ruelle Belmont is rooming with Lucian Slater.”

The words had an immediate effect. Alanna spat out her tea in shock, the red liquid splashing across June’s face. The young vampiress glared at June, her eyes burning with a fiery rage. “What did you just say?” she hissed.

June wiped the blood tea from her face, trying to maintain her composure despite the embarrassing outburst. She insisted, “I’m certain it’s true. Everyone’s talking about it.”

Alanna’s voice trembled with fury, her grip tightening around her cup, as she questioned, “That lowly Groundling has managed to weasel her way into Lucian’s room?” For the last three years, she had been trying to get close to him, and this mere human managed to slip her way into living in his room!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep