The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 102: A Chatter Between Two Ladies

Chapter 102: A Chatter Between Two Ladies

"Oh, my goodness! My lady, your hand is bleeding!" Rania exclaimed, her voice cutting through the conversation and demanding immediate attention.

Meredith turned towards her personal maid, her eyes widening in surprise. She glanced down at her hand, where a visible scratch marred her wrist, blood oozing from the wound.

"Oh, no! Blood! Blood!"

A sense of panic washed over the noble lady’s face, draining the colour from her cheeks. She teetered precariously, her body threatening to succumb to unconsciousness at the distressing sight.

Anna and Rania quickly held her arms, instinctively supporting her to prevent any further harm.

"I believe it would be best for you to sit down," the princess suggested, scanning their surroundings for a suitable spot.

Her gaze landed on a bench thoughtfully placed at the walkway’s edge, beckoning them to seek solace.

"Let’s sit over there," she suggested, subtly nodding towards the bench.

The trio swiftly made their way to the inviting spot, followed closely by the two men. As they settled down, Meredith’s tears had already begun to flow.

"It’s going to leave a scar! Huuuu... I’ll be hideous! Huuuu..."

Meredith’s sudden outburst caught the attention of the two men, and they exchanged a surprised glance. The once-elegant noble lady had transformed into a weeping mess.

"What should we do? It would be terrible if it scarred!" Rania asked worriedly as she covered the wound with her handkerchief.

Her words unintentionally fueled Meredith’s distress, amplifying her cries even more. Sensing the need for comfort, Anna reached out to soothe her.

"Oh, dear! Please don’t cry," the princess coaxed gently, her voice full of empathy. She then turned to Rafe, who stood beside Alex, and made a request, "Rafe, would you mind examining her hand?"

The healer, initially uninterested in getting involved, nodded in acknowledgement. He approached Meredith, seeking her permission before taking a look.

"It would be inappropriate for a man to hold an unmarried maiden’s hand!" Rania countered, her concern for propriety evident.

"Lady, I am a healer and am only here to assess her injury at my lady’s request. If you prefer me not to proceed, I shall respect your wishes," Rafe stated firmly.

"You’re a healer?" Meredith managed to ask amidst her tearful sobs.

"Yes. I served the Knighthood of Gerhard. You even saw my identification badge earlier," the healer confirmed his profession.

As Rafe’s response reached her ears, Meredith’s cries began to subside, turning into intermittent sniffs. A realisation dawned upon her.

"A healer from the Knighthood of Gerhard..." the noble lady muttered. Then she stared intensely at the healer.

"Oh, my God! You’re Rafe Amares, the grand duke’s secret lover!" Meredith blurted out, her hand flying to her mouth in embarrassment as she realised she had uttered a scandalous piece of gossip.

"A lover of His Highness? Is this true, Rafe?" Anna asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

"No, it’s not! I am a man solely interested in women and have never engaged in such a relationship!" Rafe’s voice rose with fury. "Neither I nor the grand duke are inclined to romantic involvement with men!"

"Please forgive me for speaking out of turn. That gossip has been circulating for quite some time since His Highness declared his celibacy three years ago," Meredith quickly apologised, her tone laced with regret.

"Really? How is it possible that I’ve never heard about this?" Anna asked with confusion and turned to the healer. "Why have you never told me about this?"

Rafe avoided direct eye contact, choosing instead to avert his gaze from the confused lady.

"It holds no importance. Furthermore, discussing it would only fuel unnecessary rumours and slander," the healer stated in a measured tone, his words carrying a sense of caution.

"Ah, right!" Anna nodded in understanding, noticing the sombre expression on the healer’s face. She surmised that he must have taken the gossip to heart, and she didn’t want to exacerbate the situation.

Meanwhile, Rafe continued his examination of Meredith’s wound. After a moment, he delivered his assessment, "It’s just a scratch, but your wrist seems a bit strained."

From the folds of his robe, the healer produced a small bottle of medicine and carefully applied it to the wound. Meredith winced in pain as the ointment made contact with her skin.

"This medicine will help stop the bleeding and expedite the healing process. You may keep it. I have an ample supply," Rafe offered, handing the bottle to her.

The personal maid beside them promptly accepted it and expressed her gratitude.

Concerned, Rania posed a question, "Will it leave a scar?"

"The cut is not deep. With diligent and proper application of the medicine, it should not scar. Remember to clean the wound thoroughly and apply the medicine three times a day," Rafe advised, assuaging Rania’s worries.

"That kind of injury requires a massage. Otherwise, it will be swollen in no time and will be more painful," Alex suddenly interjected.

"You’re right. However, it’s been years since I’ve done it. My assistant was the one who always handled such treatment, but he’s currently unwell," Rafe explained.

Curiosity sparked within Anna, and she inquired, "How do you know about this, Sir Jarr?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Alex’s lips as he replied, "As knights, we often sustain similar injuries during swordsmanship practice. It’s a common occurrence. So, we’re trained to administer massages immediately to alleviate pain and reduce swelling."

"Then, in that case... could you help by giving her a massage?" she requested, her voice filled with anticipation.

Alex deliberated upon Anna’s request, weighing the delicate nature of the situation.

"My lady, as this lady said before, it is generally considered improper for a man to hold a maiden’s hand in public unless they are engaged in courtship with the intention of marriage. However, when it comes to a healer providing assistance, the circumstances are different," Alex explained, carefully navigating the boundaries of propriety.

Anna, empathetic to Meredith, expressed her willingness to help if she knew how to perform the massage. Equally concerned, Rania added, "Oh, my lady, I wish I could assist, but I’m afraid I don’t know how either. It breaks my heart to know you’ll be in more pain soon."

Meredith’s face displayed a blend of anguish and vulnerability. Again, she was on the verge of tears. Witnessing her distress, Alex’s resolve wavered. Finally, he made a decision.

"Very well. If you permit me, I’ll do it," Alex announced decisively.

Meredith looked up, her own hesitation evident. Fearful of the pain that awaited her, she nodded reluctantly, permitting him to proceed.

Alex gracefully knelt before the noble lady, his posture attuned to the task at hand. With a gentle motion, he requested Meredith to hold out her injured hand.

He retrieved a small bottle from his hip bag, carefully applying the fragrant oil onto her delicate skin. The soothing aroma filled the air as he prepared to begin the massage.

As his hands made contact with her wrist, Meredith could feel the roughness of his calloused palms. Surprisingly, though, his touch was gentle and tender, conveying a contrast.

"Please let me know if I apply too much pressure. I have never massaged a woman before," Alex admitted softly, his hands moving with precision.

He deftly navigated around the wounded area, focusing on the other parts of Meredith’s hand, massaging them with care and deliberation.

Feeling the comforting touch, the noble lady couldn’t help but respond, "It feels wonderful. I’m not experiencing any pain."

The touch of the massage continued. Meredith was suddenly captivated by the man before her, his hazel eyes and black hair standing out. As she observed him more closely, she realised he possessed a particular attractiveness, though not entirely on par with the grand duke.

A sense of astonishing nobility emanated from him, an aura that spoke of his refined nature. Unconsciously, Meredith’s cheeks warmed as she noticed the size of the knight’s hands, which had touched and massaged her with gentle care.

"I believe that should suffice," Alex finally spoke, releasing her hand from his grasp.

Rafe expressed his gratitude, saying, "That looks much better. Thank you, Sir Jarr." The healer then turned to Meredith and said, "When you return home, make sure to wrap your hand with bandages. It will help prevent any swelling."

Feeling appreciative, the noble lady added, "Thank you so much for your assistance."

Meredith’s gaze suddenly shifted towards Anna’s wrists, and her eyes widened as she noticed the faint scars etched upon her hands. A mixture of concern and guilt washed over her.

"Oh, dear! Those must have been painful! Here I am, complaining about insignificant cuts when you’ve endured so much more," Meredith exclaimed, realising the stark contrast between her own trivial worries and the hardships Anna had faced.

The princess glanced down at the fading scars on her wrists, a sombre reminder of the wounds and lacerations inflicted by the handcuffs during her escape from the clutches of the Bargesians. The memories lingered, serving as a testament to her resilience and strength.

"In Gantz, if a maiden bears scars like that, it may deter suitors from considering her a potential wife. That’s why I was worried about the impact of such wounds on my lady," Rania expressed, her concern rooted in societal expectations.

"Rania, please don’t say that," Meredith interjected firmly. She was worried that Anna might internalise the unintended implications of her personal maid’s words.

Rania lowered her head, realising her words may have been ill-considered.

"Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to embarrass anyone. I only wish for your well-being," she humbly apologised, acknowledging her mistake as the personal maid.

"Don’t worry about it. I’m already married, and my husband completely accepts my scars," Anna reassured them, a warm smile gracing her lips.

Kyren had never once complained about her scars. On the contrary, he always expressed concern for her safety and comfort.

Suddenly, Anna interjected with a question, redirecting the conversation. "By the way, what urgent matter did you wish to ask us about? Regarding the grand duke."

Meredith’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she remembered her initial inquiry.

"Ah, that! I’m thrilled to know. Is His Highness currently in Gantz?" she asked eagerly, unable to contain her curiosity.

Just as the princess was about to respond to Meredith’s question, Rafe intervened, calling her aside with a polite request.

"Excuse me, ladies. May I have a moment with my lady?" he asked, gesturing for Anna to join him away from earshot.

Once they were a few steps away, Rafe leaned in and spoke hushedly.

"My lady, I kindly suggest refraining from revealing your true identity or any information regarding your husband to this noble lady. While she seemed to support us at the boutique, we were uncertain of her true intentions. It’s best if she remains unaware of our purpose here in Gantz," he advised.

Anna nodded, understanding the importance of discretion. "I appreciate your caution, Rafe. I will be careful not to divulge anything about it. Besides, she wasn’t interested in me or Kyren, but the grand duke."

Before Rafe could explain further, Anna returned to the bench, sitting beside Meredith, her expression composed. Observing the healer’s hesitant countenance, the noble lady realised her oversight.

"Oh, how thoughtless of me! I’ve been imposing on all of you without even properly introducing myself. I apologise. My name is Lady Meredith Grey, and this is my personal maid, Miss Rania Miller."

Rafe introduced himself, breaking the silence. "As you know, I am Rafe Amares, and this is Sir Alex Jarr," he said, gesturing towards Alex, who acknowledged the introduction with a polite nod.

Meredith’s eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing Alex’s identity. "Oh, my goodness! Now I remember! You’re Sir Alex Jarr, son of Duke of Sanad! You are one of the high-ranking knights in the Knighthood of Gerhard! No wonder you too look familiar!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.

Anna, too, was taken aback by this revelation. Turning to Alex, she asked, "You are a son of a duke, Sir Jarr?"

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