The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 103: The Arrival Of The Mansion’s Lady

Chapter 103: The Arrival Of The Mansion’s Lady

Alex nodded with a humble demeanour.

"Yes, my lady. My father is Duke Benjamin Oberon Jarr of the Sanad Dukedom, situated east of Cassian. It is considerably smaller than the illustrious Grand Duchy of Gerhard," he explained, providing a glimpse into his noble lineage.

Anna’s surprise lingered as she processed the newfound knowledge. "This truly surprises me. I was aware of Sir Navin’s status as the son of a baron, but your noble heritage surpasses even his," she remarked.

"Within the Knighthood of Gerhard, nobility holds little significance. It is the strength and skill of a knight that truly matters. Performance and merit determine one’s rank. Take Sir Garin Skyler, for instance. Despite being a commoner, he holds the esteemed position of the third-in-command knight within the knighthood," Rafe explained, emphasising a different perspective.

Meredith eagerly chimed in, further supporting the healer’s point.

"That’s right! The previous second-in-command knight was Sir Noah Brooks, and he was once a mercenary. His skills were on par with Sir Eric Navin, the current second-ranked knight. However, due to a certain incident, he faced a demotion, which brought great shame to the knighthood."

Surprised by Meredith’s extensive knowledge, Alex couldn’t help but inquire, "How did you know such detailed information about us?"

With a gleeful expression, the noble lady confessed her deep admiration.

"I am an ardent fan of His Highness, the Grand Duke! In fact, I am the president of his fan club and have eagerly followed every piece of information available, but seeing you all up close in person like this is my first time!"

Her excitement was palpable as she shared her passion for the grand duke. Rafe and Alex’s expressions shifted dramatically upon hearing Meredith’s revelation, while Anna was surprised knowing that Noah, her first escort, was a mercenary.

The two men’s faces contorted with worry and concern as they realised the potential consequences if Anna’s true identity were to be exposed to the noble lady.

"A fan club? Is the Grand Duke truly that renowned? Why is he so popular?" Anna asked, genuinely curious.

Meredith raved about his good looks, strength, skill, and charm, which have won him admiration across the city and Cassian.

"I’m so surprised you didn’t know about this! How come you don’t?" she asked.

"I am not from this place, and I’ve never met him," said Anna.

"I see..."

Meredith, noticing the omission, politely inquired, "By the way, may I know who you are? You haven’t introduced yourself yet. I have never heard of His Highness patronising any woman under his knighthood."

"She’s the wife of one of the knights in the knighthood," Alex interjected, cutting off Anna before she could respond.

The princess, sensing the knight’s intense tone, heeded Rafe’s advice and refrained from fully revealing herself.

"Just call me Anna," she calmly stated, introducing herself by her first name only.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anna. Please feel free to call me Mer," she offered, extending a friendly gesture.

Anna, appreciative of the consideration, replied, "Thank you. However, since you’re a noble lady, I should address you as Lady Grey."

Meredith shook her head.

"Oh, no need for such formalities. I don’t mind at all. In fact, as someone connected to the grand duke, I would be thrilled to be friends," she said happily. "I have longed to learn more about His Highness, but gaining access has been incredibly difficult. None of the servants in the grand duke’s mansion have been willing to provide me with any information, even when I attempted to bribe them," Meredith shared with a frustrated voice.

"I apologise, but I have no information regarding His Highness. As I mentioned before, I have never had the opportunity to meet him," Anna clarified gently, sympathising with Meredith’s disappointment.

The noble lady’s face fell, her anticipation deflated. "So, you don’t know if he’s here in Gantz? I had hoped he would be, considering you’re all here."

Anna couldn’t help but feel compassion for Meredith’s eagerness.

"All I know is that he will be arriving, but I am uncertain of the exact timing," she shared, hoping to appease the noble lady’s enthusiasm.

Meredith’s eyes lit up brightly. "Really? Oh, my gosh! This is going to be so thrilling! I can’t wait to see him!" she exclaimed, her excitement unbounded.

Meanwhile, Alex and Rafe exchanged anxious glances, realising the potential risk of further information being revealed. The healer swiftly intervened, attempting to end the conversation.

"I believe it’s time for us to move on. Don’t you want to visit the other shop, my lady? We should make our way as lunchtime is approaching soon," Rafe urged.

"We’ve been here for a while, and I don’t think visiting the shop is necessary. Maybe another time. Let’s head back to the mansion," Anna agreed, recognising the importance of continuing.

"Very well then," the healer responded.

Anna turned to Meredith, expressing her gratitude, "If you could kindly excuse us, I must take my leave. I have a busy schedule ahead and need to make preparations."

The noble lady nodded understandingly, expressing her appreciation, "Of course, I completely understand. Thank you once again for your assistance. It has been a great pleasure to meet all of you."

Anna gracefully rose from her seat and performed a curtsy, a sign of respect and gratitude. With that, she left the place, accompanied by Rafe and Alex.

"How impudent! She didn’t even properly introduce herself to you, my lady," Rania complained, her suspicion evident.

"Rania, please refrain from making such judgments. You’ve always been overly suspicious of people. She has been kind enough to assist me, and besides, I had the opportunity to see Mr Rafe Amares and Sir Alex Jarr up close today!" Meredith defended, appreciating the help she received.

"The very least she could have done was mention her surname. It is essential to show respect towards a noble lady like yourself," the personal maid voiced her concern, emphasising the importance of proper etiquette.

"I understand your concern, but we should give her the benefit of the doubt. She may have omitted her surname for a reason. Furthermore, her graceful curtsy suggests that she might not be a commoner, and considering the protective nature of those two men around her, she could very well be the wife of a high-ranking knight. They also addressed her as a lady," Meredith reasoned.

Rania pondered the situation, voicing her confusion, "But why would a knight’s wife dress so shabbily? Also, it’s quite weird to say that she hasn’t met the lord of the duchy that her husband served."

"That’s a valid point, Rania. It certainly raises intriguing questions about her. I can’t help but wonder who her husband is," Meredith pondered aloud, her curiosity piqued as she watched the trio gradually fade from sight.

***

The carriage bearing Gerhard’s distinguished coat of arms passed through the imposing iron gates, which stood tall and open, heralding its arrival. As it pulled into the front foyer, a diligent servant swiftly raised the vibrant blue flag on the pole.

The official flag, adorned with Griffin’s emblem, billowed proudly in the breeze, signalling the arrival of the new lady of the Grand Duke of Gerhard’s mansion.

A procession awaited its occupants, with the carriage now stationary at the grand entrance. Drystan, the knight, stood at the forefront alongside Anryr, the steward, and a line of servants, eager to warmly welcome them.

The carriage door swung open gracefully, revealing Rafe coming down from within, prepared to assist the awaited grand duke’s bride.

A delicate, slender hand emerged from the carriage, pale against the backdrop of anticipation held and assisted by the healer to descend. Soon, the figure of the eagerly awaited grand duke’s bride came into view, stepping out into the embrace of her new home.

The steward and servants stood in astonished silence, their breaths held captive as their eyes beheld an unexpected scene. They had prepared themselves for the arrival of a sophisticated lady, yet what stood before them now was a vision that defied their expectations—a small, gentle figure exuding an undeniable charm.

The lady they had eagerly anticipated possessed a delicate beauty, but she appeared before them clad in a simple attire befitting a commoner.

A palpable stillness engulfed the air as they grappled with the surprise that coursed through their veins. This unforeseen turn of events deviated from their every assumption, leaving them momentarily speechless.

Though the revelation was undeniably astonishing, not a single soul among them dared to utter a word, acutely aware of the stern admonition against voicing any superfluous thoughts regarding the bride of the grand duke.

Breaking the spell, Anryr, the steward, who appeared to be in his forties, greeted her with a deep bow. His striking grey eyes held a glimmer of warmth, and his black hair, interwoven with subtle streaks of grey, lent an air of distinction to his countenance.

"Welcome, my lady, to the esteemed Grand Duke of Gerhard’s mansion," he announced, his voice filled with respect and warmth.

The rest of the servants followed suit, bowing in unison, showing their gratitude and dedication to their new lady.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Anryr Foster, the dedicated steward of this mansion," Anryr began, a warm smile gracing his face. "And this is my wife, Rosalie Foster, the chief maid." He gestured towards a woman in her thirties with striking black eyes and neatly styled hair in a bun beside him.

The maid before Anna bowed respectfully, acknowledging her presence. The princess returned the gesture with a nod, appreciating the formalities of the encounter.

"Nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Foster. I am Anna Raychard, the Commander of the Knighthood’s wife," Anna greeted them warmly.

Upon hearing Anna’s introduction, Anryr responded, "We have been informed of your arrival, Lady Raychard. However, we insist that you address us by our first names. We are just mere servants here, working for His Highness."

Anna nodded, understanding their positions, and took a moment to observe her surroundings. To her surprise, she noticed that, aside from Rosalie, all the servants were male. Curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn’t help but inquire.

"Is there a particular reason that there is only one female servant here?"

The steward hesitated for a moment before responding, "Ah, well... We did have other female servants in the past, but His Highness decided to dismiss them."

Understanding the unspoken implications, Anna chose not to delve further into the matter. She had already heard from Meredith about the Grand Duke’s proclamation of celibacy, and it seemed to provide a plausible explanation for the absence of female servants in the mansion.

Anna decided not to pursue the topic further, respecting the Grand Duke’s decisions as the mansion’s owner.

"Has His Highness arrived?" Anna inquired with a hint of apprehension in her voice.

The thought of meeting the Grand Duke made her nervous, but she understood the importance of extending proper greetings as a guest in his mansion.

Anryr lowered his gaze, his voice gentle as he replied, "Not yet, my lady."

A wave of relief washed over Anna, visible as a soft expression on her face. The temporary respite from meeting the unknown Grand Duke allowed her to collect her thoughts and settle her nerves. She knew their encounter was inevitable, but the delay offered her a brief reprieve.

Drystan’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he beheld Anna’s presence.

"Hello, my lady. It’s been far too long," he greeted her warmly, a genuine smile lighting up his face.

Returning his greeting, Anna turned towards the knight, a familiar fondness in her voice.

"Hello, Sir Mills. Indeed, it has been a while," she acknowledged.

Drystan couldn’t help but offer another compliment. "You look healthy today," he praised, his words filled with sincerity.

Anna’s smile widened, appreciating the knight’s kind words. "I am much better. Thank you," she responded graciously.

Meanwhile, Anryr, the diligent steward, stepped forward, assuming his role as the guide within the mansion.

"My lady, allow me to escort you to your room. Please come this way," he invited, his tone respectful and accommodating.

Anna nodded appreciatively, acknowledging the steward’s offer.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," she replied.

As Anna and Anryr went inside, the four men — Drystan, Rafe, Ayden and Alex stood together, their gazes fixed on the figure entering the mansion. Rosalie faithfully trailed behind.

Shortly after, the remaining servants dispersed, each returning to their respective duties, leaving the entrance momentarily serene.

"How perfect the timing is! You arrived just in time after we had taken down all the commander’s portraits from the wall and hidden everything," Drystan exclaimed with a sense of relief.

Rafe chimed in, adding to the conversation. "Our dear lady had a visit to the plaza. So we managed to buy some time there."

"Hah... So you took her for sightseeing! How clever!" said Drystan.

"We went to a boutique suggested by Mr Amares. You have no idea what happened there. Thankfully, our lady possesses an abundance of patience and forgiveness. Otherwise, our healer would have surely faced the consequences," Alex revealed.

Rafe’s face turned sour when reminded of the incident.

Curiosity piqued, Drystan inquired, "What happened?"

Before the story could unfold, Ayden intervened, expressing his weariness. "Gentlemen, can we please continue this conversation later? I’m really in need of some rest."

Realising his assistant’s condition, Rafe quickly responded, "All right, all right! Let’s go."

His tone conveyed a sense of understanding as he acknowledged Ayden’s request and signalled for the group to proceed.

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