The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 107: The Gathering Crowd

Chapter 107: The Gathering Crowd

The scene unfolded as a vibrant and sunlit expanse adorned with lush bushes and an air of serenity. The contrast between the dimly lit passage and this radiant oasis left Anna momentarily awestruck.

Despite the initial discomfort, her pain-ridden eyes soon adapted to the brilliance of the surroundings, revealing the beauty that awaited her in this newfound realm of light and tranquillity.

Curiosity mingled with confusion as Anna stepped cautiously into the unknown site. Her surroundings left her in awe, and she couldn’t help but wonder, "What is this place?"

Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar landscape, trying to make sense of her sudden transition.

As she took in her surroundings, a wave of astonishment washed over her. She had emerged from the mansion and found herself standing outside in an open space surrounded by wild, untrimmed plants. The realisation filled her with a mixture of surprise and intrigue.

How had she ventured from the confines of the mansion to this place?

Puzzled by the absence of the voice that had called for help, Anna’s attention was abruptly captured by a sudden gust of wind.

The haunting howling sound resurfaced, echoing through the passage she had just traversed. A realisation struck her, and a relieved smile stretched across her face.

"Oh, it’s just the wind! Silly me!" she exclaimed, her relief palpable.

Determined to retrace her steps and return to familiar territory, Anna decided to reenter the passage. However, just as she approached the door, a forceful gust of wind slammed it shut with a resounding thud.

Panic washed over her as she frantically attempted to open the door, only to discover that it was jammed shut. No matter how hard she strained, it refused to budge.

Accepting the reality that the door was now impassable, Anna reluctantly retreated, her gaze scanning the surroundings in search of an alternative path.

With a newfound sense of resilience, she resolved to explore her surroundings, hoping to find another route that would lead her back to safety.

Emerging from the thick bushes, Anna found herself standing on a narrow walkway adjacent to an imposing wall. Recognising it as just outside of the mansion’s perimeter, she felt a surge of relief.

With a determined stride, she followed the walkway, hoping to locate the main gate and make her way back.

Soon, her eyes fell upon a surprising sight. A crowd of young women had assembled before the main gate, their presence a stark contrast to the solitude that had greeted Anna upon her arrival. With curiosity, she approached the gathering.

The women appeared visibly anxious, their gazes fixed on the mansion’s courtyard. Eager to understand the situation, Anna wondered where this sudden influx of people had come from and what had drawn them to this particular spot.

"I can’t see him anywhere!" exclaimed a lady who had climbed a nearby tree, peering through a spyglass.

Anna’s surprise grew as she witnessed this unconventional behaviour. Climbing a tree and spying on others were certainly not considered proper etiquette for a lady.

The disappointed murmurs from the other young women echoed through the air, adding to the princess’s intrigue. Sensing an opportunity to gather information, she looked around and gently tapped the arm of a passing lady, seeking her attention.

With an inquisitive tone, she politely asked, "Excuse me, but what’s going on here?"

The lady turned to face Anna, her expression filled with a mix of confusion and concern. "We haven’t seen him at all," she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment. "The flag indicates his presence, but it seems he’s not in the mansion."

"Yes, it is rather peculiar, isn’t it?" another lady chimed in, her voice filled with anticipation. "The flag is usually raised only when the mansion’s owner is there. We would typically catch a glimpse of him, but not today. Is he deliberately hiding from us?" she wondered aloud, her tone tinged with a mix of intrigue and amusement.

Anna’s confusion deepened.

"Him?" she questioned, seeking clarification.

The lady she asked previously chuckled, clearly amused by Anna’s lack of awareness.

"It’s His Highness, of course! Who else? Did you think we were referring to his old steward?" she teased, her tone lighthearted.

Laughter rippled through the crowd as other women overheard their conversation, joining in on the playful banter. Anna couldn’t help but feel a touch of embarrassment from the cackles. She now realised that they were the fans of the grand duke.

"Oh, I wouldn’t mind if she had her eye on one of His Highness’s knights," one woman chimed in mischievously, her tone filled with a hint of playfulness. "They are certainly a sight to behold. Many of them possess not only good looks but also finely sculpted physiques from their strenuous training!"

Anna’s cheeks flushed at the suggestive comment. She hadn’t expected such candid remarks from a young woman in this setting. She found herself taken aback by the openness of the conversation.

"There’s this particular knight who stands out," another woman added, her voice carrying a note of admiration. "He possesses a striking handsomeness and exudes a similar serious aura as His Highness, albeit in a less intimidating manner."

Curiosity piqued, and one of the ladies in the group asked, "Who are you referring to? Is it Sir Eric Navin?"

The first woman dismissed the suggestion with a wave of her hand. "No, not him. Well, he isn’t bad at all, and I must admit that I used to have a little crush on him too," the first woman confessed, a hint of disappointment lacing her voice. "But, as luck would have it, he’s already married! So, let’s move on from him."

The discussion continued, with the group eagerly deliberating the identity of the enigmatic knight who had captured their attention. Their curiosity grew with each passing moment.

"Then, who could it be?" the other woman inquired, her voice filled with anticipation.

"He’s a son of a duke. I can’t remember his name," the second woman exclaimed, frustration evident in her tone as she struggled to recall the information.

Suddenly, a triumphant expression lit up another woman’s face.

"Ah! I know! It’s Sir Alex Jarr, the second son of the Duke of Sanad!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with certainty.

The revelation sparked a renewed wave of intrigue and speculation among the gathered ladies. The knight’s identity had now become the subject of their eager conversation.

Before the talk could continue, a loud yell emanated from behind the crowd, startling Anna and causing her to turn around in surprise. The voice was quite familiar to her. As she turned around to the shouts, she saw two familiar faces. Her eyes widened.

"Enough already! This fan club is dedicated to the esteemed His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerhard. If you wish to admire someone other than him, then I suggest you establish another fan club dedicated to the knight of your choice," a commanding voice admonished the crowd.

A sudden hush fell over the gathering as the angry voice silenced their conversation. Standing before the crowd, a slender lady with her right hand bandaged commanded attention. It was Meredith, accompanied by her personal maid, Rania.

Bewildered by the familiar faces, Anna’s excitement got the better of her, and she rushed towards them, calling out, "Lady Grey!"

Meredith turned at the sound of her name, her surprise evident as she laid eyes upon the princess.

"Anna! What are you doing here?" she asked, with Rania standing by her side.

The princess paused for a moment, considering her response. She couldn’t reveal that she had accidentally stumbled upon a hidden passage through a trap door in the grand duke’s private library. It would only make her the centre of the women’s attention, as they were already seeking the whereabouts of the mansion’s owner.

"I came out to get some fresh air," she replied, hoping her answer would suffice.

Meredith’s eyes darted towards the candlestick in Anna’s hand with curiosity.

"Why are you holding a candlestick?" she inquired, unable to contain her bewilderment.

Anna chuckled softly, finding the situation slightly absurd.

"Ah... this? I borrowed it from someone. I thought it’s about time to return it," she replied, knowing how peculiar it sounded to be out for a stroll holding a candlestick.

"I see... I thought you mentioned having a busy schedule today?" Meredith questioned again, moving the topic.

"Indeed, I do. I’m actually waiting for my husband to come and fetch me," Anna explained, trying to maintain composure despite the unexpected turn of events.

The noble lady graciously nodded, understanding the response.

"Hello, my lady. We meet again," Rania greeted with a polite bow, acknowledging Anna’s presence.

The princess returned the gesture, appreciating the maid’s respectful demeanour.

Rania’s eyes scanned the changes in Anna’s attire, taking note of the exquisite purple gown crafted from a luxurious fabric that accentuated the princess’s beauty. She couldn’t help but feel a tinge of embarrassment at her previous thoughts about Anna.

The princess’s features were enhanced by the light touch of makeup, making her even more radiant than when they had met at the plaza.

The stunningly beautiful gown and accessories perfectly complemented her appearance. Although Anna initially hesitated to wear them, she eventually gave in to Rosalie’s persistent persuasion.

The chief maid stressed the significance of wearing them for the audience, leaving Anna with no room to decline. So, out of several boxes of numerous jewellery pieces, she selected a few of which she believed were loaned by the grand duke.

As the women gathered around, one of them, a young woman with curly blonde bangs, noticed Meredith’s bandaged hand and asked concernedly, "Mer... what happened to your hand?"

The woman approached swiftly, gently holding Meredith’s injured wrist and inspecting it with a worried expression.

Meredith’s eyes met Anna’s, gratitude shining through as she explained, "I had an unexpected fall today. Thankfully, my new friend here, Anna, came to my aid."

"Oh, my gosh! Did it hurt a lot?" exclaimed another woman, her concern echoed by the rest of the ladies who gathered around. Even the young lady perched on the tree nearby climbed down to join.

"I’m fine. It’s just a scratch and a strain on the wrist," Meredith reassured them, her voice calm despite the pain.

"No wonder our president was running a bit late. I was wondering why you didn’t appear right after the Griffin flag was noticed fluttering on the pole," said the lady with the spyglass.

"I had to go back home and bandage it first to prevent any swelling," added Meredith, recalling Rafe’s advice.

"Thanks to Lady Anna’s companions, my lady received prompt treatment. Without their help, the injury could have been worse," Rania interjected, acknowledging Anna and her men’s assistance.

Meredith turned to Rania with a subtle smile, cautioning her, "Thank you for emphasising that, Rania. Let’s not exaggerate further."

The personal maid quickly nodded and closed her lips.

Meredith knew that if her personal maid slipped and revealed that she had been attended to by Rafe Amares, Gerhard’s renowned healer, and Sir Alex Jarr, the subject of recent gossip, the crowd would be overwhelmed with excitement.

Meredith’s gaze shifted back to Anna, her eyes scanning the princess’s dress from top to bottom.

"What a beautiful gown! It’s exceptionally gorgeous! You look beautiful!" she praised Anna, appreciating her elegant choice of attire.

"Thank you. It’s a gift," Anna replied, acknowledging the compliment on her gown.

Curiosity sparked among the women, and one of them couldn’t resist the temptation to touch the exquisite fabric.

She politely asked, "If you don’t mind, may I touch it?"

Anna granted her permission with a nod.

The woman intently marvelled at the texture as her hand grazed the princess’s skirt.

"This is excellent material! We don’t even sell this in our store!" she exclaimed, a mix of fascination and surprise evident in her tone.

Meredith turned to the woman, her curiosity piqued.

"Why? I thought your family’s textile business was the largest in Gantz," she inquired.

The woman shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her expression.

"This type of silk is the finest from Dracor and can only be purchased by royal tailors. Our business has a concession for importing the material, but we are not allowed to sell it anywhere in Cassian. It is directly sent to the palace and intended exclusively for the royal family," she explained, shedding light on the restricted nature of the fabric.

The women, including Anna, wore expressions of bewilderment, surprised by the unique nature of the silk.

Turning back to the conversation at hand, one of the women realised that Anna had yet to be officially introduced. She turned to Meredith and asked, "Mer, who is this friend of yours? You haven’t introduced her to us."

Meredith patted her temple in realisation.

"Ah, forgive me! I’ve been so forgetful. This is Anna. Anna... wait, I haven’t learned your surname yet. You didn’t mention it when we met today."

Believing that Meredith and her friends were not a threat, the princess smiled and replied, "It’s Raychard. I’m Anna Raychard."