The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 116: The Love Coach’s Reconciliation Plan

Chapter 116: The Love Coach’s Reconciliation Plan

Under the high afternoon sun, a black stallion cantered through the main gate. The sound of hooves clip-clopping echoed through the courtyard.

As the magnificent creature reached the foyer, the brunette knight slowed its pace before dismounting gracefully. A diligent stableman swiftly approached, ready to attend to the horse’s harness.

With a nod of gratitude, the knight proceeded with purposeful strides towards the mansion’s main entrance, making his way to the quarters designated for the knights.

Rafe’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of the familiar face—the one with whom he used to engage in frequent quarrels.

"Eric, my friend! Thank the heavens you’re back! Let me hug you this instant!" the healer exclaimed, extending both arms as if to envelop the knight in an embrace.

"What the h*ll happened to you? Are you possessed or something?" Eric recoiled, his face contorted in confusion as he looked at the outrageous behaviour of the healer. Unheeding to the knight’s expression, Rafe grabbed his arm.

Eric attempted to free himself from the healer’s grasp, feeling a mix of surprise and annoyance. Undeterred, the healer held onto the knight’s arm firmly and rested his head on Eric’s burly shoulder, wearing a sorrowful expression.

Sensing the discomfort, Eric squirmed and shrugged to shake Rafe off his body and shouted, "Get off me!"

Rafe finally let go with a sombre.

"Sir Navin, please handle him with care. He’s mentally traumatised," Ayden interjected, shaking his head disapprovingly at the healer’s overzealous seeking of affection.

"Thank you for coming back, Sir Navin. We’re looking forward to your rescue," said Alex.

"I’ve only been gone for two days, and he’s turned into this? What happened?" the knight inquired with surprise.

"You have no idea how severely he was scolded. Well, everyone received their fair share of reprimands, but he got the worst of it. Even Mr Foster is now angry at him for failing to reconcile His Highness and the lady. He’s been tormented by the steward and His Highness since morning, and the lady has been ignoring him ever since the fight began. For once, I feel sorry for him," Luke explained, his tone filled with sympathy.

"Is it really that bad? Is the silent treatment still ongoing?" Eric asked, curiosity piqued. The others nodded in unison, confirming the continuation of the tense atmosphere.

"How is His Highness holding up? Well, I always knew that impatient man wouldn’t last long when faced with such a formidable force from his wife," Eric remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the group.

"A formidable force? What do you mean?" Eli asked, seeking clarification.

"The silent treatment... It is the most formidable force any woman can unleash upon you. Trust me. You don’t want to experience it. The suffering is worse than being in h*ll," the knight remarked, his tone tinged with seriousness and a touch of wry humour.

The young knight nodded in agreement, even though he couldn’t fully comprehend the intricacies of a couple’s fight. He was a bachelor who had never been in a relationship with a woman. So, such a thing was way beyond his knowledge.

"All right, then. Tell me, what transpired during these two days, and how far have they progressed?" the knight inquired, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he squinted his eyes at the men, eager to catch up on the developments.

Damon proceeded to provide a detailed account of the events. As he finished, Eric contemplated the information, absorbing the gravity of the situation as he rubbed his bearded chin.

"I see... So it appears our lady has grown even more cunning. Now she can confront the notorious ’lion’ as well," Eric quipped, a hint of admiration lacing his words with a touch of playful banter.

"She is truly audacious. She hasn’t yet yielded to His Highness’s demand to speak to him. She continues to shut him out," Drystan shared. "I guess nothing scares her after confronting the ferocious pirates, not even His Highness," he joked.

"So you already know the amazing story, huh?" asked the brunette knight with a chuckle.

Alex and Drystan nodded. Both of them were now familiar with the story of how the lady faced the pirates with her cunning tactics. They were genuinely surprised by the events and found themselves captivated by her bravery.

"I thought of saving it for later and surprise you. But, never mind. It’s good that you know earlier anyway."

The knights appeared worried, their expressions reflecting their concern for the situation. However, Ayden, in contrast, seemed relatively unperturbed.

"What about you? You seem to be fine," Eric inquired, directing his question to the assistant healer. Before Ayden could respond, Rafe interjected, cutting him off.

"Oh... this gentleman here is surprisingly safe and sound. Not only has he not faced any ill-treatment from His Highness, but the lady has also pardoned him without the slightest hint of anger! She claimed she couldn’t bring herself to scold him just because he was injured. It’s so unfair! I feel like giving him a beating as the pirates did!" Rafe exclaimed, his frustration evident in his voice.

Ayden responded calmly, "Hey, it’s not my fault that everyone loves me."

"All right, enough!" Eric interjected, taking charge of the situation. "I believe I now clearly understand what’s happening here. We need to act swiftly before more sculptures or garnitures become casualties. Rafael, you must come with me!"

Surprised, Rafe questioned, "Me? Why me? Haven’t I suffered enough already?"

"Do you want this to end, or do you want to endure more suffering?" the knight retorted, his tone firm and determined.

The healer, understanding the gravity of the situation, quickly shook his head in agreement.

"Good. Bring your first aid kit with you. We’ve got a job to do!" Eric declared, exuding confidence in his plan.

The remaining men could only watch. Their curiosity was piqued as they wondered about Eric’s strategy. Despite not knowing the specifics, they firmly believed it would be effective.

After all, Eric, known as the Love Coach, possessed unparalleled expertise in matters of love, intimacy, and relationships.

***

The heavy wooden door to the private library creaked open, and the two men entered cautiously, having received permission after a polite knock. Seated on a plush chair, the grand duke stared with a gloomy expression, his troubled mood evident.

Eric and Rafe approached him, both bowing respectfully.

"What brings you here, Eric? Shouldn’t you be with your family?" Kyren inquired, his voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.

"Well, I felt compelled to return. It seems someone here is in need of assistance," the knight responded, his tone unwavering.

"I don’t require any help," the grand duke retorted, his gruffness revealing his true meaning.

However, the knight paid no heed to his lord’s grumpy response. The grand duke’s demeanour to Eric resembled that of a wounded hound seeking attention from its master.

"I’m afraid I must insist," Eric declared calmly, reaching out to take the glass filled with a sparkling, vivid red liquid from Kyren’s hand and carefully setting it aside.

The grand duke squinted his mesmerising deep blue eyes at Eric.

"What are you doing?" he asked with scepticism in his voice.

"I’m here to facilitate a reconciliation between you and your wife," the knight replied succinctly, his gaze steady.

Kyren scoffed, his tone filled with bitterness. "She hates me!"

Eric shook his head gently.

"She doesn’t hate you. She’s simply angry because you kept the truth from her. Right now, she’s expressing that anger through the silent treatment."

"She did the same thing!"

"It’s not entirely the same," countered the knight.

The grand duke’s frustration grew even more as he continued to voice his grievances.

"What’s the point? She refuses to reconcile. She won’t even speak to me. She has even attempted to sleep in a separate chamber," he lamented, expressing the treatment he had endured over the past two days.

"I see... So, no intimacy for two days, and you’ve become like this. Tskk... Your Highness, you’re in a chronic state of lovesickness," Eric teased, clicking his tongue while sporting a mischievous grin.

"Lovesickness? That’s preposterous!" the grand duke denied, his tone defensive.

Eric’s smile widened, undeterred by the grand duke’s denial.

"Just admit it already! You’re in love with her. Otherwise, what’s the point of this act? I know you like the back of my hand. When you’re unsatisfied or angry, you channel it at the training ground, smashing dummies instead of breaking vases and tableware," he said.

Kyren turned his gaze from the knight as if embarrassed by his own action.

Eric then continued, "That’s not the real you! It’s the little boy inside you throwing a tantrum because he can’t get the attention he used to receive from the woman he loves. I bet you tried to solve it by yelling at her to stop ignoring you and forcing her to talk, am I right?" Eric gave a knowing nag, his words hitting close to home.

At that moment, the knight seemed like a psychic, effortlessly discerning the grand duke’s behaviour despite his two-day absence from the mansion.

"I don’t even know the meaning of love," Kyren scoffed, arrogantly rejecting the apparent truth.

"Love is when you have a strong attraction and emotional attachment to someone. You are concerned about everything they do, whether it’s something small or significant. You want them by your side, and above all, you genuinely care about their safety and happiness," Eric explained, his voice filled with sincerity.

Kyren’s eyes flickered, a glimmer of longing breaking through his defiant facade.

Observing the grand duke’s reaction, Rafe couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. He looked directly at Kyren and asked, his tone earnest, "Your Highness, do you truly feel what Eric described? Are you genuinely in love with her?"

The healer’s question hung, the weight of its implications palpable. Rafe had been keenly observing every action, every behaviour displayed by the grand duke towards his wife, and they undeniably reflected acts of affection.

If Kyren’s response confirmed his love, it would mean only one thing—that the spell cast upon him had finally been broken.

"No, I am not. I only care for her because she’s my wife," Kyren responded dismissively.

Rafe let out a sigh, his soaring hope crushed in mere seconds by the reply.

"Fine. If that is your answer, so be it," Eric replied with frustration.

The grand duke’s actions provided undeniable evidence of the mutual feelings between the couple, and Eric couldn’t comprehend why the grand duke denied it. Even so, the knight was determined to find a way to bridge the gap between them.

"Let’s do something right now to reignite her feelings for you."

Kyren looked at Eric, intrigued by the suggestion. "How?"

Eric’s gaze shifted to Kyren’s hand, remembering the grand duke’s injury during the harrowing pirate attack.

"How’s your injury?" he asked as he looked down at Kyren’s bandaged arm.

"It’s healing. It’s just a small cut," the grand duke replied, downplaying the significance of the wound.

"Good. Rafael, pour something into it that resembles the blood and bandage it again. Make it a nice big one," Eric ordered. A glimmer of determination sparked in his eyes.

Confused, Rafe looked at Eric and asked, "Why? What’s the purpose behind this?"

"Our lady has a soft spot for those who are hurt. I’ll ensure she has a reason to talk to the grand duke and you again. But we must employ a small white lie and act," Eric explained.

Rafe’s frustration started to boil over.

"Another lie? Don’t you realise that she’s already furious about being deceived? She’s going to be livid!" the healer exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern.

"There’s a time and a place for deception. Just trust me on this. After you bandage His Highness’s arm, go inform the lady that something terrible has happened to her husband," Eric directed, his tone resolute. "Urged her to come over immediately, and Your Highness, let’s discuss what to say and how to act when she arrives."

Kyren hesitated, voicing his uncertainty. "But I don’t know how to act convincingly."

Eric’s gaze locked with the grand duke’s.

"If you want her back, you must match her level of deception, just as she did when she outsmarted the pirates. You have to act like her, drawing upon your shared strength. We need to restore things to how they were," Eric insisted, his words expressing urgency.

The grand duke and the healer exchanged glances, their doubts lingering, yet unable to resist the deep desire for everything to return to normalcy.

The Love Coach’s orders had to be executed, even if they harboured reservations.

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