The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 120: Say It Again

Chapter 120: Say It Again

Anna’s heartfelt confession reverberated through the air, leaving Eric and Rafe utterly stunned, their breath caught in their throats.

"What... What did you just say?" Kyren’s voice, once fading, now burst forth with renewed strength and authority.

His eyes, wide open and filled with astonishment and hope, locked onto Anna’s, desperately seeking confirmation. His grip on her hand tightened as if trying to ground himself in the reality of her words.

As he looked into her eyes, a surge of unfamiliar sensations coursed through Kyren’s veins. His heart pounded heavily within his chest, each beat echoing with a newfound intensity. It was as if his entire being had been awakened, flooded with a rush of warmth, excitement, and a soaring sense of possibility.

At that moment, his focus narrowed, and all he could see, all that mattered, was her. The princess, taken aback by the unexpected change, paused, blinked, and looked at her husband, who now appeared as healthy as ever.

Wasn’t he on the brink of unconsciousness just moments ago?

"Why... you..." Anna’s voice trembled, her eyes scanning Kyren’s figure as she struggled to process the bewildering turn of events. The world around them stilled for a few moments.

Tears that streamed down her face gradually subsided. Anna turned her gaze to the side, searching for Eric and Rafe for an explanation, only to find them long gone, having made a swift escape to the door. They had played their part in this ruse, leaving her to face the truth of the deception.

"Enjoy yourselves! We won’t be interrupting!" Eric’s voice echoed from the distance as the door shut.

Anna’s realisation dawned, and her anger surged within, threatening to consume her. She turned back to Kyren, ready to unleash her fury upon him, but before she could utter a single word, the Grand Duke rose from the bed and pulled her into his embrace.

"Let me go, you liar!" Anna’s voice resonated with anger as she struggled against his hold, hitting his hardened chest with unyielding determination to break free.

"Say that again," Kyren whispered softly, his voice laced with a mix of vulnerability and longing.

"No!" Anna’s defiance rang through the room, her furiousness warring with the complicated emotions swirling within her.

"Anna, my wife. Look at me," called the grand duke softly, his voice filled with tenderness and affection.

Anna ceased her struggle, her chest rising and falling with the weight of her emotions. Kyren’s address to her just now was distinct from his usual demeanour. There was a gentleness in his tone, and he emphasised the words ’my wife’ in a way he had never done before.

"You said you would do anything for me." His voice, full of hope, emerged. "Say it again, please!" pleaded the Grand Duke, his touch tender as he caressed her cheek with his knuckles.

Anna raised her gaze, meeting the captivating sight of the majestic man before her. His pearly blue eyes gazed deeply into her soul, holding an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

The elegant slope of his nose bridge complemented his beautiful lips, their allure heightened by his perfect angular jawline. As she stared into his enchanting face, she couldn’t help but be tempted by his undeniable charm, which seemed to intensify up close.

"I love you..." Anna’s voice trailed off, her words fading into a whisper as she found herself mesmerised by her handsome husband’s captivating presence.

"Say it once more," Kyren breathed, his voice softening into a gentle whisper while his heart swelled with anticipation.

Anna’s eyes, filled with a mixture of adoration and vulnerability, traced the contours of his face, memorising every detail. The weight of her emotions could no longer be contained. With unwavering sincerity, she summoned the sacred words again to her lips.

"I love you, Kyren," she confessed, her voice carrying a depth of emotion that resonated within the very core of her being.

In that poignant moment, the Grand Duke tenderly placed his hand on the back of her neck, his touch sending a shiver of anticipation through her. Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers, sealing their connection with a passionate kiss.

Anna’s soft lips parted willingly, inviting his tongue to intertwine with hers in a dance of longing and desire. It was a kiss they had both yearned for, culminating in their shared emotions.

As their lips melded together, they exchanged not only breath but also a profound intimacy. The weight of their connection enveloped them, each touch and caress conveying the depth of their affection. Anna revelled in the velvety softness of his touch, losing herself in the intoxicating exchange of warmth and desire.

Their lips eventually parted, leaving them both breathless and gasping for air. Anna’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to regain her composure, her eyes locked with Kyren’s, their depths filled with unspoken promises.

"You’re my woman, Anna. You’re important to me," Kyren declared, his voice filled with sincerity and devotion.

The princess’s heart fluttered within her chest, caught in a delicate dance of hope and uncertainty. Kyren’s actions spoke volumes, revealing a deep affection that stirred her soul. Yet, amidst the tender moments they shared, the words she longed to hear remained unspoken.

Doubt began to weave its way into her thoughts—did he truly feel the same way?

Just as she was about to pop the question, the princess’s words were abruptly swallowed by a growling sound emanating from the grand duke’s stomach.

"Sorry. I could hardly eat anything since we argued," Kyren admitted, his hand instinctively touching his belly.

Concern filled Anna’s eyes as she realised his hunger.

"You must be famished. Let me call Anryr and ask him to prepare something for you," she offered, moving towards the side table to reach for the bell but was pulled back into his embrace.

A playful pout formed on Kyren’s lips as he responded, "I don’t have much of an appetite, and I don’t want the usual."

Curiosity sparked within Anna as she asked, "Then, what would you like to eat?"

A mischievous glint appeared in Kyren’s eyes as he answered, "Fish chowder."

"I’ll inform Anryr to tell the cook to prepare it for you," Anna assured him, ready to summon the steward.

However, Kyren’s request took a different turn as he expressed, "No, I don’t want the one prepared by anyone else. I want to savour the fish chowder that you cook."

A smile of affection bloomed on Anna’s face, touched by his request.

"I’ll gladly make it for you then. But what about your arm? Is it still hurting?" she inquired, her gaze falling upon his fully bandaged arm.

"It still stings sometimes," he replied, a hint of discomfort lingering in his voice.

"Then rest. And also, please refrain from smashing things and yelling at anyone anymore. It’s dangerous and makes you look rather ridiculous," Anna admonished him with a nag.

"There could still be hidden shards of broken glass around, even after the cleaning. What if those fragments flew towards you when you threw them? Promise me, Kyren, that you’ll stop engaging in such behaviour, all right?"

Anna’s voice carried a genuine concern, her eyes reflecting her worry for his well-being.

"All right, I promise," Kyren responded, a warm smile gracing his lips.

He couldn’t help but find his wife absolutely endearing at that moment, her nurturing nature shining through. Her concern for his safety touched him deeply, reminding him of the depth of their connection.

***

Anna rang the bell, and soon, Anryr appeared at the suite door, responding to her call for assistance.

"How may I assist you, Your Highness, my lady?" asked the steward, Anryr, as he appeared at the door, ready to fulfil their needs.

"Anryr, do we happen to have any fresh fish available?" inquired Anna, her eyes filled with determination.

"We do. We have a codfish. I heard from Sir Parker that my lady prefers fish dishes to others. So, I asked the servant to buy it this morning," Anryr responded promptly, providing the information she sought.

"Excellent. Please clean it for me and kindly inform the cook that I would like to borrow the kitchen and his staff briefly," Anna requested.

Curiosity flickered in Anryr’s eyes as he inquired, "May I know the purpose, my lady?"

"His Highness doesn’t have much of an appetite today. So, I want to prepare fish chowder at his request," Anna explained.

The steward’s eyes widened in astonishment, his expression mirroring his disbelief. After all, it was widely known among the servants that the Grand Duke had never exhibited a particular fondness for fish dishes.

The unexpected request left the steward momentarily taken aback. His mind tried to reconcile his lord’s newfound interest in such culinary delights.

"My lady, do you intend to cook?" he asked to reaffirm.

A determined smile graced Anna’s lips as she affirmed, "Yes, I do. I am heading to the kitchen now."

Caught off guard by her sudden decision, Kyren interjected, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "I’m coming too!"

"I thought I told you to rest? You mentioned your arm still hurts," Anna countered, her concern evident in her voice as she looked at him.

"I just want to watch you cook. I never did when we were on the ship because Eric drove me away. I promise I won’t disturb you at all this time. I’ll simply sit and observe," Kyren requested, his eyes filled with eager anticipation.

Anna hesitated for a moment, contemplating his request. However, she shook her head in disapproval.

"I don’t think so... I would prefer if you wait for me in the dining room while I prepare it. Nothing gets cooked if you are in the kitchen with me," she explained, her tone gentle yet firm.

Kyren pouted once again, a hint of disappointment evident on his face.

"Don’t be grumpy. I promise to make a delicious Fish Chowder for you to enjoy while you wait. Now, are you coming down with me or not?" Anna coaxed him. Her eyes filled with both amusement and affection.

"All right, all right!" Kyren surrendered, realising that his persistence was futile.

The sudden shift in the atmosphere surprised Anryr, the steward, as he observed the dynamics between the couple. The loving behaviour displayed by Anna and Kyren left him even more speechless.

"Come," Anna said, smiling warmly as she extended her delicate hand towards the grand duke. With a reciprocating grin on his face, Kyren gently placed his hand over hers, and together, they went to the grand stairs, followed by the steward.

Thanks to the intervention of Eric, the great Love Coach, the quarrel had finally ended.

Anryr, witnessing the reconciliation, breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that no more items were being smashed or damaged. The steward also couldn’t help but be surprised to discover that the grand duke’s wife possessed culinary skills as she demonstrated her cooking in the kitchen. It also bewildered him when Kyren indulged in a fish dish for the first time before him.

"Did this happen at the camp, too?" Anryr asked in disbelief to Eric, who had been secretly watching behind the scenes as he watched Anna delicately scoop the food into Kyren’s mouth.

This time, the grand duke insisted on being fed, claiming that his arm was hurt despite looking so well just this morning.

"Get used to it. You haven’t seen anything yet. They can become even more affectionate than this at times," Eric reassured, patting the steward on the shoulder.

"I’ve never witnessed His Highness behaving this way," the steward commented, still amazed by the display of affection.

"It’s remarkable what love can do to a person," the knight replied, a warm smile playing on his lips as he continued to observe the joyous couple.

From across the expansive dining room, Rafe’s gaze fixated on the couple, his grey eyes filled with curiosity. As he observed the couple, a deep exhale escaped his lips, signifying the weight of his thoughts. He had reached a certainty now — that Kyren had indeed fallen in love with Anna.

However, that revelation wasn’t the primary point of his concern. Instead, it was the question of how this had come to pass.

Ruminating on the matter, the healer’s mind wandered to the spell cast, decreeing that the once Crown Prince of Cassian would never experience romantic love with any woman, as his heart had already been bound forever.

The contradiction perplexed him. How had a man supposed to be devoid of such a feeling suddenly found the capacity to love?