The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 124: A Maid In Distress

Chapter 124: A Maid In Distress

Anna sat in the moving carriage, her nervousness evident in her fidgeting movements as time went by. Beside her, Kyren, providing a reassuring presence, accompanied her on the momentous journey.

The carriage, adorned with the distinguished coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Gerhard, rolled its tyres, setting the procession in motion as it made its way towards the palace.

Drystan and Alex led the way at the forefront of the procession, their presence commanding and dignified, followed closely by Rafe. The skilled driver navigated the path carefully, ensuring a smooth and safe departure.

As the carriage progressed along the road, a crowd had gathered by the sides, eagerly anticipating a glimpse of the royal entourage.

However, the drawn curtains obstructed their view, leaving them longing for a glimpse of the occasion unfolding before them.

Anna’s agitation was visible, her hands becoming moist with nervousness. She removed her gloves, seeking to dry her sweaty palms and find some relief from her anxiety.

The thought of the occasion and the unknown future ahead weighed heavily on her, causing her emotions to stir within.

"What should I call you when I’m in the palace? Should it be ’Your Highness’?" Anna inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

Kyren couldn’t help but release a soft, lighthearted chuckle in response.

"You’re my wife, Anna," he said affectionately, his tone filled with warmth. "You are privileged to call me by my name. Besides, you hold the esteemed title of the Princess of Ardel, and we share an equal royalty standing within our union."

However, Anna’s inquiry delved deeper into the complexities of interkingdom relations.

"But Cassian has a different perspective about the other kingdoms in the continent’s royalties. My status stemmed from a traitorous act," the princess addressed nervously.

"Are you thinking about the titles because my people don’t address you with your royal status?" asked Kyren inquisitively.

"No. I’m just wondering about the Cassians’ opinion because we are of different nationalities with different stands towards the Ro’an Empire."

"Indeed, the nuances of our heritage and the historical context attributed to the difference, but that is not why my people didn’t address you with your royal title. It is because of the protocol of a royal marriage. Any title of a spouse to a royalty or nobleman of Cassian shall only be bestowed by His Majesty and with his approval. It’s a matter of formalities. That’s all."

"I don’t mind having a title or not. Whatever they call me is fine, as long as we’re together," Anna expressed her emotion sincerely.

Kyren’s smile grazed his pink lips as he shared the same heartfelt feelings.

Just as their conversation reached a tender moment, the carriage abruptly came to a halt.

The sound of crying and wailing could be heard from outside, interrupting the peaceful atmosphere. The distressing cries pierced through the air, capturing the attention of everyone in the procession.

A desperate voice pleaded, "Please! I’m begging you! Let me see His Highness, the grand duke, and his wife!"

The desperation in the woman’s voice was palpable, echoing the depths of her anguish. The royal knights, swift in their duty, stepped forward to address the disturbance.

"Move aside now! Blocking the path of His Highness is a breach of protocol!" warned one of the knights, his authoritative voice commanding attention.

However, recognising the woman, Alex intervened, dismounting his horse and requesting the knights to stand down.

"Wait, I know her," Alex spoke with a calm authority, his hand gesturing for the knights to back off. "Let me talk to her. There may be a reason for her distress."

The other knights reluctantly obliged, allowing the knight to address the crying woman.

With tears streaming down her face, the woman stood up, trembling with grief. Alex approached her gently. Concern etched across his face.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice filled with a desire to understand the source of her anguish.

The woman, struggling to find composure, managed to utter broken words.

"Sir Jarr... It’s Lady Grey..."

Her voice quivered, conveying the gravity of the situation. The mention of Meredith’s name brought an air of urgency, signalling that something significant had occurred.

Curiosity piqued within Kyren as he sat inside the halted carriage, trying to make sense of the commotion. Anna turned to him, seeking answers.

"What’s going on?" she inquired, her voice laced with curiosity and concern.

"I don’t know," Kyren responded honestly, his brow furrowing with intrigue. "But I will find out."

With a purposeful resolve, he opened the small sliding window that overlooked the driver and called out to inquire about the situation. The driver relayed the details to his lord, informing him about the presence of a woman blocking the procession.

"She insists on seeing Your Highness and the lady. She claims to know the lady, and Sir Jarr is currently questioning her," explained the driver.

A sense of bewilderment washed over Anna upon hearing this information. "She knows me?" she murmured, a mixture of surprise and confusion evident in her tone.

It seemed peculiar, considering she had only recently arrived in Gantz. Apart from the people within the mansion and a few of Kyren’s fans who introduced themselves, she had yet to establish other connections.

The pleading voice echoed once more, filled with desperation. This time, it was much more apparent to Anna’s hearing as the small sliding window was still open.

"Please! Please, I beg you, Sir Jarr!"

The words tugged at Anna’s heart, stirring a sense of familiarity within her. She furrowed her brow, deep in thought, trying to place the voice.

"Please save Lady Grey! She’s innocent!"

The mention of Lady Grey’s name sent a jolt of recognition through the princess. Her eyes widened in realisation.

"I know her!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise.

Kyren looked at Anna, his curiosity piqued.

"You do?" he questioned, eager to understand the connection between his wife and the distressed woman.

"That must be Miss Miller, Lady Grey’s personal maid!" Anna explained. "Please, let me see her for a moment! There must be something terrible happening. I need to find out what it is!"

Kyren, though bewildered by the sudden revelation, recognised the urgency in Anna’s voice.

"How do you know these people?" he inquired.

"I’ll explain later," she assured Kyren. "But, could you please allow me to meet her first? She sounds desperate."

Understanding the gravity of the situation and the genuine concern in Anna’s plea, Kyren nodded.

"Fine. But I’m coming with you."

Kyren opened the carriage door and gracefully stepped down, extending his hand to assist Anna. Together, they made their way towards the front of the procession, where the disruption occurred. As Kyren’s gaze fell upon Rania, who knelt on the ground, he couldn’t help but feel curious.

"What is going on here?" the grand duke inquired with interest. His presence, holding Anna’s hand, caught the attention of the onlookers, causing whispers to ripple through the crowd.

"Oh, Your Highness!" Rania’s voice quivered with emotion as she caught sight of Kyren.

She immediately bowed, tears streaming down her face. Upon noticing Anna standing beside the grand duke, Rania hastily lowered herself again to show respect.

"My lady... please help me!" Rania pleaded, her voice filled with desperation and sorrow.

Anna felt compelled to step forward and offer assistance, but before she could reach the maid, the royal knights swiftly moved to block her path.

"My lady, please don’t come near her. It could be dangerous," one of the knights cautioned, their duty to protect Anna overriding any immediate act of compassion.

"Move aside, please! I know her. She’s a friend, not a threat," Anna requested firmly.

The royal knights hesitated momentarily, their gazes shifting between Anna and the distressed maid. However, Kyren’s reassuring gesture prompted them to retreat swiftly, allowing the princess to approach Rania unhindered.

With a gentle touch, Anna held the crying maid’s shoulders and helped her stand. Then, using her handkerchief, she tenderly wiped away the tears from Rania’s face.

"What happened, Miss Miller?" Anna inquired, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Rania’s voice trembled as she shared the distressing news. "It’s Lady Grey... She was arrested yesterday by the royal knights. No one is allowed to see her!" Her words choked as she laid out the reason for her action between her cries.

"What? Why?" Anna’s voice reflected a mix of shock and disbelief as her mind raced to comprehend the situation.

"It was His Majesty’s order!" Rania explained. "They claimed she caused a commotion and threatened the safety of the royal family members. But it’s not true! Lady Grey is innocent!"

Kyren, with his brows furrowed, interjected with a question. "This must be because of the chaos the other day. Was she present when it happened?"

He sought to gather more information, attempting to piece together the puzzle of Lady Grey’s arrest.

Rania nodded hesitantly.

Alex, who stood on the side, had his face etched with a sombre expression. Beneath his hazel eyes, a mixture of worry and conflict was evident.

"She was there. I can testify to that," he intervened.

Anna’s voice carried a touch of resignation as she realised the circumstances.

"She’s the president of the fan club. That’s why they took her. His Majesty must have deemed her a threat to us," she spoke, carrying a hint of sadness in her tone.

"Was she the one who pulled you and held your arm the other day?" Kyren asked as he creased his forehead.

Anna nodded, admitting the fact.

"Then, there’s nothing I can do about it. She deserved to be punished for trying to harm you," he stated, his voice tinged with a sense of finality.

Anna took a moment to gather her thoughts. She recalled her conversation with Meredith and her warning. Then, a realisation hit her.

"No! That’s not true!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with conviction. "She wasn’t trying to harm me! Instead, she warned me and told me to run! She was trying to protect me from the crowd of fans."

Rania added her account of the events. "We never came to Your Highness’s mansion after that. We were at home, and suddenly, the royal knights burst in and captured her. I’ve tried to meet you many times, but the royal knights disallowed me," she explained with frustration.

Anna turned to Kyren, her eyes pleading with him to see the truth.

"Kyren, there must be some mistake here. Lady Grey is my friend. She’s not a bad person! We need to help her, please!" Her words were filled with a mixture of desperation and determination.

The grand duke sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. He understood the predicament they were facing.

"This is the order of His Majesty, not mine," he conceded, his voice heavy with the weight of duty and the limitations it imposed.

Rania’s voice trembled with desperation as she made her heartfelt plea, tears welling in her eyes.

"Please, my lady! Lady Grey is a delicate soul, easily shaken by the slightest hardships. She cannot endure a harsh environment, paralysed by her fear of the dark and terrified of even the smallest wound. I’m begging you, please help her!"

"We’re already on our way to meet with His Majesty. I’ll definitely help! " Anna declared with determination, her voice resolute.

She turned to Kyren, her eyes pleading once more. "Can you talk to His Majesty about this?" she implored.

"I’ll see what I can do," he said nonchalantly.

Gratitude and a glimmer of hope illuminated Rania’s face as she heard Anna’s commitment.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, my lady!" she expressed, her voice filled with relief and appreciation.

"Go home now, Miss Miller. If there are any updates, I’ll send someone to let you know," Anna reassured her, her words carrying a soothing tone of comfort and support.

Rania nodded, a sense of trust and relief washing over her. As she left, the onlookers’ whispers grew louder, their surprise evident as they witnessed Anna’s compassionate treatment of a mere commoner.

The act of kindness from the grand duke’s bride garnered both admiration and curiosity from those witnessing the scene.

The entourage resumed their procession towards the palace, where a new challenge awaited the little lady.