The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 128: The Slave And The Cure Bearer

Chapter 128: The Slave And The Cure Bearer

The king’s hardened look was impossible to ignore, his disbelief emanating from every line on his face. Queen Emelda, too, wore a bewildered expression as she absorbed the newfound information.

Both of them had mistakenly believed that Anna was merely a commoner from Ardel, unaware of her true lineage.

The tension in the hall was palpable as the king curiously addressed the princess.

"Are you truly the daughter of King Adhemar and his queen?" His voice carried a hint of curiosity, grappling with the unexpected revelation.

Anna replied nervously as her eyes darted to the faces of the king and queen, "Actually, the king is my father, but the queen is not my mother. She’s my stepmother."

Her words hung in the air, waiting to be processed by the bewildered monarch.

King Kyden’s face flushed with emotions. The revelation challenged his preconceived notions and ignited a flurry of conflicting thoughts.

Sensing the need for a private discussion, he turned to Queen Emelda with a tense yet urgent voice.

"Emelda, please take the lady out for a moment. I need to discuss this with the grand duke and his men."

Kyren, who was taken aback by the sudden request, sought clarification. "Why? Where are you taking her?"

"Just let them leave the throne hall for a moment so I could think," the king responded, his words laced with a plea for understanding and a desire for solitude to process the startling revelation.

Queen Emelda caught a glimpse of the rising tension within the king, realising that his composure was teetering on the brink.

Though she couldn’t comprehend the full extent of the reason behind his emotions, she understood that it was crucial for them to follow his instructions and leave the hall, allowing him the space he needed to collect his thoughts and regain his composure.

"Don’t worry, we’ll be just in the parlour. Please come with me, Anna," the queen reassured Kyren, extending a comforting hand towards Anna.

Understanding the need for privacy, she guided the reluctant princess away from the tense atmosphere in the throne hall.

As the women exited, leaving the king to simmer in his thoughts, King Kyden turned his attention to his brother and inquired, "Where did you meet her?"

"In the Dartrey Forest, at the border between Cassian and Dracor," Kyren responded with his steady voice. "A dangerous individual was chasing her."

The king’s curiosity peaked as he sought further details. "What kind of dangerous individual?"

"A gang of slave traders caught her, and one of them attempted to harm her," Kyren explained with a serious expression.

The king’s features contorted at the answer. "She was a slave? Now you’re telling me this?" His voice resonated with incredulity.

"She is not a slave!" Kyren countered.

King Kyden’s eyes bore into his brother, a stern expression etched upon his face. "Speak firmly, Kyren! Was she or was she not a slave?"

The grand duke let out a heavy sigh, a mix of resignation and vulnerability in his voice. "She... she was in the possession of slave traders. She was on the verge of being auctioned off in the City of Tarnova."

"This is illogical! How could a princess end up as a slave? It doesn’t make any sense!" The king shook his head in disbelief.

Kyren, aware of his brother’s confusion, attempted to clarify. "I understand it’s difficult to comprehend, but her circumstances took a tragic turn. I have sent my knight to investigate, but I am still awaiting answers," he admitted.

Drystan and Alex shared a subtle exchange of knowing glances, a silent acknowledgement passing between them. It was evident to both that the mentioned knight could only be Noah.

Throughout their time together, the knight had consistently been assigned to such delicate tasks. Observing his absence from the camp since becoming the lady’s initial escort had not gone unnoticed by the astute pair.

As a former mercenary, Noah possessed exceptional abilities in investigations and gathering crucial intelligence, making him the most suitable candidate for the role.

Seeking clarification, the king questioned Kyren further. "Did she truly reveal her identity as the Princess of Ardel to you when you married her?"

Kyren shook his head, saying, "Actually, no. I discovered who she was on my own when Anna confided that her maiden name was Varryn after our marriage."

Perplexed, the king probed further, his brow furrowed. "Why did you marry her, then?"

"She had been poisoned," the grand duke explained, his voice laced with a deep sense of protectiveness. "I couldn’t bear to see her suffer, and time was of the essence. Marrying her was the only way to save her life."

King Kyden struggled to comprehend the complexity of the situation. Turning to Rafe with anticipation, he asked, "You were with the grand duke at the frontier. Did you have any knowledge of this?"

The healer nodded solemnly, his expression filled with empathy. "Yes, Your Majesty. I was the one who provided medical treatment to Lady Raychard when His Highness brought her to the camp."

Eager for a comprehensive account, the king implored Rafe to recount the details. The healer obliged, sharing the harrowing tale of Anna’s poisoning and the subsequent race against time to save her life.

Absorbing the information, the king shook his head in disapproval. "So, my brother married her solely to save her life? He could have enlisted any of his men to marry her instead!"

"It was me who proposed to His Highness to marry her, to save her and uphold her dignity," Rafe interjected, his voice filled with conviction and responsibility. "The truth is, His Highness took her to his bed and held her in his arms that night. So, according to the tradition, she already belongs to him," Rafe continued.

King Kyden sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the situation press upon him. He brought his palm to his forehead, trying to process the complexities that had unfolded before him.

"Just what kind of trouble did you get yourself into, Kyren?" the king exclaimed in exasperation.

The grand duke, momentarily taken aback, defended his actions with a hint of defiance. "What is wrong with me marrying Anna? She was a maiden, and I was a bachelor. I don’t see any problem with that."

The king’s voice carried a tinge of urgency as he spoke, "She’s a slave!"

The words reverberated in the air, leaving an uncomfortable silence in their wake.

"She’s not a slave! She’s a princess!" the grand duke interjected with conviction.

King Kyden’s eyes shifted from his brother to the two knights standing on the side. The weight of disappointment and frustration was evident in his gaze.

"Did you two already know about this when you arrived at the palace and met me the other day?" he inquired.

Alex hesitated for a moment before responding.

"We only knew about her status as a slave at that time. We learned about Lady Raychard being a princess only a few days ago from Mr Amares."

The king’s anger flared. "And you didn’t report this to me?" he questioned, his tone demanding an explanation.

"We... we thought it was the personal affairs of His Highness. So, we didn’t dare to intervene," Alex admitted, his words reflecting a sense of caution.

The king’s voice grew sharper, emphasising the situation.

"Personal affairs? This is not merely about his personal affairs! This is a crucial matter concerning the grand duke, my brother!"

Kyren interjected firmly as his emotions rose in defence and his voice, almost losing his temper at the king, "Why are you making such a fuss? Is it because she’s a Princess of Ardel, from the Adhemar bloodline?"

The king’s eyes narrowed, his frustration mounting. "I think you’re delusional, Kyren! You’re trying to convince everyone that your wife is a princess, not a slave."

"That’s not true! She is not a slave but a princess!"

"There are no Adhemars left! The ambassador of Ardel met me this morning and conveyed this news. A new king has risen in succession, as there are no more legitimate heirs to the throne," King Kyden stated firmly.

Kyren’s brows furrowed, his mind struggling to process the news.

"I don’t believe this. Why would Ardel suddenly send an ambassador here, and why would they claim that there are no more Adhemars?"

The king sighed, his expression reflecting his concern.

"They came seeking an alliance. The Adhemars met a tragic fate in a shipwreck two years ago. Aren’t you aware of this?"

"After your succession, I no longer deal with politics and foreign affairs except for national security matters. I only knew about the shipwreck when Anna mentioned it to me," the grand duke responded promptly.

"The ambassador mentioned that there was only a crown prince in the family. All of them perished from the incident," the king added.

Kyren’s voice wavered with desperation in his words. "It can’t be! Anna told me she was present on that ill-fated ship and miraculously survived the catastrophe."

"I’m telling you the truth!"

Determination surged within Kyren as he looked to the king.

"I don’t believe it! Anna would never lie to me about this. It took me a lot of effort to have her open up about herself to me! Where is this ambassador? Is he still here? Allow me to speak with him directly. I need to uncover the truth for myself," the grand duke demanded firmly.

"Before you go and potentially embarrass me in front of the Ardel delegations, we need to establish some clarity. Is there any concrete proof that indicates she is a true princess of Ardel?" King Kyden’s voice held a sense of caution.

"Your Majesty, I do not doubt that the lady is indeed the princess. Her demeanour exudes the unmistakable characteristics of royalty," Rafe asserted with confidence. "Furthermore, we both witnessed her fluency in Ro’an, a language known only to the royals and certain scholars."

"Just knowing and being fluent in the language does not necessarily deem her a royalty," the king countered.

Rafe continued, his eyes filled with a sense of awe. "Lady Raychard has made significant contributions to Cassian. During the Laradie outbreak at the border, her blood became the cure. She possesses the pure serum within her blood, a substance in the exclusive possession of Ardel’s royal family and inaccessible to anyone else."

"What?" King Kyden’s eyes shook in surprise.