The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 133: A Precious Wedding Gift

Chapter 133: A Precious Wedding Gift

Soon, the meal began, filling the hall with the gentle clinking of forks and spoons against the plates. The atmosphere eased as everyone settled into the comfort of their surroundings.

Taking the lead in engaging Anna, the king initiated a small talk, his voice warm and inviting.

"I hope you both had a restful morning. How are you feeling right now, Anna?" he inquired, genuine concern lacing his words.

The princess’s voice, filled with polite gratitude, responded, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am feeling much better now."

"I never thought a day like this would come," Queen Emelda remarked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

Curious, Anna inquired, "Why is that, Your Majesty?"

The queen sighed softly as she recalled her memories.

"All these years, despite the arrangements made for him, Kyren persistently refused to get to know any women. His Majesty was deeply disappointed when your husband announced his intention to be celibate three years ago. And, of course, his fans were equally disheartened." she said. "I’m sure you’re already aware of this since I heard you’ve had an encounter with some of his fans from the fan club," she added, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Anna’s face flushed slightly as she recollected the commotion that had erupted just the other day.

"Well... yes, apparently I did," she replied with cautious words.

The queen’s smile widened mischievously.

"Those were only a fraction of his fans. There are many more," she revealed, her tone filled with playful intrigue.

"More fans?" Anna’s eyebrows arched, genuinely surprised by the revelation.

"Yes, indeed. Most maidens in the kingdom are his ardent admirers," Queen Emelda disclosed, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

The princess couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, her gaze shifting mischievously towards Kyren.

"Really? It must be quite something to possess such charm and have so many choices, don’t you think so, my dear husband?" she commented to Kyren, her eyes squinting into a slit.

The grand duke’s eyes widened in protest.

"What? I didn’t do anything!" he defended himself, feeling unfairly targeted by the look cast on him.

Anna’s gaze remained fixed on the grand duke, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"Are you sure? Isn’t it intriguing to have a lot of beautiful maidens swirling around you?" she probed, her tone filled with mock suspicion.

"No! They were horrible! They kept chasing me all the time!" Kyren exclaimed, his voice filled with exasperation.

Anna couldn’t help but tease him further, a knowing smile gracing her lips.

"Chasing you? Right..." she replied and nodded several times, her tone laced with playful scepticism, enjoying their banter.

"It’s true! I didn’t go after them. They went after me. It wasn’t my fault," Kyren vehemently defended himself, his tone filled with exasperation.

Queen Emelda nodded knowingly, too, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and understanding.

"The fans never left him alone. Even the court ladies and servants couldn’t help but admire him. It became overwhelming, which led him to leave the palace and travel from place to place," she explained, her voice holding a hint of fake sympathy.

Kyren interjected, clarifying his intentions. "I went to gather talented individuals for my knighthood, not to escape from the maidens," he asserted, wanting to set the record straight.

King Kyden chuckled, recalling the old tale.

"Ah, yes. I remember someone mentioning how suffocated he felt by the persistent palace ladies pursuing him. It seemed he used the excuse of gathering knights as a clever way to escape their advances, much to our parents’ amusement," he remarked, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Kyren’s face flushed slightly, and embarrassment glazed on his cheeks.

"That’s an old story, Your Majesty. Please, let’s not bring it up anymore," he requested, his tone filled with a mix of resignation and good-natured plea.

As she watched her husband grow flustered under the playful teasing of the king and queen, Anna couldn’t help but giggle. She marvelled at the joy she felt in this moment, realising that she had never experienced the warmth of a family gathering like this before.

The meal was over, and it was time for Laura and Lilith to attend their lessons with the governess. They wore slight pouts on their faces, but their disappointment quickly turned to excitement as Kyren promised to spend the entire afternoon with them.

Laura’s eyes lit up again, anticipation shining through, and the princesses finally left the dining hall with no further drama.

The servants began to serve tea and delectable desserts, filling the hall with enticing aromas. Anna couldn’t help but appreciate the sumptuous spread before her.

"I hope you’re enjoying the food served here," the king told the princess.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is delicious. Thank you for inviting Kyren and me to this wonderful lunch," Anna replied, her gratitude evident in her words.

The queen’s thoughtful expression grew more pronounced as she turned her attention to her sister-in-law.

"Your Majesty, Anna has bestowed beautiful gifts upon our children, yet we have yet to give her and Kyren a proper wedding present. Shouldn’t we offer them presents, too?" she suggested, her voice filled with a sense of decency.

The king nodded in agreement.

"Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right," he acknowledged, his tone reflecting a touch of gratitude. "I’ve prepared several gifts for both of you. Since you are spending the night here, I’ve arranged for it to be sent directly to your mansion."

"There’s no need to trouble yourselves, Your Majesties," Kyren interjected, his voice filled with sincerity. "We’re fully content with your hospitality towards us."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Having the opportunity to spend time with the whole family is enough," Anna expressed with appreciation.

"Is that so?" King Kyden asked, seeking affirmation. It was a rarity for anyone to reject gifts from the king, aside from Kyren.

Anna nodded firmly, her eyes shining with sincerity. "Yes. There is no gift more wonderful to me than marrying Kyren. It feels like a miracle to have him in my life. He is incredibly patient, caring, and attentive, and I couldn’t ask for more," she expressed, her voice filled with genuine gratitude and affection.

The king and queen exchanged glances. Their smile rose by Anna’s heartfelt statement. Over the years, the prince they had known seemed to defy the characteristics described by the princess.

It was difficult for them to believe the changes at first. Hadn’t they witnessed Kyren’s genuine reaction in the throne hall and guestroom during the misunderstood commotion, they wouldn’t have acknowledged it at all.

"As for me, the only gift I desire is to have Anna continue to be my wife, if you understand what I mean, Your Majesty," Kyren stated, dropping a subtle hint that he was unwilling to yield to the king’s previous order.

King Kyden’s expression hardened a bit as he comprehended the underlying message in his brother’s words.

"I understand your perspective. However, compromises are sometimes necessary in life to achieve what we truly want. I promise you both that you shall remain together, free from disruptions, safe and sound if you heed my advice," the king replied, indicating that he would not back down from his stance.

"Pardon me, I don’t really get what you mean, Your Majesty," said Anna curiously as she gazed at the king. Turning to her husband, she posed a related question, "What was His Majesty’s advice, Kyren?"

The grand duke closed his lips tightly, his gaze shifting downward. Uncharacteristically, he hesitated before lifting the cup of tea to his lips. It was evident that he was avoiding giving a direct response, choosing instead to take a sip of the drink as a way to divert the conversation momentarily.

Queen Emelda interjected, sensing a hint of tension.

"Yes, me too. Did both of you argue in the throne hall before?" she observed, her tone filled with concern.

A reassuring smile graced the king’s lips as he responded to his queen.

"Of course not, my dear," he affirmed, his voice brimming with assurance, attempting to dispel any worries. "We were merely exchanging opinions, and I’m advising Kyren to be more tolerable in life."

"Ah, I see...." The queen nodded. "Well, it would be rather unconventional if you didn’t accept any present from us. After all, it is customary to grant gifts to welcome new family members," Queen Emelda stated, her voice carrying a hint of determination.

"You’re right, my queen," King Kyden acknowledged with a nod of agreement.

His eyes sparkled with a desire to fulfil Queen Emelda’s wishes.

"Perhaps would you like something unique, something out of the ordinary? Please do let me know. I assure you, I will do my utmost to grant your request," he declared, his voice brimming with sincerity.

As the king insisted, a significant matter suddenly crossed Anna’s mind, filling her with a sense of urgency. She realised this was a perfect opportunity to address the lingering issue weighing on her throughout her journey to the palace.

Her eyes brightened at the king’s response.

"Then, if that’s the case... may I humbly ask for one thing?" she inquired politely, her tone laced with caution.

"Absolutely! What is it that you desire? Exquisite pieces of jewellery? High-quality dresses? Or perhaps ornamental treasures?" the king proposed, attempting to guess Anna’s preference.

Curiosity and anticipation filled Kyren’s gaze as he turned to his wife, wondering what her request might be. He understood Anna’s character well enough to know that material wealth held little significance to her.

Hence, when she expressed a desire for something as a present, it piqued his interest, capturing his undivided attention.

Anna shook her head gently towards the king, a soft smile gracing her lips. It was clear that the king’s guesses weren’t on her list.

"No, Your Majesty. What I want is much more precious than any valuable wealth possessions."

The king and queen’s curiosity heightened. Their assumptions centred around diamonds, gold, large sums of money, or valuable properties were quickly discarded by the princess’s gesture.

Eager to discover Anna’s desired item, the king posed the question, "And what might this precious gift be?"

Anna took a deep breath, her voice steady as she responded, "It is the freedom of my dear friend, Lady Meredith Grey. She is the fan club president and was wrongfully accused of instigating the chaos among the members of the fan club at Gerhard’s mansion."