The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 134: An Urgent Revelation (I)

Chapter 134: An Urgent Revelation (I)

King Kyden’s forehead creased with surprise at Anna’s unexpected request. He had never anticipated that she would make such a plea, and her words referring to Meredith as her dear friend caught him off guard.

Kyren, too, stared at his wife, his expression a mix of curiosity and intrigue. However, he remained silent, allowing Anna to explain her connection to the lady.

"How did you come to know her? I was under the impression that you had only recently arrived in Gantz a few days ago," the king inquired, seeking clarification.

"On the day of my arrival, while my escorts guided me through the plaza en route to the mansion, we crossed paths and began a conversation. We instantly became friends," Anna replied, her voice conveying the genuine connection she had formed with Meredith.

King Kyden’s gaze hardened, his tone firm as he addressed the gravity of the situation.

"But the offence she committed is severe. She put your life in jeopardy," he stated firmly.

With unwavering composure, Anna sought to entangle the misunderstanding.

"Your Majesty, allow me to clarify. Lady Grey did not endanger my life or instigate the chaos. In fact, she was the one who warned me to escape before it all began. Unfortunately, I could not flee in time and became caught up in the turmoil," she explained, her voice carrying an air of truth and conviction.

"I’m afraid I can’t simply release her... not without proper proof and witness," said the king.

Even when Meredith’s father, Lord Grey, one of the ministers in the royal council, begged persuasively for his daughter’s release, King Kyden refused. He also warned him not to come over pleading again and disallowed anyone from approaching the prison where the lady was apprehended.

Kyren had anticipated this, which was why he had refrained from raising the matter in the first place.

The grand duke’s intuition, honed by years of understanding and observing the king’s character, convinced him that King Kyden would not readily release a convict who had committed a crime against his own family.

He knew all too well the king’s unwavering protectiveness towards him and their shared family members. The bond between the twins was profound, and Kyren acknowledged that the king held the same level of regard and importance for him in return.

"But she’s innocent!" Anna pleaded, her voice filled with earnestness and a plea for justice.

Observing the tension on the king’s face, Queen Emelda swiftly interjected, her voice laced with empathy and reason.

"Your Majesty, please hear Anna out first. There must be a valid explanation behind all of this," she urged, aiming to soften the king’s resolve.

As the king remained silent, Queen Emelda turned her attention to Anna, seeking to understand the situation.

"What were you doing among the fans that day?" the queen inquired, her light brown eyes glimmering with inquisitive sparks.

Anna glanced at Kyren, seeking permission to reveal the truth to the king and queen. With a nod from the grand duke, she began to disclose the events.

"Actually, I was initially reading books in Kyren’s private library. There, I stumbled upon a secret passage hidden beneath the study table. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to explore it. Somehow, it led me outside the mansion. I discovered it was locked when I attempted to return through the same passage. Consequently, I made my way around the outer wall of the mansion and encountered the gathering of fans," Anna explained earnestly.

The king, still perplexed, sought further clarification.

"Why would you venture down the secret passage? What was your purpose?" he questioned, his tone blending curiosity and concern.

"I... I made a mistake," the princess admitted, her eyes falling with remorse. I heard a howling voice from within the passage, and I thought someone required help. That’s why I went down," she explained nervously.

Kyren couldn’t resist interjecting with a mischievous smirk, adding, "She mistakenly believed I was a sadistic villain with a penchant for capturing and torturing people in a secret room."

His amusement was evident. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he learned the truth behind Anna’s actions after their reconciliation.

Inquisitively, the king sought to understand the reasoning behind Anna’s initial perception.

"Why would you think of Kyren in such a way?" he questioned, genuinely intrigued by the princess’s perspective.

Anna took a moment to collect her thoughts before responding.

"I didn’t consider him a villain specifically. The truth is, I mistook the grand duke as a potentially dangerous individual. At that time, I didn’t know who Kyren truly was. Only moments before the chaos erupted, he approached me and warned the ladies not to harm me. It was then that I realised he was the grand duke," Anna told the king.

The king was surprised, unable to comprehend why his brother hadn’t revealed his true identity to Anna upon their marriage. His curiosity prompted him to question Kyren directly.

"You didn’t disclose who you were to her when you got married?" the king inquired, his astonishment evident in his voice.

Kyren shook his head, acknowledging the unique circumstances they had faced. "We found ourselves in a peculiar situation," he explained. "Anna and I didn’t fully disclose our true identities to each other. It was only after our marriage that I discovered more about her, and likewise, she learned about my true identity only a few days ago," the grand duke revealed.

The queen, taken aback by the revelation, responded with an exclamation of surprise. "Oh, my! So, the two of you were essentially hiding each other’s true identities all this time!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with a mixture of astonishment and amusement.

"I’m afraid that’s true," Anna admitted. "I was unaware of the true history of the Ro’an Empire and the betrayal of the four lords until Mr Rafe Amares enlightened me during our voyage. The history had been twisted and distorted in Ardel for generations. When I discovered the truth, I became fearful of confessing my true identity to Kyren," she explained, her words reflecting her apprehension and the weight she had carried.

The king, intrigued by the unfolding story, eagerly inquired further.

"I see... So, what happened next? Did you actually encounter anyone down the secret passage?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Given his brother’s notorious reputation, he couldn’t help but anticipate an extraordinary revelation. The queen also leaned forward, her eyes widening with anticipation, eager to delve deeper into the tale.

Anna’s expression turned embarrassed as she replied, "No, Your Majesty. It turned out to be nothing more than the howling of the wind."

She couldn’t help but feel a sense of foolishness at the anticlimactic nature of her discovery.

The king pondered momentarily, considering the validity of Anna’s claims.

"Hmm... This doesn’t necessarily prove that you had met Lady Grey before and became friends," he mused.

"Sir Alex Jarr, Mr Rafe Amares and Miss Rania Miller, her personal maid, can also testify. They were there when we met."

"These people are your associates and her maid. It’s natural for them to provide statements that align with the importance of their respective ladies. They cannot be impartial witnesses," the king pointed out. "You could be advocating for her release out of sympathy rather than solid evidence."

Anna let out a sigh, her mind racing with thoughts on how to substantiate her claims. Then, a sudden realisation swept over her, sparking a glimmer of hope.

"The boutique worker can testify!" Anna exclaimed, her voice filled with a newfound determination. "The worker was present when I visited the boutique with Mr Amares and Sir Jarr. Lady Grey happened to come there, and that was when we first met," she explained, hoping this newfound piece of evidence would lend credibility to her story.

Kyren, taken aback by this revelation, questioned Anna with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"You went to a boutique? Why didn’t you mention this before? On our journey here, you only spoke of meeting her at the plaza and assisting her after she fell and injured herself," he said, seeking clarification.

Anna’s throat went dry as she swallowed nervously.

"I... I didn’t think it was important at the time," she admitted, her voice laced with regret.

The queen raised a valid point, questioning the reliability of the boutique worker’s testimony.

"Anyone can enter a boutique, and the worker may remember Lady Grey as a noblewoman. However, considering you’re relatively new to Gantz, it’s unlikely that the worker would recall you specifically," the queen remarked.

Anna, determined to make her case, insisted, "I’m certain she would remember because Lady Grey actually defended me during the commotion at the boutique!"

Curiosity piqued, and Kyren pressed for details.

"What exactly transpired at the boutique?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on Anna. Sensing her hesitation, he urged her to speak. "Well?"

The princess hesitated, her mind torn between protecting her secret and presenting the evidence she believed would vindicate her. She paused for a moment before finally speaking up.

"It’s... It’s not particularly relevant," she replied, her voice laced with reluctance.

Kyren’s gaze intensified, his eyes searching hers for the truth. Feeling cornered, Anna pleaded, "Kyren, please! Trust me on this."

Frustration flickered across the grand duke’s face as he turned to a nearby servant and instructed them to summon his escorts. The tension in the room escalated, and Anna’s heart sank at the thought of losing his trust.

"Kyren, please," she pleaded again, her voice filled with desperation, hoping he would reconsider and grant her an opportunity to explain herself.

"I just need to know the truth, Anna! Your answers have been evasive," Kyren’s voice resonated with frustration as he implored her to be forthcoming.

Within a short period, the three men arrived, summoned by the grand duke’s urgent request.

"Rafe, tell me what exactly happened at the boutique when you took my wife to the plaza, " Kyren asked sternly.

The healer’s face drained of colour as he comprehended the depth of his lord’s inquiry. His eyes flicked nervously towards Anna, who wore a distressed and tearful expression.

"I... I beg for your forgiveness, Your Highness," Rafe stammered, his voice trembling. "I never intended to keep this information hidden from you, I swear! But my lady insisted that it wasn’t necessary to disclose it," he confessed.

Kyren’s expression changed drastically, his anxiety transforming into a mix of impatience and determination. "Enough with the excuse! Tell me the truth of what truly happened!" he urgently demanded.

Sensing the escalating tension, the king took charge of the situation. His gaze fell upon Alex, a steadfast knight known for his loyalty and integrity.

"Sir Alex Jarr, I trust you were present during this incident. Please provide us with a detailed account," the king ordered, his tone firm yet composed.

The knight nodded, his expression reflecting concern for the unfolding events. Taking a deep breath, he recounted the tale of their visit to the boutique and the insult that had been hurled at Anna.

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