The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 146: Secret Affair Of The Lady

Chapter 146: Secret Affair Of The Lady

As morning arrived, the guards stationed outside the guestroom had been dismissed, their duty fulfilled.

The hand of a concerned maid rapped on the door, breaking the silence. With each knock, there was no response from the guest inside. The maid exchanged a worried glance with her companion, uncertainty clouding their expressions.

"What should we do? The lady doesn’t seem to be waking up," the maid inquired, her voice laced with concern and a hint of urgency.

"Perhaps we should just go in? The door isn’t locked, right?" her fellow maid suggested, contemplating the best course of action.

The maid reached for the door handle, her fingers wrapping around it. With a gentle twist, the door handle moved. She turned to her companion again, shaking her head in silent agreement, confirming their shared assumption.

"I think we better go in and wake her up. The attendants will come soon to help her wash up and get dressed. She can’t be late for breakfast with Her Majesty, the Queen. Otherwise, we will also be reprimanded!" her companion urged.

"You’re right! Let’s just go in." The maid slowly pushed the door open.

"Pray to God that this lady’s wrath won’t be as bad as the usual noble lady," her companion murmured.

The pristine white door swung open, granting entrance to the room’s stillness as the two maids stepped inside.

Apart from a few scattered clothes strewn across the floor near the expansive four-poster bed, the room appeared relatively tidy. One of the maids approached the lying pile of garments, a laundry basket already in her hand. She quickly began collecting the clothes, arranging them neatly in the basket.

However, as she reached for a particular article of clothing, an emblem caught her eye. It bore a striking resemblance to that of the royal knights. Startled, she set down her laundry basket and carefully lifted the clothing, stretching it out to get a better view. Her initial suspicion proved true—the emblem indeed belonged to them.

"Oh, my God!" Her face paled, a tinge of panic surging through her.

She couldn’t help but assume that she and her companion had inadvertently stumbled upon a forbidden affair between the lady and a royal knight.

Her hands trembled with a mix of shock and worry. But before she could warn her companion, the other maid had already approached the bed, her face drained of colour. In her eyes, she beheld the sight of a prominent, stout figure—a man—lying on the bed, embracing the lady tightly.

"Aaaaa!"

A piercing scream tore through the air, jolting the two figures on the bed out of their slumber. Kyren, typically alert, swiftly opened his eyes and sat up, his expression a mix of confusion and annoyance.

Unusually, the grand duke was usually attuned to the slightest sounds around him, a characteristic that would have alerted him to the maids’ entry. However, the embrace he had shared with Anna throughout the night had lulled him into a deep slumber, rendering him oblivious to their presence.

"What the h*ll? Who’s screaming?" he bellowed, his voice laced with irritation and concern.

Meanwhile, the other maid rushed to her companion’s side, seeking solace in their embrace as fear gripped their hearts.

Anna, awakened by the sudden loud sound, slowly opened her eyes, rubbing away the remnants of her sleep. Her gaze fell upon the scene before her—a pair of nervous maids huddled together near the bed.

"What’s going on?" she inquired, her voice filled with curiosity and mild apprehension.

The two maids, their heads still lowered, continued to bow repeatedly, expressing their remorse for entering the room without permission. Their voices trembled as they sought forgiveness.

"It’s all right. There’s no need to worry," Anna reassured them, her voice calm and understanding.

"Thank you, my lady. We promise we won’t utter a word about what we witnessed today!" one of the maids exclaimed, her tone filled with determination.

Anna’s curiosity was piqued upon hearing the maid’s statement. Sensing a misunderstanding, she slid down the bed, her gaze fixed on the maid.

"What are you talking about?" she inquired inquisitively.

Believing that the princess was testing them, the maid pressed on, her voice faltering slightly. "We swear to keep our mouths shut and not divulge your secret affair!"

"Secret affair?" The princess’s bewilderment deepened, her brow furrowing in genuine confusion.

Kyren, now fully awake and sensing the tension in the room, rose from the bed and interjected.

"What secret affair are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice firm and resolute as he stood before the maids.

Despite his dishevelled black raven hair, Kyren’s commanding presence remained undiminished. As he addressed them, the two maids continued to bow, their hands trembling with trepidation.

"Look at me when I’m speaking to you," he commanded, his hands firmly planted on his waist.

With hesitance, the two maids slowly lifted their heads, their eyes widening in astonishment. To their surprise, the scandalous figure they had imagined was none other than the grand duke himself, the esteemed husband of the lady they had mistakenly believed to be involved in an illicit affair.

"Yo... Your Highness!" the maids exclaimed, their voices filled with a mix of surprise and relief.

"You still haven’t answered my question. I’m asking you, what secret affair are you referring to?" Kyren repeated, his impatience evident in his tone.

Feeling embarrassed and unable to find the right words, the maids blushed as their speech faltered.

Anna’s observant eyes noticed the laundry basket on the floor and recognised the royal knight’s uniform among the clothes. Swiftly connecting the dots in her astute mind, she realised the source of the misapprehension.

"I believe there is a misunderstanding here. When they saw the uniform, they must’ve mistakenly thought you were a royal knight," Anna explained, her voice calm and composed.

Kyren’s gaze hardened as he directed his piercing blue eyes at the maids.

"So, you think she is having an affair with a royal knight, is that it?" he interrogated, his tone sharp and accusatory.

"Your Highness, we have made a grave mistake! Please, we beg for your forgiveness," one of the maids pleaded, bowing again, her remorse palpable.

Kyren crossed his arms over his chest, his expression sullen and wounded.

"Am I not handsome enough that my woman would seek solace in another man’s arms?" he lamented, his voice laced with a hint of self-pity.

Anna couldn’t help but be amused by his sulking demeanour. A sweet smile played upon her lips as she looked at him fondly.

"I don’t know... I suppose I’ll have to give it some thought," she teased with a playful, ambiguous tone.

The maids exchanged puzzled glances, their minds unable to grasp the implications of her response. It would be truly astonishing if the lady were to suggest that there was another man more charming than the grand duke himself.

"Seriously, Anna? How could you say such a thing after I placed the ring on your finger!" Kyren exclaimed, his lips pouting in mock disappointment.

Anna burst into a laugh, the sound filling the room and breaking the tension. Her beautiful laughter echoed, bringing a sense of lightness and relief to the atmosphere.

"I was just joking. How could I even think of looking at another man when I have you by my side? You never even let me spend a night without you. Despite His Majesty’s arrangement for you to sleep in your own room, you still find your way here, which led to this assumption," Anna explained.

Turning to the maid, the princess spoke with a compassionate tone, "Please forgive us for this misunderstanding. His Highness’s joke went a bit too far. He borrowed the royal knight’s uniform and a maid’s outfit to take me out last night."

"That was supposed to be our secret!" the grand duke interjected, his expression a mix of surprise and mock annoyance.

Anna reasoned thoughtfully, "We have to explain to them somehow, as this situation has become tangled. The maids would face consequences if their superiors were to discover the presence of these uniforms."

The maids were genuinely surprised. They had anticipated blame from Anna, yet she not only apologised to them but also provided a thorough explanation to clear up the misunderstanding.

"The maid’s outfit I borrowed is on the table. You may take it to be cleaned," Anna added, showing her gratitude for their understanding.

The maids’ eyes fell upon the neatly folded outfit resting on the nearby table. They were once again taken aback, as it was their first time witnessing a used attire being treated with such care. Regaining their composure, they collected their thoughts and began to carry out their tasks.

"What time is it now?" Anna inquired, turning to one of the maids for an answer.

"It’s already past sunrise, my lady," the maid responded.

"Oh, no! I must hurry. I need to attend breakfast with Her Majesty, the queen, this morning!" Anna exclaimed nervously. "You should also return to your room and get ready, Kyren! His Majesty wants to see you this morning, too, right?"

Kyren’s mood didn’t improve upon hearing the reminder. He already anticipated the nature of the conversation his brother wished to have, making him feel reluctant to proceed.

"Go on, Kyren! I need to get ready!" Anna urged, hoping to motivate him to attend the meeting.

"Fine!" Kyren muttered lazily as he made his way towards the dressing room.

"Kyren! Not there. Through the door, please!" Anna called out, emphasising the correct direction.

With a sigh, the grand duke reluctantly turned and walked towards the door.

As he opened it, he was met with the sight of the female attendants waiting outside. Their expressions turned to confusion upon seeing the grand duke in the room. They bowed respectfully, and Kyren merely offered a slight nod.

Suddenly, the grand duke turned towards Anna, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Can I have my good morning kiss first?" he requested, a playful tone evident in his voice.

The princess furrowed her brow, realising that her husband was deliberately trying to delay his departure.

"I’m not leaving until I receive it," Kyren declared, his determination unwavering despite Anna’s disapproving gaze.

The princess found herself with no choice but to approach the grand duke’s towering figure. Standing before him, Anna gestured for Kyren to bend down so she could plant a gentle kiss on his cheek. The sweet act elicited shy smiles from the servants, who witnessed the affectionate exchange.

"Go now. I’ll see you later," Anna said to the grand duke, her voice warm and welcoming.

Kyren nodded in acknowledgement and gestured for the attendants to enter the room. Taking charge, he issued a firm order to them, emphasising the importance of caring for his wife’s needs.

"Attend to her accordingly and ensure that all her needs are fulfilled," he commanded them.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the attendants responded in unison, bowing respectfully. With that, the grand duke left the room.

"Please assist me," Anna politely requested, addressing the attendants who were now ready to carry out their duties.

And so, the attendants began their tasks, diligently attending to the lady’s needs with care and attentiveness so that she could meet with the queen and, of course... her awaiting rival.

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