The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 148: Remarks Of Disdain

Chapter 148: Remarks Of Disdain

"Would you mind if we called you Anna?" Sarah requested with a smile.

Anna’s face lit up with delight as she responded, "No, not at all. Please feel free to call me that."

Curiosity brimming in her voice, Sarah continued the conversation. "So, how does it feel to be the wife of His Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerhard? It must be quite exciting to be part of the high society, isn’t it?"

Anna furrowed her brow, feeling a sense of confusion wash over her. She struggled to grasp the underlying meaning behind Sarah’s question. The ladies-in-waiting couldn’t help but chuckle at her perplexed expression.

"I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I get what you mean," Anna admitted, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Oh, there’s no need for that. I perfectly understand. Sometimes, men can be drawn to those in distress. It’s like a favourite pastime for them, boosting their confidence as dominant figures," Sarah added with a hint of cynicism.

Anna squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of the lady’s words. None of it resonated with her understanding of her husband or their relationship.

"Anna, there’s no need to pretend confusion. The men of Cassian are known for their respectful behaviour towards women. Being charitable and helpful is just one of their many admirable traits," Evelyn chimed in, ending her words with a light laugh. The laughter from the other ladies grew more audible.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Anna’s voice carried a confusion as she glared at them.

"Didn’t His Highness marry you out of pity? To rescue you from the effects of the poisonous aphrodisiac?" sneered Sarah, her tone dripping with disdain.

The sudden questions caused Anna’s face to undergo a drastic transformation. The shock and hurt were evident in her expression as she grappled with the weight of Sarah’s words.

"How did you come to know about the poisoning?" Anna asked with surprise.

Apart from Kyren, a select few members of the Knighthood of Gerhard, and the queen, Anna had not disclosed the secret of her marriage to anyone else.

"It doesn’t matter. Secrets in the palace have a way of spreading like wildfire. And who knows? Maybe it was your own scheme to manipulate him into sleeping with you using the poison? It’s a well-planned trick, even if it meant risking your own life," Bridgette accused, her words steeped in suspicion.

Sophia added in, her tone mocking. "Any woman would go to great lengths to secure a place in His Highness’s bed. I suppose you’re just one of those bold enough to resort to such methods."

Naise joined in with a laugh, further fueling the hurtful comments.

"Well, at least she succeeded, didn’t she?" she remarked, her tone filled with scorn.

Anna’s patience reached its limit. Anger and frustration surged within her, overpowering her usual composed demeanour. She abruptly stood up from her seat, causing the fork and spoon on the table to clatter noisily as her hands slammed against the surface.

"Stop it, all of you!" Anna’s voice reverberated through the room, commanding attention.

Her eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and hurt. The force behind her words was palpable, demanding an end to the hurtful remarks and the belittlement she was enduring.

"Sarah, what you and your friends are saying is utter nonsense!" Anna exclaimed, her voice filled with indignation.

Nancy interjected, her tone condescending.

"Behave, Anna. You should address her as Lady James, as she belongs to one of the esteemed noble families in Cassian. Even though His Highness has married you, it doesn’t elevate your status above hers and us all."

Anna’s eyes widened in disbelief, the toxicity of the conversation becoming unbearable to her ears. The weight of their words and the condescending tone struck a deep chord within her.

Sarah continued, adding insult to injury.

"A slave like you should learn proper etiquette and understand your place if you wish to survive in high society. I’ll excuse your rude behaviour for now."

Anna’s frustration surged, her voice trembling with anger. "You..."

Evelyn interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Are you planning to run and complain to His Highness? Oh, please! He’s a busy man who won’t waste time listening to your petty grievances. Besides, who would believe you anyway?" she scoffed.

Anna’s heart sank at the dismissive and belittling remarks thrown her way. As she fought to keep her emotions in check, she found it hard to maintain her composure and prevent them from spilling over.

"It’s perfectly fine if His Highness desires occasional flirtations. I understand it completely," Sarah remarked, her tone laced with a mix of acceptance and resignation. "As a woman who comprehends his nature, I can’t constantly hold him captive by my side. I’ll allow him his moments of amusement. Sooner or later, he will come back to me, as he always does, and eventually discard you when he grows weary."

Anna’s eyes blazed with a fiery resolve, her defence unwavering. "You speak outrageously! Kyren would never treat me in such a manner!"

Nancy interjected with a condescending tone. "I don’t believe Anna is aware of the true nature of your relationship with His Highness, my lady. Perhaps he has never shared those details with her."

Bridgette added in. "Yes, and she even has the audacity to address His Highness by his first name. How daring of her!"

Anna’s frustration simmered beneath the surface, yet she remained resolute, refusing to allow their words to shatter her spirit. It became increasingly clear to her that the ladies no longer had genuine intentions of befriending her. Their previous acts of friendly camaraderie appeared to be nothing more than pretentious facades put on solely before the queen.

"Just so you’re aware, Anna, His Highness and I were once engaged during his time as the Crown Prince. Didn’t he share this with you?" Sarah’s question hung in the air, shocking the princess to her core.

"That can’t be true! Kyren assured me that there were no other women in his life besides me," Anna exclaimed, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Sarah’s response carried a mix of scepticism and cynicism as if she were unveiling an unpleasant truth.

"And you actually believe that? His Highness is an alluring and remarkably charming man who could effortlessly captivate any woman he desires. Of course, he would shower you with compliments and kindness while his interest in you remains fervent. But mark my words. When he grows weary, he will discard you just as he has done with countless other women."

"It’s absolutely true," Naise affirmed with a nod, acknowledging the depth of the bond between His Highness and Lady James. "Their relationship has endured for years, starting from their teenage years. Like any long-term couple, they have experienced their fair share of ups and downs, which is perfectly normal."

"Then, if you really are a couple, as she said, why didn’t he marry you? He chose me instead!" Anna sneered.

"He chose you for his own benefit. I wager the marriage between you two was nothing more than a charade, a cover for his true intentions... to satisfy his desires for your body. If he were to engage with you without your consent, he would face grave accusations, tarnishing his reputation irreparably."

Sarah’s statement hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow of doubt and uncertainty over Anna’s heart. The princess grappled with conflicting emotions, torn between her love for Kyren and the unsettling revelations presented before her.

In that pivotal moment, where the weight of Sarah’s words threatened to crush Anna’s spirit, a surge of determination coursed through her veins. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her heart pounding fiercely against her chest, and her face flushed with mixed emotions. Despite her inner turmoil, Anna found her voice stifled, unable to form a coherent response.

Observing the princess’s struggle, Sarah seized the opportunity to fuel her doubts further.

"What’s the matter? Can’t you bring yourself to believe me? Well then, I encourage you to seek the truth from your beloved grand duke. Ask him directly if it is true that he was once betrothed to me. It seems you have been kept in the dark, my dear. His Highness has been manipulating you all this time."

Anna’s heart clenched at the accusation, her love for Kyren warring against the unsettling revelations. "No, that can’t be true! Kyren would never deceive me like that!"

Sarah’s words dripped with venomous cynicism, her aim to sow seeds of doubt within Anna’s heart.

"Oh, yes! He has been lying to your face. As much as Cassian has abolished slavery, the notion of a marriage involving a slave remains unheard of due to their perceived low status, unfit to be considered as a wife. You must be prepared to confront this reality," Sarah declared with a tinge of coldness.

Anna’s heart couldn’t bear the weight of the lady’s words any longer. Tears welled up in her eyes, about to spill over. Overwhelmed by a mix of annoyance and anger, she could no longer endure the presence of those who found amusement in her distress.

In an impulsive act of defiance, she hurriedly made her way to the door, leaving the mocking laughter of the other ladies echoing behind her and surprising the servants who stood outside.

Sarah’s eyes followed the princess’s hurried departure, lingering on the retreating figure. A twisted smile of satisfaction played upon her lips, betraying the malevolence within.

’Run as fast as you can, little slave,’ her inner voice sneered with vindictive delight. ’I will ensure that you flee from him forever.’

The darkness within Sarah revelled in the prospect of inflicting pain upon Anna, relishing the idea of severing her ties with the man they both desired.

The cruel satisfaction she felt in that moment propelled her to weave a web of manipulation and deceit, intent on ensuring that Anna’s escape from Kyren would be permanent.