The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 153: A Talk With The Queen (I)

Chapter 153: A Talk With The Queen (I)

Seated on the plush cushioned chair within the confines of the private discussion room, Anna found herself nervously fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.

The room was empty save for herself and Queen Emelda, intensifying her apprehension. Anna’s mind raced, anticipating the queen’s inquiries about the incident that had taken place in the yard.

Perceptive and attuned to Anna’s unease, Queen Emelda took a moment to gather her thoughts before initiating the conversation. She observed her sister-in-law from head to toe, a knowing smile gracing her lips as if she could already sense the princess’s nervousness.

Breaking the tension, the queen redirected the talk with an unexpected compliment.

"That’s a truly exquisite ring," she praised, her voice gentle and appreciative.

Anna’s gaze darted to her hand, instinctively clasping the finger adorned with the mentioned ring.

Surprised by the sudden topic, the princess raised her head, meeting the queen’s gaze with a mixture of bewilderment and gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she responded.

A mischievous smile etched on the queen’s lips as she continued, her tone playful yet compassionate.

"It must have been a wonderfully romantic occasion, wasn’t it?" she guessed, allowing a moment of levity to enter the room.

Anna blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the queen’s astute observation.

"I beg your pardon?" Anna’s voice faltered, her surprise evident as she struggled to process the queen’s unexpected question.

Queen Emelda’s eyes sparked with amusement.

"Your secret date with Kyren last night must have been quite enjoyable. He must have taken you to a special place to present that beautiful ring," she remarked with a subtle grin.

Blushing shyly, Anna was at a loss for words. She attempted to gather her thoughts, her mind racing to find the right words to respond, but her efforts proved futile.

The queen’s chuckle filled the room, dissipating the tension that had momentarily settled between them. Queen Emelda leaned forward with a knowing gleam in her eyes, her voice softening with a shared secret.

"Just between us, dear, the twin brothers sometimes share certain similarities. His Majesty, too, used to carry me and leap over the palace walls to take me on a night intimate outing," she revealed, her words evoking happy memories.

Anna’s emerald eyes widened in astonishment.

"He did? But how did you know about the wall-leaping? I never mentioned it to anyone!" she exclaimed.

Her mind raced to understand how the queen had come by this knowledge, momentarily forgetting her initial surprise at being caught in her own secret.

The queen’s warm smile remained, her eyes filled with fondness.

"I would have been a clueless queen if I hadn’t noticed that, wouldn’t I?" Queen Emelda chuckled, her laughter filling the room. "The royal knights spotted the two of you escaping towards the east garden and leaping over the walls, one dressed as a palace maid and the other as a royal knight. Oh, you both were quite mischievous!" she playfully teased.

Anna’s face flushed with embarrassment again like a ripened apple, feeling a mild mortification at the thought of being caught in their escapade. She hadn’t realised that the watchful eyes of the royal knights had witnessed their actions.

"I thought nobody knew because no one tried to stop us," Anna admitted.

Queen Emelda’s smile widened, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Who would dare impede the grand duke? His influence within the palace is still considerable. Even the ministers in the royal court hold him in high regard, and many are still intimidated by him compared to His Majesty," she explained, offering a glimpse into the dynamics of power within the royal court. "The royal knights were already laughing well at your antics last night."

Anna couldn’t help but let out a sheepish smile, realising that their clandestine adventure had amused those who witnessed it.

"I apologise, Your Majesty. We never intended to escape. It was Kyren’s idea," Anna confessed.

Queen Emelda waved off the princess’s apology with a dismissive gesture.

"Oh, hush! I don’t mind at all. That little adventure of yours just reminded me of a similar occurrence with His Majesty," she shared, a nostalgic grin spreading across her face.

"We were newlyweds back then, and he whisked me away to a secluded beach. We spent the night at an inn, completely anonymous, without anyone knowing our true identities. It was during that time that Laura, our eldest, was conceived," she reminisced, the fondness evident in her voice.

Anna couldn’t help but smile, her astonishment at the revelation of King Kyden’s romantic nature replaced with admiration and warmth. She had never imagined that the calm and composed king had a penchant for such spontaneous and romantic gestures, much like his brother Kyren.

"It’s heartening to see you smile again," the queen remarked, her voice filled with affection. "I deeply regret the distress caused by the incident at the yard. Rest assured, I will personally ensure that those responsible, particularly the servants involved, learn a valuable lesson for their offensive behaviour," she said.

"No, Your Majesty, please don’t trouble yourself. I don’t wish to cause any further disturbance. I assure you, I am not offended, and I am truly all right," Anna insisted.

A soft smile graced Queen Emelda’s lips as she observed Anna, her eyes filled with contentment.

"My dear, you are a kind, polite, and honest person. I can see it in your eyes, and it’s clear why Kyren chose you to be his wife," she remarked, her words conveying a genuine appreciation for Anna’s character. "For someone so important to him, how can I let such a distressing incident pass without taking action?" she added.

Anna’s heart weighed heavily as she considered the queen’s words. She feared that taking action might only exacerbate the flawed perceptions some people already held about her.

"But... people already have a bad opinion of me. If Your Majesty were to intervene, they might think that I complained to you and sought attention," Anna confessed, her voice tinged with sadness.

With a resolute expression, Queen Emelda gently placed her hand on Anna’s.

"You have every right to voice your concerns and report such matters to me or His Majesty. This is not a trivial issue, and it’s crucial for us to take immediate action. Moreover, if Kyren were to find out about it on his own, the situation could escalate even further," the queen explained, her words showing a sense of urgency and concern.

Anna couldn’t deny the queen’s reasoning. Knowing Kyren’s hot-tempered nature, she understood that the matter would not sit well with him if he learned about it on his own.

Reluctantly, she nodded, acknowledging the queen’s perspective.

"I hope it doesn’t reach him," Anna whispered.

"I share that hope with you, my dear. Kyren is fiercely protective of his family and his people, and I have witnessed how deeply he cares for you. You are special to him," Queen Emelda affirmed.

"I... I’m not sure whether I am that special to him, Your Majesty. As you know, our marriage was merely a result of him saving me. We barely knew each other, and we had never met before the incident," Anna confessed.

Her voice tinged with a hint of sadness and self-doubt after knowing that the grand duke held no love for her.

Queen Emelda listened attentively, then said, "But he still keeps you by his side and even brought you here to meet us. That signifies that he already considers you part of his family and wants you to be with him."

Anna hesitated momentarily. Her thoughts swirled as she recalled Kyren’s question after their marriage.

"The truth is, he asked me whether I wanted to stay the day after we got married. I chose to remain because I had no other place to go. That’s why I am at his side," she admitted, her voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and gratitude.

With a tender gaze, Queen Emelda posed a question that struck at the heart of Anna’s feelings. "And now, if you were given a place to be elsewhere, would you choose to leave him?" she inquired, her tone gentle yet probing.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Anna shook her head fervently, her eyes filled with determination.

"I could never do that! He’s the only one I have. He has given me everything," she responded earnestly, her voice filled with unwavering loyalty and affection.

Queen Emelda’s smile grew, touched by Anna’s genuine devotion.

"Then, you are indeed special to him. It’s not just about the circumstances that brought you together. It’s about the bond that has formed between you since then. Kyren sees you as his family, his life partner," the queen affirmed.

"You love him, don’t you?" Queen Emelda suddenly asked.

Anna’s gaze dropped to the floor, and she nervously bit her lower lip, unable to hide the truth.

"It’s written all over your face. You can’t deny it, and I must admit that Kyren feels the same way about you," the queen said confidently.

"He... he once told me that he doesn’t comprehend love," Anna revealed, a hint of disappointment rising from her tone.

With a knowing smile, Queen Emelda responded, her voice holding a touch of amusement.

"Ah... so that stubborn head hasn’t confessed yet. That’s why you’re saying this," she remarked, her words laced with familiarity.

"Kyren has always been a bit reserved when it comes to women. He struggles to express his feelings or engage in intimate conversations. Throughout his life, he has actively avoided those who were pursuing him romantically," the queen explained.

Anna’s confusion deepened as she processed this information.

"But... if that’s the case, how did he become engaged to Lady James?" she blurted out, her words slipping out before she could stop herself.

Realising the delicacy of the matter, she quickly covered her mouth with her palm, regretting her indiscretion.

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