The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 155: Brothers’ Confrontation

Chapter 155: Brothers’ Confrontation

"What is it, Charles?" King Kyden inquired as the chamberlain entered his private library, having been granted permission to do so.

Charles’s countenance was marked with concern as he hurriedly approached the king and the grand duke, bowing respectfully.

"I beg your pardon for interrupting your private moment with His Highness, but there is an urgent matter that demands your immediate attention," the chamberlain relayed cautiously.

"And what might that be?" the king inquired, sensing the urgency in Charles’s demeanour.

The chamberlain hesitated for a moment, his anxiety palpable.

"Lord James and the nobles have gathered at the throne hall, demanding an immediate audience with you. It pertains to a matter concerning the wife of His Highness," the chamberlain reported, his voice filled with urgency.

"What about my wife?" Kyren interjected, unable to contain his curiosity upon hearing that the topic was related to him.

"Rumors have been spreading uncontrollably throughout the palace, and they are of a disparaging nature towards the lady. However, please rest assured! I am conducting an urgent investigation into this matter and will uncover the truth," Charles assured, trying to hide his nervousness.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he relayed the message.

"What sort of disgraceful words are being circulated?" Kyren suddenly stood up, his curiosity mounting as he yearned for more information.

"Your Highness, please try to remain calm. We are exerting our utmost efforts to handle this situation," the chamberlain implored, recognising Kyren’s growing agitation.

"You’re evading my question!" Kyren retorted with frustration, his voice strained.

"Kyren, please, sit down!" intervened the king, his tone commanding. He then turned his attention to the chamberlain and requested, "Charles, please provide us with an explanation of these rumours."

Charles hesitated, aware of the gravity of his words. He took a deep breath and began, "Well, the rumours have been circulating widely... It is being said that Lady Raychard, His Highness’s wife, was once a slave."

"What in the world? Who started such a despicable rumour?" Kyren abruptly rose from his seat once again, his gaze piercing the chamberlain like a hawk.

"We do not have definitive information yet, Your Highness. However, based on our initial investigation, it appears that the rumour originated from the maids’ quarters," the chamberlain responded cautiously.

"How dare they mock my wife! I will not tolerate such disrespect! Every single one of them will face consequences!" Kyren shouted angrily, his voice filled with fury, while his fist clenched tightly in his anger.

"Wait, Kyren! Let us not act hastily. This situation calls for further investigation," the king advised, his tone filled with caution. He then turned to Charles and inquired, "Have you managed to narrow the list of suspects?"

The chamberlain shook his head, frustration and concern etched on his face.

"We have yet to identify the exact culprits. The rumours spread so rapidly, almost as if someone orchestrated them. Furthermore, none of the servants admit to spreading them. They all claim to have heard it from others without disclosing the source. No matter how extensively we interrogate them, they refuse to take responsibility. Additionally, the nobles are creating an uproar. They argue that a person of such low status should not be part of the royal family," Charles explained.

"This is utter nonsense! The nobles have no authority over my marriage! I am the one who gets to decide who I want to be with, not them!" Kyren erupted in anger, his voice resonating loudly. His anger simmered, evident in his rising and falling chest.

"Calm down! Do not allow yourself to get worked up so easily," the king advised his brother.

However, the grand duke was unable to contain his furiousness.

"That’s enough! I am taking Anna with me back to Gerhard! We are leaving!" Kyren announced, taking a step forward.

However, his movement was abruptly halted when King Kyden firmly grasped his shoulder.

"Hold on! Don’t go anywhere just yet!" the king commanded.

Kyren turned to the king, his brows furrowed in anger and frustration.

"Your Majesty, do you expect me to simply sit back and watch as my wife is being mocked?" he questioned, his voice laced with indignation.

"Of course not! Anna is a valued member of our family," the king reassured. "Consider this. Someone is deliberately spreading these rumours, indicating their malicious intent. I believe this goes beyond targeting her alone. It appears they are aiming to undermine the entire royal family," King Kyden stated with a grave expression.

"Anna is the primary target here, and I must go to her immediately and leave now! I won’t subject her to these baseless rumours!" Kyren declared adamantly.

"Listen to me! She may be placed in even greater danger if you leave the palace. She needs to be protected," the king pleaded.

"I am trying to protect her by taking her away from all this!" Kyren retorted with unwavering determination.

"Kyren, please don’t be so stubborn. Anna is not only precious to you, but she is also important to me and Cassian. For the sake of everyone, I implore you to stay," the king appealed again.

"Your Majesty... are you interested in her because..." Kyren’s sentence trailed off, his gaze shifting sideways towards Charles. He quickly closed his lips, choosing not to voice his thoughts since the chamberlain was there.

King Kyden swiftly turned his attention to Charles, issuing a firm command.

"Inform Lord James and the nobles that I will not entertain them today."

"But, Your Majesty! He insisted they will not leave until you arrive," the chamberlain protested.

"Then they can spend the night sleeping on the floor of the throne hall if they so desire!" the king reprimanded with a stern and loud voice. "The Grand Duke of Gerhard has prior engagements with me, and unless it is a matter of national threat or an imminent danger to life, I will not be swayed. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Charles’s tone went down as he responded, bowing respectfully.

King Kyden took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure.

He decided, "I will address their concerns tomorrow morning, should they still wish to be heard. "

"Understood, Your Majesty. I will relay the message accordingly," Charles acknowledged with a nod before respectfully withdrawing from the room.

"This is because of the pure serum in her blood, isn’t it?" continued Kyren as soon as the chamberlain left.

The king paused, his expression contemplative. "It is a consideration, indeed," he admitted.

Kyren scoffed, a hint of cynicism in his voice.

"So you want to use her as a backup plan in case the plague infiltrates our kingdom?"

"The recent developments at the border with Laradie are concerning, Kyren! I cannot afford to remain idle and take no precautions. There is a real possibility of the plague spreading once again," the king explained urgently.

"What are you afraid of? You have the alliance with Ardel waiting for you, and they are ready to share their knowledge and skills with Cassian. Obtaining the formula for the pure serum should be easy for us," Kyren argued.

"I cannot solely depend on something we do not possess yet! Rafe has mentioned the effectiveness of Anna’s blood and the immunity it provides. It could be as valuable as the pure serum, and I cannot simply overlook such a potential resource. It is better to be prepared with something already within our grasp," the king countered, his voice unwavering.

"You are driven by greed!" Kyren accused, his frustration evident in his tone.

"I am considering everyone’s well-being! If the plague resurfaces and threatens our entire nation, do you expect me to simply stand by when I know that Anna possesses the means to prevent and cure it?" the king asserted.

"So you plan to extract her blood and distribute it to everyone, is that it? Have you thought about the consequences? Anna is delicate, and she will be endangered if her blood is continually drained," Kyren argued, his concern for Anna evident in his voice.

"I would never allow that to happen! I will not take her blood unless it is vital," the king reassured firmly.

"I will not allow you or anyone to take her blood either! Never!" Kyren declared vehemently, his protective instincts surfacing.

The king posed a thought-provoking question, breaking the tension.

"Would you still deny it if Laura and Lilith were infected?"

A sudden silence hung in the air, the question’s weight sinking in.

"You may accuse me of selfishness, but I believe you are being selfish here. Anna possesses something that can help us now, something readily available. Until we have the formula for the pure serum in our possession, it is best to remain vigilant and be prepared," said the king.

Kyren’s lips closed, his thoughts drifting to his beloved nieces whom he cherished deeply. Slowly, King Kyden’s words began to paint a larger picture in his mind. He couldn’t deny the undeniable significance of Anna’s blood in the face of a potential plague outbreak.

As the weight of the situation settled upon him, the grand duke’s resistance started to wane. The safety and well-being of his family, including Laura and Lilith, took precedence over his personal reservations.

The realisation was difficult to accept, but Kyren understood that the greater good had to be considered.

"I apologise... I let my emotions get the better of me. In truth, Anna would willingly offer her blood if required, even if I were to object. I know her very well," Kyren admitted, a tinge of remorse in his voice.

"Indeed," the king affirmed. "Rafe mentioned that she was the one who proposed the cure when the plague initially emerged. She has shown immense bravery and selflessness."

"Yes. When our team conducted a thorough investigation and sealed the cave, she willingly offered her blood once more without the slightest hesitation should we find any spreading case," Kyren confirmed, acknowledging Anna’s unwavering determination.

"You are truly fortunate to have found such a compassionate woman," the king remarked with genuine admiration.

Kyren’s eyes softened, reflecting his deep concern for his wife.

"I simply cannot bear the thought of her being hurt, Your Majesty. I want to shield her from any harm that may come her way."

"I will not allow any harm to befall her. I have given this matter considerable thought, especially during our discussion in the throne hall yesterday. That is why I implored you to consider my proposal. It is not because I look down upon her or treat her as an enemy, but rather because I am genuinely concerned for her long-term safety. If you insist on making her your legal wife, Kyren, it will inevitably attract threats to her. Please, I urge you to heed my advice," the king pleaded earnestly.

"I cannot comply with that request! Anna has already sacrificed so much for me. I cannot do it," Kyren protested, his voice filled with both determination and anguish.

"I understand that it is a difficult decision," the king acknowledged empathetically. "Therefore, I ask for your trust and for you to allow me to talk with her about this matter."

"Your Majesty, how could you suggest such a thing?" Kyren exclaimed, a mix of shock and disbelief etched on his face.

"I have observed that Anna is a reasonable and intelligent person. Trust me, let me talk to her first. Please," the king urged, his tone gentle yet persistent.

"Anna will never agree to this!" Kyren insisted, his voice tinged without doubt.

The king sighed, understanding the depth of his brother’s concern towards Anna.

"Let me try, Kyren. I will approach her with care and respect. We owe it to her to have an open and honest conversation. Perhaps, together, we can find a solution that ensures her well-being without sacrificing her happiness."

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