The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 157: A Binding Spell

Chapter 157: A Binding Spell

"So the direct descendant of Ro’an saved you!" Anna exclaimed in excitement.

Kyren’s expression became solemn, and a heaviness lingered in his sigh.

"In a way, yes. However, there was a price to pay," he admitted with disappointment.

Confusion etched across Anna’s face as she questioned, "What price? I don’t understand. What did they want from you?"

Kyren’s gaze grew distant, the weight of the past bearing down on him.

"The daughter of His Imperial Majesty, the last emperor, placed a binding spell on me and her unborn child. During the ritual, she was heavily pregnant. When I regained consciousness, she was in labour, but something went wrong. The baby emerged lifeless, her tiny body coloured with a bluish hue. The attending lady explained that she wasn’t supposed to be born yet and passed away right before my eyes. Then, she warned us of impending danger and amidst the chaos, my mother and I were urged to escape. I don’t know what it was, but my mother instinctively took me, and we fled."

Anna’s eyes widened with realisation as the puzzle pieces came together.

"The baby... she’s the Princess of Ro’an, isn’t she?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Kyren nodded, confirming Anna’s suspicion. The questions continued to pour forth.

"What was the purpose of the binding spell? Why would she cast it upon you?" Anna inquired with deep concern.

Kyren took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding.

"She said the binding spell was the only way to bring me back to life. It not only revived me but also intertwined my fate and hers. She... she is my soulmate, and I am destined to protect and care for her eternally."

Anna’s eyes widened, a combination of shock and confusion on her face.

"But you said she died!"

"We share a bond that transcends life and death," Kyren explained in a bitter tone. "The binding spell is unbreakable, even to this day. I’ve been searching every way to undo it but failed."

"I don’t understand," Anna admitted, her brow furrowed in puzzlement. "How can you protect someone who is already deceased? And why does this affect your ascension to the throne?"

"The binding spell prohibits me from embracing any woman other than her. It has suppressed any feelings of lust or attraction towards others. I have been unable to love anyone for years, and I have felt a deep sense of revulsion towards the women who pursued me."

Anna’s eyes widened further, stunned by the weight of Kyren’s confession.

"What? But... that’s unimaginable!" she exclaimed, struggling to comprehend the immense consequences of the binding spell on Kyren’s life.

The grand duke stepped closer to Anna, their eyes locked in a deep connection.

"Yes. That’s why I confided in you last night, trying to make you understand the complexity of my emotions," he confessed. "If I ascend to the throne, I need a queen by my side. But how could I marry someone when I know deep down I can’t accept her into my life? It would only bring her suffering and heartache."

Anna’s eyes brimmed with confusion and hurt as she struggled to make sense of their conflicting relationships.

"You said you didn’t feel lust or attraction. But... but... you married me! Yet, we kissed, embraced, and even shared intimate moments, like a married couple would."

Kyren’s reached out to hold her hand.

"Anna..." he said with a low tone. "You are the first woman who awakened a sense of desire within me. The night you unknowingly stripped bare before my eyes under the influence of the aphrodisiac was the first time I felt true lust for a woman. You may call me crazy, but I can’t explain why it happened. At first, I tried to deny it, and when Rafe suggested the idea of marrying you, I even rejected it. But then... then I realised I wanted to claim you as mine. I wanted to experience the touch of a woman, and you... you were the only person who made me feel that way."

Anna’s eyes searched Kyren’s face, astonishment in her gaze.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kyren’s thumb gently caressed the back of Anna’s hand as he responded, "I wish I had the answer. But I truly don’t. All I know, then and now, is that I can never let you go. I want you to be by my side. I refuse to live in loneliness, knowing that I am incapable of loving anyone. You have filled the void in my heart, even if I can’t love you in the conventional sense. Having you with me brings me happiness, and that means everything to me."

Anna listened intently, her own heart aching.

"What about your engagement with Lady James?"

"Ah... The second matter..." Kyren began. "It happened without my knowledge. I was away from the palace, seeking talented individuals for my knighthood. When I returned, I was informed of the arrangement and was utterly shocked. My parents were worried that I would end up alone and succumbed to the urgings of Lord James, who was persistent in having his daughter as the future Queen of Cassian. I was devastated when I discovered the truth."

Curiosity filled Anna’s eyes as she probed further, "Did you try to talk to Lady James about this? To explain your situation?"

A flicker of sorrow crossed Kyren’s features. "I can’t tell her of my secret. However, I tried to talk to her about the annulment, but she refused to accept it. I made every attempt to end the engagement, but then my father fell gravely ill. Amid his illness, I couldn’t bring myself to burden him further. After his passing, I swiftly broke the engagement and made a shocking announcement, declaring that I would forsake the throne in my brother’s favour and proclaim myself as celibate."

"So, this is what it’s all about," Anna murmured softly, her heart heavy with empathy for Kyren’s struggles.

"Yes. Now you know," Kyren confirmed.

Anna sighed deeply. Her heart was full of the heaviness of her unintended actions. Realising the pain she had caused by running away from him, guilt washed over her. Her head bowed as she mustered the courage to apologise.

"I’m sorry," Anna whispered in remorse. "I shouldn’t have accused you of lying and running away from you."

Kyren’s arms enveloped Anna once more, drawing her closer to him. The warmth of his embrace began to soothe his heart, knowing that his wife was still within his grasp.

"I’m sorry too," Kyren responded, his voice filled with sincerity. "I should have explained everything to you sooner, spared you from the confusion and hurt."

Anna shook her head and looked up, her eyes meeting the grand duke’s as she recalled their previous conversation.

"No, it wasn’t your fault," she interjected. "You did try to explain it to me, remember? I was the one who prevented you from talking about it."

Kyren’s hand gently caressed Anna’s head, a tender gesture to reassure her. He then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Don’t ever run away from me again, Anna," Kyren requested. Sincerity was beaming in his eyes. "I can’t imagine a life without you. You are everything to me."

Emotions swirled within the depths of the princess’s heart, a mix of awe, confusion, and curiosity. Kyren’s heartfelt admission that he couldn’t comprehend or experience love resonated deeply within her.

Yet, his actions spoke volumes, revealing a profound and genuine affection that left Anna perplexed. She couldn’t help but wonder why the binding spell seemed not to affect her, defying all expectations.

What could be the possible reasons behind this extraordinary circumstance? The questions tugged at her mind, seeking answers.

Anna contemplated her own identity, knowing that she was not a descendant of the Ro’an lineage. Instead, she was the daughter of King Adhemar IV, a monarch who stood as an apparent adversary to the empire and Cassian. Furthermore, she possessed no magical abilities that could potentially explain this mysterious connection.

Kyren’s voice carried determination and resolve as he spoke, his words slicing through the tension in the air. "Let’s forget about the proposal of His Majesty. I will not comply with his request," he declared firmly.

Anna’s brows furrowed with concern, her voice laced with worry. "But wouldn’t that be going against the king’s wish? It would be disobedient and could bring consequences."

Kyren shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "It’s not a royal decree. Even if His Majesty presents it as one, I cannot agree. He may sentence me to prison or impose harsher punishments, but he will never make me give up on you."

Anna fell silent, absorbing Kyren’s unwavering determination. After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice tinged with understanding.

"He didn’t ask you to give up on me. He is only thinking about my safety and the well-being of our family. That’s why he proposed as such," she acknowledged.

Her thoughts turned to the king’s concerns regarding her status as the Princess of Ardel, which couldn’t be revealed to the public, and her involvement with the slave traders.

"Our family?" Kyren repeated, his eyes widening. A soft smile curved his lips as he gazed at Anna.

"Yes... your family is also mine now, isn’t it?"

Anna’s words melted Kyren’s heart, and he returned his smile to her.

"You’re right," he replied. "We’re all a family."

Their embrace tightened, encompassing the depth of their emotions and commitment to one another in silence.

Kyren’s voice broke the peaceful surroundings with his resolute tone. "His Majesty is going to meet with the ministers of the royal council tomorrow morning at their insistence. I must attend the meeting as well, as this is a matter pertaining to me."

Anna’s eyes filled with gratitude as she nodded. "I understand," she whispered. "I feel tomorrow will be hectic, won’t it?"

"I believe so, too. Nevertheless, I won’t allow anything bad to happen to you. Once this ordeal is over, let’s return to Gerhard and live happily."

A surge of hope filled Anna’s heart as she locked eyes with Kyren.

"Yes, Kyren," she murmured, her voice brimming with anticipation. "Let’s go back to Gerhard and live happily."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.