The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 171: An Unexpected Confrontation

Chapter 171: An Unexpected Confrontation

Their eyes locked as they drew closer to each other. However, the Ardel’s representatives showed no intention of moving aside, arrogantly taking up the centre of the wide path.

"Move! Clear the way for Lord Morro!" Mikhal urged, his tone demanding, addressing the Knights of Gerhard.

Eli raised an eyebrow in response to the sudden and stern order. "Excuse me?" he questioned, his voice tinged with surprise.

"Do you not hear what I said? Are you deaf?" Mikhal repeated, his impatience evident.

Damon stepped forward, his voice laced with irritation. "Hey! There’s no need to be so rude!" he interjected, unable to tolerate the disrespectful behaviour.

"We are the esteemed delegation from Ardel, and this is Lord Brone Morro, the ambassador! You should show us respect!" another member of Brone’s entourage asserted, emphasising their status.

The introduction caught Eric’s attention, piquing his curiosity. The commander had mentioned the presence of several guests in the east wing, but he hadn’t anticipated they would be from Anna’s kingdom.

Sensing the escalating tension, Eric discreetly signalled Eli and Damon to refrain from further confrontation.

"Please accept our apologies for not recognising you earlier. We are simply on our way to fulfilling our assigned tasks. Please proceed ahead. The path is yours," the second-in-command knight stated diplomatically, diffusing the situation and allowing the Ardel delegation to pass.

Eric bowed respectfully as a gesture of courtesy, and Brone acknowledged with a nod. Though the knights were discontented by his act of yielding, they followed suit, maintaining a semblance of decorum.

"Ah, much better!" Mikhal interjected obnoxiously, displaying his arrogance.

However, just as the Ardel delegation was about to pass the knights who had stepped aside, Brone abruptly halted his steps. He scrutinised Eric for a moment before posing a question.

"Forgive my curiosity, but you do not appear to be the royal knights. Your knighthood insignia seems different. May I inquire about your origin and why you are suddenly here?" Brone inquired, his gaze fixed on Eric.

"We are the Knights of Gerhard, serving under the grand duke, and I hold the position of his second-in-command knight," the knight introduced himself and his other men, revealing their identity.

This revelation piqued Brone’s interest. He leaned in slightly and asked, "Ah... I have heard rumours that your lord has taken a concubine. Is it true?"

Despite his displeasure with the term ’concubine,’ Eric maintained his composure and responded calmly, "Indeed, he has."

Brone expressed his surprise, remarking, "She must be quite beautiful! In my kingdom, the practice of taking concubines is not common."

"Cassian follows a different cultural tradition. We have incorporated certain aspects of the Ro’an Empire’s customs into our own," Eric explained, providing some context.

"I see... Well, congratulations! I suppose the men of Cassian have their own way of enjoying the company of women through concubines. In our kingdom, we find satisfaction in having mistresses," Brone teased, his words laced with jest.

Unable to tolerate the mocking tone, Eli raised his voice in anger. "Are you ridiculing our lady?"

"Is a concubine even considered a lady? Oh, dear! I wasn’t aware! I thought she was merely meant to warm the bed," Mikhal retorted, followed by a disparaging laugh.

Enraged, Eli’s face turned red as he swiftly drew his sword, lunging towards Brone’s assistant in a fit of fury.

"Sir Henderson!"

In a swift movement, Eric leapt forward and shouted, skillfully deflecting the sword with one hand while simultaneously delivering a powerful blow to Brone’s assistant’s face, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

"What the h*ll!" Mikhal exclaimed angrily, his face throbbing with pain. Blood began to trickle from his nose as he gingerly touched it, his shock evident in his widened eyes.

"Retreat your sword this instant!" Eric’s voice boomed, filled with a mix of urgency and reprimand, as he directed his words towards Eli, who had stumbled backwards and was now caught by Luke.

The second-in-command knight’s glare was stern. The act of raising their swords to anyone within the palace without the king’s approval was strictly forbidden and considered a grave fault.

Realising his mistake, Eli quickly sheathed his sword, a flush of embarrassment colouring his face. He understood the gravity of his actions and the potential consequences they could have faced. He looked down, unable to meet Eric’s gaze, feeling the weight of his error.

"Oh, I apologise sincerely! I was merely trying to prevent the sword from striking you. Did I accidentally hit your face?" Eric quickly expressed fake remorse in a softer tone, extending his hand to help the fallen Bargesian up.

However, his offer of assistance was met with refusal.

Mikhal rose to his feet with a grunt of annoyance and was about to strike back, but Brone intervened, halting any further escalation of the fight. Observing the commotion, the Bargesian leader arched an eyebrow, displaying his discontent.

"Your subordinate has shown great disrespect towards us!" Brone voiced his complaint. "When we entered the palace, we were required to surrender our weapons for safety. Yet, your fully armed man attacked us with a sword!"

"I offer my deepest apologies for his inappropriate behaviour! He is our youngest knight and still has much to learn. As an esteemed guest and benevolent ambassador, I sincerely hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him. Rest assured. I will personally reprimand him and appropriately take disciplinary measures on him," Eric responded, his tone conveying a genuine desire for resolution.

Brone pondered the situation momentarily, considering the potential consequences of escalating the matter to the King of Cassian. It dawned on him that doing so would only draw unwanted attention and complicate their mission of kidnapping the Ro’an language teachers.

"Very well, I shall grant forgiveness," Brone declared, his decision firm. "However, there is a condition. Your subordinate must kneel before me."

"What? Absolutely not! The Knights of Gerhard kneel only to our lord and His Majesty!" Eli vehemently objected, unwilling to compromise their principles.

"Shut up, Sir Henderson! You have transgressed by attacking an unarmed individual with a knight’s weapon and raised your sword in the palace without His Majesty’s permission! You have violated the very essence of the knighthood’s chivalry," Eric reprimanded Eli sternly, his voice filled with authority. "Before I consider throwing you into the dungeon and lash you with floggings, you will kneel before Lord Morro now!"

Eli’s face flushed with anger and defiance, but he reluctantly acquiesced, realising the gravity of his actions. He begrudgingly dropped to his knees with a heavy sigh before Brone, a symbol of submission.

While disagreeing with the decision, the other knights refrained from taking sides, recognising that Eli had acted wrongly despite the humiliation inflicted upon Anna. Though discontented, they understood the necessity of avoiding further complications. Satisfied with the outcome, Brone acknowledged the gesture.

"I sincerely hope this incident does not reach His Majesty. I apologise again for failing to educate my young knight properly," Eric expressed, extending his hand towards Brone as a sign of reconciliation.

"Very well. As a gesture of goodwill, I will refrain from informing His Majesty. We all seek peace and wish to avoid any unnecessary confrontations," Brone responded, understanding the delicate nature of the situation. He accepted Eric’s handshake, signifying an understanding between them.

Bowing respectfully, Eric stepped aside, allowing the Ardel delegation to continue their path in peace. The group gradually moved away, becoming smaller in the distance.

Damon, who watched their backs, expressed his disdain, muttering, "I hate that man!"

"Why did you allow them to humiliate the lady?" Luke voiced his dissatisfaction to Eric, seeking an explanation.

"You’re a bit slow on the uptake, Sir Parker! Didn’t you see how Sir Navin delivered that satisfying blow to that foolish jerk’s face?" Garin retorted, having observed Eric’s earlier action.

"Ahh.... I see." The red-haired knight finally understood, and he nodded in realisation.

"I would have permitted Eli to teach him a more severe lesson if we were outside the palace. However, he is one of His Majesty’s guests, and we must refrain from being disrespectful," Eric explained. "Furthermore, His Highness has already instructed us to investigate discreetly and avoid drawing unnecessary attention. Do you all comprehend?"

"Yes, Sir Navin!" the knights responded in unison.

Eric’s gaze fixed on the departing figures that had gone far away. Something about Brone unsettled him, a feeling he couldn’t quite shake off. However, he shifted his focus and continued to walk to carry on with the assigned task.

***

As Brone and his men walked along the path, distancing themselves from the Knights of Gerhard, Mikhal whispered, "Why did you stop me? I could have easily taken care of that foolish knight!"

"Who? The young knight who raised the sword against you or their leader?" Brone inquired nonchalantly.

"Both of them, without a doubt!" responded his assistant arrogantly.

Brone chuckled, his amusement evident. "You may have some skill in dealing with the young one, but the brunette knight is a different story. He possesses exceptional abilities far beyond your capabilities."

"My lord! Are you underestimating me?" Mikhal questioned, his pride wounded.

Brone halted his steps and turned to face his subordinate, who had spoken up.

"He knocked you down with a single punch! Do you honestly believe it was a mere coincidence, a consequence of him deflecting the sword? You are a fool to think so," Brone scolded, his tone laced with a reprimand.

The other member of Brone’s entourage remained silent, attentively absorbing the chastisement.

"From this moment forward, you are forbidden from engaging in any fights! Be cautious of your words before making any remarks. If you fail to heed my order, I will personally ensure your tongue is slit!" Brone issued a stern warning.

Mikhal swallowed hard, a wave of fear washing over him. Familiar with his lord’s temperament, he recognised this was the final warning. Hastily, he bowed low, expressing his remorse and offering a quick apology.

As they approached the main building, they soon encountered the chamberlain, Charles.

"Forgive me, Lord Morro, but His Majesty is unavailable today," Charles informed them respectfully after being asked.

Brone inquired, "Has there been any progress regarding our request? We have yet to receive any updates. His Majesty assured us the matter would be discussed during his meeting with the royal council on Monday morning."

Charles nodded, understanding the significance of the request. "Yes, His Majesty informed me about it, and the matter was indeed raised. However, due to its magnitude, it requires further deliberation. Please accept my apologies for the delay, as I have been occupied with my duties."

Brone glanced around, observing the busy servants diligently cleaning and adorning the main building as if preparing for an upcoming event. He was curious but chose not to ask further.

"Very well, then. We are willing to wait, but please keep us informed of the outcome. Our king is eagerly anticipating our report," Brone stated firmly.

"Yes, my lord. You have my word," Charles assured with a respectful nod.

Acknowledging the chamberlain’s response, Brone nodded in appreciation and expressed his gratitude. They took a long path back to the east wing.

However, a tinge of disappointment weighed on the Bargesian leader, as he hadn’t had a glimpse of the concubine anywhere on the way.