The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 180: The Uninvited Guests

Chapter 180: The Uninvited Guests

The dance between the king and the princess concluded with an eruption of applause from the captivated crowd. As the music continued and the celebration pressed on, other nobles approached Lady Raychard with confidence.

"Congratulations, Lady Raychard, on your proclamation. May you have a joyous and fulfilling life under the affectionate care of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerhard!" one of the nobles greeted warmly, acknowledging Anna’s newfound status.

Sensing Kyren’s absence, the nobles gathered around the princess, eager to offer their well wishes and engage in conversation.

Congratulations poured forth from every direction, and each noble who approached insisted on raising a toast in Anna’s honour. However, the princess politely declined.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t partake in drinking."

A hint of sarcasm laced the response of one noble who couldn’t fathom her reluctance. "Oh...how come you can’t? Since you’ve become such an important figure to His Highness, so now you’re embarrassing us all with this rejection?"

Before Anna could respond, the noble pushed a drink toward her, and the rest of the nobles insisted on her acceptance. She became nervous and hesitated at the urges. However, before she could react, a large hand swiftly intercepted the glass, preventing it from reaching her delicate fingers.

"I shall toast with you," King Kyden interjected. "As the lady cannot drink for health reasons, I will gladly take her place. In fact, as a token of my appreciation, I propose to toast to everyone individually. How does that sound?" the king offered, his words carrying an air of regal charm and generosity.

The nobles exchanged glances. Their cunning expressions immediately changed at the king’s words. The nobles dared not reject his suggestion. Their compliance was evident as they raised their glasses and clinked them together in unison.

Following the king’s orders, a servant expertly poured wine into each noble’s glass, ensuring the ceremonial gesture was duly observed. King Kyden had anticipated that some nobles might seize this opportunity to mock or belittle Anna, but he swiftly intervened, not allowing such behaviour to tarnish the moment.

As the toasts continued, the effects of the drinks began to take their toll on King Kyden. His face flushed crimson, betraying his lack of tolerance for alcohol. Observing her husband’s condition, Queen Emelda quickly approached him, linking her arm with his in a supportive manner.

"Your Majesty, my king, I believe it’s time for your break," she gently suggested, her concern evident in her voice. "Shall we take a moment to rest in the salon?"

"I’m fine, Emelda. I can still handle a drink or two," the king slurred, his steps already faltering from the effects of intoxication.

"Oh, no, you don’t!" Queen Emelda insisted firmly, her authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. Turning to the assembled nobles, she addressed them with a gracious smile. "Gentlemen, please excuse us for a moment."

With Queen Emelda’s decisive intervention, the nobles respectfully acquiesced, their gazes following the departing royal couple that went to the side door heading to the salon. Aware of the king’s need for respite, they understood the importance of granting him the space to recover and regain his composure.

The gathering of the toasting nobles gradually dispersed, each seeking their interests and diversions within the ongoing party. Left to navigate the sea of guests on her own, Anna sought solace and companionship in the familiar presence of Meredith and Sylvia, her trusted friends, amidst the bustling crowd.

As the event carried on, a cacophony of sounds suddenly shattered the air. A commotion seemed to be unfolding just beyond the grand entrance, capturing the attention of every attendee in an instant.

Conversations dwindled to hushed whispers, and all eyes swiftly turned towards the source of the disruption. Anticipation and curiosity were etched upon every face.

***

"Open this door at once! Are you trying to humiliate me?" the burly man bellowed at the door attendant, his voice laced with frustration and indignation.

Standing firm and resolute, Alex swiftly retorted, "You’ve heard him! This is a closed event, intended only for invited guests!"

Drystan, who had a tight expression, stood alongside his companion. Both knights refused to yield to Brone and his men, who had suddenly appeared and demanded entry into the ballroom. All of Brone’s subordinates were there except for Derek, the mage, creating an air of tension in the atmosphere.

The royal knights converged at the main ballroom door without delay, forming a protective circle around the Bargesians, who had initiated the disruptive commotion. Their presence signalled that the situation was being handled with utmost seriousness.

Glaring at the assembled knights, Brone’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "His Majesty, your king, announced the alliance between Ardel and Cassian. Yet now, all of you treat my men and me as enemies?"

Remaining composed, the leader of the royal knights responded calmly, "Forgive us, my lord. We have no intention of disgracing you. However, it is His Majesty’s explicit order that this banquet is reserved for specific attendees. We would appreciate it if you and your men would retreat now."

The expressions of the royal knights appeared calmer compared to the initial aggressive stance taken by the Knights of Gerhard. Their measured demeanour reflected their commitment to upholding order while, at the same time, respecting the Bargesians.

"I shall not! I am an honoured guest of your king. My men and I reside in the palace at the grant of His Majesty. How is it possible that we were not invited? There must be an error in the list of invitees," Brone insisted, his voice resonating with frustration and disbelief.

The door attendant, growing nervous under his scrutiny, responded, "But, my lord, I’ve checked several times... Yours and your men’s names are not listed."

"This is preposterous! I am an ambassador of Ardel! Denying my entrance is akin to denying the King of Ardel himself. Do you intend to strain the newly formed alliance in this manner?" Brone continued adamantly.

The door attendant found himself at a loss for words, his worry evident as he struggled to decide how to handle the escalating situation.

Just as the commotion peaked, Lord James, who was also attending the event and had heard the disturbance from inside, emerged from the main door, seeking to understand the cause of the chaos.

"What is going on?" he inquired, his gaze shifting between the door attendant and the gathering of men outside the entrance.

"Ah... Lord James! We meet again!" Brone greeted the minister warmly.

His angered demeanour swiftly transformed upon the esteemed nobleman’s presence. The two had previously crossed paths during a dinner held with the king and the ministers of the royal council.

"Lord Morro! How may I be of assistance?" Lord James asked with a mix of curiosity and concern for the situation at hand.

Brone recounted his tale to Lord James, expressing his frustration at being denied entrance to the event due to the lack of an invitation. Sensing the ambassador’s displeasure, Lord James attempted to assuage him and diffuse the tension.

"I understand that you were not formally invited to attend this party. However, I see no harm in allowing you to enter," Lord James said, his words accompanied by a reassuring smile that brought a glimmer of relief to Brone and his men.

Turning his attention to the knights and the door attendant, Lord James continued, "Lord Morro has been staying in the palace for several days as an esteemed guest of His Majesty. It is only fitting that we treat him with respect."

Feeling acknowledged and respected, Brone expressed his gratitude to Lord James. "Thank you, Lord James, for recognising me."

His tone turned sharp as he reprimanded the knights and the door attendant, "Finally, I receive some respect here. The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves and learn from Lord James’s benevolent act!"

"I will address this matter and ensure they receive the necessary education. Please do not take it to heart, Lord Morro. Come this way and join us," he invited, gesturing for Brone and his men to follow him.

Drystan and Alex, though clearly disagreeing with the minister’s decision, found themselves unable to challenge his authority due to his higher position.

The royal knights dispersed at his order, and the two Knights of Gerhard were also demanded to withdraw, making way for Brone and his men to be led into the ballroom.

"I don’t know... but something doesn’t feel right about this. I have a bad feeling," Drystan whispered to Alex, his gaze fixed on the Bargesians as they entered through the door.

"Agreed. But His Highness is inside, as well as His Majesty. Let’s hope nothing worse will happen," Alex responded, acknowledging his companion’s concerns.

As the door opened, Alex caught a glimpse of Meredith, adorned in a stunning light yellow gown. He couldn’t help but let out a sigh, longing for another chance to speak with her.

However, he knew that the current circumstances made that opportunity difficult to arise.

***

Beneath the black sky shroud and biting cold of the autumn wind, the old man stood steadfastly under a tree. His eyes fixated unwaveringly on the light emanating from a window of the inn. Despite the bone-chilling atmosphere, he remained undeterred.

Derek had chosen not to return to the palace. Instead, he had secretly followed and observed the enigmatic individuals he had encountered during the proclamation earlier that day.

A brief touch on the man’s back had revealed a surge of immense mana coursing through him. The mage sensed a vast reservoir of the energy within the man, along with an enchantment imbued within the cloak he had touched.

The man and the woman by his side possessed an extraordinary presence that left Derek in awe during their encounter. They shared a striking resemblance, both with fiery ruby eyes and flowing silken white hair. A palpable otherworldly aura emanated from their very beings as he faced them.

Convinced that these two individuals were descendants of the Ro’an Emperor, Derek had discreetly trailed them from a distance, ensuring he remained unnoticed.

While the sense he had felt earlier in the day no longer resonated within such proximity, it did not concern him. What mattered was that the person he had awaited his entire life stood right before him.

An eerie smile crept across Derek’s lips as he whispered, his voice filled with sinister intent, "Finally, I shall regain my youth and strength! I’ll never let you go! You will be mine!"

His eyes gleamed with determination. The mage was persistent, willing to do whatever it took to seize this opportunity, even if it meant betraying Brone and his men.

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