The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 182: A Dance With The Enemy

Chapter 182: A Dance With The Enemy

The grand doors of the ballroom swung open, drawing the guests’ attention. They quickly gathered around, eager to catch a glimpse of the commotion.

Standing at a distance, Anna strained her neck to get a better view. However, her shorter stature hindered her vision, and she struggled to see beyond the crowd to discern the arrival of the new guests.

A wave of relief washed over the attendees as Lord James’s voice reverberated through the air, soothing the previously cautious atmosphere.

"It’s all right! There was just a misunderstanding. Everyone, please welcome His Excellency Lord Brone Morro and his men," he announced.

The tension that had gripped the room began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm and acceptance. The guests bowed respectfully, and the ladies curtsied, extending gestures of respect towards the Bargesians. Brone’s proud smile mirrored the gratitude he felt towards the warm reception.

As the minister took the opportunity to introduce the Ardel’s ambassador to the other guests who had yet to meet him, Brone approached Lord James with a polite request.

"Lord James, since this is the celebration for the newly declared concubine of His Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerhard, would you kindly introduce me to them? I have not had the pleasure of meeting the esteemed couple before," he inquired courteously.

"Of course!" the minister exclaimed, his gaze scanning the room in search of Kyren, but the grand duke was nowhere to be found.

"I don’t see His Highness... Perhaps he has stepped out for a moment. But, ah... there’s Lady Raychard! Let’s go and meet her!" Lord James’s smile widened as he noticed Anna conversing with Meredith and Sylvia.

Across the ballroom, Anna leaned in and asked her friends, her tone slightly muffled by the music emanating from the nearby orchestra, "Who just arrived? I couldn’t catch the name announced by Lord James."

Sylvia shrugged, her brows furrowed in uncertainty. "I’m not sure."

Meredith pondered momentarily before responding, "If I’m not mistaken, I heard the name Lord Marrow or something similar."

"Lord Marrow?" Anna creased her forehead in curiosity.

Lord James suddenly appeared from behind before her companions could offer further speculation.

"Forgive me for cutting in, Lady Raychard. There’s someone here who would like to meet you."

As her name was called, Anna’s heart skipped a beat, prompting her to turn around swiftly. Her gaze met Lord James’s expectant expression as he gestured towards a distinguished figure standing nearby. She couldn’t help but wonder who sought her attention amidst the festivities.

As her gaze met the person standing before her, next to Lord James, a flood of memories surged through her mind, resurrecting an impression she had long buried deep within her.

Anna’s eyes widened in disbelief, the light of happiness in her irises fading and the once vibrant smile vanishing from her lips. The recollection of that fateful night amidst the wind and heavy rain resurfaced with vivid clarity.

The flash of lightning illuminated the darkness, etching into her mind the face of the man she could never forget; a man with a scar stretched across his face, from his right eye to the bridge of his nose.

It was the same man responsible for piercing his sword into the body of Nessy, her beloved nanny, and subjecting her to unspeakable horrors. The man who had also torn apart her world in a single night, taking away everything she held dear in Ardel.

Frozen in disbelief, Brone’s gaze locked with Anna’s. Seeing her petite form and the captivating emerald green eyes once again left him utterly shocked. He had believed her to be dead, lost in the engulfing flames of the barracks months ago. And yet, here she stood, alive and unscathed before him.

His lips parted, words escaping him in disbelief and bewilderment. How could she suddenly be here, defying his expectations and shattering the assumptions he had held onto for so long?

The tumultuous emotions within him threatened to consume his thoughts as he grappled with the astonishing reality of Anna’s presence.

"Your Excellency, this is Lady Anna Raychard," Lord James introduced, his voice carrying a note of formality. "My lady, this is His Excellency Lord Brone Morro, the ambassador from the Kingdom of Ardel."

As the introductions were made, Meredith and Sylvia gracefully curtsied, showing due respect to the Bargesian leader. However, Anna stood frozen in place, her body seemingly turned to stone. Brone, too, remained silent, his mind racing with a flurry of thoughts.

A wave of unease washed over him as he contemplated whether the Cassians had discovered his true identity and that of his men, given Anna’s presence.

Did she disclose the harrowing events she had endured, particularly the coup orchestrated by Kaizer Ronan?

The sense of danger loomed in his thoughts, threatening to unravel the delicate web of their plans.

However, Brone’s quick thinking brought clarity. If the King of Cassian and his forces were aware of their past, he and his men would have been captured and executed, and the alliance plan would have never taken place.

Moreover, they continued to receive favourable treatment from the Cassians, indicating that Anna had not divulged the events that had unfolded in Ardel.

The princess’s hand began to tremble involuntarily, a visible manifestation of the fear that gripped her. Her eyes filled with the haunting images of lifeless bodies, decapitated and drenched in blood, strewn across the floors of Ardel’s castle. Her complexion turned pale, and her hair seemingly stood on end as the tormenting memories threatened to consume her once more.

"My lady?" Lord James called out again, his concern evident as he observed Anna’s unresponsive state, devoid of any acknowledgement or gesture of respect towards the introduction.

Anna’s eyes blinked rapidly, jolting her back to the present moment and allowing her to regain a semblance of awareness. However, paralysed by overwhelming fear, she could not utter a single word, her voice trapped within her constricted throat.

Lord James squinted his eyes, perplexed by the unexpected reactions from both Anna and Brone. His curiosity was piqued as he ventured to bridge the gap of understanding.

"Perhaps... do you two know each other? Lady Raychard mentioned she came from Ardel, and her grandfather was a scholar in Engarth."

Brone’s interest also rose, prompting him to probe further instead of giving a definite answer.

"Is that so? What else has the lady shared with you?" he inquired with a subtle undertone.

Lord James recollected the information Anna had shared during the day of the tests.

"Not much, except that her family perished, bandits raided her home, and she was captured by slave traders who brought her to Dracor," the minister recounted.

"Bandits... I see," Brone’s tone grew low, his voice tinged with bitterness and resentment.

A disparaging smile tugged at the corners of his lips. With Lord James remaining clueless, he now felt confident that the truth of their past remained concealed from the rest.

Breaking the tension, Brone suddenly uttered, "My lady, may I have a dance with you?" and extended his hand towards Anna, formally requesting a dance.

The princess’s body jolted at the sight of the large, coarse hand nearing her, making her gaze darting anxiously from left to right in a desperate search for Kyren, only to find him absent.

Anna’s heart pounded in her chest, panic surging through her veins. With her two escorts stationed outside the ballroom, she felt utterly alone and vulnerable.

The instinct to scream for help welled up within her, but before she could gather her thoughts, Brone’s voice cut through the air once more, low and intimidating, with an unwavering demand.

"My lady... dance with me," he insisted, his eyes gleaming with relentless determination.

It was no longer a mere request; it had transformed into a commanding order.

Brone’s hand grabbed Anna’s arm. His grip tightened as he forcefully pulled her towards the centre of the dance floor. His sudden action caught Meredith and Sylvia off guard, their eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected rough act.

Sylvia’s words carried a hint of anger as she expressed her disapproval.

"Why... that lord is incredibly rude!" she exclaimed. "Our lady never indicated any desire to dance with him. How dare he pull her like that!"

Meredith nodded in agreement, her voice hushed as she whispered, "He is quite intimidating! Just look at his fierce expression and that scar on his face."

Their conversation caught Lord James’ attention, and he cleared his throat, a gentle reprimand lacing his words.

"Please refrain from speaking ill of His Excellency, Lord Brone Morro," he cautioned. "He is a distinguished guest of our king and serves as a representative of His Majesty, the King of Ardel. Though I may not fully understand their customs, their kingdom may have cultural norms different from ours. What may appear rude to us might be considered a common thing there."

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "Furthermore," Lord James continued, "I don’t believe he is harassing her, as he did ask for her permission. However, I wonder why our lady stood there without properly greeting him. It seems that someone of her status may require further training in etiquette."

Lord James’s words carried a measured tone, but a subtle disdain for Anna seemed to linger beneath the surface. Sylvia’s dissatisfaction was evident as she glared at the minister, but Meredith, aware of Lord James’s argumentative nature, quickly intervened, urging her friend to avoid further confrontation.

It was clear to both ladies that challenging Lord James would likely be futile, as he always sought to emerge victorious in any debate. They watched with growing disgust as the minister departed with a self-satisfied smile, immersing himself in conversations with other nobles.

Meanwhile, Anna trembled nervously as her gaze fell upon Brone, who stood before her on the dance floor, clasping their hands together and placing another behind her.

His presence filled her with a mixture of fear and trepidation. As Brone’s whispered command reached her ears, her body tensed, and she felt compelled to obey.

Taking a deep breath, Anna held tightly onto Brone’s hand, her fingers shaking against his firm grip. The soft melodies of the orchestra filled the air, signalling the start of their dance. Brone initiated the movements, leading Anna through the steps with cold authority.

There was a brief moment of silence between them. Finally, Brone spoke up.

"What have you been telling them so far?" he asked.

Anna’s lips quivered, and fear rose in her eyes. She desperately prayed for Kyren’s quick arrival, her gaze darting wildly across the room in search of him, hoping his presence would offer solace and support in this trying moment.

Brone’s voice dripped with mockery as he addressed Anna’s longing gaze.

"Are you searching for the grand duke who is so enamoured by you? It seems he’s conveniently absent now," he taunted, his words laced with a cruel satisfaction.

Desperation surged within Anna, and she mustered the courage to plead for her release. "Please, let me go!" she implored, fear and urgency flashed in her eyes.

Brone, however, remained calm, his grip tightening slightly. "Not just yet," he retorted, his tone firm. "You haven’t given me the answer I seek."

Tears welled up in Anna’s eyes as she mustered the strength to respond. She trembled as she spoke, her words pouring forth in a rush.

"There is nothing to tell you! I have only revealed my true identity as a Princess of Ardel to Their Majesties and my husband," she declared earnestly.

A flicker of doubt crossed Brone’s face as he considered her words. "Is that so?" he questioned with scepticism.

Anna’s fear was palpable as she pleaded with desperation. "I swear it! Please, I beg you, spare me and everyone else!"

The haunting memories of past traumas flooded her mind, overwhelming her with the fear that history might repeat itself once again. The plea for mercy hung in the air, her eyes reflecting the terror that gripped her soul.

"Your previous Prime Minister, or should I say the new King Kaizer Ronan, sent me here on a mission," Brone revealed. "Ardel and Cassian have allied, and for it to work properly, it is crucial that you remain silent and follow my guidance. Since you have already admitted your true identity as the princess, we must twist the facts slightly."

Anna’s gaze fixed upon him, a mix of curiosity and trepidation in her eyes. "What is it that you want from me?" she asked.

"I want you to refrain from interfering with my task and adhere to my orders," Brone replied sternly. "If you comply, I promise not to disrupt your life or harm those you hold dear. I will also ensure that the fact that you’re alive remains hidden from Kaizer. You can continue living quietly within this kingdom for the rest of your days. What do you say?"

Anna’s instincts told her this offer was too good to be true. She couldn’t bring herself to trust this dangerous individual, whose past actions had left a lasting mark on her. Doubt and suspicion clouded her thoughts as she weighed her options.

Brone’s voice turned ominous as he addressed her unspoken fears.

"I know what you’re thinking. If you dare to reveal everything, rest assured I will raid this palace and destroy everything and everyone you have." He let out a disparaging smile and whispered, "I did it once. I can do it again."

In that tense moment, a sudden hand reached out, gripping Anna’s arm and forcefully pulling her away from Brone, abruptly halting their dance. Startled, she turned to see who had come to her rescue.