The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 184: Protecting Their Beloved Lady

Chapter 184: Protecting Their Beloved Lady

The Knights of Gerhard gathered at the palace’s main gate, their urgency and determination evident. It didn’t take long for Eric and Eli to join the group, further bolstering their ranks.

"Hurry up! We need to get inside now!" Noah shouted impatiently, directing towards the two knights.

However, Eric moved forward, assuming his position as the second-in-command knight.

"Wait! I’ll lead us all," he declared firmly. "We can’t simply rush in without thinking, as we don’t know the current situation inside the palace."

Noah’s worry for their lady’s safety overshadowed any notions of caution. He raised his voice, frustration and urgency colouring his words. "Our lady could be in danger! I don’t have time for planning or slow-motion actions!"

"I am the second-in-command knight! If you want to enter the palace with us, you must follow the command chain and respect authority!" Eric emphasised to him the importance of following proper protocols.

Frustrated, Noah cursed under his breath.

Eric continued, reminding the knights of the potential consequences of their actions.

"If we were caught brandishing our swords in the palace without proper approval, we could be seen as attempting a rebellion! Until we clearly understand the situation inside, do not unsheath your weapons unless absolutely necessary. Do you all understand?"

The unified response came from the other knights, who shouted together, affirming their understanding and willingness to comply.

Noah remained silent, but his disagreement with the cautious approach was evident on his face.

Eric turned to Noah. His gaze filled with determination.

"I know you’re extremely worried. Trust me, all of us are! But we can’t afford to act recklessly. If we were caught by the royal knights with our swords drawn, we’d be thrown into the dungeon, and then, none of us would be able to protect Lady Raychard."

Noah took a deep breath, his initial resistance subsiding as he realised the validity of Eric’s words. Arguing at this moment wouldn’t benefit anyone. They needed to be unified as a strong force to protect Anna.

"Fine! I’ll follow your lead," Noah conceded with resolution.

Eric nodded, appreciative of the knight’s decision.

The group swiftly moved towards the main gate, requesting entrance to the palace. Once granted access, the knights wasted no time and hurried inside, their determination guiding their steps. Their primary objective was to locate the grand duke and his wife, ensuring their safety.

As they made their way through the palace, they learned that the banquet had ended earlier than scheduled due to some commotion, though the details remained unclear. The urgency in their hearts grew, propelling them to get to the couple.

Finally, they arrived at the room where the grand duke and Anna resided, only to find Alex and Drystan standing guard outside. The situation’s intensity was palpable in the air, and the two knights exchanged anxious glances.

"Sir Navin! Why are you all here?" Drystan asked in surprise.

"There’s an emergency! Is His Highness inside? I need to speak with him urgently!" Eric responded, his tone reflecting the urgency of the situation.

"I’m afraid now is not the right moment," Alex explained with concern. "There was a commotion at the ballroom just now, and Lady Raychard has fainted."

Noah’s anger flared, and he couldn’t contain his frustration.

"What the h*ll happened? Weren’t you two supposed to guard her?" he shouted.

"His Highness ordered us to wait outside the ballroom," Drystan explained, his expression tinged with regret. "The ambassador from Ardel and his men arrived without invitations and demanded entry. We didn’t allow them, but Lord James intervened and let them in. Shortly after, guests started leaving, and the gathering abruptly ended. We weren’t aware of the exact events. By the time we entered, Lady Raychard had already started to collapse and lost consciousness."

Noah’s expression darkened, his mind racing with the situation’s implications.

"Oh, my God! That means the Bargesians already knew she was here! They would surely target her!" he exclaimed anxiously.

"Bargesians? What do you mean?" Alex questioned with a confused look.

Noah explained the full extent of the situation to the two shocked knights, Drystan and Alex. Realisation and concern washed over their faces as they listened to his account.

"I knew there was something off about them! My instincts never fail me," Drystan exclaimed. Frustration was apparent on his face.

Noah’s urgency only grew stronger. "His Highness must be informed immediately about this! We cannot waste any more time," he demanded, his tone conveying the gravity of the situation.

"The royal healers are attending to Lady Raychard at the moment. His Highness has forbidden us from entering," Drystan interjected with worry.

Eric intervened, taking charge of the situation, "Let’s remain calm, Sir Brooks. Lady Raychard is currently with His Highness. For now, our priority is to guard her safety and remain vigilant. We must not allow anyone suspicious to approach."

Luke spoke up, suggesting, "Shouldn’t we inform the royal knights about this? The fact that the Bargesians reside in the palace is a grave threat. They could strike at any moment."

"Sir Parker is right!" Damon chimed in, his voice firm and resolute. "There are only eight of us. We need to call for backup and apprehend them before they have a chance to cause harm."

"We can’t do that! We have no evidence to support our claims. We cannot take action on our own without instructions from His Highness unless the Bargesians attack us first. However, at this moment, I haven’t noticed any suspicious movements since we entered the palace," Eric reasoned with caution.

Noah’s frustration grew with impatience. "So, you suggest we just stand here like a log and wait? Is that your plan?" he sneered.

Eric’s voice cut through the tension, his tone stern and scolding. "Hey! You said you would follow my lead, so don’t assume I’m foolish! Until we have properly addressed this matter to His Highness, we must not provoke the Bargesians."

Noah scoffed dismissively, his frustration boiling over. "This is useless!" he exclaimed.

Losing his patience, Eric raised his voice to the knight. "Idi*t!" he yelled.

Garin quickly intervened, "Stop it, both of you! This is not the time to fight amongst ourselves! Lady Raychard needs us. We must focus on that."

Realising the need to regroup and find a way forward, Noah grudgingly relented. "Fine! Now what?"

Eric took charge, quickly formulating a plan. "Luke and Damon, come with me. We’ll go and gather information on the Bargesians to see what they’re up to. The rest of you, guard this area carefully. I will find an excuse to ask the royal knights to increase patrol for tonight," he ordered.

"Yes, Sir Navin!" Luke and Damon responded in unison, acknowledging their assigned task.

With the roles defined, the knights split up, each group focusing on their respective tasks.

***

Anna’s eyelids fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented. The sight of unfamiliar faces surrounding her filled her with anxiety. Then, she heard Kyren’s comforting voice by her side. Turning towards him, she found him sitting at the edge of the bed, holding her hand gently.

"Kyren!" Anna exclaimed in relief. She rose from the bed and embraced him tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Kyren held her close, providing a comforting presence as he gently patted her back.

"It’s going to be all right," he reassured her, his voice soft and soothing.

Kyren understood Anna’s fragility at the moment. As King Kyden had anticipated, the situation that had caused his concern had finally come to pass.

The consequences could have been far worse if the grand duke hadn’t heeded the king’s advice and insisted on making Anna his lawful wife. Cassian’s nobles might have revolted and posed a threat to her safety.

Turning to the royal healers amidst his wife’s tears, Kyren inquired about her condition, "How is she doing?"

One of the healers explained, "Her pulse is still a bit strong after we administered the calming drug. I suggest she rests and takes her time to recover. She will get better in due time."

Feeling overwhelmed, Anna suddenly made a plea. "I want to go home! Please!"

Concerned for her well-being, Kyren gently tried to persuade her. "You’re not yet in a condition to leave. You heard what the healer said. You need to rest. We’ll return to the mansion tomorrow."

Anna’s desperation intensified. Her cries hardened as she pleaded again, her voice filled with anguish.

"No! I don’t want to stay here! Please, take me home! Take me home, Kyren!"

Recognising the depth of her distress, the grand duke’s heart ached, torn between her insistence and the necessity of her recovery. He knew he needed to find a way to ease her pain and provide the comfort she sought while ensuring her well-being.

Kyren turned to the healer who had examined Anna, seeking guidance on her condition. To his relief, the healer confirmed that she was able to travel, which the grand duke acknowledged with gratitude.

As the royal healers retreated, Kyren summoned his knights for a briefing. However, to his surprise, not only Drystan and Alex entered, but also Noah, Garin, and Eli. The knights exchanged curious glances, taken aback by the sight of the princess enveloped in Kyren’s comforting embrace, her tears flowing without end.

Confusion filled the air as Kyren questioned his knights. "What are you doing here? You were not assigned to escort the lady in the palace."

"Your Highness, there is an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention! I must report it to you now!" Noah quickly interjected.

Kyren’s brow furrowed with concern. "Is it a life-threatening matter?"

Noah hesitated, his gaze shifting to Anna, her fragile state evident. Revealing his findings in her presence seemed inappropriate. "Not immediately, but it is leading to that. We need to speak in private," he said carefully.

Kyren considered the gravity of the situation, torn between his duty to address Noah’s report and the need to prioritise Anna’s condition. After a moment’s contemplation, he made a decision.

"Then, it can wait. Report to me tomorrow morning," Kyren ordered firmly.

Noah’s distress was evident as he attempted to press the urgency of the matter. "But, Your Highness..."

Kyren’s frustration grew as the knight persisted, disregarding his previous order. The strain of the situation and Anna’s emotional state weighed heavily on him. In a moment of exasperation, he raised his voice.

"I said tomorrow! Can’t you see the state she’s in?" Kyren’s tone resonated with anger, filling the room with its intensity. Before Noah could respond, Alex swiftly intervened, cutting off any further attempts to persuade Kyren otherwise.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

With the order given, the knights wasted no time and quickly exited the room. Noah’s dissatisfied expression was apparent. Sensing his discontent, Garin approached him, attempting to calm him.

"Hold on for a bit more. We’ll inform His Highness of the urgency as soon as he’s ready."

Noah’s worry persisted as he voiced his concerns.

"What if the Bargesians have an army waiting to attack Cassian?"

"We have our patrols on guard. They would have alerted us if there were any signs of an imminent attack. The Barbarians of the South have attempted many times to attack us, but they have always failed. Furthermore, Sir Navin and the others are safeguarding the Ardel delegation. They won’t be able to do anything against us."

"It’s not enough! This time, the Bargesians managed to conquer Ardel and assume the ambassadorship. The situation is different," Noah argued, his worry etched on his face. "We need to cancel the alliance!"

"That requires His Highness’s intervention, Sir Brooks! We can’t simply do it on our own! As of now, we need to trust Sir Navin’s leadership," Garin reminded him. "Our lady is right in His Highness’s arms. Judging by the situation, there’s no doubt that he will keep her with him tonight. His Highness is the best and strongest knight in Cassian, so our lady will surely be safe in his care. Have faith in him and us."

Though he still hesitated, Noah had no option but to give his trust to his fellow knights. Deep down, he hoped that the situation wouldn’t escalate further and that their collective efforts would be enough to protect their beloved lady.