The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 187: A Desperate Attempt

Chapter 187: A Desperate Attempt

[WARNING: This Chapter contains the scene of a suicidal attempt and self-harm. Please read with discretion.]

"Kyren, please, I implore you to hear me out! I don’t want any war or conflict because of me," Anna pleaded, hoping to find common ground and a way to resolve the situation without resorting to violence.

But Kyren’s patience had worn thin.

"I said let my hand go before I push you away! This is my last shred of patience!" he cautioned, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. His words carried a sense of finality, revealing his resolve to take action if necessary.

Anna’s refusal was unwavering. She couldn’t let go of her convictions and the belief that a nonviolent solution was possible. Her voice, filled with determination, clashed with Kyren’s frustration.

"No!" she exclaimed with defiance and a refusal to yield to Kyren’s ultimatum. She stood her ground, unwilling to change her choice.

In a moment of heated emotions, Kyren pushed Anna’s hands, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. He hadn’t intended to be rough, but his feelings had gotten the better of him. The weight of his anger towards the Bargesians and Kaizer Ronan was overwhelming, and it was clear that this confrontation would not end well.

In a feeble attempt, Anna crawled towards Kyren and grabbed his leg, surprising the knights witnessing the scene.

Anna’s pleas grew more desperate, "Please don’t go! I’m begging you, please! Say whatever you want to me! Call me stupid, a coward, and useless if you want to! But don’t sever the alliance and declare war because of me!"

Tears trickled down from her eyes as she bared her vulnerability before him, willing to accept any label or criticism if it meant avoiding the devastation of conflict.

"Why, Anna? Why are you doing this?"

"War won’t bring back the dead, Kyren. What good is it to wage war for a kingdom that doesn’t even recognise me? I’ve been kept away from the Ardelians my entire life. Besides, who in Cassian would want to go to war for a traitor’s descendant? You’ve seen how the nobles reacted last night! Now, I only have you, the royal family, and the knighthood members. I can’t bear to lose any of you too."

The commotion in the main hall had drawn the attention of servants and the steward within the mansion. Among them, Rafe, who happened to be passing by, was taken aback by the tense situation.

He was about to approach and inquire when Anryr, the steward, intervened, pulling him aside and warning him of the severe circumstances. In a hushed tone, Anryr briefed the healer on what had transpired.

Kyren’s expression hardened as Anna’s words sank in.

"So, you’re doing this because you think you can protect us? Do you believe that tarnishing your honour is a worthy sacrifice? You are wrong! We are the

Knights of Cassian! We would rather die with honour than allow our people’s reputation to be tarnished, and you are one of us now!"

The clash between their perspectives and the values they held dear threatened to drive a wedge between the couple, further complicating an already precarious situation.

"I won’t let you do this! Please, Kyren, think about it! Innocent lives will be lost, and families will be torn apart. It will be a catastrophe," Anna implored again, overwhelmed with the desire to protect those she cared about.

But Kyren remained resolute, unmoved by her pleas. He dismissed her reasoning, determined to seek revenge and uphold what he believed.

"Enough!" Kyren’s voice thundered with determination, cutting through the air. "I will not yield to your lame reasoning! War is inevitable when it comes to dignity and revenge. Every drop of blood should be repaid with the same!"

Anna’s heart dropped as she realised Kyren was now unabated in his stance. Fear and guilt coursed through her. The only thing she wanted was to stop him from proceeding. At that moment, she noticed the dirk sheathed at Kyren’s thigh.

A dark thought rushed through her mind, clouding her judgment. In her desperation to prevent the unwanted catastrophe, she pulled the weapon out without further thinking. The glinting blade reflected her despair.

Placing the dirk against her neck, Anna scooted backwards away from Kyren. The sudden and drastic action caused Rosalie to scream in shock and alarm. The knights also shouted, and their expressions paled at her action.

The situation had reached a critical point, with emotions running high and the potential for tragedy looming over them.

"If you go, then I’ll kill myself!" the princess exclaimed.

"Anna!" Kyren shouted with widened eyes.

His heart burst with panic at her extreme declaration. He couldn’t fathom that his wife would take such an incredibly drastic measure against him.

"My lady!" Rafe called out to her in fear as he rushed to her. "Don’t hurt yourself!"

"Don’t come near me!"

"Put that dirk down!" the grand duke demanded with urgency.

"No! If my death is the only way to prevent a war from happening, then I would rather die," Anna proclaimed with resignation and sadness.

Fighting against his own emotions, Kyren tried to calm the situation. He spoke cautiously, hoping to diffuse the problem and prevent any harm from coming to her.

The knights stood frozen, their faces etched with fear and disbelief, as they witnessed Anna’s desperate act of attempting to take her own life. The air in the hall was heavy with tension, their hearts pounding with a mix of shock, concern, and urgency.

With desperation, each knight persuaded Anna, their voices filled with concern. They implored her to withdraw the blade from her neck. But despite their heartfelt appeals, the princess’s determination remained unyielding.

"Anna, calm down... Give me that dirk," the grand duke said as he slowly approached his wife.

Kyren’s plea for her to stop only seemed to fall on deaf ears as the depth of her sorrow consumed her.

"You’re right! I am a stupid and useless person who has no dignity! I couldn’t fight my own war, and I let my people die! What good is it for me to live? I only bring shame to you," Anna cried, her voice filled with anguish.

Refusing to accept the princess’s self-deprecating words, Rafe interjected with a firm tone, "That is not true, my lady! You mean the world to us!"

Anna continued, her tone laced with sadness, "For once in my life, I feel the warmth of love, care, and tenderness from each of you like a big family," she sobbed. "How can I let you all go to war because of a worthless person like me?"

The room was tense as everyone was on high alert, anxious that Anna would hurt herself.

"Please don’t do it, Kyren! I don’t want anyone to get hurt or die because of me again! You don’t know what it feels like and how much it tormented me! Please don’t burden me with that guilt anymore!" Anna implored.

"I won’t go! I won’t! Please, don’t hurt yourself! Give the dirk to me!" Kyren’s hand trembled as he persuaded her.

Overwhelmed by the intense emotions and the gravity of the situation, Anna hesitated momentarily, her tear-stained face reflecting her inner turmoil. She desperately needed assurance that Kyren would honour his words and prevent any further harm or loss of life.

She trembled as she made her demand, seeking a solemn commitment from him.

"You promise?" she asked.

With sincerity in his eyes, Kyren responded without hesitation, his voice filled with urgency and panic. He assured Anna, "I promise!"

"I want you to swear! Swear it upon my life! If you break it, I’ll die right before your eyes!" she said determinedly.

"I swear, Anna! I won’t! Don’t do this to me! Please!" the grand duke exclaimed.

He swore his solemn oath to her, promising that he would uphold his words. His fear was palpable, aware that if he failed, he would witness the tragic outcome he desperately sought to avoid.

Moved by his words, Anna moved the dirk away from her neck. In a swift motion, Kyren took hold of the dirk and threw it away, its clattering sound resonating through the room. Without hesitation, he pulled Anna into his arms as she cried.

"Oh, God!" Kyren’s voice trembled with a mixture of shock, fear and relief. The gravity of the situation hit him like a rock crushing onto his head as he realised the extent to which Anna was willing to go to prevent the impending war.

Anna broke more tears of sorrow as she continued to apologise, "I’m sorry! I know you hate me! But I’m so sorry!"

Her pain and guilt weighed heavily on her as she expressed her remorse in a flood of tears.

"Don’t you ever do this again! Ever!" Kyren’s expression was filled with a mix of desperation and a stern resolve. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. The fear and concern for her were etched on his face.

The onlookers were rendered speechless when they witnessed this intimate and vulnerable moment between the grand duke and his wife. It was an unfamiliar sight—an emotionally raw Kyren yielding to his wife and withdrawing his enormous anger as he embraced her tightly.

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