The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 190: Going For A Hunt

Chapter 190: Going For A Hunt

The knights assembled again in the discussion room, responding to Kyren’s summons. After the previous commotion, the grand duke swiftly revoked the plan to report about the Bargesians and declare war against Ardel.

"We shall not proceed," Kyren declared with a solemn face.

The knights contemplated as the grand duke’s decision weighed heavily on their minds.

"But, Your Highness..." Eli halted as soon as he noticed Kyren’s piercing glare.

A contemplative silence enveloped the room as the weight of the situation settled upon everyone present. The grand duke’s sensitivity regarding Anna was well-known, and the mere thought of her getting hurt caused a collective unease.

The memory of the grand duke’s intense reaction during a previous incident at the camp, when Anna had selflessly donated her blood, lingered in their minds. And so, they had to be careful with their words.

Eric, ever quick-witted and tactful, quickly spoke to ease the tension.

"We understand your concerns," he said calmly. "While we may not proceed with the original plan, we will not ignore the potential threat from the Bargesians. I have already dispatched skilled spies to monitor their activities closely. We will gather more information and ensure that their intentions remain transparent."

The second-in-command knight, along with Luke and Damon, had maintained a covert watch against the Bargesians throughout the night, only returning to the mansion at dawn after the Ardel’s delegation departure.

Kyren acknowledged their efforts with a nod.

Alex’s voice held a hint of apology as he addressed the grand duke, "Your Highness, please forgive me for speaking candidly, but I believe Lady Raychard’s words hold merit. If we were to directly approach the palace and inform His Majesty of the situation, he would likely present it to the nobles. Given the gravity of declaring war, solid justification would be required, and it seems unlikely that the nobles would readily agree based on their reaction last night after knowing the lady’s true bloodline."

Kyren’s frustration bristled within him, his determination unyielding.

"I care little for the nobles’ reaction! I would have proceeded without hesitation if it hadn’t been for Anna’s intervention. If they are unwilling to stand by us, I will assemble all my knighthood members and hire mercenaries myself!"

Drystan interjected with a tone of disappointment, "Lady Raychard possesses a delicate and compassionate nature. Though I can understand her reasons, witnessing her become an object of ridicule for the sake of us all is disheartening."

"You’re right, Sir Mills. The thing is, our lady has lived a life of isolation, raised without the love of her own parents. She had only her nanny and Dame Verns as companions. This is her first experience being exposed to and living among us. Due to the kindness she has received, she developed a deep attachment to us all. That’s why she resorted to such an action," Noah added sombrely.

Surprisingly, the knight thought to be the most notorious in the knighthood showed great empathy to their lady, understanding Anna’s perspective on the matter at hand.

Damon’s disbelief and confusion echoed through the room.

"How could her parents hate her? What could she have possibly done to deserve such treatment? I can’t comprehend it," he exclaimed, his voice filled with disgust.

Noah shook his head, sharing in the knight’s bewilderment. "I don’t know either. Even Dame Verns, who has been with Lady Raychard for a few years, is unaware of the reasons behind her parents’ animosity."

During their previous discussion, Noah had updated Kyren and the others about his investigation into Ardel and the revelations surrounding Anna’s situation.

A mix of anger and intense dissatisfaction filled the room. The knowledge of their lady enduring such a cruel predicament and leading a sorrowful life ignited a fiery indignation within the grand duke and his loyal men.

"Perhaps it is the previous Ardel’s queen doing. As Lady Raychard is not blood-related, her stepmother may view her as an outsider, influencing her father’s ill-treatment of her," guessed Drystan.

The knights exchanged troubled glances. They recently found out that Anna was not Queen Clarice’s real daughter. This information came to light when Drystan and Alex overheard Anna revealing her true parentage to the King of Cassian during their meeting.

Luke’s voice filled with indignation as he voiced their collective concern, "Even so, it is unfathomable for a queen to lock her stepdaughter within the castle walls for years! It is a cruel and unjust treatment!"

The knights shared a sense of righteous anger, united in their support of their lady. Her compassion and sacrifice had touched their hearts, fueling their determination to protect her, and seek justice while ensuring her well-being.

"Regardless of how devastating we feel about this, it is crucial to keep the lady safe. We don’t want her to hurt herself," Garin, who had been listening, spoke up cautiously.

The knight’s heart raced with worry and concern as he recalled the sight of Anna’s near-suicidal attempt. The memory of another woman, once a slave they had saved from Count Abinair’s cruelty, flashed before his eyes.

The devastation and humiliation that had driven the woman to such extreme measures shook him to the core. Grateful that he was able to save her just in time, Garin knew that they needed to prevent any further harm from befalling Anna.

Kyren clenched his teeth with a deep sense of annoyance as he recalled the distressing events. The disdainful visage of Brone, Ardel’s ambassador, resurfaced in his mind.

The grand duke’s anger flared as he realised that had the Bargesian leader not barged into the ballroom and caused the commotion, the princess would not have suffered such public humiliation in front of the nobles.

"That Bargesian dared to mock my wife and called her an illegitimate daughter! Just wait till I get my hand on him again someday! I’ll make sure he regrets what he said!"

Kyren’s frustration and determination intensified at the thought of Brone’s derogatory remarks. The grand duke’s desire for vengeance burned within him, fueled by his protectiveness instinct towards his wife.

"So what is the plan now since you’re not reporting this to His Majesty?"

Garin and the other knights listened attentively as Luke inquired about their next course of action to Kyren.

"I don’t want anything to happen to my Anna," the grand duke carefully said, his voice laced with concern. "Heighten the security and remain alert. I need one of you to monitor her for the time being."

"I’ll go and accompany the lady to ensure her safety," Noah offered himself. "But I’ll be discreet. We can take turns being around her afterwards so she doesn’t feel like we’re watching her movements."

"I agree with Sir Brooks," Eric suddenly stated. "It’s clear that our lady is a threat to the Ardel’s King, and the Bargesians supporting him won’t let this pass without retaliation even though the ambassador promised so to her."

The knights were bewildered at Eric’s agreement with Noah. They were surprised to witness the two men finding common ground in this critical situation. The urgency of the matter seemed to have bridged the gap between their differences, highlighting the importance of unity for Anna’s well-being.

Kyren then inquired about Clara, the knightess Noah had brought with him from Ardel.

"How’s the knightess doing?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Garin provided an update on Clara’s condition, stating, "She’s improving. Sir Brooks and I take turns checking on her every day. From our observation, Rafe and Ayden are treating her well, and she’s responding positively to the administered medication."

The grand duke listened attentively. Then he responded firmly, "Take good care of her. She’s essential to Anna, and we must ensure her full recovery. The knightess is the only living witness who can testify against the crime committed against my wife. I’ll see her at an appropriate time soon."

"Where is Lady Raychard right now?" Eli inquired about the princess’s current whereabouts.

Kyren replied, "She’s with Rafe. He’s looking after her for the moment."

The mention of Rafe suggested that he attended to the lady’s needs and supported her during this sensitive time. It gave a sense of relief to the knights.

Luke chimed in, acknowledging the close friendship between Mr Amares and the lady. He noted, "Our lady might be reluctant to talk to us, but she’ll be more open with Mr Amares. It’s good that he’s with her as he would know best how to calm her."

Noah, however, expressed his intention to locate Anna regardless of Luke’s statement. He requested Kyren, saying, "It’s fine. I’ll still go anyway. After all, I’m her first escort and should return to my duties. Your Highness, would you allow me?"

Recognising the knight’s desire to offer support personally, Kyren nodded in acknowledgement. Granting his request, the grand duke replied, "You may go, Noah. Take care and ensure her well-being. But for the rest of you, I want you to return to the knights’ quarter and change your attires."

"What for?" Eli inquired, curiosity evident in his expression.

"We’re going ’hunting’," Kyren replied.

Noah rose from his seat and offered a respectful bow. Although he felt a pang of disappointment for not being able to join the grand duke’s ’activity,’ he recognised the pressing need to resume his position as an escort and protect Anna. With the grand duke’s permission, he left the group, his stride reflecting determination.

As they continued the discussion after Noah left, Damon raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed by the grand duke’s order, as he repeated, "Hunting?"

Kyren didn’t immediately answer, leaving Damon to wonder.

"I see what you mean," Eric suddenly cut in, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he grazed his lower lip with his finger.

"Do the spies you sent leave a trace for us?" the grand duke inquired, turning to his trusted second-in-command.

"Yes, Your Highness. I specifically instructed them to do so," the knight responded.

"Ah, I understand now!" Damon’s expression shifted as he grasped the grand duke’s intentions.

"But I thought we agreed not to proceed," Drystan interjected.

"We won’t proceed with reporting to His Majesty," Kyren clarified, his tone firm. "However, my wife never mentioned anything about hunting and killing those filthy b*stards," he continued.

"She would certainly be alarmed if she found out," Luke added.

"That’s precisely why she doesn’t need to know the specifics. She would just know we’re going on a hunt," the grand duke explained.

"Yes! A hunt it is, Your Highness!" Alex exclaimed, echoing the sentiment.

The meeting continued as Kyren announced their plan to return to Gerhard after the ’hunting’ expedition. Then, he instructed the steward to start preparing for their departure while waiting for their return from the activity.

The time to go home seemed to have arrived... or so they thought.

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