The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 196: An Unexpected Furry Friend

Chapter 196: An Unexpected Furry Friend

All eyes turned toward the sound, anticipating its origin. Before they knew it, a playful puppy burst into the room, barking excitedly.

As soon as the small dog caught sight of Anna, it dashed towards her, wagging its tail excitedly and barking with joy at the unexpected encounter.

Elis arrived at the door. Holding the frame of the door, she panted to catch her breath from her frantic attempt to seize the dog.

She had spotted the puppy running towards the small garden nearby and had rushed over to intercept it.

All the servants in the mansion were made aware that the grand duke disliked pets. The only animal he showed any favour towards was his own warhorse, Maximillian.

The princess picked up the puppy, barking at her feet. Seeing this, Elis quickly approached Anna.

"I’m sorry, but you must hand me the dog, please," she pleaded. "I need to get it out of here before Mr. Foster finds out."

"Why?" asked Anna, confused.

"I was told that His Highness dislikes animals. It’s better to get rid of it before he sees it. Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t hate puppies and actually love them. But they can’t stay here," explained the maid.

Just as Elis finished speaking, Ayden quickly introduced Anna to Elis, saying, "Miss Canton, this is Lady Anna Raychard, His Highness’s wife."

"Oh, please pardon my behaviour! I didn’t know! We’ve never met!"

Elis quickly bowed in respect to the princess, realising her earlier mistake of boldly asking the princess to hand over the puppy to her. As a maid, she was told to maintain a respectful distance from the nobility unless instructed otherwise.

"So, you are Miss Elisabeth Canton. Clara just mentioned you!" Anna’s voice raised in joy as she met the other important person who contributed to bringing the knightess to the mansion.

"For your information, my lady, Miss Canton also assisted me and Ayden during the surgery on Dame Verns. She is currently learning how to change wound dressings and nursing her under Ayden’s guidance. Her contributions have been invaluable in Dame Verns’s journey to recovery," Rafe explained, emphasising Elis’s significant role.

Anna’s smile widened as she addressed the maid directly.

"Thank you so much for your help, Miss Canton!" Anna expressed her gratitude, genuinely appreciative of Elis’s efforts. "You have such a kind heart and not to mention a beautiful appearance too!" she complimented, her words sincere.

Elis, though taken aback by the princess’s compliment, remained humble.

"Please call me Elis, my lady. I am just a mere maid carrying out my duties. And I must respectfully disagree. I am not a beautiful person. On the other hand, my lady possesses outstanding elegance surpassing anyone I’ve ever met," Elis responded, her voice filled with admiration.

As Anna listened to the maid’s speak, her attention naturally shifted from Elis’s maid’s attire to her overall appearance. The princess couldn’t help but notice the neatness and charm that radiated from Elis, drawing her admiration. The kind words exchanged between them were accompanied by Anna’s growing appreciation for the inner and outer beauty she saw in her.

The princess’s gaze caught on Elis, captivated by her striking blue eyes that shimmered like sparkling jewels. They seemed to hold a depth of wisdom and warmth that she found intriguing.

Elis’s black hair, neatly tied into a bun, added to her appearance’s elegance. The princess couldn’t help but appreciate the maid’s fair complexion, which seemed to effortlessly accentuate her features. She thanked her again, delightedly.

"You’re welcome, my lady. I’m so glad I could help Dame Verns," Elis replied sincerely.

As the maid spoke, Anna noticed a hint of blush grace her cheeks, causing them to turn a delicate shade of red. The sight only enhanced Elis’s natural beauty and added a touch of innocence to her demeanour.

She observed the maid more closely and couldn’t shake the feeling of a hint of sadness lingering in her beautiful blue eyes. It was as if Elis carried a hidden depth of emotion within her despite her composed exterior. Anna’s intuition picked up on this subtle melancholy, and it piqued her curiosity.

Another observation that caught Anna’s attention was Elis’s avoidance of direct eye contact with any men in the room. Whether it was a conscious effort or a subconscious reflex, the maid seemed to make a deliberate effort to keep her gaze averted.

Anna couldn’t help but wonder about the reason behind this behaviour, as it seemed to indicate a certain unease or fear around men.

However, she chose not to pry or ask Elis about it, sensing that it might be inappropriate. She respected the maid’s boundaries and understood that everyone had their own personal experiences and sensitivities.

As the conversation continued, the little dog in Anna’s hands barked again, drawing her attention. The princess’s forehead creased as she turned her gaze towards the puppy, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Wait... Why is this puppy so familiar?" Anna questioned, her voice tinged with curiosity. She studied the puppy intently, trying to remember. Suddenly, her eyes widened with recognition.

"Rhen?"

The puppy barked in response and affectionately licked Anna’s hand. Finally paying attention to the dog, Noah stepped forward and looked closely. His face filled with surprise as he realised that the puppy in Anna’s hands was the same one Armel used to carry in his sling bag. Rafe, too, was bewildered, not expecting it to be the same little dog Anna had found near the camp last time.

"It is you! Oh, you’ve grown bigger than the last time!" Anna exclaimed, her astonishment evident.

Ayden, who had been listening attentively, couldn’t help but inquire, "Who’s Rhen?"

Anna’s gaze remained fixated on the puppy, a broad smile etched on her lips.

"Rhen is the name of the puppy that I gave to Armel," she explained, a mixture of joy and sentimentality in her words.

The unexpected reunion with the puppy brought back memories of her dear friend, Armel, and the bond they shared.

"You know the puppy? How did it suddenly end up here?" asked Emily.

Elis chimed in, adding, "I don’t know where it came from. It just suddenly dashed in from the main entrance. I’ve been trying to catch him, but he ran so fast."

As the puppy continued to bark, Ayden couldn’t help but wonder about its behaviour.

"Why is it barking like that?" he asked, seeking an explanation.

Clara, drawing from her knowledge and experiences, offered a possible insight.

"Perhaps it’s trying to tell you something," she said. "I’ve trained eagles before, and when animals make repeated sounds, it could indicate a warning or some form of communication. Try to put it down. See how it behaves," suggested Clara.

Intrigued by the knightess’s suggestion, Anna followed her advice and gently placed the puppy on the ground. Instantly, Rhen began barking and jumping anxiously, displaying signs of restlessness.

Clara observed the puppy’s behaviour.

"I think it wants you to follow him," she concluded.

Anna, trusting the knightess’s instincts, agreed. "I think so too," she replied, recognising the possibility that the puppy was attempting to tell something important.

Noah, however, remained cautious.

"My lady, we can’t be certain if this is the same dog. The resemblance may be misleading," he warned, concerned about potential false assumptions.

Anna’s conviction remained strong as she addressed the knight, asserting her belief. "But, I’m sure this is Rhen, Sir Brooks. I’m really certain," she insisted, her voice filled with determination and conviction.

"Let me just take the dog and check on this matter," the knight suggested, hoping to confirm or dispel any doubts about the puppy.

As Noah approached Rhen and attempted to pick him up, the little dog growled and barked, displaying an apparent aversion towards the knight.

Noticing the change in Rhen’s behaviour, Anna remarked, "He doesn’t seem to like you. His barking tone is different from before."

Once again, Rhen approached Anna, this time biting her skirt to get her attention. The dog’s persistence only strengthened her resolve.

"He really wants me to follow. Let me go and see what he wants me to see," she declared, understanding that the dog held an urgent message or purpose.

Clara, supportive of Anna’s decision, encouraged her to go.

"Yes, you better go and see for yourself," she agreed, recognising the significance of Rhen’s actions.

However, Noah, concerned for Anna’s safety, warned her again.

"My lady, don’t go alone. We don’t know where the dog wants to take you," he advised.

Anna reassured the knight, dismissing his worries.

"Don’t be too worked up, Sir Brooks. We’re inside the mansion, not outside. This is not a dangerous place. I’m sure it’ll be safe. Just give me a moment to follow him," she responded, remaining confident in the familiar surroundings.

Noah’s concern persisted, and he couldn’t bear to let Anna go alone.

"I’ll go with you!" he offered, determined to ensure her safety and accompany her.

Elis, torn between her duty as a maid and her concern for the dog’s presence, made her decision.

"I must follow as well. Mr Foster will be angry if I let the dog roam freely in the mansion," she explained, aware of the strict rules enforced by the steward and feeling responsible for the situation.

Rafe’s thought about the potential arrival of the teenager who had caused trouble in the camp lingered in his mind. Determined to prevent disruptions, he expressed his desire to join Anna, Noah, and Elis.

"Oh, I want to go too!" he exclaimed.

If Armel had indeed sent Rhen, locating him and ensuring his immediate departure was important.

Appreciating the healer’s concern and his willingness to accompany them, Anna agreed wholeheartedly.

"Then, let’s go!" she responded excitedly.

The quartet, consisting of Anna, Noah, Rafe and Elis, set off to follow Rhen, leaving Emily and Ayden behind to accompany Clara.

Soon, they would face an unforeseen event at the mansion and meet unexpected guests.

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