The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 206: A Princess In Pain

Chapter 206: A Princess In Pain

Callis held her brother’s arm as they turned towards the door. Frustration and annoyance gripped her, and she couldn’t hold back her outburst.

"We should have gone straight to the palace instead of coming here in the first place! It was a mistake meeting him! I thought he was a reasonable person with good judgment!" the Mederian Princess exclaimed, her irritation evident in her voice.

Kyren, understanding the potential consequences if the matter reached his brother, the king, rushed forward in an attempt to stop Callis and her brother from leaving. In his haste, he reached out and grabbed the princess’s shoulder, unintentionally causing her pain. The sudden scream from Callis startled Kiev, who didn’t anticipate the grand duke’s action from behind.

"What did you do to my sister?" Kiev shouted, pushing Kyren’s hand away with anger.

The grand duke was taken aback by the princess’s reaction. In his moment of desperation, he had forgotten to consider that Callis was a woman and might be more sensitive to physical touch. He realised now that his desperate attempt to stop them had unintentionally caused pain to the princess.

"I’m sorry," Kyren admitted, "I don’t have any intention of hurting her."

Kiev continued to glare at the grand duke. His disbelief was evident in his expression. However, Callis promptly intervened, "It wasn’t due to him, brother." Her voice was laced with pain. "My shoulder is already strained from the earlier fight. It’s not his fault."

Kiev’s expression softened as concern replaced his initial anger. He turned to the princess with a worried look. "Why didn’t you tell me that you’re hurt?"

Callis winced but tried to downplay the severity of her injury.

"It’s not that bad. Besides, you can heal me later... I mean, treat me later," she quickly corrected herself, carefully choosing the right word to replace ’heal’.

As her brother advised, it would be best to hide their ability to use magic from the Cassians’ knowledge.

Kiev’s discontented expression shifted towards Kyren. His gaze was filled with scepticism and caution. The incident had only added to his reservations about the grand duke.

"Look what your subordinates had done to my sister! We came with no intention to initiate a fight, yet you all swarmed us with attacks without even trying to listen!" he scolded in a menacing tone. "Your knights rounded her and hurt her! Even though she’s a strong person, she’s still a woman! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Kyren’s face contorted with a mix of guilt and realisation as Kiev reprimanded him for the actions of his subordinates. The grand duke understood now that the mistake was on his side.

Had he allowed the siblings to enter and engage in a proper discussion, the fight could have been avoided. He regretted the reckless actions of his knights due to his order and admitted his error.

"I admit, I was in the wrong for allowing my men to attack you and your sister without giving you a chance for a proper conversation," Kyren acknowledged, his voice filled with sincerity. "Now, let’s talk again in a civilised manner."

"Why? Is it because you’re already aware of the consequences if this matter reaches the king?" Kiev’s voice dripped with disdain. "Is that why you suddenly have a change of heart?"

"Look... I am doing my best to be patient now," Kyren implored, trying to maintain his composure. "Please don’t provoke me or..."

"Or what? Do you intend to kill me and my sister since we’re already in your territory?" Kiev interrupted. "Don’t you dare think that you’ll be able to take advantage of us just because we surrendered our weapons to you!"

"You think I would stoop so low as to harm unarmed people? You question my integrity and accuse me of trying to take advantage of your surrender," Kyren’s voice trembled with controlled anger. "I may be fierce, but I am not a monster!"

"Hah! My men knew we both were here, and if anything happened, the army of Sabel Island would definitely come. You have seen how only the two of us faced your guards, gatekeepers and knights. What do you think will happen if more of us are here?" Kiev insinuated, his tone filled with defiance and a warning.

"I am not scared of your threats!" Kyren shot back with determination.

"Stop it, both of you!" Anna’s voice reverberated through the room, filled with a mix of frustration and desperation. Two pairs of eyes, one fiery red and the other intense blue, turned towards the princess, startled by her sudden outburst.

"You’re both so caught up in the conflict that you forget about me! Do you truly see me as nothing more than a puppet, unable to have a voice in my own life? This is my life we’re talking about! My life! Don’t I deserve a say in it?"

"Anna, I was just fighting my rights for you!" exclaimed Kyren.

"Me too!" Kiev defended himself.

"Enough! Cease this argument immediately!" As she crossed her hands, Anna’s words rang out with a commanding tone.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly to regain her composure.

The room fell into a tense silence. When the princess opened her eyes, she noticed Callis’s pained expression, a reflection of the toll the fight had taken on her.

"First things first, the princess needs to be treated," Anna declared as her eyes darted to Callis, bringing everyone’s attention in the room to the Mederian Princess.

Approaching Callis, Anna spoke politely while studying her face. "You look quite pale. I believe you need to sit down and receive medical attention."

Callis, taken aback by Anna’s concern, hesitated before responding, "It’s all right. I can bear with it."

"No," Anna insisted firmly. "We should get you treated. If not, the injury will only get worse."

Kiev chimed in, voicing his acceptance of Anna’s suggestion, "You’re right. I agree with you. At the very least, the grand duke should take responsibility for this and get someone to treat her since his men hurt her."

The prince gave a side look to Kyren with an annoyed expression.

Disturbed by the sight, Kyren relented, "Fine! I will summon my healer immediately."

"I think it’s best if we head down to the treatment room," Anna suggested, considering the current situation. "Rafe must be overwhelmed with patients right now. If we go there, he can attend to her and others needing help. Let’s make things easier for him."

"They’re not severely injured. Ayden can handle them," Kyren said firmly.

Despite the customary precedence given to a lord’s commands, the grand duke’s statement was not motivated by selfishness or arrogance. He prioritised the well-being of his men above all else. The assertion was based on his trust in Eric’s report, which assured that his men had indeed been spared during the fight.

"Nevertheless, they require the healer’s attention," Anna said. "Sir Henderson and Sir McQuinn have fainted, and so did the guards and gatekeepers, indicating a situation that demands further care and consideration."

Kyren voiced his worry, pointing out his opinion, "There are a lot of men there right now."

Anna reassured him, countering his concern. "Those are your men. I trust that they won’t act without necessity or your orders."

"You’re right. I’m just concerned. Given the recent altercation, these two peoples’ presence might cause unease if they reencounter each other. I’ll come down with you."

Kiev interjected, determined to support his sister, "And I will accompany my sister as well. I need to make sure she’s safe."

Anna agreed, relieved to see them finding common ground.

"Fine, we’ll all go. But let’s remember, no fighting for now."

Turning her attention to the knightess, who seemed overwhelmed by the commotion, Anna expressed her remorse, "I’m sorry you had to witness all of this while you’re still unwell, Clara. Please rest for now, and thank you for your help."

Filled with gratitude, Clara responded, "It’s all right, Your Highness. I don’t mind, and I’m glad I could assist. I only hope you won’t hate me after knowing who I truly am."

Anna approached her and sat at the edge of the bed, reaching out to hold Clara’s hand.

"I don’t hate you at all. How could I, after everything you’ve done for me?"

The princess gazed at her loyal escort, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding. She recognised that Clara’s past did not define her entirely, and she understood that there were circumstances beyond the knightess’s control.

"Thank you," Clara replied, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

"You’re welcome."

"Just rest now as I sorted out this matter. I’ll come back to see you later." Anna patted the knightess’s hand lightly before standing up.

"Your Highness..." Clara called before Anna turned.

"Yes?"

"The thing is... Although I can’t entirely agree with your position as a concubine, I won’t tell you who to choose. I hope you make a wise decision. Whomever you want to be with, I will always follow and stand by your side," the knightess sincerely stated.

Anna’s expression softened as she nodded, deeply touched by Clara’s unwavering loyalty.

"Thank you for your unwavering support, Clara. I truly appreciate it."

She felt a sense of relief knowing that the knightess had not taken sides but instead prioritised her desires above all else. It was a testament to Clara’s integrity and genuine care for Anna.

The Mederian siblings stood silently, observing the compassionate interaction between the princess and her loyal escort.

A warm smile graced Kiev’s lips as he witnessed firsthand the qualities Nessy had described in her letters about Anna. The princess’s loving nature and genuine appreciation for those around her were evident, confirming the sincerity of the nanny’s stories. This invoked Kiev’s desire to know more about his betrothed and to understand her on a deeper level.

Perhaps this encounter could serve as a catalyst for him to build a meaningful relationship with her.