The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 222: A Walk To The Secret Garden

Chapter 222: A Walk To The Secret Garden

Still reeling from the encounter with Sarah, Anna turned to Meredith and Sylvia, seeking an explanation for their actions. She couldn’t help but feel a mix of surprise and amusement at their boldness.

"Oh, my God! Mer! Sylvia! What was that all about?" Anna asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Sylvia grinned mischievously.

"Consider it a soft revenge. I’ve always wanted to give that woman a taste of her own medicine, but Meredith’s approach was more refined and justified."

Meredith smiled.

"I promised you I would crush anyone who tries to bully you. Considering her infatuation with your husband, I anticipated that Sarah would react this way."

"Has she confronted you before?" asked Sylvia.

"Yes, she did... once, before the proclamation," said Anna.

Sylvia’s brows furrowed.

"Why didn’t you tell us?"

"I didn’t think it was important since I knew I would return to the duchy soon," Anna explained.

She then changed the subject, turning her attention to Sylvia.

"By the way, Sylvia, what’s the story behind your mother’s family? I’m curious to know. Also, why did they seem afraid of you when you mentioned it?"

Sylvia put on a casual face, somewhat dismissively.

"Ah... it’s not something I like to brag about," she replied, evading the topic.

Meredith couldn’t help but interject, needing to clarify their friend’s previous statement.

"She may pretend not to brag about it, but she talks about it all the time," she said with a hint of amusement.

Anna’s curiosity grew, and she eagerly requested Sylvia to share the details.

"Please, tell me more."

"My mother is the youngest and only daughter of the Marquess of Sylvere, one of the four pillar families of Cassians," Sylvia began.

Confusion crossed Anna’s face.

"The Four Pillar Families of Cassian? I’m not familiar with them."

Meredith interjected to provide further information, "Aside from the Raychards, who are the royal family, there are four other families known as ’The Four Pillar Families of Cassians.’ These families were the original northern warriors who directly served His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Ro’an. They hold significant status and influence. The four families are the Duke of Sanad and the Duke of Greene, blood-related to the Raychards from the first king’s generation, the Marquess of Roland of whom Her Majesty the Queen’s family once served, and finally, the Marquess of Sylvere, Sylvia’s mother’s family."

Anna nodded, beginning to grasp the significance of Sylvia’s family background.

"So, it’s a high-ranking noble family, second only to the dukes. But why did your mother marry your father, who is a Count? Typically, noblewomen of such high rank would seek a match from an equivalent family," she said.

"My father’s eyes first fell upon my mother at a grand ball. They chatted, danced, and found themselves smitten with each other. Their relationship began to flourish from several secret meetings. Determined to make her his own, he approached my grandfather, humbly requesting her hand in marriage. However, his request was met with rejection," Sylvia recounted.

Anna’s eyes widened with concern. "Oh, dear! What happened next? Did he give up?"

Sylvia shook her head with a smile.

"No, he did not. He kept on coming to the march and pleaded over and over again. Annoyed, my grandfather instructed my three uncles to beat him mercilessly, but my mother intervened, saving my father from their wrath. He fainted in her arms, and my mother cried endlessly. Since she was the family’s apple, my grandfather and uncles had to give up and release him."

Anna’s voice filled with awe.

"That is incredibly romantic! It sounds like a story straight out of a romance novel."

Sylvia nodded.

"Indeed it does. Even when my mother recalls the tale, her cheeks still flush with that youthful blush."

Curiosity prompted Anna to ask, "How did your grandfather eventually agree to the marriage?"

"After the dramatic turn of events, my grandfather and uncles decided to conduct a background check on my father. They discovered that, while he may not have possessed the strength of a warrior, he was a sincere and honest man. This revelation satisfied my grandfather, who admitted to preferring a gentleman over a strict individual. He longed for a granddaughter, a desire unfulfilled until then, as all his grandchildren consisted of ten boys," Sylvia continued.

Meredith chuckled, "And that’s after pummeling your father so severely! It’s quite an unimaginable twist."

Anna voiced her admiration, "Sylvia, your father’s courage is truly remarkable. Hearing his story, I can’t help but admire him."

Sylvia’s response hinted at humour: "From my mother’s family’s perspective, however, he has always been seen as a bit of a pervert."

Meredith added her opinion, emphasising the rarity of such unwavering devotion, "Not many men are willing to go to such extraordinary lengths for love. So, it’s important to appreciate and trust your husband for the sacrifices he makes."

Anna’s concern resurfaced, causing her to look down. "I understand. That’s why I can’t stop worrying about him."

Meredith intervened to ease Anna’s anxiety, "Let’s set that matter aside for now, shall we? The more we dwell on it, the more nervous Anna will be. How about we focus on something else to relieve the tension? Where would you like to go?"

Anna took a moment to consider, attempting to redirect her thoughts.

"I’m not quite sure..."

"Do you want to eat something?" Sylvia asked.

Anna shook her head. "No, I don’t feel like it."

Sylvia then turned to Meredith, "Any ideas, Mer?"

"No, it’s been quite some time since I’ve been to the palace, except for the recent incident, and the place I’ve been is definitely not a perfect spot for enjoyment," Meredith replied, referring to her time in the prison dungeon.

Sylvia nodded in agreement.

"Yes, definitely not."

They continued walking down another hallway when they encountered two maids walking side by side, engaged in a lively conversation. As they approached each other, the maids bowed respectfully to Anna and the noblewomen.

Anna recognised them immediately and exclaimed, "I know you two!"

The maids looked up, surprised by the princess’s words. One of them tentatively asked, "My lady, you remember us?"

Anna nodded eagerly.

"Yes! You were the one who got scared when you found His Highness, the Grand Duke, on my bed, and you... " She turned her gaze to the other maid. "You’re the one who defended me against the other maids who spread malicious rumours about me."

The maid’s face turned pale upon hearing the princess’s statement.

"But... I never told that to anyone!" the maid exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and concern.

Anna responded to her, saying, "I saw it with my own eyes. I was under the nearby tree when it happened."

Overwhelmed by guilt, the maid fervently bowed, apologising.

"Oh, forgive me, my lady! I didn’t mean to hide it! I’m new here and didn’t want to cause any trouble!"

Anna quickly intervened, soothing her worries.

"It’s all right! I’m not here to reprimand you. I just want to say thank you for what you did for me. I truly appreciate it."

The maid slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with nervousness. "You do?" she asked tentatively.

Anna nodded warmly.

"Yes, I do. I’ll never forget your kindness. What’s your name?" she asked.

The maid replied, "My name is Scarlett, and my friend here is Mary."

Curious about the encounter, Meredith interjected, asking for more details, "What is all this about, Anna? What’s your story with them?"

Anna replied, "Just a few things that happened during my stay at the palace."

She proceeded to share her story with her friends.

Upon hearing the tale, Sylvia suggested, "Ah... then you should report this to His Highness! Let them be the witnesses for the slander case!"

Anna contemplated for a moment and responded, "No need. I believe the other maids aren’t the main culprits. Besides, the rumours have already died down. Bringing it up again would only cause unnecessary trouble for these two, and I don’t feel like pursuing it."

"You’re just too kind, Anna." Sylvia sighed.

"Thank you, my lady. We’re deeply grateful for your kind thoughts," Scarlett expressed her gratitude, bowing once more.

Mary, wanting to help further, offered, "My lady, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you heading to? I heard you left in a rush last night. Did you leave anything important in the room? I could go and fetch it for you."

Anna shook her head.

"Oh, I did return to the mansion last night, but I didn’t leave anything important behind. I just need to find a place to ease my stress. His Highness the Grand Duke is occupied with an important task, so I must wait for him to finish."

Meredith, seeking a secluded place for their conversation, inquired, "Can you suggest a more private location where we can freely talk? You both might know since you work here."

Scarlett pondered momentarily before suggesting, "How about that place?"

"Which one?" Mary asked.

"The secret garden," Scarlett answered.

"Oh, that one!" Mary exclaimed.

"There’s a secret garden in the palace?" Anna expressed her curiosity.

Meredith and Sylvia were also interested in knowing.

Scarlett clarified, "Well, it’s not exactly a secret garden, though there is a beautiful garden there. We call it that because nobody goes there anymore, except for the retired gardener and a few other servants responsible for its maintenance. It’s been temporarily closed."

"You’ll be amazed when you see it, my lady!" Mary added with excitement.

"What is that place, and why is it closed?" asked Anna.

"It is the Crown Prince’s quarters. It’s closed because there’s no new Crown Prince yet," said Scarlett.

Anna connected the dots, commenting, "That means it was His Highness, the Grand Duke’s place when he was the Crown Prince."

Scarlett confirmed, "Yes, my lady."

A smile formed on her face, and she turned to Meredith and Sylvia, who both shared her excitement.

"Lead us there!" Anna exclaimed, eager to explore the place.

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