The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 231: The Incoming Knot

Chapter 231: The Incoming Knot

Meredith blushed even more profoundly, nodding in confirmation.

"Good heavens! This is incredible news!" the queen exclaimed, her face lighting up joyfully. "A union between the lady-in-waiting and the knight of Gerhard is truly a momentous occasion. And to think, Sir Jarr is the second son of the Duke of Sanad, still blood-related to the Raychards, albeit distantly. This is absolutely wonderful!"

Anna turned to Meredith, a mix of excitement and curiosity in her eyes.

"How come you never told me, Mer?"

Meredith hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Actually, I never thought it would happen. We had some misunderstandings initially, and I believed he was uninterested. But this morning, he revealed his true feelings to me, and we have decided to expedite our union. I haven’t told you yet because of the current situation, and we haven’t sought permission from His Highness the Grand Duke."

Rafe, silently listening, widened his eyes in disbelief at the revelation. The news of Meredith’s unexpected romance took him by surprise, especially when it involved Alex, known for his stoic behaviour.

The queen, ever supportive and understanding, smiled reassuringly.

"Well, we shouldn’t hinder the course of love and happiness. You have my full support in this, Lady Grey. In our culture, when the intention of marriage is already brought forth, it is customary to handle it swiftly. I will personally ensure that the grand duke grants his permission for this union as soon as possible."

Meredith bowed her head gratefully.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your support means the world to me."

"Oh, please forgive my curiosity, as I am not well-versed in Cassian culture. But, why is it customary for a marriage to be expedited when the couple already intends to marry?" Anna asked, seeking clarification.

"It is done to uphold the honour and dignity of the maiden, ensuring that the suitor does not engage in any immoral acts towards the future bride. When two people are in love, there is often a desire for physical intimacy, and expediting the marriage helps protect the maiden’s chastity until the wedding day," answered the queen.

"Yes. It is considered improper for an unmarried gentleman even to hold a maiden’s hands unless they are engaged in courtship with the intention of marriage, and suitors are not allowed to go beyond that," added Sylvia.

"I understand now," Anna replied, grasping the significance of the tradition. "So, physical intimacy is strictly forbidden before marriage."

Queen Emelda nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it is strictly prohibited. The consequences for engaging in such acts can be severe, particularly for the man involved."

Curiosity still lingered in Anna’s mind, and she posed another question, "Why is the tradition so strict?"

"The rules are established to protect women from physical and s*xual abuse by men. In Cassian society, women are highly valued, and any attempt to harm them is considered a grave offence," explained Sylvia.

She continued, elaborating on the societal structure. "Before marriage, a woman is under the care of her parents or immediate family. Her father, grandfathers, brothers, and uncles are responsible for providing for her. In case where a woman is an orphan or lacks male relatives, she falls under the care of His Majesty, the King."

Queen Emelda interjected, affirming Sylvia’s statement, "That’s correct. In such circumstances, women and children are placed in safe houses fully funded by His Majesty. For those who have reached marriageable age and wish to marry, arrangements are made to find suitable suitors. This ensures that men always protect them. Widows and others who do not wish to marry continue to be under the care and protection of His Majesty."

Anna nodded, taking in the explanation.

"Indeed, Cassian culture differs from Ardel in many ways," she remarked, appreciating the unique aspects of the kingdom. "The emphasis on the well-being and protection of women is truly admirable."

Rafe nodded, acknowledging Anna’s observation.

"You are correct, my lady. In the case of healers, they are exempted from the strict traditions and rules regarding physical contact as they are permitted to touch women for the purpose of healing. However, it’s important to note that if a healer is found to abuse this privilege and take advantage of their female patients, they face severe consequences, including execution by hanging. As healers, we always exercise caution and professionalism when treating them as our lives depend on it."

Anna recalled the previous conversation in which Rafe had explained this to the Mederian Prince.

"Ah, yes. I remember you discussing the same topic with Prince Kiev during Princess Callis’s treatment."

The luncheon continued with more casual conversations, and as they nearly finished, Anna expressed her need for rest. Rafe kindly offered to inform the knights, who were enjoying their lunch in the adjacent dining room, to escort her.

As the healer entered the room, the clatter of cutlery ceased, and the knights turned their attention towards him.

"Lady Raychard wishes to move to another room to get some rest," the healer announced.

Eric, quick to take charge, issued an order to the knights, "All right, everyone! Let’s escort her to the designated room."

Before the group could disperse, Rafe interjected. "Before we proceed, I have something important to share. It has come to my attention that one among us is involved in a serious relationship and intends to marry."

His piercing grey eyes locked onto Alex as he revealed the surprising piece of information.

The room fell into a stunned silence, most of the knights exchanging bewildered glances.

Unaware of the news, Damon broke the silence with a curious inquiry.

"Who is getting married?"

Rafe’s gaze intensified as he squinted at Alex.

"Isn’t it time you admit that you’re the one marrying that crybaby lady?" he teased.

Alex’s face flushed crimson, the revelation catching him off guard.

Unable to contain himself, Eli blurted out, "Crybaby lady? Who on earth are you talking about, Mr Amares?"

Sighing with resignation, Drystan spoke up, "He’s referring to Lady Grey. It seems I’ve missed my opportunity to court her before it even began."

Annoyed by the nickname, Alex protested, "Stop calling her that! She’s not a crybaby."

Rafe, obviously entertained by the situation, continued to poke fun.

"She truly is a crybaby. Remember how she shed tears at the mere sight of blood and how easily she was frightened due to her imprisonment? No wonder she clung to your hand when you rescued her from the dungeon. I’ve always wondered who would be interested in such a pampered woman. Turns out it’s you!"

"Ah, the news has already spread to the other room. Ladies surely can’t resist a bit of gossip!" Eric remarked.

Rafe turned to the second-in-command knight and Drystan, giving them a curious look.

"So, you two knew about this?"

"Drystan and I happened to stumble upon them holding hands in the garden this morning. They explained their desire to marry and seek His Highness’s permission," said Eric.

Garin, known for his protective nature towards women, voiced his concern.

"You haven’t done anything untoward to her, have you?" he asked Alex.

"Of course not!" the knight replied earnestly. "I only held her hands."

Luke, known for his sharp perception, asked Alex, "Are you sure there was nothing more?"

Drystan stared at Alex, making the knight turn nervous.

"That stoic face of yours... Others might be unable to decipher it, but I’ve always been paired with you. Something surely has happened!"

Alex swallowed nervously, realising his face had given away more than he intended.

Eli, always quick to voice his thoughts, couldn’t contain himself any longer. He blurted out with a mischievous grin, "Ha! It’s clear as day. He’s definitely done something!"

"What did you do?" Rafe asked with a concerned expression.

With a face of guilt, Alex stammeringly answered, "She... she asked me to kiss her... but I didn’t! Well... not exactly..."

"What do you mean, not exactly?" Eric approached Alex with a stern face. "The matter of a maiden’s virtue is important in Cassian, my fellow knight. You know what the punishment is if you ever touch her with or without her approval."

Among the knights, Noah chose to remain silent in the heated discussion. He understood that his previous lifestyle, which had involved relationships with numerous women, had caused quite a stir within the knighthood when he first joined them, as it didn’t align with the Cassian culture.

Fortunately for him, his origins were not from the kingdom, and his previous occupation as a mercenary kept him outside its borders.

This stroke of luck had spared him from facing the harsh punishment that might have been imposed on him for engaging in relationships with both married and unmarried women.

Since joining the knighthood, Noah had attempted to sever ties with his previous affairs at the behest of the grand duke. He had embraced his new life wholeheartedly, devoting his loyalty towards Kyren, though it wasn’t easy for him to change.

"I only kissed her cheeks! I swear!" Alex admitted in the end, after being pushed by the knights.

"Dear Lord!" Rafe exclaimed, pressing his temple in mild exasperation before letting out a resigned sigh. "We must expedite this matter and ensure you marry Lady Grey before anything else happens. This is crucial!"

Alex nodded, a mix of determination and concern on his face.

"I truly want to marry her, Mr Amares. I even sought Sir Navin’s assistance. But given the current situation..."

Rafe turned to Eric standing nearby.

"Sir Navin, let us inform His Highness about this promptly. The sooner he is aware, the better."

The knight nodded.

"Agreed, Rafael. And as for you, Sir Jarr," he addressed Alex directly, "I will assign Sir Henderson to accompany you whenever you wish to meet Lady Grey until your wedding. You are not allowed to meet her alone."

Alex’s eyes widened in surprise.

"What? Why?"

Eric’s tone became serious as he explained the reasoning behind the restriction, "Holding hands is the only acceptable physical contact during courtship. However, you went beyond that. Men’s lust can be dangerous, my friend. First, it begins with innocent touches on the cheeks, then progresses to the lips. If left unchecked, it can lead to more perilous situations."

Indignant, Alex protested, "But I am a knight of chivalry! I would never do such a thing!"

Eric fixed him with a knowing gaze.

"Really? Tell me, when you kissed her cheeks, did your heart not beat loudly? Did you not yearn for more? And when she asked for a kiss on the lips, did you not narrowly escape the temptation?"

Alex was taken aback, his voice barely a whisper. "How... how did you know?"

Eric smiled knowingly.

"You’re talking to the Love Coach. I know these things all too well. Love and lust can blind even the most honourable knight. So, before anything worse happens and to safeguard the reputation of our knighthood, we must handle this properly and ensure Lady Grey becomes your lawful wedded wife. Not only her reputation but our knighthood name is at stake, and I will not allow you or anyone else to taint it," he said firmly.

All the knights nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of the situation. Only Noah remained silent. However, as he looked at Alex, a flicker of thought played in his mind, hinting at something unspoken.

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