The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 232: Postponement Of The Duel

Chapter 232: Postponement Of The Duel

The Knights of Gerhard exchanged concerned glances as they listened to the grand duke’s explanation of the alarming situation surrounding an unknown army’s breach of Agathe Islands.

Following the grand duke’s order, they gathered inside the discussion room to discuss the matter at hand.

"We need to gather the knighthood for this!" Luke exclaimed in alarm.

Kyren’s response was resolute.

"No, I will not be sending my knights this time. Admiral James will lead the counterattack, and I will go as the representative of His Majesty."

Eli’s curiosity grew as he asked, "A representative of His Majesty? But why?"

The grand duke’s eyes reflected both seriousness and determination as he explained, "Agathe Islands are currently under the possession of Cassian and Galicia. As we enter the small island that belongs to Galicia to assist its residents, I must go as a political representative. Despite not having a further alliance with the kingdom, we cannot simply allow our enemies to occupy the small island. They pose a threat to the entire chain of islands, and we must eliminate them all."

"That makes sense since our army will enter the Galician island."

Drystan nodded in understanding.

Garin then said, "In that case, we should at least escort you."

"The numbers of our force are sufficient. The admiral is currently assembling a force of five thousand, consisting of the Royal Knights and the Knights of Neblim. There is no need for you to come with me," Kyren stated firmly.

Luke couldn’t hide his surprise.

"You’re not taking any of us with you?"

"Not this time. I have a crucial task for all of you. The duel between Prince Kiev and me has been postponed due to the current situation. Therefore, I need you all in my absence to escort and protect my wife, particularly from the Mederian Prince. We all know he is strong and possesses magic, so I require your vigilance to ensure he won’t attempt anything against my wife," said Kyren, laying out his plan.

Alex asked concernedly, "Who will serve as your escorts then?"

"The royal knights will take on that responsibility," the grand duke replied.

"How long do you anticipate being gone?" Drystan inquired about the timeline.

"Given the circumstances, it could be several weeks to a few months. I will expedite matters as much as possible," Kyren answered, determined to resolve the situation swiftly. "His Majesty is addressing Prince Kiev with Rafe regarding the duel’s postponement, allowing me to focus on war preparations. As of now, I want you to arm yourselves and be ready as we are going for the hunt."

Damon posed a question, slightly puzzled, "Are we still pursuing the Ardel’s ambassador’s delegation? I thought you mentioned having preparations to attend to."

Kyren nodded, acknowledging the valid concern.

"I do. But for now, Admiral James will cover me. Tomorrow, I will continue with the preparation and strategy discussions. We must take the opportunity to proceed with what we’ve planned this morning. It would be too late if the Bargesians had crossed the border to the other kingdom. They all must be eliminated, no matter the cost. I have convinced His Majesty to halt the alliance with Ardel, as there is a possibility that the kingdom is involved in providing medical kits to the army occupying the islands," explained Kyren.

"Ardel is involved?" Eric asked, seeking clarification.

"It is not certain yet," the grand duke replied.

He then told the knights about the medical kits and the pennon found in the possession of the army invading Agathe Islands.

Noah’s anger surged as he voiced his frustration, "That betraying Prime Minister of Ardel is surely in cahoot with the Bargesians!"

"I believe so. That is why I need to investigate further and gather evidence to sever the alliance without compromise. This will also be a good cause for us to attack Ardel and seek revenge for my wife. Therefore, she must remain unaware of this."

"Understood, Your Highness," Eric responded dutifully.

"Take me with you, Your Highness! I can assist with the investigation," Noah, eager to contribute, urged.

Kyren shook his head.

"No, Noah. In terms of combat, you are on par with Eric. I need you to safeguard my wife together with the rest."

Noah took a deep breath. As he observed the worried expression on the grand duke’s face when Anna was mentioned, he realised just how crucial she was to Kyren.

Understanding the weight of the responsibility entrusted to him, he responded with determination, "In that case, I wholeheartedly accept this task."

"Very well then. Apart from Damon and Eli, everyone else, prepare yourselves for the hunt," Kyren commanded. "You two shall guard Lady Raychard until we return. We won’t be long since there are not many of them. We shall eliminate them all by today," ordered Kyren.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the two knights responded in unison.

"Before that, Your Highness... there’s something that requires your attention," Eric interjected. "Though it may not be the most appropriate time, I believe you should know before you leave, as we’re uncertain when you’ll return exactly."

Curiosity piqued, Kyren turned his attention to Eric.

"What is it?" he inquired, his tone serious.

The knights exchanged glances, and all eyes settled on Alex, who seemed visibly nervous.

Sensing their stares, the grand duke directed his gaze towards the knight.

"Alex, what is the matter?" he asked, his voice commanding yet concerned.

Alex’s face flushed red, clearly overwhelmed by anxiousness. He paused for a moment before finding the courage to speak.

"What is wrong? Why are you hesitating?" Kyren prodded, sensing the knight’s hesitation.

Impatient, Eric spoke up, urging Alex to reveal the truth. "Go on! Say it, or I will!"

Taking a deep breath, Alex finally opened his mouth to speak.

"Your Highness... I would like to seek your permission to marry Lady Grey," he confessed, his voice filled with determination.

Kyren’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected request.

"Since when have you been in a relationship with her?" he inquired, trying to comprehend the situation.

"It isn’t exactly like a typical relationship, Your Highness. We just realised that we have mutual feelings towards each other," Alex explained.

The grand duke scrutinised the knight’s response.

"Did you ask her father’s permission to court her?" he questioned, emphasising the importance of proper protocol.

Alex’s response revealed a lack of formality.

"I didn’t. It happened spontaneously," he admitted.

Eric, unable to contain himself, added more details.

"He held her hands and kissed her cheeks, Your Highness," he reported.

Kyren’s expression turned stern as he absorbed the information.

"You did what?" he exclaimed.

"I swear, Your Highness, I wasn’t trying to take advantage of her!" Alex responded swiftly.

The grand duke approached the knight with an intimidating look, his gaze piercing.

"Do you realise the gravity of your mistakes?" he questioned sternly.

"Yes, I do," Alex replied, bowing his head to acknowledge his errors.

The grand duke’s voice carried a tone of reprimand as he continued. "Courtship is only allowed after a woman’s guardian has given his permission, but you went behind her father’s knowledge. Furthermore, you engaged in physical intimacies with her. If you hadn’t brought up your intention to marry her, I would have slapped your face until you bleed!"

"I apologise, Your Highness! I have made a grave mistake," Alex expressed remorsefully, his voice filled with repentance.

Eric interjected, providing further context.

"I’m afraid Her Majesty the Queen already knows about their relationship. It’s only a matter of time until His Majesty the King and Lord Grey also find out. That’s why I brought this matter to your attention," he explained.

Kyren took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to Alex’s bowing figure.

"Do you love her?" he asked, his tone slightly softer.

"Without a doubt, I do!" Alex replied.

"Then, let your family know and arrange for the betrothal. Don’t wait for my return. Since you already engaged in intimacy with her, it would be better to proceed with the marriage as soon as possible," he advised.

"So... you’re giving your permission?" Alex asked as he lifted his head, looking at the grand duke for confirmation.

"Do you want me to knock your head or something? That lady is now your responsibility! If you back down, I’ll make sure I end your life before Lord Grey does!" he warned.

"I promise, Your Highness, I will be responsible," Alex assured with determination.

His heart fluttered when he heard the confirmation from the grand duke.

"Good." Kyren’s gaze shifted to encompass all the knights present. "Now, I will meet my wife and convey the news of my departure. Make sure you’re all ready when I come back."

"Yes, Your Highness!" the knights responded in unison.

***

"I accept!" Kiev responded promptly upon hearing the King of Cassian’s proposal to postpone the duel as the grand duke would soon be leaving for Agathe Islands.

King Kyden raised an eyebrow, surprised by the prince’s quick agreement. He had anticipated some resistance and had prepared additional excuses to support Kyren’s case.

Rafe, too, glanced at the Mederian Prince in astonishment. He was well aware of Kiev’s stubborn nature, having witnessed previous altercations during the fights and dispute meetings ever since the Mederian Prince and his sister had arrived at the Gerhard mansion.

Meanwhile, Kiev had been anxious when summoned by the king, expecting the duel to proceed. The news of the postponement brought immense relief to him.

"I thought you wouldn’t agree," King Kyden remarked, noting the Mederian Prince’s unexpected compliance.

Kiev swiftly searched for a valid excuse, his mind working quickly to respond.

"It is your highest responsibility to protect the blessed land as Her Imperial Majesty desired. Therefore, such a security matter should be faced with utmost priority. As a supporter of the empire, I shouldn’t hinder you from your main task," the prince explained, offering a reasonable justification for his agreement.

"Indeed, it is good to see that you fully understand this," the king replied, appreciating Kiev’s cooperation. "Therefore, as a token of gratitude, I would like to invite you to stay in the palace until the duel is over."

Kiev pondered for a moment, considering the safety of Jessy, who was left at the inn. If she was exposed to the Ardelian they had encountered earlier, it could pose a significant problem. It would be best for him to accept the invitation. Additionally, another thought crossed his mind as he formulated a plan.

"I accept, Your Majesty. For your information, several of my people are waiting at an inn in the capital. Would it be fine if I also asked them to join us for the stay? They are not many, only my sister’s nanny and four of my guards," Kiev requested.

"Certainly! The Mederians are always welcome in Cassian. I am truly honoured to have you all as my guests!" King Kyden replied with a warm smile.

The Mederian Prince continued, "Also, I have another request in mind, Your Majesty."

Curious, the king asked, "And what would that be?"

"Since it has been decided that the duel is postponed for now, I would like Princess Anna to stay in the palace as well. As per the rule, she doesn’t belong to either me or the grand duke for now. Therefore, she shouldn’t be staying at the grand duke’s mansion. I trust Your Majesty as the justified and benevolent king who would temporarily be her guardian until this matter is resolved," Kiev explained.

King Kyden contemplated the matter momentarily, then turned to Rafe for confirmation.

He asked, "Is this agreed upon before the duel?"

Rafe hesitated briefly, then replied, "According to the rules, it is. His Highness’s request does make sense."

The king considered the situation carefully, weighing the implications. After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision.

"Very well, then. I shall relay the message to the grand duke."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I appreciate your kind hospitality."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.