The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 250: A King And A Father’s Duty

Chapter 250: A King And A Father’s Duty

Silence enveloped the air as the king contemplated Anna’s words. Not wanting to raise unease against the king, the princess decided not to dwell on the delicate matter anymore.

"I guess I’ve spoken enough for now. I should be on my way. The children are waiting for me," she stated.

The princess’s gaze shifted from Rhen to Armel. Her heart was weighed with the sorrow that enveloped her nieces due to the dismissal of their beloved governess.

At that moment, a compassionate idea blossomed in her mind—a way to alleviate their grief and bring solace to their wounded hearts.

"Thank you for taking care of Rhen so diligently, Armel. I appreciate your good efforts. If you don’t mind, may I borrow him for the day? The princesses would be thrilled to play with him," Anna politely requested.

"Of course, my lady! You entrusted him to me. How could I refuse your request?" Armel replied with a warm smile.

Intrigued by their interaction, the king asked curiously, "You both know each other?"

"Yes, we do. We met at the border when I resided at the camp," Anna explained.

"I see," the king acknowledged.

"Well then, I should take my leave. Please excuse me, Your Majesty." The princess curtsied.

King Kyden nodded, granting her permission, and Eli followed suit. The knight bowed to the king before accompanying Anna back to the room, taking the puppy with him as instructed.

Armel remained in place, not daring to request to be excused due to his lower status as a peasant. The king, about to depart, suddenly had a thought that compelled him to inquire further.

"How did you and her meet?" the king asked.

"My brother, neighbour, and I were ill, and we were driven away by our villagers, who believed we had a contagious disease. We sought refuge at the camp, as we had heard there were excellent healers within the army stationed there. Lady Raychard provided us with a miraculous medicine that saved us all and helped nurse us back to health," Armel explained.

King Kyden furrowed his brow, recalling the report provided by Kyren regarding the outbreak of Laradie at the border during his campaign to secure the southern Cassian borders near the City of Tarnova.

"So, you were one of the foragers," the king remarked, realising Armel’s involvement.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the teenager confirmed, surprised that the king was aware of his role.

"I read about you in one of the reports sent to me by the grand duke. He also mentioned another story... about a bouquet given to his wife..."

King Kyden’s voice trailed off. His tone indicated that the matter didn’t seem significant. However, his expression suddenly changed, and he gazed at Armel scornfully.

The teenager, already nervous when the incident with the flowers was brought up again, swallowed hard, his face turning pale.

"Are you the boy who gave her the bouquet with the red ribbon?" the king asked, his disbelief evident in his tone as he connected the puzzles in his mind.

Armel’s throat felt dry, and he gulped again, his fear intensifying.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I swear I didn’t know she was married when it happened. And... and... I have already confessed everything to Lady Raychard, expressing that I no longer have such feelings for her. I admired her and only wanted to be her friend," Armel pleaded with remorse.

The teenager knelt on the ground, begging for forgiveness. Fear coloured his expression.

"So, it was you!" the king exclaimed, ready to reprimand the young man who had dared to set his sights on his brother’s wife.

However, a thought crossed his mind, causing him to change his approach. He turned to the guards and instructed them to leave, seeking a private moment with Armel.

"Rise now, Armel Chester," King Kyden ordered, his tone steady.

Armel stood up, his body trembling. He had witnessed the king’s strictness firsthand, knowing that even his daughters were not spared from punishment, and the governess had faced the consequences of his judgment.

King Kyden’s eyes scrutinised the teenager, observing him from head to toe.

"How coincidental that you are here as the tour guide for Prince Kiev," the king remarked calmly. "Were you trying to pursue my sister-in-law?" he probed.

"Definitely not, Your Majesty!" the teenager replied earnestly.

He then recounted his initial encounter with Noah, Emily, and Clara when he was about to embark on his adventure with Rhen. He then described how he coincidentally met Prince Kiev and his entourage, sharing the circumstances that led to him becoming their guide.

"What a pleasant surprise!" King Kyden crossed his arms, his point finger tapping his arm as he pondered.

"I wouldn’t dare to pursue Lady Raychard, Your Majesty. I am well aware that I am not on the same level as her. I am grateful that she treated me kindly and still wishes to be my friend," Armel asserted, his voice filled with sincerity.

"I am certain my brother would not have spared you if he hadn’t already forgiven your actions. He is quite sensitive when it comes to matters involving Anna. So, I won’t harm you," King Kyden assured him.

Relief washed over Armel, grateful for the king’s leniency.

"However," the king continued, "as I always believe, wrongdoing is still a wrongdoing, and one must be held responsible for their mistakes. Therefore, you must do something to make amends for your actions."

Armel’s eyes widened with worry.

"Please, Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me with whips! I am still young and not as strong as a knight. I would surely not survive such punishment!"

The king chuckled softly.

"I have no intention of punishing you in that manner. Instead, I want you to do something as a means of atoning for your mistake," King Kyden said with a smile.

"What is it that you want me to do?" Armel asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You are currently with the Mederian royal siblings, correct?" King Kyden inquired.

"Yes, Your Majesty. They insisted that I stay with them until the duel is over. I am uncertain why they want me around," the teenager replied.

"I believe it is because you are beneficial to them, which is why they are keeping you for now," the king explained. "So, here’s the thing. I want you to observe their actions, listen to their conversations, and report everything to the healer, Mr. Rafe Amares. I will inform him about the task I am assigning to you."

Armel’s eyes widened in surprise.

"You... you want me to spy on them?"

The king shook his head.

"Not exactly spying, more like being observant. I’m not asking you to investigate them. Just keep the healer informed about everything you see and know. That’s all," King Kyden clarified. "It won’t be too difficult. You wouldn’t reject my request, would you?"

"No, Your Majesty! I will do it! I am a loyal Cassian, and my allegiance is always to you," Armel pledged with determination.

"Good! That’s what I want to hear. Take pride in knowing you will contribute to your kingdom," the king commended him.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Armel acknowledged, his resolve was firm.

"Very well then. Off you go! And remember, this task is to remain a secret. Only Mr. Amares and I should know about it. Do you understand?" the king emphasised.

"Yes! I will proceed immediately!" Armel bowed and swiftly departed, following the king’s orders.

King Kyden smiled, a sense of anticipation filling him. With a contented sigh, he began his walk to proceed with his daily schedule. Tonight, he would be officiating the prayer event for the mid-autumn festival at the plaza.

It was a momentous occasion for the kingdom, a time to come together in unity and celebrate the bountiful harvest and the blessings of the season.

***

"What? You dismissed Helen?" Queen Emelda’s voice reverberated through the air, filled with surprise and concern.

King Kyden stood his ground, defending his decision.

"I had no choice. It was a matter of repeated negligence that I couldn’t overlook," he explained.

Worry etched across her face as the queen inquired about the whereabouts of their children.

"Anna has taken them with her," the king responded. "She managed to calm them down from their crying and offered to accompany the princesses for the day."

A sense of relief washed over Queen Emelda upon hearing that the princess had taken charge of Laura and Lilith. She knew that Anna was more than capable of handling their children, as the little princesses had developed a strong bond with her during her previous stay at the palace. Both held a fondness for their aunt, and even the typically headstrong Lilith had shown obedience in her presence.

However, as she turned her gaze toward her husband, a look of discontentment crossed her features.

Sensing her dissatisfaction, King Kyden questioned her, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Do you understand how difficult it is to find a competent governess like Helen? She was the longest-serving and most patient with our children out of all the governesses we’ve hired," Queen Emelda expressed with frustration.

The king responded casually, "I don’t see why it’s such a big issue. There are plenty of good governesses available. We can always find a new one."

The queen’s voice held a hint of exasperation as she replied, "Yes, we can find replacements, but they won’t last long or be able to tolerate Laura and Lilith’s behaviour."

Perplexed, the king asked, "Why wouldn’t they be able to handle our daughters?"

With a sigh, the queen explained, "Because our princesses always manage to outsmart their governesses. Out of the four governesses we hired, three quit because of our daughters’ naughty antics. They played pranks like putting frogs in the governesses’ clothes, shaving the hair of one of them, and even filling another’s shoes with a dead bird. Laura and Lilith simply didn’t get along with those governesses, except for Helen."

King Kyden’s eyes widened in surprise as he processed the information.

"Why didn’t you inform me about this?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.

"I didn’t want to bother you with their naughtiness and the constant turnover of governesses. You were preoccupied with the kingdom’s affairs, so how could I? Besides, if I had let you know, I thought you would punish the children, knowing how firm you are about rules. So, I took it upon myself to handle the matter," Queen Emelda explained.

"The truth is, I’m surprised that Laura and Lilith didn’t exhibit the same misbehaviour towards Anna. They seem quite obedient and responsive to her, and she has a unique way of handling children," the queen continued, acknowledging Anna’s positive influence.

King Kyden’s tone softened as he responded, "You should have told me about this. It sounds as if I have neglected my duty as a father."

The queen quickly interjected, "That’s not what I meant. I simply didn’t want to burden you further. Our children are still young, and mischief is expected at their age. It’s my responsibility as their mother to ensure their proper upbringing."

The king’s remorse was evident as he admitted, "Forgive me for not being there for you and the children. I should have paid more attention to all of you."

Queen Emelda reassured him, "It’s fine, my king. I can handle it. Just please consider reinstating Helen. I truly need her presence and expertise."

Nevertheless, King Kyden remained firm, refusing to relent despite the persuasion.

"That’s non-negotiable. I have made up my mind. Helen must go," he decided.

"So, you’re resolute in this because of her repeated negligence?"

"Yes," the king replied firmly.

The queen’s eyes shone with determination as she uttered, "Then, should I dismiss you as well for your negligence?"

Surprised, the king exclaimed, "What? When have I ever been negligent?"

Queen Emelda’s expression turned to one of frustration as she looked at her husband. It seemed that, somehow, King Kyden had forgotten his own wrongdoings.

"You made Laura and Lilith fall twice when they were babies, bumped Laura’s head against the table, causing it to bruise and swell, and unexpectedly lost sight of crawling Lilith not once, but twice," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and then continued, "And let’s not forget the incident when you lost them during a game of hide and seek, resulting in mobilising the entire knights and palace guards to search for them, only to find them sleeping in a closet in your library. How does that compare to Helen’s negligence? Now, based on the number of cases, should I dismiss you from your role as the children’s father?" teased the queen.

Queen Emelda’s words struck a nerve within King Kyden, and he couldn’t hide his embarrassment. His face turned red, and he turned from his wife, feeling the weight of his past mistakes.

After a moment of silence, he relented, "Fine! I’ll bring Helen back."

A smile spread across Queen Emelda’s face, and she approached her sulking husband, hugging him from behind.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding," she expressed sincerely. "Helen is not perfect, just like you and me. Nobody is. But she’s better than the rest. Together, I believe we can improve. I’m sorry if my words hurt your feelings."

King Kyden sighed, realising his past mistakes. Owing them, he turned around and gently cupped Queen Emelda’s cheek, her hands resting on his waist.

"I’m sorry, too. Raising the children without having my full attention has undoubtedly burdened you. I promise I will pay more attention to you and them from now on."

The queen smiled gracefully, appreciating his apology and commitment.

"I’m grateful for that. Now, what about Laura and Lilith’s punishment?"

"I will not withdraw that decision as they had made two mistakes, one of which was severe. They must learn their lesson accordingly," the king asserted firmly.

The incident involving the two princesses and Armel’s puppy had been brought to Queen Emelda’s attention.

The queen lowered her gaze, feeling a sense of disappointment. However, understanding the gravity of the error and the importance of teaching her daughters a valuable lesson, she didn’t push the princesses to be exempted from the consequences of their actions. Deep down, she knew they needed to learn from their mistakes and understand the impact of their behaviour.

"But they still need to attend the prayer. It is the duty of the royal family to be present," the king continued.

Queen Emelda lifted her head, her eyes widening with anticipation.

"Does that mean they can watch the fireworks together after the prayer?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

The fireworks event was the most anticipated part of the festival for all Cassians.

"Considering their role as princesses of Cassian, they are allowed to do so. However, they must return to the palace once the fireworks are over. After that, their punishment will resume. They will be grounded in their rooms or spend time with Anna for three days if she agrees," the king explained.

"Oh, thank you, my dear!" the queen expressed with gratitude, understanding the good intention behind the punishment.

Since Anna would stay in the palace, Laura and Lilith would be thrilled to spend time with their aunt.

Embracing her husband, a tender kiss graced the king’s lips, creating a romantic atmosphere.

"You are truly a wonderful person, my love!" the queen exclaimed.

Their lips met again, and a rush of warmth and affection enveloped them. The tender embrace and the touch of their lips ignited a spark of love and appreciation within the royal couple’s hearts.

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