The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 272: An Immediate Proclamation

Chapter 272: An Immediate Proclamation

Rafe’s voice trembled as he addressed the king, his disbelief evident in his tone. "Your Majesty, how... how can I..." he faltered, struggling to find the right words to express his confusion and apprehension.

The king’s response was unwavering, emphasising the weight of his authority.

"This is a royal decree, Rafe," he stated firmly. "As my loyal subject, you are bound to accept my order."

Rafe’s heart sank, his mind reeling with the situation. He bowed once more, his body language mirroring his inner turmoil.

The healer was at a loss for words, unable to fully comprehend the implications and consequences of the king’s decree. Yet, he recognised his duty to obey the command of the King of Cassian, leaving him in a position where going against the king’s demand was not an option.

In the midst of the tension, Kiev’s voice thundered through the library, vehemently disagreeing with the decision.

"This is preposterous!" he exclaimed, his frustration and protectiveness of his sister evident. How can I hand over my sister to an unknown man?"

The king’s response was swift, countering Kiev’s objection.

"He’s not an unknown man! You’ve met him and even requested him to be your mediator for the dispute on Anna," the king pointed out. "That shows you favour him."

"That’s different! And we’ve just met him for a few days! There’s no way my sister should be married to him!" countered the Mederian Prince with fervent objection.

King Kyden regarded Kiev with a calm expression, his gaze steady.

"But she chose him already and has devoted her feelings to the extent of declaring him as her soulmate. Shouldn’t you take into account your sister’s desire?" he asked with a measured tone.

Kiev’s frustration continued to simmer within him, but as he reflected on the king’s words, a sense of reluctance began to seep in. Deep down, he couldn’t deny the inherent fairness of the king’s statement. However, it was far from his acceptance.

"Your Majesty..."

Kyren’s voice drifted off when King Kyden shot him a pointed glance with his blue eyes. The grand duke quickly understood the decree’s purpose at that very moment—to prevent Rafe from being killed by the Mederian Prince.

"I disagree with your decision, Your Majesty!" Kiev defied.

King Kyden remained composed, responding with care and consideration, "A soulmate declaration is an act of immense love, and love shouldn’t be taking life, but giving something larger than life itself. The decision is justified and benefits both sides. Like I said, a life for a life and a heart for a heart. The deed was made by your sister, not by Rafe. So, it’s fair for her to make up for it by dedicating herself as his wife," the king explained.

Kiev’s objections persisted.

"You’re doing this only to save him!" he accused.

"In a way, yes, I admit to that," the king acknowledged. "But let us also consider the other perspective. Your sister will be married to her soulmate, so she won’t live in agony, yearning for him. Wouldn’t she be more than happy to marry him?" he asked.

"It’s a one-sided crush! They won’t be happy in a forced marriage!" Kiev argued. "He has no feelings for her!"

"Feelings can be nurtured after marriage. Princess Callis is a fine, beautiful lady. I’m sure she can captivate her husband well," the king replied confidently.

Callis’s heart pounded in her chest, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. Her dream seemed to be coming true, and the prospect of becoming Rafe’s wife filled her with joy.

However, amidst her excitement, a surge of worry began to gnaw at her. What if Rafe resented her for being forced into this marriage?

Interrupting the tense atmosphere, Kyren interjected, lending support to the king’s decision.

"Come to think of it, I believe Rafe does have feelings for her," he asserted.

"Your Highness!" the healer exclaimed, clearly perplexed by the sudden change in the grand duke’s stance.

His confusion was met with Kyren’s disregard as the grand duke continued to speak.

"He cared for her and was attentive to her when she was sick. My maid reported so."

Intrigued, King Kyden leaned forward with interest.

"Your maid? I thought you dismissed all your maids except for Rosalie. How did this maid of yours know?" the king asked.

"I did dismiss them... But this maid is newly appointed, and I made an exception for her. As requested by Prince Kiev, I lent her to Princess Callis to serve her because my knights got her injured. According to my maid, Rafe not only gave Princess Callis medical attention but also embraced her and fed the medicine to her himself," said Kyren.

Kiev’s anger flared at the report, his fists clenching. The dynamics within the room shifted as the king found the new information intriguing.

"How interesting!" the king commented.

Feeling the weight of the situation, Rafe spoke up, trying to defend himself.

"I was only fulfilling my role as her healer, Your Majesty! When she first got injured at Gerhard’s mansion, I treated her at His Highness’s order. So, in a way, she’s still my patient. I never intended to take advantage of her! I swear!" he admitted.

The king absorbed Rafe’s explanation.

"I see..." Then, addressing the grand duke and the healer, he ordered, "Both of you, rise."

They stood up, awaiting the king’s following words.

"Even so, when you met her at the festival, you talked to her and adorned her braid with flowers," the king continued, his smile growing.

"It was just a friendly conversation! We met coincidentally, and I helped her since she couldn’t do it herself due to her injury," Rafe explained.

The king’s smile widened, his tone filled with playful amusement.

"A friendly conversation, you say? I think this is something beyond a patient and healer’s relationship!" he remarked, hinting at a deeper connection between Rafe and Callis.

He then turned to the Mederian Princess, stating the complaint he had received from Kiev, "And you even went the extra mile to avoid being healed by your brother just to have another chance to see him. Seems to me that fate does come your way, princess."

Callis looked down in embarrassment and couldn’t utter a word.

"Your Majesty... I... I..." Rafe stammered, searching for an excuse.

However, he could not reveal his true intentions of getting closer to the Mederian Princess as it was part of the secret investigation ordered by the king.

"Tell me, Rafe, exactly how do you feel about her?" commanded the king, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.

Callis’s eyes were hopeful, fixed on the healer, eager to hear his genuine emotions.

Rafe hesitated, his gaze shifting towards Kiev, who wore a scowling expression that made him gulp nervously.

The king intervened, "Don’t be afraid. Just be honest."

Carefully choosing his words, Rafe began, "She... she’s a warm person that I enjoy talking to, and I harbour no ill feelings towards her."

Curiosity burning in his eyes, King Kyden pressed further, asking directly, "Do you like her?"

Rafe’s gaze flickered between the king and Kiev. His apprehension was evident. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "I think she’s lovely. Any man would be drawn to her... but I struggle to believe she could fall for someone like me. It just doesn’t make sense.... And the sudden order for us to marry... it feels overwhelming. We hardly know each other..."

At first, Callis blushed at Rafe’s initial response. But as she listened to his further explanation, worry began to grip her heart further, clouding her expression.

Kiev chimed in, echoing her concerns, "Exactly! I’m not convinced that he’s suitable for her! What if he ends up hurting her and making her unhappy? We can’t rush into this. It’s impossible!"

Kyren interjected, countering the Mederian Prince’s arguments, "It’s not impossible. If both of them agree, there’s no reason to deny their union."

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Rafe voiced his doubts, "Wait a minute! Please, can’t we reconsider this?"

The king’s tone turned stern as he asked, "Are you defying my order, Rafe?"

Rising from his seat, he approached the healer, halting his steps by the grand duke’s side.

Rafe quickly clarified, "Definitely not, Your Majesty! But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not good enough for her."

Kiev interjected, relieved to find common ground with Rafe, "Thank goodness he shares the same concern!"

To dispel any doubts, the king vouched for the healer, sharing his credentials, "If that’s your concern, let me assure you that Rafe Amares is a fine man. He once served as a royal healer to my father, the previous king, and my brother, who was the crown prince. When Kyren chose not to ascend the throne, Rafe decided to follow him. He’s not lacking in status and renowned as the best healer in Cassian."

The Mederian Prince questioned the king’s assurance, asking, "How can I simply believe that?"

With a touch of pride, King Kyden declared, "I am the Raychard descendant, the benevolent King of Cassian, and my ancestor was directly appointed by Her Imperial Majesty, the last Empress of Ro’an, to rule this blessed land. Am I not worthy enough to vouch for him? Are my words not trustworthy?"

Kiev found himself unable to argue against the king’s words, conceding to their weight.

The king then turned his attention to the main parties involved, shifting the focus to Rafe and Callis.

"Rafe Amares, do you agree to marry Princess Callis?" he inquired.

Rafe glanced between the king and Kyren, realising he could not oppose the royal decree. Bowing his head, he responded in defeat, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The king then turned to Callis, asking, "And you, Princess Callis, do you agree to marry Rafe Amares?"

With determination in her voice, the Mederian Princess replied, "I agree. I will take responsibility for what I’ve done and spend a lifetime making it up to him."

The king, now wielding his authority, determinedly proclaimed, "Then, by the power vested in me as the King of Cassian, I pronounce you husband and wife!"