The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 278: A Bitter Past

Chapter 278: A Bitter Past

Ayden gently guided the wheelchair, allowing Clara to relish the cool breeze’s gentle caress as they strolled through the enchanting late afternoon scenery.

A radiant smile adorned the knightess’s lips, her heart brimming with joy at the opportunity to venture beyond the confines of her room.

"Can we make a brief stop at the garden? I would love to see the sunset," Clara requested, her eyes alight with anticipation.

Ayden readily agreed and deftly manoeuvred the wheelchair towards the garden path. They soon arrived at a picturesque spot, where a bench awaited them, positioned perfectly to face the setting sun. With utmost care, the assistant healer parked the wheelchair beside the bench.

"Is this place fine?" he inquired.

A wide, beaming smile graced Clara’s lips as she gazed at the sight of the sun’s crimson rays descending upon the horizon.

"It’s absolutely perfect!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight and awe.

Clara took a deep, cleansing breath, immersing herself in the enchanting beauty of the autumn scenery. Ayden settled onto the bench beside her, mindful of giving the knightess ample space to embrace the moment fully.

A sense of tranquillity enveloped them. The garden blossomed with an array of vibrant colours, harmoniously complemented by the warm, golden hues of the descending sun.

Clara marvelled at the breathtaking beauty of the autumn scenery, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I never realised that autumn could be so beautiful."

"Perhaps the scenery here differs from what you’ve seen in Constance."

Clara nodded with a smile.

"Indeed, it is. I never truly paid attention to it until now. Back in Ardel, we don’t even have a mid-autumn festival," she chuckled.

A sombre expression crossed Ayden’s face as he spoke with a tinge of disappointment.

"It would have been more exciting if you could attend the festival. I’m sorry for not being able to take you there. I wish I could, but given your injury, it would be risky to expose you to such a crowded environment."

Clara shook her head, understanding his concern.

"Please don’t apologise, Ayden. We can always go in the future."

"The mid-autumn festival in Gantz is the grandest in all of Cassian. In Gerhard, we have a smaller version of the festival. Not all of us get the chance to come to the celebration at the capital unless we’re selected to be part of His Highness’s escort for the night prayer. He usually attends if no urgent task requires his attention."

Clara’s curiosity was piqued as she inquired, "What is the night prayer?"

"It’s a cherished custom where His Majesty and the royal families gather on the festival’s first night to offer prayers for good health, peace, and a bountiful harvest for the kingdom and its people. His Majesty introduced a fireworks performance to attract more people to the prayer, and it has become the most anticipated event in the entire festival."

"I see... It must be wonderful," the knightess remarked.

Ayden nodded.

"Indeed, it is a truly remarkable event. Even Sir Brooks, who rarely shows interest in such festivities, is attending this time," he sighed.

"Then, you should go too! You clearly enjoy it, and it would be a shame to miss out."

"No, I should stay and accompany you. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same without you by my side," Ayden said.

A tinge of sadness crossed his face. Clara couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. His expressions showed that Ayden felt more disappointed about not being able to attend the event than she did.

"Don’t worry, Ayden. I completely understand my situation, and I’m aware why you can’t take me there," Clara reassured him. "Attending the fireworks show may be exciting, but my recovery is far more important. I must focus on getting healthy to return to my duty of guarding Lady Raychard."

"You’re addressing our lady as Lady Raychard now," he noticed.

"Yes. Though it’s disappointing that she only got to be His Highness’s concubine rather than a lawful wife, it’s clear that our lady is in love with him. Therefore, I should embrace their relationship," Clara stated. "I will continue to be her escort and protect her with all my might, regardless of her status in Cassian."

Ayden’s face turned gloomier.

"Dame Verns... about that..." his voice trailed off.

He remembered his promise to Rafe that the healer would personally inform Clara about the outcome of her major leg operation. Fearful of causing her distress, he had to keep the matter to himself.

"Please don’t worry about being unable to take me to the fireworks show. I really don’t mind," Clara reassured him, believing he was feeling down for not being able to accompany her to the festival. Little did she know, there was another reason behind his dismay.

Ayden nodded slowly, his gaze still weighed down by a mix of emotions. Observing the lingering sadness on the assistant healer’s face, the knightess searched for a way to uplift his spirits.

"Perhaps we could still enjoy the view from here. This mansion sits on higher ground, so we should be able to catch glimpses of the fireworks," she suggested.

"Yes, we can. Although it won’t be as close, we should still be able to see some sparks from the main yard," Ayden responded, his tone brighter than before.

A shy request escaped Clara’s lips.

"Then... would you accompany me tonight and watch the fireworks?"

The assistant healer smiled, a genuine warmth radiating from his expression.

"That would be wonderful, Dame Verns."

Clara couldn’t help but notice a small detail that had persisted between them for quite some time. She decided to address it.

"You know... it’s been a while, and you still call me by my title and surname. However, since you insisted, I’ve been calling you by your first name from the beginning. Shouldn’t you be calling me by my first name, too, by now?"

Ayden’s eyes widened at her remark, a hint of red hue colouring his cheeks.

"You... you want me to call you by your first name?"

Clara nodded.

"Why not? It’s only fair to address each other by our first name."

Ayden scratched the back of his neck, clearly shy.

"Actually... In Cassian tradition, calling a woman by her first name is a significant gesture. It’s usually reserved for those close to us, like... daughters, sisters, or someone special..."

"Someone special?" Clara repeated, a glimmer of realisation in her eyes.

Ayden hurriedly added, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity, "Yes, like close friends too!"

"Then... aren’t we close already?"

"We are."

"In that case, please call me Clara from now on," she declared, her heart blossoming with anticipation.

Ayden swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. He mustered the courage to respond, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"Do you mean it?"

Clara’s smile widened, radiating warmth and sincerity. "I do. So, please, call me that now."

Ayden gulped again, his heart pounding in his chest. With a mix of nerves and joy, he finally called her, "Clara..."

"Yes?"

"It’s a beautiful name," he said, his words sincere and filled with admiration.

Clara blushed, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"Thank you! Your name is beautiful too, Ayden."

Both of them couldn’t hide their happiness under the warm rays of the late afternoon sun. They basked in the moment, their smiles speaking volumes about the connection that had grown between them.

After a brief silence, Ayden decided to liven up the conversation again. Starting a new topic, he asked, "So... what did you want to ask about the book?"

Clara’s brows furrowed in confusion.

"What book?"

A chuckle escaped the assistant healer’s lips.

"You mentioned wanting to ask me about the book I gave you when you told me to accompany you back to your room earlier."

Recognition dawned on Clara, and she smiled sheepishly, feeling embarrassed for the unexpected excuse she had used.

"Ah... that... I forgot... I’ll take a look and let you know later."

Ayden smiled knowingly.

"You don’t have to pretend. I’m not slow-witted. You actually wanted to leave Sir Brooks and Miss Baker alone."

Caught in her ruse, Clara sincerely apologised, "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make fun of you."

"I know you didn’t," Ayden reassured her. "And I feel Sir Brooks will ask Miss Baker to accompany him to the festival."

A flicker of concern crossed his face at the assumption.

"Yes, I believe so. I’ve noticed that Emily lights up when Sir Brooks is around. It’s clear that she likes him," Clara expressed, expecting a budding romance between the knight and the former maid.

However, Ayden’s expression turned serious upon hearing her remark. He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Clara... Forgive me for saying this, but pairing them would not be a good idea."

Surprised by the assistant healer’s response, she questioned, "Why not? I can see that Sir Brooks is also interested in Emily. How can it not be a good idea if they both have feelings for each other?"

Ayden let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on a distant point. Clara noticed the change in his demeanour, her eyes searching his face for answers.

"What is it, Ayden? Is something wrong?"

The assistant healer took a deep breath and decided it was time to share something he had kept hidden about Noah, knowing how much Clara and Emily owed their lives to the knight.

"I haven’t told you or Miss Baker this before, but I think it’s important for you to know something about Sir Brooks."

Curiosity mingled with concern, and Clara urged him to continue. "Please, do tell."

"Sir Brooks is originally from Galicia, and he used to work as a mercenary in a guild there. He had quite a reputation in the kingdom and also in the neighbouring kingdoms. He travelled extensively across the continent, and his skills and capabilities are on par with Sir Navin. In fact, he used to be the second-in-command of the knights," Ayden revealed.

Clara’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Really? No wonder he’s so skilled!"

Ayden’s expression grew sombre as he proceeded.

"Yes, but he also has a notorious reputation... I can’t say for certain what he did back then, but I can tell you that those were definitely not clean jobs."

Clara’s brows furrowed.

"Are you saying he was involved in something illegal?"

Ayden nodded solemnly.

"It’s possible. His past is shrouded in mystery, and there were rumours about his involvement in activities that went against the law and moral standards. However, no one has questioned that because he entered the knighthood on His Highness’s orders. He was demanded to serve His Highness after losing a duel with him."

"Even so, those were things he did before he joined the knighthood. Surely he must have changed afterwards," Clara insisted, holding onto the belief that people could change.

Ayden’s expression remained grave as he responded, shaking his head.

"Not really. He continued to exhibit the same behaviour he had before. He was a womaniser, engaging in affairs with numerous women, a gambler and a heavy drinker as well. Many of his actions were prohibited by Cassian law, so he sought outlets in other kingdoms to indulge in his vices. We brought this matter to the attention of His Highness, and he was reprimanded multiple times. There was a period when we thought he was improving, but..."

Ayden’s words trailed off, his thoughts drifting to the darkest Chapter in the history of the Knighthood of Gerhard.

Clara’s intuition kicked in, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Something happened, isn’t it? You mentioned that he was the former second-in-command knight, and now Sir Navin holds that position."

A pained expression crossed Ayden’s face as he nodded.

"Yes. During a journey to Dracor, while escorting His Highness, Sir Brooks committed a grave offence that brought immense shame upon the knighthood."

Clara’s eyes widened with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"What did he do?"

Ayden’s voice turned heavy with sorrow and disgust as he revealed the horrifying truth.

"He r*ped and killed a woman. He committed this heinous act when the others were away, and upon their return, he had just finished. She was strangled to death."

Clara instinctively covered her mouth in surprise as she listened to the story.

"He narrowly escaped a death sentence due to the circumstances surrounding the incident. It occurred in Dracor, and the victim happened to be a slave. The witnesses only caught sight of him half-n*ked, lifting her lifeless body, providing incomplete evidence. We petitioned for his removal from the knighthood, but His Highness, the Grand Duke, had the final say in his judgment. Sir Brooks was sentenced to a hundred floggings, with the expectation that if he survived, he would remain in service. Miraculously, he endured the punishment. Hence, he still holds a position within the knighthood, albeit demoted to a lower rank to appease the discontent."

"Oh, my God! This... this is truly shocking!" Clara gasped, struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

"I know. I understand that you and Miss Baker may have had a different perception of him, and I don’t intend to vilify him in your eyes," Ayden responded.

"He must have undergone significant changes after such a sentence and demotion," Clara suggested, grasping at the possibility of redemption.

"He did change, but not in the way we had hoped. He distanced himself from us as if harbouring resentment for the petition we made. Naturally, at that time, we were all angry and despised him for what had occurred," the assistant healer explained, a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

"But he was presumed not guilty," Clara pointed out, seeking a glimmer of fairness.

"If the incident had occurred in Cassian, not only would he have faced execution, but the entire knighthood would have suffered the consequences. Many were in an uproar about the incident, but His Highness’s ruling prevented further complaints," Ayden clarified.

"I’m at a loss for words," Clara admitted, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on her.

"Though it may sound harsh, I believe it would be better for Miss Baker to seek another man if she desires a serious relationship. Sir Brooks is not the right one for her," Ayden advised.

"But... can’t he be forgiven?" Clara questioned, her voice tinged with hope.

"He is a r*pist and a murderer, Clara! Someone who has taken an innocent life bears the burden of sin before God. How can he be forgiven? The only reason we all continue to accept him is out of respect for His Highness’s decision to retain him. Personally, I can never fully accept a person like him as a comrade, let alone a friend!"

Ayden’s face contorted with anger. Clara’s heart sank as she absorbed his words. A sharp pain pierced her, knowing that she, too, had taken an innocent life before. She had hoped for understanding and forgiveness, but it seemed out of reach.

"It’s getting late. Let’s go inside," Ayden suggested, oblivious to the turmoil within the knightess.

"Yes," Clara replied softly, her voice barely audible.

The spark she had felt with Ayden earlier had extinguished. She now understood that the assistant healer would never accept a murderer like her.

A feeling of isolation washed over Clara as Ayden pushed her inside, her heart heavy with the weight of her past.

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