The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 283: His Yearning For Love

Chapter 283: His Yearning For Love

The room fell into peace as Elis glanced out the window, watching the final firework burst into the sky. The vibrant red hues, illuminated by the sparks, gradually faded back into the darkness of the night after a few moments.

"More!"

Kiev’s voice shattered the tranquillity. His order broke the silence and caused the maid to turn her head towards him.

Hesitant, she approached him, noticing the reddened flush on his fair complexion.

"Your Highness, you’ve had enough. It’s best to stop now," she said with genuine concern.

"I said more!" The Mederian Prince’s voice rose, dismissing her advice.

Elis flinched at the sudden outburst, her shoulders tensing. Slowly, she walked to the cupboard and retrieved another bottle. Her hands deftly uncorked it with an opener, and she cautiously approached him again.

"Does it really matter to have it?" Kiev questioned before Elis poured the drink.

"Pardon?" the maid asked, confused by the context of his statement.

"The soulmate bond..."

The Mederian Prince chuckled unexpectedly, setting the glass he held onto the side table next to him.

Before Elis could inquire further, Kiev continued.

"My people said the longing for love from a soulmate is so powerful that once you feel it, you can’t resist it, no matter how hard you try. Over time, it only grows stronger," he said, his voice filled with a sense of resignation.

Understanding dawned on Elis, grasping the essence of Kiev’s words.

"Even so, she shouldn’t have forged such a dangerous bond. She’s risking not only her heart but also her entire future. If the healer doesn’t reciprocate her love, she’ll be in agony for the rest of her life. Don’t you find it absurd to do that?" the Mederian Prince added in a frustrated tone.

"I may not be in a position to say this, but love can drive us to do things beyond our rational judgment. Perhaps that’s how Her Highness Princess Callis thought and felt," Elis finally responded, her words chosen carefully after a brief pause.

Kiev let out a sigh, his expression heavy with solemnity.

"You don’t know how worried I am right now. I cannot bear to see my sister suffer," Kiev confessed, his concern etched into his voice.

"It couldn’t be that bad... Mr Amares is a kind and responsible person. He agreed to the marriage, as you said. He would eventually accept her," the maid tried to reassure him.

"I’ve seen it firsthand, Elis. Unrequited love only brings misery. Callis will end up just like she did. She endured tremendous consequences for her actions, and now my sister is following the same path. I fear that history will repeat itself," Kiev explained with a heavy heart.

"I... I don’t understand," the maid admitted, her confusion evident.

"Of course you don’t. None of you would because you’ve never witnessed the agony and pain of yearning for a love that was never there. I have seen it... I have witnessed how pitiful a person’s life was when she loved someone she declared a soulmate, only to find out it was a fraud. To make matters worse, that person was only using her for his own benefit, and it ended in devastation," the Mederian Prince revealed in a sad tone.

"Who are you referring to, Your Highness?" Elis inquired with curiosity.

Kiev rose from his seat, leaving the maid behind, and silently walked to the window. His gaze fixated on the distant night sky, memories flooding his mind as he pictured the face of a woman who had long gone.

"My angel," he replied, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

Elis initially thought the Mederian Prince was drunk and speaking nonsense. However, Kiev added, "I was still a child back then, and she was already a lovely, captivating, full of life and compassionate lady. Her voice was the sweetest melody when she sang. She would pat my head and say I would someday become a handsome prince. Whenever I got hurt, she would take care of me. We were so happy together..."

His voice then trailed off into a temporary silence.

The maid listened attentively, realising he was referring to someone other than Callis. With a quiet movement, she carefully placed the opened bottle onto the table, its contents left untouched.

Holding both hands, she gathered her resolve and looked at the Mederian Pince. His back turned towards her as he immersed himself in the captivating scenery of the night from the opened window.

"What happened to her?" Elis asked gently.

Kiev remained silent momentarily, his gaze fixed on the dark sky. Memories of the past resurfaced, and he spoke with a mix of sorrow and longing.

"She met that man one day, and he employed every method to capture her heart. Unbeknownst to her, it was all a treacherous trap. His affections were a facade, a means to acquire power, knowing who she was. Blinded by her deep affection, she believed it to be true love and declared him her soulmate. The vehement rejection from her mother of their relationship led them to their elopement," explained Kiev.

Elis leaned forward, her face filled with anticipation for more stories.

"And then?"

"For an entire year, she vanished from our lives. Her mother, who succumbed to sadness, passed away. I thought I would never see her again," Kiev continued, his voice tinged with melancholy. "But one day... against all odds, she returned."

Elis raised her brows.

"She came back?"

The Mederian Prince nodded slowly, his expression heavy with the weight of shared history.

"I thought everything would return to the way it was. However, when I looked at her, I knew something was amiss. The radiance of happiness had faded from her eyes. Regret consumed her for the choices she had made. The burden of her mother’s grief-stricken death due to their elopement weighed heavily upon her. Each day became a veil of sorrow, and her health deteriorated. But then, her stomach began to swell."

Elis quickly pieced together the puzzle.

"She was pregnant?"

"Yes. It was the only reason that kept her going. Carrying her unborn child, she began to care for herself once more. We were relieved to witness her gradual improvement, but our respite was short-lived. That wicked man employed the soulmate magic to reclaim her," he revealed, his voice filled with a mix of anger and despair.

"He could use magic?" asked the maid in disbelief.

"That one mystical power bestowed upon soulmates, allowing them to reconnect no matter the vastness of distance. He, through his own ingenuity, managed to unravel its secrets. When the first ship arrived that fateful night, we thought it was him... Turned out, someone else came," Kiev recounted the sorrowful tale.

"Who was it? Who came?"

"A lady bearing my angel’s late father’s ring appeared, carrying an unconscious boy. Her mother had bestowed the ring to an unknown recipient, a token of gratitude and debt for a lifetime," the Mederian Prince explained.

Curiosity gripped Elis.

"What happened next?"

"That boy was destined to die, but the lady demanded that the debt be repaid by saving his life. My angel knew her wicked husband was on his way and about to arrive. She feared the worst. So... she made a decision that cost her life, a sacrifice that should never have occurred had she not fallen in love with him," Kiev responded, his voice heavy with sorrow and regret.

The maid gasped, her hand instinctively rising to cover her mouth.

"Oh, my God! Did she...?"

Elis couldn’t finish her words.

Kiev nodded, his gaze filled with intense sadness as he stared into the darkness.

"She died... protecting the one who was meant to receive her love but never truly did. That heartless man displayed no remorse upon witnessing her lifeless body. He callously seized the baby and departed, leaving behind only grief and despair."

"You mean... your angel gave birth to her child that night?"

"Yes," the Mederian Prince affirmed. "Despite the tragic circumstances, she brought a precious baby into this world. The baby, too, was barely clinging to life due to the impact of the sacrifice. Initially, we believed she had also perished," Kiev recounted with a heavy sigh.

"Then... what happened to the boy and the lady?"

The Mederian Prince’s expression grew sombre as he replied, "The boy was saved. They immediately urged him and the lady to leave when my angel’s husband arrived to protect him. We never saw them again."

"Protect him? Why?" Elis questioned in confusion.

"My angel forged a soulmate bond between her child and the boy using enormous magic and cast a binding spell to transfer the power of her baby, a ritual that had never been attempted before and tragically cost her life. A part of the baby’s essence now resides within the boy. It was the only way to prevent a catastrophic event. The immense power contained within him, if it were to fall into the wrong hands, would only bring harm to others. She knew this would happen if she didn’t take action. That’s why she resorted to such a drastic measure," Kiev explained, his voice filled with sorrow.

"But why transfer such a great force into that boy?"

"The baby was the very reason why my angel’s husband married her in the first place. He sought to have a powerful heir who could conquer the world."

Elis held her breath, her eyes widening in shock at the revelation.

Kiev continued, his voice tinged with sadness, "Furthermore, it was the only way for my angel to repay her mother’s debt. When she saw that boy, she knew right away that he was her baby’s soulmate, and he arrived just in time."

The maid interjected, "Such a bizarre coincidence!"

Kiev shook his head gently.

"It wasn’t. My angel prayed fervently every day for her baby’s safety. It seemed that heaven heard her plea and granted her wish. A soulmate will always find their way towards each other, though not everyone would be able to notice. The Ro’an and the Mederians have a special instinct towards their soulmates."

Elis’s voice trembled slightly as she remarked, "Then, that means a soulmate bond is something beautiful and special. Why would you be so against it?"

Kiev paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

"The bond of a soulmate is a powerful connection. It binds two souls together in a way that cannot be broken, even if it’s a one-sided love. It is both a blessing and a curse. Had my angel not made the soulmate declaration, she and her child would have had a chance at a peaceful life. Her husband wouldn’t have been able to trace and find them. We could have lived happily again, and none of that would have occurred," he explained with regret.

The maid’s brow furrowed as she questioned, "Then why didn’t you stop your angel’s husband? Aren’t the Mederians skilled in magic and combat?"

A pained look crossed Kiev’s face as he responded, "All of our abilities were rendered useless against him because he was her soulmate. There would be dire consequences if we attempted to."

Elis’s confusion deepened as she asked, "Why is that so?"

Kiev’s gaze turned distant.

"Because my angel is special, and my people had sworn to protect her," Kiev explained, his voice earnest. "This includes safeguarding her soulmate, her child, and all those who hold significance in her life."

The maid attempted to grasp the connection between the story’s points, but the Mederian Prince continued before she could ask further.

"You know, when I first saw how she looked at him, I knew she loved him," Kiev sighed.

"You mean your angel?" the maid questioned, seeking clarification.

"No, I mean Princess Anna," Kiev responded, changing the direction of his story.

He gripped the window frame tightly as the night breeze gently flowed into the room through the open window.

"How can two people without love for each other live together? I kept asking myself that question," the Mederian Prince continued, his voice laced with introspection. "But they said it would be fine. Love can be nurtured over time, and I tried to convince myself the same. However, she had already given her heart to him... How could I force her to be with me?"

Still struggling to understand the story’s connection, the maid interjected, "Wait... how does this relate to the first story? I don’t understand."

"The relation is simple, Elis," Kiev replied. "Without love, you can’t force someone to be with you, no matter how much you desire it."

The maid asked, "Does this mean... you love Lady Raychard? I mean... Her Highness Princess Anna."

Kiev chuckled softly.

"I wish I could," he confessed.

"You can’t?" Elis pressed on, curious to know more.

"In order to save her, I had to cultivate my mana in the mountains. That was why I was away and didn’t get to come for her in time," Kiev said. "She was so weak and fragile, lying unconscious on the bed, when I came to see her. It was the only way I could heal her and bring her back without causing any harm. But it took a toll on me. As a result, my heart became devoid of romantic feelings towards any woman."

"Can’t this be reversed?"

"It can if I find my soulmate and share a kiss with her," Kiev responded. "But how can I do that when I can’t even sense her presence? Even if she were right before my eyes, I wouldn’t be able to tell."

"Oh dear... I always thought having magic was a great ability. It never crossed my mind that it could have such bizarre consequences," Elis remarked.

"Yes... well, at least there’s a silver lining," Kiev said with a smile.

"What is it?" the maid inquired.

"We can have a kissing event to find my soulmate. Perhaps I could start with you," he jokingly suggested.

"You’re drunk, Your Highness!" Elis stated, realising he was not being serious.

"Am I?"

Kiev turned towards the maid, attempting to take a step but quickly losing his balance. He started to wobble, and Elis, sensing his imminent fall, instinctively rushed and caught his towering figure. She had to plant her feet firmly on the floor to steady herself and prevent him from tumbling.

"Your Highness!" Elis exclaimed, her voice filled with concern as she held onto the intoxicated Mederian Prince.

"I... I’ll take you to your bed. You need to lie down," she said as she helped Kiev stand and supported him.

Using her strength, the maid had to exert effort to guide the Mederian Prince to his bed. Kiev’s eyes were already heavy, closing as Elis laid him down. She panted slightly, her forehead glistening with beads of sweat after dragging his heavy figure.

With care, Elis removed Kiev’s boots and placed them beside the bed. She then gently pulled the blanket to tuck him in. Just as she was about to withdraw, the Mederian Prince’s hand caught her arm, causing her to let out a small gasp.

"Don’t go!" Kiev pleaded suddenly, his eyes barely opening as he murmured the words. "Please don’t leave me. I’ll be lonely."

"Your Highness... please let go of my arm first," Elis requested, struggling to break free.

Tears began to fall from Kiev’s eyes. The sight petrified the maid, as it was the first time she had seen the Mederian Prince grieving.

In his most vulnerable state, he admitted to her, "I want to feel love and be loved too, Elis... Princess Anna is not meant for me... and I can’t find my soulmate..."

Elis paused, taking a moment to observe Kiev’s captivating face. It was an innocent confession that evoked sympathy in her heart. Who could have imagined a stubborn and cunning prince would possess such a vulnerable side?

Slowly, she sat at the edge of the bed.

"Go to sleep, Your Highness. I won’t leave you. I’ll be right here," she whispered softly.

A smile formed on the Mederian Prince’s pink lips.

The night unfolded, carrying with it the forgotten tale of a lost ’angel.’ The air blew softly, and the stars overhead twinkled as if they held their own secrets.