The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 289: A Breakfast For A Maid And A Prince

Chapter 289: A Breakfast For A Maid And A Prince

As Elis stirred from her deep sleep, her hands stretched out in a long yawn. Slowly, she opened her eyelids, blinking several times to adjust to the light. The bed she found herself in was incredibly comfortable, giving her a restful night’s sleep.

Lifting her head, the maid surveyed the room, a sense of familiarity washing over her. However, realisation dawned upon her that this chamber was not her own, prompting her to sit up hurriedly.

Her sudden movement caused a sharp ache to shooting through her stiff shoulders and waist as if she had slept in an awkward position all night.

"Argh... my back!" she winced, instinctively massaging the sore spots as she closed her eyes, trying to alleviate the discomfort.

"You’re awake..." a gentle voice reached her ears.

Startled, Elis hastily opened her eyes and turned towards the source of the voice. There, gracefully having his breakfast at the table, sat Kiev.

Surprised and flustered to find herself on the Mederian Prince’s bed, Elis quickly jumped off, her nerves getting the better of her. She hurriedly straightened her clothes and offered her apologies.

"Forgive me! I... I didn’t know how I ended up on your bed! I swear, I didn’t mean it! This will never happen again!" she stammered, her words filled with genuine remorse.

"I put you there," Kiev responded calmly, taking a bite of a cherry as he spoke.

Elis’s mouth fell agape, taken aback by Kiev’s statement. The memories of the previous night flooded back to her, recalling how she had ended up accompanying the Mederian Prince at his request. She glanced at Kiev, wondering if he remembered the events as well.

"Don’t worry... you can carry on sleeping if you want to," Kiev said nonchalantly, not even bothering to look at her as he continued with his meal.

Elis was surprised by his casual response, unsure of how to react. This morning, when Kiev had awakened, he had found the maid sleeping next to him, her head resting on the bed while her body sat on the floor.

Initially curious about her presence, he soon noticed the towel on his forehead and the water basin on the side table. It became clear to him that Elis had taken care of him throughout the night.

"I... I’m good already. I’ve had enough sleep. Thank you," the maid replied, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash over her.

"Then, go ahead and wash your face. After that, join me for breakfast," Kiev ordered, his tone stern.

"Thank you for that... But... it would be best for me to return to my place," Elis declined his invitation.

Kiev paused his eating, his red eyes turning to look at her with a solemn expression.

"You took care of me last night without me asking for it. I dislike owing people, so consider this invitation to be my way of paying back your good deed. Go wash up in my bathroom, and then eat with me," he insisted, his voice carrying a firm resolve.

By Kiev’s stern order, Elis was confident that he didn’t remember his request for her to stay the previous night. He seemed oblivious to the story he had shared with her. Familiar with the Mederian Prince’s behaviour, Elis chose to adhere.

"Yes, Your Highness," she responded obediently, bowing to him before heading to the bathroom.

A short while later, she returned with a freshly cleansed face and neatly arranged attire. Her previously dishevelled hair bun had been redone with care.

"Have a seat," Kiev ordered as Elis approached.

Hesitant, the maid began to express her concerns. "Your Highness, I don’t think it would be proper—"

"Sit," the Mederian Prince commanded with a firm tone, leaving no room for argument.

Elis quickly surrendered, pulling out the chair and seating herself.

"Eat," he ordered once again.

Elis knew she had no choice but to comply, even though she felt uneasy having a meal with someone of high status. Nervously, she picked up the spoon placed beside the bowl of mushroom soup that had been served to her. An array of hearty sausages, buns, vegetables, fruits, and bacon had also been laid out on the table, an abundance of breakfast that could easily feed two people.

Observing the generous spread of food before her, Elis couldn’t help but inquire, "Did you order the food for me as well?"

"Why do you ask?" Kiev inquired.

"You don’t eat this much. Usually, it was Her Highness Princess Callis who..." Elis trailed off, abruptly swallowing her words as she remembered the tension stemming from yesterday’s incident involving his sister and Rafe.

She didn’t want to agitate Kiev further.

The Mederian Prince paused for a moment before responding, acknowledging her astuteness.

"You’re quite observant and quick to notice, even though you’ve only been with us for a few days."

A sudden worry gripped Elis as she glanced at the food before her.

"The servants who came to serve the food, did they see me sleeping on your bed?" she asked anxiously.

The thought of rumours circulating about her spending the night on the Mederian Prince’s bed sent shivers down her spine. It could lead to a catastrophe.

"Don’t worry. No one did, and no one knew. I wouldn’t be so careless as to let such gossip spread. Wouldn’t that be a disadvantage for me? I cannot end up marrying you when I’m here to retrieve my betrothed," the Mederian Prince assured her, well aware of the customs of the Cassians.

Elis fell silent, a wave of relief washing over her. She was grateful that her predicament had remained discreet.

"You’re not from here, are you?" Kiev continued.

"No, Your Highness," Elis replied.

"Where are you from?" he inquired further.

"I used to reside in Glandon town in the Kingdom of Dracor," she answered.

"I see... So, you were a Draconian before. How did you end up working for the Grand Duke?" Kiev probed, his interest evident.

"His Highness... and his men saved me. I owe him. So... I decided to dedicate my life to serving him," Elis responded, her voice slightly stammering as she carefully avoided revealing her true story.

"Such dedication and loyalty... It must be a significant debt to repay," Kiev remarked, his gaze fixed deeply upon her with his striking red irises.

Elis’s nerves heightened with each passing moment, feeling increasingly anxious under his intense scrutiny.

"Then, since you were not originally a Cassian, it would be much easier to say this," Kiev continued, capturing her attention. "Don’t take it seriously that I had you on my bed. I was merely returning the favour. It holds no other meaning," he stated casually.

"Of course not, Your Highness! I would never dare. I know my place very well," Elis quickly responded, her voice filled with deference.

She lowered her gaze, focusing on the bowl before her, hesitantly stirring her soup. Elis worried that even mentioning the name of the Mederian Princess could sour Kiev’s mood for the new day.

"Finish your meal," the Mederian Prince ordered, noticing the concern etched on the maid’s face.

"Yes, Your Highness," Elis replied obediently.

She continued to eat, savouring the warmth of the soup on her tongue. As she dipped the toasted bread into the broth and tasted each bite, she couldn’t deny the deliciousness of the breakfast spread before her. The flavours were truly appetising, momentarily easing her worries as she focused on the meal.

"Thank you for the meal, Your Highness," Elis said, gently wiping her lips with the napkin. She was about to rise from her seat when Kiev unexpectedly spoke up.

"Thank you as well for taking care of me during my intoxication. I don’t usually drink, but I suppose I needed it last night. I hope I didn’t trouble you too much," he said.

"No! Not at all! Besides, it’s my duty to serve you, so it was no trouble," Elis quickly reassured him.

"Right..." Kiev paused, his voice hesitant. Then, in a quiet tone, he asked, "I didn’t do anything embarrassing, did I?"

The maid’s eyes widened as she looked at him, but her gaze quickly averted. She decided to bury the events of last night; it wouldn’t be proper for a maid to discuss her lord’s unconscious behaviour.

"Definitely not. You were just tired from drinking, so I put you to bed," she replied.

"Then, why didn’t you just leave?" he inquired further.

Elis felt caught off guard by the sudden question, her eyes darting around as she searched for an answer.

"You... you were sweating profusely... and your face was flushed from the alcohol. So, I stayed to wipe your face. I must have been so tired that I fell asleep by the bedside. Please forgive me for that," she explained.

"I see..." Kiev acknowledged, seemingly satisfied with her response.

Just as their conversation reached a delicate point, a knock on the door interrupted them, providing a welcome interference. Elis felt a sense of relief at the timely interruption.

"I’ll go get it," Elis offered, rising from her seat and making her way towards the door.

As she opened the door, the maid’s eyes widened in surprise. The person standing before her whispered something, catching her attention.

"Who is it?" Kiev inquired from his seat, still unaware of the who the visitors were.

Reluctantly, the maid turned to face him.

"Your Highness, someone wants to see you."

"I know there’s someone. I asked, who?" Kiev pressed for an answer.

Elis hesitated to reply, but the person behind the door pushed it open wider, revealing their identities.

"It’s me, brother... Callis," the Mederian Princess said, her voice filled with a mix of trepidation and determination.

Kiev’s expression turned dark upon seeing his sister at the doorframe. The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the Mederian Princess made her presence known.

She stepped into the chamber, followed closely by another figure.

"With my husband, Rafe Amares," Callis continued.

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