The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 296: Her Malicious Plan

Chapter 296: Her Malicious Plan

A soft knock interrupted Kiev’s solitude as he rested alone in his chamber. Rising from the settee, he made his way to the door and opened it, revealing a servant standing before him, holding a tray adorned with delectable desserts and a steaming pot of tea. The servant’s eyes widened as she saw his outstanding figure.

"Good... Good morning, Your Highness. Here... are... some delicacies for you," the servant stammered, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness as she gazed upon the handsome young prince.

Curiosity piqued, Kiev inquired, "Who are you? I don’t recall summoning any food. I already have my breakfast."

"I am a servant of Her Majesty, the Queen. This is a complimentary offering for you, Your Highness," the servant replied.

"Complimentary?" The Mederian Prince’s crimson eyes scanned the sumptuous spread and the servant standing before him. He couldn’t help but notice the slight tremble in her hands.

"Why are you trembling?" he asked.

The servant quickly averted her gaze, her face flushed with a rosy hue.

"I... I’m just nervous, Your Highness. This is my first time... seeing you..."

"Place it on the table," commanded Kiev, abruptly cutting off her words.

It wasn’t strange for the Mederian Prince to receive such reactions from women who encountered him for the first time since it was typical for his striking presence to leave a strong impression. The servant stepped inside and carefully arranged the tray on the table.

"Do you require anything else, Your Highness? I can keep you company if you wish," the servant offered, her eyes gleaming with interest toward the Mederian Prince.

"No, please leave," Kiev responded curtly.

"Are you certain? I can..."

"Please leave now," the Mederian Prince repeated, emphasising his request.

"Yes, Your Highness," the servant replied, her disappointment evident in her expression.

With a respectful bow, she retreated from the room. Kiev returned to his seat on the settee, his gaze shifting towards the pile of luggage prepared by Elis earlier that morning, signalling his intent to travel to Rivendelle with his sister and his new brother-in-law. Then, his attention turned to the assortment of desserts laid before him.

Taking a piece of the exquisite delicacy, he savoured its taste as it danced on his palate—a perfect balance of flavours, not overly sweet nor bland. Delighted, he reached for another piece, eager to indulge further.

However, as he picked up the second dessert, his keen eyes caught sight of a small note tucked beneath it, seemingly placed there in secret. Curious, the Mederian Prince carefully unfolded the note.

The note contained a simple yet intriguing message consisting of neatly written sentences. At first, Kiev assumed it might be another love letter from one of the palace servants or maids, a common occurrence for him. However, this time, it was different. The note grasped his attention, drawing him in.

’Should you wish to have Anna and take her away from the grand duke, meet me near the Crown Prince’s court front gate at noon. I have a way that will make her submit to you willingly and leave Cassian with you immediately. Come alone.

Sincerely,

A friend.’

With a nonchalant gesture, Kiev tossed the note onto the floor, dismissing it. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip, relishing in its warmth as it spread through his body.

Outwardly, he appeared calm and composed, but the words on the note lingered in his mind. Whoever had sent this secret letter must be privy to his pursuit of Anna.

The news of the impending duel must have already circulated within the palace, so it wouldn’t be surprising if someone had overheard and mentioned it.

However, it was the second sentence that caught his attention. Not only did this person know about the duel, but they also seemed aware of Anna’s reluctance to be with him.

"Who could this person be?" Kiev muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities.

He gently placed the teacup back on the table and tapped his knee with his index finger as he pondered. Although he had promised Kyren to resume the duel upon his return, his primary objective was to bring Anna back to Semeta as soon as possible.

The next duel would once again pit him against Kyren in a battle for the princess’s possession. However, Kiev’s confidence began to waver, knowing he could not use his magic against the grand duke based on the previous incident.

Furthermore, the fact that Kyren matched him in physical prowess meant it would be a tense fight, and being unable to use magic would put him at a disadvantage.

The offer in the note enticed Kiev. While the grand duke had promised to return within a month, facing a war and reclaiming a breached territory was an uncertain task. Even if Kyren were confident in his dispatched army, it could take longer than anticipated.

Additionally, the impending arrival of winter raised concerns about the difficulty of sailing back to the island, as most ships would be unwilling to brave the harsh weather.

"Let’s see who this is," declared Kiev finally, deciding to take his chances. He acknowledged that it could be a false opportunity but realised he had nothing to lose.

***

Sarah’s frustration grew as she paced back and forth near the quiet front gate of the Crown Prince’s court. Her hooded robe concealed part of her beautiful face and blonde hair, adding an air of mystery to her appearance.

Accompanying her was her assistant, Naise, who nervously watched her lady’s agitated movements. They had chosen this secluded location for their secret meeting, as it was rarely frequented by the palace servants, given that no Crown Prince had been born from the royal lineage to occupy the court.

"Is he coming or not?" Sarah grumbled in annoyance, her impatience evident.

She turned her gaze towards Naise, her eyes filled with fury.

"Are you certain that you delivered the note?"

"Yes, my lady! I assure you, the note was delivered without fail. I discreetly slipped it under the desserts I asked the servant to send to him," Naise replied with trepidation.

"What if he didn’t read it? What if he didn’t notice it at all?" Sarah’s anxiety began to mount.

"I... I never considered that possibility. If he consumed the desserts, he should have come across the note," Naise admitted reluctantly, her worry surfacing.

"He must have discarded the desserts! You fool! Couldn’t you have devised a better plan to deliver the message?" Sarah snapped, her anger directed at her assistant.

"I apologise, my lady! I was merely taking precautions, as you instructed, to ensure that it couldn’t be traced back to us," Naise responded, fear glimmering in her eyes as she witnessed Sarah’s foul mood.

"Forget it! He’s clearly not coming! Let’s leave!" Sarah ordered in frustration, her disappointment palpable.

As the sound of a snapping branch reached their ears, Sarah and Naise turned their attention towards the source. Their gazes fell upon a tall figure approaching them, clad in a hooded robe. The two women came to a halt. Their curiosity piqued as they awaited the arrival of the mysterious man.

"Are you the one who sent me the note?" came a soothing, melodious voice from beneath the hood.

Sarah could only catch a glimpse of the Mederian Prince’s angular jawline hidden beneath it.

"And what note are you referring to?" she responded, maintaining a cautious demeanour. She needed to confirm that this person was the one she was supposed to meet.

"This note," the man replied, producing a small folded piece of paper from within his robe.

Sarah’s hand reached out, accepting the paper from the Mederian Prince’s grasp. She couldn’t help but notice Kiev’s fingers’ length and elegance as she held the note.

’His hand is already so beautiful... His voice is alluring... I wonder if he’s as handsome as the rumours claim,’ Sarah contemplated inwardly, momentarily distracted by her curiosity.

She quickly refocused her attention on the matter at hand, reminding herself of the main agenda. She unfolded the note and read its contents, recognising the words she had penned and entrusted to Naise for discreet delivery.

"Are you His Highness Prince Kiev?" Sarah inquired, seeking confirmation.

"I am. But you have yet to answer my question," the Mederian Prince responded.

"Yes, it is I," the noble lady admitted, confirming her identity.

"How did you come to know Princess Anna?" Kiev asked, his curiosity evident in his tone.

"Everyone in the palace knows her. Who wouldn’t know His Highness, the Grand Duke’s one and only concubine?" Sarah replied, her voice laced with a hint of mockery.

"You seem to possess a noble air. Who are you?" Kiev asked, his eyes scanning the unknown lady’s attire.

Beneath her robe, he could discern the presence of an elegant dress belonging to the noble class.

"It matters not who I am. Let us address the main topic directly. You desire her, do you not?" Sarah stated, getting straight to the point.

"Yes, I do. She is my betrothed," Kiev affirmed, his determination evident in his words.

"I know. You have the rightful claim to her. Therefore, you should have and take her with you," the noble lady asserted.

"And why would you agree with that? Despite presenting all the evidence, none of the Cassians has supported my claim or stood by me," Kiev pondered.

"Because it’s the right thing to do. Taking someone’s betrothed and turning her into a concubine is entirely wrong and disrespectful. Moreover, she belongs to the Adhemar bloodline, and we do not welcome the lineage of traitors in our kingdom. Many nobles disagree with the decision of His Highness the Grand Duke, but Their Majesties are supporting him, which limits their ability to intervene," Sarah explained.

"So you want to support me in this?" Kiev inquired.

"Even better. I want to collaborate with you so that you may achieve your goal of taking her and returning to your island as soon as possible," Sarah proposed.

"And what do you stand to gain from this?" Kiev questioned, his curiosity evident.

"Let’s just say I’m doing this for the sake of the kingdom’s peace and my loyalty towards the royal family. The longer that concubine remains in Cassian, the more hatred she will garner from the people. She shouldn’t stay here. With time, the accumulated hatred will transform into deeper animosity. When the people can no longer bear it, they will revolt against the royal family, putting her in grave danger. You wouldn’t want that to happen," Sarah explained.

Kiev chuckled softly.

"I thought your monarch was powerful enough to silence any opposition."

"For now... But who knows what the future holds? I am a loyal subject of Cassian, and I wouldn’t want the lust of His Highness the Grand Duke to jeopardise the kingdom. So, before things worsen, let us take action to prevent it, especially when His Highness the Grand Duke is gone. It would be a win-win situation for both of us," she said.

"Sounds too good to be true," Kiev remarked sceptically.

"You wouldn’t know when His Highness the Grand Duke will return," Sarah provoked.

"He will be back in a month. He promised so," Kiev replied confidently.

"War, no matter how big or small, is unpredictable. Regardless of his large army, it’s uncertain when he’ll return from Agathe Island. Furthermore, winter is approaching, and by then, you won’t be able to return to Sabel Island. Are you sure you’re willing to wait that long? From what I’ve heard, you are insistent on having her. I wonder why you agreed to postpone the duel," Sarah questioned, highlighting the potential challenges Kiev would face.

The Mederian Prince furrowed his brow, struck by the uncanny remarks of this lady who seemed to understand the concerns playing in his mind.

"You seem to know a lot. You even know about Princess Anna’s origin," Kiev noted.

"I have ways of gathering information, and my resources are always accurate. If you choose to collaborate with me, I can ensure that you will obtain what you desire," Sarah assured him.

Although Kiev remained sceptical of this mysterious individual, the mention of Anna’s safety potentially being compromised raised a worry within him. It made sense that the Cassians would have ill feelings towards the princess, considering her Adhemar lineage.

"What is your plan?" Kiev inquired, intrigued by Sarah’s proposition.

A wide smile spread across Sarah’s luscious lips, sensing that she had successfully captured more of the Mederian Prince’s attention.

"Seize an opportunity to be alone with her. I can find a way to ensure you two have privacy," Sarah revealed.

"Then what?" Kiev pressed for further information.

"Afterward, make it known to everyone that you were with her. That will raise suspicions," Sarah explained, her voice filled with intrigue.

"What are you up to?" Kiev asked, a bad intuition poking his heart.

"After more than a month, rumours will spread that she is pregnant with your child," Sarah declared, causing Kiev’s eyes to widen in disbelief.

"What? That’s impossible!" Kiev exclaimed, his astonishment evident. "How can she be pregnant with my child when I have never touched her!"

"I can make the symptoms of pregnancy appear. By using certain drugs, she’ll exhibit all the signs and symptoms of a pregnant woman. Even her blood test will indicate that she is pregnant," Sarah confidently asserted.

Kiev’s eyes widened in disbelief and horror at Sarah’s suggestion. He couldn’t comprehend the audacity and immorality of such a plan. Sarah’s words had struck a nerve within him, and he lashed out in a burst of rage.

"What do you think I am? A vile man with no honour, willing to lie and degrade a woman’s dignity to fulfil my desires?" he exclaimed.

His face had turned red, and his red eyes blazed with intensity.

"That’s the only way for you to have her! Think about it! When everyone believes she’s carrying your child, His Majesty will be forced to investigate. All circumstantial evidence will point to her having been intimate with you. I will line up witnesses to support the scandal. Ultimately, His Majesty will have no choice but to banish her. She’ll have nowhere else to go other than following you. Then, you can have her all you want," said the noble lady.

Kiev’s anger only intensified at her words. He gritted his teeth and shook his head vehemently.

"Not in a disrespectful way! I will not have her in such a manner! My betrothed is a human being, not a puppet to be manipulated or used to deceive everyone!" he declared firmly.

Sarah persisted, trying to convince him.

"This is your only chance to take her! While His Highness the Grand Duke and his army are away, you should seize this opportunity. You are a Mederian Prince, Your Highness, and a relative of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress. His Majesty wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you. If he did, it would risk another war with the Mederians, and he cannot afford such a conflict while his army is already engaged in the war on Agathe Island. The most he would do is ask you to leave. So, you can take your princess and return to your island," Sarah urged.

Frustrated and overwhelmed, Kiev’s emotions got the better of him, and he spilt out a curse.

"Shut the f*ck up!" he shouted, his temper boiling over.

The sudden outburst took Sarah aback, her expression reflecting shock and surprise at his vulgar words.

"I will not tarnish my betrothed and my name out of selfishness! This collaboration won’t happen!" Kiev asserted.

He vehemently rejected Sarah’s manipulative plan and made it clear that he wouldn’t collaborate with her.

Sarah’s face contorted with anger, realising that her plan had failed to sway the prince. She attempted to reason with him, warning him of the potential consequences,

"You’ll lose your chance!" Sarah exclaimed in frustration.

"I’ll get my betrothed in my own way, not through your malicious plan! Don’t ever come and see me again! We’re done talking!" Kiev declared.

He turned around abruptly, stomping away, leaving the chief lady-in-waiting and her assistant behind.

Desperate to salvage the situation, Sarah called out to the Mederian Prince, "Your Highness, wait!"

But her plea fell on deaf ears as the prince departed without acknowledging her.

Frustrated and seething with anger, Sarah let out a curse under her breath. Her assistant, Naise, looked at her with concern and asked, "What do we do now, my lady?"

Sarah’s frustration grew, and she snapped at Naise, "Shut up!"

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