The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 313: I Will Always Be With You

Chapter 313: I Will Always Be With You

She turned to Rafe, startled.

"You brought me to a cemetery?" she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

Rafe nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

"Yes. Come this way," he replied, releasing Callis’s hand and stepping forward to lead her.

Hurriedly, she followed closely behind him until they finally stopped before an old grave. The weathered gravestone was covered with green mosses, but the name carved on it remained legible.

With curiosity, Callis read the name aloud.

"Lisa Anne Amares," she voiced out softly.

Turning to Rafe, she looked utterly perplexed.

"Callis, this is my sister, Lisa, the youngest in the family. She passed away at the age of ten," the healer explained.

The Mederian Princess instinctively covered her mouth with her hand. After a moment of silence, she responded with genuine remorse.

"I’m so sorry! I had no idea you had a sister. No one ever mentioned it to me."

Rafe’s expression softened, understanding the weight of her surprise.

"It’s all right. We rarely speak of her. Lisa’s passing at such a young age deeply affected our family, especially my mother. It’s a painful topic for us."

"Please forgive me for my thoughtlessness just now. I acted out of place, and I deeply regret it. Oh, I was such a f*ol!" Callis quickly apologised, regretting the extent of her jealousy of his sister.

Rafe let out a small, understanding laugh.

"There’s no need to blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault since I didn’t clearly explain who she is to me," he said. "You know... even when you cry, you’re still pretty."

He grinned mischievously. Callis blushed at Rafe’s praise.

"Don’t say that! You make me feel embarrassed," she admitted, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

Rafe smiled, understanding her feelings.

"All right, I’ll stop teasing you," he assured her.

Curiosity filled Callis’s eyes as she asked about Lisa’s cause of death.

"How did Lisa die?" she inquired with empathy.

"She was severely sick. Do you remember Sir Eric Navin, the second-in-command knight of Gerhard?" he asked, seeking to jog her memory.

Callis nodded, her recollection coming back to her.

"Yes, I remember him. The burly knight with the brunette hair and beard, right? He fought my brother during our previous encounter at the mansion," she confirmed.

"Yes. His father is Baron Navin and his residence is over there."

Rafe’s gaze shifted to the distance as he pointed towards a building, guiding the Mederian Princess’s attention. From afar, she could catch a glimpse of the mentioned structure.

The healer continued his story, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"Eric is my best friend, and we grew up together. He and my sister were childhood sweethearts. When Lisa fell ill, we sought help from Baron Navin’s healer. At that time, there were only a few healers in Rivendelle, and he was considered the town’s expert. But despite his efforts, he couldn’t save her."

"I’m truly sorry for your loss," she offered her condolence.

"It’s fine. Lisa’s passing made me determined to become a skilled healer. Our Lady Raychard... I mean... Her Highness Princess Anna’s name is almost similar to her middle name," Rafe shared, his voice filled with mixed emotions.

"Ah, yes! Anna and Anne. Only one letter differentiates them! Princess Anna must have reminded you of your sister."

Rafe paused for a moment, reflecting on the question.

"In a way, she does remind me of Lisa. Her Highness is soft-spoken and gentle, much like my sister. And when she laughs, there’s a sweetness to it that reminds me of Lisa’s laughter," he acknowledged.

Callis’s voice filled with sympathy as she realised the depth of Rafe’s loss.

"You must be missing her greatly. I’m sorry for bringing up painful memories," she expressed sincerely.

A sad look crossed Rafe’s face.

"It’s all right now. At least my sister no longer suffered. I had a hard time letting her go despite knowing well that she couldn’t make it," he responded with bittersweet feelings.

Rafe tenderly touched the gravestone, his fingers carefully removing the moss, cleaning it. Callis stood silently beside him, a sombre presence.

"She always said she’d be all right... that I shouldn’t cry or be sad if she would no longer be with me," Rafe began to pour out his emotions. "She promised that we would see each other again, play together, and I would get to braid her hair once more..."

His voice trailed off, unable to continue as tears welled up in his eyes. There was a moment of silence, and then, a single drop of tears fell to the ground.

"It’s been so long... but her laughter, her beautiful smile, I can never forget them," Rafe spoke in a quiet voice, his head bowed as his hand tightened its grip on the gravestone.

"Rafe..." Callis whispered.

The healer turned towards her, his eyes red and teary, glistening with wetness.

"I miss her so much, Callis! I would do anything to save and protect her, but God seems to love her more."

It was his first time opening up his emotion to the Mederian Princess.

"Oh, Rafe..."

Callis couldn’t hold back any longer. She rushed forward and enveloped her husband in a tight embrace.

"Now, who’s the crying f*ol?" Rafe managed to say, his voice muffled against her shoulder.

"You’re not a f*ol, my husband," the Mederian Princess replied, her voice filled with tenderness. "You are someone caring and responsible."

"Men aren’t supposed to cry. We’re meant to be strong, to protect our loved ones."

"Says who?" Callis questioned.

She pushed him back a little to gaze at his face.

"You cry because you have a good heart, genuine feelings, and honesty. It’s never wrong to shed tears for the one you love. You’re not weak and far from it. Yet, you’re full of compassion."

"I want to be stronger, Callis," Rafe confessed. "If I’m not, how can I take care of you and the people around me?"

"You are already strong, Rafe... in your own way," Callis reassured him, her voice filled with conviction. "Remember how you faced my brother and persuaded him to come here with us? He’s not someone easily swayed by force or words, yet you managed to do it, even without my help. Your capabilities continue to surprise me."

"Are you sure you want a man like me?" Rafe asked, doubt in his eyes.

"I can never be more sure than I am right now!" she replied determinedly. "You are a precious gift to me. A healer from God."

A chuckle escaped Rafe’s lips, a momentary respite from his tears.

"Lisa used to say the same thing."

"Pardon me?" Callis asked, curious.

"The healer from God, that’s the meaning of my first name, Rafael," he explained.

"Oh, I’ve heard that before! Nick addressed you that way when we arrived," she recalled.

"Lisa was the one who started to call me by that name when she was alive. It was also an angelic name. After her passing, I disallowed people to call me that, as it reminded me too much of the pain of losing her. But sometimes, a few still address me by that name."

"So, your first name is Rafael."

"Eric still calls me that. He believes that I shouldn’t throw away the memories of Lisa and insists that I cherish the name because it was special to her."

"He’s not wrong. It’s a beautiful name," the Mederian Princess remarked.

"I prefer to be called Rafe. It’s simpler and easier to pronounce," he admitted.

Callis smiled warmly.

"I don’t mind. Whichever you like. You mentioned that Rafael is your first name. Do you have another name?" the Mederian Princess inquired.

"Yes, my middle name is Joseph. However, I rarely use it," Rafe replied.

"So, your full name is Rafael Joseph Amares?" she asked.

"That’s right," the healer confirmed. "What about you? Do you have a middle name?" he asked curiously.

"The Mederians don’t have middle names," the Mederian Princess answered.

"In that case, can we maintain Naver as your middle name? Then, it would be Callis Naver-Amares. This way, you would still have your family name with you," Rafe suggested.

Callis’s eyes lit up.

"You don’t mind?"

"Not at all. I like it. I would feel bad if you were to discard your family name," Rafe reassured her.

"Thank you, Rafe. That means a lot to me. Callis Naver-Amares... I love it, too!" Callis exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and contentment.

"I want you to remain close to your family, always. They are of utmost importance, Callis. You won’t truly understand the pain of losing them until it happens to you. So, no matter how His Highness Prince Kiev behaves, don’t sever your ties with him. I understand perfectly why your brother has difficulty entrusting you to me. He cares for you just as much as I care for Lisa," Rafe expressed, and tears began to glisten in the corners of his eyes again.

"I know. That’s why I want to be a part of your life. I don’t want to be just a pretty-face wife. I want to experience your ups and downs and be together in every challenge and victory. You can cry to me whenever you need to, and I won’t judge you," Callis reassured him, gazing deeply into his eyes.

Her sincere words deeply moved Rafe.

Eva was right.

Callis was truly beautiful both on the outside and inside. It was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing him to see the depth of her character and the genuine, heartfelt feelings she held for him. He was thankful, knowing how fortunate he was to have her in his life.

Lost in his thoughts, Rafe suddenly realised that his wife had embraced him for a while. Feeling embarrassed, he gently held her arm to release the hug.

"This... Callis... We shouldn’t..." Rafe began to say with hesitation.

"Don’t let go!" Callis pleaded, gripping his waist more. "Let me be your pillar, Rafe, to support you and stand by your side when you need someone the most!"

Their eyes remained locked, and they both felt as if time stood still at that very moment.

Callis lifted her hand, her fingers gently caressing Rafe’s cheek as she wiped away his rolling tears.

"Just as you wiped away my tears before, I too want to be the one who does the same and soothes your pain. You can hold on to me. I won’t let you go, and in return, you must never let me go, too! You are my soulmate, my one and only," Callis declared with unwavering love in her voice.

"Callis..." Rafe called her name, his heart filled with a mixture of emotions—gratitude, compassion, and a newfound sense of hope.

He stared at her intensely and found himself entranced by the mesmerising redness of her ruby irises. A warmth emanated from within her, drawing him closer.

Slowly, his arms reached around her waist, pulling her body closer to his. Their faces were mere inches apart, and he felt an overwhelming desire to kiss her. It wasn’t solely because of her outward beauty but because of the depth and sincerity of her words.

Their lips were on the verge of touching, and Callis eagerly awaited the first kiss from him. However, a gentle breeze interrupted the moment, snapping Rafe back to reality. He slowly released his embrace.

"Not yet... Not now. We shouldn’t be intimate until your brother gives his consent," the healer whispered, his voice filled with restraint.

"Oh... I forgot," Callis responded, quickly releasing her hold on him and stepping back.

"We should return. He might be looking for us," Rafe suggested, a faint blush colouring his ears.

"Right," Callis agreed, averting her eyes, feeling equally embarrassed by her boldness.

"Thank you for listening to me," Rafe expressed gratefully.

"I will always be with you," she assured him.

Warm smiles graced their lips, knowing a new feeling had developed between them.

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