The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 326: A Determined Rejection

Chapter 326: A Determined Rejection

Elis’s eyes widened in shock at Kiev’s bold remark.

"M-marry me?" she stammered in disbelief.

Rafe, who heard the declaration, was equally taken aback by the Mederian Prince’s resolute decision. The healer didn’t expect him to willingly adhere to the consequences of his intimate action with the maid without resistance.

"You heard me," Kiev stated adamantly, his tone brooking no argument. "I’m not going to repeat it. Let’s settle this matter quickly."

Confusion clouded Elis’s expression as she hesitantly questioned, "But... but... why would you propose such a thing?"

Armel, too, found himself unable to close his gaping mouth, bewildered by the Mederian Prince’s unexpected declaration.

"It’s the custom of the Cassians, Elis. According to our traditions, if an unmarried woman shares a bed with a man, it signifies that she belongs to him," Rafe explained.

"But we didn’t engage in any such intimate act! I’m certain nothing happened between us!" Elis protested in desperation.

"It doesn’t matter whether you did or not," the healer interjected again. "Kiev must take responsibility for you and honour your dignity by marrying you. That’s how it is."

Elis felt a surge of apprehension, clutching her nightgown tightly.

"No! This can’t be happening!" she exclaimed in anguish. "He’s betrothed, and I’m just a maid!"

Rafe turned his gaze to Kiev, his expression contemplative. The thought of the Mederian Prince’s betrothal with Anna and his impending duel with Kyren filled his mind.

However, before he could voice further questions, the Mederian Prince replied, "Yes, I am indeed betrothed, and I have no intention of annulling that arrangement."

Confusion clouded the healer’s face as he sought clarification, "What do you mean? You said you were willing to marry her!"

Kiev’s voice remained firm as he stood by his position, "I do want to marry her. However, I cannot make Elis my official wife since Princess Anna has been promised to me. Therefore, I propose that she become my concubine."

The weight of Kiev’s words struck Rafe, leaving him dumbfounded.

"A concubine? Are you joking?" the healer exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"I am dead serious about my decision!" Kiev retorted sharply. "Didn’t your grand duke also take my betrothed as his concubine because he couldn’t marry her officially? As he said, a concubine is still considered a wife, regardless of the title. This solution would resolve all our problems!"

"You are greedy!" Rafe shot back in anger. "How can you even consider having Her Highness Princess Anna if you already married Elis? Even His Highness, the Grand Duke, doesn’t entertain the idea of having more women and remains loyal to her!"

Kiev smirked mockingly.

"Are you so sure? Can you guarantee that he won’t take an official wife in the future? Serving under him, you should be well aware that royalties often enter official marriages for various reasons. The grand duke will need a noble woman to be the grand duchess and bear him children, as a concubine’s child is not considered an heir. Isn’t it his obligation? Besides, Cassian has no Crown Prince yet."

"That...."

Rafe bit his lip as he struggled to state a valid response. He would have to navigate the situation without disclosing the sensitive information about Kyren’s condition. The healer let out a defeated sigh.

"Fine! As long as you are responsible for Elis, I agree."

"But I don’t want to marry him!" the maid interjected, her voice filled with distress and defiance.

"What is going on here?"

A voice echoed from the doorway, startling everyone in the room. To their relief, it was none other than Callis, the Mederian Princess, looking at them with confusion.

"Callis! I told you to wait in the dining room," Rafe said, taken aback by his wife’s unexpected presence.

"I waited, but you didn’t come down. I overheard a commotion from this room with my sensitive hearing, so I came to investigate," she explained.

"Oh, no! Did the others hear us, too?" Rafe asked anxiously.

"Don’t worry about it. They don’t. I cast a temporary sound barrier around the dining room so they couldn’t hear anything," Callis assured him, "I told them that I was coming to get you."

"Callis, you shouldn’t be using your magic carelessly," Kiev cautioned.

"It’s all right, brother. I was careful, and nobody noticed. Besides, it only required a small amount of mana since it’s a low-level magic," she told him. "Now, can someone please explain to me what happened? I heard Elis refusing to marry someone."

"Could you close the door first," Rafe asked, motioning towards it.

Callis promptly complied, ensuring their conversation would remain private. Once the door was shut, the healer began to explain the situation to his wife.

As Rafe laid out the details, the Mederian Princess couldn’t believe her hearing. Her mouth fell open in astonishment, and her eyes darted back and forth between Kiev and Elis, trying to grasp the full extent of the situation.

"You... and... her?" Her left hand pointed to them alternately.

Kiev responded with a calm resolve, his voice steady, "Yes, it has already happened, and I am willing to take full responsibility for my actions."

Concern was etched on the Mederian Princess’ face as she raised an important question, "What about Princess Anna?"

"She won’t be affected since Elis will be my concubine. Princess Anna will still become my official wife. Now, to ensure no further problem, Elis and I will marry as soon as possible."

"Oh, my!" Callis let out an exclamation.

She quickly covered her gaping mouth with her palm to compose herself.

However, their conversation was interrupted by a stern voice, gaining their attention, "Stop this nonsense! No one is getting married!"

Elis, who had remained quiet until this point, suddenly shouted, surprising everyone.

Rafe, trying to persuade the maid, gently advised, "But Elis, this is for your own sake."

"I said I don’t want to! You don’t get to decide what’s best for me!"

Elis’s stern refusal shattered the meek facade she had always displayed.

"Please excuse my outburst earlier, Rafe," the maid interjected, her cheeks flushed red, holding back her emotion. "Perhaps you’ve forgotten that I was a Dracorian who recently migrated here and was unfamiliar with Cassian traditions. After what transpired, I find accepting your opinion on Kiev marrying me difficult."

The Mederian Prince tried to reason with the maid, his tone softening, "Elis, we should get married. I made a promise to take care of you. You are my responsibility now."

Callis chimed in, supporting Kiev and Rafe’s perspective, "I agree with my brother and Rafe. Think about the consequences if the truth were to come out. We would be caught in a web of lies, which would only further complicate matters."

The Mederian Princess’s words struck a chord with everyone in the room.

Rafe added, "Callis is right. We didn’t anticipate the banquet, and last night’s incident drew attention from all the attendees. They now think that you are pregnant, Elis. Even my family believes the same, no matter how I tried to reason with them."

"This is absurd!" the maid exclaimed, her anger evident in her voice. "If you expect me to go along with this pretentious act just to cover up, then you might as well ask me to get pregnant right away!"

"I don’t mind at all. We can start trying after the marriage," Kiev said.

Though it sounded like a jest, his unwavering expression revealed his words’ sincerity. The Mederian Prince’s response only intensified Elis’s frustration, causing her cheeks to flush an even deeper shade of crimson.

Witnessing her brother’s audacious remark, Callis couldn’t help but feel her face heat up with embarrassment.

"No, Kiev! I refuse!" Elis’s voice trembled with resolve. "I will not marry you or any other man! That is the last thing on my mind! Don’t ever assume that just because I am a lowly maid, I would shamelessly throw myself at you because you hold royalty."

Taken aback by her strong words, Kiev interjected, "I have never described you in such a way!"

"Stop it!" The maid’s voice quivered with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I don’t want to hear any more of this ridiculous suggestion!"

Burdened by the situation, Rafe pleaded with Elis, "Elis, please consider the situation. The consequences could be dire if the public discovers you are not married to him. I regret allowing you to agree to be a ’fake’ wife for Kiev. I should have resisted more, and I feel ashamed for playing along with this scheme."

"No, Rafe. It’s not your fault," Elis replied. "It was my decision, and I agreed to it. Now that I have fulfilled my duty, I only wish to return to Gantz as soon as possible so we can end everything. You don’t have to worry about other people finding out the truth because once we return, I will leave."

"Leave? What do you mean?" Kiev asked, surprised by her statement.

The maid’s gaze dropped, sadness filling her eyes as she recalled the past.

"Don’t you remember? His Highness, the Grand Duke had already fired and expelled me on the day you arrived at the mansion. I was preparing to leave when I was reinstated and asked to serve Callis as you requested. Given the current circumstances, let’s put an end to everything for good. The best for me is to leave everything and go far away from everyone!"

Elis’s decision triggered a heartfelt response from the Mederian Princess.

"Elis, please don’t!" she exclaimed, trying to persuade the maid.

Kiev’s desperation was also palpable as he pleaded, "You can’t go! You promised to serve me until I return you to the grand duke!"

The maid’s voice held a mix of gratitude and determination as she responded, "I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can continue serving you anymore. I acknowledge that you’ve done much for me, and I’m sincerely thankful for your kindness. However, I believe I have already repaid you by fulfilling your requests and doing everything you asked for. If you feel a debt still requires repayment, please let me know how I can make it right. But I implore you, don’t tell me to marry or serve you again."

A heavy silence enveloped the room, thick with the weight of Elis’s words. The healer couldn’t hide the disappointment that settled upon his features. His expression transformed into a sombre and gloomy look.

"Elis," Rafe let out a sigh, acknowledging the finality of the situation. "Very well. If that’s what you want, there’s nothing more I can do about it."

Kiev’s disappointment was also evident in his expression, but he understood that further persuasion would be futile. There was no point in persuading the maid.

A sharp pang of anguish lanced through his heart as he realised that his soulmate had unequivocally rejected him. The atmosphere in the room became even more subdued, and the unspoken emotions swirled around them.

Elis nodded, her outward resolve unwavering, but deep within her heart, a painful and perplexing sensation stirred. Though she remained steadfast in her decision, an unexplained hurt seeped into the depths of her being.

She took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions, and swallowed hard, determined to push those feelings aside.

"Thank you. Now, please excuse me as I need to get ready. Your family is waiting in the dining room, Rafe. We shouldn’t keep them waiting. We also have a long journey ahead," she said, her voice composed. "And once we leave Rivendelle, I will address all of you by your titles as usual. Thank you again for everything."

With those words, the maid turned to the bathroom, leaving the rest in defeated silence.

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