The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 330: A Mysterious Girl

Chapter 330: A Mysterious Girl

Adam peered through the spyglass, fixating his gaze on the island looming not far ahead. Excitement surged within him as he addressed the members aboard the vessel, proclaiming, "We have almost arrived!"

Intrigued by the announcement, Kyren hastened towards Adam, his footsteps echoing on the wooden deck.

Eager for information, he inquired about the islands’ situation, "What can you tell me about the islands thus far?"

Adam, who had surveyed the calm landscape, responded, "It appears tranquil. There seems to be no sign of them anticipating our arrival. We will anchor at the small, uninhabited island over there," he said as he pointed towards a small island on the right side.

"One of my previous expedition’s fleets is stationed there, awaiting us. They will provide us with a comprehensive report upon our meeting, and I also intend to send them additional supplies," he added.

Concern etched Kyren’s face as he contemplated the potential visibility of their fleets.

"Do you think the enemy will be able to detect our presence?"

Adam reassured him, drawing from a recent investigation, "No, during our reconnaissance, we discovered that the enemy had overlooked occupying the island’s high peaks. Consequently, their view of the deserted island, where my fleet is stationed, remains obstructed. Moreover, our chosen docking location offers a concealed haven shielded from the winds, providing our vessels with an advantageous hiding spot."

Curiosity tugged at Kyren once more as he sought clarification.

"But why didn’t they occupy the peaks in the first place?"

"The route to the peak is quite steep and treacherous. It would be impossible for them to transport and position cannons up there, although it would serve as an excellent vantage point for surveillance and long-range attacks."

Kyren considered the admiral’s assessment, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"The locals might know an alternative path. We shouldn’t let this strategic opportunity slip away." He paused, then continued, "I understand that you are leading this expedition, Admiral, but I would like to offer a suggestion, if I may."

Adam nodded respectfully.

"Please, Your Highness, your insight would be most valuable."

"Here is what I propose," Kyren said, his voice taking on a decisive tone. "Gather a small, elite team of men skilled in climbing and navigating the jungle. Have them carefully infiltrate the island and secure the path to the summit. Once that is accomplished, we can then mobilise our cannons and archers to establish a fortified position at the peak. It will give us an excellent point for observation, defence, and communication."

The admiral listened intently and agreed.

"A sound strategy, Your Highness. I shall implement your suggestion immediately."

Kyren momentarily considered the plan and then said again, "I believe I should accompany the infiltration team to ensure the operation’s smoothness and success."

The admiral’s expression turned concerned as he replied, "You’re coming too? But, Your Highness, you are our political representative. We need to ensure your safety!"

Kyren scoffed at the admiral’s objection.

"Are you suggesting I simply sit back and watch while our army takes the risk? Don’t even think of that!" He paused, then continued with conviction, "Furthermore, I am one of your best and most agile knights. You should make use of your strongest ’weapons’ in battle to secure victory, Admiral. If we manage to conquer the peaks, we should be able to gain control of the entire islands."

Adam sighed, understanding the determined nature of the grand duke. He knew trying to dissuade Kyren from joining the mission would be futile.

Resigned to the situation, he responded, "Very well, then. If you insist, I shall go with you too."

Kyren’s expression shifted to one of satisfaction.

"Excellent. Let us make the necessary preparations and depart as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."

***

The sandy white beach stretched along the coastline, bathed in the morning sun’s warm glow. The sea sparkled like a thousand diamonds, reflecting the light from above. Birds soared overhead, searching for their next meal.

This tranquil scene was suddenly disrupted by a distressing sight – a young girl with light brown eyes and long, reddish-brown hair was running desperately, her breath coming in ragged gasps. A group of burly men pursued her relentlessly, their voices filled with frustration.

"Sh*t! How can she run so fast?" exclaimed one of the men.

"Don’t let her get away!" shouted another.

Despite the apparent disparity in their physical builds, the girl’s steps were agile and swift, as if she had undergone combat training from a young age. Her small frame belied her youthfulness; she was barely sixteen years old.

However, no matter how quickly she sprinted, the long strides of her pursuers eventually caught up to her. Before she could react, a blunt object struck the back of her head, and she tumbled to the ground, overcome by the impact.

A voice rang out from behind the group, laced with anger, "D*mn it! Why did you hit her? His Majesty will kill you if anything happens to her! I told you he wants her unharmed!"

The young girl huffed, spitting out the sand that had caught in her mouth as she struggled to catch her breath. The back of her head stung with pain from the assault she had endured.

Pushing her hands against the dry, shifting sand, she tried to lift herself, desperate to escape again. But her efforts were quickly thwarted as one of her pursuers’ large, calloused hands gripped her shoulder, easily pulling her small frame into his constraining grasp.

"Let me go! Let me go, you b*stard!" she screamed, thrashing with all her might, yet her attempts proved futile. "Someone, please help me!" she cried out in desperation, though she knew no one would come.

One of the men stepped forward, a sinister grin on his face.

"You’re not going anywhere! No one is coming to save you. Once the surveillance boat arrives, we’ll depart and take you back to Dago."

Another man chimed in, his voice dripping with greed, "His Majesty will be pleased that we managed to catch you. He’ll reward us handsomely!"

In a defiant act, the young girl spat directly into the face of the man before her. Enraged, he seized her neck, choking her. She gasped for air, struggling to breathe.

Another man, seemingly more level-headed, approached and pushed the attacker away. The girl coughed, drawing in precious breaths.

"Are you out of your mind?! If she dies, we won’t get the reward, you f*ol!" the man scolded his companion.

Despite her weakened state, the girl continued to fight, biting down hard on the arm of the man holding her. He howled in pain, and the vice-like grip loosened, allowing her to break free. However, her momentum caused her to stumble and fall to the ground once more.

"D*mn it! I’m going to teach her a lesson! I don’t care who she is!" the injured man yelled, snatching the baton from one of his companions. He raised the weapon high, ready to strike.

The girl braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut, anticipating another blow. But before the baton could descend, a scream pierced the air, and a warm, fishy liquid suddenly splashed across her face.

The young girl opened her eyes, utterly perplexed by the scene unfolding before her. The man who had attempted to assault her was now lying on the ground, screaming in horror. Blood spewed from a gaping wound on his arm, and to her shock, the severed limb lay nearby.

Turning her gaze, she witnessed a captivating figure in black armour and robes, his long sword swinging with precision as he slashed at the remaining men who had captured her. Her mouth fell open in awe, mesmerised by this alluring saviour.

His eyes were the deep, endless blue of the sea, and his hair was jet-black. His fair, chiselled features – the high, straight nose and the prominent, sculpted jawline exuded an air of refined elegance, even though his expression remained severe and stern while striking down the villainous men.

In a matter of seconds, the three men crumpled to the ground, their bodies writhing before falling still. Stunned by the rapid turn of events, the girl remained motionless.

The man in black armour approached her and knelt, bringing his intense gaze to meet hers. A sense of fear crept into her heart—was he a mercenary sent by her father to apprehend her?

Despite this anxiety, she couldn’t help but adore his striking handsomeness.

"Are you all right?" his low, masculine voice reached her ears.

"I... I’m all right," she stammered. "Who... who are you?"

Before he could respond, another man’s voice called out.

"My Lord!"

Kyren turned to the voice.

The admiral came running with a group of men. Instead of addressing Kyren with his royal title, they had agreed to use a different form of address to conceal his identity.

The grand duke and the admiral, together with their selected men, had been on a mission to enlist the help of a local guide to lead them to the peak, as previously planned. However, Kyren’s sensitive hearing caught the sound of a voice calling for help, prompting him to rush off urgently.

As the girl looked up at the group of men in full armour, armed and equipped, a sense of anxiety crept over her. Their attires were unlike anything she had seen on the islands before, and she was confident they were neither the pirates nor mercenaries hired by the King of Ardel nor the knights from Barges who had been sent to oversee the armies.

"Is everything all right? Any more of them?" Adam asked.

"No, only these three were in sight, so I dealt with them. I had no choice but to finish them, as they were about to assault her," Kyren replied, rising to his feet.

The Admiral looked at the girl, who remained seated on the ground, her expression one of shock and nerves. The blood splattered on her face prompted his concern.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked.

The girl did not respond at first, her hands trembling. "Don’t be afraid," Adam said gently. "We’re not here to capture you."

"Here, take these and clean your face," he said, retrieving a cloth from his pocket and a waterskin from his waist.

The girl’s apprehension was evident, but the admiral’s calm and reassuring demeanour seemed to have a calming effect. She tentatively reached out to accept the items, her eyes darting between the men, unsure of their true intentions.

"Thank you."

The young girl carefully wiped the blood from her face, the lingering fishy smell gradually dissipating as she cleaned. She felt more relieved once her features were apparent.

"Are you one of the locals of this island?" Kyren inquired.

The girl faced the men, her demeanour now more composed.

"May I first know who you are? You are not one of them. Tell me who you are, and then I will tell you who I am," she asked back.

Adam and Kyren were taken aback by the girl’s manner; she did not appear as weak as she had initially seemed, and her voice carried a certain authority. It was evident that she was likely from the upper echelons of society.

Her attire, though dishevelled, was made of fine materials – a dark blue tunic with a long grey surcoat, leather wristbands, pants, and boots.

Adam glanced at Kyren, silently seeking permission, and the grand duke blinked in approval.

"We are from Gantz, the capital of Cassian. And who are you?" Adam asked.

"You... you are from the northern land? You have finally arrived?" the girl’s eyes widened.

A sense of happiness coloured her face, which quickly dissipated and was replaced with seriousness.

"Were you expecting us?" Adam questioned, perplexed.

"This means the enemies knew!" Kyren interjected, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, and he frowned with concern on his face.

The girl quickly rose to her feet.

"No, no! None of them knew except for me! I knew you would be coming, and I’ve been waiting for you!" she exclaimed.

"What do you mean by that? Are you a spy?" Adam swiftly reached for the hilt of his knife, but Kyren placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"I’m not!" the girl insisted, her eyes darting between the men.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself to reveal the truth. "You may not believe who I am, but trust me, I am here to help you win this war."

Kyren’s brow furrowed as he asked, "What are you talking about?"

"There is an impending war coming, much larger than you anticipated. The number of enemies you will face is far greater than those on these islands," she stated.

"What? Wait, how do you know about this?" Adam asked, visibly surprised.

"I’ve studied the invasion plan from the very beginning. Did you come across a white Galician fishermen’s boat on your way here?" the girl inquired.

The admiral and Kyren exchanged a shocked glance with the other men.

"Did you or did you not?" the girl pressed.

"Yes. What about it?" Kyren answered.

The girl sighed, a look of worry crossing her features. "Then, it has already begun. The reinforcements from Ardel are surely on their way here. I’ve been surveying these islands since the day I arrived, and some locals have shared with me the path to the peaks that would aid in your defence."

Kyren was taken aback by her response. It was as if she knew what they had planned.

"Who are you exactly, and how do you have such crucial information?" he asked.

The young girl looked at the grand duke, her eyes filled with determination as she readied to introduce herself.

"I am Athillia, the Princess of Barges."

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