The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 348: A Sudden Disappearance

Chapter 348: A Sudden Disappearance

Elis’s eyelid twitched as she slowly regained consciousness from her slumber. Opening her blue eyes, the initially blurred surroundings swiftly came into focus.

A wave of bewilderment washed over her as she found herself in an unfamiliar chamber, her confusion evident on her face.

The realisation struck her when she noticed the familiar wall design, its pristine beige colour, and the chamber’s well-appointed decorations.

She was in Gerhard’s mansion, a place she knew very well. However, the circumstances left her puzzled.

As she began to move, raising her upper body from the cosy, luxurious bed, a voice broke the silence emanating from the side of the bed.

"Don’t rush to get up. You might feel a bit dizzy and tired."

It was a melodic voice she instantly identified. Her gaze turned hastily towards the source.

Surprised by his presence, Elis glanced around the chamber again, attempting to make sense of this unprecedented occurrence.

Her thoughts were scattered, so she placed her fingers on her temple, hoping to alleviate the pain. But as Kiev had warned, all she felt was an intense headache and soreness throughout her body.

"Lie down first," the Mederian Prince urged gently. "You need to take it easy. You’re still not well."

Confusion etched into her voice as she asked, "Why... why am I here?"

"You fell ill yesterday, so I brought you here to rest," Kiev explained calmly.

"Where am I?"

"You’re in my chamber, within Gerhard’s mansion," he responded.

The maid’s panic began to rise upon hearing his reply.

"I shouldn’t be here! I need to go!"

Elis made an abrupt attempt to get up, but Kiev’s firm hand swiftly halted her, pushing back her shoulder gently to lay her on the bed.

"You’re not going anywhere in this state! You’ll only risk hurting yourself. Don’t let my efforts from last night go to waste," the Mederian Prince stated sternly.

Elis was taken aback by his words. Her blue eyes locked onto his face, noticing the dark shades beneath his red eyes. A mix of concern and gratitude welled up within her.

"You... took care of me last night?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"You were in a bad condition. Even Rafe and his assistant couldn’t provide you with the necessary treatment. I had to use my magic to alleviate your pain. It was far more severe than what you experienced during our visit to Rivendelle. That’s why I brought you to my chamber," Kiev explained.

Elis lowered her gaze, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. The Mederian Prince had been going above and beyond to assist her, and she already felt indebted to him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"If you truly appreciate my help, then please listen to me. I’m doing all of this to ensure you don’t fall ill again," Kiev urged, his voice sincere and caring.

"Yes, Your Highness," Elis replied carefully, not to offend the Mederian Prince.

A sharp pang pierced Kiev’s heart as he heard her addressing him with his formal title. The weight of it seemed to create an unbridgeable divide between them, a gap he couldn’t close.

He felt a bitter taste of distance that he longed to erase, but for now, he opted to close his lips, his expression clouded with a hint of disappointment.

Breaking the silence, Kiev then announced, "I’ve ordered breakfast for us. The servant should be serving us soon. Eat first with me."

Elis felt torn at the mention of servants. The thought of being discovered in the Mederian Prince’s bed would undoubtedly become fodder for gossip within the Gerhard’s mansion.

While the servants were loyal to the grand duke, such a peculiar situation would surely tempt them to discuss the matter.

"Your Highness, I don’t think that would be a good idea. If they saw me... like this... on your bed..." the maid hesitated, voicing her concerns.

Kiev reassured her as he took a seat beside her.

"Don’t worry. None of the other servants know you are here except for the chief maid. She would be attending us."

Curiosity piqued, Elis inquired further.

"Who else knew?"

"Rafe, his assistant, and, of course, Sir Skyler, the burly knight who is always overly protective of you," Kiev divulged.

Elis let out a sigh.

"That’s practically everyone..."

"They won’t say a thing. They all care about you, and based on your condition, it was best for you to be with me. If not, you might still be... in that state," Kiev carefully explained, mindful of the delicate nature of her situation.

Elis furrowed her brow, deep in thought. Memories of her encounter with the Knights of Abinair flooded her mind, causing her hands to tremble and her breath to grow ragged as she suppressed her emotions.

Sensing her distress, Kiev gently placed his hand over hers, which clutched the blanket.

"Don’t worry. No one’s going to hurt you... ever again. I promise," he told her.

Elis looked up at the stunning Mederian Prince, his red-ruby eyes reflecting his earnestness. At that moment, she found solace in his presence, reassured by his words and the genuine care he extended towards her.

"Thank you," Elis said softly, her voice filled with gratitude and vulnerability. "Yesterday... I was only afraid... I’m not used to being around men... I... I..." She tried to explain but was lost for words.

"You don’t have to explain anything to me," Kiev quickly interjected in a firm tone. "I don’t want to know."

His words might have sounded harsh, but in reality, he intended to protect her from the painful memories that haunted her. He didn’t want her mind to be disturbed again and hoped to shield her from further distress.

"Right..." Elis replied, her voice trailing off, thinking the Mederian Prince had no interest in her reason.

"If I may ask... Why were you there yesterday?" Elis inquired, curious.

"Why wouldn’t I? Callis informed me that you went to Madam Carson’s boutique alone. That’s dangerous! Don’t you remember what happened last time during the mid-autumn festival?" Kiev retorted.

Elis’s gaze dropped, weighed down by guilt.

"I’m sorry... But actually, I wasn’t alone. The carriage driver was with me..."

"He doesn’t count! What would he do if men started swarming around you? I bet he would just run off to save his own skin! You may not realise this, but your attractiveness garners the attention of men. The palace servants always steal glances at you. I’m not blind to that!" the Mederian Prince interrupted her frustratedly.

"I... I’m not that pretty..." Elis murmured, averting her gaze.

"I don’t lie and speak the truth. You should have at least asked my escorts to accompany you or, better yet, requested that I come with you. If I had known you were going there alone, I would never have let you!" Kiev expressed, his voice tinged with regret.

"How would I know? I’m just a mere maid... You’re of royal blood, and your guards are noble knights. It would have been absurd for me to make such a request to those of higher rank and status," Elis explained.

"You never asked! Naturally, you wouldn’t know! You’re important to Callis and me! If anything happened to you, how would I face the grand duke? That’s why Rafe and I came running for you!" Kiev responded.

"I’m sorry... It seems like I’ve caused so much trouble for everyone," Elis apologised, her remorse evident.

"Forget it. It’s already in the past. The most important thing now is that you’re safe. Just focus on getting better quickly," Kiev reassured her.

Elis nodded, appreciating his understanding and forgiveness.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door, and Rosalie entered with a tray of food and drink upon permission. The chief maid initially appeared hesitant, but as Elis greeted her, her worried expression transformed into a warm smile.

"Thank goodness you’re already well, Miss Canton! I was so worried about you! How are you feeling right now?" Rosalie asked with genuine concern.

"I feel much better. Thank you, Mrs Foster," Elis responded gratefully.

"That’s great to know. Here, I brought a nutritious porridge for you. I personally asked the cook to make this to help you replenish your strength. Have some," the chief maid said as she served the food and drink on the table.

Kiev helped Elis rise from the bed and supported her as she settled against the pillows, leaning on the headboard.

"Careful," he cautioned as he gently held her.

Elis nodded, appreciating his support. Rosalie’s sharp eyes flickered toward the couple, a hint of suspicion rising within her, but she remained calm and composed.

"Pass me the bowl, Rosalie. I’ll feed her myself," Kiev stated, taking charge of the situation once Elis was comfortably settled.

"Pardon? You want to feed Miss Canton?" Rosalie asked, surprised by the request.

The Mederian Prince glanced sideways at her.

"Is there any problem with that?" he inquired.

"Oh, no! Of course not!" Rosalie quickly responded, realising her initial surprise may have come across as disapproval.

She promptly lifted the trivet where the porridge was placed and handed it to Kiev.

"Be careful, Your Highness. It’s still hot," she cautioned.

The Mederian Prince nodded, acknowledging her warning. He then stirred the porridge carefully and scooped a spoonful, blowing gently to cool it before bringing it to Elis’s lips.

A shade of pink coloured the woman’s cheeks as she realised that the chief maid was inadvertently witnessing Kiev’s gentle and caring behaviour towards her.

"Don’t mind me! Carry on!" Rosalie exclaimed, realising she had unintentionally interrupted the couple with her gaze.

Feeling sheepish, the chief maid turned around and hesitantly asked, "Umm... Do you want me to leave, Your Highness?"

"Stay so that later you can report to Rafe that I took good care of her as promised," the Mederian Prince replied, his voice firm yet composed, though his eyes remained focused on Elis.

"Yes, Your Highness," Rosalie responded obediently.

"Sir Skyler might also want to know her progress. You can update him as per what you’ve seen," Kiev added, considering the importance of keeping the knight informed.

"Of course I will," Rosalie assured him, committed to fulfilling her duties.

Encouraged by the Mederian Prince’s persuasion, Elis managed to eat the whole bowl of porridge. With her empty stomach, it wasn’t difficult for her to finish the nourishing meal. Once she had consumed the food and drinks, she politely requested Kiev’s permission to leave the chamber.

"But you’re not fully recovered yet," the Mederian Prince protested, reluctant to release her.

"I still need to return to my room to wash up. My clothes are all there. It wouldn’t be nice if I were to change into my new attire here... in your chamber," Elis explained, mindful of etiquette.

"Can you walk?" he asked, concerned for her health.

"Yes, I can. Thanks to the meal, I’ve gained some energy already," Elis replied confidently.

Kiev pondered for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he agreed.

"Fine. I also need to freshen up. I’ll see you afterwards." Turning towards Rosalie, he requested, "Could you kindly accompany Elis to her room and look after her?"

"Yes, I would be glad to help," Rosalie responded, stepping forward to assist the maid in standing up. With a respectful bow to the Mederian Prince, the two maids left the chamber and went to Elis’s room.

Seizing the opportunity, Kiev entered the adjacent bathroom to wash off the fatigue accumulated from staying up all night.

The warm water provided soothing relief and rejuvenated his body. After a refreshing bath, he returned to his chamber and dressed in a fine tunic and trousers.

To ward off the chill in the air, he adorned himself with a leather jacket, a garment befitting a prince at the end of autumn. The intricate embroidery and regal colours showcased his royal status, while the jacket’s practicality ensured his comfort in the changing weather.

The Mederian Prince stood before the mirror, his long hair cascading down his back as he brushed it. His captivating figure was reflected in the polished surface, but his gaze was distant, lost in his thoughts.

Today was the day Anna’s training was supposed to commence, and he had planned to oversee it himself. However, with Elis’s current predicament, he saw an opportunity to dissuade her from leaving.

Contemplating the idea, he considered delegating the observation task to Callis while he spent time with the maid. He had even rehearsed a few persuasive sentences in his mind, prepared to coax her into staying.

But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by urgent knocks that resonated through the door.

Rosalie entered the chamber with an alarmed expression.

"Your Highness! Miss Canton has left the mansion!"

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