The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 349: The Apprehended Maid

Chapter 349: The Apprehended Maid

Anna awoke before the first light of dawn graced the sky, her excitement palpable for the training about to commence that day.

Eagerly preparing herself, she swiftly freshened up, donned the suitable attire for the training, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

It was a momentous occasion for the princess, as she wore a creamy-coloured tunic with cuffs layered beneath a supple bodice with front-knotted strings, a knee-length skirt with snug long pants underneath, and sturdy, long boots, all thoughtfully prepared by Rosalie.

As Anna descended to the lower ground from her suite, she encountered Anryr, the steward, who glanced at her from head to toe.

The sight before him was unfamiliar, for throughout Anna’s stay at the mansion, she had always dressed in modest, high-quality long skirts or kirtles, befitting her unofficial position as the lady of the mansion.

"Hello, Anryr! Good morning!" Anna greeted him cheerfully.

"Good morning, my lady," the steward replied with a bow, feeling a tinge of embarrassment for not greeting his lady first as a sign of respect. "You look cheerful today," he added.

Anna lightly touched her cheek, a bright smile gracing her lips.

"Do you think so, too? Actually, I’m quite excited! It’s my first day of training!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, I was informed of your schedule. I hope you have a wonderful time with the knights. However, concerning your attire..." Anryr’s gaze scrutinised her once more.

The princess hesitated, feeling somewhat self-conscious under the steward’s eyes.

"Why? Is it too revealing?" she asked, concerned.

She was confident that her skin wasn’t exposed, but she couldn’t deny that the tight pants revealed the contours of her body. Fortunately, the combination of the high boots and knee-length skirt mostly concealed it.

"No, you look fine in it, although it is a bit unconventional. My concern is the weather. It tends to be chilly early in the morning, so I suggest wearing a gambeson to shield yourself from the cold wind," Anryr suggested.

"But wouldn’t that be impractical? I’ll be engaged in physical movements during training, and I’ll inevitably become sweaty," she reasoned.

"Even a skilled hunter would don a thicker jacket in this weather, my lady. Just put it on for now. You can take it off if you feel warmer later after the exercise. Allow me to fetch it for you," proposed the steward.

Anna nodded, acquiescing to Anryr’s suggestion. He left promptly and returned with a light brown gambeson, perfectly matching the princess’s dark brown attire.

"Thank you, Anryr! This will be helpful!" Anna expressed her gratitude, appreciating the steward’s thoughtfulness.

Anryr smiled wistfully.

Though he harboured reservations about the princess participating in the training, he understood that he had no right to dissuade her from pursuing her desires.

"I should head to the training grounds now! Better to be early than late!" the princess exclaimed cheerfully.

"Oh, my lady, the knights have already gathered there about an hour ago," Anryr informed her.

"What? They have convened already? But I thought it was still early!" Anna expressed her surprise.

"They are always punctual for training. It’s a well-known rule among them to arrive an hour before the trainer enters the ground," explained the steward.

"Oh, no! I must go right away!" Anna started running and managed to shout back, "Thank you again, Anryr!"

The steward waved his hand in farewell as he watched her departure.

"Have fun and stay safe!" he called out, his voice trailing after her.

"I will!" Anna’s reply echoed through the hallway.

Anryr gazed at her diminishing figure with concern. Deep within his heart, he silently prayed that nothing untoward would happen.

***

Rafe strolled down the hallway in the early morning, feeling invigorated.

The event from the previous night had been an excellent experience for him. Although he didn’t get the details of the "amazing tale" that the knights had shared until the end of their gathering, Callis, his wife, on the other hand, had spent a delightful time with Anna, Meredith, and Sylvia, gradually forming a bond of friendship.

The Mederian Princess eagerly recounted the experience to him during their journey back to the mansion. The healer was happy to see his wife’s excitement about making new friends.

After seeing her off to her chamber, Rafe had made his way to the library, indulging in his customary reading before retiring to his room in the knights’ quarters.

As the healer continued his walk, his eyes caught sight of Rosalie approaching from the opposite end of the hallway. His thoughts immediately turned to Elis, and he hastened to meet the chief maid, seeking updates on her condition.

"She’s doing remarkably well," Rosalie shared enthusiastically. "His Highness Prince Kiev even fed her himself this morning right before my eyes. She consumed all the food and drinks that were served."

"That’s wonderful news! So, she recognises everyone now?" Rafe inquired, relieved to hear of Elis’s progress.

"Yes! Aside from a bit of fatigue, she’s back to her usual self. But I’m confident she’ll regain her strength soon. His Highness’s care has been truly remarkable. Currently, Miss Canton is resting in her room after freshening up. I’ve just collected this medicine from Mr Norman for her, and I’m on my way to deliver it," Rosalie explained, holding up a medicine vial.

"Thank you so much, Mrs Foster. I apologise for asking you to stay with them all night in His Highness’s chamber. I assure you, I will reward you generously for your assistance," Rafe expressed his gratitude sincerely.

"Oh, I didn’t spend the night looking after Miss Canton, Mr Amares. His Highness Prince Kiev took care of everything," the chief maid confessed.

The healer’s surprise was palpable as he processed the revelation.

"You mean... you didn’t accompany them? They were alone in the chamber for the entire night?" he asked, his voice filled with bewilderment.

"Yes... I know you instructed me to be with them. But when I arrived at the chamber, Miss Canton began crying, pleading with me not to harm her. She didn’t seem to recognise me at all, unlike this morning. So, His Highness asked me to leave," Rosalie explained, her voice tinged with guilt.

"Oh, my!" Rafe closed his mouth, his mind reeling from the unexpected events.

The revelation made him realise that Elis hadn’t only been assaulted by the Knights of Abinair but was also abused by the women in the count’s mansion, probably of higher rank and position. His expression turned serious as he contemplated the situation.

"Mrs Foster, did anyone else find out about this?" he asked in a hushed voice.

The chief maid shook her head earnestly.

"Not a soul! Not even my husband," she replied, emphasising the matter’s secrecy.

A sigh of relief escaped Rafe’s lips.

"For Miss Canton’s sake, I hope you can keep this a secret. If word were to get out about them spending the night together, it would tarnish her dignity as an unmarried woman, and I cannot allow that to happen. The same goes for Kiev. He’s my brother-in-law, and he has done so much for her. Though it might sound selfish, I must protect his honour too," he pleaded.

"I perfectly understand, Mr Amares. Your request does not sound selfish to me. Rest assured, I will not breathe a word of this to anyone. I witnessed firsthand how much he cares for her, and in a way, I feel that His Highness Prince Kiev favours Miss Canton. The way he held her and the tenderness in his gaze showed his deep affection for her. Honestly, I believe he loves her," Rosalie shared her observation.

"Thank you again, Mrs Foster. I can’t comment on what Kiev feels about Miss Canton, as it is his personal matter. But all I can say is that they are dear to me. Kiev is my family, and Miss Canton has been an invaluable help to my wife and Dame Verns. Though she hasn’t been with us for long, she is a remarkable person and deserves happiness," Rafe expressed.

"I feel the same way, Mr Amares. Miss Canton is highly regarded here in the mansion. She may be quiet, but her kindness and helpfulness have endeared her to all. I hope His Highness would consider continuing her service upon his return so that she can stay with us for a long time," Rosalie reflected, her voice filled with hope.

Rafe smiled wistfully, knowing that Elis’s fate had yet to be determined. The fact that she was Kiev’s soulmate had intricately entangled her with him, adding complexity to the situation of the Mederian Prince, who was pursuing Anna as his betrothed.

"I should go and give this medicine to Miss Canton. She must be waiting for me," Rosalie said, breaking the momentary silence.

"Then, let’s go together. I’m also curious to see her condition," Rafe proposed.

"Perhaps you could come a bit later. She’s currently taking a bath," advised the chief maid.

"I understand. In that case, I’ll head to my office first and attend to some work. It’s been a while since I left the mansion, and I also need to oversee Lady Raychard’s training. I’ll drop by soon," Rafe said, excusing himself with a nod.

"Of course, we’ll see you later, Mr Amares. Thank you," replied the chief maid, expressing her gratitude.

With a bow, the chief maid hurriedly made her way towards the staff quarters while Rafe headed towards his office to attend to his tasks.

However, it didn’t take long for Rosalie to come running to the healer’s office. Her face was pale as she clutched a piece of paper in her hand. She knocked anxiously on the door, calling out his name.

Rafe, who had been engrossed in studying a ledger, quickly put it down and called her in.

"What’s the matter, Mrs Foster?" he asked, surprised by her urgency.

"It’s Miss Canton! She... she... she left!" Rosalie exclaimed, her breath laboured as she explained the situation.

"What? Left to where?" Rafe inquired, surprised.

"I don’t know! When I arrived at her room, she was nowhere to be found. She left this letter for us!"

Rosalie handed him the letter she had been holding, and Rafe quickly took hold of it. His eyes darted to the lines of words written on it as he began to read.

It was Elis’s resignation letter, accompanied by an apology note for causing trouble due to her illness and a thank you for everyone’s attention.

"Oh, my God! I need to inform the knights and search for her immediately! She can’t be far!" Rafe exclaimed, feeling a sense of urgency.

"The knights... they are already gathered at the training ground for the training!" Rosalie managed to say between her heavy breaths.

"You go and inform His Highness Prince Kiev right away! He needs to know about this! I’ll get the knights. Hurry!" Rafe urgently instructed.

The chief maid nodded, and the two of them parted ways, rushing towards their respective destinations.

As Rafe was about to leave the building and head towards the training ground, a horn sounded, capturing the attention of all the mansion’s occupants.

The healer halted his hurried steps, realising the significance of the sound. It signalled the arrival of the King of Cassian to the mansion. Knowing he couldn’t neglect his duty to greet the king, Rafe reluctantly turned towards the foyer.

His mind was consumed with worry for Elis, and he couldn’t spare a thought for the reason behind the king’s unexpected visit that had alarmed the entire mansion.

Meanwhile, having received the news from Rosalie, Kiev also rushed towards the exact location, intent on finding Elis, who would probably leave through the main gate, the only permitted entrance. They met in the foyer, their expressions solemn, and quickly ventured outside.

However, a bewildering sight unfolded before them as they reached the front yard.

Among the escorts of the King of Cassian, who had just arrived at the main yard, Elis stood tied up and under arrest.