The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 352: Challenging The King

Chapter 352: Challenging The King

Elis felt her body go numb with fear as the realisation of the impending sentence sank in. Memories from her past flooded her mind; the pain of the whip on her fragile body during her time as a slave. Trembling uncontrollably, her face turned pale with shock.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to reconsider the punishment! Elis is not solely to be blamed! As the lady of this mansion, I’m also responsible for her. So, I plead with you, please find it in your heart to forgive her," Anna begged in desperation.

"Silence!" King Kyden’s voice echoed with authority.

In that tense moment, Kiev exerted his strength, pushing past the royal knights who blocked his path. Those who tried to resist were instantly subdued by his formidable combat skills.

With lightning speed, he pulled Elis into his protective embrace, one arm holding her close while his other hand conjured a fireball, ready to unleash his magic attack.

Witnessing the escalating danger, Eric’s voice rang out, urgently commanding, "Protect His Majesty!"

The Knights of Gerhard swiftly surrounded King Kyden, forming a protective barrier.

The remaining royal knights were also on high alert and shielded the king and the Knights of Gerhard. They unsheathed their swords, and the archers retrieved arrows from the quivers on their backs, readying their bows to strike.

However, King Kyden raised his hand, halting them from launching a response attack. Amid the chaos, Callis rushed forward, confronting Kiev.

"Brother! What are you doing?! This is not the way to solve this! Father taught us to treat the King of Cassian with respect!"

"I’ll kill them all if they lay a hand on Elis!" the Mederian Prince declared with conviction.

"What in the world has gotten into you?!" Callis shouted back at her brother, her voice laced with confusion.

Tears streamed down Elis’s face as she trembled, overwhelmed by the tense and dangerous situation. Her hands clung to Kiev’s arm, seeking protection.

"You heard me! I won’t back down, even if it costs me my life!" the Mederian Prince vowed resolutely.

Callis’s eyes locked with Kiev’s intense gaze as she observed her brother’s unwavering determination. Then, a realisation struck her.

The way the Mederian Prince fiercely protected the maid and his peculiar attention to her made sense now. Elis was Kiev’s soulmate.

Lost in her thoughts, the Mederian Princess pondered when this connection had begun. Memories of Kiev’s unwavering focus on the maid throughout their visit to Rivendelle filled her mind.

Snapping back to reality, Callis knew she had to intervene. Kiev seemed unstoppable, but she couldn’t let his anger cloud his judgment and plunge everything into chaos.

Seeing the fireball forming in Kiev’s palm, Callis urgently pleaded, "Withdraw your power, brother! This isn’t the way to protect her!"

"No!" Kiev’s voice rang out, his determination unyielding.

"Brother, listen to me! You can’t fight them all at once! And unleashing your magic against innocent people is inherently wrong," Callis persuaded him.

"They want to harm her! They’re asking for it! I didn’t start this!" Kiev retorted, his anger fueling his words.

Callis’s eyes darted nervously, realising that this would become a massacre if she failed to stop her brother. Her gaze fell upon Anna, who stood there, completely shocked by the scene.

"Withdraw your power! Princess Anna is right behind you! You’ll put her in grave danger!" Callis cried out, her voice filled with alarm.

Upon hearing Anna’s name, Kiev’s mind snapped back from its angered state. He quickly diffused his power, causing the fireball to dissipate. However, the royal knights maintained their weapons’ aim towards him, ready to unleash their attacks if necessary.

"At ease, everyone!" ordered the king, raising his hand. His authoritative voice broke through the commotion.

"But, Your Majesty! His Highness Prince Kiev just threatened you!" the leader of the royal knights asserted, clearly concerned.

"He will not harm me. He’s a Mederian Prince, and I’m the benevolent king from the monarch appointed by Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of Ro’an. He has his allegiance to the empire through the blood oath of the Mederian clan," the king explained, steady and confident.

Kiev’s gaze shifted towards King Kyden with annoyance. It didn’t surprise him that the king knew of the Mederian clan’s oath to the Ro’an Empire, as they themselves were part of it.

"I understand you might find my actions disrespectful, but I will not back down if you intend to proceed with her punishment. I made a promise to Elis that I would protect her from harm. A Mederian Prince will always honour his word," Kiev declared sternly.

A wistful smile spread across King Kyden’s face. His plan had finally reached its peak.

"That’s quite an honour for a mere maid. Tell me, Prince Kiev, is your fondness for Miss Canton akin to a man’s favour towards a woman? Because, based on your actions, it certainly appears so," the king teased with intrigue.

All eyes turned to the Mederian Prince, awaiting his response.

Without hesitation, Kiev answered, "Yes, it is! I have developed a genuine affection for her and intend to make her mine. So, if you truly honour me as your guest, then bestow her on me!"

His answer surprised everyone present except for Callis, Rafe, and Armel, who stood among the servants, as well as the king himself.

"You desire this maid? For what purpose? For your amusement? I thought you were here for your betrothed," the king questioned, a playful tone weaving through his words.

Kiev swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he felt he was falling into a trap. He knew his reply might have caught them off guard and caused a new flawed perspective on him, but he couldn’t bear the thought of letting Elis go. If she didn’t become his, he wouldn’t be able to protect her from the impending punishment.

Undeterred by the sceptical looks from those around him, Kiev remained resolute in his stance, standing firm for the maid.

"It’s none of your concern what I want to do with her! I like her, and I want her! Although I’m betrothed, as a Mederian Prince, I’m entitled to have multiple women as partners. So, give her to me!" he urged.

"Since she belongs to the grand duke, why don’t you ask him yourself when he returns? Although, I highly doubt he would agree. You’ve desired his concubine, and now you covet his maid. Such greed is unlikely to be fulfilled," responded the king calmly with a hint of disdain.

"In that case, you shouldn’t be laying a hand on her either!" Kiev retorted defiantly.

"She has offended me, and as the king, I have every right to punish her," the king stated matter-of-factly.

"I won’t allow that to happen! You’ll have to face me first!" Kiev boldly declared.

"Calm down, please!" Rafe’s voice suddenly rose, cutting through the tension in an attempt to diffuse the escalating argument.

Both figures locked in the dispute turned their attention to the healer. Rafe raised his hands, palms facing outward, a gesture of peace.

"I apologise for raising my voice, but please listen to me. Let’s not allow this argument to spiral further," he said, his gaze shifting between the two parties.

Then, his grey eyes focused on the king as he continued, "Miss Canton is currently under my care, Your Majesty. She’s unwell and requires treatment."

"So?" scoffed King Kyden dismissively.

Rafe took a deep breath, his frustration tempered by the need to convey his point.

"She is my patient, and as the former royal healer appointed by your predecessor, I possess the authority to ensure her well-being. From my observation, it’s not possible for her body to endure the punishment of ten lashings in her current state. Therefore, she cannot be subjected to it."

Kiev felt a glimmer of relief upon hearing the healer’s words, sensing a potential lifeline for Elis. However, the king’s following response shattered that hope, causing his unease to resurface.

"I am well aware of your authority, Rafe Amares. However, Miss Canton left the mansion of her own accord. Hence, she is no longer under your care, and you cannot impede me by invoking the authority bestowed upon you by my late father. If she can leave the mansion independently, it signifies her ability to fend for herself and face the consequences of her actions," the king countered, his tone resolute.

Rafe’s frustration was palpable, and his options were limited by the king’s stark reality. He struggled to find a suitable rebuttal but failed to raise any. He looked down in a defeated expression.

As King Kyden observed the unwavering determination of the Mederian Prince, he saw the opportunity to steer the situation according to his plan. With a calculated smile, he lured Kiev further into the solution brewing in his mind.

"Very well... If you yearn for her so strongly, I will use my authority as the king to bestow her upon you," King Kyden said, his tone shifting unexpectedly.

Kiev was taken aback by the king’s sudden change of decision. So did Rafe and the others.

"You would?" he asked, disbelieving.

"My principle remains simple, a life for a life. So, I will give her to you on one condition... Drop your claim on Anna," the king declared, his eyes fixed on Kiev.

Rafe, who had been standing nearby, suddenly realised that this was the secret plan devised by the king, one that he had kept hidden from him—King Kyden was using Elis as a bargaining chip to have Anna stay for good.

Kiev hesitated for a moment, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. The king’s offer weighed heavily on him.

"Brother, are you going to accept this? Remember why we are here," Callis reminded him in a quiet voice.

The mission to bring Anna to safety had been their primary objective and the sole reason for their journey to the continent. She was worried that Kiev might have a change of heart.

Kiev glanced back at the king.

"I will not drop my claim. Princess Anna has been mine from the very beginning."

"So you intend to have them both? How absurd of you to declare such a thing!" the king snarled.

"Say what you will, but I will not let either of them go!" Kiev declared unwaveringly.

"If you’re unwilling to negotiate, then I will punish the maid!" the king threatened.

"Over my dead body!"

The tense standoff continued, with Kiev refusing to withdraw, determined to protect Elis at any cost. The maid’s fate hung in the balance as the confrontation between the Mederian Prince and the king reached a critical point.

"Are you challenging me, the king of this kingdom?" King Kyden’s voice resonated in the air.

"I will challenge anyone who dares to come forward and try to hurt Elis!" Kiev responded defiantly.

The king’s eyes narrowed with an incredulity look.

"How bold of you! You come to my kingdom, challenge my brother to a duel, and now you dare to confront me?"

"Your Majesty, I did not initiate the challenge with the grand duke! It was he and Princess Anna who proposed the duel. I merely agreed out of respect for her. You can inquire with her for confirmation," Kiev explained.

"He’s speaking the truth, Your Majesty. Lady Raychard did make the request," Rafe interjected, addressing the Mederian Prince’s claim.

Kiev paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Rafe. He was displeased by the way the healer addressed Anna. However, he recognised that the current situation demanded his focus and restraint since Elis’s safety was at stake, so he ignored it.

"We had a meeting about this matter, and she proposed the duel. It was agreed upon before we arrived at the palace, and I was their mediator during the dispute meeting," Rafe clarified, affirming Kiev’s remarks.

The king turned to Anna, his gaze probing.

"Anna, do you have anything to say regarding this?"

The princess took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.

"Yes, it is true. Prince Kiev and Rafe are telling the truth. I was the one who initiated the request for the duel."

"Now that it is clear, I would like to settle this matter in a civilised manner. I came here with no intention of causing harm to anyone. However, just like you, I have principles of my own, too. I will fulfil my word to the person I have promised, and in this case, that person is Elis. Therefore, as an honourable prince of the Mederian clan, I challenge you, King Kyden Raychard of Cassian, for a duel!" announced Kiev.