The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 362: A Mederian Descent (II)

Chapter 362: A Mederian Descent (II)

"It’s true. Your mother and father had separated before you were born. But then, one day, he came and took you away from your mother, from us," Jessy added solemnly.

"Why would my father do that? And my mother... my mother..."

Anna felt her heart sink. This was the first time she had heard this story.

"Your mother passed away when you were born. Your father came shortly afterwards and demanded we hand you over to him. He threatened to harm you if we didn’t surrender you. I was there when it happened," the nanny continued, her voice heavy with the memory of that painful event.

"You... were there?" Anna looked at Jessy, perplexed.

"Yes. My sister and I both begged your father to let us go with you since you were a newborn without a mother. But he chose only one of us, and that was my sister, Nessy. He made her agree not to talk about the incident to anyone, not to run away with you, and, the cruellest of all, not to show you any affection as you grew up. Poor Nessy adhered to all his conditions to ensure your safety and well-being."

"No wonder... Nessy... she had always been so strict with me. She hardly ever smiled or laughed," Anna responded as she reminisced about her nanny’s behaviour.

"This was the only thing she left us before leaving with you," said Jessy, taking a pouch from her pocket.

"This..."

Anna creased her forehead as she looked at the object.

"This contains several strands of your hair. Nessy cut it off in secret when your father wasn’t looking. My speciality is in life magic, so by casting a spell on it, I know you’re alive and thriving," Jessy explained.

Anna was at a loss for words. She opened the pouch and looked inside, finding the short, fine, auburn strands that matched her hair colour.

"Pardon me for asking, but you said you have a speciality in life magic. What about Nessy? What was hers?" asked Clara.

"She had the ability to sense deception in others with her magic. That was how she knew who could be trusted," said Jessy.

"No wonder she knew I was hiding my identity!" exclaimed the knightess.

"You don’t seem surprised. Did you know who Dame Verns is actually?" asked Callis to her husband, who looked calm by the revelation.

"Ah... His Highness shared the information with me. You know that we’re close," Rafe responded.

"Oh, but you never said anything about it!" said the Mederian Princess.

"It’s my job to keep certain things confidential, as per his orders. I hope you understand," the healer said.

Callis nodded, accepting his explanation.

"Why didn’t you stop Her Highness Princess Anna’s father?" Rafe asked Kiev curiously. "He was just an Ardelian with no magical abilities compared to you, the Mederians."

Kiev sighed.

"We did try, but he was protected by a powerful magic. He was the soulmate of Princess Anna’s mother, and her magic shielded him."

The healer’s brow furrowed.

"Soulmates are protected by magic?"

"Not all. Her soulmate, specifically," Callis replied. "The Mederian bloodline has varying levels of magical aptitude. While the royal family possesses exceptional abilities more than the subjects, they were no match for this specific magic which belonged to Anna’s mother."

"But I thought the Mederian royals were the most powerful," Rafe said, confused.

"Not when confronted with certain arcane forces," Callis explained. "Each magic has its own unique strengths and limitations."

The healer’s interest in the story was piqued.

"How did Her Highness’ parents even meet, given the distance between the continent and Sabel Island?"

Kiev’s expression grew sombre.

"It was no mere coincidence. Her father had sought us out, determined to find the Mederian enclave. Fate led him to Princess Anna’s mother, and they eloped against her family’s wishes. However, she later fled a year after discovering his true, malicious intentions."

Anna listened intently, processing the complex revelations.

Jessy’s voice was heavy with regret.

"I’m sorry to say this, but your father was a dangerous man. Had we not surrendered you to him that night, you would have perished."

Clara’s brow furrowed.

"If he was so wicked, why couldn’t my lady’s mother revoke the magic protecting him?"

Jessy glanced at Anna’s pensive expression.

"She tried numerous times, but the magic could not be broken. So, she hid on the island, unaware she was with a child until much later."

Clara contemplated. Her expression changed after she gathered the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Then, that means... you’re from Semeta. After I gained Nessy’s trust, she asked me to send letters to that island using my eagle. And then, a few months later, the suitor representative arrived for the betrothal."

"Semeta??"

Rafe’s eyes rounded, surprised by the mention of the island. He recalled Kyren’s story of being revived from a coma with the help of the Ro’an Princess who resided there, as well as the tale of his perished soulmate.

Anna mirrored Rafe’s expression, having been privy to the same narrative. However, bound by a promise to her husband not to divulge the story, she maintained a tight-lipped resolve.

"That’s the island where the royal Mederians live. Why do you seem so surprised?" asked Callis to Rafe, not noticing the look on Anna’s face.

"I thought you said you came from Sabel Island?" the healer asked.

"Sabel Island is our territory and under our rule as well. We would travel between these islands and a few others for governance purposes from time to time. The island is the main land occupied by our subjects, while Semeta is exclusively for the royals," explained Kiev.

Rafe nodded, the pieces falling into place. He remembered that the last Empress of the Ro’an Empire was also a Mederian, so she must have also resided on Semeta.

"Does this mean that Her Highness’ mother is a royal too since Semeta is specially dedicated to them?" the healer inquired.

Kiev turned to Callis. Aware that they had to keep Anna’s true bloodline a secret, The Mederian Princess quickly narrated her story.

"No. Actually, she took care of my brother since he was born. They were very close, and she treated him like her own."

Anna lifted her face, tears brimming in her eyes.

"My mother... was she a nanny to Prince Kiev?"

"No, definitely not!" Kiev interjected. "She was a family to me, someone I treasure. I was so excited to meet you when I learned you existed in her womb. But you were taken away before I could see you."

"You knew about me before I was born?" Anna asked, her voice breaking.

"Yes. I made an oath on your mother’s grave that I would get you back and protect you. Your father threatened us, saying he would harm you if we ever searched for you when he arrived at our island. That’s why we didn’t come for you. Only when the first letter from Nessy arrived did we start to get information about you again. We arranged the betrothal to bring you back safely to us," Kiev explained.

As the story unfolded, Rafe and Clara looked on with sadness, never imagining the predicament that had befallen the princess from the moment of her birth or her father’s wickedness.

"But... why would Father agree to the betrothal?" asked Anna, her voice trembling. "You said he had malicious intentions toward me and was searching for my mother to obtain me. Why would he agree to this arrangement if he wanted me so badly?"

Jessy replied, "Your father was after your magical abilities. The Mederians’ magic grows significantly from birth until they come of age, with their speciality solidifying during this period only. He hoped to have a powerful heir whose magic he could harness for his gain."

Anna’s brow furrowed.

"But... I don’t have any magic."

Callis spoke up carefully, concealing the fact, "That’s because you’re half-Ardelian. You didn’t inherit magical abilities from your mother."

Anna stared down at her palms, the realisation dawning on her.

"Father kept me locked in the castle for as long as I can remember. Whenever he visited, he would look at me so sternly. I thought he cared, that he came because he missed me..."

Tears began to fall as she understood the truth.

"He was waiting for your magic to manifest, but it never did. By the time you neared adulthood, he had given up hope. I took that chance to threaten him back. If he didn’t give you back to us, we would attack his kingdom. Even though his protective magic was still in place and I couldn’t harm him, I still could have ruined his lands. That’s why he agreed. He had no choice but to concede when faced with that ultimatum," Kiev explained.

"So, I... I’m useless to him," Anna cried. The bitter truth broke her heart. "He no longer wanted me... He didn’t want me."

Jessy embraced the distraught princess, her tears falling. The room was filled with the sound of their shared grief.

"If I had magic, I could’ve saved Jessy that night!" Anna lamented, referring to her nanny’s tragic death.

"No, Princess Anna. If you had any, it would be a massacre. Your mother was quite a strong woman, and her magic was great, too. She was a warrior of the Mederian clan," said the Mederian Prince.

"My mother... a warrior?" Anna asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she looked at Kiev.

"She was. She fought several battles to keep the islands safe and dedicated her life to protecting others. That was why she didn’t want to marry at first. She was my first teacher, and I learned combat skills from her."

Tears fell from Anna’s eyes like a waterfall. She had never known these things about her mother. No matter how much she had asked Nessy and her father, they never gave her any answers. The only thing she knew was that her mother had died during childbirth.

"She loved you so much, Anna. More than you can imagine. But God loved her more," said Kiev, his voice heavy with sadness.

"This is all my fault! My mother... Nessy..." Anna cried, her anguish palpable.

"No, Princess! It’s not your fault!" Jessy insisted. "If I were in Nessy’s place, I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same! I would die for you!"

"Why would you?!" Anna pushed the nanny, breaking the embrace. "Why would you die for someone as useless as me? My mother died giving birth to me. My father hated me and didn’t want me after learning I didn’t have magic. Ryan, my brother, died in the shipwreck when we were on the way to your island. My nanny dedicated her whole life to me for nothing, and she died in vain protecting me! It’s all because of me!"

"You’re not useless, Anna. You’re precious to us. That’s why we came for you," Callis said gently.

"No! Every person around me died because of me! If there’s anyone to blame, it’s me!" Anna exclaimed, abruptly getting up and rushing to the door, tears streaming down her face.

"Princess Anna, wait!" Kiev called out, but she ignored him.

She pulled the door’s knob and stormed out, the door banging loudly behind her.

"I’ll go get her," Rafe said as he stood up, offering help.

"Let me come with you," Kiev requested, concern laced on his expression.

Seeing the earnestness on the Mederian Prince’s face, the healer nodded. They rushed out, following after Anna, while the rest stayed behind.

***

Anna ran through the hallway, her feet carrying her. Before she even realised it, she had burst through the building’s doors and gone to the open training area.

The Knights of Gerhard, who had been waiting on the other side of the grounds, turned in surprise at the sight of their lady rushing towards the ground.

Anna then halted her steps, coming to a sudden stop, and looked down, feeling utterly helpless. With a heavy heart, she sank to the ground, squatting there as the tears continued to flow.

Kiev and Rafe arrived shortly after, coming to a stop behind the distraught princess. Sensing her need for space, the healer signalled to the knights to hold back and not approach.

"What in the world is going on? Is our lady crying?" Garin asked, squinting his eyes at the three figures.

"Looks like it. I wonder what His Highness Prince Kiev did this time. Those two certainly don’t seem to get along," Luke remarked, recalling the previous altercation between Anna and Kiev regarding her training.

"Master Amares appears hesitant to approach her as well. Something must have truly shaken the princess," Damon observed.

"If she’s not in the mood to train, I guess that means our session is cancelled for the day," Eli assumed.

"But if she didn’t want to train, why did she come out here?" Damon wondered aloud.

Noah glanced at Anna, his piercing gaze seemingly trying to assess the situation without uttering a word.

"I better go check on her," Eric, the burly second-in-command knight, decided.

He stepped forward, his long, strong feet stopping upon arrival, and he knelt before the princess.

"My Lady, what’s the matter? Did someone hurt your feelings? Tell me, and I’ll make sure they pay for it," he said, casting a side glance at Kiev.

Anna lifted her tear-stained face, looking up at the knight. He wasn’t in his armour but instead wearing the training suit.

Even without the added protection of his gear, his firm, muscular figure made it clear that he was no ordinary man but a seasoned knight.

A thought suddenly crossed the princess’ mind as she looked at him and surveyed the knights waiting in the distance, their imposing presence undeniable.

"Warriors..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. "You’re all warriors... She was a warrior too..."

Eric looked utterly confused as he caught her words, unable to grasp their meaning.

"Pardon me... But, who are you referring to?"

Anna suddenly stood up, her movements resolute. She took a moment to survey the knights and the training ground, her eyes examining the various equipment and implements. As she did so, her cries began to subside, and she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.

"No more the weak Anna! No more the useless Anna!" she told herself, her voice firm and determined.

Turning to face the second-in-command knight, who was bewildered by her statement, her expression shifted, becoming stern and unwavering.

"Sir Navin, start the training!" Anna commanded.

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