The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 369: A Bold Seduction

Chapter 369: A Bold Seduction

The ambience grew darker as night approached, and the once-bustling mansion turned quieter as time passed.

In the courtyard of the knights’ quarters, Damon, Eli and Luke gathered, engaging themselves in light conversations and enjoying drinks.

Eric, Garin, and Noah were noticeably absent. While the second-in-command knight took the initiative to check on Anna, the third-in-command knight retired to bed early.

As for Noah, the recluse knight, he returned from the plaza but deliberately isolated himself from the company of others. His decision to abstain from joining them for dinner was influenced by his altercation with Eric in the garden earlier that afternoon.

As their discussions waned, the knights noticed the figure of Callis passing by the cloister. The Mederian Princess initially appeared hesitant, but upon spotting the knights, she approached them with a warm smile.

"Good evening. It’s a lovely night for a chat, isn’t it?" she greeted them.

"Good evening, Mrs Amares. Is there anything we can assist you with?" Luke inquired.

"Well... yes! I was wondering if you could show me Rafe’s room," she requested.

"Ah... Mr Amares’s room is at the end of this path, the white door. It’s the only one with that colour. You can’t miss it," Eli explained, pointing in the indicated direction.

Callis’s gaze followed his gesture.

Damon, curious, interjected, "Have you never been to his room before?"

Callis turned her attention back to the knights.

"Umm... no. Usually, he would send me back to my chamber before we retired for the night. But today, he mentioned having some work to do. I checked his office, the treatment room, and the library, but he wasn’t there. So, I assume he must be in his room."

"Is it something important that you need to discuss with him? I can ask him to come to you," Luke suggested.

"No, no!" Callis waved her hands, declining the offer.

She chuckled softly upon observing the knight’s earnestness.

"I just wish to bid him good night. It would be better for me to go to him instead of him coming to me."

"In that case, allow me to escort you there," the knight proposed.

Eli and Damon glanced at Luke and were certain he was trying his best to maintain a good rapport with the Mederian Princess, considering she had forgiven him after their ’little’ incident.

"Oh, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I believe I can manage on my own. Besides, I don’t want to disturb your time. Please carry on, and thank you," Callis graciously declined, nodding her head before excusing herself.

The knights bowed respectfully to the Mederian Princess, who then happily made her way to her husband’s room.

"Sir Parker, aren’t you supposed to teach her cooking?" Damon inquired.

"Yes, but she asked me to wait until our lady’s training is complete," Luke replied, his gaze fixed on Callis as her figure grew smaller in the distance.

Eli noticed the knight’s pensive expression and chimed in, "What’s on your mind? You seem to be contemplating something as you look at her."

Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully and mused, "I wonder when Mr Amares and his wife will truly live as husband and wife."

Damon joined the conversation, noting, "I haven’t seen Mr Amares quarrel with His Highness Prince Kiev since the duel. Their relationship must have improved lately. So, I believe it will happen soon."

Eli’s excitement couldn’t be contained as he exclaimed, "How fortunate is Mr Amares to have such a beautiful and devoted wife! I bet their children will be absolutely adorable!"

Luke chuckled and added, "Ah, that will have to wait. Our healer is not bad-looking, and Mrs Amares is a striking beauty, too. They are bound to have beautiful children. But let’s just hope their little ones don’t inherit their uncle’s temper."

The knights shared a hearty laugh, the sound of which echoed through the courtyard. They raised their drinks to their lips, savouring the taste as they continued their lively conversation.

***

As Rafe, having changed into his nightgown and prepared for bed, was about to settle down, a knocking sound interrupted his tranquillity.

After a long, taxing day dealing with various work-related matters, he had decided to retire early tonight.

"Who is it?" he inquired, his voice reaching the person outside the door.

"It’s me, Callis," came the familiar response.

Recognising her voice, Rafe approached the door and turned the knob. The door creaked open, revealing the Mederian Princess standing there with a warm smile.

"What brings you here? Why haven’t you gone to sleep yet?" the healer inquired.

With a touch of shyness, Callis asked, "Aren’t you going to invite me in first?"

Rafe felt a pang of embarrassment and quickly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh... forgive me! Please, do come in," he said, opening the door wider to welcome his wife inside.

Just then, Rafe’s expression shifted as he realised that his room was in a state of disarray.

"Oh dear! I haven’t tidied up my room yet!" he exclaimed in a slightly panicked tone.

Swiftly, he moved to gather the scattered clothes and towels that had found their way onto the furniture, quickly hanging them on the designated hooks.

Next, he hurried to his desk, which was cluttered with books and reports, and began sorting them quickly.

Callis couldn’t help but chuckle at her husband’s behaviour as she entered. To her, the room didn’t appear as messy as Rafe thought.

"Your room is perfectly fine. Mine would be even worse if I were in the middle of a task. You don’t have to worry about it," she reassured him.

Rafe’s voice betrayed a tinge of guilt as he responded, "Normally, I’m not like this, and my belongings are usually well-organised. But with so much on my mind lately, I got carried away and neglected to sort them properly after using them."

Sensing his unease, Callis approached him and gently held his arm, stopping him from continuing to clean up.

"Please... don’t worry about it. I don’t mind at all. Just leave it as it is. The servants can take care of it tomorrow. Let’s sit down and talk, shall we?" she suggested, her voice filled with tenderness.

Rafe paused, considering her words, and finally relented.

"All right. Let’s sit on the settee first," he invited, leaving his tidying tasks behind.

Placing his hand behind his wife’s back, he guided her to the seating area.

The couple settled down side by side, making themselves comfortable. Curious about the topic at hand, Rafe broached the conversation.

"What did you want to talk about?" he inquired.

Callis began cautiously, "Actually, I wanted to say goodnight to you... but then, since we have this chance, I would like to discuss an important matter."

"An important matter? What is it?" the healer raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Last night, you asked me to sleep in my own chamber, thinking I needed rest after using my magic to raise the shield... and tonight, you have work, so you didn’t join me either. I was just wondering..." she paused, swallowing nervously.

"Yes?" Rafe prompted, his curiosity growing.

Summoning her courage, the Mederian Princess asked, "When will we start sleeping together like a normal couple?"

Rafe’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected Callis to initiate this conversation.

"Callis... I..." Rafe stumbled upon his words, his nervousness palpable.

Callis interrupted gently.

"In royal and noble circles, it’s customary for couples not to sleep together all the time. There’s a traditional etiquette where they only come together and share a bed after the wives have had their menses, solely for the purpose of producing heirs. But I don’t want to adhere to that custom. Even brother has Elis sleeping with him every day... So, I desire that kind of relationship, too. I miss the night we shared a bed together in Rivendelle," she confessed, her voice filled with longing.

Rafe paused, taking in her words, and observed the yearning expression on his wife’s face.

He felt a pang of guilt as he responded, "I understand... but the thing is, Kiev hasn’t given his permission yet. We agreed that this must wait..."

"Brother is being ridiculously unfair! He can have Elis for himself, but he won’t allow me to be with you. We’ve been married for nearly two weeks already!" Callis interjected with a sulk.

She clenched her fist in frustration as her lips curved downwards.

Rafe sighed, feeling torn.

"Callis... I know it’s disheartening for you right now... but please, be patient, all right?" he pleaded.

Callis turned her gaze towards her husband, her captivating red-ruby eyes filled with disappointment, but beneath it, a fire of determination began to blaze.

"There’s a chance that brother might change his mind and annul our marriage if we haven’t truly united! I don’t want to risk losing you. So, it would be best to consummate our marriage tonight! "she urged.

The Mederian Princess was resolute. She moved closer to her husband, believing now was the right time to take the next step in their relationship.

Panicked and surprised by the decision, Rafe scooted back on the settee until he reached the edge, blocked by the cushion-padded armrest. He was about to stand up when Callis blocked his way, her injured shoulder no longer wearing a sling.

"Wait! We... we shouldn’t do this now! Not yet!" Rafe exclaimed in alarm.

He quickly grabbed a small throw pillow beside him and placed it between himself and Callis, creating a barrier.

"Why not? You said it yourself in front of everyone that I am precious to you... that you are devoted to me... and that you will have me bear your child in no time. Were that all just empty words?" Callis questioned, her tone challenging.

Rafe stammered, caught off guard by his wife using his own words against him.

"Well... umm... I did say that... but... umm..."

He hadn’t anticipated that Callis would confront him with his own promises, leaving him at a loss for words.

"Then what?" she demanded. "If you’re going to claim that your previous statement was merely an attempt to save face or a passing whim, then I won’t forgive you!"

"No! That’s not true at all!" the healer earnestly replied, "I meant every word I said. I genuinely want to establish a strong relationship with you and build a family together."

"Then prove it to me now!" she urged. "Let’s do it!"

Nervously, Rafe interjected, "You’re still injured. Now may not be the best time. Let’s wait until you’ve fully recovered."

"It doesn’t hurt anymore! Look, I’m not even wearing the sling. Remember how I told you that the Mederians heal faster than others?"

"But... the walls of this room are thin! Everyone will hear us!" he protested.

"So what? We’re not committing any sins. It’s perfectly natural for a married couple to engage in intimate activities," she countered.

The healer tried to come up with another excuse, but his mind drew a blank.

"Husband... I want you," Callis pleaded.

Her hand pulled the throw pillow held by Rafe. She bent down, and her lips latched on his. The healer’s grey eyes widened by the bold act. He wanted to run away, but the Mederian Princess’ strong prowess held him in place.

After a while, their lips gently separated, leaving Rafe gasping for air. Callis smiled tenderly at his flushed face, captivated by his innocent expression.

Unable to resist, she leaned in and kissed him once more, savouring the lingering taste of the sweet tea from his lips that he had drank before.

A soft, involuntary moan escaped her as they indulged themselves in the enchantment of the intimate moment.

Callis’s hand ventured forth, her fingers deftly undoing the laces of Rafe’s nightgown, unveiling his fair chest. Though not defined with bulging muscles, his slender physique had always captivated her, and she had yearned to touch it for so long.

Rafe gently pushed his wife away, heaving his breath in the wake of their passionate kiss. The Mederian Princess had grown more audacious, her touch now wandering over his exposed chest.

"Callis, please," he pleaded. "We must stop! I don’t want Kiev to harm us if he found out!"

"I don’t want to! He can kill me if he wants, but I won’t stop! I want to make love to you tonight!" The Mederian Princess declared with unwavering determination.

Rafe’s throat tightened as he swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the audacity of her words. Never before had a woman displayed such boldness in claiming him.

Fully aware of her formidable strength, he realised escaping her embrace was impossible.

Their lips melded once more as their bodies entwined in a fervent embrace. Driven by her desire, Callis inadvertently tugged at the neckline of Rafe’s gown, causing it to tear and revealing his fair skin. Rafe was now only clad in his braise.

Her fingers snaked downward, tracing the contours of his body, feeling his growing arousal. Callis lifted her head, a mischievous smile gracing her lips. Rafe, on the other hand, blushed deeply, his face and neck suffused with a fiery hue.

"Callis... I... I... I’m inexperienced," he admitted, his embarrassment palpable.

"Me too," she replied playfully. "I haven’t been with any man either. I’ve only learned from the books and my nanny. So, let’s explore this together," she teased, her fingers dancing along his hardened shaft underneath the braise.

Rafe groaned, finding it increasingly difficult to resist the overwhelming temptation.

However, a flash of Kiev’s wrathful face and the memory of Kiev’s blade striking Ramios, the emperor’s sword, filled him with fear. The consequences of his brother-in-law discovering their intimacy would be dire.

After everything they had endured, he couldn’t bear to provoke the Mederian Prince’s rage and risk losing his beloved wife.

His chest heaved, his desire warring with his conscience, desperately trying to hold back. Yet, the Mederian Princess paid no heed to his struggle.

"No, please! For the sake of our future, Callis, stop!" Rafe begged as he tried to push her, but his attempt was met with Callis’s resistance.

"I am doing this for the sake of our future... and for that, husband, I expect you to rise to the occasion tonight," she declared, her determination unyielding.

Rafe felt himself pushed to the brink. As Kiev had warned, Callis possessed an unrelenting spirit, unwilling to let her desires go unfulfilled when she had set her sights on something... or someone.

At that moment, the healer realised there was only one way to stop this impending intimacy and save himself.

"Help!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the room, a plea for assistance.