The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 384: Vanquishing The Dark Spirit

Chapter 384: Vanquishing The Dark Spirit

Riding Maximillian, the warhorse, Anna managed a daring escape. Their figures quickly diminished from sight as they turned at the mansion’s main building, heading for the main gate.

Maximillian was the fastest and most potent steed among the rest, so it was no surprise that the princess could outrun her pursuer so swiftly.

Eric arrived just in time before Kiev could set out. The horse had been equipped, and Ramios was secured to the saddle with a rope.

"Let me come with you! Maximillian is incredibly agile! You won’t be able to catch up on your own!" he pleaded.

"Stand aside, Sir Navin! I don’t have time for this! She’s getting away!" The Mederian Prince raised his voice, impatient to give chase.

"But you don’t know the area like I do! I could help you track her down in time!" the concerned second-in-command knight urged.

Kiev glared at him.

"Look here, knight! I’ve pursued her all the way from a faraway island and still managed to get to her despite the distance. What makes you think I can’t find her in the vicinity?" he snarled.

The second-in-command knight’s expression fell, disappointment etched on his face. He wanted to assist more than anything, knowing that Anna’s safety was his responsibility, as Kyren had repeatedly instructed him.

Seeing this, Kiev’s demeanour softened slightly.

"I don’t mean to be condescending, but she is dangerous to you and everyone else now. So, please, trust me on this!" he implored.

Eric looked up, frowning. Unlike his usual stoic demeanour, the Mederian Prince’s expression was surprisingly filled with concern. The second-in-command knight could sense the sincerity behind his words, but the worrying feeling still lingered.

"What if you couldn’t find her? What would happen to her?" he asked.

Kiev understood the knight’s sense of responsibility and genuine care for Anna, who had become a part of the Knights of Gerhard’s lives since she arrived in Cassian.

It was clear that they had grown fond of their lady, viewing her not only as the respected grand duke’s spouse but also as a companion and part of their knighthood.

"I will find her, I swear!" he promised.

"All right. Just... please, bring her back safely," Eric finally relented.

Kiev nodded solemnly.

"Give me a day at most, and I’ll return with her safe and sound. You can trace us with a search party if I haven’t made it by then."

"A day???" the second-in-command knight exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

"Finding her won’t be the issue. It’s subduing the dark spirit possessing her and removing it from her body that will be the true challenge. That malevolent entity is very cunning and won’t be easily defeated," Kiev clarified.

Eric bowed in understanding and stepped aside, clearing the path for the Mederian Prince.

"I shall return soon," Kiev responded with an appreciative nod, then spurred his horse onward with a forceful cue, "Hiarghh!"

The steed surged forward, galloping and kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake as it followed the trail of Maximillian’s tracks. The thunderous beats of its hooves soon faded into the distance.

Eric watched with a hopeful gaze as Kiev rode off in pursuit of Anna.

"God, please keep our lady safe," he prayed quietly, an emotional plea on his lips.

***

The cold wind slapped Anna’s face as she urged Maximillian to more incredible speeds, whipping the reins to spur the warhorse onward.

The princess glanced back periodically, fearing that Kiev would trace her and manage to catch up. She had passed through the main gate and was heading towards the dense forest behind the mansion.

Breaching the tightly closed iron gate wasn’t much of an obstacle for the powerful Maximillian. With a few well-aimed charges and powerful kicks from his muscular legs, the trained warhorse was able to break through.

The clash of his metal horseshoes against the iron lock rang out as the gate shuddered under the impact. It took only three tries before the barrier fell away.

The absence of guards and gatekeepers allowed Anna to flee unhindered. She noticed no one was in sight, making her escape more effortless. Even if they had been present, her newfound abilities would have been more than a match for them.

There was no sign of Kiev nearby, not even a hint of his shadow. The princess smiled triumphantly, believing she had left the Mederian Prince far behind. A hysterical laugh escaped her lips as she spurred Maximillian into the forest.

As the warhorse galloped deeper, the once-bright afternoon sun became obscured by the thick forest canopy, casting less light on the surroundings.

The more she went in, the darker it became. Eventually, Maximillian slowed as Anna’s eyes darted around anxiously at the unfamiliar terrain.

Passing through the moderately dense trees, she arrived at the edge of a small creek. The filtered sunlight still brightened the area, illuminating the mossy rocks nearby. The subtle sound of the water flow entangled with the calls of forest creatures created an enchanting melody of nature.

A growl from her empty stomach reminded Anna of her hunger. Her throat was parched too, the toll of the long struggle of her fight and escape.

Bringing the warhorse to a halt, Anna quickly dismounted and rushed to the creek. She knelt and scooped the clear running water to her mouth with her bare hands, gulping it down greedily to quench her thirst.

Afterwards, she slumped at the edge of the creek with heavy panting. Her body’s needs—sustenance, rest, and hydration—overwhelmed her.

"Useless body!" the dark spirit within Anna reprimanded.

Suddenly, her eyes widened as she sensed a presence.

"Got you!" The man’s voice reached her ears before she could entirely turn her head.

Her dark eyes fell on the sight of Ramios’ tip, which stopped mere inches from her neck. An alarm filled her expression.

"Sh*t!" she cursed, lifting her gaze only to see Kiev standing over her, gripping the sword firmly.

"You wouldn’t dare to hurt her!" the dark spirit hissed.

"I will do whatever it takes to destroy you!" Kiev declared determinedly.

"You can’t do that to me! This body is weak! The moment I leave her, she will die!" the princess taunted.

"You’re lying!" Kiev shouted back. "Do you believe such a transparent ploy would fool me?"

Anna recoiled as she felt the tip of Ramios’s blade drawing closer.

Kiev stood resolute before the princess, having used his earth-bound magic to trace her trail when he lost sight of her physically.

The princess gazed back at the Mederian Prince with open contempt on her pale features.

"Then... I’ll hurt the other one!" she threatened.

Kiev countered, "What are you talking about? There is no other direct descendant of the Ro’an Emperor besides her!"

Anna looked at the clueless prince, her darkened eyes widening slightly.

"So... you don’t know," she muttered. Her smile widened.

"You’re making this up! You–"

"I swear I’ll kill it!" the princess suddenly exclaimed, raising her hand in a fist towards her stomach.

Kiev could scarcely comprehend her actions.

"By then, you’ll be sorry..." she sneered.

The Mederian Prince ignored the princess’s ominous words, believing the dark spirit was trying to distract and manipulate him with empty threats. He would not be swayed from his mission to vanquish it.

The threat of her own fists striking her armoured abdomen would still cause Anna significant pain, but it wouldn’t be life-threatening.

The blows might leave some bruises and marks, perhaps even a tiny cut on her hand, but considering this impact alongside the other consequences, he still believed it was worth disregarding the threat.

"Don’t talk nonsense!" Kiev yelled back, now gripping Ramios with both hands, ready to strike. Anna grew increasingly agitated at his resolve.

The Mederian Prince was now wondering how to eliminate the dark spirit possessing the princess. He had never faced such a foe before, and the scriptures he had read provided no clear guidance on the matter.

Feeling himself at an impasse, Kiev prayed earnestly in his heart, ’Angel, please guide me!’

Suddenly, something magical began to happen. The golden cord wrapped around Kiev’s arms snaked down and coiled around Ramios. The Mederian Prince felt the mystical energy flow, directing his hand to lower the blade and aim it at Anna’s heart.

As the sword’s tip hovered there, Kiev understood. His prayer had been answered – Angel’s binding spell was telling him to strike at the princess’ heart. He could feel the pull from Ramios, ready to deliver the strike.

Seeing the new aim, the dark spirit now trembled in fear.

"No! You will kill me, Kiev! You came here for me! I love you!" Anna cried out in her original voice.

Kiev, who had initially wavered at the spell directive, now steeled his determination. His once contemplative expression hardened with certainty.

"I know exactly who she loves, and she has never addressed me that way!"

With that, the Mederian Prince pulled Ramios back to gain momentum and thrust with full force through Anna’s heart. Her agonised scream mingled with a demonic tone as the blade pierced her.

Kiev felt the ground trembling as the binding spell gripped Ramios entirely. The force from it pushed him backwards.

The Mederian Prince stumbled and fell, his eyes wild as he turned his head to survey the shaking earth, which looked as if an earthquake had struck.

"D*mn you!" the dark spirit raged.

The binding spell emanating from Ramios began to pulsate brightly, the dark aura from Anna’s body surging like a defiant struggle against the sacred power.

"I’ll kill it!" the monstrous voice cried as Anna’s armoured fists pummeled her stomach in a frantic attempt to harm herself.

But Angel’s binding spell, spreading from the sword in her heart, soon enveloped her entire body, a golden cocoon forming with only her head exposed.

Anna’s eyes closed, and the rose in her hair was pulled free by the cord’s tip. It fell to the ground, igniting into flames and ceasing, leaving only cinders behind.

Kiev was bewildered by this phenomenon, having never witnessed anything like it before. Slowly, Ramios’ blade withdrew from Anna’s chest and fell to the ground with a thud.

Suddenly, a bright light from the heavens descended upon the princess, and the Mederian Prince could see a form of golden light begin to flow out from her.

The cord circling the princess ceased movement as the light ultimately left her body and ascended to the sky. Its shimmering golden glow faded until it completely vanished from sight.

The Mederian Prince finally understood - Anna’s body had been sealed once more, and her power had been returned to its bearer. Angel’s binding spell had now reverted to its dormant state.

As soon as the light was gone, the princess’s body drooped and began to fall helplessly. Kiev jumped forward, catching her before she hit the ground.

"I’ve got you, Princess Anna!" he cried out, cradling her in his arms.

The princess did not open her eyes. Kiev checked her breathing, relieved to feel it faintly coming and going. She seemed to have fainted from the bizarre ordeal. He patted her cheeks and called her name, but she remained unresponsive.

"Princess Anna, open your eyes. You’re safe now," the Mederian Prince said, but there was no reaction.

"Perhaps I should inject some mana into her to increase her energy," Kiev murmured, about to act.

But as he moved to do so, the Mederian Prince suddenly smelled a troubling scent - the sharp tang of blood.

His sensitive nose quickly discerned the source, and he began to examine Anna’s armour more closely. The steel plate on her chest was damaged from Ramios’ thrust, but he could see no open wound there, only the torn fabric of her inner surcoat at the chest part. It was also dented in the stomach area from her punches.

Lying her down, Kiev removed the breastplate, searching further. There were no injuries to her shoulders or head, nor any cuts on the hand that had struck her.

Suddenly, the Mederian Prince noticed blood smeared on his pants.

"Where did this come from?" he wondered.

He was sure he hadn’t suffered any wounds from the fight. His hands fumbled to check himself, but then his keen eyes spotted the red liquid seeping from the back of the cuisse, the armour plate covering Anna’s thighs.

Swiftly, he pushed her legs apart, his eyes widening at the sight of the crimson liquid rushing out from her womanhood area, soaking the fabric of her pants. The blood flow was visible since the cuisses only covered the front part.

"What the h*ll is this? Why... why is she bleeding like this?" Kiev asked himself in confusion.

Quickly, he placed his palm on her stomach, infusing it with his magic to scan her body.

Kiev’s handsome features turned alarmed as he sensed it – the faint heartbeat of a new life form within Anna’s womb...

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