The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 391: Danger Approaching!

Chapter 391: Danger Approaching!

The biting cold wind relentlessly lashed his face, sending shivers down his body. His once-charming visage now appeared gaunt, drained by exhaustion, sapping his every ounce of energy. His lips quivered, suppressing the waves of pain welling up inside him.

Kiev trudged wearily, his feet heavy with each step as he pressed on. Anna’s limp form cradled in his arms, wrapped in a tattered blanket, her eyes sealed shut, and her face ashen.

The Mederian Prince’s gaze drifted to her, a cloak of worry enveloping him. Anna had not stirred since fainting the day before.

"We’ll reach the mansion soon, Princess Anna. You’ll be all right," Kiev murmured softly.

The protective barrier conjured by the Mederian Prince enveloped them as they moved, the blood on his hands nearly dried.

That morning, following the abatement of the heavy rain, Kiev resolved to make their way back to the mansion. But nature seemed to have its plan, as the wildlife emerged to hunt after enduring the deluge. Along the path, Kiev faced an assault by a wild bear.

Exhausted from the extensive use of mana, the Mederian Prince had to rely on his physical strength to confront the beast. It would have posed a little challenge in his prime, but the previous night’s magical exertions had drained him.

After defeating the creature, Kiev drew on his dwindling mana reserves and erected a barrier to ward off any predatory animals.

Despite the sun’s high position in the sky, its warmth struggled to pierce the chill in the air. The cold breeze persisted as weariness stubbornly clung to it. The protective shield gradually waned until it dissipated entirely.

Kiev’s knees shook, and he nearly lost his grip on Anna’s body. He knelt on the ground, holding her securely to prevent the princess from falling as well.

"Just a little bit more! You can do this, Kiev! You made a promise!" he urged himself, drawing in deep breaths.

Regaining his composure, he rose again, taking another faltering step. Dizziness clouded his mind, causing him to stumble once more.

Amidst the haze of exhaustion, he caught the rhythmic beat of hooves approaching from behind. Turning wearily, he hoped the newcomers were not foes, as he lacked the strength to defend himself and Anna. Any further mishap could spell doom for them both.

"Your Highness!" a familiar voice echoed as two warhorses drew near.

Kiev’s vision blurred as fatigue and dizziness overwhelmed him.

As they drew closer, relief flooded the Mederian Prince’s countenance.

Noah and Drystan rode as swiftly as possible upon spotting Kiev carrying Anna in his arms. The sight of the unconscious lady in the Mederian Prince’s grasp stirred anxiousness in the two knights.

The warhorses abruptly stopped as Drystan yanked the reins, dismounting urgently, with Noah following suit. They hastened toward Kiev, dropping to their knees before him.

"My dear Lord! We’ve found you at last! Are you unharmed?" Drystan inquired with genuine concern, noting the Mederian Prince’s dishevelled appearance.

"I am well," Kiev replied, his pallid and chapped lips quivering as he spoke.

"What happened to her?" Noah interjected, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Anna.

"She fainted after I vanquished the dark spirit... We were unable to return yesterday due to the relentless downpour. Our horses strayed from us as well," Kiev began to explain.

"Is she out of harm’s way now?" Drystan inquired.

"She is," the Mederian Prince affirmed, though a mysterious glint flickered in his red eyes.

He swiftly averted his gaze to shield his thoughts and mask his emotions.

"Your hand is bleeding," Noah astutely observed the dried crimson stain on Kiev’s hand.

"The blood is not mine. I encountered a wild bear on our journey. Fortunately, I subdued it. To ward off predatory creatures, I cast a barrier to shield our presence," Kiev explained.

"No wonder the eagles couldn’t track you!" Drystan exclaimed.

"Eagles?" the Mederian Prince raised an eyebrow. "You were tracking us?"

"Yes. This morning, after the rain, with Dame Verns’s assistance. Sir Navin was convinced of your ability to bring our lady back, so we waited till morning. The bad weather had hindered our search until then. But the birds failed to detect anything," Noah recounted.

"I apologise. I overestimated the circumstances..." Kiev’s eyes reflected disappointment.

"Do not blame yourself. You did all you could! We know you chose to pursue her alone to prevent harm to others," Drystan reassured him.

The Mederian Prince lifted his gaze, meeting the knight’s supportive eyes. The gesture warmed his heart. In the past, others had often misconstrued his intentions as arrogance, despite his true aim being the safety of all.

"Thank you for your understanding," he expressed his gratitude to the knight.

"You are exhausted. Let me take her from you now," Noah offered, extending his hands to take charge of the princess.

"No! Don’t touch her!" the Mederian Prince suddenly exclaimed in panic, startling both knights with his unexpected outburst.

"Why not?" Noah inquired, puzzled by Kiev’s reaction.

"The remnants of the dark spell may still linger. You have no magical attributes and could be exposed to danger," Kiev warned.

"I’ll take my chances!" Noah insisted, disregarding the caution.

Drystan swiftly intervened, stretching his arm to prevent Noah from reaching Anna, prompting the knight to look at him in confusion.

"His Highness is correct, Sir Brooks! I’ve witnessed the devastating effects of dark magic on His Lordship, the Marquess of Sylvere. Trust me, you do not want to experience that. Please, do not be reckless!" Drystan cautioned.

After considering the advice from the knight and the Mederian Prince, Noah withdrew his hands, convinced by their warnings.

"Then, how are we supposed to take you back? Your Highness appears unfit for travel. You cannot ride in your current state, and the horse cannot accommodate two men and a lady simultaneously," Noah remarked.

"I can return to the mansion to seek aid and arrange for a carriage. It might take some time, but I’ll expedite the process as much as possible," Drystan proposed.

Noah nodded, but then he paused.

"On second thought, let me fetch the carriage. I can ride swiftly as well."

Wearing a contemplative expression, Drystan interjected, "Shouldn’t I go instead, being the fastest rider among the knights?"

Acknowledging his speed, Noah explained his decision, "Someone must remain to safeguard His Highness and the lady in case of danger, be it caused by humans or beasts. Given my current condition, I’m not in my best state to fight against them. Beware, the Bargesians, along with potential bandits and other threats, may still be present. I am unwilling to jeopardise His Highness’s and the lady’s safety."

Despite downplaying the severity of his injury to his companions before, Noah was acutely aware that his ability to protect Anna and Kiev might be compromised in a worst-case scenario. With this realisation in mind, he made such a decision.

"Bargesians?" Kiev inquired, unaware of their involvement in the princess’s possession.

"We will provide a detailed explanation later. For now, our priority is ensuring your safe return to the mansion," Noah replied.

Directing his attention to Drystan, he sought the knight’s opinion.

"What do you think, Sir Mills?"

"Sounds good to me. I am prepared and confident in my ability to protect them," Drystan assured.

"For the time being, only my sister and her nanny may handle Princess Anna. So, please bring them together," Kiev instructed.

"Understood. I will escort them here," Noah acknowledged, rising to his feet and mounting his steed to hasten back to the mansion.

"Signal the alarm to gather the others. Given our separation, it will take time for them to reach you. Until then, stay vigilant," Noah instructed before departing.

" Got it. You too, be careful and do hurry up!" Drystan responded.

Noah nodded and tugged at the reins. The horse responded instantly, galloping away as he intended, quickly disappearing amidst the forest’s dense canopy.

Turning to Kiev, Drystan observed the exhaustion etched on the Mederian Prince’s face and suggested, "Put the lady down. You can’t keep carrying her like this. Your energy is depleted. Here..." With a swift motion, he removed his cloak and laid it on the ground. "This will provide some relief from the hard ground," he explained.

Kiev complied, carefully lowering Anna onto the makeshift bedding. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the weight lifted from his arms. He sank wearily to the ground, visibly tired.

"You must be hungry. Have this," Drystan offered, producing a wrapped beef jerky from his pocket and a water skin.

The Mederian Prince accepted gratefully, savouring the sustenance after having gone without a meal since yesterday. The nourishment began to reduce his hunger.

"I’ll go signal the others," Drystan announced. "I’ll find higher ground for better reception. Stay here," he instructed before setting off to locate an optimal signalling spot.

After a series of blasts on his horn, he returned to Kiev and Anna.

As the Mederian Prince finished his meal and drank from the water skin, colour returned to his pale complexion.

"Thank you," he expressed his gratitude, handing back the waterskin to Drystan.

The knight remarked, "I should thank you more. We’d be lost without you and your sister’s assistance."

"Just now, Sir Brooks mentioned the Bargesians... What was that about? Are they still around?" inquired the Mederian Prince, his concern evident in his voice.

After gathering his thoughts, Drystan explained the unsettling situation to Kiev. The Mederian Prince’s reaction was one of shock, his eyes widening as he processed the news.

"What?? They targeted my sister?" Kiev’s voice held a mix of disbelief and anger as he sought confirmation from Drystan, who somberly nodded in response.

"We suspect it was an act of vengeance. Despite our efforts to track them yesterday, the heavy rain washed away any traces. Sir Brooks suffered injuries during the pursuit, which led to the mission’s abandonment," the knight elaborated, recounting their challenges.

Enraged at the thought of the Bargesians still at large, Kiev clenched his fists, vowing, "I’ll confront them myself once I’ve recovered!"

"Let’s prioritise your and Lady Raychard’s safety first. Once all this is settled, we can strategise how to deal with them," Drystan advised.

Kiev nodded in agreement, acknowledging that pursuing the Bargesians would have to wait.

"Why has Lady Raychard not regained consciousness yet?" inquired Drystan, his concern evident as he observed the still-unconscious princess. "You mentioned she fainted yesterday. Perhaps she urgently needs medical attention if she hasn’t awoken since then."

"She..."

Kiev’s response was cut short as his sharp senses detected a looming presence, diverting his attention from the conversation.

"Someone’s approaching!" he warned the knight.

"Could it be the others?" Drystan wondered as he stood up. "But this seems too soon. We went our separate ways quite some time ago. They should be further away..."

Despite their vigilance, the danger remained unseen. Drystan’s hand instinctively reached for his hilt, ready for whatever might emerge from the shadows.

Suddenly, several dark figures with piercing amber eyes emerged from the trees, intensely preying on them. Drystan’s expression morphed into one of alarm.

"By the heavens! It’s a pack of wolves!"

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