The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 398: Avoiding Unanticipated Consequences

Chapter 398: Avoiding Unanticipated Consequences

"She’s waking up!"

Anna heard a familiar voice as she stirred slightly. Weariness and a parched throat left her feeling weak, yet an inner strength emerged, nudging her towards consciousness.

A warm, unfamiliar hand clasped her pale, cold one. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking until her sight cleared.

"Princess Anna, are you all right?" Jessy’s voice enveloped her.

The princess’s lips trembled.

"She must be thirsty," Callis remarked.

Understanding her need, the Mederian Princess poured water into a glass and carefully brought it to Anna’s lips. She drank eagerly as if she had been thirsty for days.

"Be cautious, Anna! Don’t rush. You might get choked," Callis cautioned, and the princess slowed her pace.

After drinking two glasses, Jessy dabbed Anna’s lips with a handkerchief.

"Feeling better?" the nanny inquired, her concern palpable.

Anna breathed deeply. Then, she said, "I’m hungry..." as she realised her stomach felt painfully empty.

"We have some porridge ready. Let me assist you, princess," offered Jessy.

Agreeing, Anna watched as the warm bowl was brought to her, and she filled herself with the nanny’s careful feeding. Soon, the bowl was empty.

"My husband made this concoction. He suggested you take it after your meal. Please finish it, Anna," Callis said, passing another small bowl to Jessy.

Anna recoiled at the herbal scent emanating from the bowl, anticipating its bitter taste.

"Don’t refuse. You must finish it," urged Callis. "I’ll give you some rock sugar to ease the bitterness afterwards."

Recalling Rafe’s similar methods, Anna reluctantly accepted. Although she disliked the taste of the medicine, she knew its benefits for her health.

Once she finished the concoction and the rock sugar, Callis asked, "Do you desire anything else?"

Shaking her head, Anna felt full and revitalised.

"What happened, Callis? Am I sick again?" she asked.

"Don’t you recall what occurred?" the Mederian Princess asked back, with Jessy’s gaze equally intent.

Anna shook her head.

"I remember being seated to watch Sir Navin and Sir Brooks’s demonstration. Then, I felt overwhelming fatigue, and the next thing I knew, I blacked out," she recounted.

Callis and Jessy exchanged a meaningful glance. The Mederian Princess turned back to Anna.

"Are you certain you remember nothing else?"

"Yes. I just feel drained, and it’s becoming unbearable," Anna admitted.

"Unbearable?"

Callis settled at the bed’s edge while Jessy respectfully stepped back, creating space for the two princesses to converse.

Grasping Anna’s hand, the Mederian Princess inquired, "May I ask, is this fatigue a recent development, or have you been feeling unwell for some time now?"

The princess hesitated to disclose that her discomfort had begun during the mid-autumn festival. However, in Kyren’s absence, the symptoms had worsened. Nausea, loss of appetite, and intense abdominal cramps had become regular occurrences.

"Don’t worry. No one is angry with you. We’re here to help. Do tell," reassured Callis, noticing Anna’s apprehension.

"It... It’s been ongoing, Callis. I don’t want to burden anyone. Furthermore, it would pass as it usually does," Anna confessed.

"How frequently have you been unwell?" inquired the Mederian Princess.

"Recently, it’s been quite often. Previously, the cramps only coincided with my ’Aunt Flo’s visit,’ but now they occur almost daily, accompanied by vomiting and appetite loss, though not all the time," Anna disclosed.

"Oh, dear! You should have informed us of your condition, Your Highness," Jessy remarked with concern.

"So, this ’Aunt Flo’s visit’... You haven’t had it quite sometimes, have you?" Callis deduced.

"Yes. My cycles have always been irregular. Whenever these symptoms arose, I assumed it was approaching. However, it has not arrived yet," Anna confirmed.

"When was the last occurrence?" Jessy inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Anna paused, trying to recollect. "The last time was over a month ago, as I journeyed here from the border."

"And have you noticed any other changes in yourself?" the Mederian Princess probed for clarification.

Anna reconsidered, pondering further. Besides the overwhelming sickness, she had also experienced pain during her last intimate moment with Kyren before his voyage. However, feeling embarrassed about this, she chose to keep it to herself.

"Not that I’ve noticed," she replied.

Callis and Jessy exchanged another glance, convinced by Kiev’s assertion that Anna was unaware of her pregnancy. The Mederian Princess wanted to inquire further, but restrained her curiosity, as her brother had advised to keep the matter under wraps for the time being.

Anna lowered her gaze, a sense of guilt washing over her. Callis might have been asking so much out of concern, or so she thought.

"I’m sorry! I must have caused a commotion by fainting during the demonstration, right? I didn’t mean to trouble anyone, but it seems I have," her voice trembled.

"Don’t speak like that! No one is holding you responsible! Your safety is most important!" reassured Callis.

Anna looked up, seeking the Mederian Princess’s gaze.

"The training... Sir Navin surely won’t continue it now, will he?" she questioned.

"Why bring up the training?" Callis interjected. "You are unwell, and yet you worry about that? Let it go! You won’t engage in strenuous activities until you recover!" she scolded.

"Yes! Your well-being is our priority!" added Jessy.

"I’m sorry," Anna murmured.

Callis sighed.

"I didn’t mean to raise my voice. But we are all deeply concerned about you, Anna! Please refrain from actions that could harm you."

"Understood. I won’t."

"Just rest for today, princess. We’ll be here if you need anything," the nanny said.

Anna nodded and settled back down. Callis and Jessy withdrew to allow her some peace. However, the princess was not sleepy, having been unconscious for an extended period. Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind.

She saw herself standing before Kiev on the training ground, whispering Kyren’s name. The Mederian Prince also called out the grand duke’s given name repeatedly, triggering a surge of intense anger mixed with longing and sorrow within her.

Confused by her wrath toward the Mederian Prince, she witnessed herself screaming and striking the ground with Ramios, the legendary emperor’s sword, before darkness enveloped her again.

Anna swiftly sat upright, her expression fraught with distress.

"What’s wrong?" Callis inquired, noting the sudden change in Anna’s demeanour. She hastened to the princess’s side, with Jessy following closely behind.

Anna turned towards the Mederian Princess.

"Something... something happened! Something happened!" she exclaimed, her face contorted with horror.

"Nothing happened, Princess!" Jessy attempted to reassure her, trying to calm her down.

"No! You’re lying! I know something happened! I... I screamed! I screamed at Prince Kiev, and I was... holding Ramios!" Anna’s eyes trembled with fear.

"It’s all in your mind, Anna!" Callis interjected, concerned about the princess’s agitation. Remembering Kiev’s warning about the potential lingering effects of dark magic, Callis wanted to avoid exacerbating the situation.

"No! I saw it! I felt it! It was real!" Anna insisted. "Tell me, Callis! Tell me what happened!"

The Mederian Princess grasped Anna’s hand, attempting to cast a calming spell, only to realise her mana reserves were too low to proceed. She tried to persuade Anna to let go of the recovered memory, but fear had consumed the princess.

"Princess, please, calm yourself! You’re still recovering!" Jessy implored.

"If you both won’t tell me what happened, bring Sir Navin here now! I demand an explanation!" Anna’s tone grew more insistent.

Callis tried again to reason with the princess, but seeing Anna’s hands trembling, she feared the potential consequences.

"I want Sir Navin! I want Sir Navin!" Tears streamed down the princess’s cheeks.

"Very well! I’ll fetch him! Just... try to stay calm!" Callis said, casting a quick glance at Jessy, signalling her to take action. The nanny hurried to the door and very soon returned with Eric.

The knight also tried to soothe Anna as she anxiously questioned him about the incident.

"Don’t dismiss it as just a figment of my imagination! I know I’m not dreaming! I felt it, Sir Navin!" Anna insisted.

Standing at a distance, the second-in-command knight pursed his lips together. Anna’s fragmented memory was troubling her, convincing her that more than just illness had transpired.

"Sir Navin, please come closer and explain to me," pleaded the princess, but the knight remained steadfast in his position.

The princess found this behaviour perplexing. The usually respectful second-in-command knight, who always obeyed her requests, now resisted, strengthening her conviction.

Anna questioned, "Why are you hesitating to come closer? Have I caused a great disturbance?"

Eric quickly responded, "No, my lady, not at all!"

"Then, what is it?" Anna pressed. "Don’t treat me like a fool, Sir Navin! Callis and Jessy are keeping something from me, but I know something happened! I remember!"

"You remember now?" Callis inquired.

"Not everything. But I remember getting angry at Prince Kiev when he mentioned Kyren’s name... and I saw that I was holding the emperor’s sword! Now, please tell me!" Anna urged.

Eric exchanged a glance with Callis, both wearing expressions of concern. They understood that concealing the truth would only escalate the princess’s anxiety. With the Mederian Princess’ nod of approval, Eric bowed solemnly and began to explain.

"I beg your forgiveness, my lady! The truth is, I failed to protect you," he admitted. "During the sword demonstration, you were unexpectedly possessed by dark magic. I couldn’t approach you now because Prince Kiev had warned everyone, except Mrs Amares and Madam Collins, to stay back and avoid contact with you due to potential lingering effects."

"Possessed?" Anna gasped in shock. "Tell me everything!"

The second-in-command knight recounted the events, including their encounter with the Sunik tribesmen and further discussion. Anna listened in silence, processing the information.

"But why would the Bargesians target me this way?" she questioned.

"The primary target was Mrs Amares, not you, my lady. However, you were inadvertently involved when you accepted and wore the rose in your hair. It appears their motive was vengeance, to have Mrs Amares possessed and use her to harm you indirectly," Eric explained. "To protect you and maintain security, I kept the details of your possession and disappearance in the forest confidential, limited to the knights and a select few."

Anna nodded solemnly.

"I understand. I hold no blame against you, Sir Navin. I wouldn’t want your men to face punishment, either. They are my people as much as you are."

"You understand my intentions well, my lady," Eric acknowledged, relieved.

"Then, heed my order, Sir Navin. Recall Sir McQuinn from the pursuit of Lord Morro and the mage and instruct the Sunik tribe to proceed alone," Anna ordered determinedly.

The intensity in her gaze revealed that she was contemplating something significant.

"But why? Sir McQuinn is already preparing for the task," the second-in-command knight questioned.

"He can’t go because we all have Sir Jarr’s and Lady Grey’s wedding to attend," said the princess.

"You’re still thinking about the wedding? How can you consider going, given your current state?" Callis exclaimed. "None of us should attend, especially you!"

"I’m not doing this for amusement," Anna responded. "Listen, the wedding is still several days away, and I will have recovered by then. We all must show up, as Their Majesties will be present. Any absence would raise suspicions with His Majesty the King. Your brother already missed Sir Jarr and Lady Grey’s betrothal, leading to His Majesty visiting this mansion and culminating in a duel. Just imagine the consequences if he were to discover this! He is astute and perceptive and would sense it easily if something were awry. We must attend the wedding for everyone’s sake and act as if nothing has occurred."

A heavy silence enveloped the chamber. None of them had considered the situation from the princess’s perspective, but her foresight had broadened their understanding.

"As my guardian, His Majesty would undoubtedly act in my best interests, but given the circumstances, the repercussions would not be favourable for all of you," Anna added. Then she turned to Callis, urging, "Your brother saved me, and I owe him this favour. So, please heed my words."

Eric turned to the Mederian Princess, seeking confirmation.

"What is your decision, Mrs Amares?"

Jessy cast a worried glance at her, too.

Callis sighed. Anna’s reasoning was sound. As the princess pointed out, the stakes were too high to skip the wedding.

Additionally, she was mindful of Kiev’s fragile state. He needed time to recover from the previous day’s events and could not endure further hardships.

"I suppose we have no other option. We will proceed as Anna has suggested," Callis finally acquiesced.