The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 399: A Perfect Gentleman

Chapter 399: A Perfect Gentleman

Kiev felt a warm and gentle figure wrapping around his waist, providing a comforting embrace. The soothing presence beckoned him to return the hug, seeking solace.

"Kiev," a soft voice called his name. The familiar sound made him respond with a hum, his eyes still closed.

"Are you awake?" the voice asked again gently.

Kiev then felt a tender touch on his cheek and instinctively reached up to keep the hand there. As his eyes slowly opened, they were met by Elis’s concerned blue-eyed gaze.

"Elis?" he uttered, a little surprised to find her so close.

Though they had been sharing the bed, they were always distant. Yet here she was, lying beside him without her usual nightgown.

"Do you feel better?" Elis asked, the worry evident in her voice.

Kiev gave a slight nod in response. "Why are you undressed? You could catch a cold," he inquired.

"It’s warm under the covers. We shared body heat last night, so I’m not cold," she explained. "What about you? Does it still hurt?"

Kiev turned his head away. "I’m fine. Don’t worry about me," he said, but Elis gently turned his face back towards her.

"Don’t lie! You had a mana depletion. Your body was nearly frozen, and you were in pain. How can I not worry?" Her eyes shimmered with concern as she recalled the distressing events of the previous night.

After Drystan and Armel left, the Mederian Prince fell into a deep slumber. However, it wasn’t long before his body started to tremble, and beads of sweat began to pour profusely from his skin. His body grew increasingly cold, and he muttered words of pain through his lips. Never before had Elis seen the Prince in such a dire state.

The woman was at a loss, desperately wanting to call for help, but the Mederian Prince unconsciously begged her to stay. With no other choice, she lay down beside him and embraced his trembling form. She rubbed his hands, feet, and every inch of his body, trying to return the lost warmth.

Kiev’s cold hands clung to her frame, unwilling to relinquish their hold. As they trembled, Elis could feel his desperate need for more of her body heat. In the end, she removed both his and her own clothes and held him close, skin-to-skin, in a desperate attempt to share her warmth.

The Mederian Prince endured the ravaging impact of mana depletion for hours on end. Throughout the long, agonising night, he struggled to overcome the excruciating pain within him and the bone-chilling coldness enveloping his body.

Elis’s tears flowed freely as she watched, her heart breaking with each sob, praying fervently for his recovery.

After several gruelling hours, Elis could feel his body temperature rising back to normal, and his countenance improved. Only then did she feel a glimmer of relief.

Yet, she refused to leave Kiev’s side, allowing him to cling to her in a desperate embrace. She knew not when she had drifted off to sleep, but the comfort of his heartbeat lulling her as she rested her head upon his chest told her all she needed to know.

"You know about the mana depletion..." Kiev spoke, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Of course I do. Callis once told me about it. Mana depletion is a hazardous condition, one that can even lead to death! How did you end up in such a dire state?" Elis asked, her voice laced with deep concern.

"Subduing the dark magic required a tremendous expenditure of force. I had to use every ounce of my power to fight against it without harming Princess Anna," he replied, deliberately concealing the fact that the primary cause of it was his selfless act of saving the life of the child within the princess’s womb.

"You’ve been through so much! I wish I could have done more to assist you," Elis lamented, feeling a pang of inadequacy for her inability to help in Anna’s possession and the resulting ordeal.

Kiev’s hand tenderly brushed her cheek, his eyes brimming with gratitude.

"You did more than you know. You saved me," he said, his voice soft yet sincere.

Elis’s bare shoulders and the alluring glimpse of her bosom peeking from beneath the duvet made Kiev’s heart race with temptation.

Yet, he resisted the urge, determined not to force her into any intimacy. Elis’s past trauma had taught him the value of patience and understanding, and he wanted her to accept and love him of her own free will, not out of a sense of obligation.

"You’re a strong man. I know you would have recovered even without my help," Elis said, admiring him.

"No, Elis. I would not have made it without you. You don’t understand how important you are to me," Kiev replied, cupping her cheek tenderly.

Their eyes locked, gazing deeply into one another’s souls. Kiev mustered his courage, a question weighing heavily on his mind since his awakening.

"Elis... I didn’t do anything untoward to you last night, did I?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Elis smiled, realising the worry etched on his face was due to his concern for her, not a fear of his previous condition.

"You were the perfect gentleman, as always, my prince," she reassured him.

The words ’my prince’ brought a surge of joy to Kiev’s heart. A radiant smile blossomed on his lips, and his ears flushed with shy delight.

"Thank you for calling me that. I love how you address me," he said, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

Elis returned his smile, her heart swelling with relief and affection. "I’m so glad to see you well again. You have no idea how worried I was!"

Elis wanted to tell Kiev not to risk his life again, but she knew she could not. Kiev had gone to save Anna, his betrothed – the righteous act of a man determined to protect the woman he cared for. The Mederian Prince had clarified that the princess would be his wife.

Deep down, Elis secretly wished the Grand Duke would win Anna in the duel. However, her emotion was divided. She could not bear the thought of Kiev being with the princess or anyone else, yet neither did she want to see him saddened for not accomplishing his mission.

Kiev had travelled from a faraway island solely for the sake of Anna, and after the previous day’s events, Elis realised just how deeply he cared for the princess. This knowledge made her heart ache and filled her with a sense of melancholy.

However, Elis could not reveal her distress to him, not after all he had done for her. Doing so would make her seem selfish, wanting him for herself when she knew from the very beginning that he had his sights set on another woman.

"Just promise you’ll be careful next time," she said, changing the subject rather than voicing her true desires.

"I will," Kiev replied.

The Mederian Prince then sat upright, revealing his sculpted, magnificent torso – a sight that would captivate any woman, and Elis was the one granted the privilege of embracing it.

"I need to see Princess Anna to assess her condition. I must get ready," he suddenly declared.

"But you’re not fully recovered yet," Elis protested, sitting up as well.

"I’m well enough for normal activities. I also need to speak with Callis. She has something urgent to discuss with me," Kiev explained.

"I see... Then, let me help you get ready," Elis offered.

"There’s no need. I can manage on my own," Kiev declined.

It was his usual behaviour – Kiev preferred to groom himself without assistance, as he felt uncomfortable with servants or others observing him.

"Ah, I forgot you don’t like anyone attending to you for that," Elis said, a hint of disappointment in her tone.

The Mederian Prince turned to look at her, sensing the subtle sulk in her voice.

"I’m fine with you helping me, Elis, and I appreciate it. But I don’t want to trouble you. You’ve been tending to me since yesterday. You need some rest as well," he said, trying to reassure her.

"I’m not tired. I had my rest, sleeping in your arms, remember?" Elis reminded him.

Suddenly, Kiev’s stomach let out a low rumble.

"You need to eat too. You haven’t had anything since yesterday," she pointed out.

"Sir Mills gave me some food after he found me in the forest. I can eat later after meeting with my sister," Kiev replied.

Elis pursed her lips. The Mederian Prince noticed the solemn look on her face, which she quickly hid behind a smile. He knew she was sulking over his refusal of her assistance.

"Perhaps I should eat first. Why don’t you help me get dressed after I’ve bathed, and then we can have breakfast together?" Kiev suggested, eager to lift her spirits.

Elis’s eyes brightened. "You want me to help you?"

"Yes. Now I realise my shoulder is feeling a bit stiff. You’re right. I should be more careful while I’m still recovering. So, it would be better to receive a helping hand," Kiev said, moving his shoulder in a circular motion and feigning discomfort.

Elis’s smile widened. "Then I’ll help you right away!"

"Please do," Kiev replied, his smile growing as he recognised the pure, loving care reflected in Elis’s heart.

Her tender affection was a testament to the progress he had made in healing her trauma. Without him knowing, she had already fallen for him.

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