The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 427: A Crying Bride

Chapter 427: A Crying Bride

As the knights continued having their drinks, a woman approached their table. It was Rachel, Eric’s wife. In respect, the knights stood up and bowed to her. In return, she curtsied as a formal greeting.

"Dear, sorry to interrupt your moment with your comrades, but I wanted to let you know that I’m heading back now," said Rachel.

"This early?" Eric asked.

"Yes. Ethan is already throwing a tantrum for not being able to sleep. You know he’s a bit sensitive to unfamiliar surroundings."

"I see. Do you want me to accompany you?" Eric offered. "I can send you back, but I still need to return to the mansion shortly afterwards."

"No, it’s fine. The carriage is ready for me. I don’t want to bother you too much anyway. I’ve met with Lady Raychard, and she didn’t seem well as you told me. Please do take care of her as per His Highness’s order. I’d be more worried if you didn’t carry out your task well," Rachel said.

"All right. Please be careful. Should you need anything, do let me know," Eric replied.

Stepping forward, he gently hugged her and kissed her forehead, making the knights blush and turn away.

"It’s cold outside. Put on some more coats, will you?" he urged.

Rachel smiled. "Of course, dear."

She took Eric’s hand and kissed it. As she was about to turn around, her eyes fell on Garin standing behind her husband. Her happy expression swiftly turned dark.

"So, Sir Skyler is here too. I thought you said he went back to Gerhard’s castle," she said coldly.

"He did but returned afterwards due to some tasks," Eric explained carefully.

He stepped aside, allowing Garin to face his wife. The third-in-command knight gazed solemnly at her.

"Rachel... I mean... Lady Navin. It’s been a while," he began.

"It has. I didn’t expect to run into you here. My husband didn’t inform me that you would be around," she replied.

"Sorry about that. He is on duty here as part of the entourage escorting Lady Raychard," Eric explained.

"I understand. She is gracious to grant you all a break to enjoy the event. Of course, it’s your comrade’s wedding, after all. But I hope the knights don’t take their tasks lightly. For all I know, someone here was willing to sacrifice everything, including other people’s hearts, in the name of duty. So please ensure that you stand by what you believe in, or else you’ll just look like a fool," she said sarcastically.

Garin’s face turned grim at her remark. He knew she was teasing him, and there was no excuse he could muster in response. The other knights, understanding the situation, looked down, all except Eli, who remained clueless.

"I shouldn’t dwell on your matters, dear. Sorry if I sounded a bit rude," Rachel’s tone softened as she looked back at Eric. "I should be going now. The children are waiting," she said.

"All right. Let me send you to the carriage, at least. Tomorrow, I’ll drop by to spend some time with you and the kids," the second-in-command knight said.

Aware of the reason behind the discord between the two, he didn’t reprimand his wife. Instead, he gave Garin a knowing glance as he wrapped his arm around Rachel’s waist.

"Thank you, darling!" Rachel smiled, and the two walked away.

When their figures vanished from sight, Eli exclaimed, "What the h*ll was that? Why do I have a feeling she was being sardonic to us?"

"Women are like that. They can be unpredictable," Luke replied.

The young knight sighed.

"Come on, Sir McQuinn! Let’s head to Lady Raychard. It’s our turn to guard her, and I don’t want us to be accused of slacking!" he grumbled.

Agreeing, Damon rose from his seat, and the two left.

On their way, Eli complained, "What was that pinch all about? Why can’t I talk about Sir Skyler being a father figure? I don’t think it’s wrong. He’s a good person and deserves a family of his own."

Damon took a moment before revealing, "Sir Skyler lost his wife and child during labour a long time ago. He had a hard time accepting it as he loved them dearly, and the grief almost tore his life apart. Thankfully, he managed to overcome it and accept his fate."

"Oh, dear! I didn’t know," Eli said, his tone shifting.

The two knights continued on their way, but soon, the young knight voiced another question.

"Lady Navin’s remarks... were they directed at Sir Skyler?"

"You just noticed?" Damon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"When I think back on it, I strongly feel so. The last time we met her at her son’s party, she wasn’t like that. She was friendly and polite," Eli recalled.

Damon took a deep breath. Being close to Garin, who had taken care of him like a brother, he felt reluctant to share the sad tale of the knight’s relationship, which had ceased in devastation and led to this long-standing discord.

"It’s better for you not to know. After all, it ended a long time ago and can never be reconciled," he said.

"Oh, come on! I hate being left out! Just tell me already!" Eli urged.

"Just move! We have a duty, remember?" Damon replied, trying to steer the conversation back to their responsibilities.

The young knight grunted. At this rate, he thought, he could never get his companion to talk. This was the irony of being the youngest knight in the group!

***

"There... there now! Everything’s going to be just fine!" Anna patted Sylvia’s back gently, trying to persuade her to stop crying.

It hadn’t even been a day since the wedding reception, and yet Sylvia was already feeling down.

At first, the event had gone smoothly, but as they finished their meal and began to mingle with family members from both sides, things took a turn.

Drystan’s family was great—approachable and happy with the wedding—though it had been held in a much humbler setting than one might expect for a Marquess’s granddaughter.

Even so, it was considered a luxurious event for them, as they came from a merchant background rather than a noble family.

On the other hand, Sylvia’s extended family was full of questions, as none of them had expected her to marry a Knight of Gerhard. In their minds, she should have been paired with at least the son of the Marquess of Roland or one of the other dukes’ sons, given her place in the circle of the Pillars Families of Cassian.

When her mother, Denise, informed them that the matchmaking had been arranged by the Marquess of Sylvere himself, the questions ceased, bringing a moment of relief to the couple. But that relief was short-lived.

Excitement brewed anew when one of Sylvia’s aunts announced that they anticipated the couple would have children soon and would give their full support once she conceived. This led to an overwhelming discussion among the guests, turning the topic of heir into the main focus of the evening.

"How many would you like to have? Make sure there’s a girl!" someone exclaimed.

"Make it quick! It’s wintertime. You won’t have anything else to do! Ho ho!" laughed another.

"We have plenty of boys. So, work hard for a girl, will you, dear?"

At first, the light banter and teasing were acceptable, but as the comments became more frequent and focused on children, the expectations began to weigh heavily on the couple.

What had initially been well-meaning remarks now felt like demands. Sylvia’s smile became strained as the pressure mounted.

She had hoped this topic wouldn’t arise so soon, fully aware of her contract marriage with Drystan, which was meant to appease her grandfather. She noticed how the knight’s expression shifted each time guests made jokes about the same subject. Now, she began to feel afraid.

What if Drystan started to lose his temper and wanted to withdraw from the marriage immediately?

Or what if he decided to reveal the truth about their marriage to stop the pressure?

Fear and guilt gnawed at Sylvia’s heart.

"Lady Mills, surely your family and guests mean well. They’re just eager," Scarlette, one of the maids accompanying Anna, coaxed her.

"Yes, yes! Scarlette is right. They don’t get to see you often, and this is a rare occasion for everyone to gather. It’s hard to avoid people’s chatter," Mary added.

Sylvia raised her head, sniffling, and wiped her red nose with her handkerchief.

"You don’t understand! Drystan isn’t used to my big family. He only knows my immediate relatives, like my uncles and grandfather. My extended family... oh, they can be very nosy when they shouldn’t be!" she exclaimed. "Besides, my mother is the only daughter of my grandfather, and I’m the only daughter in our family. So, they expect me to have daughters as well! Drystan dislikes being coerced like this! I know he does! He’ll surely be mad!"

"Don’t worry! No one can force you. I’m sure Sir Mills would understand that it’s all just mere talks. You two are already married and affectionate with each other. That’s what’s most important," Anna reassured her.

The two maids nodded in agreement. Sylvia looked back at Anna with a hint of sadness.

"Anna..."

"Yes?"

The noble lady hesitated.

Would it be right to share her current situation and the truth about her relationship with Drystan?

At this point, she felt she couldn’t hide it anymore and needed someone to confide in.

"Anna, actually... Drystan and I... we... we..."

*Knock! Knock!*

The sound startled her and the rest of them in the chamber. Mary attended to the call, and when the door opened, Drystan stood tall.

"Drystan! You... you’re here!" Sylvia exclaimed.

The knight entered upon permission, bowing respectfully to Anna before approaching his wife. "I felt you needed me. So, I came to get you," he said. "Are you crying?" he asked, noticing her tear-streaked face.

"No! I just got something in my eyes!" she lied.

"Really? Hmm... that doesn’t look like it to me," he said, scrutinising her with his brown eyes.

Embarrassed, Sylvia looked away. Anna and her two maids smiled at the antics of the newlywed couple.

"She did cry. She complained about the families and guests who kept urging the topic of children. She thought you might be angry about it, but I convinced her that you would understand. You’re a thoughtful person who always thinks of others. How could you be angry over petty things?" the princess said.

Drystan smiled.

"That’s very kind of you, my lady, to portray me as such. I’m flattered. Of course, I’m not truly angry about what they said. I’m just concerned that it might affect her. Her face looked so miserable before she left the banquet and came here. I hope Sylvie didn’t bother you too much," the knight said.

"Definitely not! She’s never a bother. I had a good rest here and enjoyed myself very much. The selection of food matches my appetite, and the calm surroundings make me feel at ease," Anna replied.

"Oh, Anna! Now that I think about it, you’re my guest of honour, but I had you staying in the guest chamber instead! I feel so guilty about it!" Sylvia stated in remorse.

"Don’t be! It’s for the best that I stay here rather than in the banquet hall. I might have gotten dizzy with the chattering crowd and the loud music. Besides, we talked about this, and the best way for me to attend your wedding without triggering your grandfather’s illness is by avoiding him. Trust me, I’m very comfortable here and don’t feel isolated at all. Even Her Majesty the Queen and other noble ladies came over to chat. It’s a lovely setting you’ve prepared for me," Anna reassured her.

"I’m glad to hear that my lady enjoyed herself throughout the occasion. Even if my wife is not a bother to you, I believe it would be best for me to take her with me. She went through a lot tonight, and I thought she might need some rest," Drystan added.

"What?" Sylvia blinked in surprise.

The other three women in the chamber smiled sheepishly.

"Why are you so surprised, Sylvia? You have a considerate husband here. He came because he was worried about you. You should go with him. Besides, I feel like returning to the mansion as well. Is it safe for me to leave now, Sir Mills? Is His Lordship, the Marquess of Sylvere, still in the hall?" Anna asked.

"Lord Aaron Pearce and his brothers already escorted him to his chamber for an early rest. I just crossed paths with them on my way here. So, there shouldn’t be any problem if you wish to return now," the knight confirmed.

"Good. Mary, please inform the knights on duty that I’m ready to head back home," Anna instructed one of her maids.

Mary quickly left the chamber to relay the message.

"You’re going back so soon, Anna? When will I get to see you again..." Sylvia sighed.

"You’re acting like we live so far apart! The mansion is always open to you. You can come over anytime you wish. Of course, with your husband’s permission!" Anna replied. "As far as I know, married knights stay in the quarters provided for them in the mansion. So if you want to, you’re always welcome to live there."

"We haven’t decided yet where to stay after the wedding, my lady. That’s something we need to discuss first," Drystan interjected.

"Of course! I’m not saying you must stay at the mansion. Given your grandfather’s condition, I have no issues if you prefer to remain here or wherever you feel comfortable," Anna said.

"Thank you, my lady. I assure you that, whatever the decision may be, my priority will be the tasks assigned to me. Let us escort you to the carriage for your departure," Drystan offered.

"No need for that, Sir Mills. You came here for your wife, so you should leave first with her. Don’t worry about me. I have plenty of people escorting me, so I’m perfectly safe here. Go on. Take Sylvia with you and rest for the day," the princess insisted.

"Are you sure, Anna?" Sylvia asked.

"Yes, I am. Go ahead! You don’t want your husband waiting for you," Anna leaned in and whispered, "Tonight is your wedding night, remember!" This made Sylvia blush deeply.

"If that’s the case, then thank you again, my lady, for attending our wedding ceremony and for your blessings. Have a safe journey home," Drystan said.

Holding Sylvia’s hand, they excused themselves and led out of the chamber.

Meanwhile, the entourage prepared to return to the mansion, having received Mary’s message to Eli and Damon, who arrived just in time at the guest chamber.

Kiev approached by the notification, abruptly ending his conversation with other lords and nobles who had been interested in getting to know him.

"Are we good to go?" he asked, his crimson eyes darting momentarily to Garin.

"We will escort Lady Raychard home first. Then, we’re available," Garin replied.

"Available for what?" a voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. It belonged to Eric.

"Ah, Sir Navin! I didn’t get a chance to speak with you earlier, as there were so many guests vying for my attention. If I may ask your permission, can the knights spend some time with me tonight?" the Mederian Prince inquired.

"Do you wish to go somewhere?" asked the second-in-command knight.

"Well... I thought of having a change of scenery. You see, I haven’t been around Gantz much lately, so it would be great to have some time outside. The recent weeks have been hectic for all of us, and I would love to unwind a bit. You wouldn’t mind, would you?"

Eric pondered for a moment. Aside from attending the two wedding ceremonies, the knights hadn’t had any relief from their duties. Everyone had been on high alert since the last incident involving the Bargesians’ intrusion.

"I understand that. Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to keep everyone on duty non-stop. They need a break sometimes, but I can’t have all of them out at once. At least two must stay back," he replied.

"I agree. Why don’t you take Sir Jarr with you just for the night? He’s not the type to drink much and wouldn’t prefer to spend time elsewhere without his wife, anyway. Would that be fine? I promise we won’t go far. We’ll just enjoy some leisure time nearby," Kiev suggested.

Eric paused, looking back at the Mederian Prince. His grey eyes fixed on him momentarily, and then he smiled.

"Of course. Go ahead."