The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 441: The Mesmerising Blue Eyes

Chapter 441: The Mesmerising Blue Eyes

Jessy stood in the main hall, her gaze lifted as she admired an image that had caught her attention. The servants were busily rehanging the portraits of the Grand Duke, which had been taken down some time ago.

The nanny had just come down from Kiev’s chamber after assisting Elis, who had once again had her menstrual blood leaked through her dress. The Mederian Prince had asked for her help when Elis stubbornly resisted his attempts to assist, insisting that such matters were for women to handle.

After enjoying a light brunch in the kitchen, Jessy made her way back to Anna’s chamber. As she passed through the main hall, her eyes landed on the portrait of Kyren, causing her to stop in her tracks.

Jessy’s aged eyes lingered on the image, her mind drifting. A profound sense of familiarity washed over her as she gazed deeply at the Grand Duke’s portrait.

"Handsome, isn’t he?" Anryr said proudly, approaching from behind and breaking her reverie.

"He is His Highness the Grand Duke, isn’t he?" she guessed, recognising the resemblance to the King of Cassian.

Jessy knew that the Grand Duke was the king’s non-identical twin and that they had no other siblings. During her time at the palace, she had met King Kyden, but she had yet to encounter Kyren face-to-face.

"Yes, he is. He’s even more striking in person. Unfortunately, you haven’t had the chance to meet him," Anryr replied.

Jessy’s gaze returned to the portrait, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She had seen the grand duke during Anna’s proclamation day as the Honourable Royal Concubine of Gerhard but had been more focused on the princess than on him.

Now, seeing him up close in the portrait allowed her to take in the details of his features—a captivating man with a strong jawline and piercing eyes that spoke of authority and power. His dark hair was meticulously styled, adding to the air of regality surrounding him.

The subtle curve of his lips hinted at a charismatic charm, while the way he held himself in the painting conveyed confidence and leadership.

"When I first arrived, I noticed there were no portraits or paintings of the mansion’s lord. I thought it was Cassian’s custom not to have one," she remarked.

"Oh, no! The royals and nobles here always display portraits of their lord and lady in the main hall and other appropriate places as symbols of pride and respect. We just took them down temporarily for a thorough cleaning by experts," Anryr explained.

In truth, the portraits had been removed at Kyren’s request when he first came to Gantz from the border, following a royal decree from the king to bring his new wife to the palace.

At that time, he concealed his identity as the Grand Duke from Anna, leading to a significant altercation between them.

The reconciliation, facilitated by Eric and Rafe, became an unforgettable memory for the steward and the other residents of the mansion.

With all the portraits taken down, Anryr seized the opportunity to have them treated and cleaned, as he claimed. This aligned with his excuses to Anna about the portraits, easing his conscience.

"I see. You did an excellent job with that. The colours are vibrant, accentuating the intricate details. It makes the image look so alive," Jessy praised.

The steward smiled smugly.

"You seem to know a bit about paintings," he remarked.

"We have plenty of such art back in the Mederian palace as well," Jessy replied. "However, there’s one thing in particular I wish to know," she said, her gaze fixed on Kyren’s eyes in the portrait.

"What is it?" Anryr inquired.

"The mesmerising blue of His Highness the Grand Duke’s eyes in the painting... is it the same as his real eye colour, or is it just the hue of the paint?" Jessy probed.

"Ah, that! It’s exactly the colour of His Highness’s eyes! You know, it was quite a challenge for the painter to find a pigment that matched. Our Grand Duke’s blue eyes are truly captivating. If you look closely, they’re much bluer than His Majesty’s, like the colour of the deep ocean," the steward explained.

Jessy nodded, understanding his explanation, but a frown creased her forehead.

"His eyes seem familiar to me. It feels like I’ve seen them somewhere before, but I can’t remember when or where," she admitted, revealing what had occupied her since she first looked at the portrait.

"I guess you’re fascinated by them. Of course, who wouldn’t be drawn to him?" Anryr chuckled, pulling Jessy from her thoughts.

She wanted to rebut and assert that Kiev was just as handsome as Kyren. After all, she was accustomed to good-looking people, making it absurd for her to be captivated by the Grand Duke. Moreover, she had no interest in romantic pursuits or the likelihood of them.

However, the prideful look on Anryr’s face made her hold back. The Mederian entourage was still considered guests in the mansion, and given the current tension between Kiev and Kyren, it was important not to stir unnecessary disputes.

"I’d better head up to Lady Raychard’s chamber now," Jessy said, eager to end the conversation.

"Of course, please do. Thank you for looking after our precious lady," Anryr replied with a respectful nod.

The nanny reciprocated and made her way to Anna’s chamber. As she ascended the stairs and moved through the hallway, she encountered Mary, who was holding a basket of dirty laundry.

"Good morning, Mary," she greeted.

"Oh, good morning, Madam Collins!" the maid replied.

"Heading to the laundry area, I presume?" the nanny asked. "I thought you had already taken out the dirty laundry this morning."

"Ah... Lady Raychard suddenly vomited again. The dish prepared by Sir Parker just didn’t suit her appetite. She couldn’t even stomach the smell, so I told the servant to take it back," the maid explained.

"I see... Well, go on then. Just be back quickly, and don’t wander around. You don’t want to anger Lady Lynn again. I know you did nothing wrong and that you helped Miss Canton, but your supervisor has a rigid stance and little tolerance, so be careful. She might be watching," Jessy advised.

"Yes, Madam. I will take note of that," Mary replied.

The maid bowed, and they began to part ways. Just as Mary took a few steps, she stopped and turned back to Jessy.

"Madam Collins..." she called out.

"Yes, my dear," Jessy responded, halting to face her.

The maid approached again, hesitating.

"I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but I really can’t make up my mind about it. It’s regarding Lady Raychard."

"What about her raises your concern?" Jessy asked.

Mary bit her lower lip, feeling the weight of Scarlett’s warning but unable to stay silent. Perhaps if she confided in Jessy, who was warm-hearted, the nanny could escalate the matter.

"Actually... I’ve been telling Mr. Amares that I strongly feel she is pregnant," Mary revealed.

"What??" Jessy’s face registered shock.

A surge of worry washed over her as she realised the attentive maid had noticed.

"Not that I’m bragging about my knowledge of women’s health, but I truly believe so. Her changes in appetite, the vomiting, and her lethargy... It seems to me she’s experiencing symptoms of morning sickness," Mary added.

Jessy gulped, her throat feeling dry. Sooner or later, Anna would become aware of her own body changes, and the maid’s suspicions would likely be confirmed.

"W-what did Mr Amares say?" she asked, striving to keep her voice steady.

Mary looked down, dismayed.

"He said it was not possible."

Jessy took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Thankfully, the most anticipated person hadn’t sensed anything—at least, not yet.

However, doubt suddenly filled Jessy’s heart. Instead of simply saying ’no’ to indicate his disagreement with the maid’s opinion, why had Rafe mentioned "not possible," as if there weren’t even the slightest chance for Anna to conceive?

"Why did he say that?" she probed.

Mary pressed her lips together. Scarlett’s warning and Rafe’s fury flashed through her mind. She felt it wise to tread carefully with her words.

"I... I’m not sure," she replied, omitting the fact that the healer had mentioned the Grand Duke didn’t wish to have any children, which was utterly strange.

Jessy took another deep breath, composing herself. Now was not the time to worry, she thought.

"Mr Amares is a renowned healer in Cassian, and everyone holds him in high regard. He surely has his reasons for stating that. If the symptoms are not due to pregnancy, they might be caused by other reasons. He’s working hard to treat Princess Anna, and I’m sure he’s doing his best within his expertise," she said.

"I understand, and I never meant to disrespect him. I just want to help," Mary stated.

"I know you’re acting out of diligence regarding her health. But don’t dwell on matters that don’t concern you, and avoid voicing concerns without solid facts. Mr Amares’s knowledge of medicine surpasses ours, and it would offend him if we contradicted his findings," Jessy advised.

"Forgive me. I made a mistake."

Seeing that the nanny, too, was aligned with Rafe’s stance, Mary decided to bury her concern. There was no point in raising it again since no one around her seemed to take her opinion seriously.

"That’s better. Now, off you go," Jessy ordered.

"All right, Madam Collins. I just hope Mr Amares can find the reason behind Lady Raychard’s symptoms as he examines her."

"Examine her? You mean he’s already inside the chamber right now?" the nanny asked, her eyes widening in alarm.

"Yes. He arrived just before I left. He should be in the midst of that now," Mary confirmed.

"Oh, no!" Jessy cried, panic rising within her.

In a rush, the nanny turned and sprinted toward Anna’s chamber. She needed to ensure that Rafe didn’t uncover anything during his examination.

Mary was surprised by Jessy’s reaction, but before she could ask, the nanny had vanished like a gust of wind.

Jessy entered the chamber hastily and pushed the bedroom door open.

Upon seeing the healer about to check Anna’s pulse, she shrieked, "Stop!"

Scarlett, Rafe, and Anna turned their surprised eyes toward her sudden outburst.

"Jessy, what’s the matter?" the healer asked, his features laced with concern.

The nanny’s chest heaved with anxiety, fear crossing her expression.

"Did you already examine Princess Anna?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I’m about to start. Why?" Rafe replied.

"Um... you should have waited for me!" Jessy stammered, quickly approaching.

It was an awkward moment for her and everyone else in the room, especially given how alarmed she was that she hadn’t asked for permission to enter as she usually did.

"You startled me, Jessy. I thought something was wrong," Anna said, her brow furrowing.

Jessy perched at the side of the bed, taking the princess’s other hand.

"I bumped into Mary on my way here, and she told me you vomited again today. I rushed in because I was worried about you. Thankfully, you look fine," she said, managing to come up with a plausible excuse just in time.

"Mary might have exaggerated. She always has deep concerns about Lady Raychard’s health," Scarlett interjected.

"She is quite attentive," Jessy agreed. Turning to Rafe, she added, "You may start now, Mr Amares."

Rafe looked at Jessy, doubt rising within him. He had never minded the nanny’s insistence on being present during Anna’s examinations, but her reaction just now, when he was about to check on the princess without her, surprised him.

It seemed as if she didn’t want him to proceed without her presence.

"You don’t have to hold her hand every time. Princess Anna’s health isn’t as bad as before," the healer noted, observing Jessy’s grip on Anna’s hand.

"I feel at ease doing this. Besides, she just had another episode of vomiting. Poor my princess, having to endure this sickness," Jessy replied, rubbing Anna’s head tenderly.

"I’m fine, Jessy. I feel much better after throwing up," Anna reassured her, grateful for the comfort the nanny provided. Having her around made Anna feel at ease, reminiscent of her late nanny, Nessy, returning to her life.

Furthermore, Jessy was more gentle and affectionate than her sister. Anna held no resentment toward Nessy, knowing well that her strictness was for her safety.

"It’s all right. I’ll keep holding your hand so you know I’m always here for you," the nanny said with a warm smile.

Anna smiled back, her heart warmed by the attention.

"Very well. I shall start now," Rafe announced.

The healer began his examination, checking Anna’s eyes, tongue, complexion, and pulse.

Physically, everything seemed fine, apart from the slight paleness of her face, which was not alarming. The healer had already drawn the princess’ blood three days ago for lab tests, so there was no need to do so again today; the results would be out later.

The healer then opened his bag and took out an unusual-looking instrument—a short, hollow wooden tube with a funnel-shaped brass cone at one end.

"What is that?" Jessy asked, intrigued.

"It’s a medical device for auscultation. It helps healers hear the patient’s heartbeat more clearly. I asked the blacksmith to make it to aid my work. Since Princess Anna vomited, I intend to use it to check her stomach and see if I can hear anything unusual," Rafe explained.

The nanny’s face paled at his words. At this rate, the secret of Anna’s pregnancy would indeed be revealed. She needed to exert her magic to erase any traces of the living fetus in the princess’s womb from detection.

Jessy grasped Anna’s hand tighter. The princess turned to her with a questioning look, but the nanny simply smiled, pretending everything was fine.

Rafe proceeded to place the medical device on Anna’s abdomen after Scarlett flipped open the blanket covering her body.

The princess’ hand, still held by Jessy, was exposed, making the nanny even more nervous about channelling her magic into the princess’s palm. But she had no choice; she needed to protect the pregnancy from Rafe’s knowledge as ordered by Kiev.

As the healer listened carefully with the device for sounds from Anna’s stomach, a faint beat suddenly caught his attention, only to vanish in an instant.

He inspected further down at Anna’s lower belly, where the sound had originated, but it had disappeared as if it had never existed.

Surprised by this indication, Rafe pressed his ear to the device even more. His head faced Jessy in a tilting position when suddenly he noticed a slight light emanating from where she held Anna’s hand.

"What is that?" he asked, raising his head in confusion.

Jessy realised she had been caught red-handed. Scarlett, however, remained unaware as she stood at the other end of the bed. The maid was surprised by Rafe’s question, glancing back and forth between them.

"What’s ’what’?" Jessy asked, feigning ignorance in a desperate attempt to conceal the truth.

The healer was about to probe further when suddenly—

’Duuummm!!!’

A loud, deafening sound filled the air, shaking the building slightly from its aftereffects. Anna and Scarlett shrieked in surprise.

"What the h*ll was that?" Rafe exclaimed, wide-eyed.

Everyone shared the same bewilderment.

"Seems like an explosion!" Jessy said. "It’s coming from the training ground!"

"Stay here and lock the door! I’ll go find out. Be safe!" the healer ordered, urgency overtaking him.

The concern about the light emanating from Jessy’s touch faded from his mind as a more immediate danger loomed.

Rafe rushed to the door, and Scarlett quickly secured the door by bolting it from inside after he left, praying for everyone’s safety.

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