The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 46: The End of the Plague

Chapter 46: The End of the Plague

Following Eric’s plan, the Knights of Gerhard, the healer, and his assistant split up into several teams and went as far as a fifteen-mile radius of the cave to investigate the Laradie case. At Rafe’s instruction, the whole camp’s occupants were also administered the cure to obtain immunity.

After three days, Anna’s pale face returned to its pinkish aura. Having Kyren around, who, of course, was mainly at her side, expedited the princess’s recovery from health issues. Though she had regained her usual self, her caring husband did not allow her to move around unnecessarily.

Reclining on the bed, the princess’s emerald eyes glimmered as they shot at the appearing tall figure entering the tent. His mesmerising lips drew a snicker as they locked their sights.

Seeing such an alluring smile felt like a dream to her. Who could believe this beautiful and captivating man was the same terrifying person who lifted his sword violently and nearly took other people’s lives a few days ago?

Kyren was indeed intimidating, but at the same time, fascinating.

"Did I wake you?"

The question caught Anna’s attention, drifting in her thoughts.

"Oh, no! I am already awake."

"Sorry for leaving you for a moment. I was only checking with my men about the team. We’ve yet to hear the news from them," he said.

His eyes glinted with a concerned expression. The commander sat at her side by the edge of the bed.

"I hope everything’s fine," she prayed as she looked at him.

The smile returned to Kyren’s lips, charming as always.

He gently stroked her long, auburn hair and said, "We’ll ensure everything is fine. Don’t worry too much. You can focus on getting better."

"I’m already healthy," she retorted.

"Your bruise is still there." Kyren’s eyes turned down to her arm, displaying the bruise from the blood withdrawal that had started turning yellow.

"It will be gone soon. It doesn’t hurt at all," she quickly reassured him as she looked at her limb.

The commander’s blue eyes turned to look at Anna’s pretty face.

"I don’t like you getting hurt. You don’t know how I felt when I heard what happened after my return." He sighed.

"I’m sorry for making you worried about me. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. But the situation needed me," she explained.

"I know. Without your help, it could’ve been a bigger crisis."

A thin smile spread on her lips.

"I really didn’t do much."

"No. You did more than anyone could. Damon and Ayden told me everything before they left. I didn’t know my little wife was so determined."

He touched her cheeks with his long, calloused fingers.

"There’s so much I need to learn about you."

"You make it sound like I’m so special when actually I’m not," Anna replied shyly.

"Well... your blood is. That’s for sure." He smirked.

"Speaking of that..." Kyren paused before continuing. Anna turned to him and noticed his serious expression.

"If the team finds another infection case—"

"Use my blood!" the princess quickly suggested. She did not hesitate to offer. Her eyes were wide open, gleaming with enthusiasm.

Kyren frowned at her prompt reply.

"You already thought about it..." he muttered under his breath.

Anna quickly held his hand.

"I was an Ardelian. I know procuring the medicine from the kingdom will take a long time. So, I’m fully aware that you’ll need my blood if another outbreak occurs. I’m willing to help whichever I can," she firmly replied.

It took some time for Kyren to respond. He opened his mouth slowly and said, "If the plague spreads, you can’t save everybody with your little amount of blood. Death is bound to happen, and you’ll be swamped with guilt. I don’t want you to get hurt, physically or mentally."

"I won’t. You’ll protect me."

Kyren held Anna around his arms, feeling the petite stature wrapped in his arms. A sense of guilt enveloped him, thinking he would rely on this little body to overcome the predicament yet to happen.

"Thank you."

Kyren’s sincere gratitude made her heart flutter, and the warmth from the embrace soaked through her bones, comforting and giving her a feeling of safety.

"You’re welcome."

He broke the hug and faced her.

"And what’s with the ’was an Ardelian’ thing? Are you implying you’re no longer one?" he suddenly asked.

"Well... I’m married to you and right now living in Cassian. Doesn’t that make me a Cassian citizen now?" she implied.

"Officially, yes. But, don’t you miss your kingdom?" the commander wondered.

Anna’s eyes drooped at the question. Reminiscing about Ardel only brought bitterness and pain to her memory.

"There’s nothing left for me there..."

"Anna, let’s talk about this," Kyren said, opening the topic.

"About what?" Her dewy eyes stared at him.

"I want to know how you obtain the cure in your blood. In fact, I want to know everything and hear it from your own lips." The princess gulped her saliva.

Finally, the ’talk’ had begun.

She fidgeted with her hair and bit her lower lip. The time for her to unfold her story to him had come.

"Kyren, actually, I’m—"

’Hooooo....’

’Hooooo...’

Anna’s words fell unfinished from her mouth as the humming sound of the horn blasted the atmosphere.

As Kyren’s ears captured the noise, he turned his head toward it.

"They’ve come back!" The commander quickly stood up.

"The team has returned?" she asked to reaffirm.

Kyren nodded firmly. He turned to her and said, "Stay here."

"But, I want to know the findings too! Let me come with you!"

She raised her hands and grabbed his arm, holding it tight.

"No. You’re not well. I’m going to see them. If there’s anything, I’ll let you know," he sternly discarded her request.

Anna exhaled. There was no way she could go against the austere commander’s rigid decision. She could only nod and watch him leave.

***

The split teams returned one by one. All came back with the good news that no further outbreak was found. They finally breathed a sigh of relief now that the Laradie Plague crisis had passed.

"What happened to him, Sir Jarr?" Drystan, one of the knights who stayed back at the camp, asked when he saw another knight pull down the unconscious Ayden from the horse and carry him.

"He has fainted due to exhaustion," Alex, a fair-skinned knight who still looked neat even though he had just returned, answered as he lifted the healer’s assistant in his arms.

Ayden’s slender build did not affect the knight’s sturdy stance. He was as light as a feather in Alex’s grip.

"Oh, Mr Norman... tsk.. tsk.. tsk.." Drystan clicked his tongue.

"Send him to the infirmary," Rafe, who had arrived earlier, ordered the knight.

The healer’s eyes were hollow, and his face was gaunt. Since returning from the aid request duty and the Laradie Plague incident, he had not appropriately rested. The unrelenting, strenuous tasks were taking a toll on him and his fragile assistant.

"You need to take a break. I’ll send the knights to care for him," said Kyren to Rafe.

"I still can handle this," the healer insisted.

"No. Ayden has fainted. If you collapse, too, there will be no available healer in case of an emergency. So, take it easy now and return to your tent!" the grand duke commanded.

Rafe retreated upon the order. The absolute demand of the commander could not be defied.

Kyren returned to his tent after receiving the full report from Eric.

Anna’s lustrous eyes shone brightly when the commander told her the news. However, a clouded expression dyed her face when she heard that Ayden had passed out.

"Can I go see him?" she implored him.

"The knights are taking care of Ayden. You don’t have to worry about him," Kyren responded, disallowing her.

"The knights?"

"Rafe is also exhausted. So, I told him to get some rest," replied the commander.

Anna’s eyes shook. A sense of dread was written all over her face. The explanation did not satisfy her.

"Please... I really want to see him!" she pleaded again.

Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were already glistening.

"You’re not well, Anna."

"I’m all right! Please! It will be just a moment. Ayden is my friend." Her voice was brittle.

Her beseeching, innocent face and tears were indeed Kyren’s Achilles heel. He could not fight against that nearly crying look.

"Fine! I’ll come with you."

As they walked out of the tent and nearly reached the infirmary, the horn resounded again, boasting of someone’s arrival.

"Somebody’s coming?" asked Anna, who was already familiar with the sound.

"A carrier has arrived. I need to take a look. It could be an important message," Kyren replied.

"Fine. You go ahead. I’ll wait in the infirmary," said Anna.

The commander nodded and left.

***

Looking at Ayden lying on the bed in the infirmary made Anna purse her lips.

"My lady, you don’t have to worry. He’s just asleep," Alex, who accompanied the assistant healer, informed.

"I heard he fainted when he arrived," said Anna.

"He did. But he has already woken up and gone to sleep after taking the medicine," the knight told her.

"He must be exhausted. Poor Ayden!"

Anna sat beside the assistant healer, watching him in pity while waiting for Kyren.

The tent flap rustled, and the princess turned, thinking her husband had come. However, a new, unfamiliar teenager who was seen holding a bouquet stood by the entrance.

"My lady!"

The adolescent grinned as soon as he saw her. Anna frowned at the call and stared back at him. His lush brown hair was neatly pushed back. His brown eyes were round and orb-like and gleaming with the vigour of youth as he darted at her.

Even though he was dressed in a commoner outfit, the young lad indeed had a charm and soon would grow to be a fine young man, adored by the opposite s*x.

The princess did not budge at his sound, vibrant face. She was still giving a cold shoulder to the teenager’s stare, making him blush.

"It’s me, Armel," he hesitantly introduced himself.

Anna’s eyes widened upon hearing his name.

"Oh! I didn’t recognise you at all! You look so handsome." The princess stood up and approached him with curving lips.

Embarrassed, Armel looked down and averted his eyes.

"I thought I would never see you again! I was told that you and the other patients have recovered and left," said Anna brightly.

"Well, yes. We left yesterday, but I came back and requested permission to enter for a moment. I wanted to thank the men who helped us and see you," said Armel.

"See me? Why?"

"I want to give this to you."

He handed her the bouquet of Hydrangea, Zinnia and Babybreath, pieced together with a red ribbon. The flowers were freshly bloomed in the neatly made arrangement.

"These flowers..." Anna muttered to herself as she accepted and looked at them.

"That day in the forest, when we first met, I saw a bouquet at the stump after you left. I thought it was yours."

A grin was etched on her pink lips.

"Thank you. I love them!"

Armel’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes caught her beautiful smile.

"My lady is gorgeous. I’ve never seen someone as lovely as you are," he praised her.

"Stop it! You’re making me embarrassed! I’m not that good-looking." Anna blushed shyly as she happily held the flowers.

"No. You really are beautiful, caring and kind. You saved me, my brother and my neighbour when no one bothered. We owe you our lives!"

"It wasn’t just me alone. The healer, his assistant and the knights helped you too."

"Yes, indeed! We are truly grateful for the Knights of Gerhard’s chivalry. We want to thank everybody for saving us," said Armel cheerfully.

"I’ll let my husband know about it. He’ll surely inform them about your gratitude."

Armel’s eyes suddenly changed, and his nose wrinkled when he heard the word ’my husband’.

"My lady is married?" The question felt like a lump in his throat.

"Yes. My husband is the camp commander," she told him, not noticing the teen’s changed face as she kept concentrating on the bouquet.

Armel’s eyelids drooped.

After being saved by the ’angel with emerald eyes’, he did not get to see her again. The other men told him that she fell sick and was bedridden.

The teenager could not visit her then as he was also recovering from his ailment. He wanted to ask the men about Anna. However, as they were too busy with their tasks, he could only swallow his curiosity.

Today, he came back, full of hope of seeing her again. The wish did come true when he arrived at the infirmary.

However, when he heard of her marital status, a surging, sickening emotion somehow triggered his heart.

The two knights, Alex and Drystan, stared at the duo. Even briefly, their sharp eyes could decipher the feeling of the adolescent towards the lady based on his reaction.

Only Anna was tactless at the hint. The princess did not realise that she had become an attraction to Armel and the others who were curious about her.

The commander’s wife, who used to be in solitary, was now the men’s idol.