The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 467: The Confined Princess

Chapter 467: The Confined Princess

As Eric listened to Rafe’s explanation while seated at the table, his expression turned sombre.

"So, where is your wife now?" he asked.

"Not sure. After the altercation, I told her to go away. She probably went back to Lady Raychard’s chamber and is still waiting outside. I had Sir McQuinn and Sir Parker go there to look out for our lady and her as well," Rafe responded solemnly.

His body slumped as he propped his chin on his slender hand, seemingly frustrated with his wife.

Eric blinked, sifting through the healer’s dreary demeanour.

The second-in-command knight then urged, "Go get your wife, Rafe. Don’t let her be alone. She needs you."

Rafe’s downcast grey irises lifted toward Eric.

"You know I’m still mad at her, don’t you?" he said.

"I know. But as you said, the promise sealed with magic was His Highness Prince Kiev’s doing. He intentionally did that to protect something... Something he even refuses to share with us, not even with you, whom he considered family."

"He’s a liar!" Rafe sneered. "If he had considered me family, he would’ve come clean to me from the start! I thought I could trust him, but he turned out to be scheming against me all this time!"

"Then what about you? You and Armel colluded secretly and reported the Mederian siblings to His Majesty! Seems like you, too, used your connections to him and your wife for your advantage to gather information on them!" Eric shot back sharply.

"Hey! I didn’t do that on purpose! I had to! It was His Majesty’s order!" the healer countered.

"Exactly! At least we know your reason for doing it. We just don’t yet understand the reasons driving them to such extremes."

Rafe clamped his lips shut.

Eric then said, "I believe, whatever the reason is, it must be so severe that His Highness Prince Kiev is willing to risk his life for it. Don’t you think so?"

The healer averted his eyes, his mind reeling from what the second-in-command knight suggested as he searched for a plausible answer. However, he couldn’t come up with anything. In the end, he shook his head in defeat.

"I’m sorry. But I just don’t know," he said.

Eric remained calm.

"Ease yourself. You said Mr Lambert will help us meet with His Highness tonight, right? So we still have a chance to unravel this."

"We have to wait until midnight for it. Mr Lambert said the guards’ shift exchange would occur during that time, so we have a short window to interrogate Kiev. But, knowing his stubbornness, I don’t think he will talk. If he could force Callis and Jessy to keep quiet, what makes you think he would open up to us?" Rafe replied.

"He will talk! He cares for Lady Raychard so much that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. You saw what he did for her with your own eyes. Trust me on this," said Eric.

"Don’t set your hopes too high, my friend. You don’t know what’s in his mind," warned the healer. "I once believed he loved Elis. Now, after today, I’m not so sure. He dashed away like the wind and left her for Lady Raychard immediately after his wedding. His wife would undoubtedly be offended."

"It was a critical situation! I would’ve done the same if I were in his shoes! I love my wife, but my responsibilities would outweigh her emotions in such a life-threatening condition! You would do the same over your patient, wouldn’t you?"

Rafe fell silent again. Though he was still angry about the situation, Eric had made a valid point.

Alex, Garin, Noah, and Drystan suddenly emerged from the bedroom door. At Eric’s request, the four knights had left for another room as they wanted a private moment with Rafe after briefing them on the situation.

Eli remained at the mansion to attend to the guests, while Ayden’s whereabouts remained unknown. Everyone’s hopes rested on the assistant healer to return with something fruitful soon.

"How’s His Highness?" asked the second-in-command knight.

Drystan shook his head.

"The last time I checked, he hasn’t woken up yet, Sir Navin."

Eric nodded in acknowledgement.

"Stay vigilant. He’ll be conscious soon, and we don’t know how he will react upon waking."

The knights nodded at his order.

"What about the plan to go to His Highness Prince Kiev’s cell? Mr Lambert has confirmed His Highness’s location from the secret tunnel he used," asked Garin.

"Rafael and I will go. In the meantime, I need all of you to stay here to guard His Highness. Besides, if we move in large numbers, the palace servants and guards might notice and become curious," said Eric.

"Noted, Sir Navin," responded Noah.

Just then, the main door creaked open, and Luke entered, wearing a solemn expression.

Rafe looked up from the table, his voice rising with urgency. "Why are you here? I thought I asked you to go to Lady Raychard’s chamber. And where is Sir McQuinn?"

"Lord James ordered the Knights of Neblim not to allow us near. Even Mrs Amares was pushed back down the hallway. No matter how hard I argued, they wouldn’t let us stand outside the chamber now. Sir McQuinn got so mad that he nearly punched one of them, so I told him to calm down before coming back here," explained Luke in frustration.

"What?? They did that to my wife?!" Rafe abruptly stood up, his eyes widening. "Where is she right now?"

"I think she is still in the hallway. I am concerned that no one has been allowed entry to the chamber since Lady Raychard’s detainment. I believe they haven’t even served her any food or drink. Our lady is not yet proven guilty, and they are already treating her like a criminal!" Luke lashed out in anger, his fists clenched.

"This is outrageous! Lady Raychard is pregnant! How could they lock her up without sustenance? Even a prisoner is given rations!" Alex exclaimed furiously, his face flushing with indignation.

Eric stood up, his expression darkening as his eyes fell on the group.

"Sir Brooks and Sir Parker, come with me! The rest of you, stay here!" he demanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

"I’m coming too! There’s no way I will let them treat Lady Raychard and my wife like this!" Rafe urged.

The second-in-command knight nodded in agreement, recognising Rafe’s resolve.

The group marched toward the door, determined to confront the Knights of Neblim or whoever had mistreated Anna. They would not stand idly by while injustice was meted out, especially to those they profoundly cared for.

***

Anna slowly opened her swollen eyelids, the dim light of the chamber filtering through as she regained consciousness. Her head felt dizzy, and her face was strained from tears. She couldn’t tell what time it was, but the darkened surroundings indicated night had fallen.

As she took a moment to gather her thoughts, the day’s events crashed back into her mind like an avalanche.

She remembered crawling on the floor toward the main entrance, unable to walk due to her condition after everyone had left her. The princess banged on the door countless times, begging to see Kyren to explain that she was innocent, but her pleas went unheard.

Despite her tears and desperate knocks, no one came, and not a single person bothered to open the door to listen to her. She cried and cried until her voice cracked, and her energy dissipated, causing her to lose consciousness from exhaustion eventually.

Looking around the cold, gloomy chamber, a wave of fear laced through her heart, reminding her of the night of the usurpation and the days she spent locked up in the slave traders’ prison wagon.

Anna had always been afraid of the dark; even during her time at the mansion, the servants would keep a light on for her, just as Kyren always did when they were together at the camp.

’Kyren...’

Her heart whispered his name, a deep sadness piercing her chest.

"Why didn’t you believe me, Kyren?" she asked, her voice quiet and filled with devastation.

The accusation bore down on her like a burden, inundating her with disappointment. Yet, inward, a primal instinct to protect began to emerge.

Her hands instinctively swept her flat stomach. For the little life growing inside her, she needed to be strong and survive this. She must not give up!

Regardless of the allegations or the judgments of others, she knew that her baby belonged to her and Kyren and no one else.

A growling sound interrupted her thoughts, echoing from her empty stomach. Glancing around the darkened chamber, illuminated only by the faint light from the window, Anna noticed no food, only a pitcher of water on the table.

Though her appetite was lacking, she knew her baby was hungry. She needed to eat and regain her strength for the child’s sake.

Fortunately, she felt much better than when she was first brought to the palace; at least now she could stand and walk, albeit unsteadily. The brief respite and healing magic seemed to have replenished her with a semblance of energy.

Wobbling slightly, Anna moved to the table, poured water into a glass, and brought it to her lips. She drank swiftly, quenching her parched mouth before placing the glass back on the table.

Sitting down in a chair, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. In this state, she couldn’t afford to waste her energy as she didn’t know how long she would be kept here or if anyone would come for her.

Her stomach growled again, reminding her of her hunger.

"I’m sorry, baby. Please hold on for now. We’ll get something to eat later, all right?" she coaxed softly, rubbing her stomach gently.

A flash of resolve shone in her emerald eyes as she contemplated her fate. Despite the wrongful accusations and mental torments she endured, she vowed to protect the child she was carrying with everything she could.

Perhaps its arrival had come at the most inconvenient time, resulting in the whole misunderstanding, yet Anna viewed it as a blessing from God. She knew it was challenging for her delicate body to conceive, and thus, she was grateful for this exceptional ’gift.’

"Forgive me for not knowing you are already here," she whispered, continuing to caress her stomach with remorse. "If I had known, I would have been more careful."

Just then, she heard the door handle twisting. A surge of hope coursed through her. Could it be that someone had come to help her?

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