The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 480: The Unanticipated Capture

Chapter 480: The Unanticipated Capture

The sound of his laboured breaths grew heavier as his feet quickened their pace. He had to be fast.

At the palace, he appeared calm for a while, though he looked anxious outwardly like the other knights. It was all an act to blend in with the situation.

The news of the search for Anna conducted by the Knights of Neblim had reached him, and the fact that the Knights of Gerhard weren’t involved in it eased his concern.

However, the possibility of that one man participating in the search gnawed at his heart.

The knights of the James family were considered as good as the royal knights and second only to the Knights of Gerhard. But this man was different. He was way better than them, except for His Highness the Grand Duke. Damon knew well how skilled he was, and he wouldn’t be in his position if he weren’t.

Thinking about this, the knight pushed himself to run faster. After pretending to feel dizzy from his ’drunkenness,’ he requested to leave the palace, claiming he was returning to the mansion. Halfway there, he detoured to the old safe house where Anna and Helen hid.

He needed to ensure their safety and hide them from the Knights of Neblim. Besides, he had also promised the governess he would check on them in the afternoon.

As he arrived at the ruined complex of the former safe house, he paused to scan the surroundings. The atmosphere seemed calm and tranquil. If the Knights of Neblim were nearby, there should be signs of their presence, but none were visible. Damon inhaled a breath of relief.

However, as he investigated further, his keen observation noted that the tripwires he had set up had been tampered with. Someone with the skill of a high-ranking knight had noticed the hidden traps and cut them with precision, leaving no trace.

This shocked him. It couldn’t be one of the Knights of Gerhard, as all of them were still at the palace, except for him and Eli. Could it be...

"Oh, no!" Damon exclaimed, worrying that this could be the work of that person.

He rushed to the only standing building among the ruins where Anna and Helen were supposed to be.

Reaching the threshold, he banged on the door and shouted, "Miss Reed! Open up! It’s me, Sir McQuinn!"

His worry heightened when there was no reply.

"Miss Reed! Miss Reed!" he banged the door again.

Seeing no response, Damon unsheathed his sword, ready to force his way in, but the door suddenly creaked open slowly.

A wave of relief washed over him as he saw Helen’s face. The fear that they might have been discovered faded, though he couldn’t explain how the tripwires had been damaged.

"Oh, God! What took you so long? I almost broke the door, you know?!" he reprimanded her.

Helen didn’t respond; instead, her face displayed fear.

"What’s the matter?" Damon asked, noticing her peculiar expression.

Before the governess could reply, a deep voice sounded behind her.

"Lower your voice. Lady Raychard is still sleeping."

Damon’s heart jolted with shock upon hearing those words. He pushed the door wider, only to find the figure he dreaded to see—Admiral Adam James—sitting calmly in a chair.

"Admiral!" the knight exclaimed, swallowing hard as panic engulfed him.

The admiral remained composed, unbothered by the presence of the Grand Duke’s knight. He knew well that Damon, being a medium-ranked knight, couldn’t challenge him, the commander of the Knights of Neblim and also the admiral of Cassian’s fleet.

Damon balled his trembling fists. The fear that had haunted him was now a reality. At any moment, Adam could easily subdue him.

The admiral’s combat skills were formidable as he had trained in the knighthood training alongside Kyren and King Kyden. Though he might not be as great as the Grand Duke, his prowess and reputation were renowned, on par with Eric and Noah. Fighting him would be a futile attempt.

There was no other way...

"Admiral James! Please, hear me out! Lady Raychard is innocent!" Damon pleaded as he stepped forward.

Adam turned to him, scowling.

"Didn’t you hear me?" he said, his voice controlled but firm. "She is sleeping."

"Admiral, please! Have mercy! If you capture her, she’ll surely be thrown into the dungeon! Lady Raychard is carrying a child. She wouldn’t be able to endure the harsh conditions there!" Damon urged again.

The admiral’s expression darkened.

"If you keep making noise and disturbing her, get out!" he snapped. "I’m well aware of her pregnancy and how much she needs this rest. One more word from you, and off you go!"

Damon pressed his lips together, realising there was no chance for negotiation with this man. He turned to Helen, hoping for some support.

However, instead of backing him, the governess said, "Perhaps we should step outside. We don’t want to wake her up."

Damon was surprised by Helen’s suggestion, but the governess grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the building before he could respond.

As soon as she shut the door behind them and walked a few steps away, Damon brushed her hand aside and faced her with anger.

"I’m sorry. Forgive me for holding you like that," the governess apologised, aware it was improper for an unmarried woman to grasp a bachelor’s arm who was not in courtship with her.

"Forget it. The real question is, how in the world did he get here, and why did you let him in? Don’t you know Admiral James is the Commander of the Knights of Neblim?" Damon shouted.

"Of course I do! Do you think I did this on purpose? To let the commander himself find us?" she shot back with frustration. "I don’t even know how he managed to track us!"

Damon sighed.

Seeing the flustered expression on Helen’s face, he felt remorse for blaming her. What could she, a governess with no fighting skills, do against a high-ranking knight like Adam?

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to place the blame on you. It’s just... ugh..." He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. "God, I prayed for this not to happen!"

Helen looked at him solemnly.

"The traps didn’t ring as you said, and he knocked at the door just like you did. I thought it was you who came."

Damon gazed at her.

"When did he arrive?"

"About an hour ago. By the time he got here, Lady Raychard had just fallen asleep again. She tires easily due to the pregnancy. There’s no help for that. But surprisingly, he didn’t do anything to us," she explained.

"Nothing?" the knight asked, puzzled. "He didn’t even try to drag you out?"

"No. He told me to remain calm and that he meant no harm. He said to let Lady Raychard sleep, and he just sat in the chair watching."

Damon furrowed his brow.

"That’s strange. He’s a staunch supporter of His Majesty the King. The Knights of Neblim have been ordered to search for and bring back Lady Raychard immediately. Why would he delay her capture?" The knight felt a wave of worry wash over him and questioned Adam’s motive. "Is he having another plan?"

"If he has bad intentions, then why wait?" Helen asked back. "He could have seized the opportunity when you weren’t here. Now that you’re back, it would be much harder for him to take us away."

Damon shook his head.

"Even though I’m here, I won’t be able to defeat him, Miss Reed. He possesses superior expertise and skills compared to me, and unfortunately, I can’t seek backup to confront him," he said. "There’s no way to stop him if he wishes to arrest Lady Raychard. I, too, would face severe punishment for being involved in this matter. Like you said, His Majesty discreetly orchestrates this plan, so he wouldn’t admit it openly once we’re brought back to the palace. This escape is doomed for sure."

"Don’t lose hope yet. I know this might sound weird... but, I don’t feel he’s here to capture us," said the governess.

"That’s very unlikely of him. He’s the firstborn and heir of the James family, brother to Lady Sarah James. His family submitted the petition to His Majesty for Lady Raychard and His Highness Prince Kiev’s trial, which was initiated this morning but adjourned due to her disappearance. Surely, he would support his family above all," Damon said.

"Are you sure about that? I don’t know much about Admiral James, but there have been talks about him in the palace. It seems he has a different personality from his sister and father. Unlike them, who are adamant and strict, he’s said to be pleasant and tolerable," Helen replied.

"I only know that His Highness the Grand Duke was close to him. They were childhood friends. He’s never been hostile to us and highly respects our Grand Duke, but I never had the chance to know him well."

"Then I guess we have to wait. I did ask him what he planned to do with us, but he said he would reveal it once Lady Raychard is awake," the governess added.

"I suppose so."

Damon crossed his arms over his chest, brooding. For now, he had no choice but to wait.