The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 50: Till We Meet Again

Chapter 50: Till We Meet Again

The sun was already setting to the deep west, and the sky was tinged with a splendour of orange dye when the two horses galloped through the path leading to Mistdale.

In the fast bouncing movement, she could feel the rush of wind whipping her face ferociously and flying her wavy auburn hair into the air.

The gleaming light of the afternoon lanced through the gaps in the forest canopy and reflected the shadows of the trees along the way.

Anna’s little hands curled around Damon’s waist as the horse flexed its strong hindquarters. Her adrenaline rushed through her bloodstream throughout the journey, and her face turned white.

She never thought riding the warhorse with the knight could leave her shaking and upheaving like this. It was totally different from the subtle lesson she had in Ardel.

When the princess first mounted the warhorse, she was already beading with sweat, realising how big he was. Her heart raced rapidly as her face coloured in an unspeakable emotion. She could not describe the mixed feelings of nervousness, joy and fear.

Somehow, despite the anxiousness, a flickering excitement grew inside her as she looked at the expansive forest view, basking under the late afternoon sun.

Further to the west, the mountainous region stood firm with its bluish rocky formations beyond the grass field. It was a beautiful sight of Cassian that she had never seen from this angle.

When she felt the horse’s speeding up, Anna gripped the knight’s body tighter, afraid of falling. The sling tied across her shoulders, carrying the little puppy on her back, bounced along with the ride.

"Look! That’s him!" shouted Eli.

Nearing the sentry post of Mistdale, a teenager was walking alone towards the village entrance. The two knights reduced the speed, and the warhorses trotted towards him.

"Armel!" When she was sure it was him, Anna yelled the young lad’s name.

Hearing the sound of horse hooves striking the ground, Armel turned around and found the three people filling his view. His brown eyes widened when he noticed the little figure behind Damon waving at him.

"My lady!" the teen shouted in surprise and raced towards them.

Cuing for the halt, the knights clasped their fingers and squeezed back the reins. Both warhorses finally stopped their strides after feeling the pulls.

Damon dismounted the horse first before assisting Anna in getting down from the warhorse. As her feet reached the ground, running Armel arrived before her, looking flabbergasted.

Eli, who also descended, patted the neck of the warhorse and gave him a good scratch. The nostrils of the stallion flared as he caught his breath, and the neighing sound came out cheerfully from his mouth, gladly receiving the petting.

"Why are you here? And why are your eyes red?" Armel’s eyes shook as the question fell out of his mouth.

Anna panted for a moment, catching her breath before replying. Her chest heaved from the quick journey.

"My eyes got sore from the strong wind during the ride. Actually, I need your help with something. That’s why I came here urgently." A little lie about her eyes slipped from her mouth as she told him why she arrived.

"Let me help you with the sling," said Damon as he went to her back, untied the sling and took out the little puppy. Assisting, Eli grabbed the sling and put it in the saddlebag.

With a shaking body, the puppy curled up, frightened of being wrapped just now and whining helplessly. His ears pricked forward as he looked at them.

"Oh... sorry, little one. I didn’t mean to scare you!"

The princess’s warm hand lightly stroked the puppy’s shaggy fur, bringing him calmness. His trembling began to cease, and his dark eyes lit up from the gentle touch.

"A puppy!" the teen exclaimed as he saw the white puppy in Damon’s hands.

"We found him in the forest near the lake. He was lost," said Eli.

"I know this is a bit sudden, but I hope you can take care of him," Anna requested of Armel.

The teen replied, "Why... definitely I can. I’ve always wanted a puppy."

Damon handed the puppy to Armel. The teen’s lips curved up when he caught the little one from the knight, embracing him gently with his slender arm. He stroked the fluffy guy lightly, and the puppy snuggled up to him.

"He seems to like you already," Eli grinned, looking at them.

"He’s cute! What’s his name?" asked Armel.

"We haven’t named him yet," replied Damon.

Armel turned to the princess and knights, wondering, "Forgive me for asking, but why didn’t you take him with you instead?"

"We can’t. There’s a bit of an unavoidable situation. We don’t know any other person around here who could take him. Then, I thought of you," Anna responded.

"If you feel you can’t take care of him later on, you can pass him to anyone who can. Take this money as our gratitude. You can use it at will," said Damon as he took a grey pouch from his pocket and handed it to Armel.

"Oh, no! I don’t need money for this! Please! All of you have done a lot for me. It will be too much if you’re paying me for this!" he declined.

Looking at the teenager’s refusal, Eli quickly persuaded him, "Just take it. At least you can buy something good for the puppy. He’s still hungry."

"Yes. Please take it. My lady would feel more at ease if you could get better food for the puppy," agreed Damon.

"But I don’t need them. I’m sure I can feed him well. Since my lady personally comes to give him to me, I promise I’ll take good care of him. You have my word!" Armel persistently refused.

Damon exhaled in defeat.

"Then... If you say so... So be it." The knight retreated and returned the pouch to his pocket.

"Thank you, Armel, for your kindness! I really appreciate it!" Anna’s eyes glazed over the adolescent with sparkles.

"You’re welcome! I’m glad to help." He let out a proud smile before continuing, "My lady is truly kind and loving. You even cared about a lost puppy."

"She surely is," added Eli with a high chin.

"Your husband must be proud to have a great wife like you," said Armel. Although his words were meant as praise, his tone of voice glinted with downheartedness.

Anna’s emotions changed at the sudden remarks. She recalled the ferocious commander who destroyed her bouquet with his hefty boot. Mentioning him only brought a surge of anger and sadness inside her. Her eyes fell to the ground.

"Armel... Actually, about the flowers... There’s something I’ve got to explain to you," the princess began to open up.

Her drooped eyelids were lifted, and she looked at the teenager.

"I’ll wait there with Sir Henderson so you can talk comfortably with him," the dark-haired knight suddenly told the commander’s wife. She let out a little nod.

Quickly, Damon gestured to Eli to take a few steps back to give the duo some space.

After the two knights moved, Anna explained with conflicted emotion.

"I was told that a bouquet tied with a red ribbon has a specific meaning in Cassian culture. I didn’t know that since I’m not from here. So, when you handed it to me, I was just happy to receive a present," she began.

"Forgive me for saying this, but the truth is, I don’t have such feelings for you, and I don’t intend to confuse you. I’m married and loyal to my husband. I don’t want you to think I’m a promiscuous woman," Anna continued.

Armel’s eyes widened at the statement.

"Oh, I apologise, my lady! I guessed I’d made a grave mistake! You see... I just took the red ribbon from home as it was the only one available!" he quickly denied.

Anna’s eyebrows curved as she listened to Armel’s reply.

"So you’re saying you don’t mean anything by the bouquet?" she asked to reaffirm.

"Most definitely! I’m still young and don’t understand this kind of thing! I just thought the ribbon was pretty and would suit you. That’s all!" he adamantly stated.

Anna exhaled a breath of relief and patted her heart.

"Thank goodness! I was already worried that you had some feelings for me. How silly of me to make a mistake!" She laughed. Armel joined her laughter.

Damon, who watched from a distance, annoyingly clicked his tongue as he heard the excuse.

"Well, you look at that! Somebody is pulling an act to cover himself!" whispered Eli.

"Yup... and to think that our lady is so innocent that she didn’t notice it at all... haaa...," Damon could only finish his words by shaking his head in frustration.

"He wouldn’t want to embarrass himself in front of her."

"That’s right."

"I think the lady is wise in many things except about feelings. I bet she didn’t know that the commander behaved outrageously due to his jealousy," commented Eli.

"You noticed that?" Damon narrowed his eyes at the young knight.

Eli chuckled at his demeanour.

"Who wouldn’t!"

After a moment, Damon approached the commander’s wife and Armel.

"Forgive me for interrupting your conversation. But we need to get back now to reach the camp before dark. It’s getting late already."

"Oh, yes! I’m sorry, Armel. I’ve got to go," Anna said to the teenager.

"Right. I hope we can meet again," he responded.

The princess nodded. "I hope so too."

The two knights and the princess mounted their warhorses to embark on their return journey.

"All right, Armel. Goodbye!" Anna waved with a bright smile.

The teenager raised his hand to bid farewell. A slight disappointment pricked his heart, knowing that he might not be able to see her again since the commander had warned him not to come to the camp.

"My lady, wait!" A sudden thought struck his mind.

"What is it?" asked the princess, tilting her head from Damon’s back to the side as she sat on the saddle with him.

"This puppy... since you brought him here, can you name him at least?" Armel requested.

Anna drew a smile on her oval face.

"Let’s call him Rhen," she said after contemplating for a moment.

"Rhen?"

"It means white in the Ro’an language," she explained.

Armel nodded lightly. Though he did not know the foreign language mentioned by the lady, he could not be more agreeable.

The teenager raised Rhen’s paw as if the puppy, too, was saying goodbye.

Damon and Eli nodded to Armel and turned around the warhorses. Holding the reins properly, the two knights signalled them to move. The warhorses’ hooves stomped the ground, and the pace of their movements began to accelerate.

Armel saw the figures getting smaller as they got farther from him, and later disappearing when they descended the hill from the tree-lined winding road.

Goodbye, my lady! Till we meet again!"

His lips drew a wistful smile as his longing eyes stared at the empty path.

"Till we meet again...," he repeated, praying that someday he could see the angel with emerald eyes that had captured his heart once more.