The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 75: A Deceitful King

Chapter 75: A Deceitful King

The king and prince walked down the long, winding corridor, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. Their servants and escorts trailed behind them dutifully.

While the king walked solemnly, Kiev glanced around, taking in the castle’s grandeur.

As they approached the annexe, the prince couldn’t help but feel curious about his betrothed, who used to reside there.

"It seems a bit far away from the main building. Has she always stayed in the annexe?" he asked the king, hoping for some insight into the princess’s life.

Kaizer’s face darkened as he explained, "The princess was delicate and easily overwhelmed by crowds. She needed a quiet space to recover, so she chose to stay here. It is so unfortunate that she didn’t live long."

As they reached the locked door, Kaizer gestured for his servant to open it. Without a word, the servant produced a key and unlocked the door.

The brass padlock clicked and clunked as the key twisted, filling the corridor with the sound of metal on metal. Finally, the servant managed to push the door open, revealing a gloomy and dark room.

The air was thick with a peculiar stench, and cobwebs and dust hung heavily in the air. The room had been sealed since the day of the rebellion after Nessy’s body had been removed.

As the servants entered the room, they quickly pulled aside the curtains, allowing the natural light to flood in. Slowly, the details of the room began to come into focus.

Kiev glided gracefully into the room, scanning the dishevelled four-poster bed with his sharp eyes. He then walked over to the dresser and noticed a little black smudge on the bare floor.

It seemed the rug had been removed and not replaced, and it was clear that this room had not been attended to in some time. The neglect was evident in every corner.

As Kaizer noticed Kiev’s gaze, he quickly explained, "This room has been left untouched since the princess’s passing. The servants were too heartbroken to bear the thought of going through her belongings. I decided to leave it as it is while I tended to other important matters."

Kiev smiled as if approving of the king’s sensitivity towards the princess. His attention was then drawn towards a silk handkerchief sticking out of a dresser drawer. He carefully pulled it out, admiring its delicate pink colour and cherry blossom embroidery.

"Is this the princess’s?" he asked the king.

"Yes, it belongs to her," Kaizer confirmed. "Everything in this room was hers."

Kiev paused momentarily, lost in thought, as he stared at the handkerchief. Finally, he turned to the king and made an unexpected request.

"Your Majesty, if it’s not too much to ask, may I have this as a memento of my betrothed?" he asked.

Kaizer raised an eyebrow but then smiled warmly at Kiev’s request.

"Of course, you may," he replied, surprised to see that the prince was such a sentimental person.

After a brief moment in the room, Kaizer led Kiev to the nearby royal cemetery. As they approached a fresh grave, the king spoke solemnly, "This is Princess Anna Adhemar’s final resting place."

Kiev’s eyes darted around the area, taking note of the lack of a tombstone and the fresh dirt still mounded over the grave. He couldn’t help but ask the king about it.

"Why does it look like a new grave? And where is the tombstone?" he inquired.

Kaizer’s face turned gloomy as he explained, "We recently received a report that grave robbers had broken into the cemetery. The princess’s grave was targeted, but fortunately, our patrols were on site, and no damage was done to the body. However, valuable items such as jewellery and ornaments were stolen. We are currently investigating the case."

"Thank you for your swift action, Your Majesty. I’m sure my betrothed would have appreciated it. Even after her death, you still care for her," Kiev gratefully said.

He then excused himself and walked over to a nearby flower bush, plucking a few blooms before returning to the princess’s grave. He carefully knelt and placed the flowers on the mound of fresh dirt, bowing his head in a sign of respect.

"Forgive me for not being there for you in your time of need. May you rest in peace," he whispered to the grave.

Kaizer watched as Kiev silently paid his respects to the princess, feeling satisfied that his deceit had worked. He had carefully crafted his excuses and lies, and it seemed the prince had fallen for them.

After a few moments, Kiev stood up and turned to face the king, informing him of his wish to return to his temporary lodging. Kaizer forced a look of concern on his face.

"Why so soon? You’ve come a long way and must be exhausted. Stay a while longer at the castle. It is much more comfortable here," he invited, pretending to be hospitable.

The prince shook his head. "I appreciate your offer, but I must prepare to return home and attend to my responsibilities," replied the prince.

"The truth is, I was here on the continent for a business trip and am dropping by to see her. However, unfortunately...," his voice trailed off as his gaze fell upon the nearby grave.

A sombre expression clouded his otherwise handsome face.

"I understand what you mean. Yes, it must be shocking for you to hear this news, and I wish to offer my condolences to you too," said Kaizer.

Expressing his gratitude, the prince thanked the king.

"Very well, then. If you do not wish to stay, I will not force you. Although the marriage did not go through, you and your people are always welcome here in Ardel," Kaizer said with a forced smile, pretending to have a good attitude towards his guest.

Kiev bowed in return, grateful for the king’s hospitality but eager to return home. He and his escorts left the castle and made their way back to the chartered inn, where their entourage awaited them.

Observing the prince from afar, the king couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease towards the young man’s composed demeanour. The prince appeared intelligent and perceptive, leading the king to suspect that he may have ulterior motives.

"This news doesn’t seem to faze him one bit. I can’t help but wonder if he has something up his sleeve," the king whispered to his aide as he saw the carriage slowly fade into the distance.

"Send a few men to tail them in disguise. Make sure they leave safely, and if anything suspicious arises, report to me immediately," he ordered, his voice low and discreet.

His aide nodded and quickly left to complete the task while the king watched anxiously, wondering about Kiev’s true intentions.

***

The carriage pulled up in front of the inn, and Kiev quickly stepped out, pulling up the hood of his cloak to conceal his face. He made his way inside, walking swiftly and purposefully up the stairs to one of the rooms.

The door to the room swung open, and he entered the spacious chamber. Kiev was greeted by the sight of a young girl, her alluring appearance reminiscent of his own, and a middle-aged woman sitting at a table. The girl’s face lit up as she saw him, and the woman stood up, bowing respectfully to the prince.

"Welcome back, Your Highness," the woman said, her voice filled with deference as she approached him.

Kiev nodded in acknowledgement, taking off his hooded robe and passing it to her.

"So, how was it?" the young girl asked eagerly, bouncing up from her seat at the table.

"As expected, the Prime Minister was up to something when the letters stopped. He’s now the king of this kingdom, and he told me the princess is dead," he said, his voice heavy with anxiousness.

An ’oooh’ sound erupted from the girl’s lips.

"How dare he! Do you want me to finish him?" she said eagerly as she put her hand on the sword hilt at her waist.

"Don’t act rashly! We’re not allowed to, remember?" warned the prince sternly.

He then turned to the middle-aged woman and asked, "Have you recast the life magic today? Is it still glowing?" His voice was urgent, and his eyes were filled with concern.

The woman nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness. It is glowing fine. The princess is still alive," she said as she showed him the small pouch in an open box on the table.

A radiant light emanated from within the pouch. It contained a few strands of the princess’s hair, which had been taken secretly when she was born and before she was separated from her.

"What about Nessy? Could you sense her? Perhaps... there might still be a chance?" Kiev inquired with a glimmer of optimism.

Jessy replied with a sorrowful expression and a shake of her head.

One night, a few months ago, she awoke from her sleep, wracked with shivers of pain. The middle-aged woman closed her eyes and focused on the lifeline that had always connected her to her twin sister, Nessy.

But to her horror, she could no longer feel it. She cried out in agony, mourning the loss of her beloved sister, who had been separated from her at a young age.

Kiev placed a comforting hand on the nanny’s shoulder.

"I know you’re grieving Nessy’s death, and I promise I will find the person responsible and make them pay. But right now, our top priority is to find the princess," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Jessy nodded in agreement, hope in her eyes.

"The king must have hidden her somewhere! Perhaps he already knows about her!" the young girl suspected, her voice laced with suspicion.

Kiev shook his head with a serious expression.

"No, I don’t think so. I read the king’s reaction and knew he was unaware of the princess’s status. He even took me to a fake grave to convince me when I asked him. He thought he could outsmart me with his dirty tricks," he scoffed, disgusted by the king’s act.

"How can we track her down, brother?" inquired the young girl.

Kiev smiled reassuringly.

"Don’t worry. I have something that belongs to her."