The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 81: The Meaning of ’My Woman’

Chapter 81: The Meaning of ’My Woman’

Anna’s first two days at sea were a torment. The relentless rocking of the ship made her stomach churn, and she spent every minute heaving in dizziness or retching into a bucket.

To make matters worse, she was plagued by a series of vivid nightmares that left her shaking and sobbing in her sleep.

Kyren never left her side, holding her close and murmuring soothing words whenever she woke up in a panic. Despite his efforts, her cries and screams echoed through the ship each night, a piercing reminder of her agony.

The grand duke, clearly anxious about the trauma symptoms, ordered the rest of the entourage to keep their distance from them.

The couple remained confined to their small quarters, the door shut tight against the crew’s prying eyes. Only the healer and his assistant were allowed to enter the cabin, where they worked tirelessly to alleviate Anna’s symptoms.

On the morning of the third day, Kyren finally emerged with a drawn face on the deck. Ayden and Rafe, who had been keeping a watchful eye on the princess, approached him immediately.

"How is the lady today, Commander?" Ayden asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

The grand duke glanced at the vast sea as the heavy thoughts lingered in his mind. Then, he returned his sight to the healer.

"She’s holding on," he said. His voice was low, and his wariness was palpable. "It’s been a rough passage for her."

The commander’s intense face was clearly visible. He had been having less proper rest, spending his nights pacing the cramped cabin and his days hovering over his wife, checking her condition every now and then. His once-impeccable outfit was wrinkled and creased, and a hollow look had replaced his usually vibrant demeanour.

"Is the seasickness still on?" asked Rafe.

"It’s gone, thankfully," the commander replied. "But the nightmares... they’re still haunting her."

The commander let out a deep sigh. The sound of a low rumble came out of his delicate lips. He ran a hand through his messy hair, the strands falling haphazardly around his face.

Despite his unkempt appearance, he still had a striking handsomeness that couldn’t be denied. His piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a depth of emotion that he kept carefully guarded, but hinted at a hidden vulnerability.

"Right now, she’s finally asleep. I had to practically force her to take those sleeping pills, though. She was too scared to lie down after last night’s nightmare."

"I understand your concern for her, Commander, but as I said, the healing process will take time," the healer replied.

Ayden nodded sympathetically. "Let us take turns watching over her. You need some rest too," he suggested.

Kyren shook his head in refusal. "No need. I’m fine. After all, I promised I’d be at her side until we reached the destination. Right now, I want to know what else we can do for her."

The healer cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "If I may suggest something," he said carefully. "Taking her outside and getting some fresh air might be beneficial. Being cooped up in the cabin will only worsen her stress and anxiety. Maybe a change of scenery will help her."

Ayden’s eyes lit up when hope sparked in his gaze. "That’s a good idea, Mr Amares! We could distract her. Perhaps, draw her attention to a conversation that gains her interest. It might take her mind off her fear," he said.

"Do you think that would help?" the commander asked hesitantly. "I’m unsure whether she’s ready to come out yet," he said.

"It’s worth a try. Why don’t we have lunch together?" the healer proposed. "I’ll ask the knight to fish for us. Lady Raychard loves to eat fish dishes, doesn’t she?" Rafe smiled reassuringly.

Kyren nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the entrance path towards his cabin from the deck. "She’s still sleeping, though. I don’t want to disturb her."

Rafe waved a hand dismissively. "No worries, we can wait. We’ll have a late lunch together after she wakes up. Besides, we’re not very hungry, are we, Ayden?" he said, turning to his assistant.

Ayden’s stomach rumbled loudly, betraying his lack of breakfast that morning. He was preoccupied with preparing the medicine for the lady, but he managed to smile at them.

"Sure thing, Mr Amares," he said.

***

Kyren held Anna’s hand gently, his fingers entwined with hers as they emerged from the dimly lit cabin.

The autumn wind blew gently, carrying with it the scent of saltwater and the sound of waves lapping against the ship’s hull. Their rhythmic crashing added a soothing melody to the otherwise quiet deck.

The sound was like a melody, calming the nerves of those on board and lulling them into a sense of peace. The wind and waves continued their dance as the ship sailed on the vast blue sea under the fine weather.

Anna’s auburn hair fluttered in the breeze, the strands framing her delicate features. Her face was pale, and she looked gaunt, tired from days confined to the small cabin.

Despite her husband’s urging, the princess had hardly been able to eat since they set sail. The thought of food made her stomach churn, and she could scarcely swallow any bites despite forcing herself.

But today, the commander had persuaded her to join the rest of the entourage for lunch. Though she was hesitant to leave the safety of the cabin, Anna didn’t refuse or protest.

As they approached the canopy erected to block the sun’s rays, Anna saw that Ayden, Rafe, Eric, and Eli were waiting for her. They all stood up as she approached, their faces lighting up with welcoming smiles. Despite her exhaustion, the princess couldn’t help but feel a flicker of happiness at the sight of the known faces.

Ayden’s face brightened as he caught sight of the princess.

"Hello, my lady," he greeted her warmly. "How are you feeling today?"

Anna offered him a small, wistful smile. "I’m still not feeling very well, Ayden," she admitted. "But Kyren suggested that I get some fresh air, so I thought I’d give it a try."

The rest of the entourage gathered around, exchanging polite pleasantries with the commander’s wife as they settled under the canopy. Rafe leaned forward, his kind eyes fixed on Anna.

"Perhaps it would be best for you to walk around the deck," he suggested. "The scenery is beautiful today, and the sun is not too strong. It’s good for relaxing the body and calming the mind."

Anna nodded with a softening expression.

"Yes, I hope the fresh air will help me sleep better tonight. I’ve had bad dreams lately. I apologise if I’ve disturbed anyone with my restless nights."

Eli chuckled. "Oh, we didn’t hear anything except for Sir Navin’s heavy snoring that sounded like rumbling thunder," he joked.

"Hey, that’s not funny, kid!" Eric almost yelled at the young knight. He would have slapped the back of the young knight’s head if it weren’t for the princess being among them.

"It’s true!" he insisted.

Looking at the second-in-command knight, he gestured to his puffy eyes and said, "I’ve lost half my youth just in three days because of you! The girls won’t look at me anymore, and I’ll die a bachelor. When we arrive at the capital, I must go to a spa and rejuvenate my skin, and you should be paying for the treatment," he added teasingly.

Eric rolled his eyes irritably. "Like h*ll I’m paying for it! Only women go to the spa, you idi*t!" he retorted.

"Hey, nobles do! You’re a son of a baron. You surely must’ve been there!" countered Eli.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

Anna blinked as she saw the two men continue squabbling against each other.

Kyren sat beside Anna, his attention solely on her.

"Ignore them," he said, gesturing to the bickering knights. "They always act like this when not at the frontier."

"Stop it, you two! We’re about to have lunch. Behave yourselves! Remember, you’re in front of the lady!" Rafe scolded the two knights like a mother breaking up her children’s fights. His stern words immediately silenced them.

As the knights settled down, Damon and Luke arrived at the canopy from the kitchen, carrying a unique dish. The rest of the food and drinks had already been laid out on the table. Damon then served the dish to Anna.

"My lady, we’ve prepared this especially for you. It’s a grilled seabass with lemon sauce and herbs. I guarantee it’s fresh and delicious. Please, try it!" he said, his eyes sparkling in excitement.

Anna looked surprised. "You’ve prepared a fish dish for me?" she asked with a hint of wonder in her voice.

"Well, actually, Sir Parker was the one who did the cooking. I only fished and cleaned the seabass," Damon grinned.

"Oh, thank you so much, Sir McQuinn and Sir Parker. I appreciate this!" Anna expressed her gratitude to the two men.

Ayden interrupted. "My lady, last time in the camp, they caught and cooked a trout for you too, remember?"

She nodded fervently. It was the best dish she had ever tasted, and recalling the deliciousness made her mouth water.

"You don’t need to address us by our titles here. You can call us by our first names since your position is higher than ours," said Luke, sitting beside Eric.

Eric kicked Luke’s leg under the table and gave him a warning glare, signalling his mistake in mentioning it. Although the lady held a higher ranking as the grand duke’s wife, she was unaware of Kyren’s noble title.

Luke quickly cleared his throat, amending his words. "I mean... you’re the commander’s wife, after all," he said.

Anna hesitated for a moment. "So far, I have only called Rafe and Ayden by their first names. The title of a knight is a great achievement and of high rank. Would it be fine then?" she said, unsure.

Eric spoke up, "You can drop the formalities when we’re out here and call us by our first names, my lady. After all, we’re like a family under the Duchy of Gerhard," he said, remembering the commander’s instructions to them to act casually to ease Anna’s stress.

The princess looked uncertain, but she was willing to try. "Okay, then. If that’s the case, you can call me Anna," she said, trying to be friendly.

Suddenly, all the men, including Kyren, shouted in unison, "No!"

Anna was startled by their sudden outburst. "Why not?" she asked in confusion. "I thought you said we’re all like a family?"

"Excuse me, my lady. I apologise for our previous tone. But, in Cassian culture, addressing a lady by her first name carries significant weight," Rafe interjected.

"I’m not familiar with the customs. Can you elaborate?" Anna inquired with interest.

"In Cassian society, a man only addresses a lady by her first name when she is of special significance to him, such as a father to his daughter, brother to sister, husband to wife, or a man to his lover. Thus, it is not a casual practice," the healer explained.

"Then, would it be possible for you all to think of me as a sister?" Anna asked, her eyes darting from one knight to the next, hoping for a positive response.

"My lady, we have the utmost respect for you," Eric replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "It would be an honour to have you as a sister, but please know that you hold a special place in our hearts as the commander’s wife."

"Oh, I see... Then what about when a woman calls a man by his first name?" she asked again.

"That’s acceptable. The customs don’t involve the opposite," Rafe replied.

"Indeed. When a Cassian man designates a lady as ’my woman,’ that is of special significance as it means he holds her dearly in his heart. As such, it is not a phrase used flippantly," Eli added.

A faint blush grew on Anna’s cheeks as she heard the young knight’s words. She remembered Kyren calling her his woman several times since the first day of their marriage. To the men’s surprise, a rosy hint also appeared on the commander’s cheeks and ears, making a sudden silence brush the air.

Sensing the awkwardness, Eric cleared his throat and straightened his back.

"Aaa.... Why don’t you just call us the way you like? It’s easier that way," he suggested, grabbing his fork and knife.

"Let’s dig in, shall we? This food smells so good!" He changed the topic to clear the pinkish aura exuding from the grand duke and his wife.

Damon nodded in agreement and reached for his cutlery. "Yes, let’s eat," he said, relieved to move on from the uncomfortable conversation.

At the same time, Ayden and Rafe avoided eye contact with the pair and did their best to hold back their mischievous grin.

Feeling left out of the group, Eli asked in confusion, "Did I say something wrong again?"

"Shut up and eat, kid!" Eric scolded him.

With that, the entourage began to have their lunch, enjoying the delicious meal that had been prepared for them.

As they ate, Anna noticed that her appetite had returned for the first time since the beginning of the voyage. She savoured every bite of the grilled seabass with a bright smile.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.