The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 91: Rafael - The Healer From God

Chapter 91: Rafael - The Healer From God

Anna’s heart skipped a beat as she heard a man’s voice. She and Seadog Grimm turned around at the sound; their curiosity piqued along with the shipmaster’s.

Following their line of sight, they saw a figure with fuzzy grey hair and piercing eyes standing on the stairs of the stern castle. As she recognised the voice’s owner as the healer, the princess felt a sense of relief wash over her.

"Oh, Rafe! You frightened me!" exclaimed Anna, placing her hand over her chest.

The healer promptly approached and joined them.

"What are you doing here, my lady?" he asked.

"I was simply conversing with the shipmaster and Mr Seadog Grimm. I stepped outside for some fresh air, but the main deck was being cleaned, so I ended up here," she explained.

"May I inquire about the commander’s whereabouts?" he asked again.

"Kyren is still asleep. He’s exhausted, so I didn’t want to disturb him," she replied.

The healer regarded her thoughtfully.

"It’s not safe for you to wander alone. It would be best if you had an escort in case the commander is unavailable to accompany you," he advised her.

"I’m sorry. I don’t feel like disturbing you. Besides, I didn’t see any of you around. So, I thought it would be fine to walk by myself," she explained.

Rafe smiled slightly, pleased to see the commander’s wife gaining confidence to be on her own on the ship.

"It’s all right if you want to walk, but please avoid going alone. The commander would disapprove if he found out," the healer cautioned. "Why don’t we head to the main deck? The crew has already finished cleaning the area."

Anna agreed with a nod, and they politely left the shipmaster and the old seaman.

"Have you had a chance to eat yet? I haven’t seen you around since this morning," the healer inquired.

Anna suddenly realised she hadn’t eaten anything all day. She placed her hands on her stomach and expressed her hunger. The healer suggested they have lunch in the dining room, but she requested to have her meal under the canopy to enjoy the view.

The healer agreed and offered to walk her to the canopy before getting her some food. Then, he left to the dining room and returned with a tray of meals for the princess. Anna expressed her gratitude to Rafe for his hospitality and proceeded to enjoy her lunch.

Once finished, she engaged in conversation with the healer.

"Were you looking for me when you appeared suddenly at the stern castle?" the princess inquired.

"I was waiting for you to come out and was on standby in case you needed me. I quickly followed when I heard your voice coming from there. Are you feeling all right?" the healer asked.

Rafe’s interest in Anna’s condition caught her attention.

"I’m perfectly fine. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nothing specific. As your healer, it’s common for me to inquire," he replied, relieved to see that the commander’s wife was in good health. His concern about Kyren potentially harming her subsided.

Just then, a gust of autumn breeze blew in, pushing the shawl tied around Anna’s neck and making it flutter in the wind. As it moved, some blue and black bruises on her skin were revealed, causing Rafe’s expression to darken.

"My lady, are you truly all right?" he asked in a serious tone. His concern grew as he noticed the marks.

Anna, however, seemed confused by Rafe’s question. "Yes, I am. Why do you ask me the same thing again?" she replied.

Rafe cleared his throat, not wanting to make it obvious, but as a healer, he felt the need to confirm that she wasn’t hurt. His concern grew as he noticed the bruises on Anna’s neck.

"There are some bruises on your neck. They look pretty bad," he said, his voice filled with worry.

Anna’s face immediately reddened, and she hastily adjusted her shawl to cover her skin.

"It doesn’t hurt at all!" she responded, avoiding eye contact with the healer.

Rafe hesitated before asking his next question, but he felt he had to. "Forgive me for asking this, but... was he rough with you again last night?" he inquired.

"No! He’s not!"

Anna couldn’t hide her embarrassment. She feared the whole entourage would have known what she did with her husband last night.

"He wasn’t rough at all, and I’m perfectly fine, Rafe! Please don’t ask anymore," she said, her face still flushed with discomfort.

"I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I was just concerned. You have a sensitive body, and I don’t want you to fall ill again," said Rafe.

As Anna’s face became redder, the healer stopped furthering the matter.

"Fine, I trust you. But if you feel uncomfortable at any point, please tell me," the healer reassured with a smile.

"Would you like some sweet apples?" he asked, changing the subject. A bowl of apples was also served on the tray he brought.

"It’s a lot. I don’t think I can finish them all," Anna said, eyeing the pile of apples in front of her.

"I brought some extra in case the knights joined us later. Eric especially likes red apples, same as our commander," Rafe explained.

As he took a knife and cut an apple for Anna, the commander’s wife’s complexion slowly returned to normal.

"You always quarrel with Sir Navin but still care for him. It’s funny when I think about it," she remarked.

Anna smiled as she reminisced about the playful banter between the knight and the healer whenever the name "Rafael" was mentioned.

"Well, you can say we have a love-hate friendship. We’ve known each other since we were kids and come from the same area," the healer shared with her.

"Oh, I have no idea. No wonder he enjoys teasing you." Anna chuckled.

"Yes, he even persists in using my full name despite my request not to. That jerk... I mean, that man, he can be quite annoying at times," Rafe replied with a hint of frustration in his voice.

Anna was curious and asked, "If you don’t mind me asking, why does it bother you when he calls you by your full name?"

Rafe smiled wistfully and decided to share his story with Anna. He wouldn’t have opened up to just anyone, but something about her made him feel comfortable. He sensed that they both shared the same bitter experiences, knowing the nightmares she had.

"I used to have a younger sister," Rafe began, his voice softening with emotion. "She died from sickness when she was ten years old. I was thirteen at the time, and Eric was fifteen. We used to be so close together. My sister liked Eric so much, and so did he."

The healer sighed in defeat. "If she didn’t die, he would’ve become my brother-in-law."

Anna was momentarily speechless, realising that behind the healer’s calm and collected face, he too, had lost someone dear to him.

"You must have loved her so much," the princess said slowly, her voice full of sympathy.

"Very much, my lady," Rafe replied, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Lisa was the only daughter in the family. Compared to my brothers, she was the closest to me and the only one who called me Rafael."

"I see..."

The healer paused as he reminisced. "She said it means ’The Healer From God.’ It’s also the name of an angel. So, she kept calling me that."

Anna’s eyelids drooped, touched by Rafe’s story.

"She sounds like a wonderful sister," she said softly. Rafael is a beautiful name. Why do you dislike it?" she asked him again, curious about the healer’s feelings toward his own name.

"I don’t hate the name. I only don’t want to hear it because it reminds me of the pain of losing someone I loved and cared about the most," Rafe explained as his eyes fell to the vast sea. "But Eric had a different thought. He keeps calling me that because he thought I wanted to forget and erase Lisa from my life."

The memories of his sister flooded Rafe’s mind. Her smile, her laughter, and the fun times they had together were all etched in his heart, even though they could never be relived. His heart was heavy with the weight of his loss.

Anna nodded, understanding the depth of his pain. "I know what you mean," she said in a quiet voice as she shared the same unbearable despair throughout the years.

"I noticed from your nightmares that you also experienced the same thing. You too had lost someone you cared about," Rafe said as he turned his eyes to her.

A thin smile spread on the princess’s lips. "I wouldn’t be surprised if you knew it. It’s just... how did you let go of those hard feelings?" she asked, desperate for any advice he could give her.

"I changed my perspective. I was unable to save my loved one when she was sick. Therefore, I dedicated myself to studying and becoming an excellent healer, just like my name. I promise to do my best to help people so they won’t feel the same pain of losing as I did," he explained.

"That is so honourable of you, Rafe. I wish... I too had the same strength and courage. But losing someone you love... it’s like a part of you dies with them. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think... it was like I was drowning in my grief," she said in a down tone.

"It’s never easy," Rafe admitted in a low voice. "It felt like something heavy was weighing us down, right?"

She nodded. A glint of tears fell onto her cheeks.

"We can’t change the past, but we can make a better future. In time, you could let loose the feeling and continue living," the healer continued.

Anna’s heart swelled with admiration for Rafe’s strength. His comfort words had been a guiding light for her, and she felt grateful for being able to share her feelings with someone who understood the trauma she had gone through.

"Things occurred for a reason," Rafe said gently. "So, it would be best if you didn’t keep blaming yourself for what had happened. Your life is more precious than you think. If you can’t think of any good reason for yourself, think about the people around you. Live for them and cherish them while they are still with you."

"You’re right," she agreed, taking the napkin and wiping her tears. "I should start thinking about the people around me now. Kyren, you, Ayden, and the knights... Before this, I never thought I would become integral to someone else’s life. The truth is... I hardly received as much care as all of you gave me."

"You already did thinking about us. You prioritised others over yourself during the outbreak, showing how thoughtful you are. The commander held you in high esteem and recognised your worth," he complimented her.

"Do you truly believe that? While he is caring and responsible, I am uncertain about his feelings towards me. He never reveals what he thought about me," she replied, tilting her head.

"Indeed, the commander is not a person who usually expresses his emotions to anyone," replied Rafe.

Throughout his years of service to the prince, Kyren had only shown his unwavering determination and ferocity. He never displayed any compassion aside from fulfilling his duties as the grand duke and ensuring the kingdom’s safety. However, everything changed when Anna came into his life, surprising his knighthood.

"Kyren is quite a charming and good-looking man. He surely has many women who adore him. I’ve got nothing that could compare to him," she said, her words dwindling with self-doubt.

Rafe looked at Anna with concern, sensing her inferiority. "That is something I cannot deny," he said. "He does attract many women with his handsome looks. But as far as we all know, you’re the first and only woman he ever cared about."

Anna’s lips formed a half smile as she wondered. Would it be too greedy if she wanted more from Kyren than just a caring feeling?