Alex nodded with a humble deanour.
"Yes, my lady. My father is Duke Benjamin Oberon Jarr of the Sanad Dukedom, situated east of Cassian. It is considerably smaller than the illustrious Grand Duchy of Gerhard," he explained, providing a glimpse into his noble lineage.
Anna’s surprise lingered as she processed the newfound knowledge. "This truly surprises . I was aware of Sir Navin’s status as the son of a baron, but your noble heritage surpasses even his," she remarked.
"Within the Knighthood of Gerhard, nobility holds little significance. It is the strength and skill of a knight that truly matters. Performance and rit determine one’s rank. Take Sir Garin Skyler, for instance. Despite being a commoner, he holds the esteed position of the third-in-command knight within the knighthood," Rafe explained, emphasising a different perspective.
redith eagerly chid in, further supporting the healer’s point.
"That’s right! The previous second-in-command knight was Sir Noah Brooks, and he was once a rcenary. His skills were on par with Sir Eric Navin, the current second-ranked knight. However, due to a certain incident, he faced a demotion, which brought great sha to the knighthood."
Surprised by redith’s extensive knowledge, Alex couldn’t help but inquire, "How did you know such detailed information about us?"
With a gleeful expression, the noble lady confessed her deep admiration.
"I am an ardent fan of His Highness, the Grand Duke! In fact, I am the president of his fan club and have eagerly followed every piece of information available, but seeing you all up close in person like this is my first ti!"
Her excitent was palpable as she shared her passion for the grand duke. Rafe and Alex’s expressions shifted dramatically upon hearing redith’s revelation, while Anna was surprised knowing that Noah, her first escort, was a rcenary.
The two n’s faces contorted with worry and concern as they realised the potential consequences if Anna’s true identity were to be exposed to the noble lady.
"A fan club? Is the Grand Duke truly that renowned? Why is he so popular?" Anna asked, genuinely curious.
redith raved about his good looks, strength, skill, and charm, which have won him admiration across the city and Cassian.
"I’m so surprised you didn’t know about this! How co you don’t?" she asked.
"I am not from this place, and I’ve never t him," said Anna.
"I see..."
redith, noticing the omission, politely inquired, "By the way, may I know who you are? You haven’t introduced yourself yet. I have never heard of His Highness patronising any woman under his knighthood."
"She’s the wife of one of the knights in the knighthood," Alex interjected, cutting off Anna before she could respond.
The princess, sensing the knight’s intense tone, heeded Rafe’s advice and refrained from fully revealing herself.
"Just call Anna," she calmly stated, introducing herself by her first na only.
"It’s a pleasure to et you, Anna. Please feel free to call r," she offered, extending a friendly gesture.
Anna, appreciative of the consideration, replied, "Thank you. However, since you’re a noble lady, I should address you as Lady Grey."
redith shook her head.
"Oh, no need for such formalities. I don’t mind at all. In fact, as soone connected to the grand duke, I would be thrilled to be friends," she said happily. "I have longed to learn more about His Highness, but gaining access has been incredibly difficult. None of the servants in the grand duke’s mansion have been willing to provide with any information, even when I attempted to bribe them," redith shared with a frustrated voice.
"I apologise, but I have no information regarding His Highness. As I ntioned before, I have never had the opportunity to et him," Anna clarified gently, sympathising with redith’s disappointnt.
The noble lady’s face fell, her anticipation deflated. "So, you don’t know if he’s here in Gantz? I had hoped he would be, considering you’re all here."
Anna couldn’t help but feel compassion for redith’s eagerness.
"All I know is that he will be arriving, but I am uncertain of the exact timing," she shared, hoping to appease the noble lady’s enthusiasm.
redith’s eyes lit up brightly. "Really? Oh, my gosh! This is going to be so thrilling! I can’t wait to see him!" she exclaid, her excitent unbounded.
anwhile, Alex and Rafe exchanged anxious glances, realising the potential risk of further information being revealed. The healer swiftly intervened, attempting to end the conversation.
"I believe it’s ti for us to move on. Don’t you want to visit the other shop, my lady? We should make our way as lunchti is approaching soon," Rafe urged.
"We’ve been here for a while, and I don’t think visiting the shop is necessary. Maybe another ti. Let’s head back to the mansion," Anna agreed, recognising the importance of continuing.
"Very well then," the healer responded.
Anna turned to redith, expressing her gratitude, "If you could kindly excuse us, I must take my leave. I have a busy schedule ahead and need to make preparations."
The noble lady nodded understandingly, expressing her appreciation, "Of course, I completely understand. Thank you once again for your assistance. It has been a great pleasure to et all of you."
Anna gracefully rose from her seat and perford a curtsy, a sign of respect and gratitude. With that, she left the place, accompanied by Rafe and Alex.
"How impudent! She didn’t even properly introduce herself to you, my lady," Rania complained, her suspicion evident.
"Rania, please refrain from making such judgnts. You’ve always been overly suspicious of people. She has been kind enough to assist , and besides, I had the opportunity to see Mr Rafe Amares and Sir Alex Jarr up close today!" redith defended, appreciating the help she received.
"The very least she could have done was ntion her surna. It is essential to show respect towards a noble lady like yourself," the personal maid voiced her concern, emphasising the importance of proper etiquette.
"I understand your concern, but we should give her the benefit of the doubt. She may have omitted her surna for a reason. Furthermore, her graceful curtsy suggests that she might not be a commoner, and considering the protective nature of those two n around her, she could very well be the wife of a high-ranking knight. They also addressed her as a lady," redith reasoned.
Rania pondered the situation, voicing her confusion, "But why would a knight’s wife dress so shabbily? Also, it’s quite weird to say that she hasn’t t the lord of the duchy that her husband served."
"That’s a valid point, Rania. It certainly raises intriguing questions about her. I can’t help but wonder who her husband is," redith pondered aloud, her curiosity piqued as she watched the trio gradually fade from sight.
***
The carriage bearing Gerhard’s distinguished coat of arms passed through the imposing iron gates, which stood tall and open, heralding its arrival. As it pulled into the front foyer, a diligent servant swiftly raised the vibrant blue flag on the pole.
The official flag, adorned with Griffin’s emblem, billowed proudly in the breeze, signalling the arrival of the new lady of the Grand Duke of Gerhard’s mansion.
A procession awaited its occupants, with the carriage now stationary at the grand entrance. Drystan, the knight, stood at the forefront alongside Anryr, the steward, and a line of servants, eager to warmly welco them.
The carriage door swung open gracefully, revealing Rafe coming down from within, prepared to assist the awaited grand duke’s bride.
A delicate, slender hand erged from the carriage, pale against the backdrop of anticipation held and assisted by the healer to descend. Soon, the figure of the eagerly awaited grand duke’s bride ca into view, stepping out into the embrace of her new ho.
The steward and servants stood in astonished silence, their breaths held captive as their eyes beheld an unexpected scene. They had prepared themselves for the arrival of a sophisticated lady, yet what stood before them now was a vision that defied their expectations—a small, gentle figure exuding an undeniable charm.
The lady they had eagerly anticipated possessed a delicate beauty, but she appeared before them clad in a simple attire befitting a commoner.
A palpable stillness engulfed the air as they grappled with the surprise that coursed through their veins. This unforeseen turn of events deviated from their every assumption, leaving them montarily speechless.
Though the revelation was undeniably astonishing, not a single soul among them dared to utter a word, acutely aware of the stern admonition against voicing any superfluous thoughts regarding the bride of the grand duke.
Breaking the spell, Anryr, the steward, who appeared to be in his forties, greeted her with a deep bow. His striking grey eyes held a glimr of warmth, and his black hair, interwoven with subtle streaks of grey, lent an air of distinction to his countenance.
"Welco, my lady, to the esteed Grand Duke of Gerhard’s mansion," he announced, his voice filled with respect and warmth.
The rest of the servants followed suit, bowing in unison, showing their gratitude and dedication to their new lady.
"Allow to introduce myself properly. I am Anryr Foster, the dedicated steward of this mansion," Anryr began, a warm smile gracing his face. "And this is my wife, Rosalie Foster, the chief maid." He gestured towards a woman in her thirties with striking black eyes and neatly styled hair in a bun beside him.
The maid before Anna bowed respectfully, acknowledging her presence. The princess returned the gesture with a nod, appreciating the formalities of the encounter.
"Nice to et you, Mr and Mrs Foster. I am Anna Raychard, the Commander of the Knighthood’s wife," Anna greeted them warmly.
Upon hearing Anna’s introduction, Anryr responded, "We have been inford of your arrival, Lady Raychard. However, we insist that you address us by our first nas. We are just re servants here, working for His Highness."
Anna nodded, understanding their positions, and took a mont to observe her surroundings. To her surprise, she noticed that, aside from Rosalie, all the servants were male. Curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn’t help but inquire.
"Is there a particular reason that there is only one female servant here?"
The steward hesitated for a mont before responding, "Ah, well... We did have other female servants in the past, but His Highness decided to dismiss them."
Understanding the unspoken implications, Anna chose not to delve further into the matter. She had already heard from redith about the Grand Duke’s proclamation of celibacy, and it seed to provide a plausible explanation for the absence of female servants in the mansion.
Anna decided not to pursue the topic further, respecting the Grand Duke’s decisions as the mansion’s owner.
"Has His Highness arrived?" Anna inquired with a hint of apprehension in her voice.
The thought of eting the Grand Duke made her nervous, but she understood the importance of extending proper greetings as a guest in his mansion.
Anryr lowered his gaze, his voice gentle as he replied, "Not yet, my lady."
A wave of relief washed over Anna, visible as a soft expression on her face. The temporary respite from eting the unknown Grand Duke allowed her to collect her thoughts and settle her nerves. She knew their encounter was inevitable, but the delay offered her a brief reprieve.
Drystan’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he beheld Anna’s presence.
"Hello, my lady. It’s been far too long," he greeted her warmly, a genuine smile lighting up his face.
Returning his greeting, Anna turned towards the knight, a familiar fondness in her voice.
"Hello, Sir Mills. Indeed, it has been a while," she acknowledged.
Drystan couldn’t help but offer another complint. "You look healthy today," he praised, his words filled with sincerity.
Anna’s smile widened, appreciating the knight’s kind words. "I am much better. Thank you," she responded graciously.
anwhile, Anryr, the diligent steward, stepped forward, assuming his role as the guide within the mansion.
"My lady, allow to escort you to your room. Please co this way," he invited, his tone respectful and accommodating.
Anna nodded appreciatively, acknowledging the steward’s offer.
"Ah, yes. Thank you," she replied.
As Anna and Anryr went inside, the four n — Drystan, Rafe, Ayden and Alex stood together, their gazes fixed on the figure entering the mansion. Rosalie faithfully trailed behind.
Shortly after, the remaining servants dispersed, each returning to their respective duties, leaving the entrance montarily serene.
"How perfect the timing is! You arrived just in ti after we had taken down all the commander’s portraits from the wall and hidden everything," Drystan exclaid with a sense of relief.
Rafe chid in, adding to the conversation. "Our dear lady had a visit to the plaza. So we managed to buy so ti there."
"Hah... So you took her for sightseeing! How clever!" said Drystan.
"We went to a boutique suggested by Mr Amares. You have no idea what happened there. Thankfully, our lady possesses an abundance of patience and forgiveness. Otherwise, our healer would have surely faced the consequences," Alex revealed.
Rafe’s face turned sour when reminded of the incident.
Curiosity piqued, Drystan inquired, "What happened?"
Before the story could unfold, Ayden intervened, expressing his weariness. "Gentlen, can we please continue this conversation later? I’m really in need of so rest."
Realising his assistant’s condition, Rafe quickly responded, "All right, all right! Let’s go."
His tone conveyed a sense of understanding as he acknowledged Ayden’s request and signalled for the group to proceed.
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