The cacophony of sounds that had filled the throne hall abruptly subsided as King Kyden made his entrance. With each confident step, he walked the path towards the dais, accompanied by the resolute presence of the Grand Duke of Gerhard by his side.
The room was hushed, all eyes fixed upon the king and his brother.
Once King Kyden ascended the dais, taking his place on the throne, a wave of reverence swept through the gathered ministers. With a respectful bow, they acknowledged their sovereign’s presence.
"Greetings to the Sun of Cassian!" their voices resounded in unison, their words carrying the weight of loyalty and devotion.
King Kyden acknowledged their salutations with a nod, his gaze sweeping over the assembly. Beside the dais, Kyren stood, a steadfast pillar of support.
Among the ministers, Lord Jas and Lord Grey were easily identifiable. Waste no ti, Lord Jas, his expression determined, stepped forward, signalling the purpose behind the requested audience.
All attention focused on Lord Jas as he prepared to address the king. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as he laid the reason behind the gathering.
"Your Majesty, I express my gratitude for granting us this audience amidst your busy schedule. The purpose of our request today primarily revolves around His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke of Gerhard."
"And what could that be?" asked King Kyden. "I heard that you’ve been so persistent for this audience."
"Yes. It’s an alarming matter. We’ve heard a distressing rumour, and we humbly seek Your Majesty’s intervention, as it concerns the honour of the royal family of Cassian," responded Lord Jas.
King Kyden, maintaining a facade of ignorance, inquired, "And what, pray tell, is the nature of this rumour that has stirred such concern?"
Lord Jas responded firmly, "It has been alleged that His Highness has married a woman who was once a slave."
A flash of anger crossed Kyren’s face as he interjected, "Absolute nonsense!"
"Grand Duke of Gerhard, please remain composed. We will go into details on this first," King Kyden ordered.
Respecting the king’s demand, the grand duke closed his lips solemnly.
"Carry on, Lord Jas," ordered the king.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lord Jas began, his voice respectful yet laden with curiosity. "We were inford that His Highness has taken a wife and brought her to the capital after his service at the frontier. As ministers, we are naturally eager to et the woman who has captured his heart and convinced him to abandon his life of celibacy. However, Lord Enos inford us that the audience between her and Your Majesty was discreet. Consequently, we have yet to have the opportunity to et her. Our primary concern is whether His Highness has made a suitable choice that befits his position as the grand duke and a royal family mber."
Kyren scoffed. "Why must the ministers be involved in my personal matters? Shouldn’t I have the freedom to choose my partner?"
Lord Jas responded firmly, "Indeed, choosing a life partner is ultimately Your Highness’s decision, as you will be bound to her. However, it is crucial to consider that the woman who stands by you should also co from a social standing that upholds your position. This is not only a matter of personal preference but also one that pertains to the future succession of the throne. As we are all aware, we have yet to see the ergence of a crown prince. If Your Highness is already married, it is highly likely that an heir will soon be expected."
"I have already renounced my claim to the throne in favour of His Majesty, which ans the matter of succession no longer falls under my purview. It is now within His Majesty’s authority," Kyren firmly asserted in response.
A different minister interjected, seeking to clarify the situation.
"That is not entirely accurate, Your Highness," he corrected. "As the forr crown prince of the kingdom, your heir remains eligible for the throne. The first-born son, whether from you or His Majesty, would be the rightful successor as the next crown prince."
Another minister chid in, reinforcing the established customs of the Ro’an Empire, "Indeed, this aligns with the traditions and regulations we have upheld. The royal family must adhere to these principles."
Sensing the need to redirect the conversation, the king spoke up, capturing everyone’s attention.
"Before we delve further into this debate, I believe the main figure in this discussion must be present," he announced.
Confusion etched across Kyren’s face as he sought clarification.
"What do you an, Your Majesty?" he inquired.
"The central focus of our discussion lies with Lady Anna Raychard," the king declared, his voice firm and decisive. "Therefore, I request the presence of the lady to shed light on this matter. As it concerns the royal family, the queen’s attendance is also necessary."
The king turned to Charles, the chamberlain, and issued his command. "I am summoning the queen and Lady Anna Raychard. Please bring them imdiately."
The chamberlain promptly obeyed the king’s order, swiftly departing to retrieve the queen and the princess.
After a brief interlude, the grand doors of the throne hall swung open, revealing Queen Elda accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, with Anna by her side. They entered the hall and presented graceful bows, expressing their respect and courtesies to the king.
Whispers filled the hall, emanating from those who laid eyes on Anna for the first ti. Their gazes were drawn to her striking green erald eyes, a captivating feature that held an air of enchantnt.
Rumours of her possessing such rare eyes had circulated, but now, witnessing them firsthand, there was no doubt about their existence.
The queen proceeded to take her place beside the king, and her presence was acknowledged by all attendees with due reverence. anwhile, Anna positioned herself by Kyren’s side, ready to provide support and clarification.
Uneased with her presence, Kyren tightly clasped the princess’s hand, garnering attention from the onlookers.
"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Lady Anna Raychard to all of you," the king began, his voice projecting with authority. "I’m aware that there is curiosity regarding her identity and how she ca to be married to my brother."
Lord Jas respectfully expressed his interest, stating, "Your Majesty, we would be honoured to learn more about Lady Anna Raychard. It would be greatly appreciated if you could confirm her background."
However, King Kyden believed it would be more appropriate for Anna to confirm her identity. He turned to her and ordered, "Anna, please enlighten them about who you are."
Kyren, growing increasingly anxious, interjected, "Your Majesty, is this truly necessary?"
Reassuringly, Anna whispered to her husband, "It’s alright, Kyren. Allow to address this."
Her words lingered in the air, leaving Kyren with a mixture of confusion and concern.
"I don’t understand... Were you and His Majesty planning sothing behind my back?" he spoke cautiously in a quiet voice, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
Anna gazed up at her husband, her expression filled with warmth and determination. "I’m doing what I believe is right, Kyren. For you, us, and our future. Please trust and allow to speak."
A brief silence enveloped the room as the weight of their exchange hung in the air.
"If you care for , allow to speak, Kyren," Anna pleaded slowly.
The ministers’ faces were etched with impatience, and Lord Jas incessantly cleared his throat in a bid to regain their attention.
In the midst of the unfolding tension, the princess gently withdrew her hand from the grand duke’s grasp and bravely stepped forward, facing the gathered attendees. With a deep breath, she began to share her truth.
"I am Anna Varryn, hailing from Constance, the capital of the kingdom of Ardel," she announced, her voice steady and resolute. "His Royal Highness, the grand duke, encountered at the southern border of Cassian and Dracor. He valiantly saved from the clutches of slave traders."
The hall erupted in murmurs, the atmosphere thick with intrigue and surprise. All eyes fixated on her, awaiting further explanation.
"Anna! What are you doing?" Kyren’s voice suddenly pierced the room as he shouted. He hurriedly approached her, grasping her arm in a mixture of confusion and worry.
"It’s alright, trust on this! Please!" Her eyes pleaded with Kyren to understand her motives.
The grand duke’s forehead furrowed in deep dismay. He couldn’t fathom why his wife deliberately chose to admit the truth to the ministers, exposing their unconventional eting.
"What happened to you, my lady?" asked Lord Grey with concern.
"Tragedy struck my life when my family mbers perished, and our ho fell victim to ruthless bandits," she began. "In a desperate attempt to preserve my own life, I fled, only to be captured by a gang of slave traders at the border of my kingdom. They forcibly transported to the City of Tarnova, where I was to be sold at a slave auction. Luckily, I was saved by His Highness when I escaped from them."
The revelation sparked a wave of reactions within the hall. "So the rumours are true! You were a slave!" exclaid one of the ministers, unable to contain his bewildernt.
A sinister smile briefly danced on Lord Jas’s lips, though he swiftly concealed it, maintaining a composed facade.
"She was not a slave!" Kyren vehently rebutted, his voice filled with protectiveness.
Anna, however, interjected. "Allow to speak for myself, Kyren, please."
A disapproving murmur rippled through the ministers as Anna dared to address the grand duke by his first na.
"How audacious of her to address His Highness so casually!" remarked another minister with thinly veiled disdain.
Kyren’s voice bood with unwavering conviction.
"She can call whatever she wishes! She is my wife!"
Attempting to restore order, King Kyden raised his voice, commanding attention within the tense atmosphere.
"Everyone, let us remain calm! Lady Raychard has not finished explaining herself. We must allow her to speak."
Challenging the king’s decision, Kyren passionately disagreed. "Your Majesty, I strongly object to all of this nonsense!"
The king’s tone turned stern, leaving no room for compromise, "Grand Duke of Gerhard, if you do not restrain yourself and adhere to my order, I will have no choice but to have you escorted out of the throne hall imdiately."
The weight of the king’s words lingered in the air, casting a shadow of gravity over the proceedings.
Growing increasingly concerned, Queen Elda recognised the potential consequences of a confrontation between the two brothers. It would not only tarnish the impression before the ministers but also escalate tensions further.
"Grand Duke of Gerhard, I implore you to heed His Majesty’s order," the queen interjected, her voice laced with worry. "Allow Lady Raychard to speak."
Kyren’s frustration simred within him, evident in his clenched teeth. He yearned to seize Anna’s hand and escape from the mounting tension, but the princess’s beseeching gaze tugged at his heart, compelling him to relent.
"Are you certain about what you’re doing, Anna?" Kyren questioned, his voice tinged with resignation.
Anna t his gaze with unwavering determination. "I am absolutely certain. I want to do this."
Reluctantly, Kyren nodded, conceding to the circumstances with a long sigh.
With newfound resolve, Anna resud her address to the gathered crowd, determined to unveil the truth.
"I am acutely aware that my status and origins do not align with the position of His Highness’s legal wife within the royal family, and as such, I will not pursue that title," Anna declared, her voice unwavering.
Lord Jas quickly inquired, "What exactly do you an?"
The king interjected, "It ans that Lady Anna Raychard will assu the role of the Grand Duke’s unofficial wife."
Kyren’s voice erupted, filled with disbelief, "Your Majesty!"
The term ’unofficial wife’ perplexed the ministers, their brows furrowed in confusion.
"Your Majesty, an ’unofficial wife’ can’t bear the royal family’s surna, yet you already addressed her as Lady Raychard," interjected one of the ministers.
"I’m aware," said the king.
With a commanding presence, King Kyden made his proclamation clear.
"Lady Anna Raychard shall be officially appointed as the Honourable Royal Concubine of Gerhard. Thus, she’ll continue to bear Raychard’s surna. I’ve already decided on this, so it is not wrong to address her as such."
The shocking revelation elicited a visceral response.
Queen Elda’s eyes mirrored her confusion and astonishnt at the unexpected proclamation.
Sensing Kyren’s mounting anger, Anna swiftly grasped his hand, silently urging him to withhold his confrontation. The grand duke’s eyes twitched with mixed emotions as he gazed at his wife.
"You have already planned for this!" Kyren whispered to Anna, his expression a mix of bewildernt and disbelief.
Anna nodded, her voice gentle as she pleaded quietly, "Please don’t be angry with . I will do anything to be by your side. I want to be happy, and this is my choice."
Kyren closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He felt as though a colossal weight had co crashing down upon him, rendering him speechless. At this point, the grand duke knew if he kept on resisting, the princess would be disheartened.
"Your Majesty, this is truly surprising! As we know, Cassian’s history has never recognised the institution of concubines," one of the ministers said incredulously.
The king acknowledged the minister’s statent. His response was asured.
"Indeed, that is true. However, let us consider that the Ro’an Empire, from which we draw our customs, had this practice. The emperor and the crown prince were permitted to have concubines. Are we not, then, upholding the traditions of the empire within our own regulations?"
The minister who had posed the initial question fell silent, his embarrassnt evident as he was the one who highlighted the regulations matter.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Lord Jas interjected, his voice laced with scepticism, "The title of ’The Honourable Royal Concubine’ was historically bestowed upon the unofficial wives of the emperors who possessed exceptional talents that benefited the kingdom. What talent does this lady possess warranting her such a position?"
The room fell into a montary hush, all eyes turning towards Anna and the king, awaiting their response.
King Kyden’s smirk revealed his anticipation of Lord Jas raising this very concern. He shifted his gaze towards Anna and suggested, "Lady Raychard, why don’t you demonstrate your talent to us?"
For a brief mont, a crease ford on the princess’s forehead as she pondered the king’s words. However, upon seeing King Kyden’s warm smile and his subtle nod of encouragent, she quickly recalled the one skill she excelled at.
"I am fluent in the language of the kings, the Ro’an language," Anna revealed.
An uproar erupted from the crowd, their astonishnt palpable.
"How can a re slave possess such knowledge of that language?" one of the ministers voiced, his doubt apparent.
Anna maintained her composure and explained.
"My grandfather was once a scholar in Engarth. I had the opportunity to access his library and learned the language before the slave traders tragically captured ."
Lord Jas challenged her claim, seeking to undermine the significance of her linguistic abilities. "Even if you are fluent in the language, others possess the sa knowledge. It is not that exceptional."
"I can assure you that my command of the language surpasses anyone in Cassian. Bring forth your most esteed scholars, and I am willing to put my skills to the test," Anna said confidently.
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