Anna hurried through the bustling corridor, her head swivelling from side to side in search of Kyren’s familiar figure. Suddenly, her eyes locked onto him as he exited through a door at the far end of the way.
"Kyren... wait for !" she pleaded, her voice filled with urgency, but her words fell upon empty air as the grand duke had already made his departure.
Without a mont’s hesitation, Anna pulled up her skirts and broke into a determined run, chasing after him.
Passing through the sa door, she found herself outside, the world beyond the palace walls unfolding before her. She anxiously scanned the surroundings, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of her husband, but he seed to have vanished without a trace.
Worry gnawed at Anna’s heart, causing her chest to heave with each breath, her body still recovering from the exertion of her sprint. Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, her eyes caught sight of a long leg protruding from the side of a majestic tree.
As she focused her gaze, an undeniable certainty washed over her— it was Kyren, sitting beneath the tree, one leg extended and the other bent, his arm resting upon it.
Approaching with a mix of caution and concern, Anna’s hand lightly brushed against the tree’s rough bark, and she inclined her head toward Kyren. Though he was fully aware of her presence, he chose to feign indifference.
In a display of pent-up frustration, he picked up a pebble and hurled it away, releasing his emotions in a simple act of venting. Gently, the princess settled herself down beside the grand duke, taking a mont to find the right words before starting the conversation.
The wind whispered through the air, carrying with it a chill that sent shivers down her spine. Strands of her hair danced across her forehead as the subtle breeze played with them.
The surroundings painted a picturesque scene, with vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues adorning the landscape, creating a striking contrast against the sombre sky.
Autumn, in all its golden splendour, was indeed a breathtaking sight.
"It’s getting cold out here. You should go inside before you catch a chill," Kyren’s low voice resonated after a brief silence, revealing a hint of concern in his tone.
A half-smile tugged at the corners of Anna’s lips, a silent acknowledgent that he still cared about her well-being.
"I’ll be fine. It’s not too cold," she reassured him, her voice carrying a gentle warmth.
Kyren cast a sidelong glance at her, his gaze filled with a mixture of worry and affection. "You’re not even wearing a robe. The wind is blowing," he pointed out.
"I promise, Kyren, I’ll be all right. Truly, I am," she insisted, her words laced with sincerity.
A soft sigh escaped the grand duke’s rosy lips, his emotions evident in the subtle gesture. Without warning, he suddenly pulled Anna into his embrace, causing her to let out a small yelp of surprise.
His gaze remained fixed ahead, intentionally avoiding eye contact, but his arm encircled her with a firm and steady hold, offering both comfort and protection.
He sighed again and finally said in a frustrated tone, "What is your intention, Anna? Why are you doing this?"
"I only want us to be happy."
"Are you truly content with rely being my concubine?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing as if struggling to comprehend her answer.
"If that is the only path that allows to be by your side forever, then I am genuinely happy," she responded, her voice filled with unwavering conviction.
He shook his head, unable to fathom her willingness to lower herself in such a manner.
"How can you subject yourself to such a position? I cannot bear the thought of others looking down upon you. Even with the explanations in your letter, I find it difficult to accept."
"So you truly understood the depth of my words," she replied, a glimr of hope shining in her eyes.
"Ettar es cer te Won Enas ef Cassian. Ettar ciafty apass tha ef Kyden Majestè. Ettar cendan wery mars ke ulis," he stated firmly in the Ro’an language.
(I was once the Crown Prince of Cassian. My proficiency surpasses that of His Majesty King Kyden. I comprehend every word you wrote.)
Anna’s smile widened, hearing Kyren speak in Ro’an for the first ti. Without a doubt, as Ayden had once proclaid, the grand duke possessed a remarkable command of it.
"Ettar ash ke, Kyren. Marra ash ke!" she declared earnestly.
(I love you, Kyren. Truly love you!)
His gaze fixed upon her, he turned his attention to her, seeking confirmation in her eyes.
"Then why did you make such a sacrifice?" he pressed.
"You claid to understand the words I wrote," she replied with a hint of frustration.
"I want to hear it directly from your own lips!" he insisted, his pearly blue eyes searching for the truth.
"Because I couldn’t bear the thought of you losing everything for ," she confessed. "It’s not worth it if you were to sacrifice your family, your support, your knighthood, and your title for a re woman like ."
"You are not just a re woman," Kyren countered adamantly. "You are my woman!"
"And I will always be," she declared, her voice unwavering and resolute. "No matter what na people may call , I will forever be yours."
"Oh, Anna!" Kyren exclaid, unable to contain his emotions any longer.
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace as if he never wanted to let her go. He pressed a tender kiss to her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of ripened apples that clung to her strands.
Anna could feel the rapid beats of his heart against her cheek as her ear rested on his broad chest. At that mont, they remained locked together, their emotions intertwined, and ti seed to stand still.
The grand duke tenderly stroked his wife’s hair, his heart weighed down by a tornting mix of emotions. How much more would this petite princess be willing to sacrifice for him?
"Please don’t be angry with His Majesty," Anna gently conveyed the ssage from the king, her voice filled with empathy. "He cares about you more than you realise. He never intends to hurt your feelings."
"I know. He’s my twin," Kyren responded, his tone low and composed, indicating his acceptance of the king’s decision. "We have been together since our ti in our mother’s womb."
Anna felt a wave of relief upon hearing his calm tone. It reassured her that he had co to terms with the king’s stand.
"Anna..." Kyren’s voice trailed off.
"Yes?" she responded, her voice soft and attentive.
"I will never take a legal wife," he declared firmly. "Having you alone is more than enough for . Your stubbornness has already driven close to madness."
A light chuckle escaped Anna’s lips, the sound filled with affectionate amusent. Her hand gently rose to caress his cheek, her touch warming his cold skin.
"I know you won’t. I trust you!"
"Let’s return to the mansion," he stated decisively.
"About that..." The princess hesitated before continuing. "His Majesty has requested that we stay until the proclamation."
"D*mn it! Why does he always have to interfere?" Kyren exclaid, his annoyance palpable.
"He’s rely taking precautions," Anna reasoned, her voice laced with a plea. "Please, Kyren... Can we stay? I would love to spend more ti with Laura and Lilith."
"Fine!" Kyren grumbled, relenting with a begrudging tone. "But after the banquet, we will return to the mansion. And the day after that, we’ll head back to Gerhard."
"Thank you!" Anna breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his compromise.
Suddenly, a surge of faint sense shot in Kyren’s body, and his gaze snapped towards the east wing of the palace, a mixture of curiosity and alertness crossing his features.
***
Derek stood on the balcony, his forehead creased with worry. It had been several days since he and the delegations of the ambassador of Ardel had taken up residence in the palace. The n revelled in the opulent treatnt bestowed upon them by the King of Cassian, indulging in luxury and enjoynt.
However, after eting the king on the first day, Derek’s mind was unable to find peace. A faint scent, reminiscent of the Ro’an descendants, would intermittently waft towards him, the sa scent he felt when he went to Ardel’s castle.
It was a perplexing phenonon that left him puzzled. Was he already succumbing to hallucinations driven by his intense obsession with them?
Derek decided to keep this matter to himself, concealing it from Brone and his n. Following the failure to spread the Laradie plague to the kingdom using the magic item he had crafted and placed in a remote cave at the border of Cassian and Dracor, he had beco a subject of mockery among the southern warriors. Revealing his peculiar sensations would only invite further ridicule.
Derek glanced down at his palms, contemplating the state of his magical abilities.
"Has my magic deteriorated?" he questioned aloud, voicing his concerns to himself.
As he looked up, the mage’s eyes caught sight of a magpie gracefully gliding across the sky. An evil spark glimred in his gaze as he raised his hand, extending a finger towards the bird.
A lightning bolt shot forth from his fingertip with a sudden surge of power, striking the unsuspecting creature. The magpie faltered, its body descending to the ground, lifeless.
"Seems fine to ," Derek murmured, his voice devoid of remorse.
Resting his hand on the railing, the mage’s finger began to tap rhythmically, his mind consud by relentless thoughts.
"Is it possible that the Cassians are keeping the Ro’an descendants here?" he pondered.
His thoughts drifted back to the tales of the great war that split the continent. In that dark Chapter of history, his previous king, once the lord of the southern region who had conspired with three other lords, employed forbidden dark magic to assassinate the last Emperor of Ro’an and defeat their army.
The battle was ferocious, resulting in the death of the emperor, the loss of many Ro’an descendants, and the loss of the coalition army.
Though the opponents had been formidable, the calculated attacks and the power of dark magic had significantly influenced the outco, for they had omitted the emperor with deceitful tactics beforehand.
Only a handful of Ro’an indirect descendants’ survivors, including the last empress, had managed to escape. Even the first king of Barges didn’t live long after his enthronent as he succumbed to the backlash from the war.
Derek’s mind continued churning, fueled by a growing suspicion and desire to uncover the truth hidden within the palace walls.
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