"What solution?" Rania could no longer contain her excitent and blurted out, her words rushing out in haste.
Realising her mistake, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her expression changing to one of regret.
"Forgive , my lady. I shouldn’t have interfered with your conversation. I was just so eager when you ntioned there might be a solution," the maid said, her voice filled with remorse.
Anna kindly reassured her, "It’s alright, Rania. I understand that this topic has everyone’s attention."
Curiosity brimming, Sylvia eagerly asked, "What is it, Anna? Tell us!"
"The betrothal took place in Ardel’s castle when the representative of Prince Kiev presented the engagent ring to my father. As such, it should be governed by Ardel’s laws," she began to explain.
The other ladies nodded fervently, their enthusiasm matching the princess’ revelation, while Noah and Arl listened intently.
"According to the law," Anna continued with conviction, "if a woman wishes to terminate a betrothal or a marriage to which her partner refuses to agree, a man from her family can challenge the spouse or betrothed to a duel, and the other party must respond. If her family mber wins, then they must acquiesce to her request!"
Excitent filled the room as the ladies grasped the potential solution.
"Yes! In that case, His Highness can fight for you!" redith exclaid, buoyed by the idea.
Anna’s expression then shifted to one of uncertainty.
"But... would Kyren do it for ?" she questioned, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Sylvia couldn’t contain her surprise. "Are you kidding ? After what we witnessed today, you still doubt him? Anna, from the way he looked at you, he would slay a dragon if you asked!"
Noah interjected with confidence, "There is no doubt that His Highness would do it, my lady. And trust , he would relish teaching that prince a valuable lesson for daring to pursue soone who belongs to him."
redith nodded in agreent.
"Undoubtedly, I agree with Sir Brooks. Kyren would go to great lengths for you."
Anna turned to Noah, seeking his opinion. "Do you think my husband can win?"
Noah’s belief in Kyren was unwavering.
"I have full faith in him, my lady! He possesses the skills and determination to erge victorious."
Arl, however, interjected with a note of caution, "Forgive for saying this, but I’ve observed the recent fight from the beginning, and I don’t believe His Highness Prince Kiev is soone you can underestimate."
Sylvia couldn’t help but express her disbelief at the teenager’s opinion, "Oh, co on! His Highness the Grand Duke is the strongest knight in Cassian!"
Arl maintained his stance.
"I understand that, but His Highness Prince Kiev had not only single-handedly gone against the gatekeepers and guards, defeating them all until they fainted, but he also fought against five knights of Gerhard and nearly erged victorious if not for the intervention of His Highness the Grand Duke. Also, he managed to knock him down and had the sword at His Highness the Grand Duke’s neck once."
Sylvia’s eyes widened in astonishnt.
"He did all that alone?"
Arl nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, he did."
Curiosity piqued, redith inquired about the number of guards and gatekeepers affected. "How many guards and gatekeepers were there? I knew there were quite a lot, but I didn’t count."
Noah provided the information. "There were twenty guards and six gatekeepers. The mansion doesn’t keep a large number on standby, as His Highness only visits when necessary."
Sylvia almost dropped her jaw as she processed the numbers.
"And he fought against all of them, as well as His Highness the Grand Duke?"
Arl’s response affird her assumption.
"Yes, he did. His Highness Princess Callis also fought against two knights of Gerhard and managed to render one unconscious. She remained undefeated until His Highness the Grand Duke took charge in the fight against her brother. The rest of the knights then surrounded and apprehended her."
Sylvia couldn’t contain her astonishnt.
"Oh, my God! They must be more than human! I an, just look at their srising beauty, and to possess such prowess on top of that... what are they?"
"The fight wasn’t over at that ti. It was too soon to determine who was the most prominent. His Highness the Grand Duke possesses great strength as well. However, based on the circumstances... I must admit, His Highness Prince Kiev is indeed a formidable opponent," said Noah.
He recalled how even Eric, the second-in-command knight with a comparable level of skill to him, had warned him to be cautious around the prince.
If Eric, together with three other high-ranking knights and one dium-ranked knight, had struggled to subdue Kiev, it was evident that the prince possessed capabilities and skills surpassing those of the Knights of Gerhard.
Anna’s concern for Kyren grew evident as she voiced her worries, "You’re making anxious! What if sothing goes wrong? What if Kyren gets hurt?"
redith spoke up, offering a firm perspective, "Anna, you need to put your trust in your husband. You have two choices, either you trust in him and ask him to fight for you, or you succumb to your fate."
Anna’s erald eyes filled with determination. "No... I... I don’t want to leave Kyren."
The noblewoman’s voice brimd with confidence. "Then ask him to fight for you and believe in him! He will bring victory for you! Let’s go and inform His Highness about this."
***
Kiev sat at the oval table with a grumpy expression. His red-rimd eyes were fixated on Kyren, who sat across from him.
"We are having this discussion at the request of Princess Anna. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother. I still have so sense of respect for her as my betrothed, but my patience is wearing thin. You are wasting my precious ti here," the prince declared in annoyance.
Kyren t Kiev’s gaze with unwavering determination.
"She made it clear that she doesn’t want to be with you. Didn’t she express herself clearly enough?"
"A wife should follow her husband’s decisions, and the sa goes for a betrothed," Kiev replied in a firm tone.
Kyren scoffed at the notion.
"Dream on. You can never have her."
The prince’s expression darkened as he responded, "If I have to use force to take her, I will."
Kyren smirked, his eyes filled with a mischievous glint.
"Try it, and I’ll land another punch on your beautiful face. Co to think of it, I did deliver a solid blow and make your face bleed, and yet it still looks fine, without a bruise."
Kiev’s confidence remained unshaken as he countered, "You can try again. I’ll kick you and point my blade towards your neck, just like I did earlier. A re punch won’t have a significant impact on or my sister."
Kyren’s eyes narrowed as he processed the prince’s response. He began analysing his opponent, noting the peculiarities. During their previous encounter, he had accidentally grabbed the prince’s sister’s shoulder, only to discover that it was fractured.
However, she had shown no signs of imdiate pain before that, unlike what would be expected from an ordinary person.
Kyren’s eyes continued to study Kiev, trying to make sense of the strange feeling he had about him. Despite being rivals, he couldn’t deny the prince’s elegance and majestic aura. There was an allure to Kiev’s presence that he found difficult to resist, even amidst their current circumstances.
"This room is suffocating! I desperately need so fresh air," Callis declared as she stood up.
The grand duke’s caution kicked in. He couldn’t help but question her motives.
"Where do you think you’re going?" he asked, his tone wary.
"I told you, I need so fresh air! Aren’t we on a break now?" she posed back a question. "Or do you think I’m planning to search for my sister-in-law in this mansion, grab her, and run off?" Her words carried a hint of jest.
"Well... it’s not such a bad idea, anyway. Too bad my shoulder is hurt right now," she added with a smirk.
"We’ll be outside for a while," Kiev intervened, pointing to the yard with a fountain adjacent to the discussion room.
"Call us when the princess is back, but don’t make us wait for too long," he instructed Rafe.
Kyren remained sceptical, his eyes watchful, but he didn’t stop them from leaving. He knew he had to maintain vigilance, especially considering the uncertain situation. The siblings exited the room, leaving Kyren and Rafe to observe their movents from the window.
The grand duke’s instincts told him that there was more to Prince Kiev and Callis than t the eye. Despite the siblings’ charismatic charm, he couldn’t let his guard down.
Kyren’s voice dropped to a low, contemplative tone as he turned to Rafe. "They’re relentless, aren’t they? Wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity to eliminate them and dispose of their bodies in the backyard now?" he suggested, his words carrying a sinister edge.
"Oh, Your Highness, please!" Rafe exclaid in exasperation.
He rolled his eyes, unable to fathom the grand duke’s dark and macabre thoughts. The sarcastic remarks were becoming too much for him to handle.
***
Kiev’s eyes remained fixed on the falling red leaves, the chill in the air serving as a reminder that winter would be approaching. He took a deep breath, contemplating their situation.
"We must resolve this and return ho soon. Once the seawater freezes, it will be challenging to sail back to the island," he remarked, voicing his concerns to Callis.
The princess nodded, acknowledging her brother’s words.
"Yes, brother. Don’t worry, the advantages lie on our side already. The only obstacle now is Princess Anna. She seems deeply involved with the northerners, especially the grand duke," she replied, her voice tinged with worry. "She cared for and thought of them like a family. I dislike it when she looks so sad knowing she had to leave them."
Kiev’s tone turned stern as he reminded his sister of their duty, "There’s no ti for sentintality, Callis. Our primary objective is to ensure Princess Anna’s safety. Our people couldn’t save her mother in the past, so we must do everything in our power to protect her now. It has been our ancestral oath since the ti of the first emperor."
"Princess Anna’s mother, Her Imperial Highness, made her own choice to sacrifice herself, believing that the greedy Ardel prince was her soulmate, causing our people to be unable to prevent him from taking Princess Anna away. Due to our sacred oath, we were bound not to harm him," she acknowledged, understanding the constraints in the history the derians faced.
Kiev’s gaze hardened with resolve.
"Indeed, our hands are tied in that regard. Now, we must find a way to bring Princess Anna back to safety, as we cannot let her be exposed to danger," he declared, his determination unwavering.
"Yes, brother."
Callis looked at the prince and then asked, "What do you think about the northern warrior?" referring to the grand duke.
Kiev then reflected on the strength of Kyren.
"He is formidable and isn’t lacking. If I hadn’t expanded my mana pool, I would’ve more difficulty going against him," he admitted, recognising the challenges he faced.
Callis sighed, sharing her brother’s concerns. "Yes, but even with his power, I don’t think it is enough to ensure her safety. We cannot simply leave her here under his care," she stated firmly. "Should we ask Arl to bring Jessy here to persuade the princess? Perhaps that will be helpful."
Kiev shook his head, considering the potential dangers involved.
"No, it would be too risky for Jessy and Princess Anna. Until we’re certain the Ardelians we encountered have departed, your nanny should remain hidden," he decided, prioritising the nanny’s safety.
"Then what do we do? We had planned to reveal to Princess Anna that she is one of us. It’s not entirely wrong since she does have the derian blood in her veins," she asked, seeking a way forward.
Before Kiev could respond, a sniffling sound reached their ears from behind a nearby tree. He swiftly raised his hand, signalling his sister to silence.
Callis, now aware of the sound as well, inquired, "What’s that sound? Is it an animal?"
Kiev listened intently, his instincts on high alert.
"No, I believe soone is crying," he whispered.
His eyes darted to the big tree ahead.
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