"You don’t have to worry about anything. I will accompany you during your stay in the palace," Rafe assured Anna as he relayed the order from the King of Cassian. The directive was for her to reside in the palace while Kyren was away temporarily.
Anna sought solace in their presence on the settee between Sylvia and redith. Despite her heart feeling heavy with sadness at the impending separation, she understood and accepted that it was the grand duke’s duty to defend the kingdom’s security.
Sylvia, sensing Anna’s inner turmoil, offered words of comfort.
"It’ll be fine, Anna. We’ll co to the palace every day to keep you company. You won’t feel lonely, and before you know it, His Highness will be back to you," she said, wrapping her arms around the princess and gently rubbing her shoulder in a consoling gesture.
Anna turned to her friend, a wistful smile gracing her lips.
"Thank you, Sylvia. Your support ans a lot to ," she expressed her gratitude, appreciating the reassurance and understanding offered by her loyal friend.
"Great! I shall always be by your side. After all, I am now your lady-in-waiting, my lady," redith declared, expressing her commitnt to the princess’s service.
Anna, however, insisted on preserving their familiar relationship.
"r, just call Anna as you always have. There’s no need for such formalities," she requested.
redith hesitated, considering the implications.
"Well... Mr Amares is a mber of the knighthood, and I should address you properly before him," she explained, grappling with the appropriate etiquette.
Rafe, observing the interaction, interjected casually, "Don’t worry about . I don’t mind, as long as my lady is comfortable with it. Besides, you were friends before becoming my lady’s lady-in-waiting," he reassured, emphasising the importance of Anna’s comfort.
The princess supported Rafe’s sentint, affirming her preference.
"Yes, r. I feel much more comfortable that way," she agreed, appreciating the subtle approach.
redith smiled, accepting the compromise.
"All right then. At least not in front of His Highness. As a serving officer, I still need to maintain certain protocols in the presence of the lord," she clarified, acknowledging the need for propriety.
Anna reciprocated the understanding.
"That is acceptable. Thank you, r," she expressed her gratitude.
Rafe, satisfied with the outco, concluded his role.
"That will be all, my lady. Please take the ti to rest. If you need anything from the mansion, do let us know. Sir McQuinn and Sir Henderson are here to assist," he inford.
Anna nodded in acknowledgent.
"I suppose His Highness is already busy with the preparations since I don’t see him or the other knights. There must be a lot to do," Sylvia speculated, recognising the demands on Kyren’s ti.
"Yes... I noticed that too... Is he with the admiral, Rafe?" asked Anna.
After Kyren had co to inform Anna of his impending departure, the grand duke had vanished from sight. The healer, who was privy to the whereabouts of the grand duke and his knights, swiftly responded to conceal their absence.
"His Highness and the other knights have gone to attend to matters concerning the mansion," the healer explained, attempting to alleviate any concerns. "Since his departure was sudden, several arrangents need to be addressed. Rest assured, he will return very soon once everything is sorted."
"I see... thank you for informing , Rafe. I was worried that the departure had been expedited, and he left without saying goodbye," Anna said, her face clouded with mixed emotions.
"Do not worry, my lady. The preparations will take so ti, and he will depart according to the planned schedule. He will surely co back to see you before he leaves," Rafe reassured the princess, aiming to alleviate her anxiety.
Anna nodded, acknowledging his words. Rafe then excused himself and left the princess to her thoughts. As the healer departed, the princess’s gloomy expression remained fixed. She couldn’t help but think about Kyren and the upcoming separation.
Although she had experienced similar situations during her ti in the camp, her feelings were different this ti. She was reluctant to let him go, and her feelings were overpowering her in a way she wasn’t accustod to.
"Stop wearing that sad face, Anna," redith advised, trying to lift her friend’s spirits. "His Highness would feel guilty leaving you if you keep pouting like that."
"I’m sorry, r. I can’t help but worry about him," Anna confessed.
redith understood the depth of Anna’s feelings and offered her support. She knew the princess’s upcoming separation would be difficult, but she would do her best to support Anna and help her stay strong.
"I think, instead of dwelling on sad thoughts, why not seize this opportunity to create a beautiful and aningful mory with His Highness? That way, he’ll carry it with him while he’s away and will be eager to return to you," redith suggested with a hopeful tone.
"A good and aningful mory? Like what?" Anna inquired, curious about the idea.
Sylvia’s eyes lit up with excitent.
"Yes, r! What a brilliant idea! Anna, did you know that tomorrow is the mid-autumn festival? The city will be filled with vibrant celebrations! Your proclamation date was intentionally scheduled around the festival. You and His Highness should take this chance to attend!"
"A mid-autumn festival? I’ve never experienced one in my entire life!"
Anna’s face brightened with enthusiasm. However, her excitent quickly waned.
"I don’t think Kyren and I can go. He’s swamped right now, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to attend a festival when he’s about to embark on war."
Sylvia sympathised with Anna’s concern.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t consider that before suggesting it. Please forgive ."
redith interjected, offering a solution, "Even if you can’t go to the festival, it doesn’t an you can’t have a wonderful ti together. He will be returning at night, right?"
Anna nodded.
"Yes, he said he would return to no matter how late it is."
"In that case, you should plan sothing special for him," redith proposed, a glimr of excitent in her eyes.
"What should I do?" Anna asked, seeking guidance.
redith’s eyes twinkled as she replied, "You know... intimacy between husband and wife. Now that he’s about to leave, you should put in so extra effort to make sure he rembers you."
Blushing, Anna responded shyly, "We’ve always been intimate."
She was well aware of Kyren’s passion and desire for her every night.
redith chuckled, shaking her head.
"I’m not talking about the usual. I an adding a little more spice to your encounters," she explained, eagerness in her tone.
"Spice? What do you an?" Anna inquired, her curiosity piqued.
A mischievous grin appeared on redith’s face as she shared her ideas. As she explained, Anna’s cheeks turned crimson from the explicit details.
"Oh, my! r, where did you learn all this?" the princess exclaid, embarrassed, as she placed a hand over her chest.
redith smirked, feeling quite pleased with herself.
"Well, wasn’t I the forr president of the book reading club before I turned it into the fan club of His Highness the Grand Duke?" she admitted, a subtle laugh escaping her lips.
"Ah, now I rember! She’s the champion when it cos to reading romantic novels. It’s no surprise she knows these things," Sylvia remarked, recalling redith’s expertise in the genre.
"But you’re a maiden!" Anna exclaid.
"Shouldn’t a maiden learn about it before getting married?" redith replied confidently. "After all, it’s ant for the pleasure of the husband. There’s nothing wrong with understanding it."
Sylvia teased, "Co to think of it, I believe Sir Jarr will be quite surprised when he discovers the true r."
redith smirked.
"Oh, I’m going to make him drool. I’ll turn that stoic man into a puppy, begging and howling for ," she declared boldly.
Anna’s face grew even redder as she listened to their conversation. She suddenly rembered the candid remarks exchanged among her husband’s fan club mbers when she had previously t them.
It beca clear why they were so open and unconventional in their discussions about n—redith’s influence had advanced their perspectives.
"I don’t think tonight is a good ti," Anna hesitated. "Kyren must be tired from work and likely return late."
"Tired? From what? The preparations? He can’t be tired from that!" redith protested.
"He had a confrontation with Prince Kiev at the mansion earlier, followed by a duel at the palace today, and now he’s off to his tasks. He’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to disturb him while he’s resting," Anna explained.
"His Highness is renowned as the best knight in Cassian and has an incredible stamina. He won’t succumb to tiredness from those re activities. Besides, it’s often said in books that a satisfying intimate experience can clear a man’s mind and enhance his performance in his work," Sylvia confidently remarked.
Anna’s voice trembled as she expressed her concerns, "But... but what if he doesn’t want to?"
redith’s eyes sparkled with determination as she reassured Anna, "Oh, no, he won’t resist if you follow my advice. Trust , no man could say no to the allure of what I shared with you."
Anna hesitated, feeling uncertain.
"Are you sure? I’ve never done anything like that before."
Sylvia chid in, encouraging Anna, "That’s all the more reason why you should give it a try! He’ll surely rember this enticing mory when he’s away from you and can’t wait to return."
redith’s determination remained unwavering as she declared, "Yes! Now, let ask a servant to co and take your asurents. I know a few boutiques that can provide the perfect dress according to your size."
"A dress?" Anna questioned, surprised.
"Of course," replied redith confidently. "But not just any dress. It’ll be an exquisite night dress."
"But I already have nightgowns. Even though I didn’t bring any clothes, the palace always provides them for ," the princess replied.
"Oh, my sweet, innocent friend. Just as n require their swords on the battlefield, you, too, need sothing equally captivating for your cause. This dress will captivate your husband and make him surrender to you."
Sylvia suggested, "Shouldn’t she try on the dress for fitting? If we plan to go boutique shopping, it will take us at least a day to visit all the stores. It’s already noon, and considering the hour, we might not have enough ti to make good selections from all the boutiques."
redith smiled and assured them, "I have a better idea! I’ll order the boutique owners to co here instead with various choices. It’ll save us the ti!"
"That’s a brilliant suggestion, r! We should get so perfus and makeup, too!" exclaid Sylvia.
Anna, still hesitated, asked, "Are you sure about this? Would they co?"
"Are you kidding ? This is an order from the palace! None of them would refuse it. Besides, it would be an honour to serve the beloved woman of the Grand Duke of Gerhard! Now, let’s get to work, Sylvia!" said redith.
Sylvia chid in with enthusiasm, "Definitely, r!"
redith reached for the bell on the table and rang it, signalling for a servant to co.
Anna gulped nervously, torn between her embarrassnt and her friends’ excitent. She took a deep breath, realising that their intentions ca from a place of support and love.
Slowly, she allowed herself to embrace the idea, willing to explore new possibilities to strengthen her bond with her husband.
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