"r, please," Anna swiftly intervened, firmly grasping redith’s hand to prevent further escalation. She understood Sarah’s intentions and knew allowing the anger to consu her would only further the discord.
The noble lady displayed a dissatisfied expression, clearly frustrated by the interruption, but Anna shook her head with determination.
"Please, sit down. Let us continue our al as ordered by the queen," she said calmly.
"But, my lady!" redith protested, her dissatisfaction evident, but Anna’s firm gaze and resolute tone left no room for argunt.
"Sit down, redith," Anna reiterated, her voice unwavering.
With a heavy sigh, redith reluctantly relented to the order. She begrudgingly took her seat, her frustration still lingering in her expression.
"See, Lady Grey," Bridgette chid in, seizing the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Even Lady Raychard is aware of it and did not counter. A concubine must always know her place. Although His Highness the Grand Duke may be fond of her now, she must realise that the position of the Grand Duchess is still vacant. According to the tradition, he must soon take an official wife to fill it up."
Naise joined in, furthering the mockery. "Yes, exactly. His Highness has embarked on another expedition. Who knows, he might return with yet another new concubine. The won of the Agathe Islands were known for their beauty. Lady Raychard should not be so full of herself and must learn to share. It is not wrong for a man of his stature to find love interest with other won."
The ladies-in-waiting shared a laugh among themselves, revelling in their perceived victory. redith’s face flushed with anger while Anna, sitting beside her, remained calm and composed, quietly continuing her al. She swallowed the last bite of the roasted chicken, took a sip of her drink, and gently wiped her mouth.
Sarah’s expression brimd with pride, believing she had co out on top in the exchange. However, Anna’s following words captured their attention.
"Thank you for your concern and advice," the princess spoke up, her voice steady. "I am grateful for the current position and have never desired more. As long as I can support His Highness, I will remain by his side for the rest of my life, and if, in the future, His Highness desires another love, I will not stand in his way."
"That is an intriguing remark," Sarah responded. "I hope that you will uphold your words when the ti cos. We wouldn’t want unnecessary drama to disrupt His Highness’s happiness."
Anna’s gaze remained steady, her eyes filled with quiet determination as she responded to Sarah’s statent.
"Rest assured, Lady Jas, I will fulfil my words. His Highness’s happiness is paramount, and I will do whatever it takes to make him happy," Anna began. "I eagerly anticipate his new prospects of interest, whether it be a woman suitable for the Grand Duchess position or a new concubine."
Evelyn, intrigued by Anna’s response, sought further clarification. "What do you an by that?" she asked, hoping for more details.
Anna took a mont to collect her thoughts before speaking.
"As you may be aware, I went to great lengths to beco the Royal Concubine of Gerhard. I had to seek the approval of Their Majesties and undergo several tests conducted before the ministers of the royal court to prove my worthiness. I am confident that soone with greater capabilities than mine can fill these positions. However, I have a unique skill in the Ro’an language, and as of now, I can confidently say that I am the best in Cassian in that regard."
Sarah’s expression twisted with disdain at the princess’ statent.
"Having only a language skill does not make a person the sole suitable person for such positions," she retorted.
"Fortunately, all highly regarded this skill," Anna replied calmly. "The Ro’an language holds significant importance as the language of the empire’s emperors. I would not have attained my current position if it were rely a trivial skill."
Having discontent with the reply, the chief lady-in-waiting added, "My brother is risking his life to protect His Highness. In battle, a language skill would be of no use. We need soone with greater capabilities in combat, who is also wise, beautiful, and befitting of the status as the Grand Duchess, not just anyone from a questionable background. A weak and ek person would only weigh him down."
"I understand your perspective," Anna responded. "However, no matter how remarkable a woman may be, Kyren’s heart ultimately holds the key. If she fails to ignite a passionate fire within him, her pursuit of him would be in vain."
"You may believe you hold the upper hand, Lady Raychard, as His Highness’s attention is currently fixed on you. But the future remains unpredictable. A man’s heart may change over ti, and it is indeed His Highness’s duty to form an official union and produce an heir for the throne," Evelyn interjected.
"Indeed, I am not against that notion. As a mber of the royal family, I am acutely aware of that necessity. However, shouldn’t our focus be on supporting Her Majesty, the Queen, in securing a direct heir from His Majesty’s lineage? A prince born from the union of Their Majesties would rightfully claim the title of the Crown Prince. I am sure, as ladies-in-waiting, you all are well aware of this."
Undeterred, Nancy expressed her belief, saying, "Nevertheless, His Highness’s future son also deserves a right to the throne! He should have his place."
With conviction, Anna responded, "If the grand duke desired such an outco, he would not have chosen to renounce the throne and embrace a life of celibacy three years ago. It is a blessing from God that a woman like could change his resolute mind in a single night and lead him to marry . I hope the candidates vying for his affections prove themselves worthy of such a feat. The one who captures Kyren’s love must be the catalyst to make his heart waver. After all, isn’t the grand duke’s happiness of utmost concern here?"
Anna’s words hung in the air, their impact silencing the group.
"Now that I have finished my al, I intend to retreat to my chamber to rest," she stated. "I appreciate all of your concerns and will take them as guidance. Also, let be clear to you. As long as the grand duke’s heart remains with , I will undoubtedly strive to make him happy. Thank you for your well-intentioned advice and wishes. I will keep that in mind. Now, please excuse , ladies."
With poise and grace, Anna rose from her seat, signalling the end of the conversation.
redith couldn’t help but wear a disparaging smile on her lips. She had not expected her friend to respond with such eloquent rebuttals, and it filled her with a sense of admiration and pride.
Anna maintained her composure as she gracefully exited the dining area, escorted by her lady-in-waiting. This left Sarah and her companions with a bitter taste in their mouths.
As the dining room door closed, Naise couldn’t contain her anger any longer. Frustration laced her words as she let out an exasperated remark.
"That obnoxious woman! Who does she think she is?" she exclaid.
Fueled by her resentnt, Sarah joined in with a vicious curse, expressing her disdain for Anna.
"She’s nothing more than an illegitimate b*tch from a traitor’s lineage! I’ll make sure she learns her place!"
"What are you planning, Lady Jas?" Bridgette asked cautiously.
Sarah’s eyes narrowed, fixating on the closed door through which Anna and redith had departed. A scornful gaze filled her dark grey eyes, reflecting her determination.
"It’s ti to et the derian Prince," she declared, her voice carrying an air of calculated resolve.
***
Anna sat on the settee, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her face flushed with adrenaline from the heated conversation.
"Oh, my! I had no idea you were so skilled at giving them a taste of their own dicine! I was ready to pull their hair..." redith began, but her words were cut short by a sudden sound from the princess.
’Uwekk...’
Anna’s body convulsed, and she vomited unexpectedly, a mixture of yellow stomach liquid, saliva, and bits of food spewing from her mouth and staining her dress. The sudden onset of sickness caught the noble lady off guard.
"Oh, my God! Anna!" redith exclaid in panic, quickly moving to support her friend. She called out for help, summoning the servants to their aid while rubbing the princess’ back.
"Get a towel and a basin of water!" redith ordered urgently.
The servants swiftly responded to the command, procuring the necessary items to assist Anna. After the vomiting subsided, redith gently wiped the princess’s sared mouth and cheeks with a wet towel, providing so relief.
anwhile, the other servants worked diligently to clean up the vomit from Anna’s dress and the floor, ensuring the surroundings were tidied up as quickly as possible.
"Call the royal healer!" the noble lady commanded the servants.
"No! I don’t want to!" Anna protested, her voice filled with panting breaths as she resisted the idea.
"Are you out of your mind? You’re clearly sick! You need help. I’m calling the healer anyway!" redith insisted.
"r, please! I don’t want Her Majesty to know! She’ll be worried about ," the princess pleaded.
"But you’re not fine! I can’t just let you be like this!" the noble lady countered, her worry for her friend overpowering any hesitation.
"I’m all right. I told you, I don’t have any sickness! It’s just that I didn’t have an appetite, and I forced myself to eat the chicken. That’s why I vomited," Anna explained, attempting to reassure her lady-in-waiting.
"No, Anna. I don’t think you’re all right. Please, listen to !" redith pleaded, desperate to convince Anna to accept help.
"r, I know my body. I used to be worse than this when I was at Constance. Please! I just need so peace now," the princess insisted, maintaining her decision.
The noble lady finally relented with a heavy reluctance, understanding Anna’s firm stance.
"Fine! Let help you wash up and change at least," redith conceded, expressing her support and concern differently.
"Thank you, r. That would be helpful," Anna expressed her gratitude to redith.
She then turned to the servants and issued a request, emphasising the importance of confidentiality.
"Please don’t report this matter to anyone, especially Her Majesty, the Queen. She’s swamped, and this is trivial. I’m not sick. I’m just a little tired," Anna instructed the servants firmly.
The servants responded in adherence and bowed respectfully, acknowledging her wish.
redith and the servants assisted Anna in bathing and changing into fresh clothes. Once they had finished, they helped her settle into bed.
"Are the dried fruits here? I feel like having so," Anna requested, expressing her desire for a light snack.
"Yes, my lady. One of Her Majesty, the Queen’s attendants, brought them when you were bathing. Let fetch them for you," a servant responded and left to retrieve the dried fruits.
Concerned, redith asked Anna if she wanted to eat anything else. The princess shook her head, indicating her lack of appetite.
"I don’t feel like it, r. Please don’t force . Otherwise, I might vomit again. Once my appetite returns, I’ll have sothing," the princess explained.
redith sighed, still worried about Anna’s condition.
"I don’t know... But I can’t shake off this feeling that you need further dical attention," she insisted.
"Please don’t worry about . I’ve been sick for most of my life. Vomiting won’t do any harm. Last ti, on my way to Gantz, I vomited worse than this almost the entire journey," Anna reassured her.
"Yes, I rember. You told so. You were so weak back then due to the trauma. I guess Lady Jas and her underlings’ hurtful statents have caused you so stress," redith acknowledged.
Anna chuckled softly.
"You make it sound like she’s a gang of thugs," she remarked.
"It’s not far off. She tried to corner you and attack you with her an words. Luckily, you were clever enough to outsmart her," the noble lady replied.
"She did it on purpose to provoke my anger. Don’t worry too much. If you respond aggressively to her sarcasm, she’ll only be more satisfied for being able to offend you," Anna advised.
"You’re absolutely right! How could I not see her true intentions?" redith realised.
The dried fruits arrived, and Anna’s eyes lit up with anticipation. As the servant prepared to place them on the side table, she noticed a folded piece of paper tucked beneath the flower vase.
"My lady, there seems to be a note here," the servant inford Anna.
"A note?" Anna furrowed her brow and turned to the table, spotting the hidden paper. "I didn’t notice it before. Hand it over to ," she requested.
The servant retrieved the note and handed it to Anna after placing the dried fruits on the table. Anna unfolded the paper, her eyes following the words written on it—a smile of longing ford on her lips.
"What note is that?" redith inquired, her curiosity piqued. Although tempted to peek, she restrained herself, respecting Anna’s privacy.
"It’s from Kyren. It’s a note he left for before he departed. He didn’t want to wake this morning, thinking I was unwell. I thought he left without saying anything," she explained.
"I heard about what happened from Alex. Fortunately, none of the knights were reprimanded. Rember, Anna, as the Royal Concubine of Gerhard, your actions can impact others," advised redith, offering a gentle reminder.
"I’m sorry, r. I just couldn’t let him go without saying goodbye," Anna apologised.
"Fine... I understand. What else does the note say?" redith inquired, curious to know more.
"He ntioned that His Majesty will be my guardian, and the Knights of Gerhard will attend to my needs at any ti. Furthermore, a hundred royal guards have been allocated for should I require additional protection," Anna replied.
"Oh, how sweet of him! Even as he was leaving, he thought of you. You’re fortunate to have such a doting husband," redith exclaid cheerfully.
A bitter smile played on Anna’s lips. She had uttered her love to him when he departed, yet he hadn’t reciprocated the sa, leaving her heart yearning for his words.
"You wanted the dried fruits, right? Go ahead, have so!" encouraged redith, changing the topic.
Anna nodded, appreciating the gesture, and reached for the dried fruits. As she savoured their sweet and sour taste, the refreshing flavours helped alleviate the lingering sense of nausea in her mouth. The simple pleasure of the fruits brought a montary respite to her discomfort.
Interrupting the quiet mont, a knock ca at the bedroom door, capturing Anna and redith’s attention.
"My lady, Mr Rafe Amares is here to see you," the servant’s voice announced from outside the room.
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