"Oh, it’s great to see you, Mr Amares! How are you feeling now?" redith greeted Rafe as he entered the bedroom.
"As you can see, I’m already feeling good. I had a good rest last night," Rafe replied, his deanour calm.
"Of course you had," redith responded with a smile. "By the way, congratulations on your marriage, Mr Amares."
The healer nodded appreciatively.
"Thank you, Lady Grey."
redith then asked him to examine the princess’s condition, "Can you take a look at Anna?"
"Why? What happened?" Rafe asked.
"She doesn’t seem well. She’s in the bedroom now. Let take you to her," redith offered, leading the way.
As Rafe took in the scene, his concern deepened. Anna lay on the bed, her back propped up by pillows against the headboard. She was dressed in a comfortable gown, clearly indicating that she was in a state of rest.
An empty plate rested on the side table, evidence that Anna had consud all the dried fruits.
Noting the situation, Rafe’s focus turned to Anna.
"How are you feeling now, my lady?"
The healer rushed to the bed, his concern evident as he let out his questions.
"I’m all right," Anna responded.
"She vomited just now," redith explained.
"Vomited? Did she eat sothing that didn’t agree with her stomach?" Rafe inquired as he stood by the princess’s bed.
"No, I’m fine, Rafe," Anna reassured him.
"How’s your fever? I heard from Sir Henderson and Sir McQuinn that you were ill this morning. I ran into them on my way here," Rafe inford Anna, concern etched on his face.
"I have no fever. I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry," Anna reassured him again with a gentle smile.
She then shifted the conversation to the healer’s condition, expressing her concern about his well-being.
"How about you, Rafe? Are you already feeling better now? You fainted yesterday, and I was quite worried."
"I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t fine, my lady," Rafe replied, his voice filled with gratitude for her concern.
Anna then asked about the situation between the newlywed healer and his wife and Kiev.
"And what about your wife? From how Prince Kiev left the library yesterday, it seed things weren’t going well between the two of you and him."
"I believe you already knew that His Highness Prince Kiev vehently opposed our marriage and expressed his disapproval. There were disagreents and tensions between us. However, Callis and I had a conversation with him this morning about finding a resolution. We have devised a plan to address the situation and find common ground. That’s why I ca to see you, to inform you about it," Rafe explained.
As Anna observed the healer addressing his wife, Callis, by her first na, a sense of relief washed over her. It indicated that the healer was accepting the derian Princess as his wife despite the circumstances of their sudden marriage, which had been ford by a royal decree from the king.
Despite Callis’s sincere confession of love to him, Anna had been concerned that Rafe might reject her. Kyren’s opinion and prediction about the healer’s response to the marriage did not appear wrong.
"What is the plan?" redith asked eagerly.
"I think it would be best to examine my lady first since she was showing so sickness symptoms," said Rafe.
"Ah, right!" redith exclaid. "I get too excited easily, and I almost forgot I asked you to."
"If you don’t mind, may I check on you, my lady? Just to be sure. After all, you’re my responsibility," the healer suggested to the lady.
"Yes, Anna. Please let Mr Amares examine you. That would put us at ease," supported redith.
Anna’s eyes darted alternately between the two of them, both wearing concerned looks in their eyes.
"Very well, please proceed," Anna gave her permission to Rafe, allowing him to conduct the examination.
The healer gently placed his palm on her forehead, assessing her body temperature. To his surprise, there were no signs of fever, contradicting what the knights had inford him.
He inspected her eyes and tongue, finding no apparent abnormalities, confirming Anna’s claim of being perfectly well. However, as he checked her pulse, the rhythm of it made his forehead crease with concern.
"Your pulse still seems strong, like a few days ago. Is there sothing troubling you?" Rafe inquired.
Anna paused montarily before responding, "I was experiencing a bit of stress just now."
redith let out a sigh and proceeded to share the details of the incident.
"We had a brunch with Her Majesty, the Queen and her ladies-in-waiting. Towards the end of the al, we were left alone with Lady Jas and the other ladies-in-waiting as Her Majesty was summoned by His Majesty, the King. Argunts ensued, and upon our return, Anna suddenly turned pale and vomited. I wanted to call the royal healer, thinking you might still be unwell from yesterday’s incident, but she insisted otherwise."
Curiosity sparked within Rafe as he asked, "Why would they argue with you?"
"Well, you see, Lady Jas harbours a great deal of jealousy towards Anna for being Her Highness’s wife. She resorted to pouring out an-spirited words just to offend her. Fortunately, our lady is brilliant and skillfully countered Lady Jas and her companions. You should have watched how she effectively shut their mouths! Hah! Just because that obnoxious woman once betrothed to His Highness, she thinks she could win him back and beco the grand duchess! In her dream!" redith remarked with a disparaging smirk.
The noble lady’s sneer revealed her contempt for Sarah, but her expression suddenly changed. The slip of her tongue regarding Kyren’s previous betrothal triggered worry within her heart.
Rafe, too, wore a concerned look as the matter was brought up. None of the knights or the staff of the Gerhard mansion had ever openly discussed the topic with the princess, leading to a sense of unease.
As Anna noticed their concerned expressions, she reassured them, "Don’t worry. I know about Kyren’s previous betrothal with Lady Jas. He told all about it."
redith, surprised, asked, "You knew?"
The princess nodded.
"We’re husband and wife, after all. We share a lot of matters. I didn’t ntion it because it was a past event and held no significance," Anna explained.
A sense of relief washed over redith, and she rubbed her chest.
"I’m glad you knew. I was worried you would be saddened by it," she admitted.
"Honestly, my feeling was initially affected. Lady Jas boasted about the betrothal to when we first t. Disheartened, I ran and hid myself under a tree in the palace compound. Her Majesty, the Queen, persuaded to talk to the grand duke himself about it. He and I had a heated argunt afterwards because he was against the King’s proposal to make a concubine, and I discovered his past connections with other won. However, Kyren explained everything to , and we managed to sort out our differences," Anna recounted, recalling the difficult situation that occurred during her first stay at the palace.
redith’s eyes widened in realisation.
"So, you an this concubine title you acquired was His Majesty’s idea all along!" she exclaid.
"Yes, it was ant to protect the grand duke and the royal family. Rest assured, I was not forced into it and willingly agreed. Kyren, on the other hand, never did. In fact, he strongly opposed it despite His Majesty’s explanation. So, His Majesty and I devised a plan, and he announced it when I was summoned to the throne hall before the ministers," Anna clarified.
"His Majesty must have known all about you, then! That’s why he resorted to such a proposal!" redith exclaid, understanding the situation.
Anna smiled and replied, "Now you know."
"Indeed, His Majesty must have carefully considered all aspects before making such a decision. From a political standpoint, considering your origin and background, it would have caused a significant commotion if you were to be the official wife of His Highness," redith remarked.
Anna agreed.
"I rember when the Ardel’s Ambassador accused you of being the illegitimate daughter of King Adhemar. Even in your position as the Royal Concubine, there were attempts to disrespect you at the banquet. Thankfully, it has quieted down now. My father inford that Their Majesties intervened to secure your position and silence those who sought to undermine you. Not being the Grand Duchess played a part in minimising the rejection," the noble lady explained.
Anna chid in, drawing a parallel.
"Historically, even the Emperors of the Ro’an Empire used to take princesses from the enemy kingdoms as concubines. As Cassian is built upon the culture and history of the empire, His Majesty used this fact to appease everyone," she added.
Understanding dawned upon redith, and she nodded in agreent.
"I see now. The people of Cassian greatly respect the emperors despite the empire having long ceased to exist," she concluded.
Curiosity sparked within the noble lady as she continued, "Oh, but then... you ntioned ’won’... Who else had a connection with His Highness other than Lady Jas? I don’t recall him being involved with anyone else. That fact wouldn’t have escaped my knowledge, considering I’m the President of his fan club."
Anna quickly ca up with an excuse to cover up Kyren’s secret.
"Oh, it’s nothing important! You know how popular the Grand Duke is. Naturally, many had a crush on him and tried to vie for his affections."
"I see. Yes, you’re definitely right."
However, with his observant gaze, Rafe caught on to Anna’s attempt to conceal sothing. He noticed her gaze averted from her lady-in-waiting, confirming his suspicions that there was more to the story.
Noticing that Anna’s pulse had been beating unusually strongly, Rafe suggested, "My lady, it has been quite a while since your pulse has been in such a strong rhythm. I suggest we take a blood test to confirm your diagnosis. Though you’re saying it is because of stress, it’s best if we could rule out any suspicions."
Anna dismissed his suggestion with a shake of her head.
"There’s no need for that."
Still, Rafe persisted with his concern.
"You said it was because of stress, but now you appear fine. However, your pulse rhythm hasn’t subsided. That is a condition we should be concerned about. I strongly suggest we proceed with the blood test, just to be sure," he insisted.
"No need, Rafe. I believe it’s still like that because I have sothing in mind right now, and I’m quite excited about it," she explained.
Curious, the lady-in-waiting asked, "You’re excited about what?"
Anna looked at both redith and Rafe before speaking.
"The conversation we had with Lady Jas and the other ladies-in-waiting got thinking, and I don’t think they’re entirely wrong," she stated.
Confused, redith replied, "What do you an? I don’t understand. All I heard were their jealous remarks."
Anna continued, "They talked about a ek and weak person by His Highness’s side... that explicitly referring to ."
redith interrupted, trying to persuade her, "Oh Anna, don’t let their words bother you. You already ntioned that they intentionally tried to get on your nerves."
Anna shook her head.
"No, it’s not that. I’m not feeling down because of it," she insisted.
Curiosity piqued, Rafe asked, "What do you have in mind, my lady?"
With an unwavering expression, Anna gazed at them both.
"Before I answer that, I want Sir Navin to co over imdiately," she suddenly ordered.
Rafe and redith exchanged perplexed glances, unable to determine Anna’s intention.
User Comments
0 comments from readers