Rafe sprinted towards the bedroom, his heart pounding with urgency as a dreadful scene greeted his eyes.
"What did you do to her?" His voice cracked with alarm as he took in Anna’s dishevelled state.
"Did you..." His voice faltered, a knot tightening in his chest as he noticed the crimson marks staining the princess’s delicate skin and the tatters of her gown, fueling his suspicions.
Without a mont’s hesitation, the healer passed by the grand duke and rushed to the princess’s side. His hands swiftly draped a blanket over her, shielding her from further exposure.
Tears stread down Anna’s cheeks as she clutched the edge of the blanket, her sobs filling the bedroom with a haunting lody of distress.
"Rafe..." Anna’s voice trembled in emotional pain.
"It’s all right... I’m right here," the healer reassured her, though a storm brewed in his gaze as he turned his attention to the grand duke.
Rafe’s jaw clenched in anger, his voice laced with disbelief.
"How could you?!"
"Think whatever you want," Kyren’s tone was indifferent, like he never cared.
"You have no heart! No heart at all!" Rafe’s reprimand was full of condemnation.
"Don’t you dare to scold ! What she did to was even worse!" Kyren’s retort was sharp, devoid of remorse.
"She’s pregnant!"
"Do I have to care for the child that’s not mine?" The grand duke’s words cut through the healer like a blade, callous and cold.
Rafe recoiled in disbelief, aghast at the lack of empathy, before rallying his courage.
"Even so, the baby is innocent!"
"That’s not my concern!" Kyren yelled back.
Anna’s cries pierced Rafe’s heart deeply. His grip tightened on the blanket, a silent vow to protect her, even against the very man who should have been her shield.
Beneath the surface, those sa heart-wrenching cries subtly seeped into the grand duke, a sound he could no longer ignore. It pained him to hear her suffering, yet his pride and arrogance kept him from admitting his mistakes.
With steps cloaked in ignorance, he retreated towards the bedroom door but halted at the threshold.
Turning his head slightly, he demanded, "Let her be by herself. I don’t want you to treat her!"
"She’s my patient! I’m authorised to do that!" Rafe exclaid.
Kyren looked at the healer sharply, his expression darkening.
"If you continue with your authority, then pack your belongings and never return! Treat her, and you will no longer be the healer of Gerhard. You will be banished from the duchy and my territories! I won’t tolerate disobedience!"
"Your Highness!" Rafe called after him.
This was unbelievable! How could a just man turn out to be so rciless?
Kyren ignored the calls and strided out of the bedroom. Monts later, the loud bang of the main door echoed through the chamber, marking his departure.
Anna’s cries filled the room, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Guilt painted Rafe’s expression.
"I’m so sorry for what happened. I didn’t expect he would do this to you," he said softly. Seeing her visibly shaken, he decided, "Let get my wife to attend to you."
"I’m scared, Rafe! Don’t leave alone!" the princess pleaded.
"I don’t want to, but you need help. It would be best to have her co over. I promise, I’ll be quick," the healer reassured her.
Anna nodded, understanding that Rafe was acting in her best interest. The healer then rushed to the main door, and as he exited, a group closed in around him.
"What happened? Why did His Highness storm out in rage?" Eric asked.
Rafe’s eyes caught Helen among the group, who was also waiting for his response. An idea struck him.
"I’ll explain later. Miss Reed, can you co in and accompany Lady Raychard?" he urged the governess.
"Sure, Mr Amares!" Helen replied.
As the governess stepped forward, Rafe said, "I’m going to get Callis. You hold on and try to calm her. Don’t worry, I won’t be long."
Helen nodded and entered the chamber. The knights and the admiral remained anxious, sensing the gravity of the situation, but Rafe’s serious expression kept them from pressing for details.
The healer rushed to his chamber and, monts later, returned with Callis and Jessy, who had just arrived at the derian Princess’s chamber in ti.
The door shut behind the knights and the admiral, and this ti, it was locked, the sound of the click resonating ominously.
"Sothing must have happened," Adam deduced, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Yes, I believe so. Rafael wouldn’t make that expression if it weren’t alarming," Eric agreed.
"What should we do?" asked Damon, anxious.
The second-in-command knight pondered for a mont.
"Let’s wait for the outco," he decided.
"What about His Highness?" Noah interjected. "He yelled at us not to follow him, but I feel like we should. He hasn’t eaten anything and seems even more distressed."
Eric considered Noah’s concern. Then he ordered, "Sir Brooks and Sir Mills, follow His Highness, but do so quietly. Don’t disturb him unless absolutely necessary. If you need backup, alert us imdiately."
"Yes, Sir Navin!" the two knights responded in unison, quickly setting off in the direction Kyren had taken.
Turning to Adam, Eric said, "You can go and take your rest, Admiral Jas. Things have been hectic for you, and I’m sure you haven’t fully recovered from your long journey."
"It’s all right, Sir Navin. I’d prefer to wait here until I’m sure Lady Raychard is fine. I promise to protect her to the best of my ability. I won’t feel at ease leaving without knowing her condition," the admiral replied.
"Very well, then. Thank you for your vigilance," Eric said, acknowledging the admiral’s dedication.
The hallway fell quiet again as the knights and admiral awaited news, each lost in thoughts of what might have transpired.
***
"Anna!" Callis rushed to the crying princess, cradled in Helen’s arms.
"Callis!" As she saw her friend, Anna’s tears stread down her face like a broken dam.
"Rafe told what happened! Oh, God! How could he do this to you!" Callis exclaid as she sat beside her in a hurry.
Rafe stood further away, allowing the ladies to attend to Anna while he observed. He was concerned that the princess might be traumatised and didn’t want to scare her by being too close. Furthermore, she needed to calm down before he could examine her properly.
Anna continued to sob in Helen’s embrace.
Once she had cald slightly, Callis asked, "Did he really r*pe you? I swear, I’ll make him pay for this!"
"He... he didn’t! He was angry. We had a terrible misunderstanding, and in his rage... he nearly crossed the line, but then he stopped."
"Don’t cover up for him! Tell the truth, Anna!" Callis urged, disbelief evident in her voice.
"It is the truth! He was furious at because he thought I was carrying Prince Kiev’s child, which is not true!" Anna cried, desperation lacing her words.
"He believed that? For heaven’s sake! How can he be so foolish?" the derian Princess raged on.
If only she could shout out loud that the baby was Kyren’s!
However, Jessy and she were forbidden to ntion anything about Anna’s secret identity or the pregnancy due to the promise with Kiev, which was bound by magic.
She understood her brother’s precautions; he feared she might spill the secret to Rafe. If the healer used his authority as her husband, the derian Princess must submit.
Her heart scread eagerly for this, but they needed to focus on Anna’s well-being first. Callis sighed.
"Where did he hurt you?" she asked carefully.
"He didn’t hurt ..." Anna attempted to deny, pulling the blanket closer to her neck. But Callis quickly read her body language, sensing the princess’s wariness.
"He did sothing! Don’t lie!" Callis insisted, reaching out to pull the blanket, but Rafe quickly interjected, "Callis, wait!"
She turned to her husband, raising an eyebrow as if questioning the warning.
"Perhaps it would be better for to check on her. I’m her healer," he said gently.
"Didn’t you say His Highness forbade you from attending to her?" Callis reminded him.
Rafe looked down, troubled.
"Kyren... Kyren said that?" Anna asked, surprised.
Callis quickly responded, "He did! Out of rage. If Rafe attends to you, he risks losing his position as the healer of Gerhard and being cast out from His Highness’s domain."
Rafe fell silent, a conflicted expression on his face.
A divided feeling haunted him. Between loyalty to Kyren and empathy for Anna, which should he choose?
The healer braced himself. At the ti of such a challenge, he resolved to follow his heart.
"It’s fine. Don’t worry about . As a healer, I need to prioritise those who need ," he said, trying to reassure them.
Anna understood Rafe’s intention but replied solemnly, "No. I don’t want you to treat , Rafe."
"My lady, ignore what His Highness said. He must have blurted those words in a mont of anger," the healer urged.
Anna shook her head, her decision firm.
"Things are already bad as they are. I don’t want to sow more discord and make it worse for anyone else. Just let Callis attend to . Besides, I’d be more comfortable with her," Anna insisted.
Rafe wanted to argue, but Helen quickly interjected, "My lady is right. She wouldn’t feel comfortable having a man touching her... after what happened."
The healer withdrew his intention. Helen was correct; it would be improper for him to examine her in such a vulnerable state.
"Then I’ll step outside," Rafe said.
"Where are you going?" Callis asked suddenly.
Rafe raised an eyebrow. "I thought you’d want so privacy."
"I only know how to heal with magic, and my knowledge isn’t as extensive as my brother’s. Wouldn’t it be best for her healer to be around and advise on her condition before I do anything?" Callis explained to her husband.
"Yes, I believe so too. You can guide her where to start based on your observations, and you’ll be advising your wife, not attending to Princess Anna. It wouldn’t go against His Highness’s wishes," Jessy voiced out, her eyes pleading.
Rafe took a mont to consider and then finally nodded.
"Very well. I won’t look until you call for ," he said, turning away.
Though he had briefly seen the princess’s revealed body, he hadn’t focused on it as he felt it was essential to establish boundaries out of respect.
Callis instructed Helen to open the blanket covering the princess’s body with Anna’s permission. As the torn dress and red blemishes ca into view, along with a bite mark, the derian Princess gasped in shock.
"Oh, my God! What did he do to you?" she cried, her alarm echoed by Helen and Jessy.
Panic swept across Rafe’s face as he heard this, and he turned to look. This ti, he examined the sight before him carefully and noted the marks, which resembled those of an assault.
"He hit you!" Callis covered her mouth, shock evident in her wide, crimson eyes.
"No! It’s not what you think! Kyren didn’t do that! He... he only held ... and kissed ... and—"
"That deep bite mark is not a kiss! Definitely not!" Helen countered angrily.
"No... please! He was just making a hickey and got carried away!" Anna pleaded, trying to convince them.
Even though she had been treated this way, the princess didn’t want them to see Kyren differently.
She knew he never ant to hurt her. His words might have been filled with anger, but his eyes were full of guilt and pain.
That kind of tornt could never be hidden; her heart could feel the depth of his frustration, and she knew... Kyren was not a monster, and he never would be.
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