’Pang!’
A resounding slap landed hard across the Grand Duke’s face, leaving everyone utterly stunned.
Kyren’s eyes widened as he brought his palm to his reddening cheek. He hadn’t seen that coming at all.
"What was that for?!" he exclaid, bewildered.
In that instant, Anna bit her trembling lip. The tears glimring in her eyes finally spilt over, streaming down her cheeks.
"There I was at the palace, accused of infidelity and carrying another man’s child... fighting for my life and my baby... while you’re here thinking of taking another concubine after accusing ?! How could you?! Where is your heart, Kyren Raychard?!" the princess cried out.
The crowd fell silent. Not a single soul dared voice an opinion, while Athillia stared at Anna, deeply confused.
"What? When did I say I wanted to take another concubine?" Kyren asked, bewildered.
"You just did! You said about giving her a family and letting her stay with us! Haven’t you given enough hints already?"
Anna began slamming her hands against the Grand Duke’s chest and arms. Yet none of her blows seed to have any real effect on him.
The princess clenched her fist and swung it forcefully again, but Kyren agilely caught her arm. She tried again with her other hand, but he seized that one too just as swiftly. There was no doubt that the guardian of the Khasif was more than capable of subduing her.
"Enough, Anna! You’re mistaken!" Kyren shouted, embarrassed and frustrated at being misunderstood so completely.
Athillia was also shocked by the accusation.
"I’m not stupid! You’ve already fallen for her! That’s why you brought her back!" Anna cried out, her voice trembling with anger. "No man brings a woman ho unless he’s interested in her, especially if he talks about making her part of his family!"
With all her strength, she shoved Kyren, breaking free from his grip, and moved away, tears streaming down her face.
"Wait! You’re truly mistaken!" Athillia tried to block Anna’s path.
"Move or I swear you’ll be the next person I hurt today!" the princess warned, her teary erald eyes glinting dangerously.
The Bargesian Princess desperately wanted to explain, but Eric swiftly pulled her aside and whispered, "Close your mouth and don’t say another word! You’d better not provoke her, or this will get bloody."
Athillia opened her mouth again to defend herself, but Eli quickly shook his head.
If the second-in-command knight had issued such a warning, it ant sothing serious could indeed happen if she ignored it. Taking in the young knight’s signal, the Bargesian Princess clamped her lips.
Anna covered her face with her palms, sobbing, and ran off. She couldn’t bear the humiliation playing out in front of the entire household.
"Anna, wait!" Kyren called after her, trying to follow.
But the princess’s following words stopped him cold.
"Get lost, Kyren! I hate you! I don’t want to see you again! Ever!"
Her voice echoed and grew fainter as she fled the scene. Kyren stopped in his tracks, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he held his waist.
As he turned around, he realised that everyone was staring at him, suspicion plain on their faces. It was obvious that they were thinking the sa as his wife.
"I am not taking another concubine, for God’s sake!" he declared loudly.
"If you’re not, then why did your words sound like you were?" Kiev suddenly stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest.
He cast a sidelong glance at Athillia, his handso face clouded with irritation. It was clear he was displeased by her presence.
Kyren squared his shoulders and t the derian Prince’s sharp gaze. For a tense mont, the two princes stared each other down.
"Don’t accuse of sothing I didn’t do!" Kyren retorted, his voice tight with frustration.
Kiev scoffed in response.
"You did that to and Princess Anna before. How does it feel when the tables are turned and you’re the one being doubted?" Kiev said coldly, his tone laced with quiet fury.
Kyren’s jaw tightened. He wanted to respond—but what could he say?
Deep down, he knew the derian Prince wasn’t entirely wrong. He had judged too quickly before... and now, Anna had done the sa to him.
"I didn’t an for it to sound that way," Kyren said at last, his voice low.
"But it did," Kiev shot back, "...and you make her cry."
The Grand Duke sighed once more, lowering his gaze. He’d never imagined his words could be so wildly misunderstood—that everyone, especially Anna, would truly believe there was sothing between him and Athillia.
Now, Adam’s warning echoed in his mind. Even the admiral had sensed that jealousy would inevitably arise from this situation. Yet Kyren, confident in his own intentions, had dismissed the advice outright—a grave mistake.
"Lord Kyren..."
The Grand Duke lifted his eyes to see Athillia’s face etched with guilt.
"I’m so sorry! I never thought... I... I didn’t an—" the Bargesian Princess stamred, unable to find the right words.
"It’s all right. It’s my fault. I’ll talk to her about it," Kyren interjected gently, cutting her off.
Another heavy silence fell. Athillia’s frustration showed plainly on her face.
"I don’t care what you do, Grand Duke," Kiev interjected sharply. "But you’d better clean up your ss. Princess Anna is carrying your child, so you’re responsible for her emotions."
The derian Prince cast another sharp glare at Athillia and added coldly, "Whatever business you have with this girl, it had better not be sothing funny."
"I swear it’s not!" Kyren protested, desperate to explain himself and resolve the spiralling misunderstanding.
But as he glanced around, he realised the entire mansion was watching in tense silence. The heads and representative of the Pillar Families, and Lord Grey, all stood nearby, bearing witness to every word.
Sighing deeply, he knew this was no place for further explanations. He needed to go after Anna.
"Please excuse ," he said, and quickly strode off in pursuit of his wife.
As the Grand Duke disappeared by the main entrance, Eric quickly stepped up to take control of the situation.
"Your Graces and Lordships, why don’t you take a break in the lounge? I’m sure refreshnts have been prepared for you," he said, cutting through the silence.
The second-in-command knight gave Anryr a discreet wink.
"Ah, yes! This way, Your Graces and My Lords!" the steward said, extending his hand courteously.
Not wishing to prolong the already awkward situation, the dukes, Aaron, and Lord Grey began making their way into the mansion. The servants swiftly dispersed at Anryr’s and Rosalie’s cue, eager to avoid the tension.
However, Matthew halted as he passed Athillia. He glared at the Bargesian Princess, and slowly looked her up and down with scowling eyes.
Eric and the other nobles had already gone inside when Matthew finally spoke up.
"None of this would have happened if you weren’t here! How cunning of you, trying to seduce a married man, young girl. You should be ashad of yourself!" His voice erged sharply like a lash.
"I didn’t seduce him! The Grand Duke and I have no such relationship!" Athillia shot back.
"Hah! You can fool everyone else, but not !" Matthew snapped. "You call him by his first na! Don’t tell you don’t know what that ans! And the fact that you spent ti with him until late at night? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners as a lady?"
"Who are you to reprimand and bring up my parents, old man?" she hissed, eyes flashing angrily.
"Old man??" Matthew’s eyes widened in outrage. "You called an old man? I am Lord Matthew Aram Silas, the Marquess of Roland and one of the esteed heads of the Pillar Families in Cassian! How dare you address like that!"
Athillia’s face paled in shock, her mouth falling open.
"You... you... You’re the Marquess of Roland?" she stamred, disbelief written across her features.
"You bet I am!" Matthew barked, his chest puffed out with annoyance. "So you’d better watch your mouth before you speak to like that, young lady!"
He gave her a final look of disgust and said, "Consider yourself lucky you’re His Highness the Grand Duke’s guest. Otherwise, I’d have slapped you across the face for your audacity and disrespect!"
Athillia stood frozen, trembling—not with anger, but with stunned realisation.
When she first t Kyren and Adam and told them she was Aram’s granddaughter, the Grand Duke had ntioned the Marquess of Roland—the son of her grandfather—who resided in Cassian.
Now, her mind was spinning as she processed the shocking truth; the man standing before her, glaring and berating her, was none other than her maternal uncle —her mother’s half-brother.
She stared at him intently, her round eyes searching his features. And then she saw it; the sa cheekbones, the sa nose shape, and the sa piercing way of staring—the very traits her mother inherited from her grandfather.
Tears of lancholy welled in Athillia’s eyes. She hadn’t imagined their first eting would happen like this—full of harsh words, misunderstandings, and mutual anger.
She had dread of a proper introduction, carefully arranged, where she could explain who she was and where she ca from. Instead, everything had gone horribly wrong.
"Oh, God... no..." Athillia whispered, covering her trembling mouth with her hand.
Matthew gave a scoffing laugh.
"Now you’re scared, huh? Serves you right!" he snapped, and with an indignant huff, he turned on his heel and strode away, satisfied at having shad the Bargesian Princess.
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