The Grand Duke's Soulmate-Chapter 576: The unspoken blessing

Kyren leaned his head back against the leathered mahogany chair and loosened the knot of his tunic at the neck. His eyelids slid shut as he released a long, measured breath.

The wedding ritual had been completed, and with it came the faint sensation that a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders... at least a fragment of it.

Standing before the assembled crowd, fulfilling his duty of giving Clara away after a lengthy period in seclusion, had been daunting.

The weight of numerous gazes upon him stirred a pain he had long tried to suppress, a pain rooted in absence rather than ritual.

Yet beneath the strain, a quiet resolve persisted. He had endured the occasion, and that was what mattered most.

The moment the ritual concluded, Kyren excused himself without delay and withdrew from the gathering. Eric’s frown followed him, as did the solemn looks of the knights, but he did not yield.

The joy of the ceremony was not something he could afford to partake in, not because he resented the union of the newlyweds, but because such happiness only heightened the void left by what he had lost.

And so, the private library became his refuge, perhaps even a hiding place from the world, if only for a little while.

The chamber’s silence was immediately soothing. No voices, no laughter, no polite conversation, only the distant chirping of birds and the soft breath of the waning spring wind through the windows.

At least these did not demand anything of him. In his current state, he lacked the strength to face others, let alone their well-meaning concern.

The man Kyren had once been felt distant now.

Confident, steadfast, and reliable—the qualities that once defined the grand duke now appeared to have faded from him, despite his reputation.

His broken heart had consumed him whole, and for the moment, he had neither the will nor the desire to change anything about himself.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The solid wooden door made loud noises when knocked. Kyren had intentionally locked it, as he had no wish to endure lectures or persuasion, especially from Eric. Of course, only that second-in-command knight would have the audacity to be so persistent.

"Go away! I told you, I’m not joining," he called out flatly.

But the knocking did not cease.

’Bang! Bang! Bang!’

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" a muffled voice called through the thick door.

Kyren was annoyed at first, but then frowned and paused. The voice did not belong to a man. That alone drew his attention.

It couldn’t be any of the ladies attending the celebration; they would be occupied at the banquet now, and he knew each of them well.

There were a few women residing in Gerhard Castle, and they were those who had returned from the capital with him.

Kyren had never followed through with hiring new maids or female attendants, as he once planned, since Anna was no longer by his side. Without her, the need for such things had quietly ceased to matter.

This time, the Grand Duke rose from his chair and strode toward the door. The pounding continued until he reached the pristine white panels and came to a halt.

"Who is it?" he demanded.

"It’s me—Mary! Mary Mason!" the voice replied in a rush.

Recognition came to him at once. Mary Mason had been one of the palace maids Queen Emelda had assigned to Anna as a personal attendant during her pregnancy.

Though the princess was gone, Kyren had retained Mary in service for Meredith and Emily, both with child.

She was not a woman of many words, seldom speaking directly to the Grand Duke, yet she carried out her duties quietly and diligently. Her restraint, professionalism, and unwavering respect had ensured her continued presence.

That was precisely why her appearance at the door of his private library, during his chosen seclusion, set his nerves on edge.

If she harboured the same intentions as the former maid who had once dared to overstep her place and tried to seduce him, Kyren would not show mercy.

His emotions were already frayed to the brink, and any woman foolish enough to test his restraint now would discover how merciless his temper could be when provoked.

Still, he needed to know the reason for this intrusion. The urgency in her knocking suggested more than mere impertinence.

Kyren unlocked the door and turned the handle. It swung open to reveal Mary standing rigid in the corridor.

Her face was both flushed and pale simultaneously, with breath coming in shallow bursts. Her hands trembled at her sides, fingers clutching her skirts as if to steady herself.

Panic was plainly visible in her widened eyes, and a faint sheen of sweat clung to her brow, revealing how hard she had run or how frightened she was.

"Y-Your Highness!" she stammered upon meeting his gaze, shrinking beneath his imposing presence.

"What do you want?" Kyren asked coldly, his eyes sharp and unyielding.

Mary swallowed hard. Fear clearly robbed her of breath and composure as she forced the word past trembling lips.

"H-Help!"

***

"Uwekk—!"

Elis retched violently, blood spilling from her mouth for the third time before Rafe could stop her.

A dark clot landed heavily on the linen he had just managed to hold beneath her chin, staining the fabric a deep, alarming red.

"Breathe, Elis. Breathe," Rafe urged, while one hand rubbed slow, firm circles against her back.

The worry on his face was now apparent.

Only moments earlier, he had been at Ayden’s wedding banquet in the temple yard within the castle grounds.

Since Callis left, Rafe became markedly quieter. He wasn’t as withdrawn as Kyren, but he was subdued—his laughter diminished, and he was hardly present.

The healer concealed his grief behind diligence, burying himself in work and routine, pretending all was well when everyone around him knew it was not.

Had it been any other day, he would have remained in his office alone, surrounded by reports and ledgers.

However, Ayden had been more than an aide to him. The young man had served him faithfully, efficiently, and with unspoken loyalty. For that reason alone, Rafe had allowed himself to attend and even to celebrate.

Nevertheless, he had kept apart from the others during the banquet, beneath the shade of a tree, quietly sipping his drink and observing rather than mingling, when Mary found him.

The female assistant had been careful not to draw attention. Despite her panic, she had chosen her moment wisely, slipping through the crowd without causing alarm and went to the healer.

Elis had already made it clear she didn’t want to trouble anyone with her condition. Additionally, Rafe was her family, and as the brother-in-law of the princess consort, Mary trusted him the most to act quickly since he was a healer.

As soon as she explained the situation, spilling out her words quickly, Rafe’s face grew sterner.

"Get the Grand Duke," he had ordered at once. "Now."

Mary did not hesitate, trusting her feet to carry her toward the places Kyren was most likely to be found—either his chambers or his private library. Given the hour, the latter was far more likely, and she was indeed right.

The healer, meanwhile, had abandoned the banquet without a second glance and rushed straight to the princess consort’s chamber.

And now—

Another shudder wracked Elis’s body.

Rafe tightened his grip on the bloodied linen, dread coiling in his chest as he continued to steady her, knowing what was causing such a sudden effect.

The bedroom door burst open without a knock.

Rafe turned just in time to see Kyren stride in. The Grand Duke had arrived with remarkable speed, so swiftly that Mary, who had run all the way behind him, hadn’t arrived, struggling to catch up.

"Your Highness!" Rafe exclaimed, hope surging through him at the sight.

Kyren did not answer. He crossed the room in long, urgent strides and went straight to the bed. Elis lay there, pale and trembling, her breath uneven as another wave of nausea threatened to rise.

"Move aside," the Grand Duke ordered curtly.

Rafe rose at once, throwing the bloodied linen into the basin, and stepped back. Kyren took his place at the bedside as the princess consort eased into a reclined position, her frail body supported by piled pillows.

Without a word, the Grand Duke placed his hand over her abdomen and began the incantation.

It had been some time since he had last performed this spell—but it was not something he could ever forget.

This magic was intimate, ancient, and bound to life itself. That he had to invoke it again under such dire circumstances stirred a mix of relief, dread, and bitter familiarity within him.

Gradually, the violent urge subsided. Elis’s breathing steadied as mana flowed into her, calming the turmoil within.

Kyren exhaled quietly.

"Are you all right now?" he asked.

Elis nodded faintly, her face still pale. Meanwhile, Rafe gently washed his bloodied hand that held the soiled linen, wiping it with the clean one while keeping an eye on the princess consort.

By the time the immediate danger had passed, Mary finally arrived at the doorway, breathless and shaken. Seeing that the princess consort had calmed, her panic eased.

"Help her clean up and change," Kyren instructed her. "I’ll wait outside. Let me know when she’s ready. I want to talk to her."

"Yes, Your Highness," Mary replied, bowing.

Kyren rose and turned to Rafe.

"Come with me."

The healer followed as the Grand Duke stepped out, closing the door gently behind them to allow Elis privacy.

"Did you know?" Kyren asked flatly once they were alone.

"Not from the beginning," Rafe answered. "Mary came to me during the banquet. That was when I learned the truth."

"And no one else?"

Rafe shook his head.

"No. Mary said she kept it secret at Elis’s request. She only came to me today because Elis’s condition worsened so suddenly."

Kyren sighed, feeling the weight of the revelation press down on his chest.

Soon, the princess consort’s condition would deteriorate further, and when that time came, even his magic would no longer be enough.

There was only one solution, and it depended entirely on Elis’s willingness to face it.

Silence came between them for a brief moment.

"Your Highness," Rafe said at last with a solemn look on his face. "I know what you’re thinking. I believe that would be the best for her, too. Let’s tell her about it."

Kyren nodded once. "I planned to."

Not long after, Mary emerged and informed them that Elis was ready.

Both men entered the room together.

Elis made a weak attempt to rise from the bed in respect, but Kyren lifted a hand.

"Stay where you are."

He pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed. Rafe remained near the bedpost, quietly attentive.

"Why did you hide this?" Kyren asked gently.

Elis turned her face away, guilt written all over her expression. The Grand Duke did not press her, nor did he rush her; he waited patiently, allowing her to take her time.

After a long pause, she spoke.

"I... I didn’t know how," she whispered, "how to say it... How to tell anyone that I was already carrying a child..."

The truth she had buried for so long finally broke free from her lips.