Chapter 513: The Plea of Necessity
[A few moments before... in the private library]
Kyren clasped his hands together, his thumbs resting beneath his chin as he absorbed the details of Bridgette Lynn, the palace lady-in-waiting and her servants’ suspicious actions.
"What is your next command, Your Highness? Should we finish them all?" Eric asked without hesitation.
Kyren gave a sly smirk. The idea was tempting. His patience had been worn thin after everything that had transpired at the palace, including the accusations and the humiliation Anna had suffered.
It was clear now that Sarah had made her move subtly much earlier, using her subordinates rather than issuing only threats.
"As much as I’d like to, the assault on my wife or any attempt at it is no longer a personal concern. It has become a matter of national importance. Cassian was founded under the bestowment of the Ro’an Empire, and my Anna is the Great Khasif, the Empress of it." His voice hardened. "Therefore, this will be handled under Cassian law as a lesson to anyone who dares mock us. Get their confessions, then report the matter to the king. It’s his duty to take charge."
"Allow me to take care of it, Your Highness. I can make people talk and drag out even their deepest secrets. This is what I do best," Noah volunteered in confidence.
Kyren nodded. Noah was indeed the best man for the task—less restrained than others, and once a mercenary, he knew how to pressure people without crossing certain lines or more if needed to.
"Mental pressure only," Kyren instructed. "No physical harm. That lady-in-waiting is still a noble. We cannot risk hurting her or her servants. We need evidence, and any injuries could call our methods into question."
"My pleasure," Noah replied with a smirk.
"I want to help too!" Alex suddenly chimed in.
"You?" Noah scoffed. "You’d be a distraction! Everyone knows how soft-hearted you are. The moment you see my way of doing things, you’ll get emotional and interfere."
"I’m not soft-hearted!" Alex protested. "I just follow the rules! But after what they did to our lady, do you really think I’d still show the same mercy? My wife was the first to uncover this, and I promised I’d see it through. I can’t let her efforts go to waste. Please, Your Highness, let me oversee this."
Kyren studied the knight briefly before glancing back at Noah, "Fine. Let him assist you. You’ll both handle the matter together."
The two knights nodded in unison, their earlier bickering dissolved by the Grand Duke’s decisive tone.
"There’s another matter, Your Highness," Eric said, moving on to the next agenda. "It’s unrelated to the first, but still tied to Lady Raychard and them."
Kyren raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what is it?"
"Well..." the second-in-command glanced back and forth at Noah and Alex before speaking.
He exhaled deeply as he carefully explained their wives’ pregnancies, the knights’ request, and the fact that Noah had married Emily through elopement.
The Grand Duke slammed his hand hard on the broad wooden table, carved from dark oak and aged to a deep, mellow sheen.
"How in the world did you get married without my permission?" His voice echoed through the room, thick with tension. "And to Miss Emily Baker, my wife’s person, of all people?"
Noah lowered his gaze in guilt. He had known the Grand Duke would be furious upon hearing about the marriage, as Eric had warned him, but he’d had no other choice.
Emily’s pregnancy required urgent attention, and he had come with Alex for that very purpose: to request female attendants for their expectant wives.
"Your Highness, please calm down," Eric interjected, stepping forward in Noah’s defence. "They love each other. It was only natural that they’d get married eventually."
"I told you not to get involved with any woman until your case was settled! Why didn’t you listen to me?" Kyren snapped at Noah, ignoring Eric’s plea.
"But my case is settled! A formal announcement was made just the other day. Even His Majesty personally apologised to me for the wrongful judgment!" Noah lifted his head, trying to explain.
"I know about the announcement! Don’t take me for a fool, Noah! Your wife is already more than a month pregnant! You were declared innocent just recently. That means you married her before that!" Kyren’s voice thundered. "You even had the audacity to elope! What do you think people will say? That one of my knights treats marriage like a game, running off in the middle of the night with a woman he fancies? Do you want to bring shame to my name?"
"I did run off with her because Sir Navin wouldn’t let us get married," Noah admitted in a sulky tone.
"Don’t blame him! He did exactly what he was supposed to do! I wouldn’t have allowed it either if I’d been here!" Kyren barked.
"But I didn’t take it lightly! I love Emily, and we got married properly, in an official ceremony!" Noah insisted.
Eric remained silent, knowing any further interference from him would only make things worse. The Grand Duke let out a harsh breath, clearly annoyed.
"Where did the wedding take place?" he asked.
"At the registry office in Oldmie," Noah replied.
"Oldmie? That’s Drystan’s hometown! It’s just a few miles away, and you couldn’t track him?" Kyren said, turning sharply to Eric.
"My apologies, Your Highness. Sir Brooks’ skills in covering his tracks are far better than mine and truly commendable," the second-in-command knight replied, wearing the same guilty expression as Noah.
"You’re just giving me excuses!" the Grand Duke shouted again.
Throughout the exchange, Alex remained an observer. He was excluded from reprimand, as he had neither been involved in the incident nor held responsible.
His marriage had been granted and even recommended to be expedited by both the Grand Duke and the Queen of Cassian. Thus, he had no grounds to interfere, though he couldn’t help but pity his comrades.
Kyren’s sharp blue eyes turned back to Noah.
"You said you married properly. Where’s your marriage certificate?" he asked sternly.
Noah looked solemn. But before he could respond, Eric responded.
"I tore it up. We had a huge fight when he returned after eloping with Emily. It ended in a duel, witnessed by His Highness Prince Kiev and the others, and he won."
"Emily? You’re calling his wife by her first name?" the Grand Duke raised a brow.
Eric glanced briefly at Noah before continuing.
"He made me acknowledge her as my sister so I’d be responsible for her should he lose the duel. The terms were clear. If he won, I’d recognise their marriage. But if he lost, he’d have to leave for good. I promised to issue him a new marriage certificate, and I’ve drafted it. It’s only pending your signature and seal."
Kyren shook his head, clearly exasperated by the elopement. Still, he felt a measure of relief knowing Noah had at least married Emily properly and hadn’t dragged her into a scandal.
Just then, something shifted.
Kyren’s senses flared as he felt a pulse.
Swiftly, he stood. The binding spell cord linked to him shimmered, glowing with a pulsating light from behind the closed door.
"What’s the matt—"
Before Alex could finish, the Grand Duke lunged toward the door. He grabbed the handle, only to find it locked.
Without hesitation, he slammed his boot into the door. The handle snapped with a loud clang, and the surrounding wood splintered from the force. The grand duke fiercely entered the master suite without hesitation.
Kyren’s rough act left the three knights bewildered. They sensed something urgent had happened and followed closely behind, but halted at the threshold when they saw Kyren standing motionless in the interconnecting pathway.
"What is going on?" his voice reverberated through the suite.
Four figures were already present in the hall: Anna, Callis, Athillia, and Armel—all startled by the Grand Duke’s sudden appearance.
The three knights leaned to the side at the open threshold to steal a glance, equally puzzled. It was surprising enough that the Bargesian Princess had managed to reach their lady in person, especially after the earlier commotion in the foyer.
"We’re just having a conversation!" Callis replied promptly, her hand clasping Anna’s.
She then leaned closer and whispered something to the princess—something unheard by others. The knights noticed that their lady seemed to struggle to control her emotions, though no words escaped her, only stern expressions.
The Mederian Princess then stepped forward and pushed back Kyren’s arm.
"Out. Go back to your private library. This is girls’ talk," she said firmly.
The Grand Duke didn’t budge immediately. His eyes remained fixed on his wife, concern written all over his face as if he knew something was wrong, though no one else could tell what.
Callis, somehow, seemed to understand but offered no explanation.
"Are you serious right now?" he asked the Mederian Princess, his tone edged with disbelief.
Callis leaned closer and spoke quietly, clearly trying to persuade him.
Kyren then turned his attention to Athillia and Armel, both still frozen in surprise and confusion. At the same time, Alex, Eric, and Noah also shifted their gaze to the pair.
Finally, the Grand Duke inhaled deeply and nodded. They observed his hand make a specific swirling motion, but nothing came out of it.
Eric could deduce that this might be linked to the magic connecting the pair, but he refrained from commenting.
"Carry on," Kyren finally said, but looked at his wife intently, saying, "You will not get what you want from me this way, Anna. Be civilised. Speak, don’t lash out."
At his words, Anna’s expression changed drastically. She lunged at him in a flash, but Callis reacted just in time, stepping in and blocking her path.
The Mederian Princess, now acting as a mediator, whispered something to Anna that made the princess freeze. Her angry countenance shifted into one of guilt.
"I’m sorry..." Anna said softly. "I got carried away."
Kyren seemed relieved at the exchange and turned back. The knights quickly stepped aside to allow him to return to the private library.
The door, though damaged and unable to lock, was closed again. Despite its condition, it still served the purpose of providing some degree of privacy for both parties.
Kyren returned to his seat with a sigh.
"Something happened just now, didn’t it, Your Highness?" Eric finally asked, hoping to confirm his suspicion.
"My wife was trying to withdraw mana from me. That’s why I rushed in," Kyren explained. "She was having uncontrolled emotions out of anger."
"My goodness!" Alex exclaimed, startled.
Just then, a knock came at the door to the private library. Upon receiving permission, Damon and Rafe entered.
"Forgive us, Your Highness, for the interruption. I was searching for you urgently and was told by Armel outside that you are here," said the healer.
"What brings you then?" Kyren asked.
"I have a request regarding Lady Jarr and Lady Brooks, but most importantly, it concerns Lady Jarr. I just came from the treatment room and was informed of Lady Brooks’s pregnancy by Ayden. I’m quite sure Sir Jarr and Sir Brooks have briefed you about their wives’ pregnancies, seeing that both of them are here," said the healer.
"What is it about my wife, Mr Amares?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued at the mention of Meredith’s name.
"My testing on her blood is still ongoing," Rafe began, "but preliminary results have already revealed an abnormality. I can confidently affirm that she’s suffering from an imbalance in blood production."
"Imbalance in blood production?" Noah asked, intrigued.
"Yes. It means her body isn’t producing enough blood to meet its current needs. And since Lady Jarr is now pregnant, her body requires even more blood to support the baby’s development, but it’s falling short," the healer explained.
"Can it be treated?" Alex asked nervously.
"Yes, it can. Fortunately, we’re still early in the pregnancy phase, so it isn’t life-threatening yet. But if left untreated, it could become dangerous. I’ve already prepared the necessary remedies, but she must remain on strict bed rest for a considerable period. That’s why I strongly recommend assigning her female attendants. She absolutely cannot perform any duties or take on any physical strain at the moment," Rafe said firmly.
Alex’s expression turned grave. He turned to Kyren with pleading eyes.
"Your Highness, this is why I came. The request wasn’t for leisure or comfort. It’s something we genuinely need. And I believe Lady Brooks, though her condition may not be as severe, also needs similar care," said the knight.
Kyren looked at the men sympathetically. His own wife was carrying his first child as well, and he fully understood the anxiety and responsibility that came with it. Their request wasn’t just reasonable—it was necessary.
"I acknowledge the need," Kyren said at last, "...and I agree that both ladies require proper assistance, and so does my wife. However... as some of you just witnessed, my Anna’s behaviour earlier was troubling. I’m fairly certain she was about to lash out at Athillia, perhaps even strike her out of anger and jealousy."
"What??" Rafe gasped in disbelief. His eyes fell on the broken door handle connecting the library to the master suite. "What happened? Did our lady hit someone again?"
"Nothing happened. Well... not yet," Eric responded bluntly. "Luckily, your wife is currently with our lady, dealing with the situation. They’re having some ’girls’ talk’ with Lady Athillia on the other side," he said, nudging his chin towards the damaged door.
"Oh, my goodness! Then... that door..."
"That’s His Highness’s work of art," Eric said with a slight grin. "He got worked up thinking our lady was in danger."
"Very funny," Kyren responded, unamused.
"Seriously, Your Highness," Eric continued, his tone sobering. "I believe the real danger now is Lady Raychard. If she can’t control herself with that new power, she could wreck the entire place, not to mention hurt someone."
"I’m aware," Kyren replied. "That’s why I’m currently blocking her access to the mana. She relies on magic for strength. Her physical prowess hasn’t caught up yet since her body is untrained. Even though she remembers all the combat movements from when she was possessed, her striking force wouldn’t be that impressive."
Eric nodded in understanding.
"Still... being pregnant, jealous, and quick to anger? That’s the perfect recipe to turn any woman into a monster," he added, rubbing his arms dramatically. "One girl you brought home has already caused a scene. I can’t imagine what she will do if more women are taken into this mansion!"
"You also haven’t explained who Lady Athillia is," Noah chimed in.
"I have my reasons," Kyren replied. "I’ll tell you when the time is right."
"Then... how do we resolve this?" Alex asked, brows furrowed.
"Sir McQuinn has a proposal," Rafe interjected. "That’s why I brought him with me."
All eyes immediately shifted to Damon.
"What’s your suggestion?" Kyren asked.
"We can appoint well-trusted female attendants to assist Lady Jarr, Lady Brooks and Lady Raychard as well," Damon proposed. "I’m confident our lady won’t reject the names I have in mind. In fact, I believe she’ll welcome them wholeheartedly."
"Who?" the Grand Duke asked, intrigued.
Damon smiled and then named Mary, Scarlett, and Helen. Alex also suggested adding Rania to the list, as she had been Meredith’s personal maid before her marriage.
After the knights disclosed the names, the others expressed complete support, affirming those women’s devotion towards Anna. Even Rafe fully agreed.
"Since you all have experience with them, I’ll trust your judgment," Kyren said. "As for Miss Rania Miller, though I don’t know her well, Anna was considerate of her, and they appeared to get along well, so I have no objections."
His eyes then shifted toward the door leading to the master suite.
"Once the ladies finish their conversation and sort out their differences, I’ll speak with Anna. Her permission is crucial as I don’t want anyone getting hurt. Please understand that. I’ll inform you of her decision later."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your consideration!" Alex beamed.
Noah echoed his joy with a wide grin.
"I’m quite certain Lady Raychard will agree," Damon said confidently. "These women have stood by her through thick and thin, proving their unwavering loyalty even in the most critical moments. We’ll await your response."
"Oh, I sincerely hope she does!" Rafe added with enthusiasm. "I can’t wait to work with that maid again. She’s so resourceful, attentive, and sharp-witted. She noticed Lady Raychard’s pregnancy even before I did. Of course, she attended to her, so she picked up on the physical changes I missed. It’ll be incredibly helpful to have her around!"
The healer’s eyes lit up with excitement as he referred to one of the names suggested by Damon.
"I hope so, too," said Kyren. "I want Anna and the other ladies to receive the best care. They all deserve it."
Just then, another knock came from the main door of the private library.
"Who is it this time?" the Grand Duke muttered.
Alex moved to open it. As the door swung wide, the figure standing outside took them all by surprise—a man looking clearly concerned.
"Your Highness... Prince Kiev??"