The Grand Duke's Soulmate

Morning arrived bright and clear, carrying renewed hope.

It was still early for a city that had spent the previous night immersed in celebration. Many of its residents were likely still asleep, recovering from the festivities, while others were only beginning to stir.

Yet the group was already at the pier, preparing to set sail.

"Why can’t we wait until the stalls open?" Anna complained as she stood at the boarding pier, gazing longingly towards the distant city. "We could stay a little longer and have a proper breakfast. I still want to try that streaky beef with the bun."

Kiev cast her a sideways glance.

"You seem awfully determined to return to the festival district. Is there somewhere you’re trying to go?" he asked suspiciously.

Anna pressed her lips together.

How could she possibly explain what she was feeling?

For some reason, her thoughts kept drifting back to the Healer House.

Even now, standing at the pier, she found herself glancing towards its direction instead of the waiting vessel.

It was strange.

A few days earlier, she had experienced the same strange, inexplicable pull, as though something on Sabel Island was calling to her.

That unexplained urge had been the reason she had been so determined to come here in the first place. The Lantern Festival had merely become a convenient excuse.

It was like a silent voice she could neither hear nor understand, yet her heart insisted on following it. Even now, the feeling had not disappeared and had grown stronger.

The princess could not explain why, but she had the distinct sense that someone had come and was waiting for her, somewhere on Sabel Island.

Yet no matter how much she thought about it, she could not identify who it was. All she knew was that the feeling refused to leave her.

"It’s time to go back. You’ve had your fun already," Kiev said firmly, turning his attention away from her. He did not wait for a reply. "I have urgent matters to attend to."

Anna let out a defeated sigh.

The words felt like a door being shut right before her.

Whatever it was that had drawn her to Sabel Island, she had yet to find it. Yet now, her search was being cut short before she could uncover the answer.

She had tried the previous night during the festival.

However, with the knights shadowing her constantly and Callis vigilantly watching her during the outing, her chance to slip away was cut short. To make things worse, Kiev only allowed them one hour before curfew.

An hour.

Far too short to search for something she did not even understand herself.

In the end, she had returned with nothing but more questions than answers.

There was no point in asking again.

By now, Anna knew her betrothed well enough. Once the Mederian Prince made up his mind, changing it was nearly impossible.

Behind them, Callis and Agnes exchanged a glance.

Neither said a word.

They, too, had noticed something unusual with Kiev.

The moment they returned to the manor last night, he had instructed everyone to prepare for departure at first light and had been so agitated about returning to Semeta as soon as possible.

Whatever was weighing on his mind, it had clearly changed something within him.

"Come."

Kiev extended a hand towards Anna.

"Let’s board."

Reluctantly, the princess accepted it.

Several knights immediately moved to assist them. The vessel assigned for their return voyage was already waiting alongside the pier, its crew making final preparations.

Everything was ready. All that remained was for the passengers to board.

Just as Anna stepped towards the gangplank—

"Brother."

Callis’s voice interrupted.

Both Anna and the Mederian prince paused and turned.

Callis stepped forward as Agnes stood behind.

"Can we wait for just a moment?" she asked.

Kiev frowned.

"For what?"

Callis smiled.

"Anna seems to be craving that food. I’ll ask Agnes to buy it for her. It won’t take long for the stalls to open."

Kiev’s eyes narrowed immediately.

As expected, the answer came.

"We shouldn’t be delaying. I already told you that we would be returning early today."

The Mederian prince’s tone was absolute, making the faint hope that had begun to form in Anna’s chest vanish just as quickly.

Callis was usually the only person capable of persuading her brother to compromise, yet today even she seemed unable to move him.

"Then Agnes can stay behind and bring it back later," Callis suggested. "Would that be acceptable?"

This time, Kiev paused. The proposal did not interfere with their departure, nor did it require Anna to remain on the island.

Seeing his hesitation, the Mederrian Princess pressed further.

"Please, brother. It won’t affect your plan in the slightest."

After a moment, Kiev relented.

"...Fine. Give enough money to her. After she buys it, ask her to return directly to Semeta. Do not wander elsewhere."

Relief immediately appeared on Callis’s face.

"I will, brother."

Without waiting for him to change his mind, she turned and gently pulled Agnes aside and slipped a pouch into her hands.

The court lady’s brows rose as the pouch was noticeably heavy for the purchase of a few buns.

By then, Kiev was already helping Anna board the vessel, and neither of them was paying any attention to the two women.

"Buy the food Anna wants," the Mederian Princess said quietly. "And get several while they’re still fresh."

Agnes nodded obediently.

"Of course, Your Highness. But this is too much."

She glanced at the pouch.

"I already have enough money for that."

"No, keep it."

Callis closed Agnes’s fingers around the pouch. Then she leaned closer.

"And while you’re there, see if you can find some crimson fennel."

Agnes blinked.

"Crimson fennel?"

The herb was exceptionally rare in their region and seldom used outside of specialised remedies and noble kitchens. Yet that wasn’t what puzzled her.

The court lady gave the Mederian Princess a questioning look.

"What is it for?" she asked.

Callis glanced briefly towards the vessel before lowering her voice even further. Anna and Kiev were already out of sight, having boarded the enclosed cabin. Something had clearly been weighing on her mind for quite some time.

"Don’t ask further. Just... try to get it, please."

This time, Agnes did not just relent to the order. Instead, she reached out and enclosed her hand over Callis’s.

The unexpected gesture made the Mederian Princess look at her with raised brows.

"As your court lady, I’ve been holding back from asking," Agnes said gently. "But now, as your friend, I would like to know..."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"What exactly happened on the continent? You’ve been acting strangely ever since you returned. So has His Highness, Prince Kiev."

Her grip tightened slightly. "What are you hiding, Callis?"

The formality had disappeared from her voice.

Agnes was no longer speaking as a servant, but as a friend who had grown up beside her.

Callis did not mind this. In fact, when they were alone, she had always preferred Agnes to call her by name.

It wasn’t surprising to her that the court lady had noticed by now, since she had always been perceptive. It would have been more unusual if she hadn’t noticed at all.

"The herbs are meant to strengthen the womb that had a severe miscarriage, and it is only used when magic wasn’t able to revive it to the original condition. Who happens to have this issue? Is it you?" asked Agnes anxiously before the Mederian Princess could answer.

"No! Of course not!" Callis immediately exclaimed. She then turned left and right in alarm. Thankfully, no one had heard her.

Agnes paused, giving a moment to think. Then, her eyes widened slightly.

"Was it Her Imperial Highness Princess Anna?"

Immediately, Agnes felt Callis’s hand tremble beneath hers as though she had been caught off guard.

Her eyes shifted from their clasped hands to the Mederian Princess’s face.

The reaction alone was enough.

Callis immediately withdrew her hand and looked away.

"It’s not for you to know!" she said.

"But—"

"This is an order!"

Agnes froze.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

Of all the years she had served Callis, never once had the Mederian Princess raised her voice at her like this. Neither as her mistress, nor as her friend.

Even Callis seemed to realise what she had done. Her lips pressed together while her gaze remained elsewhere.

The atmosphere between them turned awkward.

After a while, Agnes let out a sigh.

"...Very well."

She decided not to press further. At least not now.

"The herb won’t be easy to find," she said, changing the subject. "It’s quite rare."

Callis remained silent.

"Though, because of the Lantern Festival, there might be a chance. Many merchants come to Sabel during this period."

The Mederian Princess nodded.

"Thank you."

Agnes adjusted the pouch in her hand before slipping it into her small bag.

Now that she had accepted the task, her thoughts drifted to where she should begin her search.

Then, a thought suddenly came to her.

"Perhaps I can ask at the Healer House first."

Callis looked up.

"The Healer House?"

"Yes. The free one."

The Mederian Princess frowned.

"I’ve never heard of it."

"That’s because it only opened recently," Agnes replied. "The place became famous rather quickly. Many people came seeking treatment, and it is run by the Blue Mantle Company, a mercenary guild."

"A mercenary guild?"

Agnes nodded.

"Then why would you go there?" Callis asked again, curious.

"Because crimson fennel is common on the continent, and they came from there. Besides helping women recover from severe miscarriages, this herb is also used to stop excessive bleeding from injuries. Mercenaries and travellers like them would likely have some in stock," the court lady explained.

"Owh..."

Callis noted it and gave it some thought.

The mention of the continent immediately drew her attention. Then again, Sabel was a trading island. Merchants, sailors, and travellers arrived here from overseas all the time.

There was nothing unusual about this. However, something else triggered her curiosity.

"You said the Healer House is free. What do you mean?" she asked.

"They provide treatments and remedies free of charge to the patients," Agnes replied.

Callis blinked.

"For everyone?"

"Yes."

The Mederian Princess’s eyes widened. "Who would be foolish enough to do that? Treatment is expensive, even without magic! They still have to pay for medicine, supplies, and taxes. How are they supposed to sustain it if everything is given away for free?" she exclaimed.

"I don’t know about that," Agnes replied with a small shrug. "But I heard it was the healer’s decision. From what people say, he’s exceptionally skilled. So I don’t think he’s as foolish as you said he was. Perhaps he’s simply generous."

Callis folded her arms, somehow annoyed.

"And who is this so-called exceptional healer?"

"Mr Joseph."

Callis turned silent. The name struck her unexpectedly.

A memory surfaced in her mind.

A quiet graveyard where Rafe stood before her.

"Yes. My middle name is Joseph. However, I rarely use it."

The recollection came so vividly that her breath caught.

Could it be...

Rafe?

For a brief moment, her heart stirred.

The same feeling she had experienced before returned—the strange certainty that somehow he was drawing closer to her. But just as quickly, it vanished.

Callis lowered her gaze.

No.

That was impossible. She was merely letting her emotions overwhelm her.

After all, she had declared him her soulmate. Missing him was only natural as the yearning was bound to linger.

Slowly, the Mederian Princess shook her head.

It couldn’t be him. No... not Rafe.

Agnes noticed the change in the Mederian Princess’s expression. But, before she could ask further, Callis spoke first.

"Fine. It doesn’t matter how or where, just find it. And once you’ve gotten everything, return to Semeta on your own. There will be other vessels heading there as the curfew has been lifted."

"Very well," Agnes replied.

After making sure the court lady understood the instructions, Callis headed towards the vessel.

By then, Kiev was already waiting on board.

Soon, the ropes were untied, and the vessel slowly pulled away from the pier.

Standing at the harbour, Agnes raised her hand and waved.

Callis returned the gesture. The distance between them gradually widened until the vessel drifted farther into the waterway.

Only after it was gone from sight did Agnes lower her hand.

She stood there long, even after the boat had become small and finally vanished from sight. It was still early, and most of the stalls had yet to open.

With time to spare, Agnes decided to take a shortcut towards the festival district. She turned into a narrow alley that ran behind two rows of buildings, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone path.

Suddenly, a figure stepped into her way.

Agnes halted and lifted her eyes.

Standing before her was a foreign man with a sturdy build reminiscent of a knight. His striking red hair immediately caught her attention, matching her own shade.

The man let out a breath as though relieved.

"Finally, I’ve found you," he said.