CHAPTER 494: FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR

The attendees in the royal court were taken aback when Kyren’s figure appeared in the doorway with a shout.

Anna’s lips opened in astonishment at the sight of her husband. Her turbulent emotions quivered as she recalled yesterday’s incident.

Why had he come here? Was he going to torment her again with cruel words before everyone?

The damage he had inflicted was enough to tear her heart into pieces; yet she still loved him to such an extent that she couldn’t bring herself to blame him—only her disappointment lingered.

Now, following Kiev’s confession, all her hopes had shattered. Kyren had doubted her faithfulness previously and had not believed her. He would never accept a sullied woman bearing another man’s child.

Strangely, unlike when he had retrieved the princess from the king yesterday, the Grand Duke’s steps were neither slow nor deliberate. He ran to her as if chasing his own life, and when he reached her, he pushed Kiev away, causing the Mederian Prince to fall to the floor.

Fear filled Kiev’s eyes at the thought of Kyren potentially harming the princess. He struggled to rise, and as he raised his head and looked up, he saw something surprising.

Amidst the chaotic emotions, the Grand Duke had come to a resolution after a night of battling his own turmoil.

As soon as he caught Anna and pushed away the Mederian Prince, his arms encircled her petite frame and pulled her to his chest, embracing her as if he had finally found the most precious treasure he had lost.

Anna closed her eyes as she was pulled in, bracing herself for an impending assault. But it never came, leaving her confused. Instead, her body was wrapped in the Grand Duke’s towering figure, his warmth and the scent of musk and leather quickly soothing her trembling fear.

Slowly, she lifted her eyelids, only to see his broad chest. His head rested on her shoulder, heavy with emotion, but she couldn’t push him away. Then she heard a faint cry close to her ear.

The princess thought she was dreaming, but everything felt so real. The sobs from the man holding her grew louder. Then, she felt him lift his head and hold her arms.

Looking up, she saw Kyren’s gaunt, pale, and dishevelled appearance. His swollen eyes were darkened, and his hands trembled slightly.

"I’m sorry!" he exclaimed, shattering the silence.

His blue eyes overflowed with tears.

The princess lifted her bound hands to touch his face, feeling the roughness of his skin, the dampness of his cheeks, and the sorrow that accompanied them. This was indeed real and not a dream.

"I’m so sorry!" he uttered again.

His tears erupted like a dam unleashing its flood. He clasped her hands and brought them to his chapped lips, kissing them as his cries continued to fall.

"I promised to protect you, but I broke my vow and hurt you instead! I allowed my trust to falter and wrongfully accused you of betrayal! I’m truly sorry!" he cried. "I understand that forgiving me will be difficult after my actions, but please! Please let me have a chance to atone and protect you once more!"

For a moment, Anna froze, her emerald eyes gazing at her husband in bewilderment.

"Is this... is this true?" she asked to affirm. "Am I not dreaming?"

She already knew it was not an illusion, yet she felt this was too good to be true.

"It is true!"

"But... why? I thought you hated me... after all this..."

"Because I love you! With every beat of my heart, I love you!" The sacred confession finally slipped from his lips.

A fluttering sensation coursed through Anna at Kyren’s remarks. Those were the very words she had longed to hear since she first revealed her feelings to him.

"Forgive me for taking so long to realise how I feel about you. I was misled by the belief that I couldn’t love anyone, when in reality, I had already fallen for you. Those feelings were there from the night I rescued you, but I chose to ignore them. I thought I knew myself, yet I was too foolish and unaware!"

"I love you too!" she cried. "I thought you would never come! And even if you did, you would rouse your anger on me!"

"No, Anna! Eric explained to me what happened and made me realise my mistakes. I should have listened to my heart from the beginning, but I was arrogant to admit it."

The world around them spun into a blur at these confessions, making nothing else matter. They were there, embracing each other, but their souls felt like they were elsewhere, celebrating the affirmation of love.

This unexpected turn of events once again took aback the onlookers. They had anticipated that the Grand Duke would confront his concubine, as rumours had suggested he was deeply enraged with her. However, what unfolded before them was entirely contrary to their expectations.

Seated among the knights, Eric smiled, closing his eyes momentarily to savour the relief. At last, Kyren had admitted his love for his wife.

Once again, the advice from the second-in-command knight worked like a charm when he sincerely thought he had failed to convince the Grand Duke.

The Knights of Gerhard and their healer shared the joy of this revelation, as did Adam, who discreetly felt the same.

"Let’s get out of here!" Kyren finally said, breaking the hug.

He deftly removed the ropes binding Anna’s hands, letting them drop to the floor with a soft thud.

Sitting on the ground, Kiev huffed a relieved smile, too. It had been worth it to be pushed down by the Grand Duke, knowing he had come to his wife’s rescue.

"Not so fast!" Lord James rose from his seat suddenly. "This trial isn’t over! You can’t take her away!"

"That’s right!" Sarah chimed in, standing up as well. "His Highness Prince Kiev has already admitted that he r*ped Lady Raychard, and the child within her is his! The concubine is tainted!"

Sarah couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. She would not allow Anna to walk out of the royal court freely—not today!

Anna quivered at the accusation. Would her husband flip his decision once more? Yet, she didn’t sense him withdrawing even after that. Conversely, his arm wrapped securely around her back and shoulders, holding her firm.

"Anna is mine!" Kyren roared. "The child is also mine! You hold no authority to obstruct us!"

His audacious claim echoed through the stunned assembly. Even the king was startled by the Grand Duke’s unanticipated candour.

Outrage began to surface amidst the gasps of discontent and disapproving murmurs provoked by such a controversial statement, accompanied by scrutinising gazes and condemnation.

"You are wrong, Your Highness! The child is obviously not yours! You and His Majesty have already admitted that, and I witnessed it! So did your men! His Highness Prince Kiev has also made his confession before everyone! You are just saying this to protect her!" Sarah raised her voice defiantly.

"I don’t care what has been said! I’ve already decided that they both belong to me!" Kyren shot back.

"Are you suggesting that you’ll be a wittol husband and permit your concubine to bear an illegitimate child?" Lord James exclaimed. "It’s reckless of you to say such a thing, as if you have no regard for the royal family’s honour! If you allow this, His Majesty will face ridicule and scrutiny from society!"

King Kyden’s face flushed deep red. The astonishing events were pushing his patience to its limits.

First, there was Kiev’s admission of s*xual assault against Anna, then Kyren’s confession of love and now the grand duke was openly challenging social ethics without regard for the serious consequences of his actions.

The king wished to save the princess, but being humiliated in such a manner was unacceptable. It would tarnish the dignity of the royal family and the pride associated with being a descendant of the northern warrior appointed to the throne.

In this matter, Lord James’s argument was gaining traction.

King Kyden clenched his fist, torn between upholding his family’s honour and choosing Anna, whose blood contained the cure that could save the lives of thousands of his people should the dreaded Laradie plague resurface.

Which choice would he ultimately select?

"Grand Duke of Gerhard!" The king’s voice rose as he stood, his countenance clouded with emotion. "Have you forsaken the respect due to me as your sovereign that you enter so brashly? This breach occurred yesterday, and now you repeat the same!"

Kyren turned to the king and replied, "My allegiance to you remains steadfast, Your Majesty! Yet my wife has been unjustly accused, hunted down and dragged in front of all!" Kyren’s tone was resolute. "I acknowledge that I bear responsibility for part of this. However, just as I am urged to honour you, she too merits that same dignity, for she is innocent!"

A malicious idea struck Sarah at that moment. Anna seemed to be getting away based on Kiev’s confession and Kyren’s support, but there was one more thing she could do to break her.

"She might be innocent, as you say, but if the child in her womb is born, the royal family will live in humiliation for generations! The stain of this scandal will linger long after its birth. This cannot be allowed to happen!" she warned.

"What are you suggesting, Lady James?" the king asked suspiciously.

"For the sake of honour, that child should not live! The pregnancy must be aborted!" said the chief lady-in-waiting determinedly.

"Over my dead body!" Kiev shouted, already standing. "Grand Duke! Please don’t allow them to harm the baby! I’m begging you! If you truly love Princess Anna, you wouldn’t permit the baby’s abortion! That child is a part of her!"

Shackled and powerless, he had no option but to plead. The Grand Duke, however, only looked silently at the Mederian Prince.

Anna shook with fear. It appeared that Sarah was intent on annihilating her using every means available. The thought of losing her child rendered her speechless in fear.

"Don’t even think of laying a finger on my wife!" Kyren yelled to the crowd, locking his arm around Anna in a protective embrace. "The moment you do that, I’ll break your arm and throw it to the dogs! You all think you’re so smart, yet you make accusations based on assumptions! Prince Kiev raped my wife? Huh! I won’t believe it unless someone here can say they saw it with their own eyes and swear upon God! Someone else might have taken advantage of her, and whoever that is, I will destroy him!"

Kyren should have been consumed by anger towards Kiev for his confession, but Eric’s words resonated in his mind. As indicated in the plan, the Mederian Prince confessed to the crime, demonstrating his honesty. Thus, this convinced the Grand Duke that Kiev hadn’t committed the act and was only trying to protect Anna.

Kiev felt a sense of relief seeing Kyren’s unwavering resolve. He also appreciated that the Grand Duke was no longer swayed by the harmful words spoken against Anna and himself. Whatever Eric had told him had made a significant impact, changing his belief entirely, and the Mederian Prince was grateful for that.

"You are not thinking straight, Your Highness! You are prioritising your concubine over His Majesty’s dignity! How can you still claim to respect him?" one of the royal court members voiced out.

They were mostly in sync with Lord James and his daughter.

"Why are the heads and representatives of the Pillar Families silent? I thought you were here to uphold the honour of the royal family!" Lord James barked at the dukes and the marquess’s son.

Aaron looked at Lord Grey and the dukes, concern etched on his face. This was an argument they could not win.

The minister shook his head and looked down while the dukes glanced back at the Marquess of Sylvere’s son and nodded, permitting him to make the statement on their behalf.

Finally, Aaron stood up and asserted, "The dignity of the royal family must be preserved. However, as the law of Cassian states, every life is a blessing from God, and it is the king’s duty to protect it. Therefore, we ask Your Majesty to make a wise decision."

All eyes fell on the king, awaiting his response. After a moment of tense silence, King Kyden stepped down from the dais and stood before the attendees.

In front of everyone, the king stated, "Prince Kiev has already made his confession without coercion. Though there is no eyewitness to his crime, his statement is sufficient to be accepted. Thus, he will face the punishment stipulated by law, as I cannot tolerate such a heinous act."

The king paused, taking his time to continue. "As for the Grand Duke, maintaining honour is essential, and he has clearly neglected this. Yet, terminating a life that has not yet begun is a sin. While Lady Raychard is considered innocent in this case, her tarnished reputation is affecting the royal family. Hence, the lady herself must decide."

"What do you mean?" Anna asked, confused.

The king approached the princess with a solemn face.

"I’m sorry for what happened to you, and I apologise for accusing you in the first place. Things occurred under my watch which should not have, and I feel guilty about it. Rest assured, I will guarantee your safety and allow you to live freely with your child. You will be housed in a safe location and well cared for throughout your life. However, you cannot continue to be the Grand Duke’s concubine if you wish to keep the baby," King Kyden explained.

He didn’t prefer this decision, but needed to placate the already agitated nobles, which was no easy task. Anna was overwhelmed with shock.

"You are asking me to choose between my child and Kyren? I can never do that!" she cried.

"Put your feelings aside, Anna. The Grand Duke is defying societal expectations by claiming an illegitimate child fathered by another man as his own. This baby will never have a place in the family tree. How can he be the father? He will face lifelong ostracism and mockery!" pressed King Kyden.

"How could you!" the Grand Duke exclaimed. "She’s the woman I love!"

"The child is not yours, Kyren, and deciding to keep them both by your side does not justify the humiliation it will bring upon us all."

"I don’t care!" the Grand Duke shouted.

"But I do!" the king replied fiercely. "I refuse to ask her to end the pregnancy, as that would be cruel! But if she truly cares about you, she will understand what is best for you and us all! I can’t bear it if you are looked down and condemned for life!"

Silence filled the hall as the crowd realised that the king was not only thinking of himself but also of his brother’s future.

In Cassian, the sacred bond of marriage was paramount; adultery was seen as a grave sin, while r*pe was regarded as an atrocious crime.

The principle of honour, especially among royal and noble families, held great significance, with the preservation of the family’s reputation and lineage being paramount.

In just moments, the tables had turned again.

The princess shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I can’t lose my child, but I can’t lose you, too!" she said, looking desperately at her husband.

A sharp pain pierced her heart. Why was she compelled to make this decision?

Once again, her love for Kyren was tested. Despair clouded the Grand Duke’s expression, his eyes glazing with unshed tears.

"Why must it come to this?" he murmured, almost to himself, in a defeated tone.

"Raychard means ’the most honourable men,’ Kyren. Without honour, we’ll be nothing!" King Kyden reminded his brother.

"So you say, honour is everything, right?" Kyren scoffed, a soft chuckle escaping him.

"I meant no harm! I also don’t want to hurt Anna and you. I only want the best for all of us!" the king insisted.

"The best for you is not necessarily the best for us," said the grand duke, gritting his teeth as he held his emotions.

"I don’t want to do this either. So, blame me if you wish. I know I am not a great king who can satisfy everyone. But a decision must be made, and dignity must be preserved, Kyren," said King Kyden with remorse.

He didn’t have the heart to separate his brother from his wife, especially now that Kyren had openly confessed his love for Anna. It was a bizarre achievement, as this precious feeling was strong enough to surpass the binding spell that had shackled the Grand Duke from loving anyone.

But he had to act. Allowing this couple to live together with the child would place Anna in constant danger and threat. If only there were a better solution than this...

"If that’s the case, then let me make the choice rather than her," the Grand Duke declared, steeling himself.

Kiev stood by, anxious for the outcome. The impending sentence mattered little to him; his only concern was the princess’s and her child’s safety. If Kyren truly meant to protect his wife after seeking her forgiveness, now was the time to prove it.

The crowd held its breath, waiting.

The grand duke then spoke determinedly.

"All these points are made under the guise of honour... Raychard’s honour. I recognise the duties associated with that name, but I would not allow my Anna to be hurt by those choices, nor would I damage the reputation everyone so cherishes. Therefore, take it all, Your Majesty..."

"I don’t quite understand," King Kyden furrowed his brow.

"That surname, the title of Grand Duke, the Duchy of Gerhard, the knighthood and everything... take it all back! I don’t want any of it!"