The Grand Duke's Soulmate

Chapter 606: Curfew at Sabel

Anna stood by the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as a sombre pout settled on her face.

Beyond the wooden frame, the sea stretched quietly beneath the sky. The salty breeze drifted in through the slightly open shutters, carrying the distant sound of waves breaking on the shore and the creaking of boats swaying at the docks.

Everything outside was calm. Yet none of it eased the tension filling the boathouse.

Before the princess stood Kiev, the very man who had appeared at the tavern and dragged her straight here without giving her the chance to protest properly.

Behind him was Callis, unusually quiet, while Agnes remained a little further away, shoulders drawn in as guilt lingered plainly across her face.

The Mederian princess looked concerned. Anna’s sudden disappearance had thrown the entire palace into unrest the moment her absence was discovered.

The Mederian Prince, who had already been overly cautious ever since the incident, was close to losing his composure when he realised she had slipped away unnoticed.

And when he finally found her, his frustration had only worsened.

Still, despite understanding his anger, Callis could not help but feel sorry for Anna as well.

A huff escaped from the princess’s small mouth.

"You said I could go anywhere I wanted," Anna shot back in frustration.

"Not without escorts," Kiev replied immediately.

The princess cast him a sharp side glance.

"What are you so afraid of?" she mocked. "That I’ll run off searching for another man?"

The Mederian Prince’s jaw tightened visibly.

He took a step forward, but Callis quickly caught his arm before he could say anything further.

"Don’t get worked up," she said calmly. "She only wanted to see the Lantern Festival. It’s not like she was trying to run away from us."

The Mederian Prince turned towards her, his eyes darkened with a silent warning that made Callis immediately withdraw her hand from his arm.

She understood that look well. And because she understood, she did not intervene further.

Kiev’s anger was not born merely from fury.

It came from fear.

Fear of everything that had happened before. Fear of losing the people who were precious to him once again.

The tragedies they had endured still lingered heavily within him, and he had no intention of allowing such events to repeat themselves.

Since their return, that fear had made him sterner than ever.

And to worsen his anxiety, the bloodied incident involving them on Semeta recently was still fresh in their minds, a grim reminder of how swiftly everything could descend into horror within the blink of an eye.

Because of that, they could not afford to lower their guard around Anna.

Never again.

"You just want to confine me, don’t you?" Anna questioned, turning to face him with a sombre look. "All those guards watching me everywhere I go... How is my life here any better than it was in Ardel if you keep treating me like this?"

"I told you, I’m not confining you," Kiev replied firmly. "It’s for your safety. What if someone comes after you? What if you get hurt?"

The princess turned away again, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.

"Who would hurt me?" she argued. "It’s not like I’m well-known here. Even in Ardel, my existence was barely acknowledged. And after arriving in Semeta, I stayed inside the palace the whole time. I wasn’t even formally presented to the court or introduced publicly. Only the king and queen met me properly."

"You were ill," Kiev said.

"I’m fine and have fully recovered," Anna retorted. "And the moment I did, you immediately threw me into training after training. Honestly, if I didn’t know I’m supposedly this ’Great Khasif’ you keep talking about, I’d think you were trying to turn me into a mercenary instead."

"That’s not our intention," Callis said gently. "We only want to make sure that you’re truly safe."

Anna slowly lowered her arms and turned towards the Mederian Princess.

"I’m not the same Anna I used to be, Callis," she said. "I’m stronger now and can protect myself. I can feel the power growing inside me. Why is it so hard for both of you to trust in my abilities?"

"It’s not that we don’t trust you. It’s just—"

"Just what?" Anna cut in abruptly.

Before Callis could answer further—

"Enough!"

Kiev’s voice cut through the boathouse sharply.

"You are my betrothed," he said sternly, "and that makes me your guardian. In matters concerning your well-being and safety, you will submit to my judgment and adhere to my decisions."

His gaze remained fixed on her.

"This discussion is over. We’ll return to Semeta once the boat is ready."

The finality in his tone left no option for argument.

Anna’s expression fell at once.

The frustration she had been holding onto faded into visible disappointment. Her lips pressed together tightly as she turned her face away, avoiding looking at him altogether. The excitement she had carried earlier upon arriving at Sabel was now completely gone.

A heavy silence settled within the boathouse.

Further behind, Agnes stayed still, her fingers lightly gripping her sleeves. Watching Anna reprimanded weighed heavily on her chest, but she dared not speak, fearing to make the tense situation worse.

Her shoulders trembled slightly when Kiev suddenly called her name.

"You didn’t leave behind anything that could lead others to discover Princess Anna was here, did you?" he asked.

Agnes quickly lifted her head and shook it.

"Her Imperial Highness was only introduced as a court lady to the tavern owner and his wife, Your Highness," she replied carefully. "Other than that... no. We only spoke casually with a few street hawkers. No one knows who she truly is."

"What about the accommodation booking?" Callis asked. "You said you reserved the entire tavern for just the two of you."

Agnes hesitated.

"I... used my seal for the reservation, Your Highness," she admitted softly, her shoulders drooping.

"You used your court lady’s seal?" Kiev repeated, one brow lifting slightly. "That would leave an official trace."

Agnes felt herself shrink under his gaze.

The Mederian prince was not shouting. His voice remained calm and controlled, yet that was enough to make her feel intimidated.

Ever since she and Anna had been ’caught’ by the siblings, neither Kiev nor Callis had questioned or reprimanded her directly.

Until now.

"That’s fine, brother," Callis spoke up. "It was her personal seal, not the palace’s. The record would only indicate that Agnes was there. It’s common for court ladies with clearance to use their seals for transactions during their rest days. It’s part of the incentives granted to them."

"She reserved the entire tavern with it," Kiev pointed out sceptically. "That kind of expense would surely catch the royal treasurer’s attention."

"Not necessarily for a small tavern like that," Callis countered calmly. "Besides, Agnes is a high-ranked court lady under me. She’s permitted to use such privileges."

Kiev let out a low grunt but eventually relented.

"Fine," he muttered. "Arguing with you is pointless when you’ve already decided to protect your friend."

The Mederian prince understood the relationship between Callis and Agnes well.

The court lady was not merely her attendant. She was Callis’s only true female friend in Semeta.

The Mederian princess had never been close to the noble ladies of the capital. Her exceptional beauty, status, and talents had long made her the subject of envy among them, leaving her isolated despite her standing.

Thankfully, Agnes’s presence since childhood had filled that emptiness.

As soon as the conversation ended, a knock sounded on the boathouse door.

A guard stepped in after receiving permission.

"Finally... let’s go," Kiev muttered upon seeing his man, assuming the vessel was ready. Earlier, he had sent the guard ahead to clear the private pier for their return voyage.

But the guard’s expression remained uneasy.

"Your Highness... I’m afraid we cannot sail back to Semeta for now," he reported in a lowered voice.

Kiev’s eyes widened.

The statement immediately drew everyone’s attention towards the guard.

"What do you mean we cannot sail back?" the prince asked sharply.

"The sea routes to Semeta have already been sealed due to tonight’s celebration," the guard explained. "For safety reasons, all vessels are prohibited from departing until morning."

"Oh no..." Kiev muttered, slapping a hand against his forehead. "I forgot about the curfew. Now we’re stranded."

Callis looked at him.

"You can still issue a royal order," she pointed out. "The coast guards would allow us through."

Kiev immediately shook his head.

"And have it reported directly to His Majesty?" he replied. "A royal order at this hour would definitely draw attention. Father will ask questions, and we don’t have a proper explanation to give."

"We could simply tell him the truth," Callis suggested. "That we’re escorting the Khasif."

Kiev looked up at once.

"Her departure from Semeta was never recorded anywhere," he said flatly. "How exactly am I supposed to explain this? That Princess Anna slipped out for an adventure on her own, accompanied by an irresponsible court lady? What do you think the king’s reaction would be then?"

His gaze shifted briefly towards Agnes, who visibly shrank under it.

"Even your friend here wouldn’t be pardoned for her actions. This is not a trivial matter."

Callis creased her forehead.

"Then what do we do now?"

The Mederian prince let out a heavy sigh.

"We have no other choice but to remain here for the night and return tomorrow morning."

The moment those words left his mouth, Anna’s emerald eyes brightened instantly.

"Does that mean we can join the festival tonight?" she asked excitedly.

"Of course not!" Kiev snapped at once, his voice rising. "You and Agnes are grounded. We’ll stay at my private residence, and neither of you will step outside. Understood?"

Anna pouted immediately.

"You’re mean! I hate you!"

"Don’t be childish, Princess Anna," Kiev retorted firmly. "This is for your own good."

"No!" Anna shot back. "You’re an arrogant, overbearing tyrant! You only care about what you want, not about what I want! Don’t talk to me, Prince Kiev!" the princess countered angrily.

Callis quickly pulled her brother aside before another argument could erupt.

"Brother, calm down a little," she whispered. "She’s already getting anxious. If you keep pushing like this, it might worsen her condition."

Kiev paused.

He turned back towards Anna and saw it clearly—the agitation building within her again, and the emotional strain slowly surfacing.

That reminded him of the past.

If they handled this poorly, it could spiral into another disaster just like before.

The Mederian prince drew in a slow breath.

Callis was right.

They had already learned the hard way how severe the princess’s well-being could become when overwhelmed.

"...All right," Kiev finally relented, his tone softened noticeably.

"I take back my words. I’m sorry if I was too harsh on you. I didn’t mean it."

Anna blinked in surprise.

For all the time she had known Kiev, he had never been this yielding towards her.

The Mederian Prince had always carried himself like an unshakable wall—stern, cold, and difficult to approach.

Unlike his sister, Callis, who was far more open-hearted and gentle in expressing her emotions, he often kept everything buried beneath a hard exterior.

Kiev continued more calmly this time. "If you had simply told me you wanted to come here for the Lantern Festival, I would have brought you myself."

Anna stared at him in disbelief.

"You would?" she asked quietly. "But I thought you wouldn’t."

"I’m not as cruel as you think I am," Kiev replied. "I’ve seen you at your weakest, Princess Anna. You were bedridden, crying, helpless... unable to even stand properly on your own."

His expression softened faintly.

"That’s why I care this much about you. You are my responsibility."

The room fell quiet.

Anna’s gaze slowly lowered, some of the tension within her easing little by little. Though she was still unhappy about being stopped, she could no longer deny the sincerity in his words.

After a moment, she finally let out a small sigh.

"...Fine," she muttered reluctantly. "But you still scared me earlier."

A faint trace of relief crossed Callis’s face. Kiev also seemed to relax now.

"I’ll try not to raise my voice again," he said.

Anna huffed lightly. "You better."

That response drew a smile from Callis, easing the heavy atmosphere inside the boathouse at last.

Agnes quietly released the breath she had been holding. Relief washed over her face as the tension between the two finally subsided.

"Put on your hood and come with me. We’ll arrive at my place soon," Kiev ordered as he moved towards the door.

The guard immediately stepped aside and bowed respectfully to the Mederian prince.

Callis approached Anna and helped adjust her robe properly.

"The private residence... is it a nice place to stay?" the princess asked in a lowered voice.

Callis smiled as she tied the robe neatly before pulling the hood over Anna’s head.

"It is," she replied. "Though... there are no female servants there."

Anna blinked.

"Why not?"

A small giggle escaped the Mederian princess.

"Because women tend to swarm around him whenever they get the chance. It’s rather... dangerous for him."

The princess instinctively glanced towards his betrothed.

Even from where she stood, his striking appearance was undeniable. His sharp features, commanding presence, and refined bearing made it easy to understand why women would be drawn to him.

A single smile from him would likely be enough to melt countless hearts.

And yet, oddly enough, she never found herself feeling that way towards him.

"I can see that..." she muttered.

At the doorway, Kiev waited patiently as the women finished preparing themselves.

Anna paused for a brief moment.

For some reason, the mention of a residence without female servants stirred a strange feeling within her.

It felt oddly familiar... as though there had once been someone else who preferred things the same way.

But no matter how hard she tried, she could not remember.

"What’s wrong?" Callis asked when she noticed the princess falling quiet.

Anna quickly shook her head.

"Nothing!" Anna quickly brushed it off. "Let’s go before he changes his mind and locks me up again."

That earned another soft laugh from the Mederian Princess.

"Of course."

Not long after, the group finally left the boathouse together.

Soon, evening came and settled over Sabel Island. Under the vibrant night, the awaited Lantern Festival finally began.