The Grand Duke's Soulmate

Chapter 604: Crossing Paths

The red-haired woman followed her gaze, studying the scene more closely.

The gathering did not carry the light, festive air of celebration. There was no laughter, no idle wandering, no cheerful chatter that usually marked such occasions.

Instead, the people stood in long, ordered lines, their attention fixed ahead with quiet urgency.

It was... unusual.

"...I’ll ask," she said, before stepping towards the queue.

She spoke briefly with a few of those waiting, exchanging a few words before returning to Anna.

"They are queuing to get treatment from a Healer’s House," she explained. "It is run by a mercenary group from the continent called the Blue Mantle Company. They’re offering free service."

Anna’s eyes widened.

"Free service?"

The woman nodded.

"They said there’s a healer named Joseph from the company," she continued. "Apparently... he doesn’t use magic at all, yet his treatment is exceptional. The remedies he prepares work wonders, almost like magic. People have been coming from all over just to be treated by him. And all this... started only a few days ago."

Anna turned back toward the line, looking at the crowd. A soft amazement settled across her features.

"They came from the continent... that means they’re most likely not Mederians or Ro’ans... and yet they’re doing this for the locals?" she murmured.

There was something in her tone, carrying genuine admiration, almost disbelief.

"To offer help like that... without asking for anything in return..." Her eyes brightened. "That’s wonderful! I want to see this healer up close."

Anna found herself drawn to the man named Joseph, and to the mercenary company behind him. Curiosity stirred within her, growing into a quiet pull, as if urging her to step closer and witness them with her own eyes.

But her companion was quick to intervene.

"We shouldn’t," she forbade her, pulling the princess’s hood lower over her head. "We must be careful. Even with the disguise, you shouldn’t let your guard down. The royal guards would still recognise you."

Her voice lowered, more cautious now.

"There are too many people here. The guards from Semeta surely will be around here soon... it won’t take much for them to spot you. We should go to our place for safety."

Anna hesitated, her gaze lingering on the crowd.

"And... I’m starving," the woman added, placing a hand lightly on her stomach. "Let’s not get distracted now."

That was enough to quell Anna’s budding curiosity. Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be pulled away.

But as she cast one last glance toward the Healer’s House, something or perhaps... someone caught her eye.

From afar, at the veranda, she saw the back of a man seated beside a woman with a soft figure, unmistakably someone with a child.

The woman drew little of her attention.

But the man...

Even from that distance, there was something about him... a presence that stood out.

His posture, his build—there was a quiet prominence to him that drew her attention without effort.

Anna slowed for just a moment.

’Who is that...?’

The thought had barely taken shape before she was pulled forward again.

"Come on," the red-haired woman urged, noticing her lagging behind.

"Alright... coming!"

And just like that, the moment slipped away.

The princess was led away from the bustling lane, behind the row of buildings where the Healer’s House was located, where a small tavern was hidden from the crowded noise.

The owner and his wife greeted them warmly and ushered them inside, ensuring they were seated comfortably.

The tavern was quiet—too quiet for such a day—save for the faint clatter from the kitchen. It had been reserved entirely for their stay, leaving the space undisturbed by other patrons.

The red-haired woman placed their order, and before long, the food was served.

They began to eat. But after a few spoonfuls, Anna’s brows drew together.

The red-haired woman noticed at once.

"...Is something wrong?" she asked. "Does it not suit your taste?"

The princess glanced down at the bowl in her hands.

"This is fish chowder... isn’t it?"

"Yes," the woman replied. "That’s what we ordered."

Anna hummed softly, taking another small taste. Her expression remained thoughtful.

"What is it? Is it not good? It tastes fine to me," the red-haired woman said.

"It’s not bad," the princess replied slowly. "But... I feel like it could be better."

Her friend blinked.

"Better? You’ve had this before?"

Anna shook her head lightly.

"No... I don’t think so."

She hesitated, then added,

"But somehow... it feels familiar. Like I know how it’s supposed to taste."

She looked towards the kitchen.

"Maybe we could try making it ourselves? How about that?"

The red-haired woman raised a brow.

"You... want to cook?"

Anna smiled faintly.

"I’m not sure why... but I feel like I remember a recipe for it."

"But... do you even know how to cook?" her companion asked, brows lifting. "I know for sure Callis can’t. She’d turn the kitchen into a battlefield."

Anna let out a soft giggle. She had already heard more than enough stories about her future sister-in-law’s disastrous attempts at cooking—it seemed to be Callis’s one undeniable flaw, despite her otherwise flawless grace and prowess in combat.

"I think I can," Anna said, still smiling. "I’ve never tried before... but I feel confident about it."

There was a brief pause as the red-haired woman gazed at her.

Then—

"...Alright," she relented, curiosity getting the better of her.

She called for the tavern owner and explained the princess’s request.

At first, the man’s expression faltered. Realising they had come from the royal palace, he began apologising profusely, assuming the meal had not met their expectations.

But Anna quickly shook her head.

"No, no—it’s not that," she said gently. "The food is good. I only wish to try my own version."

Her tone was earnest, without a hint of complaint.

The owner blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her response.

With a bit more reassurance, he finally agreed to let them into the kitchen.

Anna took the lead, guided more by instinct than certainty. Using what was available, she began preparing the dish with quiet confidence—as though her hands remembered what her mind could not.

As the pot came to a gentle boil, the aroma deepened, turning richer, warmer, far more inviting than before.

The scent soon filled the kitchen, spilling out into the tavern and drifting beyond—escaping through the chimney and the open window.

"Heavens... this smells incredible! It must taste just as good," the tavern owner exclaimed, clearly impressed by the aroma rising from the pot.

"It’s not ready yet," Anna replied, shaking her head lightly. "It needs to simmer longer—at least another half hour."

There was a quiet satisfaction in her voice, as though she already knew the result would turn out well.

"I didn’t know you were this good at cooking," the red-haired woman said, watching her with surprise. "The way you handled the knife... the ingredients... It’s like you’ve done this countless times before."

Anna let out a soft laugh.

"I told you I could," she said lightly. "It just feels..." she paused, her eyes lowering slightly as if searching for the right word, "...natural."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"I don’t know why, but it makes me happy. I’ve always felt like I wanted to cook. And this dish... it feels special to me."

’Bang! Bang! Bang!’

A sudden, loud knock echoed through the tavern.

The red-haired woman stiffened, startled.

"Who’s there?" she called out cautiously. The urgency in the knock was hard to ignore.

"I’m not sure," the tavern owner replied, frowning. "We’re not expecting any customers or deliveries today. Not with the place reserved like this. I’ll go check."

"I’ll go, my dear," his wife said quickly. "You shouldn’t leave our guests unattended."

He hesitated, then nodded.

Moments later, the door opened.

A few hushed words were exchanged at the entrance, low and quick, before a man stepped inside.

Without lingering, he moved past the tavern’s wife, his pace steady, yet carrying an urgency that did not go unnoticed.

His footsteps sounded against the wooden floor, unyielding, drawing closer with each step.

Anna looked up as the man walked into the threshold. The ladle in her hand stilled mid-motion. The red-haired woman turned as well, her body tensing almost instinctively.

The princess’s breath caught.

Her eyes widened slightly with immediate recognition. Whatever she had been about to say faded at once, leaving her standing there, momentarily at a loss.

Beside her, the red-haired woman stood still. Her lips parted, as though to speak, though no word had been directed at them yet.

The man didn’t ask.

His gaze moved between them, settling into a silence far heavier than any accusation. There was no raised voice, no outward display of emotion, yet the weight of it filled the space, pressing in from all sides.

It was the kind of look that questioned without needing words.

The air grew still.

Even the tavern owner fell silent, his expression frozen in quiet confusion. His wife, who had been following from behind, paused when she sensed the tension, her steps hesitating as she observed the scene.

Even the gentle bubbling of the pot seemed to fade beneath it.

The red-haired woman drew a breath, ready to respond—

But Anna spoke first.

"I... didn’t expect to see you here."

"Me neither."

And at that very moment—

Another presence entered, unannounced.