Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141 A Lesson In Manners

“I favor the twenty–second of October,” Daphne spoke first.

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Then, as if remembering, she added, “Oh, I nearly forgot. That is the day Her Grace injured her knees.”

She adopted a look of feigned concern. “Your knees must still cause you pain, right?”

As Elowen was about to respond, Isla sighed, “Every time I think of that, I feel it was such a pity.”

She looked at Elowen with a weighty expression. “I told you so many times back then: stop sneaking out of the palace. Trouble was bound to find you. If you’d just listened to me earlier, you wouldn’t have been hurt or suffered so much.”

Elowen was taken aback.

Isla was placing all the blame squarely on her shoulders. She had been willful; she had insisted on leaving the palace; therefore, she had encountered danger. It had nothing to do with Alaric.

Sometimes, it was no wonder Alaric turned out as he did.

Such words were deeply unpleasant to hear.

Elowen wanted to refute them but worried about displeasing Isla and straining the bond between Theodric and Cassian.

As she hesitated, her peripheral glance caught Edith standing behind her.

Edith was a woman of few words, preferring action. More importantly, she seemed to fear no

one.

Once, when Mira had spent a few days learning from her, she returned full of admiration, telling Elowen, “Edith says there’s no one in the world she fears except the King, with His Grace backing her!”

Cassian had specifically asked Elowen to bring Edith today…

Elowen pressed her lips together, made a decision, and nodded. “You’re right, Your Majesty.”

She met Isla’s gaze. “It is only a pity that Your Majesty was not by His Majesty and the Duke’s side in their earlier years.”

Isla gave a light laugh. “Which earlier years do you refer to? I married His Majesty quite early and have been Queen for many years.”

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pter 11 A Lesson In Manners

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“I refer to the time when His Majesty and the Duke were still princes.” Elowen set down her cup. “When the princes vied for the position of Crown Prince, and His Majesty and the Duke were involved, even faced an assassination attempt. The Duke took a blade for His Majesty then. He still bears the scar on his hand.”

Isla’s smile faded slightly, sensing the shift.

“Just as Your Majesty said, you advised me not to leave the palace. I did not listen, and thus my knees were injured. Had Your Majesty been by His Majesty and the Duke’s side back then, advising them strongly, perhaps His Majesty would not have faced that assassin, and the Duke would not have been wounded.”

Isla’s smile vanished entirely. She was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing Isla wrong–footed, Daphne, eager to impress her future mother–in–law, shot a glare at Elowen. “Why do you always invoke His Majesty and the Duke?”

From behind, Edith’s voice cut in, cold and clear, “Seems the Garretts don’t know manners.”

Daphne stiffened. “What did you say?”

“Setting aside that you are not yet wed to the Crown Prince, even as Crown Princess, you would be the junior. Her Majesty and the Duchess are your elders. When seniors are speaking, a junior should listen respectfully. How dare you interrupt and question your elder?”

Daphne frowned. “You’re just a servant, and you’re lecturing me on manners?!”

Edith’s gaze sharpened, pinning her in place. “I entered palace service at nine, served Dowager Queen Selene for many years. I personally instructed countless individuals in palace decorum. Even His Majesty learned a thing or two from me. What, Lady Daphne–you think I don’t know manners?”

Daphne was speechless, her face flushing and paling in turns.

She had never imagined Elowen had such a formidable senior maid by her side!

Isla attempted to mediate. “Enough. It’s nothing. I’m not angry with the Duchess.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty has no cause for anger,” Edith stated. “The one with cause for anger is the Duchess.”

Isla blinked, thinking she had misheard.

“Because in this world, no one saves a life only to get blamed for it. When the Duke saved His Majesty, His Majesty was ever grateful, considering the Duke a brother bound by life and death. How is it that when the Duchess saved the Crown Prince, Your Majesty feels no gratitude, but

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11:02 Fri, May 8

Chapter 11 A Lesson In Manners

instead blames Her Grace?”

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