Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 144

Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess

Chapter 144 The Unexpected Guest

Alaric’s eyes darkened. Though his conviction wavered, he still frowned. “Even so, I never begged you to save me…”

“No, you didn’t. No one wanted that accident. Pushing you aside was instinct. I never expected anything in return. If I truly sought recompense, at the betrothal banquet, why did I say I wanted to marry the Duke of Duskmoor, not you?”

Alaric stared, the color draining from his face.

“I truly don’t understand why you chased after me to say this,” Elowen continued. “It was so long ago. What’s the point of dwelling on it? You must find it tiresome. I certainly do. The Duke has already engaged a physician specifically to treat my knee injury. You should focus on your own affairs. Your wedding is approaching.”

She paused, glancing at him. “The twenty–second of October. Daphne’s choice. It should be a lucky day.”

With that, she stepped around him and strode away.

This time, Alaric did not follow.

His lips moved slightly, a low murmur escaping. “Don’t you regret

it.”

Through the curtain of rain, Elowen didn’t hear.

She was eager to return to Duskmoor Manor to see if Cassian had returned.

Neither of them noticed the small group standing some distance away, watching through the downpour.

The woman at the forefront wore rich robes, her features cool and elegant as she gazed towards Elowen. Her voice was thin and cold. “That is the Duchess of Duskmoor?”

The senior maid holding an umbrella over her nodded. “Yes. The one beside her is Edith.”

She glanced at the woman’s face and added, “The Duchess is the daughter of General Hale. She and the Crown Prince… grew up together.”

The woman frowned with displeasure. “That is the past. If she cannot let go of the Crown Prince, she should have stayed with him, not involved others. Now that she is married to the Duke of Duskmoor, she should maintain a proper distance. This lingering closeness is inappropriate. If word spreads, it will tarnish the Duke’s reputation and invite ridicule.”

The maid agreed, “You’re absolutely right, my lady.”

1/3

11:02 Fri, May 8

pter 144 The Unexpected Guest

30

The woman’s eyes grew stern. “My sister–in–law mentioned before that the Duchess, though young, is of a restless nature. I didn’t believe it then. Seeing it now, maybe there’s something to it.”

Her tone shifted. “Didn’t my sister–in–law also say the Duchess has been interfering with Sylvia’s marriage?”

“Indeed,” the maid replied. “Lady Marwen said so herself. She originally hoped for a match between Sylvia and the Crown Prince, but the Duchess, still clinging to him, would not allow it. Lord Piers of Falconcrest Manor showed some interest in Sylvia. Lady Marwen tried to match them, but the Duchess, nursing a grudge, also opposed it.”

Clear displeasure showed on the woman’s face.

This Duchess is utterly overbearing and willful!

Observing her expression, the maid asked, “My lady, shall we…?”

“We shall see His Majesty first,” the woman said, her voice icy. “Later, we will visit Duskmoor Manor and meet this Duchess. If she is truly as willful and domineering as they say, I shall take it upon myself to advise Cassian to divorce her!”

Elowen returned to Duskmoor Manor to find Mira and Cora sitting together, chatting and laughing as they worked on lily pods.

One was extracting the seeds, the other using a small tool to remove the bitter cores.

Elowen looked closer. A white porcelain plate on the table already held a good pile.

She asked, “What are you two doing with these?”

Mira smiled, “The Duke ordered it.”

Cora added with a smile, “Falconcrest Manor sent fresh lily pods. His Grace said you enjoy them. He is occupied and cannot peel them himself, so he asked us to do it.”

A warm feeling spread through Elowen’s chest.

She picked up a seed and tasted it. It was fresh and sweet.

After swallowing, she said, “There are plenty–both of you should have some.”

She couldn’t possibly eat them all.

2/3

11:02 Fri, May 8

Chapter 144 The Unexpected Guest

Cora said earnestly, “His Grace ordered these for you, Your Grace. I wouldn’t dare.”

Mira nodded in agreement. “Nor I.”

Elowen felt a bit embarrassed. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Then perhaps later I’ll make some lily seed soup…”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify