Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 268

Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Pontosan

Chapter 268 The Prince’s Quiet Calculations

Even though she was technically his aunt by marriage, the sight of Clarisse’s tears stirred nothing in Alaric. To him, they carried no more weight than ordinary drops of rain.

Clarisse finally spoke, her voice soft and carefully measured. “Your Highness, please allow me to explain. My mother and I went to Serenity Church to offer prayers. When news reached us about Father, we went straight afterward to Sunspire Hill to seek an audience with the Duchess of Duskmoor.”

She paused at just the right moment, her eyes glistening faintly.

“Since Father serves under the Duke of Duskmoor, we hoped she might be able to help speak on his behalf.”

Her voice wavered slightly before she continued.

“We pleaded with her. It did no good. The Duchess of Duskmoor was gracious and promised she would try, yet even she could not move His Grace. With no other path left to us, we had no choice but to trouble Your Highness.”

Only then did Alaric lift his gaze.

The look he gave her was sharp enough to cut.

“You saw her?” he asked.

Clarisse kept her tone gentle. “Yes. Did Your Highness not hear? The Duke of Duskmoor and his duchess are staying at the Sunspire Hill hot–springs estate.”

A faint line appeared between Alaric’s brows.

Clarisse continued smoothly. “People say the waters there are restorative. Since the Duke’s legs were injured, I imagine he’s staying there to recover.”

Alaric gave a quiet, dismissive scoff.

Cassian’s legs had been shattered by a devastating injury. In his previous life, the man had spent years confined to a wheeled chair. A few days soaking in hot springs would never make him stand again.

Impossible.

Clarisse went on as though it were nothing more than idle conversation. “I also heard Sylvia is there. Not long ago, Cassian invited Cecilia from the royal court to instruct her in proper conduct. Now he has taken her along to the estate as well. I wonder whether she has learned

Chapter 268 The Prince’s Quiet Calculations

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“There is no ‘what if,” Clarisse interrupted calmly. “Because His Highness is a man.”

Anwen looked even more bewildered. “And what does that have to do with anything?”

Clarisse glanced at her, something close to pity in her eyes.

“Mother,” she said gently, “you truly don’t understand men.”

At that wedding banquet, the way Alaric had looked at the Duchess of Duskmoor had been anything but innocent.

There had been hunger in that gaze. Possession.

And a man who wanted a woman would inevitably stand against the man who already had her.

If Cassian sought to imprison someone, then Alaric would feel compelled to protect them.

Clarisse paused briefly before continuing in a calm, analytical tone.

“Cassian may be His Majesty’s brother, but His Highness is His Majesty’s son—and Her Majesty still holds the palace.”

Her voice remained level.

“A case involving members of the royal family is never simple. Every move affects the balance of power. Factions will push and counter one another, and that takes time. Without several months passing, no final outcome will appear.”

She finished quietly, “So at least for now, Father is safe.”

Anwen did not fully understand the reasoning, but Clarisse’s calm certainty eased her somewhat.

As they departed, Anwen climbed into the carriage first, still weighed down with lingering

worry.

Geoffrey stood beside the carriage, posture straight and rigid. When he saw Clarisse approach, he inclined his head respectfully.

“Miss,” he asked, “shall we return to Sunspire Hill?”

Clarisse turned sharply, her eyes narrowing.

Sunspire Hill.

She remembered the way he had stared at the Duchess of Duskmoor earlier–openly,

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Chapter 268. The Prince’s Quiet Cab filtirr

shamelessly.

A bitter heat rose in her chest.

Clarisse let out a cold, humorless laugh.

“You’re that eager to go back?” she said lightly. “What is it there–gold? Or something that steals a man’s soul?”

She did not wait for his answer.

With a swift, impatient flick of her sleeve, she said, “Home.”

The carriage door shut with a heavy thud.

Geoffrey stared at the closed door for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

And despite himself, the memory surfaced again–the soft, delicate features of Elowen’s face.

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