Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 284

Elowen finally opened her eyes. “That sounds like a mess to sort out.”

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Cassian smiled and kissed her again. “It’s nothing too serious, only complicated. Matters like this are never simple. Even if he hadn’t released him, it wouldn’t have been resolved quickly.”

Elowen nodded faintly.

The exhaustion from earlier still weighed heavily on her. She shifted into a more comfortable position. “Sleep.”

Cassian touched her cheek and asked softly, “Just sleep?”

Elowen’s voice blurred with drowsiness. “Too tired. Just sleep.”

“Alright.”

Cassian said nothing more. He wrapped an arm around her from behind and fell asleep with

her.

The next morning, when Elowen woke, the space beside her was empty.

Mira came in to help. Elowen yawned and asked, “Where’s Cassian?”

Mira gathered the bed curtains. “He left early this morning. He didn’t say where he was going.”

Elowen paused, then motioned Mira closer and whispered in her ear, “Go to the north side of the city for me. I need you to look into something…”

At the Crown Prince’s Wing, Alaric returned from the morning council still dressed in his formal court attire, a richly embroidered doublet belted at the waist, his posture straight and composed.

The moment he stepped through the doorway, he saw Tristan waiting beneath the covered walkway. Tristan stepped forward at once.

Alaric cast him a brief glance. Something important.

Without slowing, he walked straight into the inner study.

Tristan followed and closed the door behind them.

He bowed and lowered his voice. “Your Highness, there’s been movement.”

Alaric lifted his chin slightly. “Go on.”

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Chapter 28d Mess

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“This morning His Grace left the manor as usual and headed north of the city,” Tristan reported steadily. “About half an hour later, Mira slipped out through the side gate of Duskmoor Manor and went toward Elmwood Alley as well. Our people saw her at the entrance of the alley. She lingered there for quite some time before leaving.”

Alaric’s lips curled faintly.

Mira had served Elowen for years. Elowen trusted her completely.

If Mira had seen it with her own eyes, Elowen would believe it.

Which meant Elowen would believe Cassian truly kept another woman elsewhere.

Alaric’s mood improved immediately.

But even that was not enough.

He wanted Elowen to be utterly disappointed in Cassian before she finally turned to him with her whole heart.

Alaric considered it briefly before asking, “What month is it now?”

Tristan blinked once but answered immediately. “Your Highness, it’s November.”

“November…” Alaric repeated thoughtfully, tracing his finger lightly across the surface of the desk.

Then he looked up. “Falconcrest Manor’s heir, Piers. His wedding should be soon, shouldn’t it?”

At Duskmoor Manor, Elowen finished breakfast and, with nothing urgent demanding her attention, settled down to read.

After sitting on the daybed for a while, she began to feel cold.

Vanelle had grown colder recently. Only a few days earlier she had been at Sunspire Hill, surrounded by the warmth of the hot springs. Returning to the city so suddenly, her body had not yet adjusted.

She didn’t feel like getting up herself, so she called out, “Mira, bring me a blanket.”

Mira answered and went to the wardrobe to find a fur throw.

“Duchess, Miss Ashcroft has arrived,” Cora announced softly from outside.

Elowen turned toward the sound. “Let her in.”

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Chabler 84 MERE

The curtain rustled as Sylvia entered.

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