Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 397

Chapter 397 The Young Scholar

Patrick had always found ways to amuse Elowen whenever he came to the Hale household to discuss military matters. Sometimes he brought her small honey sweets wrapped in paper. Other times he handed her a few smooth stones he claimed were treasures from distant mountain streams.

Because of that, Elowen had once followed her father to visit the Mercer family.

Their home stood outside the walls of Vanelle. It consisted of two low thatched cottages, modest but carefully kept, the yard swept so clean it seemed to shine.

Josh’s mother had been a gentle woman. Her clothes were plain but spotless, and the ground around the house overflowed with flowers she had planted herself. Bright blossoms lined the front path, while herbs and climbing vines framed the back of the cottage.

In those days, young Josh and his little sister had spent their afternoons laughing and running through that yard, chasing each other between the flower beds.

Then the war came.

Patrick died on the battlefield, his body brought home wrapped in a soldier’s cloak.

After that, the fortunes of Hale Manor declined as well. One by one, the men of the house fell in distant campaigns.

When the Hale family collapsed, Elowen herself had barely managed to survive the storm that followed. In those desperate days, she had neither the strength nor the clarity of mind to remember the wife and children Patrick left behind.

Only now did the memory return clearly.

Elowen looked at Josh again and smiled with a hint of embarrassment.

“I thought you looked familiar earlier,” she admitted. “It took me a moment to remember who you were.”

Josh waved it off with an easy grin. “That’s all right. I remembered you, Your Grace.”

As he spoke, he gently placed a plate of pastries on the table. Each one was shaped like a blooming begonia.

“Eudora recently experimented with a new recipe,” he said. “Please give them a try.”

Elowen picked up one of the pastries and tasted it. The delicate crust melted the moment it touched her tongue. The filling was lightly sweet without being heavy, carrying a faint fragrance of flowers and warm cream.

Her eyes brightened immediately.

“These are wonderful.”

She turned to Eudora at once. “Auntie, could you make more of these later? I want to bring some back to the manor. I have someone I plan to win over with them.”

Eudora laughed warmly.

“Of course. I’ll make as many as you want.”

Then she added proudly, “Ella, you know, this boy truly works hard. He’s only sixteen, and he’ll sit for the royal examinations this coming spring. But studying costs money everywhere you turn. Books, tutors, lodging. He hates to see his mother struggling, so he studies whenever he can and works here at the confectioner’s shop the rest of the time. That way he can lighten her burden a little.”

Elowen nodded thoughtfully. “How are your studies going? Do you think you have a good chance this year?”

Josh answered with a modest smile.

“I’m not doing poorly, but I wouldn’t say I’m exceptional either.”

Eudora clicked her tongue in mock annoyance.

“This child is far too modest. His memory is remarkable. Calling it photographic would not be an exaggeration. Even the essays he writes have impressed Edmund himself. The old scholar praised his clarity of thought and said his arguments were unusually insightful.”

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