Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 409

Chapter 409 A Quiet Lead

Elowen leaned back in her chair, resting her chin lightly against her fingers as she watched Seren across the room. The girl stood near the window, focused on shaping a potted evergreen, trimming it with careful, practiced movements like she had all the time in the world.

“Your Grace, your coffee.”

Rosaline stepped in, placing a warm cup into Elowen’s hands.

Elowen accepted it, but didn’t look away from Seren. Rosaline caught that and hesitated before speaking again, her tone cautious. “Has Seren done something wrong, Your Grace?”

Elowen shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “No, nothing like that. I just didn’t realize pruning was part of her duties. I was under the impression the estate brings in professionals for that.”

Rosaline dipped her head politely. “Seren and I only just started serving in the study, Your Grace. We’re still new, so most of what we handle is light work, cleaning, organizing, keeping things in order. That plant had been left unattended for quite a while. Seren used to help tend the gardens when she served under Lady Elira, so she knows.her way around it. She thought she’d be helpful. If she overstepped, I ask your forgiveness.”

“It’s fine. She did well,” Elowen said, then let her gaze shift slightly. “So your duties are mostly cleaning the shelves?”

Rosaline answered without hesitation. “The shelves are actually Seren’s responsibility.”

“I see.”

That was enough.

A few quiet pieces clicked into place in Elowen’s mind.

Still, something didn’t add up.

Rosaline and Seren both came from Elira’s side, yet somehow they were tied to Isla… and the Baker family.

That connection didn’t happen by accident.

There was something else going on behind the curtain.

Which meant she couldn’t predict her or stay one step ahead, at least not for now, but Cassian could, and that changed everything.

This wasn’t just personal anymore.

She wasn’t some overlooked daughter tucked away in a quiet household.

She was the Duchess of Duskmoor.

Anything that happened between her and Isla wouldn’t stay contained. It would ripple outward into

He reached up and carefully slid the pin from her hair, letting it fall loose over her shoulders. The metal was cool in his hand, and for a brief second, something about the moment pulled a quiet smile from him.

“Cassian,” she said softly.

She turned slightly, looking up at him. “Have you ever heard of someone named Azure?”

Cassian’s expression didn’t shift. “Azure… sounds familiar. Wasn’t Daphne claiming that name for a while?”

Elowen gave a small, unimpressed look. “She was lying.”

“Right. That became pretty obvious,” he said. “So why bring it up now?”

Her fingers curled slightly in her lap.

She hesitated. Then took a breath.

“Because Azure is actually… me.”

The words came out quiet, almost like she wasn’t sure she should’ve said them at all.