Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 464

Or perhaps he simply favors that brother far too much.

Iris glanced up briefly before lowering her eyes again. "There have been whispers lately, Your Highness, that the Duke's leg has improved."

Alaric scoffed outright. "Whispers are all they are."

I've seen how this plays out before. Nothing about that man changes so easily.

In his previous life, at this very point, Cassian had still been confined to his chambers, his injury keeping him from even the smallest involvement in court matters, let alone standing on his own.

A sudden recovery?

Nothing more than a performance.

A calculated show to steady public opinion, to remind everyone of his standing, to protect both his title and the woman beside him.

Alaric knew him too well.

"Since I'll be part of these negotiations," he went on, a slow, deliberate smile forming, "it would be a shame not to give him the chance to prove himself."

The implication beneath the words was anything but kind.

Iris's hand paused for the briefest moment, sending a faint ripple across the surface of the ink.

She said nothing.

Once, she had believed that staying close to the Crown Prince was the safest path forward, that with enough patience and care, she could secure a future for herself.

But watching him now, so certain he understood everything, so easily led by his own desires while believing himself in control, she felt something shift.

Perhaps this was not the place to tie her fate to after all.

Perhaps she needed to start looking elsewhere, sooner rather than later.

The following morning, at Duskmoor Manor, Cassian had already left for the palace to meet with Alaric and discuss the negotiations.

Elowen stepped into the study and had Scarlet and Nikki brought in.

The moment Nikki crossed the threshold, her eyes lit up, wide and bright as she took in everything around her, from the tall bookcases to the polished desk and the sunlight spilling across the floor.

This was her first time inside the Duchess's study.

Back home, only her father had ever had a room like this. After he passed, it had belonged to her brother. It had never been a place she could step into freely.

She had heard this one was built just for the Duchess.

Her thoughts drifted until Scarlet gave her sleeve a quick tug.

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