Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 473

The words sounded like a complaint, yet the warmth in her eyes gave her away.

Cassian smiled, clearly amused. "Then I'll make you something worth waking up for. What are you craving?"

Elowen actually took a moment to think, then her whole face brightened. "Some kind of noodle soup, light broth, nothing heavy."

"Easy enough." Cassian shifted as if to get up.

Before he could, she wrapped both arms around his waist and held him in place.

He glanced down, his voice softening. "What's wrong?"

Her face pressed into his chest as she spoke. "We hardly ever get mornings like this. Stay a little longer and talk to me first. I'm not even that hungry yet."

Cassian gave in without hesitation. "Alright. I'm not going anywhere."

They lay together in the quiet, the distant sound of birdsong drifting in through the window as dawn settled fully over the estate.

"How did things go yesterday?" Elowen asked after a while. "Did anyone try to make things difficult for you?"

Cassian almost laughed, because plenty had tried, though very few had managed anything worth mentioning.

But something in him shifted, and he chose his words differently. "Yeah. Alaric didn't waste time. First thing out of his mouth, he started taking jabs at me, said I was broken, useless, that no one in this world would ever care about me."

Elowen went still for a heartbeat, then her eyes flared with anger. "What kind of nonsense is that? You have me. I love you, and our child will love you too. If anyone's alone, it's him."

Cassian watched her defend him with such conviction, and the corner of his mouth lifted. "It's nothing, Ella. I can handle a few insults."

"No." Her tone turned firm in a way that left no room for argument. "I don't like seeing anyone treat you like that. Next time I see him, I'm not letting it slide."

A quiet laugh escaped him. "Alright. I'll count on you to have my back."

They kept talking, unhurried and close, letting the morning stretch around them.

When she asked about the negotiations, Cassian walked her through everything in detail, holding nothing back.

By the time he finished, Elowen said with certainty, "When they revealed your recovery at the banquet, you must've felt incredible."

Cassian kept his expression composed. "It was fine. Still not as good as hearing you say you love me."

She was just about to respond when her stomach let out a very audible protest.

She froze, then flushed instantly.

So much for not being hungry.

Cassian chuckled under his breath, leaned in, and kissed her forehead before helping her out of bed.

In the manor's back kitchen, Elowen settled into a wooden chair while Cassian tied back his outer layer and set to work.

He poured flour into a bowl, added water, and began kneading with practiced, steady movements.

The dough came together under his hands, smooth and elastic, shaped with quiet precision.

Elowen watched him for a while before speaking again. "Alaric will probably go straight to His Majesty to complain. I wonder what kind of punishment he's hoping to stir up."

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