Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 474

A faint crease formed between Elowen's brows.

Cassian noticed immediately. "You're concerned about this Iris."

She nodded, her tone steady but serious. "Cassian, you know Galen once worked under my father. Daphne and I grew up around each other. I've seen this girl before. She's sharp, the kind of sharp that makes you uneasy."

From outside, Bran added, "There's no need to worry, My Lady. His Highness asked her for advice at the time, and she claimed she had none to offer."

Elowen exhaled slowly. "That just means she knows when to keep quiet. Out in the open, with people passing by, of course she wouldn't say anything. Whatever she had to say, she would wait until they were back in private."

Bran fell silent, his expression turning more serious.

Elowen continued, her thoughts tightening into something more focused. "And think about it. When Daphne fell from favor, everyone tied to her was dismissed. Every single one except Iris. Not only did she stay, she ended up close enough to follow Alaric into something as sensitive as the negotiations. That alone tells you she's not ordinary."

A breeze moved through the corridor outside, stirring the iron wall sconces so their light flickered faintly against the stone.

Elowen leaned back into the cushions and let out a quiet breath. "Cassian... I don't like this. Something about it doesn't sit right."

Cassian looked at her, his voice calm but firm. "You're carrying our child. You don't need to fill your head with this."

She was about to respond, but he spoke again first.

"This is on Bran for bringing it up."

Outside the door, Bran froze in place.

God help me... wasn't it Your Grace who told me to head to the Crown Prince's Wing and dig into this properly? Being a deputy is hard enough as it is. Being one at Duskmoor Manor is a whole different level of trouble.

He said nothing, but the silence spoke for itself.

Inside, Elowen couldn't help laughing, the tension easing from her expression. "How is that his fault? This is exactly what we asked him to look into."

She reached out and nudged Cassian's arm.

He caught her hand mid-motion and held it, enclosing her fingers in his palm as he noticed how cool they were, warming them without thinking.

"Then don't worry," he said quietly. "And I won't blame him."

The logic was questionable at best, but the intimacy in it was unmistakable.

Elowen met his gaze, seeing herself reflected clearly in his eyes.

Something in her chest loosened.

"Alright," she said softly. "I'll stop worrying."

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