Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 559

Chapter 559 A Shift in the Court

They were at it again.

Finished

Gareth, however, remained completely composed. Not a flicker of urgency crossed his face as he stepped forward and inclined his head toward the throne.

“Your Majesty, regarding the disturbance outside the Imperial Examination Hall that these two lords have brought up, I’ve heard of it as well. Shortly after it happened, word reached me through the Royal Censorate. As Lord High Chancellor, I took it seriously. But before bringing anything to the throne, facts must come before speculation. I couldn’t rely on hearsay alone, so I held off and had the matter quietly looked into.”

Theodric leaned back slightly, interest piqued. “And what did find?”

Gareth straightened, his voice steady.

you

“The man under the Duchess’s protection that day is named Josh, a candidate in this year’s trials. His father once served under General Hale and died in battle during the uprising years ago. He didn’t fall by accident. He fought to the end and gave his life for the crown. Though the court granted compensation, it’s no secret that a widow raising children alone rarely lives in comfort.”

A subtle shift passed through the chamber. Several generals standing among the officials grew noticeably more alert.

Gareth continued, his tone sharpening just enough.

“As for what actually sparked the incident, my inquiry shows that when the family arrived at the examination grounds, they crossed paths with the sons of Quentin and Archer. Seeing their plain clothing and obvious hardship, the young men decided to entertain themselves. They mocked the mother, said she smelled like she belonged in a livestock pen, and made cruel remarks about the younger daughter’s looks, claiming she wasn’t fit for decent service.”

A murmur rippled through the court.

“Josh chose to let it slide,” Gareth went on. “He didn’t escalate it. But the girl later told the Duchess. Now, the Duchess was raised in a military household, and His Grace the Duke of Duskmoor built his name on the battlefield. With the war in the Southwestern Marches still weighing on the realm, the morale of soldiers matters more than ever. Seeing the family of a fallen officer treated that way, she stepped in. Frankly, it would have been strange if she hadn’t.”

He paused, letting that settle before sweeping his gaze across the room.

“After confirming all this, I came to a simple conclusion. Yes, she acted quickly. But her reasoning was sound. Standing up for the families of those who died for the crown sends a

1/3

Chapter 559 A Shift in the Court

Finished

message. It tells the army their sacrifices matter. It tells the people the crown remembers. That kind of message strengthens the realm, not weakens it. For that reason, I chose not to raise the matter further. On principle, she did nothing wrong.”

This time, the response was more obvious.

Several military officials nodded without hesitation.

Even among the civil officials, many who had clawed their way up from modest beginnings shifted in quiet agreement. Their looks toward Archer and Quentin were no longer neutral.

Gareth let that tension sit for a beat before turning back to the two men.

“Now then, let’s talk about your grievance. Your sons started this. They insulted the family of a fallen soldier. If anyone has grounds to complain, it’s that family. Not yours. And if you truly believed your sons had been wronged, why wait a full month before bringing it up? Why not come forward immediately and ask for a fair ruling?”

His voice didn’t rise, but it landed hard.

“A month is a long time. Long enough for bruises to fade. Long enough to rethink a story.”

Archer’s lips trembled. Quentin’s composure cracked, sweat forming at his temples.

Neither of them managed a response.

They had wanted to bring the matter forward earlier. They had been furious enough. But they also knew their position was shaky, and Elowen’s rank made things even more delicate. So they waited.

Today had seemed like the perfect moment.

They hadn’t accounted for Gareth.

And now there was no way out.

Piers glanced sideways at his uncle, something genuine settling in his expression.

He had always thought Gareth too cautious, too measured.

But this… This was something else entirely.

So this is how it’s done.

Gareth stepped forward again and bowed deeply.

“Your Majesty, I will admit the rumors I’ve brought today about irregularities in the trials

2/3

Chapter 559 A Shift in the Court

Finished

haven’t been fully verified. But rumors don’t appear out of nowhere. Something sparked them. And what’s at stake here isn’t small. It’s the reputation of the Crown Prince. It’s the integrity of the realm’s selection process. It’s the trust every scholar places in this system.”

He lifted his head.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify