Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 575

Chapter 575 The Game Begins to Turn

Elowen gave a slight nod, signaling for her to continue.

d

Encouraged, Iris laid out her plan in careful detail. “Your Grace, I’ve already reported every hidden passage Dominic uses throughout Vanelle. All you need to do is make this matter public and push for the Nordian prince’s assassination case to be reopened. When that happens, I’ll work from inside the Crown Prince’s Wing and force the Crown Prince to slip. From there, it will be easy to expose the Baker family’s past crimes, bribery, corruption, faction–building, all of it. Once the evidence is laid out and public opinion turns, the Crown Prince won’t be able to protect himself, and the Bakers will be dragged down with him. When a house starts to crumble, even its closest allies will turn on it to save themselves. By then, the Crown Prince and the Bakers will only pull each other deeper into ruin.”

She looked at Elowen, her gaze clear and steady. “Your wish will be fulfilled.”

Iris didn’t stay long at Hale Manor. After sketching out a detailed map of the hidden routes and marking key contacts, she rose to take her leave.

Elowen stood as well. “I’ll walk you out.”

Walk me out?

Iris’s heart jolted. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.

Getting a seat here is already more than I deserve… and now the Duchess is walking me out herself?

Never in her life had she been treated this way.

Not by Daphne, not by the Crown Prince. To them, she had always been nothing more than a servant, a tool.

Only the Duchess treated her like a person. Someone clever enough to be worth respecting.

A strange warmth mixed with a sharp ache rose in her chest.

The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Swearing herself to Hale Manor and following Elowen was the best decision she had ever made.

They left the study courtyard and walked along the covered corridor toward the side gate

The garden was full of life

To Iris, it felt far warmer than the grand yet cold halls of the Crown Prince’s Wing.

As they reached the arched gate, Iris suddenly remembered something. “Your Grace”

Elowen glanced at her. “Yes?”

Lowering her voice, Iris said, “Inside the Crown Prince’s Wing, His Highness has grown increasingly suspicious and rigid. He keeps his distance from advisers and longtime attendants alike, unwilling to hear counsel. These days, the only ones allowed close to him are myself and Tristan. Most of his private matters pass through our hands.”

She paused briefly before continuing, “When I told him I was coming here today regarding the ointment, I didn’t hide the fact that Tristan had secretly brought it back from Hale Manor. Now that His Highness knows Tristan acted behind his back, he’ll be displeased. He’ll likely take it out on him.”

Elowen understood at once. “You did that on purpose?”

“Yes.”

Iris admitted it without hesitation. “I’ve learned to protect myself. I always think one step ahead and leave myself a way out. Even if you had refused to take me in, once Tristan is punished, he’ll end up on the same side as me. That would give me a better chance of surviving.”

Elowen didn’t reproach her. Instead, she let out a soft laugh. “That does sound like you.”

Relieved, Iris let out a quiet breath. Her eyes brightened as she looked at Elowen. “Fortunately, you were generous enough to accept me. Once Tristan grows estranged from the Crown Prince, I can draw him over. When that happens, His Highness will truly stand alone.”

Elowen spoke gently, “Your thinking is thorough, but there’s no need to rush. Your safety comes first.”

“I understand,” Iris replied respectfully.

At last, Iris gave a deep bow before turning and climbing into her carriage.

Elowen remained at the gate, watching until the carriage disappeared around the corner, before turning back with Mira.

On the way, Mira finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She quickened her pace and asked, “Your Grace, I know Iris! Back when Daphne was around, she helped plot against you more than once. And after she went to the Crown Prince’s Wing, she did plenty of terrible things for His Highness. Someone like her, with a mind full of twists and turns, who knows what she’s really up to today? How could you forgive her and take her in?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify