Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 589

Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess

Chapter 589 The Summons

In the inner courtyard of the Baker estate, an old oak cast a wide shadow across the stone ground. Its roots had long since broken through the earth, thick and stubborn, just like the family it sheltered.

Colton stood beneath it, looking up at the branches for a moment.

A thought surfaced without warning.

Back when his father planted this tree, did he ever imagine the house would rise this far?

The moment didn’t last.

Footsteps came fast across the courtyard, uneven and urgent.

He turned.

The steward was hurrying toward him, practically dragging someone along. The woman behind him struggled to keep up, her breath coming hard.

A palace attendant from the queen’s household. Colton’s expression shifted.

People did not come running from the palace unless something had gone wrong.

She reached him, barely managing to catch her breath. “My lord… Her Majesty asks for you. You’re to come to the palace immediately.”

His gaze sharpened. “To the Queen’s residence?”

She shook her head, clearly rattled. “No. The royal court.”

That gave him pause.

“The court?” His voice lowered. “For what reason would they need a retired man there?” She swallowed, then forced the words out in one breath. “This morning, the Ministry of Crown Justice submitted a case. Dominic confessed. Everything about the attack on the Nordian prince. He named the Crown Prince. Lord Gareth pushed for a direct hearing before His Majesty and asked that the Duke of Duskmoor be brought in to answer alongside him. His Majesty agreed. The queen fears His Highness won’t be able to handle it alone, and… that others might take advantage of the moment. She asks that you come oversee things.

The courtyard went still.

Colton felt the ground tilt beneath him for a split second. The Nordian prince. The Crown

Chapter 589 The Summons

Prince. Cassian. A confrontation in open court.

He knew exactly how dangerous that combination was.

He closed his eyes briefly.

So it’s finally come to this.

If the Crown Prince fell, the Bakers would not walk

away

clean.

Everything they had built could unravel in a single day.

His eyes opened again, all hesitation gone.

“Get the carriage ready.”

“Now.”

The attendant nodded quickly. “I’ll return and report to Her Majesty at once…”

“Wait.”

He lifted a hand.

“There’s one more call to make. Go fetch someone for me.”

The royal hall felt colder than usual.

Rows of nobles and officials stood along both sides, still as carved figures, each one careful to keep their head down and their thoughts hidden.

No one wanted to be noticed today.

At the center of it all, Alaric remained bent in a formal bow before the throne, unmoving. Sweat traced down his temple despite the chill in the chamber.

Time dragged.

Every second felt stretched thin.

Then a herald’s voice rang out from the entrance.

“Lady of Grace and Virtue. First Rank”

The room stirred. Alaric looked up sharply. So did everyone else.

Sunlight spilled through the tall doors as they opened.

wapier pay the summons

Two figures stepped inside.

Cassian walked in first, steady and composed, his presence cutting clean through the tension in

the room.

At his side, Elowen moved at an even pace. Her pregnancy was unmistakable, the curve of it visible beneath her layered gown, yet it did not slow her. If anything, it gave her a quiet authority.

They crossed the hall together, ignoring the weight of every stare, and stopped below the throne.

They bowed.

“Your Majesty.”

Theodric studied them briefly, his gaze pausing on Elowen before he gave a small nod. “Rise.”

Quentin spoke first, his tone tight. “Your Grace, His Majesty called for you. This is your matter. Bringing your wife into it seems… unnecessary.”

Archer let out a low chuckle. “You must not have heard. The Duke of Duskmoor doesn’t go anywhere without his duchess. I’m told he keeps her close at all times. Walks with her, sits beside her, never lets her out of reach.”

Piers shifted, clearly unhappy with the tone, but Gareth gave him a slight shake of the head.

No need.

Cassian didn’t even look their way at first. He addressed the throne.

“Your Majesty, forgive the inconvenience. Given my current position, calling me a duke is generous. A man under suspicion doesn’t carry much weight in this hall. Matters here, and this case in particular, rely on the Lady of Grace and Virtue.”

Only then did his gaze shift.

It landed on Quentin, calm but cutting. “You referred to her as if she doesn’t belong here. Tell me, what standing does your household hold? Is your wife of the first rank as well?”

Quentin stiffened.

What rank are you, exactly, to be taking shots at a lady of the First Rank?

Cassian did not speak the way Gareth did.

Chapter 589 The Summons

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