Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 616

Chapter 616 His One Refusal

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Theodric lifted his eyes toward Cassian and asked in a low voice, “Then what about the Baker family? Colton and all the rest of them have spent years abusing their influence and enriching themselves through corruption. Shouldn’t they be dealt with too?”

Cassian’s expression barely changed.

“Your Majesty has always known better than anyone how these matters should be handled,” he replied evenly. “As for the Baker family, I trust Your Majesty already has a decision in mind. Personally, I’m only concerned about my duchess and the child she’s carrying now. Nothing else matters much to me

anymore.”

A faint smile touched his lips before fading again.

“Besides, after spending so long recovering, my health is nowhere near what it used to be. I doubt I’ll be able to continue serving Your Majesty the way I once did.”

This time, there was no humor in his voice at all.

Theodric’s brow tightened immediately.

“Cassian,” he said slowly, “you know there’s war in the Southwestern Marches right now.”

Cassian nodded once. “I know.”

Theodric’s gaze darkened further.

“Then do you also know we’ve been losing?”

That finally caught Cassian off guard.

For one thing, he genuinely had not known the campaign had deteriorated this badly.

And for another, the moment Theodric raised the subject, Cassian already understood exactly where this conversation was heading.

Silence settled heavily across the room.

Outside the tall cathedral windows, the afternoon light had already begun dimming toward evening, but neither man spoke again for quite some time.

At last, Theodric exhaled deeply and broke the silence himself.

“After court this morning, I was already considering restoring you to military command,” he admitted, “Now that your name has been cleared and your position restored, it only makes sense to send you south to stabilize the situation. Even if you hadn’t come here today, I still would’ve summoned you before nightfall.”

Cassian remained silent.

Theodric studied him carefully before continuing in a quieter voice.

Chapter 616 His One Refusal

“I know what’s weighing on your mind. Your duchess is close to giving birth, and I understand why you don’t want to leave her right now. But Cassian, Avenlor cannot afford to keep losing ground in the south

As he spoke, Theodric rose from behind the desk and walked toward him.

“You know exactly what Falkriver means to this kingdom,” he said gravely. “If the Southwestern Marches continue advancing, Falkriver will eventually fall into enemy hands. That fortress city was defended with blood and sacrifice by General Hale himself years ago, and it remains one of the most important strongholds protecting Avenlor’s southern border.”

At the mention of Falkriver, something flickered faintly in Cassian’s eyes.

Under normal circumstances, he would have agreed without hesitation.

Theodric and Cassian had grown up together since childhood, and there had never once been distrust between them.

When Theodric fought for the throne years ago, Cassian stood beside him through every storm.

After Theodric ascended the throne, Cassian spent years leading armies across the continent without ever once refusing an order.

No matter what was asked of him, he had always agreed.

But today was different.

The silence stretching between them grew longer and heavier with every passing moment.

At length, Theodric lowered his voice further, and for the first time, genuine exhaustion showed through his expression.

“Cassian, we’re brothers. More than anyone else, I know exactly how much this kingdom owes you. I haven’t forgotten any of it.” His gaze darkened heavily. “What happened before, I will absolutely see justice done. Isla will answer for what she did, and so will the Baker family. But the Southwestern Marches cannot simply be abandoned, and Falkriver absolutely cannot fall.”

Then after a brief pause, he added quietly, “I still hope you’ll take command of this campaign, and as soon as possible.”

The room fell silent again afterward.

Cassian stood there motionless for several long moments before finally stepping back and lowering himself into a deep formal bow before the throne.

Even bent forward, his back remained perfectly straight.

“Your Majesty,” he said quietly, “I don’t want to go.”

Theodric froze.

For a moment, he genuinely seemed unable to believe what he had just heard.

Chapter 616 His One Refusal

“What did you say?”

Cassian lowered his gaze toward the stone floor beneath him.

“I said I don’t want to go to the Southwestern Marches.”

Theodric’s expression darkened immediately.

Falcher

“Cassian,” he said sharply, “do you even understand what you’re saying? Millions of lives are at stake there, not to mention Falkriver itself.”

“I know.”

Cassian’s voice remained calm, though quieter now.

“I know all of that, Your Majesty.”

“Then how can you still refuse?”

For the first time since entering the royal study, emotion finally surfaced clearly in Cassian’s voice.

“The people matter,” he said slowly, “but Ella matters too.”

Theodric’s gaze sharpened.

Cassian continued before he could interrupt.

“She nearly lost her life once already because of everything tied to me, and now she’s carrying my child. If

I leave for war again and something happens while I’m gone…” His voice lowered slightly before he

continued, “There are other commanders in Avenlor capable of leading armies. I was never the kingdom’s only option.”

Theodric stared at him coldly.

“You honestly believe anyone else can hold that border the way you can?”

Cassian did not answer immediately.

Instead, he lowered himself further until his forehead rested against the cold stone beneath him.

It was not submission.

It looked far more like exhaustion.

“For my entire life,” he said quietly, “I’ve never once asked Your Majesty for anything. I never disobeyed an order, and I never placed my own wishes before the kingdom.” His voice softened further. “But this once, I’m asking Your Majesty to spare me.”

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