Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 618

* Finished

Lirien immediately lowered her head after receiving praise, though the smile at the corners of her mouth only deepened, and she gently brushed the toe of her shoe against the floor in embarrassment.

Watching her, Elowen rested one hand over her stomach and spoke in a soft, thoughtful voice. “We still haven’t chosen a nickname for the baby yet, so maybe when the time comes, you can help think of one for her. Nina, would you like to do that for me?”

The suggestion startled Lirien so much that her entire face turned red almost instantly. “Me? Oh, I don’t know if I could…”

She looked both thrilled and nervous at the same time, caught between wanting to agree immediately and feeling too shy to accept so easily.

The sight amused Elowen enough that a teasing thought crossed her mind. “It’s alright. If you choose one I don’t like, I simply won’t use it.”

That blunt honesty caught Lirien completely off guard for a second, though somehow it also made her visibly relax.

The nervousness faded from her expression, replaced by eager determination.

“Then I’ll think very seriously about it,” she promised earnestly. “The moment I get home, I’ll start coming up with ideas every day until I find the perfect one.”

Elowen smiled and nodded. “Good. Then I’ll look forward to hearing it.”

Elspeth watched the exchange beside them with obvious affection before finally waving a hand toward Lirien. “Alright

go and entertain yourself for a while. We adults still have things to discuss.”

Now, off you &

Lirien blinked in confusion and glanced around the enormous hall. “But where exactly am I supposed to go?”

Elowen tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment before her eyes suddenly brightened. “Actually, there’s a girl around your age staying in my household. Her name’s Nikki. Would you like to spend time with her?”

Lirien nodded immediately. “Anyone serving in your household must be wonderful.”

Elowen turned toward Cora. “Take Lirien to Nikki, and tell her she has the entire afternoon free by my order so the two of them can enjoy themselves properly.”

Cora bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Grace.”

Before leaving, Lirien still looked toward Elspeth instinctively, waiting for permission.

Elspeth laughed and waved her onward. “Go enjoy yourself. Just try not to bring the whole manor down around you”

That was all the encouragement she needed.

Lirien happily followed Cora from the Great Hall, and even after she disappeared down the corridor her

9:36 am P P P P

Chapter 618 Someone Still Waiting

excited voice still floated faintly back through the open doorway.

“How old is Nikki? Does she like riding? What does she usually do for fun?”

The hall gradually quieted after the two girls left, leaving only Elowen and Elspeth seated together

Elspeth looked at Elowen for a long moment before finally speaking again, her voice gentler now than before.

“Earlier this year, I completely forgot the date of your birthday because Nina and I were traveling, and by the time I remembered, it was already too late to return in person. I could only send a few gifts ahead, and afterward I kept feeling guilty about it.” She paused briefly before continuing more softly. “This time. I counted the weeks carefully because I knew the baby would be arriving soon. Bringing a child into the world is one of the most important moments in a woman’s life, and I couldn’t bear missing it.”

Warmth suddenly stung behind Elowen’s eyes.

She no longer had a mother.

Ever since becoming pregnant, she had occasionally found herself wondering what it might feel like to have one nearby through all of this, because most women did. Mothers stayed beside their daughters during childbirth, comforting them, guiding them, helping them through the fear.

She had once convinced herself that it didn’t matter because Cassian would remain with her.

But sitting here now, she realized she had forgotten something important.

She still has Aunt Elspeth.

“Oh, that reminds me.” Elspeth leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice with curiosity. “On the road to Vanelle, I heard all sorts of rumors from travelers. People were saying Alaric was stripped of his position as Crown Prince. Is that really true?”

Elowen nodded calmly. “Before this, Alaric secretly arranged the assassination attempt against Roderic of Nordia, then tried to frame Cassian for it, which led to His Grace temporarily losing both his title and authority. Not long afterward, the scandal surrounding the court qualification trials surfaced as well, and Alaric turned out to be deeply involved in that too. His Majesty had been deceived about many things, bur once the truth came out, naturally he was furious.”

Elspeth sighed quietly and shook her head. “When he was younger, that boy never seemed capable of becoming someone like this. Back then, his eyes still looked honest. He seemed no different from any ordinary child.”

Elowen lowered her gaze slightly.

Back then, after she had once saved him, Alaric had looked at her with complete sincerity and solemnly promised he would take responsibility for her someday.

Now that memory felt impossibly distant.

“People change,” Elowen said softly. “Especially when they spend years surrounded by the wrong influences. Nina changed too, didn’t she? Back then, she spent every day watching everyone’s expressions before daring to speak. Now that she’s with you, she’s become lively and carefree

PPP

Chapter 618 Someone Shill Waiting

Pride and tenderness softened Elspeth’s expression immediately. “Nina truly is a good child. When she first came with me, she barely even dared laugh out loud because she was afraid of bothering someone. It broke my heart watching her live like that. Now she chatters from morning until night.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify