Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 620

Chapter 620 Back at Duskmoor Manor

Relief washed over Cassian so suddenly that the tightness in his chest eased all at once. He immediately lowered himself into a deep formal bow before Theodric, one hand pressed over his heart in respect.

“My thanks to Your Majesty for this grace.”

Theodric did not turn around, merely waving a hand dismissively as the fire crackled softly nearby. “Enough already. Go home. I heard Elspeth returned to Vanelle today, which means she’s probably waiting at your manor by now.”

A genuine smile surfaced across Cassian’s face. “Yes. Aunt Elspeth has always spoiled Ella the most.”

He had already begun walking toward the doors when another thought occurred to him, prompting him to stop and glance back over his shoulder. “Once Ella safely delivers the baby, we’ll bring the child to the palace and properly pay our respects to Your Majesty.”

That finally drew a laugh out of Theodric.

He turned slightly, amusement visible in his eyes. “You’re not coming to pay respects. You and your little family are obviously planning to come here and squeeze rewards out of me.”

Cassian laughed easily. “If Your Majesty chooses to reward us, that only proves your generosity.”

Theodric snorted. “Stop trying to flatter me and get out before I change my mind.”

Still smiling, Cassian bowed once more. “Then I’ll take my leave.”

This time, Theodric merely answered with a low sound of acknowledgment.

Cassian departed in excellent spirits, the heaviness that had shadowed him for days finally disappearing completely.

Because of that, he never saw the expression left behind in Theodric’s eyes after he walked out of the chambe

Standing alone beneath the warm glow of the lanterns, Theodric watched his younger brother disappear beyond the carved doors, unmistakable relief and satisfaction gradually surfacing across his face.

That foolish younger brother of his had finally learned how to live for himself.

Strangely enough, Theodric envied him for it.

After so many years trapped upon the throne beneath endless responsibilities and court intrigue, he had almost forgotten what it felt like to love someone deeply enough that the rest of the world no longer mattered. He could no longer remember the simple happiness of fighting desperately for someone, or hurrying home because there was a person waiting there whom he longed to see.

Those ordinary joys had drifted impossibly far away from him long ago.

Then suddenly, another thought occurred to him, one that improved his mood considerably.

9:36 am P P P P

pppp.

Chapter 620 Back at Duskmoor Manor

“Quin.”

Finished

The attendant waiting outside hurried into the chamber immediately. “What does Your Majesty require?”

Theodric’s expression cooled again, though this time there was clear malicious satisfaction beneath it. “Summon everyone from the Ministry of War. Every last one of them.”

The situation in the Southwestern Marches had already become a nightmare waiting to erupt, and since Cassian clearly could no longer be sent there, Theodric had no intention of suffering through the headache alone.

If he was going to lose sleep over military reports, then the ministers could suffer alongside him.

After all, tormenting exhausted officials remained one of the few entertainments left to a ruler.

By the time the thought settled properly in his mind, Theodric finally felt considerably better.

When Cassian returned to Duskmoor Manor that evening, a violent explosion suddenly erupted somewhere within the estate grounds, loud enough to send birds scattering from the nearby trees.

Cassian’s instincts sharpened instantly.

His first thought was retaliation.

With guards and hidden sentries stationed throughout the manor, anyone capable of slipping through the defenses and causing that kind of destruction was no ordinary threat.

The ease that had settled over him during recent months vanished immediately. Every muscle in his body tightened as he moved swiftly through the corridors with the silent precision of a hunting wolf, heading straight toward the source of the noise.

Smoke already billowed thickly through the courtyard ahead.

Even through the haze, Cassian’s hearing immediately picked up two separate sets of footsteps inside it, allowing him to pinpoint their positions almost instantly.

He was just preparing to strike when Elspeth’s furious voice suddenly rang through the smoke.

“Lirien! What exactly did I warn you about?! I told you not to blow apart the courtyard! Were you listening to a single word I said?!”

A second later, Elowen’s gentler voice followed behind it.

“Aunt Elspeth, don’t be angry yet. I’m sure they didn’t mean for this to happen. We should make sure they aren’t hurt first.”

Only then did the tension finally drain from Cassian’s body.

Turning toward the familiar voice, the cold sharpness in his expression softened unmediately.

“Ella

Elowen looked over the moment she heard him, delight brightening her face instantly. “Cassian? You’re

Chapter 620 Back at Duskmoor Manor

back already?”

He answered softly before walking toward her.

She had evidently rushed outside after hearing the explosion because the loose strands of hair she’d tucked behind her ear earlier had slipped free again around her cheeks. Cassian lifted a hand naturally. brushing the strands gently back into place.

“His Majesty kept you at the palace for quite a while,” Elowen said while studying his expression carefully. “What did he say?”

Cassian smiled without the slightest hesitation. “Nothing important. We mostly talked about old times.”

He had no intention of mentioning that Theodric originally wanted him to leave for the Southwestern Marches

Ella was far too softhearted. Once she learned how dire the fighting there had become, she ably spend her days worrying over the suffering of the people at the border.

nd that, the choice he made today already proved his love for her clearly enough. There was no place those feelings before her again simply to deepen her affection for him further.

By then, Elspeth had already dragged two soot-covered girls out from the smoke-filled courtyard.

One was Lirien.

The other was Nikki.

Both girls looked thoroughly miserable, their clothes stained black with ash while soot smeared across their cheeks, leaving only their bright eyes visible beneath the grime.

Cassian could not help laughing at the sight. “Ella, weren’t you saying recently that you wanted a daughter? If she turned out this troublesome, would you still want one?”

The two girls immediately blinked up at Elowen in perfect unison, wide-eyed and innocent despite their disastrous appearance.

Elowen finally burst into laughter. “Maybe not one quite this troublesome.”

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