Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 638

Chapter 638 What She Wanted

At the time, Elowen had nearly refused to keep her because she seemed too young and inexperienced.

But Lenora had lowered herself before her with tears trembling in her eyes while explaining that her husband had died young. Her older brother had once served in the army as well and never returned home from battle. After losing both men, she had been left entirely alone and survived only by taking laundry from wealthy households.

Then, only a month earlier, she had given birth herself, but the child did not survive.

With nowhere else to go, she heard Duskmoor Manor was searching for wet nurses and came hoping for work.

By pure coincidence, Lenora’s brother had once served beneath Elowen’s father.

That campaign had been brutal, and he never made it home alive.

Because of that connection, Elowen’s heart softened.

She thought that at the very least, she should help the sister of one of her father’s fallen soldiers if she could.

But listening to the conversation outside now, something about the atmosphere felt distinctly off.

Elowen stayed quietly behind the door without making a sound.

Then Cassian’s voice came from outside, unexpectedly cold.

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“If he doesn’t want to sleep alone, then let him cry himself tired. And if he’s too loud, carry him farther down the hall.”

Lenora clearly froze for a moment before speaking again in disbelief. “But Your Grace… that’s the young heir. He’s your eldest son.”

Cassian’s tone only grew colder.

“And inside this room is my only duchess.”

Without giving her another chance to continue, he added flatly, “Your responsibility is to care for the young heir. You don’t need to report every little thing to me.”

Footsteps approached immediately afterward.

A moment later, the chamber door opened.

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Chapter 638 What She Wanted.

+5 Pearls

Elowen stood there inside the room and found herself facing Cassian’s icy expression directly.

She blinked slowly.

The instant Cassian saw her standing there, the frost in his face melted away almost immediately. He closed the door behind him before walking over toward her.

“Did he wake you?” he asked softly.

Elowen nodded.

Cassian reached out naturally and tucked the loose strands of hair beside her cheek behind her ear. “It’s alright. I already had someone handle it.”

Elowen burst into laughter despite herself. “That’s your son you’re talking about. The way you said that made it sound like you were ordering soldiers to drag him off somewhere.”

Cassian laughed quietly too, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

After a brief pause, he added, “We should dismiss that wet nurse.”

Elowen had already been thinking the same thing.

“Mhm.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Still, make sure she’s paid half a month’s wages before she leaves. That’s for her brother’s sake.”

Cassian nodded as though visibly relieved.

Outside, Phoenix’s crying gradually faded away, most likely because one of the other wet nurses had gone to soothe him.

Cassian barely paid attention to it. Instead, he took Elowen’s hand and guided her farther inside the room.

“I originally planned to wait until you woke up before telling you this,” he said quietly. “Alaric is dead.”

Elowen froze.

Cassian continued holding her hand, but for a brief moment, it felt as though something inside. her chest had been struck softly but unexpectedly hard.

Dead?Alaric’s dead?

After several long seconds, she finally asked quietly, “How?”

Cassian answered in the same calm tone. “Daphne escaped from the Secluded Wing and stabbed him to death along one of the palace roads.”

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Chapter 638 What She Wanted

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Elowen fell silent once again.

She had expected to feel something once it was finally over, perhaps relief, perhaps satisfaction, perhaps even the quiet certainty that a grudge carried for half a lifetime had at last been laid to rest, yet instead there was only an unexpected emptiness sitting heavily in her chest.

Instead, her thoughts remained startlingly calm, almost as though she had merely heard ordinary household news about the weather or tonight’s supper.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“Cassian… I suddenly feel like I don’t recognize myself anymore.”

He looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Elowen pressed her lips together before answering slowly.

“When I visited Daphne in the Secluded Wing that day, I originally just wanted to understand why she hated me so much. It should’ve been a very simple conversation. But then she told me Alaric had spread word about what happened to her and ruined not only her reputation, but her parents’ and brother’s as well.”

Her gaze lowered slightly.

“And the moment she said that, an idea suddenly came to me. I deliberately told her I had always considered her a friend and that I’d never truly hated her.” She paused briefly. “At the time, I wanted to see whether she would try to take revenge on Alaric.”

Cassian remained quiet and listened patiently.

“She reacted exactly the way I expected,” Elowen continued softly. “She begged me to let her out. So I bribed the older servant overseeing the Secluded Wing and arranged for her to slip away to a tavern for drinks while Daphne escaped. Then I had someone leak Alaric’s route to her.” Her voice lowered further. “I also had someone leave a knife where she could find it.”

After hearing everything, Cassian merely lifted a brow slightly.

“And that makes you frightening?”

Elowen nodded slowly, her brows knitting together. “A little.” She hesitated before continuing. “I’ve schemed against people before. I’ve done plenty of things over the years. But this feels different.”

Her voice became even quieter.

“This time, I never touched him myself. I only nudged things in a certain direction… and someone died because of it.”

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IVION, Jun 1

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