Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 644

Chapter 644 Scarlet

Perhaps it truly was some strange military tradition.

45 Fearle

Seeing Elowen fall quiet, Draven seemed to mistake her silence for disapproval, and his expression tightened almost immediately before he hurried to explain himself.

“It isn’t that I dislike women or marriage, Your Grace,” he said carnestly. “And I certainly don’t have some scandalous obsession with another man’s wife.”

That nearly made Elowen laugh outright.

Draven, meanwhile, continued speaking with painful sincerity, entirely unaware of how blunt he sounded.

“I served under the Duke of Duskmoor for years before transferring into the King’s Guard, and between military duties and palace assignments, I simply never had the time to think seriously about marriage. Before I realized it, several years had already passed.”

Elowen nodded thoughtfully. “I imagine your family pressures you constantly about settling down.”

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“They do,” Draven admitted honestly. “But I’m not willing to marry simply for the sake of it. If I don’t meet someone I genuinely like and respect, I’d rather stay unmarried than force myself into it.”

That answer earned clear approval from Elowen. In that regard, he and Cassian truly were alike.

Cassian had clearly set an example for every soldier beneath him. At the same time, Draven’s meaning was obvious.

He genuinely liked Scarlet.

More importantly, he already considered her someone suitable for a future beside him.

When Elowen remained silent for a moment too long, Draven seemed to grow anxious that she disapproved of him completely.

deeply

Without hesitation, he suddenly rose to his feet and bowed deeply again.

“Your Grace, I don’t have any bad habits,” he said with complete seriousness. “During festivals or military gatherings, I may share a few drinks with the other officers, but I never drink excessively, and outside those occasions I rarely touch wine at all. I don’t gamble either, and I’ve never spent time in brothels or disreputable taverns. The rules within the King’s Guard are strict, and I’ve always conducted myself carefully.”

The more he spoke, the more solemn his expression became.

“Most of my military salary over the years has been saved untouched for marriage someday. I calculated everything recently, and together with the rewards granted by His Majesty, I should have enough to purchase a respectable townhouse in Vanelle.”

Elowen listened quietly.

Draven truly was straightforward to an almost unbelievable degree.

Chapter 644 Scarlet

The man was practically presenting his household accounts.

“My parents are both alive and in good health,” he continued earnestly “My grandmother still lives with us as well, though she’s quite elderly now. I also have a younger brother and sister. My brother is nineteen and already serving in the military, while my sister is fifteen and not yet promised to anyone. We aren’t an especially wealthy family, but we live comfortably enough, and there are no serious burdens within the household.”

The more Elowen heard, the more satisfied she became.

If Scarlet truly married into a family like this, her future would likely be stable and peaceful.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Elowen lifted her eyes.

Scarlet entered carrying a tray in both hands, her gaze lowered while she walked steadily into the room.

She wore a soft lavender gown today, elegant without appearing overly ornate, and her hair had been arranged neatly beneath delicate pearl pins. A faint touch of rose powder warmed her complexion, making her look both graceful and radiant.

Then Elowen glanced toward Draven.

As expected, the man had gone completely still.

He stared at Scarlet so intently that he almost looked rooted to the spot.

The sight nearly made Elowen laugh.

“Commander, please, have a seat first,” she said gently. “This mulled wine was only recently delivered to the manor, and the spices came from one of the finest winter shipments out of Southvale.”

Scarlet paused briefly after hearing his name and instinctively glanced toward him before lowering her eyes again almost immediately.

Only then did Draven react.

“Oh. Right.”

He sat back down rather stiffly.

Elowen smiled faintly. “Scarlet, serve the commander first.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Scarlet stepped forward gracefully and began pouring his wine.

Draven simply could not stop himself from glancing sideways at her.

The porcelain cup rested delicately in her hand, and against the pale glaze, her fingers looked slender and elegant, the faint blush at her fingertips warmer and lovelier than polished ivory.

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Chapter 644 Scarlet

45 Paaris

For several long seconds, he stared openly.

Then Scarlet’s soft voice sounded beside him.

“Commander, your cup.

The cup settled onto the side table beside him with a quiet click.

Once she finished, Scarlet immediately turned and crossed toward Elowen and Cassian instead.

Draven watched silently.

She leaned gracefully while pouring wine for the couple seated above him, every movement calm, elegant, and perfectly proper.

There was absolutely nothing to criticize.

Yet throughout the entire process, she never once turned back toward him.

A strange heaviness settled slowly in Draven’s chest.

It wasn’t shyness.

Nor was it playful distance.

Scarlet genuinely seemed unwilling to grow closer to him. As though some invisible wall stood firmly between them.

That realization left him unexpectedly disappointed. He lowered his eyes toward the untouched wine beside him.

The liquid released a rich fragrance into the air, unmistakably excellent wine.

Yet somehow, it no longer smelled nearly as sweet as he’d imagined.

After finishing her duties, Scarlet carefully returned the wine to the tray before stepping back and bowing respectfully.

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