Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 653

Chapter 653 A Hidden Target

“Tristan…”

Isla frowned slightly before slowly shaking her head.

“No. It wasn’t only Tristan!

A sharp look entered her eyes as another memory surfaced.

“Wasn’t there also a young maid serving beside Alaric? The girl who originally entered the palace with Daphne…”

Hilda immediately understood. “Do you mean Iris, My Lady?”

At once, a cold gleam flashed through Isla’s eyes. “Yes. Iris.” Her voice sharpened. “Where is she now?”

One of the attendants standing nearby cautiously lifted her head.

“My Lady… not long ago, I believe I saw her serving beside Lady Elira.”

Isla slowly turned toward her.

“What did you just say?”

The maid instantly paled beneath that icy stare and hurried into a deep bow.

“T-two days ago, My Lady, I went to the royal stores to collect a new silver goblet service, and I happened to see one of Lady Elira’s senior attendants there collecting the monthly household stipends. There was another girl following behind her who looked familiar. I only caught a glimpse, but… I thought it might’ve been Iris…”

The maid risked a nervous glance upward only to see Isla’s expression growing darker by the second. Terrified, she immediately lowered her head again.

“O-of course, perhaps I was mistaken…”

Isla narrowed her eyes slowly.

“You probably weren’t.”

A cold laugh escaped her lips.

[

“Elira and the Duke of Duskmoor have been working together for quite some time now. I’ve known that perfectly well. Back when the Crown Prince’s Wing was investigated, I heard every servant and advisor connected to it was imprisoned except for one person quietly removed beforehand. At the time. I didn’t know who it was.”

She lifted a hand and brushed away the dampness beneath her eyes, though the mockery in her smile only deepened.

“But now I understand. A maid who entered the palace with Daphne. A servant who stayed beside Alaric.

9:59 am Pppp.

Chapter 653 Hidden Target

+5 Fearls

Both her former masters have fallen, yet somehow she alone ends up comfortably serving under Elira without suffering a thing.”

No wonder the Crown Prince’s Wing collapsed so quickly.

No wonder Cassian managed to uncover so much evidence.

Clearly, Iris had been feeding information to them all along.

And in exchange, the little traitor secured herself a peaceful life.

Seeing the dangerous look settling across Isla’s face, Hilda hesitated for à long moment before finally speaking carefully.

“My Lady… the lord believes the family should avoid drawing attefition for now and wait for matters to

calm down.”

“He’s old. That’s why he’s afraid.”

Isla’s brows tightened sharply, bitterness flashing openly across her face.

“If he’d been capable, my son never would’ve been forced out of the Crown Prince’s Wing, and he certainly wouldn’t have died. Now he expects me to stay quiet too? The one who died was my son.”

For a moment, even Hilda did not know how to respond.

“Iris.”

Isla spoke the name slowly, each syllable dripping with hatred.

“That little snake traded loyalty for comfort and survival. Alaric may be dead, but I’d like to see how she plans to escape now.”

Elsewhere in the palace, Iris was warming mulled wine over a mall brazier when she suddenly sneezed.

She rubbed her nose with mild confusion.

The weather had been warm lately, especially during the day. Surely she hadn’t caught a chill overnight.

After thinking it over for a moment, she decided that probably was not the reason.

Someone’s talking about me behind my back again.

She had only just drifted into thought when a sharp voice suddenly rang out behind her.

“So this is where you disappeared to again.”

Iris let out a quiet sigh before standing and turning around.

Tamsin strode toward her with irritation written all over her face.

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Chapter 658 A-Hidden Target

5 Pearls

“I told you to stay here and prepare the drinks properly, and instead you’re standing around daydreaming. What exactly is distracting you so much that you can’t focus of serving Lady Elira?”

The skirts of her gown snapped sharply behind her as she walked.

Tamsin was naturally tall and attractive, but the constant tension in her face often made her seem harsh and unpleasant.

Iris lowered her gaze respectfully.

“Tamsin.”

She had been serving under Elira for some time now.

Ever since Elowen arranged for Elira to transfer her out of the Crown Prince’s Wing, Iris had remained here peacefully.

Elira treated her kindly. She never questioned her about the past, never embarrassed her, and simply treated her like any ordinary palace attendant.

And Iris, in return, worked carefully, spoke little, caused no trouble, and quietly kept to herself.

It was the kind of life she once never even dared dream about.

The only unpleasant part was Tamsin.

Ever since Caelan visited one day and singled Iris out for a private conversation in front of the other attendants and matrons, Tamsin had clearly begun holding a grudge.

From then on, she constantly found excuses to make Iris’s life difficult.

Several days earlier, Tamsin claimed she wanted to “teach” Iris proper palace duties and brought her along to collect the monthly stipends from the royal treasury. She even handed the pouch of money over for Iris

to carry.

But after they returned, she suddenly insisted five dollars were missing and accused Iris of stealing them. Elira merely waved the matter away casually, saying it was too small an amount to investigate further.

Still, Tamsin remained dissatisfied and spent days afterward making pointed remarks whenever Iris was nearby.

Iris simply pretended not to hear them.

Today, Tamsin ordered her to prepare drinks again.

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