Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 657

Chapter 657 Rivals at Westmarket

45 Pearls

Draven had already claimed one of them before the others arrived, leaving the second table empty.

Elowen clearly did not think much of it. She simply led Mira and Scarlet over to the remaining seats and settled down naturally.

Leander started forward as well, only for Draven to shift half a step at exactly the right moment and quietly block his path.

Draven inclined his head politely, though there was not much warmth behind it. “Leander.”

Leander returned the courtesy just as calmly. “Commander Hall.”

The two men exchanged a brief look before each withdrew first, neither willing to appear overly confrontational in front of Elowen.

Draven spoke first anyway.

“I was under the impression Leander never attends morning court without breakfast beforehand,” he said evenly. “Court ended less than an hour ago, so I’m curious how you managed to become hungry again so quickly.”

Leander showed no sign of annoyance. If anything, his smile became more relaxed.

“Commander Hall misunderstands,” he replied pleasantly. “Today I accompanied Her Grace and Scarlet on important business. After discussing matters for most of the day, it’s only natural I’d need another meal.”

He emphasized Scarlet’s name very deliberately.

Draven’s brows tightened slightly.

“Scarlet has an extraordinary memory,” he said coolly. “Far better than most people. Her Grace trusts her deeply and often brings her along for important matters. She previously entered the palace on Her Grace’s behalf as well, so Scarlet and I have interacted quite a few times.”

Strictly speaking, they had only crossed paths once inside the palace itself.

But afterward he had gone to Duskmoor Manor and seen her there again.

That still counted.

At the very least, certainly more often than Leander had.

Leander let out a soft laugh.

“That makes perfect sense,” he said. “Someone as capable as Scarlet naturally earns Her Grace’s trust. As for me, my memory has never been particularly reliable, so if future assignments happen to place Scarlet and me together more often, perhaps I’ll improve through proximity.

Draven immediately found himself choked silent

10:00 am Pppp

Chapter 657 Rivels at Westmarket

These scholars truly fought differently from soldiers.

Every sentence sounded polite while hiding a knife inside it.

+5 means

Leander, clearly satisfied with his victory, smiled openly before offering another courteous nod and calmly sitting himself down at Draven’s table as though he belonged there.

He even added warmly, “Commander Hall, you should eat before the stew gets cold.”

The remark sounded harmless on the surface, but the look in Leander’s eyes made the meaning underneath perfectly clear.

Enjoy it while you still can.

Draven sat there for a moment without managing to think of a proper reply.

For the first time in years, he genuinely regretted spending all his youth training with swords, horses, and military drills instead of reading more books.

If he had studied harder back then, he absolutely could have argued with Leander for several more rounds.

Unfortunately, regret was useless now.

Draven lowered his gaze expressionlessly and continued eating his stew.

Normally, this was his favorite tavern in all of Westmarket, but today the rich stew tasted dull and lifeless in his mouth.

Meanwhile, Leander looked thoroughly delighted.

He had already eaten at home before coming out, but once the tavern servant delivered another bowl of steaming beef stew alongside fresh rye bread, he somehow found his appetite returning immediately.

At the neighboring table, Elowen rested her cheek lightly against one hand while quietly observing the entire exchange from beginning to end.

Naturally, she could tell both Draven and Leander had feelings for Scarlet.

Oddly enough, though, her excitement had nothing to do with trying to decide which man suited Scarlet

better.

Instead, a completely different thought had begun taking shape in her mind.

This is gonna make one hell of a story.

She had written Tomances before.

She had written mutual devotion, gradual affection, careful political maneuvering, and characters clawing their way upward step by step.

But she had never once written a story where several men competed openly for the heroine’s attention

10:00 am Pppp.

Chapter 657 Rivals at Westmarket

Two men fighting over one woman would already be fascinating enough.

Then again…

Three men might be even more entertaining.

Or four.

The more Elowen thought about it, the brighter her eyes became.

Perfect

oing in the next novel.

+5 Pears

ne finished thinking through possible scenes, she had unknowingly finished an entire bowl of en wiped up the last of the ste

because she was in such a goo

mmediately decided to bring

e tavern only had one serving rrying wooden trays loaded

After dabbing the corner of finished eating herself and

Scarlet, meanwhile, wa

The moment she

She had only

“Well now,

The ins

Her

read until nothing remained.

day’s meal somehow tasted even better than usual.

Cassian to try as well.

he room, and he was currently hurrying between tables

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