Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 699

Chapter 699 Theodric’s Warning

Elira did not dare answer mm.

“You wouldn’t have succeeded anyway.”

Theodric let out a cold, humorless laugh, then fixed her with a hard stare beneath the dim lantern light inside the royal carriage.

may as well tell you the truth. Cassian’s influence is already formidable, and it could grow far beyond what it is now if he chose to pursue it. When the fighting in the Southwestern Marches turned critical. I originally intended to send him there myself. He refused because he wanted to remain in Vanelle with his wife, and he personally urged me to appoint someone else instead. That is the only reason the sons of the Jones family were ever given that opportunity.”

Theodric’s brows tightened sharply, anger creeping back into his voice.

‘So tell me this. Why can’t the Jones family win a battle? They’ve been deadlocked in the Southwestern Marches this entire time. What exactly is stopping them? Do they dislike earning the people’s loyalty? Do hey dislike receiving honor from the crown?”

His expression darkened further.

‘If they want prestige, they should earn it with steel and blood on the battlefield. That’s where real authority comes from. Drugging infants and plotting in the shadows isn’t power. It’s cowardice.”

Elira began trembling violently. She hurried down from her seat and lowered herself onto the carriage loor, bowing deeply until her forehead pressed hard against the polished wood beneath her.

‘Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. This is my failure. I did not discipline my family properly. Once I return, I’ll make certain nothing like this ever happens again.”

Theodric looked down at her, disappointment plain in his eyes.

Still trying to salvage the situation, Elira kept her head lowered and spoke carefully.

I truly intended to tell Your Majesty everything myself. I simply never expected you would learn of it hist while visiting Duskmoor Manor today.”

Theodric’s voice turned icy.

“I know exactly what you’re implying. You think Cassian and Elowen deliberately arranged for me to overhear those conversations.”

Elira remained silent

Theodric continued, “You should be grateful they didn’t drag the matter directly before the throne in open court. What they did today left room for my dignity and yours. They are family Cassian is my brother. and Elowen is my sister in Law They had no wish to force me mic an mupossible position or drive a wedge through the royal household

Then his gaze sharpened

11

But hear me cically.

you can forget about ever sitting beside me as queen.”

His voice lowered dangerously

“I will not warn you twice.”

The weight of royal authority pressed down so heavily that Elira could barely breathe.

She remained bowed against the floor of the carriage, trembling too hard to force out a single word.

At last the royal carriage rolled to a stop before the palace gates.

Theodric stepped down first and strode inside without another glance behind him.

Elira stayed kneeling inside long after he was gone, her expression completely blank.

Back when the Baker family still ruled the court, she never dared fight for greater power because she knew perfectly well she could never surpass Isla. So she stayed quiet, obedient, and patient.

But once Isla fell from grace and Alaric died, Elira finally understood something.

Her opportunity had arrived.

She wanted the crown for herself.

And she wanted Caelan to become Crown Prince.

Among all the royal princes, none truly worried her

Except Cassian.

Originally, Elira believed that if she arranged a politically advantageous marriage for Caelan, then perhaps hey could finally rival Duskmoor Manor.

Then she learned something unexpected.

Caclan had fallen for a palace servant.

Worse still, Theodric himself seemed entertained by the idea and had casually suggested granting the gui to Caelan as a secondary consort.

That servant’s name was Iris

The moment Elira heard it, she sat stunned for a long while

Iris had once served Daphne, then later worked in the Crown Prince’s Wing before somehow ending up beside Elowen and eventually entering the royal residence with her

A girl with a history like that could not possibly be simple

And even setting that aside, Iris came from humble origins. She could offer Caclan no political advantage

whatsoever

Yet Caelan brought her constantly.

Every time Elira saw the brightness in her son’s eyes when he spoke about Iris, her unease deepened.

What if he married for affection instead of influence?

What if that cost him the position of Crown Prince?

Elira knew she could not afford to wait passively any longer.

She did not want her son disappointed, so she decided to clear the road ahead for him herself.

But row she realized she had struck at stone and heard no crack in return.

Neither Cassian nor Elowen were easy opponents.

More importantly, Theodric cared for them too deeply.

Watching how fondly he treated the twins today, especially little Emily, Elira finally understood one thing with painful clarity.

No one in the kingdom could touch Duskmoor Manor anymore.

At least not for now.

Back at Duskmoor Manor, Elowen had only just returned to her seat when Cora entered the chamber.

“Your Grace, Nelly accepted the reward money and left. She promised she wouldn’t repeat a word of what happened today.”

Elowen gave a small nod.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify