Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 724

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Chapter 724 What Are You Hiding frotn Me?

For His Majesty to summon Cassian in the middle of the night, the intelligence had to be monumental.

As Elowen raced through the possibilities, a terrifying thought flashed through her mind.

The Oracle of Nordia.

Her ties to Nordia were her best-kept, most lethal secret.

If Elira had uncovered the truth and passed it to His Majesty…

Elowen’s face drained of what little color it had left.

Lydia noticed her distress and squeezed her hand. “Ella, stop torturing yourself. We don’t know the facts yet, so you need to stay calm. Cassian isn’t alone. He has Duskmoor Manor, he has you, and he has the two children. No matter how angry the Emperor might be, he can’t just ignore all of that.”

Elowen took a deep breath, forcing down the panic threatening to overwhelm her.

Meanwhile, in the Emperor’s study at the palace.

The moment Cassian stepped inside, he sensed the shift in the air. Usually, Quin would greet him with a warm smile and a polite, “Your Grace, His Majesty is expecting you.” Tonight, however, the attendant stood by the door, entirely pale. He merely muttered, “His Majesty is inside, Your Grace,” before quickly stepping aside.

Cassian’s heart sank a fraction, though his face remained a mask of calm as he walked in..

The study was dimly lit, illuminated only by a single lamp on the imperial desk. Its amber glow cast harsh shadows across the Emperor’s face. Theodric sat behind the desk, clutching a document so tightly his knuckles were white, his expression completely livid.

One look told Cassian that the Emperor was furious.

He approached the desk and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Theodric said nothing.

Cassian remained still.

The study fell into a heavy, suffocating silence, broken only by the occasional crackle of the candle flame.

After what felt like an eternity, Theodric finally spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was laced with ice. “Cassian, what are you hiding from me?”

Cassian straightened up to meet Theodric’s gaze, his voice smooth and unhurried. “I hide many things from Your Majesty. Which particular matter are you referring to?”

The Emperor slammed his hand onto the desk, sending the cups rauling violently.

“Your wife, of course!” his voice erupted.

Chapter 724 What Are You Hiding from Me?

Cassian paused.

On his way over, he had already weighed the possible reasons for this midnight summons. Court politics, border security, his hand in Alaric’s death, and the covert decapitation-or Ella.

Especially the last one.

Ella’s true identity was highly dangerous. Although he and Nordia had gone to great lengths to bury the truth, it was bound to reach Theodric’s ears eventually. It was always just a matter of time.

Cassian had long prepared himself for this moment, so hearing Theodric bring it up didn’t unnerve him in the slightest.

Matching the Emperor’s tense tone, he replied, “Your Majesty is referring to Ella’s ties to Nordia?”

Theodric’s eyes went wide, his voice shaking with a mixture of shock and fury. “By the looks of it, you’ve known all along! You knew, and you didn’t think to tell me? You kept this from me on purpose, and god knows for how long… Cassian, you clearly don’t see me as your brother, let alone your Emperor!”

Theodric bolted out of his chair, wild with rage. “No wonder no one else could negotiate with Nordia except you! And here I thought it was because they feared and respected you, but it was just because your wife is their Oracle! They were doing it for her! Yet the two of you kept me completely in the dark, breathing a word to no one! You have some nerve, Cassian!”

The Emperor’s thunderous voice echoed through the walls of the study.

Fortunately, Theodric had already ordered the servants to clear the area before Cassian arrived, leaving only a few imperial guards and Quin stationed outside. Standing by the door, Quin felt his knees shake as the shouting washed over him. He had truly never seen the Emperor this furious.

Fragrant incense smoke curled through Elira’s chambers.

Elira knelt before the altar, eyes closed and lips moving in a silent, low prayer as she slid a strand of ivory rose beads through her fingers. The candlelight caught her profile, softening her features and lending her an air of serene piety, much like a sacred icon.

Yet, the faint curve of her lips held an inexplicable, chilling coldness.

Matilda hurried in, her steps light and her face bright with an excitement she could barely contain. Stepping up behind Elira, she leaned down and whispered, “Your Highness, Duke Cassian entered the palace in the middle of the night!”

Elira didn’t open her eyes. Her fingers continued their steady, unhurried pace along the beads as she murmured a soft, “Amen.”

Only after a long silence did she finally speak. “I see.”

“We really have Rosaline to thank for this, Your Highness,” Matilda sighed. “The time spent training her as a spy paid off. She knew the secret ciphers well enough to pass back this critical information. Otherwise, we’d still be completely in the dark! Now that this has come to light, His Majesty will undoubtedly be even more suspicious of the Duke and Duchess. Duke Cassian won’t find it quite so easy to challenge Prince Carlan from now on.”

10:33 am M MM.

Chapter 724 What Are You Hiding from Me?

Finished

Elira’s fingers paused for a fraction of a second. She opened her eyes to look at the holy image before her. her gaze heavy and conflicted.

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