Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 755

12:13 Sat, Jul 11 T d

Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess

Chapter 755 Kill Two Birds With One Stone

She looked at George, her se

with these things.”

George’s expression shifted.

carrying a subtle, weightier meaning. “After all, you can never really tell

He understood exactly what Elowen was getting at. Both of these girls were being sent to the prince as concubines. Who the prince would favor or ignore was entirely unpredictable; nothing was set in stone If he pushed Maya too far today, and she happened to strike gold and win the prince’s favor tomorrow, his own life would be miserable.

A thin sweat broke out across George’s back.

He stole a quick glance at Elowen.

This Molly was truly something else. Her casual remarks had managed to kill two birds with one stone: she had protected Maya while leaving herself an out, all while subtly making him owe her a favor.

George’s expression shifted through a succession of calculations. His gaze flicked between Elowen’s smiling face and Maya’s bowed head before he finally managed a laugh.

“It’s a long journey to Kingsport, Molly. If you’re going to be bored, Maya might as well ride with you to keep you company.”

He had gladly taken the exit Elowen offered him.

Elowen offered a slight nod. “Thank you, Mr. Whitaker.”

George waved a hand dismissively and tactfully stepped back, calling out to the other attendants to double- check the carriage and cargo.

Maya remained rooted to the spot, her head still low.

As Elowen walked past her, she paused briefly. “Let’s go.”

Maya didn’t budge.

Elowen lowered her voice. “It’s a long journey north. If you catch a cold out there, wouldn’t the people who cherish you be heartbroken to find out?”

Maya froze. Her eyes pooled with tears as she looked up at Elowen, but Elowen had already moved past her Jand climbed into the carriage. After a moment’s hesitation, Maya finally followed her inside.

Elowen took a look around the interior. Although supposedly prepared for the prince’s prospective concubines, the carriage was pitifully crude. The walls were made of thin, pieced together wooden boards. and the canvas rool was worn white in several places. There was indeed a foot warmer, and the charcoal inside was bruing brightly, but its meager heat was a joke in a carriage that let in the wind from every drafty corner

It couldn’t even begin to compare to the carriage Elowen had ridden in just days before. For their journey north, Cassinn had specially ordered a brand-new carriage built for her. Its walls were insulated with cotton. the seats bed with three layers of quilts, and the stove burned premium silver-threaded charcoal that was

12:13 Sat, Jul 11

Chapter “b’s Kill Two Birds With One Stone

completely smokeless and odorless. Even the window curtains were made of double-layered, thick satí, blocking out every stray breeze.

Elowen wasn’t one to complain, but in that moment, she terribly missed her Cassian.

Keeping her thoughts to herself, she leaned back against the wooden wall and closed her eyes..

Sitting across from her, Maya stole a quick glance at her, then immediately looked back down/A moment later, she looked up again. Elowen’s eyes were still closed, her long eyelashes casting small, far-shaped shadows against her cheeks.

Maya wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. She turned the thoughts over and over in her mind, yet ultimately said nothing at all. She silently lowered her head and stared at her own hands resting on her lap. They were rough, dark, and thick-jointed, with dirt embedded under her nails that no amount of washing could remove. Elowen’s hands, by contrast, were fair, slender, and smooth, like delicately carved ivory.

Feeling a sudden pang of shame, Maya tucked her hands deep into her sleeves.

The rest of the ride passed in silence.

It wasn’t until two days later, when the caravan halted by a stream to rest, that Maya finally spoke. While the attendants busied themselves fetching water and lighting fires, George had a bowl of hot soup and two sandwiches brought over to Elowen, as attentive as ever.

Elowen accepted the food and leaned against a large boulder, sipping her soup slowly.

Maya sat across from her and suddenly asked, “Why did you help me?”

Elowen took another sip, looked up at her, and let out a soft laugh. “You’re only asking me now, two days later? I’ve practically forgotten what I was even thinking back then.”

Maya blinked, staring at her in surprise.

Amused by her bewildered expression, Elowen smiled a little wider. She took another sip of her hot soup, her gaze drifting past Maya’s shoulder toward something a short distance away.

A young man in a dusty sheepskin jacket was crouching by the stream, feeding hay to the horses. He worked slowly and meticulously, offering the hay handful by handful, his eyes occasionally darting back toward the carriage.

Maya followed her gaze, her fingers tightening instantly.

Elowen rested her chin on one hand, looking casually indifferent. “As for why I helped you… I suppose I just felt that if you were left to freeze out there, it would break someone’s heart.”

Maya’s face went completely pale. It took her a long moment just to squeeze out a single word. “You…”

Elowen shrugged. “It really is glaringly obvious.”

The man had been trailing them ever since they set off. Every time the caravan stopped to rest. Maya’s first mediately glance in his direction. And as if wanting for instinct was to look for loud or water it was to it that very look, the Four-would always raise his head at the existe moment mecing her eyes from across the distance. Neither would say a word; they would just look at each other.

12:13 Sat, Jul 11

Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess