Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11 A Door That Should Not Be Opened

After the examination, Halbrecht made a few adjustments to the prescription.

Elowen had Mira walk him out. She stood watching as Bran bent over awkwardly but carefully, tucking the blanket around Cassian’s body with great attention.

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After a moment of thought, Elowen asked, “Bran how long have you been with the Duke?”

Bran replied honestly, “My father served in the royal guard. Not long after I was born, I was brought into the palace. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been at the Duke’s side. So

it’s been…”

He counted on his fingers. “Twenty-seven or twenty-eight years, I suppose?” Elowen’s thoughts stirred. She turned her head. “Then you must know a great many things about him.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you happen to know if he’s ever had someone he loved?”

Bran froze, his expression clearly conflicted. “Your Grace…”

Elowen knew exactly why he trailed off. She smiled. “Truth is, I already heard long ago that the Duke had someone in his heart. I don’t mind. If I did, I wouldn’t have married into this household.”

Then she softened her voice. “I’m not bringing this up to start a fight or demand answers. It’s just that earlier, the royal physician said that emotional stimulation might help rouse the Duke. I recall hearing that he once had a woman he cherished above all others. Someone he never forgot. If we could find that lady and bring her here, perhaps the Duke would wake.”

She looked straight at Bran, her expression calm and composed. “So you can relax. Just tell me who she is. Everything I do is for the Duke’s sake.”

Cassian lay on the bed. His limbs were devoid of strength; his entire body was unable to move, and even his eyelids were heavy as stone. Only his thoughts remained perfectly clear, and his hearing was still sharp. He heard every word Elowen said.

And he heard Bran’s realization, “Your Grace is absolutely right!”

Cassian burned with silent frustration. So easily talked into it. Fool.

Elowen asked patiently, “So, who is she?”

Cassian hesitated. Then thought again-when Elowen spoke in such a soft, coaxing voice, even he found it hard to resist. Perhaps it wasn’t entirely Bran’s fault for caving in.

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Chapter 11 A Door That Should Not Be Opened

Bran scratched his head, a bit distressed. “Well… I’m not exactly sure.”

Elowen clearly hadn’t expected that. “You’re not?

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Bran admitted, “I really don’t know if the Duke ever had someone like that. Over the years, many people tried to match him with someone, but he always refused. Said he already had someone in his heart. Rejected every proposal without a second thought. Later, even His Majesty came to ask who the woman was, and said he’d arrange the marriage personally. That would’ve been perfect. But the Duke still turned it down. Eventually, His Majesty started to suspect-maybe there wasn’t anyone at all. Maybe the Duke just didn’t want to marry and used that as an excuse.”

“I see…” Elowen murmured, deep in thought.

Cassian lay there, a bit surprised at himself-he hadn’t realized he’d hidden it so well. Born into nobility, Cassian had never needed to hide his feelings from anyone.

When he was pleased, no reward was too great to hand out. When he was displeased, people would be forced to bow and accept punishment.

He never needed to read others’ moods, and certainly never worried about offending anyone. He’d never had to lie except about this. This was the only thing he had ever kept secret.

Even those closest to him, even his brother the King, hadn’t heard a whisper of it.

“It doesn’t matter,” Elowen said, not looking the least bit discouraged. “Even if there isn’t someone he loved, the Duke must care about something else. We’ll try, one thing at a time.”

“How do we try?” Bran asked curiously.

Cassian was wondering the same thing.

Elowen only smiled. “We’ll try slowly, over time. It’s late now. Let’s rest. Tomorrow, I still need to visit Lady Marwen.”

Bran gave a short nod and stepped back to take is leave. Cassian frowned. To him, there was no need at all for Elowen to go see Marwen.

She was now the Duchess of Duskmoor. The only person she should ever have to lower her head for was the King himself.

His thoughts paused, and then something else ofcurred to him.

Elowen said she was going to rest-but where? He soon got his answer.

He heard the soft rustling of fabric, the sound of clothing brushing lightly against the floor as it drew closer. Someone climbed into bed. A breeze of jasmine drifted past his nose, faint and

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