Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 215

Chapter 215 Moonlight at Duskmoor Manor

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After marrying into Duskmoor Manor, Elowen’s world had remained confined to the front court. The inner grounds were still unfamiliar territory.

“I’ll show you,” Cassian said. “You’ll like it.”

They passed beneath a stone arch and turned along a covered gallery. The view opened suddenly.

Layered rock formations rose in deliberate design, uneven yet harmonious. Trees and flowering shrubs filled the space in dense clusters. Though autumn had already arrived, a few late blossoms still lingered, their faint fragrance drifting through the cooling air.

In one corner, tall reeds and broad-leafed plants formed a quiet enclave. Beneath them stood. two white peacocks-pure as snowfall, poised and regal, like creatures strayed from some celestial court.

Elowen’s eyes brightened. “Cassian, you keep peacocks?”

Cassian gave a quiet nod. “A gift from His Majesty.”

He gestured lightly. “You can feed them. They’re tame.”

He had come to realize that Elowen had a particular weakness for animals.

Fine horses. Stray kittens. And now, certainly, these pearl-feathered white peacocks.

As expected, she stepped forward eagerly.

A small feed pouch hung beside the enclosure. She slipped her hand inside, scooped up a handful of grain, and stretched her palm out carefully.

The peacock approached without hesitation and pecked gently from her hand. With her free hand, she brushed the feathers atop its head. “Do they have names?”

“Not yet.”

That reminded her. The residential wing where Cassian stayed had never been formally named either.

She had reviewed the estate ledgers before. Across the entire manor, only the private residence Marwen once occupied had ever been granted a proper title-Rose Hall.

Cassian truly lived without fuss.

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Chapter 215 Moonlight at Duskmoor Manor

Then again…

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Hale Manor had once been nothing remarkable either. It wasn’t until her father brought her mother home that the various residences were given names. Even the small ginger cat in the orchard had received one from her mother.

A realization struck her.

She was now the lady of Duskmoor Manor.

The naming of its residences. The naming of its prized birds. Those decisions belonged to

her.

Night settled in faster than she expected. The last streaks of color drained from the sky, leaving it deep and clear.

A pale moon rose above the manor roofs, and silver light spilled quietly across the stone courtyard.

Elowen had been bedridden for days. Though the evening air was cool and dim, she had no desire to return indoors yet.

She was still debating how to ask when Cassian spoke first, composed as ever.

“It’s been a while since I’ve watched the moon. There’s a pavilion further in. Clear sightlines. Supposedly the best place here for it.”

Her eyes curved with delight. “Then I’ll keep you company.”

She guided his chair along a path of smooth river stones.

The pavilion was far larger than she expected. Sheer curtains hung on all four sides, drifting gently in the breeze.

Inside stood a stone table and stools. A chessboard had already been laid out.

Elowen’s fingers twitched. She looked at him.

Cassian raised a brow. “A few rounds?”

Now that’s what you call perfect timing.

She stepped forward happily. “I’m taking black.

“As you wish.”

Bran moved ahead and lit the lantern suspended from the pavilion beam. Warm amber light

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Chapter 215 Moonlight at Duskmoor Mano

merged with moonlight, pooling softly over the chessboard.

Elowen took black. Cassian took white.

The pieces clicked crisply against stone. She won two games straight.

“I won again!” Her eyes sparkled.

Cassian inclined his head. “You did.”

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A faint smile curved his lips. “Anyone who wants to claim the title of Avenlor’s greatest player would have to challenge every master in the realm-and eventually face me. Ella, you’ve beaten me more than once. You could walk out tomorrow and call yourself the new champion.”

“That’s a stretch…”

Her cheeks flushed.

She wasn’t oblivious. He had clearly been going easy on her.

She didn’t expose it. Instead, she set a piece down and let out a small yawn, lashes damp with sleep.

She glanced at him, clearly testing how far she could push her luck. “Cassian… it feels so nice out here. Would it be all right if we stayed a little longer?”

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