Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 323

Chapter 323 A Visit And Unrest

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In the end, Regan explained that a few days earlier, a young woman had come to Hale Manor asking to enter the memorial room and pay her respects to Elowen’s parents. Regan had never seen her before. When he asked her name and where she came from, she either couldn’t or wouldn’t answer. She only said she was “a friend.”

Regan remained polite, but he refused to allow a stranger into the family memorial room. The woman had a large man with her, and for a moment Regan feared they might try to force their way inside. Fortunately, after waiting for a while, the woman eventually left quietly.

Elowen frowned.

A friend? Who is it, someone from my father’s side or one of my mother’s friends? If that’s the case, why not just say her name?

She had no memory of anyone like that from her previous life. She was still turning it over when another set of hurried footsteps came toward them.

It was Bran, and his face was unusually grim.

“Your Grace.” He gave a quick bow, then turned to Cassian. “A message from the palace. His Majesty requests your immediate presence. It’s urgent.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He gave Elowen’s fingers a squeeze, his voice soft. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Go home and rest.”

Elowen nodded, though reluctantly. “Alright.”

Bran wheeled Cassian away. Elowen watched until they disappeared around the corner. Then, with Regan’s help, she returned to the carriage and headed back to Duskmoor Manor.

Through the rattle and sway of the ride, Elowen idly started thinking up names for the courtyards on the estate. Once she got home, she went straight to her study, spread out the manor maps, and spent the afternoon testing names for every garden and walkway. She even made a note for the courtyard with the peacock.

By the time she finished, dusk had settled outside. Cassian still hadn’t returned.

Elowen sat by the window fighting sleep, yawning over and over.

Cora noticed first. “Your Grace, you should rest.”

Mira added, “The duke told us that if you’re tired, you don’t have to wait. Just go to sleep.”

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12:17 Mon, Apr 20

Chapter 323 A Visit And Unrest

56

+20 Free Coins

Elowen looked down at her sheets of names and shook her head firmly. “No. I want to wait.”

Cora and Mira exchanged helpless looks, but neither pressed her again.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Elowen straightened at once. “Is that Cassian?”

Bran came in instead and bowed. “His Grace won’t be back tonight. His Majesty asked him to stay at the palace.”

Elowen blinked, startled. Cassian had gone to the palace before, but he always returned before night. This was the first time he hadn’t.

What could be so important?

She tightened her hands in her lap, then asked Bran, “Has this ever happened before? The duke being summoned and not coming home overnight?”

Bran nodded. “Yes. Before your marriage, when the northern tribes invaded. There was a great deal of bloodshed, and the Duke was sent to the front. He came back months later, badly wounded. Afterward, he slept for days. This time…”

Bran sighed. “I really can’t say. Maybe His Grace is being sent to the front again.”

Elowen washed up and got into bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. Mira had tucked a warm stone into her blankets because she hated the cold, but it didn’t help. The sheets still felt cold, and she couldn’t settle.

When she looked in the mirror the next morning, the shadows under her eyes were dark as bruises.

Breakfast had been made with all her favorites, but she could barely taste any of it.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace,” Mira said gently. “Even if the Duke does go to war, that doesn’t mean he’ll be hurt. Try not to worry so much.”

The thought caught Elowen off guard. Am I… worried about Cassian?

Before she could think about it any longer, a servant announced from the hall, “Lady Elspeth is

here.”

Elowen set down her spoon and looked up as her aunt swept in. Elspeth, always cold and poised, had a rare gleam in her eyes this morning. She looked almost delighted.

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