Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50 True Mastermind Is Someone Else

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Isla cleared her throat softly. “Maerwyn is still a child. She doesn’t know any better. How could this be her doing?”

Elowen wasn’t surprised. Isla had chosen, once again, to shield her daughter.

She had to admit, while Isla might not be a just queen, she was a fiercely protective mother.

Even after being drugged herself and suffering for it, she still wanted to cover for her daughter.

Bolstered by her mother’s words, Maerwyn sniffed and straightened her spine.

Theodric frowned, his voice growing colder. “You have always coddled her. This is the result. The evidence is before us, and you still seek to conceal her guilt?”

Isla glanced calmly at the kneeling Autumn and the guards. “Maerwyn may be willful, but she has a good heart and knows right from wrong. She would never drug her own aunt. Clearly, someone with ill intent sought to harm the Duchess and chose to pin the blame on my daughter.”

As soon as the words were spoken, despair flashed in Autumn’s eyes. She bit her lip, then pressed her forehead to the floor. Her voice trembled. “It… it was me! I am to blame!”

Elowen’s brow furrowed slightly.

Pick a few servants as scapegoats. Wash the master’s hands clean. Die in their place.

Her sister-in-law had told her it was a common, ugly tactic in palaces and great houses.

“You see?” Isla said with a sigh. “She must have meant to harm the Duchess, but I drank the wine by mistake.”

Theodric opened his mouth to speak, but Isla pressed on, “I am unharmed, and the Duchess is unharmed, too. Didn’t she just say she wouldn’t pursue it?”

Theodric fell silent, momentarily at a loss.

Isla seized the advantage. “Today is Maerwyn’s birthday, after all. To make a public spectacle of this would only invite ridicule. Let us resolve this quietly and be done with it.”

Elowen could not accept this outcome. She lifted her face. “Your Majesty-”

“Elowen,” Isla interrupted smoothly, “surely you would not wish the Duke to learn of such an

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12:42 Thu, Feb 12 G

Chapter 50 True Mastermind Is Someone Else

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unpleasant affair? He and His Majesty share a deep fraternal bond. It would be a pity for such a trivial matter to sow discord between them.”

She was using Cassian to silence her!

Elowen’s lips parted, but the words died in her throat. She had no ground to stand on.

If Cassian found out, he would blame me, wouldn’t he?

She slowly lowered her eyes, a sense of defeat settling over her.

Just as she was resigning herself to retreat, a distinct sound echoed from the corridor outside- the steady, rhythmic creak of wooden wheels on flagstone.

Then, Cassian’s voice, cool and deliberate, cut through the tense silence. “Your Majesty. Seems you are bullying my wife.”

Everyone in the room stiffened, their expressions shifting in varying degrees of surprise and apprehension.

Elowen stared, stunned.

Cassian? How is he here? He said he had urgent business.

And his words…

Is he standing up for me?

While she was still reeling, the sound of the wheelchair grew closer, finally coming to a halt beside her.

Elowen saw a broad, long-fingered hand extend towards her. She turned her head and met Cassian’s deep, dark gaze.

He raised an eyebrow. “Why are you kneeling? You’ve done nothing wrong, Aren’t your knees

sore?”

A warm rush of emotion flooded Elowen’s chest. She placed her hand in his palm and let him help her to her feet.

“Cassian! What brings you to the palace?” Theodric’s voice held genuine pleasure as he looked Cassian over. “You look much better! Color has returned to your face!”

Unable to rise for a proper bow, Cassian inclined his head from his chair. “Thanks to the diligent care of my wife.”

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Chapter 50 True Mastermind Is Someone Else

Theodric beamed. “Is that so? Then it seems my matchmaking was inspired!”

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“Indeed, Your Majesty was most wise,” Cassian replied with a faint smile. His gaze shifted back to Isla. “Your Majesty. Do you hear clearly now?”

Isla was momentarily confused. “Hear… what?”

Cassian spoke slowly, each word weighted. “Elowen and I were married by His Majesty’s decree. I hold my wife in the highest esteem. To insult her is to insult both His Majesty and me.”

Elowen’s heart felt suddenly, wonderfully warm.

He was drawing a line, telling Isla and everyone else that she was under his protection.

Isla forced a smile. “Of… of course no one would insult the Duchess…”

Theodric added firmly, “You have my word, Cassian. I’ll not allow any slight against your wife.”

“With Your Majesty’s assurance, I’m at ease.” Cassian’s gaze swept the room once more. “All right. Let’s get back to dealing with what just happened.”

Isla hesitated. “What… happened?”

Cassian’s fingers tapped twice on the arm of his wheelchair. “I listened for a while outside. The story grows more curious by the minute. This maid… how many times has she even laid eyes on my wife? What motive could she possibly have to use aphrodisiac wine in such a scheme? And even if, against all reason, she bore some petty grudge, how did she manage to enlist palace guards in her plot?”

His

eyes,

cool and assessing, settled on the kneeling Maerwyn. “It stands to reason the true mastermind is someone else.”

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