Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 560

Cassian's expression softened. He reached out and tapped her lightly on the nose.

"Not even close. You're still the quickest mind in the room."

She let out a quiet laugh, but it didn't last long before her brows drew together again.

"There's something that doesn't add up, though."

He tilted his head. "What is it?"

Elowen shifted slightly, thinking it through.

"Iris is always at Alaric's side. She's not careless. If he wanted to help the Baker family, she would've guided him to do it quietly. Getting them through the exams would've been enough. But pushing them into the top ranks? That's reckless. It draws attention. That doesn't feel like her influence at all."

Cassian didn't hesitate.

"That's because she wasn't in a position to influence anything."

Elowen looked at him.

He continued, calm as ever. "After we left the Crown Prince's Wing that day, Alaric lost his temper. In front of everyone, he struck her. Then he had her held in place along the stone path outside for half a day."

Elowen blinked.

Not entirely surprising.

But still... It said more than the act itself.

Iris had always been the sharpest mind near him. But that kind of treatment meant something deeper. It meant she had never truly been valued.

And someone like Iris would absolutely understand that.

Which meant when Alaric started making reckless decisions and shutting everyone else out, she likely stopped trying to pull him back.

Maybe she was already looking for a way out.

Some people didn't need enemies.

They unraveled all on their own.

Elowen leaned into Cassian's shoulder, her gaze drifting toward the courtyard where sunlight spilled across the stone and greenery.

It's already in motion. Now it's just a question of how much fight he's got left.

On the way back from court, Alaric could barely keep his footing steady.

Theodric had actually approved a full inquiry into this year's royal examinations.

That alone made Alaric's pulse spike.

The king had never been the obvious heir. He'd fought his way to the throne through a brutal succession struggle, backed in part by the Duke of Duskmoor, but what truly secured his rule was a different choice entirely. He broke with old noble lines and raised men of talent from modest birth, earning the loyalty of scholars and officials across the realm.

Once crowned, he treated the examinations as the backbone of the kingdom. Merit, order, legitimacy. Those weren't just ideals to him. They were the foundation of his power.

And now... he wanted them investigated.

If the inquiry went far enough, it wouldn't take long before the truth surfaced.

He would find out that Alaric had quietly arranged for Josh's results, along with another candidate's, to be swapped with those of the Liu brothers.

At the time, it had seemed trivial.

Josh was his own cousin. A top ranking wasn't exactly undeserved.

What the hell was I thinking?

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