Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 561

The hand gripping Iris tightened without warning, fingers digging in until a sharp jolt of pain cut through her numb arm.

The sting pulled something loose in her memory.

Back when she had been serving Daphne, there was a day Daphne pointed straight at her and tore into her for lacking proper decorum. Iris had been younger then, stubborn enough to talk back.

Daphne struck her across the face so hard her ears rang, then hissed, "Do you even understand your place? When His Majesty passes judgment, even the highest lord bows his head and accepts it. Whether he wants to or not."

Now it was her turn.

She had been forced to stay like this for so long that her vision dimmed at the edges, her body swaying as if it might give out any second.

And still, Alaric had rushed over without a shred of concern for her condition, demanding, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, that she come up with a solution for him on the spot.

"Your Highness... I..."

Her lips barely moved, her voice thin and scraped raw.

Alaric's eyes lit up. He leaned in immediately, bringing his ear close to her mouth. "Say it."

Iris let out a faint, uneven breath.

Under his eager stare, her strength seemed to drain all at once. Her body slackened, and she collapsed backward.

The excitement froze on Alaric's face. He stared, momentarily blank, as if his mind had failed to catch up.

Tristan dropped into a crouch beside her and checked her breathing. "Your Highness, she's passed out."

Alaric straightened sharply. "Pathetic."

Tristan swallowed whatever else he might have said.

Alaric paced, agitation rolling off him. "So what now? I'm supposed to go to my mother?"

Tristan chose his words with care. "Your Highness, Her Majesty is both your mother and the head of the royal household. If anyone can smooth things over with His Majesty, it would be her."

That only made Alaric's expression turn darker.

Not long ago, he had stood before her, speaking with absolute certainty, making bold claims he could not take back.

Tristan hesitated, then tried again. "Your Highness... she doesn't look well at all. Should I bring in a court physician?"

"A physician?" Alaric snapped, irritation flaring. "She's the one who messed up, and now she's useless to me. What exactly would justify that kind of attention?"

His voice went cold. "Take her out of here. I don't want to see her."

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