Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 564

Chapter 564 The Weight of a Name

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“Then we go straight to the officials handling it,” Jayce pressed. “Someone must be willing to listen. We offer coin, favors, whatever it takes.”

Ayden shook his head again. “We’ve only been in office a few years. How many men of real weight do we know? And what could we offer that they’d actually value? If we misstep, we don’t just fail. We hand them more reason to suspect us.”

Jayce fell silent, fear creeping in. “So that’s it? We just sit here and watch Albert and Liam lose everything? Watch the Baker name fall apart?”

A long pause followed.

Then Ayden spoke, his voice low. “There’s only one path left. We tell Father.”

Jayce froze. “Father?”

His legs weakened at the thought.

Colton had ruled their childhood with an iron hand.

If he learned they had worked with the Crown Prince to tamper with the royal examinations, his anger would be the least of their worries.

Ayden gave a tight, humorless smile. “This isn’t about avoiding punishment anymore. It’s about survival. Father knows what matters. However angry he is, he won’t act blindly when the family’s future is on the line. He’s spent a lifetime building influence. If he steps in, there’s still a chance to steady things.”

He lowered his voice. “If we hide this and it comes out later, that’s when we’re finished.”

Jayce struggled, but he knew Ayden was right.

Even if they said nothing, their father would hear of it soon enough.

In the end, they straightened their coats and made their way toward Colton’s residence.

Each step felt heavier than the last. Ayden reached the door first and knocked.

“Come in.”

The voice inside was old, but steady.

They stepped inside.

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A wrought–iron brazier burned quietly in the corner, releasing a thin ribbon of scented smoke into the air. Colton reclined on a carved wooden chaise, dressed in a plain, timeworn robe, looking more like a retired scholar than the man who had shaped half the court.

Two young maids stood nearby, gently working the stiffness from his legs.

“Father.”

“Father…”

He opened his eyes. They were clear and sharp, nothing dulled by age.

His gaze settled on them, calm but heavy with authority.

Jayce’s composure broke first. His legs gave out as he dropped low, bowing so deeply his forehead nearly touched the floor.

“Father, you have to help us!”

Ayden instinctively started to follow.

“Stand.”

The word stopped him cold.

Colton barely moved, lifting one hand slightly. The maids stepped back at once and helped him sit upright.

Once settled, his eyes returned to Jayce, cooler now. “Get up and speak.”

Jayce kept his head lowered. “I… I don’t dare…”

A faint edge of mockery entered the old man’s voice. “What is this? Do you expect me to come lift you up myself?”

Cold sweat ran down Jayce’s back. He scrambled to his feet, still bent forward, not daring to meet his father’s eyes.

Ayden remained slightly bowed, tension visible in every line of his posture.

“Now,” Colton said, “tell me what’s happened.”

Jayce couldn’t find his voice.

Ayden stepped in, forcing himself to stay steady. “Father, please hear me out. Albert and Liam have worked hard year after year, but they’ve never managed to pass. We grew anxious. If this kept going, no one from our generation would ever make it into court. Everything you built

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Chapter 564 The Weight of a Name

could slip away in our hands.”

He glanced up briefly.

No reaction.

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His throat tightened, but he continued. “We made a foolish choice. We went to the Crown Prince. Out of regard for family ties, he agreed to help and arranged for their names to appear among the successful candidates. We thought it would stay quiet. But today, at court, Gareth somehow learned of it and exposed everything. His Majesty is furious and has ordered a full investigation into this year’s court qualification trials.”

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