Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63 What Kind of Young Lady Do You Favor?

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He patted his shoulder. “I’ve got plenty of good stuff in my palace. Take it all back with you later.”

“Thanks, brother.”

“It’s nothing,” Theodric said, waving a hand. “This year, I won’t be sending you on any campaigns. Stay in Vanelle, focus on healing those legs properly and on giving your wife a child or two.”

The thought of having children with Elowen sent an unexpected heat creeping up Cassian’s neck. He lowered his gaze, silent for a long moment.

On the other side of the palace, Isla and Alaric were already seated.

A senior maid hurried over, leaning close to Isla’s ear to whisper a report-three young ladies had offended Cassian and were now kneeling in punishment on the palace pathway.

Isla murmured, “She does have a way about her.”

She had never seen Cassian show such blatant favoritism to anyone except Theodric. What spell had Elowen cast on him?

Isla looked up as Elowen appeared at the entrance, walking with an unhurried grace, a younger girl trailing behind her.

“Who is that with her?” Isla asked, though she didn’t specify.

The maid understood immediately. “That should be the youngest daughter of the late General Aldric Ashcroft, the Duke’s maternal uncle.”

“Unmarried?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Isla gave a soft, derisive snort. “Hoping to marry into the Crown Prince’s Wing, is she? Elowen still has ambitions…”

Hearing the name, Alaric glanced up, his eyes tracking Elowen’s progress into the hall.

She looked even more captivating today than she had the last time he saw her.

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Chapter 63 What Kind of Young Lady Do You Favor?

His gaze lingered, reluctant to pull away.

“What is it, Alaric? Do you fancy that girl?” Isla asked.

He took a moment to drag his eyes back. “No.”

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Isla relaxed slightly. “Speaking of which, I’ve never really asked-what kind of young lady do you favor?”

Alaric’s gaze strayed back to Elowen, noting the faint, serene smile that seemed perpetually on her lips. His fingers tightened.

“…I prefer one who doesn’t smile so much,” he said.

“Doesn’t smile?”

His eyes dropped to Elowen’s knees. He remembered, before her injury, how much she loved riding and archery-excelling at both, even surpassing him.

He gritted his teeth. “Preferably the type who stays within the manor walls and spends her days reading scripture and classical texts, practicing embroidery-a quiet, domestic sort.”

Elowen had now reached them.

Seeing her, Isla lifted a warm, kind smile at once. “Duchess of Duskmoor! There you are. We’ve been waiting. Please, sit.”

Elowen curtsied. “Your Majesty.”

Sylvia behind her followed suit with a quick curtsy of her own.

Isla glanced past Elowen, affecting a politely inquisitive look. “And who is this young lady?”

“This is General Ashcroft’s youngest daughter,” Elowen replied smoothly. “I thought today’s verse salon was a rare opportunity. All the attendees are of a similar age, so I brought her along. It would be nice for her to make a friend or two.”.

“I see,” Isla said, her smile unwavering. She gestured to a maid. “Fetch a chair for Lady Sylvia.”

As Elowen sat, Alaric spoke up, his tone deliberately pointed. “Mother, I hadn’t quite finished my thought earlier.”

He spoke while watching Elowen from the corner of his eye.

She showed no reaction, her attention instead on a platter of fruit and cakes. Irritation

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Chapter 63 What Kind of Young Lady Do You Favor?

flickered in him.

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“What I meant to say,” he continued, “is that I particularly dislike frivolous, playful girls. If I am to take a wife, especially a Crown Princess, she must be dutiful and reserved. And if she’s a skilled cook, I’d dislike that too.”

Isla looked puzzled. “Why ever not? If she cooks well, she could prepare meals for you.”

Alaric scoffed, “Mother, I am to marry a Crown Princess, not hire a kitchen maid for the Wing. If she cooks for me, what are these maids for? People would say I mistreat my wife.”

He then shifted his gaze fully to Elowen, his voice challenging. “What do you think, Aunt?”

Elowen had just taken a bite of cake. She turned to him, confusion plain on her face. “Pardon?”

She hadn’t been listening at all. Her mind was wholly occupied with thoughts of Azure.

Alaric saw no trace of the humiliation or anger he’d hoped to provoke. Only genuine bewilderment. A fresh wave of frustration washed over him.

Why does she not react?

“We were discussing what qualities to look for in a Crown Princess,” Isla interjected smoothly, playing the peacemaker. “In my opinion, culinary skill is the least important. Literary talent and refinement are paramount.”

Alaric kept his eyes locked on Elowen. “I recall Aunt Elowen always got headaches from memorizing texts as a child and struggled to compose essays. So, I suppose Aunt has little in the way of such ‘talent.”

Isla immediately chided him. “Alaric! Mind your manners! She is

your

aunt!”

Elowen, however, merely offered a serene smile. “It’s alright. Today’s verse salon is the perfect occasion for the Crown Prince to select a truly talented young lady. Once someone can keep the Crown Prince’s Wing in order, His Highness can focus on his own cultivation. Then, perhaps, he won’t incur His Majesty’s displeasure so often and miss morning court sessions.”

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