Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69 Dreams and Doubts

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“As for Sylvia, handle the matter as you see fit,” Cassian continued. “Everyone in Duskmoor Manor answers to you now.”

Elowen nodded slowly. “Thank you, my lord…”

The carriage pulled into the manor’s courtyard and halted.

A young footman was already waiting. “Your Grace, General Nevin has been waiting for you for some time.”

Before Elowen could even form a question, Cassian explained, “General Nevin serves in the Northern Garrison. Years ago, he kept a woman outside. Pressured by his family, he later married a lady of equal standing. Recently, that woman sought him out at the garrison. It was a mess.”

Elowen blinked.

So the one making a scene wasn’t Cassian’s former sweetheart.

It seemed Cassian’s mysterious beloved was indeed considerate and discreet, causing him no trouble.

No wonder he liked her.

She simply nodded. “I understand. Please, don’t let me keep you.”

Cassian studied her for a moment longer before allowing Bran to help him into his wheelchair and wheel him away.

In the palace, as soon as the verse salon ended, Moll hurried back to Maerwyn.

“Azure is Lady Daphne, Your Highness! The Lord Chancellor’s daughter.”

Maerwyn was taken aback. “Her?”

She frowned. “Are you certain? There’s no mistake?”

“Absolutely! Mora identified her, and she admitted it herself,” Moll confirmed. “Though the Duchess of Duskmoor did question it at first.”

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Chapter 69 Dreams and Doubts

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Hearing Elowen’s name stirred Maerwyn’s ire. “Who is she to question anything? Just petty jealousy, no doubt.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince said the same-the Duchess was jealous.”

Maerwyn sniffed in agreement.

Yet, thinking of Azure-

She had met Daphne before. Neither her personality nor anything else about her seemed to fit the author’s persona she had imagined.

Something felt… off.

Elsewhere in the palace, Alaric returned to the Crown Prince’s Wing.

With his temporary suspension from court, no official documents were sent his way.

He tried to read a history tome in his study but found his mind wandering. An idea struck him.

“Attendant,” he called. “Fetch me a copy of a tale written by Azure. I want a look.”

That very evening, Tales of Luminara was placed in his hands.

He opened to the first page. The male lead’s name was Alrik.

Reading further, he found the description of the leads’ first childhood meeting-they took an instant dislike to each other and promptly got into a physical fight.

Alaric froze.

He remembered his first meeting with Elowen. It had been exactly like that.

He couldn’t recall what started the fight, only that Elowen had been surprisingly strong. She’d pinned him to the ground, leaving him with a black eye

Later, before his father, before he could even speak, Elowen had burst into tears first.

The similarity between memory and tale was unnerving. A strange, unsettling feeling curled in his gut.

Could Elowen be Azure?

But that was impossible.

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Chapter 69 Dreams and Doubts

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If she were, and knew how much Maerwyn adored Azure, she would have flaunted it immediately to win his favor.

Yet she hadn’t.

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Daphne grew up with Elowen. She must have heard stories about our childhood and found them amusing, so she wrote them into her tale.

He talked himself down and kept reading.

The witty banter between the leads amused him.

The subtle development of their affection made him smile.

Their passionate declarations and intimate scenes made his gaze grow intent, his throat strangely dry.

“Your Highness.”

A servant’s voice startled him.

He snapped the book shut.

The servant entered and said softly, “It’s late, Your Highness. Time to rest.”

Alaric cleared his throat, his voice oddly rough. “Mm.”

After a brief ablution, he went to bed.

Sleep brought dreams.

In the dream, he was Alrik, meeting Luminara under a moonlit sky,

She stood gracefully beneath a blossoming tree. As he approached, he saw Daphne’s face.

He felt nothing but smiled a little.

But as he drew nearer, Daphne’s features wavered like ripples on water, dissolving and reforming until they solidified into Elowen’s face.

Alaric’s breath hitched. He pulled her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers as his hands fumbled with the laces of her gown…

Dawn had not yet broken when Alaric jolted awake.

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Chapter 69 Dreams and Doubts

He looked down at himself, his heart pounding.

Last night, he had dreamed of… Elowen?

He scowled fiercely. Impossible. He didn’t like Elowen.

He should have dreamed of Daphne.

It was Daphne he wanted.

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In Duskmoor Manor, Cassian’s discussion with General Nevin in the study lasted the entire night.

Elowen, alone in their chambers, slept soundly and comfortably.

In the deepest part of sleep, she grew warm. Something was crowding her, pressing against her side.

Half-asleep, she tried to push it away. Her hand met something firm yet yielding.

Her mind, sluggish with sleep, couldn’t process it. It felt like wading through thick honey.

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