Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Feeding the Duke His Medicine

The single word “Aunt” made Alaric knit his brows at once.

“If we’re talking about satisfaction,” Elowen said, this marriage was something I asked for myself. I got exactly what I wanted, so of course’m pleased. Surely Your Highness isn’t asking something you already know the answer b.”

Her words so angered Alaric that he broke into a violent fit of coughing.

Elowen felt no concern at all. She quickly stepped back more than half a pace, putting enough distance between them that she would not be affected, and said coolly, “If Your Highness is unwell, you should take more medicine and rest properly. I’m going to pay my respects to Her Majesty now.”

Before Alaric could say anything else, she turned and left, taking Mira and Cora with her. While Elowen was still with the Queen, the King arrived after court. When he saw her, he was visibly pleased.

As it turned out, the court officials had praised him today because of this marriage.

In Avenlor, the civil ministers and the military commanders were rarely on good terms. Small disputes broke out every few days, major ones every few weeks. This was the first time they had reached complete agreement.

For that reason, the King was in exceptionally good spirits.

Taking advantage of his mood, Queen Isla invite Elowen to remain in the palace for a meal. Elowen did not refuse.

By the time she returned to Duskmoor Manor, the sun had already climbed high into the sky. In the courtyard, Bran was leading two young footmen toward the house.

Elowen called out to him, “What’s going on?”

Bran answered honestly, “My lady, it’s time to give His Grace his medicine.”

Elowen’s gaze fell on the wooden tray in his hands. Resting on it was a dark stoneware pot. The herbal scent rising from it was identical to the one she had smelled the night before, when she lay beside Cassian.

“My lady, you should wait outside for a moment Bran said. “Once we finish feeding His Grace, we’ll come back out. It may take some time. Given his current condition, giving him medicine isn’t easy.”

Elowen spoke lightly, “I’ll go in with you.”

Bran clearly froze, thinking he had misheard he. His face filled with surprise. “With us?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’m his lawful wife. Caring for him is my responsibility. I’ll watch and learn today. From now on, these things can be done by me.”

Hearing this, Bran felt deeply moved.

He had no reason to refuse, but as they walked inside, he still reminded her, “My lady, His Grace is unconscious. He has no awareness at all. He won’t drink on his own. We have to force it. Sometimes, even after it goes in, he spit it back out. This is not an easy task.”

Elowen listened patiently, but her expression remained calm, clearly showing that she had not taken these difficulties to heart.

Bran let out a silent sigh. He could only hope that when the time came, the Duchess would not feel disgusted.

Once inside the room, the two footmen stepped forward and slightly lifted Cassian’s upper body.

Bran poured some of the medicine from the por into a small bowl. Holding it, he sat at the bedside and used a spoon to scoop up half a spoonful, feeding it toward Cassian’s mouth.

Cassian’s thin lips remained tightly closed. One of the footmen supported his jaw, forcing his mouth open. Only then was Bran able to pour the medicine in.

Yet although the liquid entered his mouth, it soon slid back out along the corners of his lips. The medicine soaked into his sleeping garments leaving a large, wet stain.

Bran continued feeding him. Half of it went down, half of it spilled out.

Elowen watched for a while. In the end, she could no longer bear to look and turned away.

Bran glanced at her carefully. The Duchess must still find His Grace’s current state too messy, too filthy. She could not stand it after all, could she?

Elowen was unaware of his thoughts. With her back turned, she rolled up both sleeves. Only then did she turn back and speak, “Bran, the way you’re feeding him like this, more than half the bowl is being wasted. Let me do it.”

Bran froze.

So she was not turning away out of disgust. She actually intended to feed His Grace herself?

Elowen motioned for the two footmen to place an extra cushion beneath Cassian’s head. Then she inserted one end of the strip into his mouth, scooped up the medicine, and poured it onto the wood.

The liquid flowed steadily along the strip and down Cassian’s throat.

Bran watched with delight, a look of delight written across his face. “So feeding medicine can be this easy.”

Elowen snorted lightly. “Read fewer storybooks in the future.”

Bran laughed sheepishly and leaned closer, his face full of curiosity. “My lady, how did you know you could feed medicine like this?”

Elowen focused on the spooning and replied, “My grandfather practiced medicine. I grew up watching him, so I naturally know some things. This wooden strip is only a makeshift solution. There are proper feeding instruments made for unconscious patients. They’re very convenient.”

Bran looked enlightened. “So that’s how it is.”

Another bowl of medicine was finished. Bran eagerly took the empty bowl to refill it. Elowen watched his retreating back and suddenly realized something strange.

Cassian was unconscious and under the care of royal physicians. Logically speaking, anything her grandfather knew, the royal physicians would also be aware of.

So why had they never told Duskmoor Manor about feeding instruments like this?

Elowen’s gaze shifted to Cassian’s astonishingly handsome face. Doubt quietly filled her heart.

Could it be that winning battles repeatedly also made enemies?

“My lady.”

Bran returned with the final half bowl of medicine. Elowen pulled her thoughts back and accepted it.

She was feeding him carefully when Bran suddenly asked, “My lady, later we’ll need to change His Grace’s clothes and wipe his body. Will you be staying to watch that as well?”