Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 712

Chapter 712 Evelyn Didn’t Stay Because of You

Fasted

Maud got straight to the point, explaining the purpose of their visit and presenting the betrothal gift list to

Elowen for her review.

Elowen took the list, reading through it carefully before nodding with a smile. “You’ve put a great deal of thought into this, Mrs. Hall. These betrothal gifts are exceptionally generous.”

Maud smiled warmly. “As long as you don’t find them lacking, Your Grace. Scarlet is one of yours, so we naturally cannot allow her to be slighted.”

With that, everyone sat down in the Great Hall to hash out the wedding details. From picking an auspicious date and arranging the banquet to drawing up the guest list and preparing the couple’s new home, every single detail required thorough discussion.

Elowen had personally put together a lavish wedding gift for Scarlet. It was entirely comprehensive, spanning fine fabrics, gold and silver jewelry, elegant furniture, and a substantial sum of personal funds.

When Maud looked over the dowry list, she couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. “Your Grace, this is far too generous,” she insisted. “Scarlet started out as a maid, but these wedding gifts are grander than what many noble ladies receive.”

Elowen chuckled. “Scarlet is the manager of the Silverloom Exchange, not just an ordinary maid. She is the reason the Exchange is thriving as it is today. She has earned every bit of this.”

After discussing the marriage for most of the day, the general blueprint for the wedding was finally set.

With the engagement officially locked in, Draven headed home with Maud.

He hesitated the entire way back, clutching a question that had been eating at him for days, until he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Mother, if you’ve already accepted Scarlet, why is Evelyn still staying at our

house?”

It wasn’t that he was worried about anything happening, but Evelyn was an unmarried woman. As a man who was about to be wed, he felt it was a matter of basic propriety.

Maud stopped in her tracks and said evenly, “Evelyn didn’t stay because of you.”

Draven blinked. “Then why?”

“She wants to find work at the Silverloom Exchange,” Maud explained. “She heard about its reputation and knows they specifically hire women. She used your aunt’s connections to secure a place to stay with us for a few days, and only recently asked me how she might get an introduction to Scarlet.”

Draven stood frozen on the spot, taking a long moment to process the words.

As it turned out, Evelyn hadn’t been after him at all; she was after the Silverloom Exchange. He had spent all this time agonizing and treating her like a rival for his mother’s approval, when in reality, she was practically his rival for Scarlet’s attention.

Over the following weeks, Duskmoor Manor became a whirlwind of activity. Scarlet and Draven’s wedding was finally set for the eighth day of September, a highly auspicious date for marriage. Everything from the

Chapter 712 Evelyn Didn’t Stay Because of You

Finished

gifts and banquet preparations to the guest list was moving along smoothly. Elowen put Gerda and Edith in charge of the planning, with Cora stepping in to assist, leaving Scarlet free to focus entirely on running the Silverloom Exchange only checking in on the details from time to time.

Days bled into weeks, and before long, June arrived. The weather grew steadily warmer, but Cassian had already anticipated the heat. He ordered blocks of ice to be brought up from the cellars and placed around the rooms, keeping the house pleasantly cool.

Meanwhile, Caius and Emily were growing by the day and becoming more entertaining. Emily was the first to learn how to roll over. In the blink of an eye, she could tumble from one end of the bed to the other, often disappearing from sight the moment her wet nurse looked away. Ever since his severe fever, Caius rarely cried anymore. He was a much quieter baby now, perfectly content to lie on his back and suck on his own fists, happily leaving them covered in drool.

Leaning against each other at the edge of the bed, Elowen and Cassian watched as Caius slept soundly, while Emily enthusiastically crawled from one side of the mattress to the other, spun around, and crawled right back.

“Doesn’t she ever get tired?” Elowen mused.

Cassian smiled. “With that much energy, she can go riding with you when she’s older.”

Elowen turned her head toward him. “Why don’t you teach her some martial arts?”

“Alright, whatever you want,” Cassian murmured, leaning in to kiss her.

Elowen pushed his face away. “Emily is looking right at s…”

“She doesn’t mind,” Cassian whispered softly, trying to coax her.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside. Mira came running into the room, beaming with excitement. “Your Grace, Your Grace! Word has just come from the palace!”

Elowen hurriedly shoved Cassian’s face aside and turned around. “What news?”

Mira stepped into the room, entirely oblivious to the atmosphere. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke cheerfully, “It’s wonderful news from Iris!”

r

Caelan and Iris had wed just last month. Caelan held Iris in exceptionally high regard; though she was a secondary consort and custom didn’t dictate a grand wedding, he had insisted on holding a palace ceremony anyway. While it wasn’t overly lavish, Caelan had overseen every detail personally to ensure everything was handled perfectly. Ruunor had it that Elira hadn’t been pleased with the arrangement, but she dropped the matter when Caelan stood his ground.

Hearing Mira mention good news, Elowen smiled. “Tell me.”

Mira’s face flushed with excitement. “Iris is pregnant!”

Elowen blinked in surprise, then a warm smile broke across her face. “Ah, the benefits of youth,” she murmured softly. “They’ve barely been married at all, and Iris is already expecting.”

M

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Awakening+ve Reborn to Be His Duchess

Chapter 718 Are You Upset?

This baby would seeure Iris’s position in the palace. Even as a secondary consort, a mother’s status rose with her child. If she gave birth to a prince, she would be the mother of a royal heir, and no one would dare look down on her.

Cassian remained silent, casting a deeply resentful glance at Elowen. But her mind was completely occupied with Iris and the pregnancy, and she didn’t even notice.

After savoring the good news for a moment, Elowen turned back to him. “Cassian, now that Iris is pregnant, I really think I should visit her. Custom dictates that when a palace consort expects, her family should visit. Iris has no one, but I don’t want her to feel lonely and isolated. The palace is a cruel place to navigate without anyone backing you up.”

Cassian seemed a bit distracted. “Alright, whatever you think is best.”

Elowen gave him a searching look.

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