Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 How to Seduce a Man

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Elowen was startled by the sudden question. Her fingers twitched, and the spoon tilted slightly. A few drops of the dark medicine splashed onto the corner of Cassian’s mouth.

She quickly pulled a cloth from her sleeve to wipe it away. In her hurry, her fingers brushed against Cassian’s cheek.

Cassian’s eyelashes unexpectedly fluttered twice. But Elowen had already turned to look at Bran and did not notice. Her heart pounded like a drum as she stared at him.

Fortunately, Bran merely touched his chin and said thoughtfully, “Changing clothes and cleaning him will definitely require turning His Grace over. You’re a woman, my lady. You don’t have the strength to move him. These matters should be left to us.”

Elowen let out a breath of relief.

She steadied herself and set the cloth down. “By the way, aside from you and Cora, I haven’t fully met everyone in this courtyard. Call them all over so I can take a look.”

Bran answered. “Yes.”

Then he added, “But my lady, there’s something you need to understand.”

“What is it?”

Bran said. “The manor is actually divided into two sides. One is this courtyard. The other is everything outside it. Whether it’s staffing or expenses, everything is handled separately.”

Elowen was taken aback. “Why would it be arranged like that?”

“When His Grace first brought Lady Marwen into the manor, he made this arrangement. I never asked why. Now, everything outside the courtyard is managed by Lady Marwen. Inside the courtyard, His Grace used to oversee things himself. After he fell unconscious, I took over temporarily. I haven’t done well. It’s been a mess. Lady Marwen has mentioned several times that she should take charge, but I didn’t agree.”

Bran looked embarrassed as he spoke, then glanced at Elowen. “It’s fortunate that we have you now, my lady.”

For reasons he could not explain, despite not having known her long, Bran felt an absolute trust toward this seventeen-year-old young woman.

Elowen, meanwhile, was deep in thought. Before entering the manor, she truly had no idea that Duskmoor Manor was like this.

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Chapter 8 How to Seduce a Man

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But this situation actually put her at ease. At the very least, she would not be constrained by others. Many things could be decided by her own hand.

When they stepped out of the room, the heat rushed toward them.

Bran brought over a chair and placed it in the shade beneath the covered walkway. Soon, everyone serving in the courtyard, aside from the armed guards, was called over.

Elowen sat in the chair and swept her gaze across them. Six footmen, six maids, and two older women.

She spoke, instructing each of them to explain how they entered the manor, where they had served before, and what their daily duties were.

Listening to them, she gained a general understanding.

The two older women had entered the palace as children. They had originally served Empress Dowager Selene. When Cassian was granted his title, the Empress Dowager sent four women from her side to manage his household.

Over the years, one had grown too old and returned to her hometown, and another had passed away. Only Gerda and Edith remained.

As for the other footmen and maids, some were the children of palace attendants, while others were relatives of soldiers from Cassian’s army. Some handled menial cleaning work, while others could read, had experience, and knew how to manage affairs.

All in all, the staff was reliable, and the arrangements were reasonable.

And because Bran stood behind Elowen, his broad frame and status as a deputy commander radiating pressure from every angle, everyone treated the

every angle, everyone treated the young Duchess with great

courtesy.

Everything gave Elowen a distinct feeling. Someone had prepared everything in this courtyard long ago, simply waiting for the lady of the house to arrive.

Cassian had done this for the woman he loved.

Unexpectedly, after living another lifetime, Elowen had taken advantage of that woman’s place.

Feeling a quiet sigh in her heart, Elowen faced the group and said, “By His Majesty’s decree, His Grace and I are married, and I have become Duchess of Duskmoor. I was raised in Hale Manor. I don’t understand the twists and schemes of noble households. I only know one thing. As long as each of you handles your duties well, there will be generous rewards.”

She glanced at the heat shimmering in the air. “I’s warm today. I’ve kept you standing here

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Chapter S How to Seduce a Man

too long.”

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After a pause, she added, “When this is done, have the kitchen bring you some barley broth.”

The group was clearly surprised. Standing under the sun, they were already sweating. When they heard there was soup, they couldn’t help but swallow.

Elowen continued, “From today onward, every afternoon you’ll each have a bowl of barley soup until summer ends. If one bowl isn’t enough, you’re welcome to go back for more. If you want something else, tell Mira. Once I know I’ll make arrangements as I see fit.”

Everyone offered their thanks.

Elowen thought to herself that this must be what her sister-in-law once called balancing authority with kindness.

Let them stand in the sun for a while, then give them soup to cool off. They would fear her authority as Duchess, and they would also remember her kindness.

That way, whatever she needed to do in the future would be much easier. After meeting everyone in the courtyard, Elowen went to review the account books.

Just as Bran had said, he understood nothing about accounting. The ledgers were a mess, and his handwriting looked like it had been scratched by a dog.

Elowen read patiently, losing all sense of time.

“My lady, it’s time to rest. If you keep reading like this, you’ll ruin your eyes.”

It was Mira, entering from outside. Elowen was still trying to decipher a blot of ink and asked casually, “What time is it?”

“It’s nearly ten.”

Elowen froze and looked up.

Because she had been bent over for so long, her neck and shoulders had grown stiff when she moved even slightly, and a dull ache spread.

She hissed softly, rubbing her neck, and looked out at the night, dark as spilled ink. She hadn’t expected it to be so late.

She still hadn’t gone to see Marwen today.

Marwen furrowed her brows tightly and slammed her palm down on the table. “That Elowen girl. She doesn’t put me, her elder, in her eyes at all.”

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