Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83 Take Her Away

As the memory clicked into place, a cold sweat broke out on Alaric’s back.

He had said that.

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But he’d thought only Elowen was downstairs! He hadn’t known his uncle was with her!

“Uncle, it’s a misunderstanding…” he stammered.

“So, you no longer require my service?” Cassian asked, his tone mild.

“How could I ever ask you to serve me?” Alaric forced a shaky smile.

Cassian nodded. “Good. Then you will serve me presently.”

Alaric blinked.

“And my wife,” Cassian added.

Alaric froze.

Cassian raised an eyebrow. “What, you unhappy about it?”

Alaric gritted his teeth. “It’s not that I’m unhappy. I merely worry Elo… Aunt might feel uncomfortable…”

Cassian turned to Elowen, his voice softening. “Would that make you uncomfortable, my dear?”

Elowen’s smile was sweet and bright. “Not at all. A nephew serving his uncle and aunt is only right and proper.”

Alaric felt a surge of fury so intense he nearly choked.

Cassian’s gaze then shifted to Cedric. It was cold, sharp, like an invisible blade.

Cedric shivered.

“Earlier,” Cassian said slowly, his voice devoid of all emotion, “you were about to strike the Duchess?”

Cedric dropped his head guiltily. “N-no…”

Cassian actually smiled, “I think you were. And weren’t you just saying that Young General Hale was a nobody?”

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19:14 Fri, Feb 13 TTD.

Chapter 83 Take Her Away

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Cedric hadn’t realized Cassian had heard that! His legs turned to water, and he almost collapsed.

“The Hale family’s military honors,” Cassian continued, his tone deceptively casual, “were verified by me and conferred by His Majesty. By your words, Young General Hale’s achievements are false. Does that mean both His Majesty and I are incompetent fools?”

Cedric’s eyes bulged. He shook his head frantically. “No… no, never…!”

It had been angry bluster, nothing more! He wouldn’t dare defy the King or the Duke!

“Furthermore,” Cassian mused, “the Hale family’s loyalty has been praised by His Majesty in court countless times. He has spoken of commissioning a chronicle of their deeds and ensuring the welfare of their sole surviving daughter. So perhaps you don’t think Julian is a nobody. Perhaps you think His Majesty is a nobody.”

The accusation was lethal. Cedric crumpled to his knees, terror-stricken, kowtowing repeatedly. “Your Grace, please! You’ve got me wrong! I wouldn’t dare! I swear I wouldn’t!”

“Your Grace, my brother is the most loyal subject. He’d never think such things!” Daphne stepped forward, her voice trembling with distress. “He just had too much to drink today and misspoke…”

Elowen tilted her head. “In the past, Cedric has spent entire nights drinking and carousing at the Velvet Lantern, yet been fresh and ready for court the next morning. How is it that today, with less than a jug of wine, he is already ‘drunk”

Daphne blinked, then turned wounded, tear-filled eyes on Elowen. “Elowen, that’s unkind! I know you and His Highness share a history. But you are married to His Grace now. Whatever His Highness does, you shouldn’t be so attentive or follow him here.”

Elowen frowned.

They were discussing Cedric’s insult. Why drag her and Alaric into it?

Daphne glanced meaningfully at Cassian. “If you cannot let go of His Highness, that is your affair. But why drag His Grace here as well? The journey is long, the weather is hot. His Grace and His Highness are uncle and nephew. Are you trying to make them…”

She let her voice trail off, heavy with implication

Cassian’s handsome face darkened.

Daphne’s heart leapt with secret triumph. There. Now my brother is safe.

Elowen, you and the Crown Prince have a past. Even if you’re both married to others, that history

remains.

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Chapter 88 Take Her Away

I don’t believe the Duke won’t feel resentment. I don’t believe he’ll keep defending you!

A tense silence filled the room.

Then Cassian turned his head slightly. “Bran. Take her away.”

Bran bowed. “Yes, Your Grace.”

He strode toward Daphne.

Daphne recoiled in shock. “Wh-what? Me? Shouldn’t it be Elowen who-”

Bran’s voice was icy. “That is Her Grace the Duchess.”

He grasped her wrist with brutal force.

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Pain made Daphne cry out. She turned pleading eyes to Cassian. “Your Grace! There must be some mistake!”

Cassian’s expression was stony. “In the palace, you offended the Duchess. I made you kneel. You learned nothing. Seems it wasn’t long enough. Today, you will kneel for two hours.”

Daphne’s face drained of color. The previous hour had been agony. Two hours would kill her!

She bit her lip. “I didn’t offend her! If Elowen held no old feelings for His Highness, why would she even be here-”

Cassian clicked his tongue. “Old feelings? What old feelings? Today, I came to Miren Lake to honor my late uncle. I wanted to take the Duchess boating on the lake. For your loose tongue, make it four hours.”

Daphne stared, stunned. So Cassian brought Elowen here himself?

Bran tightened his grip and began dragging the struggling, protesting Daphne from the

room.

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