Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86 Fallen Pride

“I always said that girl was destined for greatness

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“You two will enjoy boundless prosperity! Mother-in-law to the Crown Prince-I wouldn’t even dare dream of it!”

Bathed in flattery, Seline beamed, unable to contain her joy.

A maid hurried in, her expression anxious. “My lady! Lady Daphne has returned!”

Seline, riding high, missed the maid’s distress. “Did she return with her brother, or was she sent by the Crown Prince’s escorts?”

The maid hesitated. “It… it was people from Duskmoor Manor who brought her back…”

“Duskmoor Manor?” Seline was puzzled. “What does the Duke have to do with this?”

One of the visiting ladies tittered, “They say His Highness respects his uncle greatly. He probably invited the Duke along to assess his future bride!”

Seline found this reasoning delightful and smiled wider, “His Highness truly values Daphne so much! I’m almost worried it’ll make others jealous.”

The maid opened her mouth, then closed it.

Seline gestured. “Since she’s back, have her join us! She can greet her aunties and share her experiences today with the Crown Prince and the Duke. Give them all something to brag about.”

The maid looked pained. “But…”

She bit her lip and blurted out, “She’s unconscious!”

Seline stared. The other ladies gasped.

One asked, “But… how could a healthy young lady faint?”

Seline forced a laugh. “It’s my fault. I wanted her to look slender, so I didn’t let her eat much. She must have fainted from hunger.”

“No, my lady…” The maid’s face was grim. “The men from Duskmoor Manor said she offended the Duchess-again. The Duke punished her with two hours of kneeling. She couldn’t take it and lost consciousness…”

“What?!” Seline shrieked, shooting to her feet.

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19.15 Fru Feb 13 TTD

Chapter 86 Fallen Pride

The gathered ladies exchanged stunned looks.

Seline, forgetting all decorum, rushed outside,

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The sight of her daughter, disheveled and unconscious, and the imposing guards from Duskmoor Manor, nearly made her faint on the spot.

Seeing the curious ladies trailing behind her, she flushed a deep red and ground out through clenched teeth, “Take her inside! To her room! Now!”

It was a humiliating retreat.

Later, the ladies reconvened elsewhere to gossip.

“She’s always boasting about that daughter of hers. That mediocre ‘talent, calling her a modern-day literary genius.”

“She’s always so miserly-I wondered why she’d suddenly offer to host us today. Turns out it’s just so she can brag about her daughter dining with the Crown Prince.

“And look what happened! Offended the Duchess and got herself punished! Ha!”

“Speaking of which, the Duchess is the Hale girl isn’t she?”

“Poetic justice, I say. The Garretts rose on the Hales’ backs. Without the Hales, where would they be? And after the Hales fell, they climbed over their corpses, bad-mouthing them all the while. Now look-Elowen is the Duchess of Duskmoor!”

“Well, word is the Duke is temperamental and has a true love elsewhere. Elowen’s good fortune might not last…”

Back at the tavern, Elowen finished her meal and dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Cassian addressed the manager. “Settle the bill with Bran.”

The manager bowed deeply. “Your Grace’s presence is honor enough. I wouldn’t dare accept payment. Please, consider it my humble offering

Cassian gave him a sidelong glance. “Charge what it’s worth. Settle it with Bran.”

His tone implied he had the money and would pay.

The manager understood and forced a smile. “Yes, Your Grace. As you wish.”

After seeing the Duke’s party off, the manager finally relaxed, the tension draining from his

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19.15 Fri, Feb 13 TTD

Chapter 86 Fallen Pride

shoulders.

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