Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99 Let Me Make You Happier

Elowen tilted her head. “What else would we be doing, my lord?”

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Cassian averted his gaze, his tone vague. “I just thought… we might share a cup of spiced tisane or something…”

He quickly changed the subject. “You know I play chess?”

Her attention was successfully diverted. She nodded. “My brother told me! Lord Piers Leofric of Falconcrest is a chess prodigy. He never lost a match and was so arrogant that he’d wager heavily, demanding his defeated opponents quit the game. Over time, he nearly ruined the spirit of chess in Avenlor. Then you challenged him. The wager was simple: the loser would serve as the other’s personal manservant for three days. Lord Piers agreed… and lost the very first game.”

The reality had been far more dramatic than her retelling.

The match between Piers and Cassian had drawn massive crowds.

Elowen, visiting her grandfather’s estate at the time, had missed it, hearing the tale later from Julian.

It was said that during the match, Cassian had calmly sipped water while playing.

While Piers agonized over his moves, Cassian lazily took a sip and told Bran, “I’m hungry. Fetch some pastries.”

And still, Piers lost.

Cassian, eating a pastry, had offered one to his opponent. “Care for one?”

Piers ignored both the pastry and the offer, grinding his teeth. “One game doesn’t count! I wasn’t ready! Best of three!”

Piers lost the second game.

He stared at the board in disbelief before looking up at Cassian, fists clenched.

Cassian raised a brow. “Best of five?”

Mortified but stubborn, Piers nodded.

He lost the third game.

He didn’t propose a best of seven, finally admitting defeat in despair. “I will never touch a

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19:18 Fri, Feb 13 TTD.

Chapter 99 Let Me Make You Happier

chessboard again…”

“No need,” Cassian interrupted. “Just don’t touch one for the next three days.”

Piers was confused.

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Cassian reminded him, “The wager was three days of service. For those three days, you are my servant. I don’t allow my servants to play chess. But as the young lord of Falconcrest, whether you play or not is none of my concern.

Piers froze.

After that, the chess circles of Avenlor settled down. The match between Piers and Cassian became an unparalleled legend.

Elowen smiled softly, “I also heard that you learned chess from Dowager Queen Selene. That you and Her Majesty would play late into the night. I may not be very skilled, but I thought… perhaps you miss those times?”

Cassian’s heart softened unexpectedly.

He did.

He missed it.

His mother had been a woman of gentle strength. Were she not born a woman, she might have become Avenlor’s foremost chess master.

Instead, chosen for the palace, she had to feign losses to please the King during their games, only to teach his brother and himself in secret and then thoroughly trounce them match after match.

“Well, my lord?” Elowen’s eyes were shining with an impossible light. “Shall we play?”

Looking at her, something stirred within Cassian. Interest sparked, and a smile touched his lips unbidden. “Let’s.”

Elowen fetched the chessboard and set it up on the table, her expression earnest. “Your Grace, don’t go easy on me. The important thing is that you enjoy yourself!”

As the game began, Cassian discovered, to his surprise, that Elowen’s skill was remarkably high-perhaps even surpassing Piers’.

Truly a clever girl.

However, as they progressed into the mid-game she began to struggle, pondering each move at length.

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19:18 Fri, Feb 13 TTD

Chapter 99 Let Me Make You Happier

Cassian watched her carefully, then subtly eased his offensive pressure.

In the end, Cassian lost to Elowen by a half-point margin.

Realizing she had won, Elowen blinked in disbelief. “I won? I actually won?”

Cassian smiled, “Indeed. You won.”

Elowen studied him. “My lord, did you let me win?”

“Did it feel like I let you win?” he countered.

She shook her head. It hadn’t felt that way.

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