Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 147: The Midnight Return

Elowen looked at Cassian, then at her wound, watching his long, elegant fingers smooth the salve over the burn.

Her pupils dilated gradually, then she jolted, fully awake.

"My lord!" she exclaimed, eyes wide.

"I'm here," Cassian responded, focused on applying the salve, not looking up.

Elowen gazed at him in surprise. "Why are you back?" She leaned toward him.

Cassian immediately held her still, his voice firm. "Applying salve. Don't move."

"Oh." Elowen settled.

Only after patiently finishing did he speak, "You sent Bran with the lily seed soup, right? I had some. Came back specifically to praise you."

Elowen found this strange. "Just to praise me?"

A slight smile touched Cassian's lips. "Someone lacks confidence. How can I not praise her?"

Elowen felt a flush of embarrassment. She knew he meant her.

"But," Cassian's tone shifted a little, "that's only part of it."

Elowen tilted her head, looking at him. "Then what else? Worried I'd make a mess of the manor in your absence?"

"No." Cassian denied it.

"Then... did you hear the Marchioness came to the manor?" Mentioning this made Elowen feel guilty.

"...No." Cassian denied this too.

Elowen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Guess again," Cassian prompted.

Elowen thought deeply, then her expression cleared with realization.

Cassian encouraged her. "Say it."

Elowen took a breath, her cheeks warming. "Are the effects of the aphrodisiac wine acting up? Did you rush back to find me?"

Cassian was speechless.

Am I that kind of man?

Well...

Yes, I am.

After a moment's consideration, Cassian said, "That is also only part of the reason. There is a more important one."

Elowen was lost. "There's more?"

Cassian gave a soft hum. This time, he didn't make her guess. He stated directly, "I missed you."

Elowen stared.

The aphrodisiac wine acting up and missing me... seems like the same thing.

But she didn't dare say or ask that.

She scratched her neck. "My lord, are your duties at the army camp finished?"

"Not yet. I'll return tomorrow morning after I wake."

Elowen blinked.

The army camp sat outside the city. Duskmoor Manor was near the center of Vanelle.

With Cassian's legs still healing, he couldn't ride a horse. A carriage wasn't fast. The journey from the army camp to the manor took at least an hour.

He rushed back in the dead of night, only to rush back later...

Elowen bit her lip. "My lord, is that... appropriate?"

"Hmm?"

"I feel a bit..." She searched for words. "Like a... siren leading a hero astray."

Cassian gave a low chuckle. "A siren, perhaps. But not one who leads astray."

He added emphatically, "If anyone calls you that, I'll have their tongue."

Elowen opened her mouth, thinking that sounded cruel, but didn't say it.

"Did I hear my aunt visited?" Cassian asked.

Elowen nodded.

"Did you see her?" Cassian asked, noting her odd expression and thinking there might have been an unpleasant encounter. "My aunt is forthright, but her heart isn't bad."

Elowen looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She said slowly, "When the Marchioness arrived, I said I was asleep. I didn't go to see her..."

She expected him to be angry, to scold her for impropriety. She braced herself.

Instead, she heard a soft laugh. Cassian asked with interest, "Did my aunt get led astray by Lady Marwen again?"

Elowen was astonished. "How did you know?"

Cassian smiled faintly, "It's not the first time. Not surprising."

Some learn from a single stumble. Others just keep stumbling over the same spot.

His aunt was the latter.

Elowen relaxed slightly. "I'm glad you're not angry..."

"Nothing to be angry about. You made that call, which means you had your reasons." Cassian gently pinched her cheek. "I trust you to handle it."

A warm feeling spread through Elowen's chest.

Cassian withdrew his hand. "Do your knees still hurt?"

"A little," Elowen admitted truthfully.

Cassian reached out and found her knee. His palm was warm and broad, pressing and massaging with just the right pressure. The pain seemed to recede bit by bit.

Elowen looked at Cassian. He was staring intently at her knee, his expression focused.

After a while longer, Elowen gathered her courage and took hold of his wrist. "My lord, I think the pain is gone."

"Think?" Cassian raised an eyebrow, amused.

Elowen didn't answer that. Her cheeks flushed as she asked, "The aphrodisiac wine... are you still feeling it?"

Cassian was always caring for her, mindful of her pain.

Fair's fair. She couldn't ignore how he felt.

Hearing her question, Cassian readily complied. He gave a soft cough, his voice weakening slightly. "A little, yes."