Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 166: Truth Told

Smack. Elspeth struck her again.

"Enough."

Marwen was completely dazed.

"I only respect you because you raised three children for my brother. And this is how you behave? Bullying the Duchess of Duskmoor and trying to fool me. You even wanted me to persuade Cassian to cast her aside. If anyone should be thrown out, it's you and your idiot son."

Hearing that, Elowen knew the plan she had worked so carefully on had succeeded.

Elspeth glanced at her, a little awkward. "Shall we head back?"

Elowen nodded obediently. They walked in silence. The air between them felt strained.

Elowen did not know how to begin.

As they rounded the flower wall, a wheelchair stood steady in the shadows ahead. Cassian sat upright, clearly waiting.

The moment she saw him, Elowen felt her chest loosen. Then it hit her. This spot was not far from the pavilion.

Anyone with decent hearing could have caught what was said. Which meant he might have heard every word of her soft, pitiful act.

Heat rushed to her face.

"You came out here?" Elspeth asked.

"I have something to discuss with you," Cassian said plainly.

"I'll go on ahead," Elowen said at once.

Piers had been uncomfortable the second he saw Cassian. "I'll head back too."

Without waiting, the two of them slipped away in opposite directions, almost fleeing.

Cassian paused. Piers leaving is whatever. Why is Ella running?

He did not call her back. After a moment, he decided it made no difference.

"What did you want to say?" Elspeth asked.

Cassian looked at her seriously. "You've heard that I've loved someone for years. Because of her, I refused to marry."

Elspeth huffed. "Of course I've heard. I always wondered who she was, the woman who had you so devoted. But you wouldn't tell me a thing."

"The woman I love is my wife, Elowen," Cassian said evenly.

Elspeth froze. "You mean the Duchess? She's the one?"

He nodded. "Yes."

She stared at him. "Then why keep it secret?"

"Because she is a woman. In this world, a woman's reputation is fragile. One careless rumor can ruin her. If I had let anything slip, gossip would have torn her apart. I would not let that happen."

Elspeth slowly understood. "Now that you're married properly, you can finally say it."

He gave a quiet sound of agreement.

She still struggled to accept it. "You're the Duke of Duskmoor, His Majesty's only brother. If you wanted to marry someone, who would dare refuse? And you waited all those years."

Cassian pressed his fingers to his brow. "She is much younger than I am."

"Then you could have brought her home early," Elspeth said.

Cassian gave a faint laugh. "Besides, she and Alaric grew up together. They were close in age and close in heart. I couldn't bring myself to come between them."

"Then why did you marry her now?"

"She went to His Majesty herself and asked to marry me." A small smile curved his lips.

Elspeth's expression grew complicated. "And she and Alaric..."

"She doesn't love him now," Cassian said clearly.

He paused, then his tone shifted. "There is something more important. In a few days, I will head north to meet Lieutenant Wrenner. It will be dangerous. Elowen will stay in Vanelle. Because of my position, she will face risks. I hope you can look after her."

Elspeth sighed. "I feel like she must resent me."

"She won't. She's always been broad minded."

It sounded reassuring. Elspeth thought for a moment. "Then I should give her something to make it up to her. Jewelry? Paintings? Or maybe a manor."

Cassian blinked.

"One manor isn't enough? Then two. One in Vanelle, one in Rivenshire."

He let out a low laugh. "Please don't scare her."

"She's afraid of property?"

"That's not what I mean," Cassian said. "She's shy. Recently His Majesty gifted her a set of gilded gemstone regalia. She didn't dare accept it at first. Even after she did, she wouldn't wear it. Today at the betrothal banquet, I insisted before she agreed to put on a single hairpin."

Elspeth remembered the gold hairpin at Elowen's temple and nodded slowly. "So nothing too extravagant."