Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 279: Waiting At The City Gate

Elowen's eyes curved again. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"

"Doesn't matter," Cassian said, glancing at her. "If they're ours, I'll love them. What about you?"

Elowen's cheeks warmed. "People always talk about having both. I think... one son and one daughter would be perfect."

"Okay." Cassian smiled and squeezed her hand. "Then we'll keep trying until we get both."

At the same time, the Crown Prince's Wing, Isla sat upright in a carved sandalwood chair, her face cool.

"What are you thinking? Your third uncle has never been particularly close to either of us. Back then, to get ahead under Cassian, he didn't hesitate to break ties with me to advance himself."

That was why, at first, Isla hadn't planned to help at all.

At minimum, she'd wanted him to suffer enough to learn something.

Alaric kept his eyes lowered, his tone gentle. "Mother, I haven't forgotten the past. But family is family. The Baker family stands as one house. My third uncle may be foolish, but we cannot simply turn our backs on him."

Isla narrowed her eyes. "Is this really about saving the Baker name? Or is it because you want to go head-to-head with Cassian?"

Alaric paused, then recovered immediately. "You're overthinking it. I'm already married. How could I still be that impulsive?"

Isla studied him for a long time. When she didn't see anything obvious, she exhaled slowly. "You'd better not be."

She stood. "This won't stay hidden. Cassian has probably already heard. He'll be coming back from Sunspire Hill. When he does, this will end up in front of your father. Have you decided how you'll handle it?"

Alaric bowed. "Please don't worry. I'm prepared."

Seeing his confidence, Isla didn't press further.

She changed topics. "And your wife."

At the mention of that woman, disgust flashed across Alaric's face.

To him, the only crown princess had ever been Elowen. As for Daphne, what was she?

"You stood in front of your father and became husband and wife," Isla said. "Even if you can't stand her, you still have to keep up appearances. Yesterday your father asked me when you two planned to have a child."

A child?

Daphne deserved to carry his child?

Alaric forced the disgust down. "I know what I'm doing."

Isla looked at him hard. "Don't disappoint me."

Then she left, taking a maid's hand as she went. Once she was gone, the room fell quiet again.

Alaric's smile vanished, his face turning cold.

He sat at his desk and called Tristan in.

"What about what I told you to investigate, Cassian?"

Tristan bowed. "Your Highness, when His Grace was in Vanelle, he covered his tracks. A lot was deliberately wiped clean. It's been difficult. But this time, when he left for Sunspire Hill, some things came to the surface. Before he left the Vanelle, he went in plain clothes to a secluded residence north of the city almost every other day. Each time he stayed about half an hour, sometimes longer."

"A residence?" Alaric frowned.

"Yes. Security there is unusually tight. All His Grace's trusted people. Ours can't get close. We can't see what's happening inside."

Alaric tapped a finger lightly on the smooth desktop.

Then he stopped, a sharp light in his eyes.

"Cassian... is he keeping a woman out there?"

In his last life, Alaric had heard Cassian had someone in his heart, and that he'd refused to marry for years because of her.

So maybe this time, with the marriage granted, Cassian had taken Elowen because he couldn't refuse, just like Alaric had, and was keeping his real woman hidden on the side.

To Alaric, that was excellent news.

He knew Elowen. She looked gentle, but underneath she was stubborn.

If she found out Cassian had betrayed her, she'd likely demand a separation.

That was exactly what she'd done to Alaric in the last life.

And if Elowen left Duskmoor Manor, where would she go? Only back to the Crown Prince's Wing.

"Find out when Cassian is returning to Vanelle," Alaric ordered, a sure smile curling at his mouth. "I'll meet him at the city gate myself."

Tristan bowed and withdrew. Alaric went to see Daphne again.

Outside the courtyard gate, Daphne's maid, Iris was standing watch, craning her neck anxiously toward the path. The moment she spotted Alaric approaching, she hurried forward and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness."

Alaric did not even glance at her and continued walking straight toward the door.

"Your Highness!"

Iris let out a startled cry and hurried forward, forcing herself to step into his path.

Alaric's expression darkened with irritation. "What is it?"

Cold sweat prickled along Iris's back, but she steadied herself and spoke carefully.

"Please allow me to inform the Crown Princess first, Your Highness. In case Her Highness is not properly dressed at the moment, I would not wish her to cause offense."