Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 359: Hidden Truth

"Yes."

Corwin inclined his head respectfully. He gently took Elowen's wrist in his hand, his fingers resting over her pulse as he closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating with the quiet focus of long practice.

For a moment, the entire hall fell into a suffocating silence.

Across the chamber, Alaric stared fixedly at Corwin's expression, his heart pounding with a single frantic plea.

Please... not pregnant. Please don't let her be pregnant.

Elowen belonged to him. How could she possibly carry another man's child?

After a long moment, Corwin's brows shifted slightly. Slowly, he withdrew his hand.

Seeing the grave look on his face, the smile tugging at Daphne's lips nearly broke free.

"Your Grace," she said with feigned gentleness, "sometimes a lady's monthly cycle can be irregular, or a stomach illness may cause symptoms that resemble morning sickness. Many women mistake such discomfort for pregnancy. It happens often enough."

She paused, her tone turning righteous.

"But what truly matters is this. As the principal wife, one must place her husband's heirs above all else. Welcoming additional wives into the household and ensuring the family line continues. That is the true path of virtue."

No one responded.

Corwin turned, his steps steady as he returned before the throne. Bowing deeply once more, his voice rang clearly through the hall.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Grace. The Duchess of Duskmoor is indeed with child. Judging from the pulse, the pregnancy has already passed two months."

Alaric froze. His mind went blank, the words echoing in his ears.

Elowen... is pregnant.

She's carrying another man's child.

So... they really have shared a marriage bed.

The realization hit him like a blow to the chest.

Unbidden, vivid images flooded Alaric's mind. Candlelight dim behind heavy bed curtains. Elowen beneath Cassian, soft and yielding in his arms.

Crack.

A sharp sound split the air.

The white jade goblet in Alaric's hand shattered under the force of his grip.

Fragments bit into his palm. Dark blood mingled with the spilled wine as it ran down his fingers.

Beside him, the palace maid Iris gasped softly and hurried to wipe his hand with a silk cloth.

"That's impossible!"

Daphne suddenly shrieked, her voice shrill as she glared at Corwin.

"Corwin! Are you certain? How could she possibly be pregnant?!"

At the throne, Theodric frowned in displeasure.

Corwin ignored her entirely. Facing the throne with unwavering composure, he spoke with firm respect.

"Your Grace's pulse is strong and steady. The signs are unmistakable. The Duchess of Duskmoor is with child."

He paused briefly.

"When Her Majesty carried His Highness, it was I who attended her as well."

Daphne's vision swam.

She staggered back two steps, her legs suddenly unsteady.

Only two words echoed through her mind.

It's over.

Suppressing his irritation toward Daphne for the moment, Theodric slowly exhaled.

"Your medical skill is one I trust."

His gaze shifted to Cassian and Elowen, and he forced a faint smile.

"This is wonderful news. Originally I planned to give each of you a red envelope tonight. Now it seems I must prepare another one for the young heir as well."

Elowen smiled brightly.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness."

Isla reacted quickly as well. A warm, motherly smile spread across her face as she spoke in a gently reproachful tone.

"You child. Such joyful news, yet you kept it hidden from everyone. To reveal it so suddenly tonight truly startled us all. We are family. If you were expecting, you should have said so earlier and allowed everyone to share in the happiness."

Her voice was soft, but the implication was clear.

Elowen's silence had caused tonight's chaos.

"That was my decision."

Cassian spoke coolly, cutting off Isla's probing with ease.

The smile on Isla's face stiffened.

Cassian continued calmly, "Doctor Dray advised that the early months of a pregnancy are often uncertain. It is best to wait until that time has safely passed."

Cassian's tone remained calm.

"This is my first child. Naturally I chose to be cautious. I meant to wait until the pregnancy was secure before coming to inform Your Majesty, so that we would not celebrate too soon."

His gaze shifted toward Daphne, his tone turning colder.

"What I did not anticipate was the Crown Princess taking such keen interest in the private affairs of my household. She seemed quite eager to arrange another wife for me."

He glanced briefly at Elowen.

"My duchess remembered my wishes. I have no intention of taking concubines. One marriage for life is enough for me. But tonight we were pushed into a corner. She had no choice but to reveal the pregnancy."

Under his gaze, Daphne felt a chill crawl through her spine.

"I... I only meant well," she stammered. "It was all for the sake of harmony between our two nations..."

"Harmony between nations?"

Cassian cut her off coldly.

"Sending a princess from an allied kingdom into a prince's household as a secondary wife. Does the Crown Princess truly believe such diplomacy is honorable?"

Turning toward the throne, his voice deepened.

"Your Majesty. If Avenlor's Fifth Princess were sent to Nordia only to become another man's secondary wife, how would you respond? What would the court say? Would that strengthen relations between our nations, or would it insult Avenlor's dignity and invite conflict?"

Daphne's face turned pale. Cassian continued mercilessly.

"Furthermore, whether Princess Flowira truly holds affection for me remains uncertain. The princess does not speak our language well, and even the deputy envoy appears unclear about the matter. The truth is still far from established."