Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 379: New Duties

After speaking, Elowen glanced briefly at Rosaline before continuing in a calm tone. "Lady Elira must have had her reasons for sending the two of you here. From now on, your sister will be your responsibility."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Rosaline answered immediately, gratitude filling her voice.

Elowen inclined her head slightly. "You may stand."

After that brief instruction, she turned her attention elsewhere and began speaking with the other attendants. She no longer spared the sisters another look.

With everyone's duties assigned, the attendants were led away to familiarize themselves with their new posts.

Rosaline and Seren were assigned to the study, where Cora guided them through the room and carefully explained its rules.

"This is where Her Grace usually reads and writes," Cora said, gesturing toward the large desk near the window. "When she is here working, she does not like interruptions. Whatever you do, keep your voices low and your movements quiet."

She opened a cabinet beside the wall.

"These shelves hold the estate ledgers from previous years. The cabinet stays locked, and I keep the key. Unless Her Grace gives permission, no one is to open it."

She pointed next toward a tall bookcase. "The Duchess's favorite books are kept on the third shelf so they are easy to reach."

Cora's expression grew a little more serious.

"The bookcase is something Her Grace treasures greatly. She usually organizes it herself. Do not move anything unless she instructs you to."

Rosaline and Seren both answered obediently, "Understood."

By the time the introductions and explanations were finished, evening had already settled across the manor. One by one, the attendants returned to their rooms to rest.

"Seren, Rosaline."

A voice called from behind them. Alyssa hurried over to catch up.

Rosaline's expression cooled slightly. "Alyssa, did you need something?"

Alyssa smiled brightly. "Now that everyone's duties have been assigned, I was curious where you two ended up. I heard you're working in the study. Is it quiet there? Seems like it would be an easy post."

Seren was just about to answer when Rosaline spoke first.

"If you're serving at the Duchess's side, there is no such thing as an easy post," Rosaline said evenly. "If you find your duties too tiring, you could always bring it up with Her Grace."

For a brief moment, Alyssa's smile stiffened.

"It's not that I find it tiring," she replied quickly. "By the way, Seren, your eyes, why are they..."

"It's getting late." Rosaline cut her off without hesitation.

"We're going back to rest. You should do the same."

With that, she took Seren's arm and walked away without looking back. Alyssa remained where she was, the smile slowly disappearing from her face. Her brows twisted with quiet frustration as she watched them leave.

The second day, Elowen finally stirred awake.

Bright daylight was already streaming through the window.

Turning her head slightly, she saw Cassian sitting beside the bed in a carved wooden armchair, lazily reading a book.

Morning light fell across the sharp lines of his face, casting soft shadows along his cheekbones.

When he heard the faint rustle of movement, Cassian lowered the book and looked toward her. A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"You're awake."

"Mmm."

Elowen's voice came out soft and slightly drawn out with sleepiness. As she spoke, she stretched lazily beneath the covers.

Cassian found the sight dangerously charming. Even something as simple as her stretching made her look irresistibly endearing.

When she finished stretching, Elowen blinked at him and smiled. "Merry Christmas."

Cassian paused slightly, one brow lifting in mild confusion.

"Ella, Christmas was yesterday."

"That still counts," Elowen said with complete seriousness. "During Christmastide, whenever you see someone you're supposed to wish them a merry Christmas."

The reasoning was slightly crooked, yet somehow convincing.

Cassian accepted it easily and nodded. "All right then. Merry Christmas."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Perfect timing, actually. I'm taking you to the palace today to offer greetings."

"Really? That sounds wonderful."

Elowen had always loved Christmastide. When she was younger, those visits meant tasting all sorts of festive treats and receiving small purses of Christmas coins.

Although every year her mother would collect the coins afterward, insisting she would return them once Elowen was grown.

Elowen pushed herself upright against the bed and asked curiously, "Who are we greeting today?"

Cassian reached out instinctively and steadied her arm.

"His Majesty."

Elowen paused, surprise flickering across her face.

Paying Christmas respects to His Majesty?

In her entire life she had never been involved in anything at such an important level.

Seeing her hesitate, Cassian asked quietly, "You'd rather not go?"

"It's not that," Elowen said after a moment, looking troubled. "I simply overslept again today. It's already this late and we're only getting up now. When presenting greetings at court, people usually arrive early to show proper respect. Cassian, you should have woken me sooner."

Cassian did not appear concerned in the slightest.

"It won't matter," he said gently. "His Majesty knows you're expecting. If you sleep a little longer, he won't take offense over something like that."

Elowen pushed aside the blankets and leaned forward to reach the shoes beside the bed, still muttering her worries.

"That may be true between brothers, but other people won't see it that way. Now that Isla has announced my pregnancy to the entire court and the palace has sent so many attendants here to serve me, Duskmoor Manor has become the center of everyone's attention. I have no doubt half the court is watching us closely. If we arrive late to the palace on a day like this, people will start whispering that we've grown arrogant from imperial favor and forgotten proper respect."

Cassian bent down and picked up a pair of silk stockings beside the bed.

He helped her put them on with steady hands before slipping the embroidered shoes onto her feet.

As he listened to her soft stream of worries, he did not feel the slightest hint of impatience.

If anything, her concern warmed him more than he cared to admit.