Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 393: A Line for the Future

Kaelan looked troubled. "But... what if my mother thinks it would embarrass her?"

Elowen interrupted him gently. "Don't worry. She won't feel embarrassed."

Kaelan frowned in confusion. "How can you be so certain?"

A small smile curved across Elowen's lips. "Because in a little while, I'm going to speak with her myself."

After saying that, she glanced around the room.

"This place feels terribly oppressive," she said thoughtfully. "Why cover the walls with nothing but moral lessons and study maxims? A room should have something that lets you breathe."

She was still thinking about what might improve the space when Kaelan's eyes suddenly lit up.

"There is something I've always wanted."

Elowen looked at him, her gaze patient and inviting.

Kaelan lowered his voice slightly. "I just don't know whether Your Grace would agree to such a presumptuous request."

Elowen considered it. "Tell me what you're thinking first."

Kaelan drew in a steady breath and gathered his courage. "Would Your Grace be willing to write a piece of calligraphy for me? I would like to keep it in this room."

Elowen blinked in surprise. "My handwriting?"

Hugh spoke up immediately. "That's not appropriate."

Kaelan looked puzzled. "Why not?"

Hugh's face remained completely expressionless, and his words came out sharp and blunt. "Because the Duke of Duskmoor turns into the embodiment of jealousy whenever someone gets too close to her. If he finds out she wrote something just for you, he'll be angry enough to turn Vanelle upside down."

Elowen laughed at the exaggerated description. "You're making it sound far more dramatic than it really is."

Hugh silently thought otherwise.

She has never seen this side of Cassian, the fiercely possessive streak, the utterly unreasonable way he guards anything he considers his.

Around her, he hides those sharp edges surprisingly well.

When Kaelan heard the title Duke of Duskmoor, he hesitated and eventually gave in. "If that's the case... then forget it."

"It's fine."

Elowen smiled warmly. "It's only a few lines of writing. I'll do it for you."

Joy immediately brightened Kaelan's face, as though even the weakness of his illness had faded a little.

Elowen stood and pushed back the cuff of her gown, revealing a slender, pale wrist. Turning toward the doorway, she called out, "Someone bring writing materials."

A young servant hurried inside and quickly spread a sheet of fine white parchment across the writing desk near the window. He set out a small ink bottle beside it and placed a neatly trimmed quill within easy reach.

Elowen stepped forward and picked up the quill. She dipped the tip lightly into the ink and paused for a moment, tilting her head as she considered the words.

Then she lowered the quill and began to write. The scratching sound of the feather against parchment filled the quiet room.

When the ink dried across the page, the lines read: Drink the wine that fills your cup today. Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.

With the servant's help, Kaelan slowly pushed himself upright and leaned closer to read.

After murmuring the lines softly, he turned toward Elowen in surprise.

"That's a verse from the classical age."

Elowen nodded with a gentle smile. "Exactly. Whenever life feels overwhelming, when worries begin to press so heavily that you can hardly breathe, read those lines again. Life is meant to be lived in the present. Learn to appreciate what lies before you."

Kaelan studied the elegant script and nodded firmly. "I'll keep this by my desk."

"But it's still missing one small thing," Elowen said, lifting the quill again.

Kaelan looked puzzled. "What could it be missing?"

Elowen only smiled. She leaned over the parchment once more and added a small final line neatly in the corner.

After finishing, she set the quill aside and wiped the ink from her fingers with a damp cloth.

"There," she said lightly. "Now it's perfect."

Kaelan stepped closer to read the small inscription. The moment he saw it, he paused in surprise.

"Well," Elowen said with a bright smile, "the writing is finished, and we've said everything that needed saying. I should head back now."

She looked at him warmly.

"Focus on recovering your strength. When spring arrives, you'll be ready for the entrance examination at the Royal Academy."

Kaelan nodded obediently. He watched Elowen walk toward the door. Just as her graceful figure was about to disappear beyond the threshold, he suddenly called out.

"Your Grace!"

Elowen paused and turned back from the doorway. Sunlight streamed in behind her, outlining her figure in soft golden light.

"What is it?"

Kaelan looked at her, his heart beating faster. His fingers tightened unconsciously at his side.

"Do you think I'll pass the examination?"

Standing in the warm light, Elowen broke into a bright smile.

"Of course you will," she said confidently. "You're intelligent, and you have real talent."

The tight knot that had been lodged in Kaelan's chest for so long finally loosened.

He let out a long breath and smiled in return. The shadow that had lingered on his face gradually faded, and the improvement in his complexion was clear even at a glance.

Elowen and Hugh walked side by side out of Kaelan's courtyard.

What she had not expected was that Aveline had not gone far at all. She stood beneath the arched moon gate outside the courtyard, pacing anxiously back and forth with tears shimmering in her eyes.

The moment she saw Elowen step out, she hurried forward.

"Your Grace," she asked urgently, her voice trembling, "how is Kaelan? Is he any better?"

Elowen gave her a reassuring smile. "Please don't worry. He'll be fine."

"And Doctor Dray..." Aveline looked toward Hugh.