Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 401: Sweet Return

She paused for a moment, then snapped her fingers softly as something came back to her. "Oh, right. Set aside The Begonia Hairpin and have it brought to my chamber. That's the one I want to read tonight."

With that, she picked up the pastry box herself and headed toward Cassian's study, her steps light and almost playful.

Bran stood guard outside the door. The moment he saw her approaching, his face brightened and he prepared to announce her arrival.

Elowen lifted a finger to her lips, her expression teasing but firm.

He immediately understood and kept quiet, standing properly as if nothing had happened.

Elowen slowed her steps and approached the door without making a sound. Just as she reached for it, Cassian's voice came from inside, tight with restlessness.

"Bran."

Bran straightened. "At your service, Your Grace."

Cassian did not bother to hide his impatience. "Has Ella not returned yet? What time is it now?"

Elowen could not help the smile that spread across her face when she heard that.

Before Bran could answer, she called out, her tone warm and bright, "I'm back. It should be close to the end of the morning, I think."

A muffled thud sounded from inside, as if something had bumped rather awkwardly into a piece of furniture.

She had only just stepped inside when she was suddenly pulled forward into a firm embrace.

The familiar scent of him settled around her instantly, grounding and warm.

His voice came from above her, low and softened in a way that felt almost indulgent. "Why are you back so early?"

Elowen tipped her face up, meeting his gaze with an easy smile. "I actually meant to come back sooner, but I realized I hadn't seen Aunt Isobel in a while, so I stopped by her shop for a bit. And look, I even brought you something..."

He only caught the beginning.

The rest of her words slipped past him entirely, his attention already fixed on her face, on the way her eyes lit up when she spoke.

Before she could finish, he leaned down and kissed her.

It was not hesitant. It was immediate, as if he had been holding back for too long.

Elowen froze for the briefest moment, then relaxed into it, closing her eyes and returning the kiss.

It took a while before he finally let her go.

"You brought me pastries?" he asked, reaching for the box in her hands.

Her cheeks were still faintly flushed, her thoughts a little slow to catch up. "Yes. They're really good. I brought them back just for you."

"Then I'll make sure I finish all of them." He took the box with one hand and her hand with the other, guiding her further inside.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at him. "Oh, right. I wrote a dedication for Kaelan today. Cassian, you're not upset about that, are you?"

Cassian looked completely at ease. "A dedication? Why would that bother me? I'm not the jealous type."

Outside the door, Bran heard everything and went completely still.

Your Grace, this isn't just jealousy. You're putting on quite a show, and honestly, if I hadn't seen everything from the start, I might've bought it myself.

Cassian set the pastry box down on the table but did not open it right away.

Instead, he pulled out a chair and carefully helped Elowen sit, his movements unhurried and attentive.

Once seated, she gestured for him to join her, her eyes curving with amusement. "You should sit too. You are still supposed to be recovering, remember?"

"Of course." He followed along and sat beside her.

When he opened the box, two plates of neatly arranged pastries rested inside, carrying a light, sweet aroma.

"My aunt just came up with these recently," Elowen said, propping her chin in her hand as she watched him. "After leaving the manor, I made a small detour to Cloudmere Lane. It is not often I get to go out, so I thought I might as well. And when I am out while you are home, I always feel like bringing something back for you."

His gaze softened slightly as he listened.

"But I did not expect her shop to be doing so well this year," she continued. "She even hired a new server. And it turns out I know him. He is the son of one of my father's deputies."

Cassian glanced at her, one brow lifting slightly. "Patrick's son?"

Elowen blinked in surprise. "You know him?"

A quiet chuckle left him. "Ella, I am the Duke of Duskmoor. Military affairs across Avenlor pass through my hands. Any officer worth mentioning, I am familiar with."

She nodded, understanding dawning. "That makes sense."

Then she leaned forward a little, her tone bright again. "Go on, try them. They are really good. I had three plates myself at the shop. Even Doctor Dray had one, and he stayed for two cups of coffee."

"Then I should not keep you waiting." Cassian picked up a piece, though he paused just before eating it.

He turned slightly toward her, his expression shifting with a hint of something unreadable. "By the way, Ella."

"Hmm?"

His gaze deepened. "If I remember correctly, your father once considered arranging a match between you and Patrick's son when you were children."

She froze for a moment, then broke into delighted laughter. "Cassian, how do you even know that?"

"I was interested in you back then," he said simply. "So I made inquiries. I wanted to know if you already cared for someone, or if anything had been arranged for you."

Elowen laughed harder, clearly entertained. "Were you heartbroken at the time? Because once you looked into it, you must have realized I not only had someone I liked, but also a childhood arrangement. And you were already older than me, so your chances only got worse."