Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 402: Night Reading

Cassian fell silent.

At that, he placed a hand over his chest, his expression turning deliberately pained. "It still hurts, even now."

That only made Elowen laugh more. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, catching lightly on her lashes.

She wiped them away, her voice still warm with laughter. "Oh, stop that. I married you in the end, did I not? Whoever I liked before, whatever arrangements were made, none of it mattered."

A satisfied smile finally appeared on his face. "That is true."

She nudged his arm lightly. "Then eat."

He obeyed without hesitation, taking a bite of the pastry.

He chewed slowly, then nodded. "It really is good."

Her smile widened at once. "I knew it."

Then she added, almost eagerly, "I even asked my aunt how she makes them. I can try making them for you sometime. The steps are simple enough, but the timing matters a lot. If the heat is even slightly off, the texture changes completely..."

She kept talking, her voice flowing easily from one detail to the next.

Cassian listened without interrupting, finishing everything she had brought him while she spoke.

That night, he continued keeping up the appearance of his injury outside.

The moment the wheelchair crossed into their private rooms, he stood up without effort.

He took her hand and led her into the bathing room, helping her wash and change with careful attention.

By the time they were done, Elowen was already half asleep, leaning against the edge of the tub, her head dipping forward now and then.

Something in his expression softened as he watched her.

He dried her off, helped her into her nightclothes, then lifted her easily and carried her to the bed, settling her down gently.

The moment she touched the mattress, her eyes opened again.

"Cassian," she called softly, her voice slightly drowsy but insistent. "Are you done? Come here. I want to hold you."

"I am coming." He quickly washed up and returned.

She suddenly remembered something. "Oh, and bring the book I bought today. I want to read it, but I do not feel like getting up."

She said it without the slightest embarrassment, rolling slightly under the covers as if proving her point.

Cassian showed no resistance at all. He picked up the book from the table. "This one? The Begonia Hairpin?"

She nodded immediately, her hair spread loosely across the pillow. "That is the one."

"There used to be a jeweler's shop next to my aunt's place," she went on. "It was turned into a bookshop recently. I went in and bought quite a few novels. This title stood out, so I brought it back to read before bed."

Cassian, however, found the title somewhat questionable.

He opened it at random and skimmed a page.

His expression shifted ever so slightly.

He closed the book and walked back to the bed, lifting the bed curtains and looking down at her.

Elowen did not notice anything unusual. She shifted over to make space for him.

Then, seeing the book in his hand, she spoke again, her tone softening as she leaned into him. "I do not really feel like reading it myself. Cassian, why do you not read it to me?"

His gaze deepened. "Ella, are you certain?"

She gave him a look, faintly dissatisfied. "What is that supposed to mean? You do not want to read to me?"

"It is not that," he said, his voice carrying a trace of restrained amusement.

She sighed, idly toying with the edge of the blanket. "I have always heard that the Duke of Duskmoor is as accomplished in letters as he is in war. Reading a simple novel should not be difficult. And yet now, when I ask, he hesitates. That is rather disappointing."

A low laugh escaped him, warm and unhurried. "Fine. I will read."

He settled beside her on the bed.

She immediately leaned in, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing close.

His frame was lean but firm, the strength in him evident even through the fabric of his nightclothes.

Elowen rested her face against him, took a slow breath, then leaned back slightly with her eyes half-closed, letting out a long, contented sigh. "That feels nice."

He looked down at her. "Drawing strength from me again?"

She smiled up at him. "Of course. Now start reading."

"Alright."

He had no objection.

If memory served, works like this had been restricted under Theodric's orders.

He had no idea where she had found it, but as something to pass the evening, it was not unwelcome.

He opened the book and cleared his throat.

Elowen leaned against his shoulder, completely at ease, already expecting his voice to lull her toward sleep.

Then he began to read.

"The first entry. Johnny had been restless for days, unable to settle his nerves. When a maid came in with water, he pulled her close without warning, pressing her against the table as he kissed her, his hands already moving to undo her dress..."

Elowen's eyes snapped open.

She had heard him clearly.

And she understood exactly what he was reading.

Cassian continued at an even pace, as if nothing were unusual.

"She kept calling out to him, asking him to stop, but he paid her no mind, already reaching to—"

Before he could continue, Elowen scrambled upright and clapped a hand over his mouth, her movements quick and flustered.