Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 408: A New Name

Elowen held her breath without realizing it.

Finn's voice carried a tremor of excitement. "It's outstanding. The story pulls you in completely, the characters feel alive, and the writing is sharp and confident. Compared to Tales of Luminara, this is on another level. It feels more seasoned, more controlled. This is the kind of book people remember."

The tension in Elowen's chest finally eased.

Finn rubbed his hands together, already thinking ahead. "I'll start arranging everything right away. I'll bring in reliable scribes, set up the engraving, and get the presses running. This will sell even better than your previous work, I'm certain of it."

Elowen's smile came easily now. "I hope you're right."

Finn stood, then hesitated and sat back down, looking slightly awkward. "There is one thing, Your Grace. About the earnings... how would you like to divide them?"

"After covering all necessary costs, you take sixty percent, and I'll take forty. As for my share, hold onto it for me for now. I have a general idea of how I want to use it, but I haven't settled the details yet. Keep it safe, and I'll come to you when I need it."

"Understood, Your Grace. I'll see that it's kept properly," Finn said at once.

He hesitated, then added, "If I may ask, why not continue using the name Azure? It's well known and would certainly help sales."

Elowen smiled faintly. "I did think about it. But that name draws too much attention, and not all of it welcome. I'd rather start fresh with a new name and keep things quieter this time. In the end, if the story is strong, the name on the cover shouldn't matter."

Finn nodded slowly.

They went on to discuss the finer details, including script style, parchment quality, initial print volume, and distribution.

Only after everything had been settled did Elowen finally leave.

Her carriage rolled steadily back toward Duskmoor Manor.

At a shadowed corner of the street, a servant dressed in plain gray had been watching the shop entrance the entire time. The moment the carriage pulled away, he lowered his hat and slipped into the crowd.

Elowen remained completely unaware.

But one of the Cassian's shadow guards, who had been quietly watching from a distance, caught every detail.

He returned to Duskmoor Manor ahead of her and went straight to Cassian's study, reporting everything.

He added, "Your Grace, the Duchess spoke privately with the shop owner for about half an hour. She dismissed everyone else, so I was unable to hear what was discussed."

Cassian lifted a brow slightly.

A bookshop. So Ella is planning to publish again.

He said nothing.

The guard continued, "The man watching the shop belongs to the Baker family."

Cassian's gaze sharpened. "Her Majesty has been making more moves lately."

"Yes, Your Grace. The previous attack that left you injured likely involved both the Baker family and her."

Cassian leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. "We still don't have proof."

"They've been growing more active. It's only a matter of time before they slip."

A faint smile touched Cassian's lips. "Then keep watching them."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The guard bowed his head, then asked, "Should we inform the Duchess?"

Cassian gave a small nod. "Let her know the Bakers are watching her so she can stay cautious. But don't tell her that I'm already aware of it."

She's careful, and easily embarrassed. If she hasn't told me, she isn't ready yet.

Cassian had already pieced together most of the truth, but he had no intention of exposing her over something like this.

When she was ready, she would tell him herself.

Until then, he would handle everything else.

He would make sure nothing ever reached her, not trouble, not danger, not even the faintest disturbance in the quiet of her world.

Not long after Elowen returned to Duskmoor Manor, a shadow guard came to report that the Baker family had secretly set people to watch her.

Hearing this, she immediately recalled something that had felt off earlier.

When she retrieved her manuscript, its position had been slightly different.

She checked that hidden compartment every day. That morning, it had clearly been disturbed. The night before, everything had been exactly as she left it.

Which meant someone had accessed it during that window.

At that hour, almost no one had any reason to step into her study.

Mira, Cora, and Anson were beyond question, people she trusted without hesitation, which left only the two who had been newly assigned there this year. Rosaline and Seren.