Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 414: The Bargain

If she sided with her mother now, there was no guarantee that the secret would stay buried.

Isla studied her daughter closely.

"Maerwyn, if you do this for me and see it through, I will make sure you marry Rowan."

Maerwyn's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean that?"

Isla smiled gently. "I do."

No, of course I didn't.

Rowan was nowhere near worthy of her daughter's standing.

Once everything was settled and Alaric's position secure, Isla would arrange a far more suitable match.

But Maerwyn didn't see through it. Excitement overtook her hesitation, and she nodded eagerly.

"Then I'll do it, Mother. I'll speak against Elowen."

She threw her arms around Isla. "Thank you."

For a brief moment, Isla's expression softened.

She loved her children deeply. For them, she was willing to do anything.

Everything she was doing now, including this scheme against Elowen, was for their future.

She smoothed Maerwyn's hair and spoke gently for a while longer, reminding her to eat well and take care of herself, before finally leaving.

The room dimmed as the lights were lowered.

But Maerwyn lay awake, her mind racing. Finally, she could marry Rowan.

She lay on her back, hands resting lightly over her stomach, staring up at the canopy.

Do I even like him that much?

The thought came quietly.

Truthfully, she didn't.

What she loved was the feeling she had after reading Tales of Luminara. The idea of loving someone so deeply that it gave your life direction, something worth chasing.

She had wanted that for herself.

She just hadn't known where to find it.

Then Rowan appeared at just the right moment, filling that empty space.

But deep down, she knew. It wasn't Rowan who mattered.

It was Azure.

She had imagined more than once what it would be like to meet Azure, to speak with her even briefly.

If I could just meet her once... nothing else would even matter.

If Rowan dropped dead that very moment, she doubted she would feel much at all.

But if anyone tried to harm Azure...

No matter who they were... She would not forgive it.

The next morning was bright and clear.

Elowen and Cassian were seated together for breakfast when Anson stepped in, holding a gilded invitation.

"Your Grace, a message from the palace."

Elowen took it and opened it, scanning the contents.

Cassian didn't look up from his plate. "Midwinter banquet?"

She nodded, then muttered, "I don't like this. Something about it feels off."

Cassian gave a faint smile. "If anything's about to go wrong, it won't be for you. It'll be for Isla."

That earned a small laugh from her.

She set the invitation aside and picked up her spoon again. "Still, I have to say, those palace banquets are exhausting. Too many rules, too much watching every little move. You can't even laugh without thinking about how it looks."

It had been that way in her past life, and nothing had changed now.

Every banquet felt the same.

And somehow, trouble always followed.

"Especially during the midwinter," she added with a sigh. "It's supposed to be a celebration. Feels like a waste to spend it locked inside the palace."

Cassian raised a brow. "Is the city really that much better?"

Elowen's eyes lit up right away. "It is. Vanelle really knows how to celebrate. Cloudmere Lane is the highlight every year. The whole street is strung with glowing festival lights, there are performers on every corner, rows of food stalls, and crowds just soaking it all in. The entire place feels vibrant, like the city finally comes alive."

The change in her expression didn't go unnoticed.

Cassian's gaze softened, a hint of indulgence in his voice. "Then we leave early and go."

Her smile came easily after that.

A little while later, Cora stepped in again to announce Rowena's arrival.

Elowen quickly wiped her hands and made her way to the Great Hall.

Rowena was already waiting, dressed neatly with her usual gentle smile. Two maids stood behind her, each holding decorative boxes.

They opened them one by one.

Inside were tiny baby clothes, carefully made and beautifully detailed.

"I've had some free time lately," Rowena said. "So I made these myself. The fabrics are as soft as I could find."

Elowen picked up a small embroidered cap, running her fingers lightly over the stitching.

"You're incredibly talented. This looks amazing."

Rowena smiled. "With the standing of Duskmoor Manor, your child will have the finest things anyway. This is just... something from me."

Elowen looked up, her expression warm. "I love them. I'll make sure my child wears these."

Rowena nodded, clearly pleased.

Elowen placed the items back carefully before asking, "By the way, why didn't Elara come with you today?"

At the mention of her daughter, Rowena's smile faded slightly. She let out a soft sigh.

"She hasn't been feeling well lately. She's resting at home."

Elowen frowned. "Is she sick? I can send Doctor Dray over."

Rowena shook her head gently. "It's not that."

She paused, her voice quieter. "It's something weighing on her mind."