Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 425: She Took Them Anyway

Elowen didn't even bother acknowledging him. She didn't lift her eyes, her voice coming out cool and flat.

"That's none of your concern."

The smile on Rowan's face froze instantly, like he'd just been struck across the face in front of everyone.

Elowen didn't spare him another glance. Instead, she looked toward Scarlet and Nikki, her tone noticeably softer.

"You're alright now. Come over here."

Scarlet stood there, staring at Elowen, clearly still shaken and struggling to process what had just happened.

Nikki reacted faster. At Elowen's words, she quickly helped Scarlet to her feet, holding onto her tightly.

"Scarlet, come on, get up. We're okay now. Nothing's going to happen."

Watching the two of them support each other as they moved toward Elowen, Rowan felt a sharp wave of irritation rise in his chest. He clenched his jaw.

"Your Grace, this isn't exactly proper, is it?" he said, his tone edged with restraint. "Scarlet is registered here at Stargazer Pavilion, and that girl works here as well. If someone wants them, there's an order to it. I was the one who chose them first. For you to take them like this, that doesn't make much sense, does it?"

Elowen's expression didn't change. "I'm taking them. Do you have a problem with that?"

The words were direct, forceful, leaving no room for negotiation.

A stir went through the surrounding crowd.

Rowan's composure started to crack.

He was Maerwyn's favored man.

Maerwyn and the Duchess of Duskmoor had never gotten along, something nearly everyone in Vanelle knew.

Just the day before, he had received a message from Maerwyn saying that Isla had already agreed, and after the midwinter, discussions about their marriage could begin.

He was about to become a royal consort, tied to the imperial family.

Even if she was the Duchess of Duskmoor, what could she really do to him?

Cassian might hold power, but would he really openly offend Isla and a future royal in-law over two lowborn girls?

With that thought, the hesitation he had felt toward Elowen faded, replaced again by arrogance.

He let out a mocking laugh.

"Your Grace certainly carries herself with authority. But even you can't act however you please here. The person behind Stargazer Pavilion isn't someone you can afford to cross."

Elowen rolled her eyes. "Get out of my sight."

The irritation in Rowan's chest flared hotter.

If he backed down now, in front of everyone, intimidated by a woman and letting her take the people he had chosen, how was he supposed to show his face in Vanelle again?

And what would he say to Alaric and Maerwyn?

"Fine. You're the one forcing this," Rowan said, anger twisting into a smile.

He turned to his men and snapped, "What are you standing around for? Go bring Scarlet and that girl back."

The men hesitated, exchanging uncertain looks.

Rowan's voice dropped, cold and pressing.

"Go. What are you afraid of? Just be careful not to hurt Her Grace."

Seeing the men begin to close in, their expressions turning harsh, step by step.

Elowen had come out quietly today, without many attendants. Even so, she showed no fear. She took a breath and called out clearly, "Cassian."

The moment her voice fell, before anyone could even see what happened, a shadow swept through like something out of nowhere.

Then came several heavy, sharp impacts.

The men were still several strides away from Elowen. They didn't even have time to react before they were thrown backward in different directions, bodies twisting midair before crashing hard onto the ground.

Not one of them managed to cry out. They lay there, sprawled and groaning, unable to get up.

Everything happened too fast, in the span of a single breath.

Many people hadn't even processed what they'd just seen.

Rowan focused his gaze, and only then did he notice...

At some point, a tall figure dressed in black had appeared at Elowen's side.

He stood there calmly, like something immovable, his presence heavy and silent, carrying an invisible pressure that made the air feel colder.

Rowan staggered back a step, his heart skipping.

His eyes locked onto the man. A buzzing filled his mind.

He had seen him before, at palace banquets, standing beside Alaric from a distance.

"Y-Your Grace..." Rowan's voice came out tight and dry, an uncontrollable tremor in it.

Fear of the Duke of Duskmoor was something carved deep into the bones of the noble families in Vanelle.

Elowen, seeing Cassian arrive, turned around, lifted her face slightly, and her lips curved with a hint of grievance.

"Cassian, Rowan's been picking on me."

Rowan went completely speechless.

What is she talking about?

Cassian's gaze shifted slowly and landed on Rowan.

A chill shot up from Rowan's feet straight to his head. He hurriedly stepped back, words tumbling over each other.

"No, no, that's not it. Even if I had ten times the nerve, I wouldn't dare disrespect Her Grace."

He quickly tried to explain, forcing out a strained, almost pitiful expression.

"Your Grace, this is Stargazer Pavilion. I come here often. Scarlet has always attended me and has never caused trouble. Today I noticed that young girl and thought she was pleasant enough, so I wanted her to join as well. I was willing to pay more. But not only did she refuse, she turned and ran. I'm the paying guest here. Acting like that ruins the whole evening. If anything, I'm the one being wronged."