Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 462: Not Quite Heartbroken

Elara's gaze drifted slowly toward Elowen, unfocused at first, then settling as she blinked a few times. Her lips parted, and when she spoke, her voice sounded dry and uncertain. "Your Grace... I think I might actually be a little heartbroken."

Elowen felt a quiet laugh stir in her chest.

It was hard to blame her.

This was a girl just beginning to understand her own feelings. The first time, she had fallen for Cassian, only to watch him marry someone else. Then, just as her heart opened again, she found herself drawn to a man who turned out not to be a man at all.

Anyone would feel thrown off balance after that.

Elowen was about to offer something gentle in return, but Elara continued without missing a beat. "So, Your Grace... could you write me another story soon? If I have something really good to read, I'm sure I'll feel a lot better."

Elowen stared at her.

Then she laughed, unable to stop herself.

That night, pale moonlight drifted over Duskmoor Manor, and the whole estate settled into a deep, undisturbed stillness.

In the bedchamber, most of the lights had been put out, leaving only a small glass oil lamp burning low by the bedside, its glow soft and steady.

Elowen had already fallen asleep, though not deeply.

At the faint sound of footsteps, her eyes opened slightly, and sure enough, Cassian had returned.

He adjusted the wick of the lamp, set it lower, then removed his boots and slipped into bed beside her. Without hesitation, he drew her into his arms, letting her rest comfortably against the warmth of his chest.

"Did I wake you?"

"Not really," Elowen murmured, shifting until she settled just right against him. "I wasn't sleeping that deeply anyway."

She went on to tell him everything, from her aunt's letter to what had happened earlier with Flowira and Elara, her voice soft in the quiet room.

Cassian listened without interrupting. When she mentioned Elara asking for a new story, he let out a low, amused chuckle. "She says she's fallen for someone else, but if you ask me, she hasn't strayed very far at all."

Elowen tilted her head slightly. "But I'm a woman too."

The amusement in his eyes deepened. "She fell for your stories first. Once she realized you were the one behind them, it was only natural she'd grow attached to you as well. Same as Maerwyn."

Elowen gave a small nod. "I see."

Now I'm curious what would happen if she ever met Maerwyn...

After a short pause, Cassian spoke again, as if something had just occurred to him. "By the way, Ella."

"Hmm?"

"What Flowira said earlier was true. The Nordian delegation is ready to begin formal negotiations. His Majesty called me in this afternoon to go over the details."

Elowen lifted her head slightly to look at him through the dim light. "He wants you involved."

Cassian nodded, his fingers absentmindedly brushing through her hair. "Something this important, something that affects the stability of the border and the future between two nations, won't be left entirely to court officials, and certainly not to anyone with their own agenda. I know Nordia well, and I command part of the forces. There's no stepping away from this."

Elowen listened, then caught the faint pause in his tone. "Who else?"

Cassian glanced down at her, his expression deepened by the low light. "Alaric."

Elowen's body stiffened slightly.

Cassian noticed at once and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"His Majesty says that during his confinement, Alaric has been unusually disciplined. Every day, without fail, he sends word asking after the King's health. Not once has he mentioned being released or returning to court. His tone has been respectful, even sincere. I had it looked into. He's been studying quietly in the Crown Prince's Wing, with no sign of anything else. His Majesty believes there may be genuine remorse there."

Elowen stayed quiet for a while.

"No matter what," Cassian continued, "he is still the Crown Prince. Leaving him out of something as significant as formal negotiations would go against protocol and could stir unnecessary speculation."

Elowen let out a soft breath.

That much made sense.

Cassian was right. This confinement had never been permanent.

And as for her...

She had no intention of letting things end here.

She tilted her head slightly. "So when is he being released?"

Cassian lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss to it. "The order was given tonight. Starting tomorrow, he'll be free to come and go."

At the Crown Prince's Wing, after Quin delivered the King's decree lifting the confinement, he offered his congratulations and withdrew, taking most of the guards stationed at the entrance with him.

Alaric stood in the courtyard, staring at the now-open gates as a long-held weight seemed to lift from his chest.

"Finally..."

The word slipped out under his breath before he let out a low laugh, the sound growing fuller, edged with relief and satisfaction.

He knew it.

His father would never truly cast him aside.

Energy surged through him as he turned in place, already thinking ahead. "I should get cleaned up, change into something proper... I finally get to step outside again. I need to see Ella."

His eyes lit with sudden urgency.

"Yes. Right now. I'm going to Duskmoor Manor."