Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 464: Quiet Calculations

Or perhaps he simply favors that brother far too much.

Iris glanced up briefly before lowering her eyes again. "There have been whispers lately, Your Highness, that the Duke's leg has improved."

Alaric scoffed outright. "Whispers are all they are."

I've seen how this plays out before. Nothing about that man changes so easily.

In his previous life, at this very point, Cassian had still been confined to his chambers, his injury keeping him from even the smallest involvement in court matters, let alone standing on his own.

A sudden recovery?

Nothing more than a performance.

A calculated show to steady public opinion, to remind everyone of his standing, to protect both his title and the woman beside him.

Alaric knew him too well.

"Since I'll be part of these negotiations," he went on, a slow, deliberate smile forming, "it would be a shame not to give him the chance to prove himself."

The implication beneath the words was anything but kind.

Iris's hand paused for the briefest moment, sending a faint ripple across the surface of the ink.

She said nothing.

Once, she had believed that staying close to the Crown Prince was the safest path forward, that with enough patience and care, she could secure a future for herself.

But watching him now, so certain he understood everything, so easily led by his own desires while believing himself in control, she felt something shift.

Perhaps this was not the place to tie her fate to after all.

Perhaps she needed to start looking elsewhere, sooner rather than later.

The following morning, at Duskmoor Manor, Cassian had already left for the palace to meet with Alaric and discuss the negotiations.

Elowen stepped into the study and had Scarlet and Nikki brought in.

The moment Nikki crossed the threshold, her eyes lit up, wide and bright as she took in everything around her, from the tall bookcases to the polished desk and the sunlight spilling across the floor.

This was her first time inside the Duchess's study.

Back home, only her father had ever had a room like this. After he passed, it had belonged to her brother. It had never been a place she could step into freely.

She had heard this one was built just for the Duchess.

Her thoughts drifted until Scarlet gave her sleeve a quick tug.

Nikki snapped back, then quickly followed Scarlet's lead, lowering herself into a neat bow. "Your Grace."

Elowen smiled and inclined her head. "From today on, you'll both be assigned here. The work is simple enough. Keep the shelves in order, see that everything stays clean, tend to the plants, and assist when needed. If anything is unclear, ask Mira or Cora."

Nikki nodded eagerly. "Yes, Elowen."

Scarlet shot her a look at once. "Your Grace."

Nikki made a face, then corrected herself with a quick grin. "Right. Your Grace."

Scarlet turned back, her tone more careful. "Your Grace, I'm grateful for the chance, but I can't read. I'm worried I might not be suited for work in a study. If possible, I'd do better with outdoor tasks or anything more physical."

Elowen regarded her with a gentle expression. "Then you'll learn. No one starts out knowing how. Stay here for now and see how it goes. If it truly doesn't suit you, we'll find something else."

She gestured lightly toward the room. "Not everything here requires reading. You can dust, keep things in order, look after the plants. That alone is already plenty."

Scarlet met her gaze.

There was no pressure in it, no hidden test, just quiet reassurance. The unease in her chest eased without her even noticing when it began.

She lowered her eyes. "Understood, Your Grace."

Elowen nodded. "Mira, show them around and go over what needs doing."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Mira stepped forward with a bright smile. "Come on, I'll walk you through everything."

She led them around the study, explaining each section in turn.

Nikki listened closely, nodding again and again, determined not to miss anything.

Scarlet followed more quietly, her gaze moving across every shelf, every surface, taking it all in with careful attention.

Once Mira finished, she clapped her hands lightly as if settling on a plan. "All right, we'll start simple today. Dusting the shelves. Nikki, you take these three rows. Scarlet, the other three. Don't pull the books out. Just use a soft cloth and brush the dust away, especially along the top edges."

She handed each of them a clean cloth.

They both took them without hesitation.

After finishing her accounts, Elowen had Gerda and Edith distribute the monthly stipends as usual.

With a rare moment to herself, she leaned back slightly and said, "Mira, could you grab the book I was reading earlier? The one titled Tales of the Fox Spirit, I think."

"Got it!" Mira called, already heading for the shelves.

Time passed. No sound came from her direction.

Elowen leaned to the side, peering over. "What's taking so long? Can't find it?"