Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 478: A Sudden Shift

"Five hundred horses. Not one less than that. And they had better be the finest stock you have. We're not accepting anything second-rate."

The chamber had filled with overlapping voices, each sharper than the last.

Roderic let out a low, humorless laugh, his expression turning openly contemptuous. "You keep insisting this agreement is meant to preserve peace for both our people, but listening to you now, it sounds more like you're preparing for your next campaign. And I wonder who you expect to ride those fine horses against."

His gaze slid toward Cassian, who had remained silent until now, watching the exchange unfold.

"Nordia, perhaps. And when that day comes, will you send your Duke of Duskmoor to ride straight through our lands again?"

Dominic's restraint snapped.

He struck the table with a sharp crack, his voice rising. "Mind your accusations. Do not twist our intentions to suit your own narrative."

Roderic surged to his feet in response, his hand slamming down just as hard. "And you think you can raise your voice at me without consequence? I've made myself clear. Three hundred horses. That is the final number. The armor is no longer part of this discussion."

Dominic pointed at him, his hand trembling with anger. "So this is how Nordia conducts itself. No honor, no regard for its word."

The insult landed heavily.

Cassian's expression darkened.

Roderic's face went rigid with fury, the shift immediate and dangerous. Without a word, he seized a heavy bronze weight from the table and hurled it across the chamber.

Everything unraveled at once.

Cassian stepped back, unwilling to be dragged into the chaos.

Then Dominic shouted, "Your Grace, watch out!" and lunged forward.

The impact came with a dull, sickening sound.

The bronze weight struck Dominic square in the forehead, splitting the skin open as blood poured down over his face.

Elowen listened in silence, her expression growing more intent with every detail.

"If both sides had already agreed," she said at last, her tone measured, "then for him to reverse himself so abruptly and push this hard, something must have changed behind the scenes. Either he's gained leverage, or he's been forced into a different position."

Cassian gave a slight nod. "That's my conclusion as well."

Elowen looked at him, decision settling in her eyes. "I'll reach out to Flowira and ask her directly. If something shifted within their side, she'll know."

Cassian glanced at her. "Flowira. The one who seems rather fond of you."

Elowen hesitated for the briefest moment.

Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"Cassian, what I'm about to tell you stays between us."

Her gaze held his.

"The identities of Flowira and Zachary have been switched. The one we've been seeing as Zachary is actually Flowira in disguise. The real Zachary has been the one hidden from view."

Cassian's brow lifted slightly, surprise flickering before giving way to quiet understanding.

Several things that once felt off now aligned perfectly.

Elowen relaxed a fraction. "So don't let this trouble you too much for now. I'll speak with her. Once we know what changed, we'll know how to respond."

Cassian looked at her for a moment longer than necessary.

He had faced battlefields thick with blood and courts filled with schemes far more intricate than this. Situations like today's were nothing he could not handle.

And yet, watching her sit there, thinking it through for him, taking it upon herself to ease his burden, stirred something unfamiliar and deeply grounding.

So this is what it feels like to have someone stand with me.

He let out a quiet breath and nodded.

"All right," he said, his voice softer now. "We'll do it your way, Ella."

Night settled over the manor.

The messenger Elowen had sent returned quickly with an answer. Flowira had agreed to meet.

Before long, a side entrance opened briefly, then shut again without drawing attention.

Dressed in plain gray traveling clothes, a wide-brimmed felt hat pulled low enough to shadow her face, Flowira followed Anson along a quieter route through the estate, keeping well away from the main paths.

Elowen was already waiting in the study, with only Mira beside her.

The door opened just enough to admit her, then closed at once. Flowira removed her hat, revealing her striking features.

Before Elowen could speak, she began.

"Your Grace, I've already heard what happened at court today. It was only meant to cover routine matters, document exchanges, lodging arrangements, nothing of consequence. My uncle said there was no need for me to attend, so I stayed behind. I never expected it to spiral like this."

Elowen gestured toward a seat. "There's no need to take that on yourself, Princess. I asked you here for something specific."

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

"Roderic's sudden change of position, and the way he pressed for reduced tribute, was that something already debated within your delegation, or did new instructions arrive from Nordia's court in the past few days?"