Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 494: What Remains

Cassian obliged without resistance, turning when she needed him to, letting her confirm everything for herself.

Only when she was fully satisfied did Elowen finally exhale, the tension easing from her shoulders.

Cassian looked down at her, a trace of humor in his expression. "Still not convinced?"

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering near her ear. "We can always take a closer look later."

Elowen shot him a look, somewhere between annoyance and embarrassment, though it softened almost immediately.

"Forget that for now," she said, pressing her lips together briefly. "Are you hungry? I was about to eat."

Cassian nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, I am."

They returned to the table together.

Cassian took one look at the spread and immediately recognized that every dish had been prepared to her taste, though most of it had already cooled, barely touched.

She couldn't even bring herself to eat while I was gone.

The realization settled quietly, something warm and unspoken.

Without comment, he picked up his fork and began placing food onto her plate.

Elowen glanced at him. "You just got back. You should eat first. Why are you taking care of me?"

Cassian smiled easily, unbothered. "Ella, I don't have a title anymore. According to His Majesty, I'm just another man now. This estate belongs to you. I'm only here because you're willing to keep me. If I don't treat you well, what if you decide you've had enough of me?"

Elowen paused.

Then accepted that logic without further argument.

As she ate, she told him everything she had arranged, including the investigation into the arrowhead and Dominic.

Tilting her head slightly, she looked at him. "When you left, the way you spoke... it sounded like you expected something like this. Did you trust me to handle it?"

Cassian considered briefly before answering. "I knew someone was making a move, but not exactly how. So I adjusted as things unfolded. But yes, I trusted you."

He added another portion to her plate. "You kept everything steady and handled it cleanly. That kind of clarity doesn't come easily."

Elowen smiled, tension finally easing as she managed to eat properly.

Later, he took her hand and led her back to rest.

After washing up, they settled into bed, and Cassian leaned in, his kisses slow and unhurried as they traced along her cheek and down her neck.

Even then, Elowen held onto a thread of clarity. "Now that you're confined here, you won't be overseeing the court qualification trials."

Cassian gave a quiet acknowledgment. "It'll be Alaric or Caelan."

"Probably Alaric," she said softly.

Cassian looked at her more closely.

Elowen hesitated slightly. "Did that bother you?"

He shook his head.

Then leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to shift the tone. "I was just thinking... maybe you should check again. Just in case I missed something."

The next morning, Elowen woke to the feeling of someone pressing insistently at her cheek, the sensation persistent enough to drag her slowly out of sleep.

Still groggy, she frowned and kept her eyes closed, her voice thick with drowsiness. "Cassian... stop. Let me sleep a little longer..."

The touch didn't stop.

If anything, it became more deliberate, almost playful, fingers pressing and tugging just enough to keep her from slipping back into sleep.

Elowen groaned and lifted a hand to push him away. "Cassian, seriously..."

A low laugh followed, warm and unmistakably amused. "You didn't even open your eyes, and you already knew it was me?"

She forced her eyes open, blinking slowly as she looked up at him. "Who else would try something like that..."

She had been about to say more.

But then her vision cleared. And there he was.

Close enough that every detail was impossible to ignore, the morning light softening the sharp lines of his features while his gaze rested on her with quiet warmth.

For a moment, she simply stared.

She knew he looked good. But sometimes it still caught her off guard.

The irritation she had felt moments ago faded completely.

"Now that you're awake, don't go back to sleep," Cassian said, clearly entertained as he leaned down to kiss her lightly. "Come on. Time to eat."

He was already dressed, hair neatly tied, everything in place, wearing a simple house robe, carrying the faint, clean scent of soap and fresh linen.

When he kissed her, it lingered.

The last of her sleepiness faded, replaced by a soft warmth that settled quietly in her chest.