Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 499: Where It Began to Break

That moment had been one of the turning points, one of the times he truly began to lose her.

Even now, when the memory surfaced, it twisted in his chest so sharply that he wished he could go back and shut that reckless version of himself up for good.

This time, he would fix what had fractured between them, slowly and carefully, until nothing of it remained.

The eighteenth day of the second month was Elowen's birthday.

The air still carried a lingering chill from winter, but there was a softness to it now, the kind that hinted spring was finally settling in.

Elara had been counting down the days for nearly half a month, and at last, it had come.

Their carriage rolled to a stop outside Duskmoor Manor. Rowena turned to her with a steady look. "Your father and I need to speak with the Duchess. There are a few matters that can't wait. Stay here, keep your head down, and don't cause trouble."

Elara nodded quickly. "I will, I promise."

Rowena studied her for a moment, clearly not convinced, then left a seasoned matron and two attendants beside her before hurrying off with Lieutenant Wrenner toward the main residence.

Elara watched them go, her gaze lingering.

She wanted to see the Duchess too, more than she could say, but she knew better than to get in the way at a time like this.

Back when she had been infatuated with Cassian, she acted on impulse, doing whatever felt right in the moment.

Now, what she felt toward the Duchess was different. It was steady, genuine, and she had no intention of becoming even the smallest inconvenience.

So she followed the attendants toward the garden pavilion where the ladies had gathered to rest.

Along the way, servants moved swiftly but quietly, carrying trays of coffee, covered platters, and small chests of gifts, everything running with a smooth, practiced rhythm that spoke of careful planning.

Elara couldn't help but admire it.

She really has everything under control. No wonder everyone respects her.

She was just about to settle into a quiet corner of the pavilion when voices drifted over from a nearby open-sided gazebo.

"Have you thought about it? The Duke just lost his title, and even the estate's name has changed. Yet the Duchess is still throwing a celebration like this."

"That's easy to explain. She's trying to save face. If people in Vanelle start looking down on them, that would be the end of it. So she spends heavily and makes it grand, just to show they still carry weight."

"I noticed it the moment we arrived. The decorations, the guest list, everything about this place screams expense. The Duke has no stipend now, and he's confined to the estate. Where is all this money coming from?"

"Exactly. It feels like she's putting on a show she can't afford."

Elara had reached the edge of the gazebo when the words hit her.

Anger rose fast and sharp.

Her first instinct was to grab something and throw it, but her eyes landed on the fine porcelain cups and delicate serving dishes nearby, and she stopped.

Those belonged to the Duchess.

She wasn't about to break them.

So instead, she turned and kicked the carved wooden plant stand beside her with all her strength.

The impact cracked through the air, and the ceramic pot on top rattled violently. The chatter inside stopped instantly.

Several young women turned, startled.

Elara stepped forward, her expression hard. "What exactly do you think you're doing, talking like that?"

She moved closer, her voice cutting clean through the space. "Whether the Duchess chooses to celebrate quietly or on a grand scale is entirely her decision. Who gave you the right to stand here and pick it apart? Not long ago, your families would have been lining up just to get a foot through these doors. Now she invites you in, treats you as guests, and this is how you repay her?"

Her tone sharpened as she went on. "Is the food not good enough, or is the estate not impressive enough for you? Or are you just so bored that gossip is the only thing that makes you feel important?"

A girl in pale yellow, clearly the youngest, flushed bright red under the barrage. Still, she muttered under her breath, "You don't have to sound so harsh. We were just talking."

Elara let out a short, humorless laugh. "Just talking? Then so am I. Why does mine bother you so much?"

The girl fell silent, unable to answer.

At that point, a round-faced girl in a rose-colored vest took a closer look and suddenly recognized her. "Well, now I see who this is. Miss Wrenner."

Her tone turned pointed. "You might not know this, but she used to be completely taken with the Duke. She even begged her family to place her in his household."

She let the words hang, then added with a faint smile, "So of course she's eager to defend Duskmoor Manor."

A few of the girls exchanged looks. Some covered their smiles, others glanced at Elara with thinly veiled disdain.

Elara didn't flinch.

She lifted her chin, meeting their eyes head-on. "That's right. I won't deny it. I did like him."

Her voice was calm and steady. "But let me be clear. That's in the past. The only person I respect now is the Duchess. And I won't stand here and listen to anyone tear her down."