Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 521: A Private Night

Whatever came next could wait. Problems would come when they came, and she would deal with them then.

Tonight was her birthday.

She was going back to her room, and she was going to sleep with Cassian.

"Mira, have these gifts put away."

Elowen spoke calmly, but her gaze lingered on the small box in her hands, the one holding the seal. Something in her chest shifted.

"This one stays with me."

Mira nodded at once.

Soon, Elowen was alone.

Unhurried, she carried the box with her and headed toward her chambers. She had barely left the study wing, just passing the carved stone partition, when she noticed someone waiting beneath the corridor.

Rosaline.

The moment she saw Elowen, she stepped forward quickly and gave a respectful curtsy. "Your Grace."

Elowen paused, a faint smile on her lips. "What brings you here this late?"

Rosaline glanced around carefully, making sure no one else was within earshot before stepping closer and lowering her voice. "I came with the attendants accompanying Prince Caelan and Princess Lyra today. I was also asked to pass along a message from Lady Elira."

Elowen shifted slightly. "What did she say?"

Rosaline lowered her voice even further. "Lady Elira asked me to tell you this directly. She stands with you and the Duke, without hesitation. She believes in the Duke's ability, and that he will rise again in time. The situation within the palace is... complicated right now, so she cannot act openly. But her position has not changed."

She paused briefly before continuing, "She also said that if you ever need help behind the scenes, you can send word through me. I have a reliable way to pass messages back into the palace. As long as it is within her power, she will help, without refusal."

Elowen listened quietly.

Elira was making her stance unmistakably clear. She was choosing Duskmoor Manor.

A birthday gift, then. And not a small one.

Elowen liked it.

A soft warmth settled into her expression as she nodded. "I understand. Tell her I've received the message, and I won't forget it."

Her tone softened. "It's been a long day for all of you. Go get some rest."

Rosaline bowed again, stepping back before turning to leave.

Elowen carried the box the rest of the way back to her room.

She didn't go straight into the inner chamber. Instead, she made a small detour, setting the box carefully on her dressing table before continuing inside.

As she passed the screen, her gaze landed immediately on Cassian.

He was sitting at the edge of the bed.

He had clearly just bathed. His hair hung loose over his shoulders, still faintly damp. He wore only a simple silk shirt, the ties undone, the fabric falling open to reveal part of his chest. In the soft glow of candlelight, the lines of muscle shifted subtly as he moved.

Elowen stopped short.

"You... what exactly are you doing?"

Cassian looked up at her, amusement flickering in his eyes, something sharper beneath it. "You said earlier you couldn't remember anything about us, didn't you? Think of this as your punishment."

As he spoke, he slowly slid the fabric off his other shoulder and tossed it aside, leaving his upper body completely bare.

Elowen blinked.

Then she laughed.

Instead of backing away, she stepped closer, stopping right in front of him. Reaching out, she tapped lightly against his chest.

Warm, firm, and solid beneath her fingertips, the sensation lingered just enough to make her pause.

Tilting her head, she smiled, eyes bright. "Cassian, are you sure this is punishment, and not you trying to reward me?"

Cassian caught her wrist before she could pull away, his thumb brushing slowly along her skin, unhurried, deliberate. "Is it a reward? You could find out."

A faint warmth crept up Elowen's cheeks, but she forced herself to stay on track. "Before that, there's something important we need to talk about."

"Hmm?" Cassian murmured, though he had already lifted her hand to his lips, pressing slow kisses along her knuckles.

Elowen steadied herself. "Flowira came to see me earlier. Besides the gift, she mentioned that Nordia will soon be sending her youngest aunt as their official envoy."

Cassian didn't seem particularly interested. He continued tracing slow kisses across her hand. "And?"

"Rosaline also brought a message from Elira. She says she stands with us, believes you'll return to power, and is willing to help from behind the scenes if needed."

Cassian gave a quiet acknowledgment.

Elowen's brows drew together slightly in thought. "She's patient. When news of Roderic's death spread, she didn't rush to say anything. She waited until now. That way, she doesn't expose herself at all."

"Mm," Cassian replied, though his attention clearly wasn't on politics.

Elowen suddenly looked at him. "Cassian... do you think Elira actually wants Caelan to take the throne one day?"

Cassian paused, just briefly, then looked up at her. "What about you? If you were in her place, with a son of your own, would you want him to sit on that throne?"

Elowen didn't hesitate.

She shook her head.

"Honestly? No. That kind of life is exhausting. Always calculating, always carrying the weight of everything. It's lonely at the top. If it were my child, I'd just want him safe, happy, comfortable. A quiet life would be enough."