Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 529: What It Means

Elowen paused, clearly caught off guard.

Cassian leaned back slightly, watching her. "Let me ask you something. Back when Hale Manor was on the verge of collapse, if someone had stepped in and pulled you out of it, what would you have done?"

Elowen didn't even need to think. "I would've given them everything. My life included."

Cassian smiled faintly. "That's exactly how Nikki feels."

Elowen blinked, still processing that. "I really didn't think of it that way."

So something I did without thinking... meant that much to her?

She let out a small breath, then added, "Still, what those men said was disgusting. I didn't expect people like that to be part of Avenlor's scholar class."

Cassian's expression cooled slightly. "When you deal with them, don't hold back just to spare their pride. And don't second-guess yourself. Even if it turns into a bigger scene and reaches His Majesty, I'll handle it."

A hint of amusement slipped into his tone.

"I'll take it straight to His Majesty and play it up. You've seen it before, it works every time."

Elowen laughed, the sound soft and unguarded as she leaned into him, practically folding into his arms.

Cassian held her close, his voice dropping just a touch.

"Besides, this whole situation around the court qualification trials could use some attention. If it gets bigger, that works in our favor."

Elowen gave a quiet hum of agreement, tilting her face up to brush a light kiss against the corner of his lips.

"I'll follow your lead."

Before long, the court qualification trials came to an end.

Elowen had a carriage prepared, along with a full escort of Duskmoor Manor's most capable guards.

They set out in force toward the Imperial Examination Hall.

At the same time, the final session had just concluded.

The heavy wooden gates of the examination grounds opened slowly in the morning light.

Candidates began filing out, each carrying their belongings, their expressions a mix of exhaustion, relief, and lingering tension.

Josh had already packed everything carefully, his writing tools, bedding, and remaining provisions all secured inside his worn travel chest.

He lifted it onto his back and started toward the gate.

"Josh."

A calm, clear voice came from beside him.

He turned and immediately inclined his head. "Kaelan."

Kaelan stood there in a tailored blue coat, understated but clearly well made, the kind that spoke of quiet status rather than display. He looked composed, refined, like someone who belonged exactly where he stood.

"I came alone this time," Kaelan said. "No one to travel back with. Since we crossed paths, how about we head out together?"

Josh nodded easily. "That works."

Kaelan smiled and shifted the chest in his hand.

It was packed full, the weight obvious. The handle had already pressed red marks into his palm.

Clearly, someone at home had worried he might struggle during the exam and packed far more than necessary.

Josh stepped forward without hesitation. "Let me take that."

Kaelan shook his head lightly. "You don't have to."

But Josh had already taken it from him.

"I'm used to this kind of thing," he said. "It's nothing."

Seeing how easily Josh handled the weight, Kaelan didn't argue further.

"Then once we're out, I'll have my carriage take you home first."

Josh accepted without fuss. "Appreciate it."

They walked side by side toward the gate.

Around them, voices filled the air. Some candidates were already debating questions, others comparing answers, some sighing in frustration, others walking in silence.

Kaelan glanced over. "What did you think of this year's exam?"

Josh answered honestly. "Overall, it felt more manageable than past years. But that section on frontier supply systems and trade routes, that was tough."

Kaelan smiled. "You're being modest. Even Edmund speaks highly of your judgment and practical thinking. When the results come out this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see your name near the top."

They had just stepped beyond the gates when something came flying toward them.

Josh reacted instantly.

With one hand still holding Kaelan's chest, he grabbed Kaelan with the other and pulled him back.

Something struck the ground in front of them with a sharp crack.

A stone.

Josh's expression hardened immediately. He turned toward where it had come from.

Under a nearby tree, a small group of well-dressed young men stood together, watching openly, their expressions full of mockery.

He recognized them.

They were the same ones who had ridiculed him days ago when he first arrived.

Josh knew exactly why they had a problem with him.

Last spring, Edmund had come across one of his essays and personally sought him out, taking him in as a student.

The day Edmund brought him home, these same young men had been waiting outside, hoping to gain the same opportunity. All of them had been turned away.

That year, Edmund had only accepted two students. Josh and Kaelan.

But Kaelan's background made him untouchable.

So their resentment settled squarely on Josh.

Josh had always been patient. He knew where he came from. After his father passed, his family had fallen into hardship.