Filed to story: Elowen Hale and Duke Cassian Valebourne Book PDF Free
Before Marwen could even react, Elowen spoke, her voice cool and clear. “Lady Marwen, do you realize what you’ve done wrong?”
Marwen’s carefully rehearsed speech vanished. Stunned by the unexpected question, she faltered. “You… you’re questioning me? You’re just a girl-and you dare speak to me like that?”
Facing that youthful yet calm, detached expression, Marwen felt anger surge inside her. “Barely married into the family and already acting so high and mighty! Once you gain a foothold in Duskmoor Manor, I suppose you’ll cast the entire Ashcroft family and me out!”
Elowen didn’t argue. She asked, “Last night, did you give Lucien Ashcroft your access sigil?”
Marwen didn’t think much of it and snorted. “So what if I did? I manage this estate. I can give that sigil to whomever I please. What, trying to wrest control of the household on your second day here?”
Elowen locked eyes with her. “So that means Lucien attempted to assassinate the Duke under your instruction?”
Marwen thought she’d misheard. “Wh-what?”
It took her a beat to react. Then she clenched her teeth in fury. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing! You want control, and now you’re fabricating charges against me?”
Elowen drew a yellow pendant from her sleeve and tossed it in front of her. “Do you recognize this?”
Marwen’s maid bent down, picked it up, and placed it in her mistress’s palm. Marwen glanced at it. “A pendant. Fine quality, yes.”
But she’d seen finer. This meant nothing to her.
“What now? Trying to bribe me after threats didn’t work?”
Elowen chuckled. “Lady Marwen, the sun’s been up for a while. Are you still half-asleep?”
Hearing the mockery in her tone, Marwen’s brow creased. “You-“
“Take a closer look. This pendant belongs to Lucien,” Elowen said coldly.
Marwen paused. She examined the pendant again. The more she looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. She turned it over. On the back was carved a single character
-Lucien’s name. It was his pendant.
A chill ran through Marwen’s chest. “Why… why is this in your possession?”
Elowen’s voice remained calm. “Last night, Lucien used your sigil to enter the Duke’s chambers. He intended to harm the Duke. Fortunately, I discovered him in time and stopped him. He fled in a panic and dropped this. My maid picked it up.”
A loud crash echoed in Marwen’s mind. No wonder Lucien had returned last night looking like a ghost…
Now that the Duke was involved, her bravado collapsed. Her face turned pale. “No… That’s impossible… Lucien wouldn’t do that. He said he was going to see you-“
Elowen ignored the last part and said crisply, “The guards witnessed him enter. Mira spoke to him herself. And this pendant-his pendant-is now in your hands. We have witnesses and evidence. The facts are clear. Lady Marwen, you have no room to deny it.”
Marwen felt as if she had been plunged into an icy lake. Even though the Duke of Duskmoor lay unconscious, he was still the full-blooded brother of the King. His rank and standing were beyond question.
An attempt on his life was a capital crime.
It was over. Marwen stood on the edge of collapse, despair threatening to swallow her whole.
Elowen took in every change in her expression, paused briefly, then spoke again, “Fortunately, Lucien did not manage to harm His Grace. Out of consideration for the Ashcroft family’s past service, and because this was Lucien’s first offense, His Grace chose to spare him. However, from now on, Lucien is forbidden from approaching that courtyard, not even a single step.”
Marwen nodded sluggishly, then suddenly realized something and looked up. “You said His Grace spared him… but isn’t His Grace still unconscious?”
Elowen replied calmly, “His Grace woke briefly last night. Physician Halbrecht was summoned to Duskmoor Manor overnight. You didn’t hear about it?”
Marwen froze. She had heard that Halbrecht had come the previous night. At the time, she found it strange, as it wasn’t a regular monthly examination.
So the Duke of Duskmoor had awakened, even if only once.
“Aunt Marwen,” Elowen said evenly, “Hand over the entry token. From this point on, no one may enter the courtyard without my permission. This matter ends here.”
Ever since hearing that Cassian had awakened, Marwen felt as if her soul had left her body. She didn’t dare utter a single word of protest and obediently handed over the token.
Elowen closed her fingers around it and finally let out a quiet breath. Without this, no one would be able to barge into the courtyard again.
She said nothing more and turned to leave. Inside the room, Marwen collapsed onto the couch, her entire body drained of strength.
When she lifted a hand to her face, her forehead and cheeks were slick with cold sweat brought on by fear. Just a seventeen-year-old girl, yet she carried such oppressive force.
For a fleeting moment, it was as if Cassian himself had been standing there.
A maid brought over a cup of warm drink. “My lady, have something to steady yourself.”
Marwen took the cup and drank. As the warmth spread through her, her thoughts gradually cooled, and her expression darkened.
Today, that Hale girl had taken the entry token. Tomorrow, she would likely come for the household keys.
If she lost control over Duskmoor Manor, the comfort and status she and her children enjoyed would come to an end.
No. She absolutely could not sit and wait for that to happen.
After dealing with Lucien and Marwen, Elowen returned to her courtyard and continued reviewing the account books. By the time dusk fell, she finally finished.
Mira came in and said, “Your Grace, you really shouldn’t keep pushing yourself like this every day. You’ll ruin your eyes.”
“It won’t happen again. I’m done now,” Elowen said, stretching slightly. “There are quite a few muddled accounts. Although the manor generates a substantial income each month, its expenses are even higher. We’re spending more than we take in and relying on old reserves.”
Mira trimmed the candlewick and made a small sound of surprise. “That sounds a lot like Hale Manor.”
Elowen let out a soft sigh. “It does.”
Over the years, Avenlor had never been free of war. Where there was war, there were always casualties.
Some soldiers returned from the front wounded or crippled. Others died outright, leaving behind elderly mothers and young children who could barely fend for themselves.
Although the court issued stipends for various reasons, those funds often failed to reach the people who truly needed them or arrived in greatly diminished amounts.
These situations happened again and again. They could not be fully prevented, but the soldiers’ families and orphans could not afford to wait.
So her father and brothers had always used the manor’s own funds to make up the difference. It seemed Duskmoor Manor was no different.
“If things keep going like this, how long can the old reserves last?” Mira muttered quietly. “Surely you’re not going to use your dowry to cover it?”
Elowen didn’t answer. She only smiled faintly. Cassian, lying quietly on the bed, heard every word. He found it strange. He clearly had more than enough money, enough for the manor to last for generations.
When did things become so tight?
“By the way, Your Grace,” Mira said, setting down the scissors as she remembered something, “tomorrow is the day you return to your family home.”
By custom, a newly married woman would not visit her birth family until both families had made arrangements.
“It’s a pity,” Mira added. “With His Grace still unconscious, he can’t go with you.”
Elowen smiled lightly. “It’s better that way.”
Cassian paused.
Better that way?
If she had married Alaric, would she have thought the same? Because it was him, she said it was better not to go. His mood soured for no clear reason.
After a moment, Elowen continued, “Think about it. My father, my brothers, and my uncles are all gone, and my mother passed away long ago. Returning home is supposed to be the husband meeting the bride’s parents, but if I go back now, nothing is waiting for me except a silent estate and the family chapel.”
Cassian froze again. Mira’s expression softened. “Your Grace…”
Elowen didn’t want the atmosphere to turn heavy. She suddenly smiled and asked, “Mira, would you like some Honey-Almond Tea Cakes?”
Mira paused, her eyes lighting up. “Your Grace, are you going to make them yourself?”
Elowen nodded.
Mira immediately forgot her sadness and swallowed reflexively.
Elowen’s second aunt had been the daughter of a renowned chef, and she had passed on all her skills. Elowen was clever and quick to learn, eventually surpassing her. Everything she made was exceptionally good.
In the past, Elowen often made food for Alaric, experimenting with different recipes and methods. Mira always tasted them first, and every time she was delighted.
But ever since the betrothal banquet, Elowen had rarely entered the kitchen.
“Tomorrow, I’ll return to Hale Manor on my own. I’ll go to the chapel, say my prayers for my father, my brothers, and my uncles, and leave bread and cakes at their resting place. I want them to know that I’m married now, and that I’m living well.”
Her voice was light and gentle, like a spring breeze brushing across water. Mira nodded obediently.
Cassian listened, his emotions tangled.
The two of them went to the small kitchen and were gone for quite a while before returning.
Mira was thoroughly satisfied, a smile lingering on her lips as she helped Elowen take down her hair. “Your Grace, the cakes were incredible. If someone never tastes your baking in their lifetime, they’ve truly lived in vain.”
Elowen looked a little distracted and forced a smile. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
