Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Behind the Lattice

A hand appeared beside Elysia, offering her a neatly folded linen handkerchief.

A pleasant male voice followed.

"Are you all right?"

The voice was unfamiliar.

Mindful of propriety, Elysia did not accept the handkerchief. Instead, she turned slightly away and wiped the remaining moisture from her eyes with her sleeve.

The stranger seemed to realise her hesitation.

"Please, don’t be alarmed. My name is Evren Soren. Her Grace invited me to Draevenor Manor today. I mean you no harm."

There was such earnestness in his final words that Elysia turned back, a little taken aback.

She had shed only a few tears, and most had already been wiped away. Still, when she raised her eyes to the young man before her, she saw that he was indeed the same Evren she had seen in the little portrait Ismeria had sent.

He was still holding out the handkerchief, his gaze lowered respectfully towards her.

Elysia’s chestnut hair fell around her shoulders like polished silk, while her fair complexion seemed almost luminous in the afternoon light. Her eyes were still slightly misted from crying, lending them a soft, hazy quality, like roses glimpsed through a veil of spring rain.

Evren’s expression changed.

A flicker of astonishment crossed his face, followed by unmistakable admiration.

For several seconds, he simply stared.

Elysia, oblivious to the effect she had on him, spoke first.

"You look even better than your portrait."

Evren blinked.

"My portrait?"

Elysia smiled.

"Didn’t your aunt tell you she was bringing you to Draevenor Manor for an introduction?"

He hesitated.

His aunt had indeed mentioned arranging a meeting for him.

Evren had not been particularly enthusiastic about the idea. He had only recently passed the royal academic assessments and, through his mother’s connections, had secured a position assisting in the Royal Archives. His attention was already fixed on the Imperial Scholarly Trials later that year.

He feared failing.

For that reason, he had poured nearly all his time and energy into his studies.

Yet Ismeria had been unusually earnest about this visit. Unable to bear disappointing his aunt, he had reluctantly agreed to come.

Now, standing before the young woman who had just emerged from the garden, a strange warmth stirred within him.

Could she be the Lady Lillian he was supposed to meet?

If so...

That would be more than acceptable.

Evren lowered his hand, the tips of his ears gradually turning pink.

"My aunt did mention something of the sort."

His gaze returned to Elysia.

"May I ask your age?"

Elysia saw no reason to conceal it.

"Seventeen."

Evren nodded.

"And what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"

The question struck Elysia as somewhat peculiar, but she answered honestly.

"I like reading and writing. I also enjoy baking pastries and sweets from time to time."

Evren’s ears grew warmer.

This was precisely the sort of wife he had once imagined for himself.

His spirits lifted.

"Do you like cats?"

Elysia nodded.

"Quite a lot."

She paused.

Something suddenly clicked and a soft laugh escaped her.

"Mr. Soren, I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding."

Evren looked at her.

"My family name is Hartwell."

He froze.

Hartwell.

Seventeen years old.

A young woman in Draevenor Manor bearing the Hartwell name...

There could only be one person.

Yet Evren seemed reluctant to accept the conclusion.

"You are..."

Elysia nodded.

"Yes."

She offered him a small, apologetic smile.

"I am the Duchess of Draevenor."

The colour drained from Evren’s face.

Only then did he notice the intricate arrangement of Elysia’s hair—the distinctive style worn by married women in the capital city of Caelvyr.

He had been so captivated by her appearance that he had completely overlooked it.

His heart sank.

Of course.

How could he have been so foolish?

Elysia, unaware of the turmoil in his mind, changed the subject.

"Your aunt mentioned that you were distracted by a kitten earlier."

Evren slowly gathered himself.

"Yes. There was an orange cat beneath the rockery."

His answer came a little belatedly.

"This is my first visit here. After I saw the cat, I somehow lost my way."

Elysia smiled.

"I see."

She glanced towards the path.

"Shall I show you back to the pavilion?"

Evren looked at her for a moment before nodding.

"Thank you..."

He hesitated over the proper form of address.

Elysia took pity on him.

"Your Grace will do."

The words seemed to catch in his throat.

It took him a moment to manage them.

"Your Grace."

The title felt strangely painful.

Why did she have to marry the Duke?

Why had he met her so late?

Evren could only sigh inwardly as he followed her.

Neither of them noticed the wheelchair that had come to a silent halt behind a nearby lattice screen, half-hidden beneath vines and flowering creepers.

Cassiel sat there in the dappled sunlight.

His brow was deeply furrowed.

His gaze followed Elysia until she disappeared from sight.

It was dark enough to make Bran, who stood nearby, wisely keep his thoughts to himself.

Elysia returned to the pavilion and spent some more time speaking with Ismeria.

Despite the difference in their ages, the two found their temperaments surprisingly well matched. Conversation came easily, and before either realised it, the afternoon had begun to give way to evening.

When Ismeria finally rose to leave, she seemed reluctant to end the visit.

"Next time, you must let me return the invitation. Come and visit me."

Elysia readily agreed.

"I’d be delighted."

The gathering had gone better than she could have hoped.

With a lightness in her step, Elysia made her way back towards the main courtyard.

There, she encountered Bran outside the study.

"Is the Duke inside?"

"He is."

Bran answered rather carefully.

Elysia failed to notice the brief flicker of concern in his eyes.

She pushed open the door and entered.

Cassiel was seated at his desk with a book open before him.

Elysia immediately began recounting the day’s events, her voice bright as she described everything that had happened—the meeting with Ismeria, the misunderstanding with Evren, the kitten that had distracted him, and the arrangements for Lillian’s future.

She finished with a pleased smile.

Cassiel merely turned a page.

"Hmm."

Elysia’s smile faltered.

She studied him more closely.

His expression was perfectly composed.

Too composed.

Something about him felt distinctly off.

Her head tilted.

Was the Duke... displeased?

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