Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Silhouette Beyond the Screen

Cassiel opened his eyes.

Then slowly looked at Elysia.

A moment later, he said calmly,

"Didn’t you just tell me Bran was the one secretly moving my robes?"

Elysia froze.

Cassiel continued without the slightest change in expression.

"If that’s true, then clearly he harbors improper intentions and I’m certainly not allowing him to assist with my bath."

Elysia stared at him.

Cassiel folded his hands neatly atop the blanket.

"So I suppose the task falls to you."

His voice remained perfectly reasonable.

"My apologies for burdening you."

Elysia nearly choked.

She felt this was entirely her own fault.

She had invented the story.

Now she had no choice but to live with it.

"Go on," Cassiel said gently.

"Ask Bran to prepare hot water."

Elysia could only nod weakly.

"Very well."

The moment she stepped outside, Bran hurried over.

"Your Grace!"

His eyes immediately landed on the untouched basin.

"Has the washing not been finished?"

Elysia cleared her throat.

"That won’t be necessary anymore."

Bran blinked.

"Cassiel is awake."

For several seconds, the steward simply stared.

Then his entire face lit up.

"His Grace is awake?"

Elysia nodded.

The next instant, Bran nearly launched himself down the corridor, his voice echoing through half the manor.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

The household immediately descended into chaos.

Servants rushed back and forth.

Hot water was prepared.

Fresh towels were gathered.

The physician was nearly summoned three separate times before Cassiel’s orders stopped them.

Within the hour, the bathing chamber had been readied.

A large oak tub stood filled with steaming water.

Mist drifted lazily through the air.

The entire room smelled faintly of cedarwood and herbs.

Bran personally supervised everything.

Only after confirming that every detail was perfect did he return to Cassiel’s room.

Elysia watched quietly nearby.

Trying very hard not to think about what was about to happen.

Unfortunately, thinking about it became impossible when a familiar voice called:

"My love."

She didn’t react.

A moment later:

"My love."

Still nothing.

Then something tapped against the table beside her.

Knock.

Knock.

Elysia finally looked up.

Cassiel sat in a wheelchair directly beside her.

His expression was unreadable.

"...My lord?"

Cassiel raised an eyebrow.

"I called for you."

Realization dawned.

The color immediately rose to her cheeks.

"Oh."

She looked away.

"It’s my first time being called that."

Cassiel’s gaze sharpened.

"By someone else?"

The words were spoken slowly.

As though each one carried hidden meaning.

Elysia immediately sensed danger.

"I simply meant—"

A soft laugh interrupted her.

Not quite amused.

Not quite displeased.

Just enough to make her nervous.

"Of course."

His expression revealed nothing.

Which somehow made it worse.

A short time later, Bran pushed the wheelchair toward the bathing chamber.

Elysia followed behind.

The room itself was not large.

A wooden screen divided the space into two sections.

Clothing hung neatly over one side.

Steam drifted through the air.

The entire chamber felt warm and strangely intimate.

Bran wheeled Cassiel directly beside the tub.

Then bowed.

"I’ll take my leave."

Before Elysia could protest, he vanished.

Traitor.

She was certain of it.

For a long moment, only silence remained.

Then she noticed a shadow moving beyond the screen.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

The unmistakable silhouette of a man.

Her heartbeat immediately accelerated.

After a moment, Cassiel’s voice drifted through the steam.

"Are you coming?"

"C-coming."

Elysia took a deep breath.

And finally stepped around the screen.

Cassiel sat beside the tub.

The loose robe he wore had not yet been removed.

Thankfully.

"Shall we begin with the clothing?" he asked.

His voice was low.

Slightly rough from sleep.

The sound brushed against her ears like warm velvet.

Elysia’s fingers immediately tightened.

Truthfully, she had never undressed a man before.

Not once.

Not even during her marriage to Vaelen.

The memory surfaced without warning.

Painfully vivid.

Years ago.

A drunken night.

A desperate hope.

The Queen had already begun discussing concubines and political matches.

Elysia had panicked.

She had thought that if she and Vaelen finally became real husband and wife...

If she could give him a child...

Perhaps everything would change.

Perhaps he would finally look at her.

She knew almost nothing.

Only that married couples shared a room.

Shared a bed.

And eventually children appeared.

That was the extent of her understanding.

So she had gathered her courage and entered his chambers.

Vaelen had been lying on the bed.

Eyes closed.

A frown between his brows.

Trembling, she had reached for the ties of his robe.

The instant her fingers touched him—

His eyes opened.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

Before she could explain, he shoved her away.

Hard.

She hit the floor.

The stone scraped her palms raw.

Pain flashed through her body.

But it was his words that hurt most.

"Disgusting."

The memory remained as sharp as ever.

Even now.

Without realizing it, Elysia’s hands stopped moving.

Her fingers hovered near Cassiel’s belt.

Uncertain.

Hesitant.

Cassiel noticed immediately.

His gaze softened.

"My lady?"

Elysia lowered her eyes.

For the first time since entering the room, genuine uncertainty appeared on her face.

She bit her lip.

Then quietly asked:

"My lord..."

Cassiel waited.

Her voice grew softer.

"Would you find this... disgusting?"

The question lingered between them.

Fragile.

Vulnerable.

All traces of humour disappeared from Cassiel’s face.

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