Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Warrior’s Reflex

"That won’t do at all."

Miriam looked at Elysia worriedly.

"Then what should we do, Your Grace?"

Without looking up from the household ledger, Elysia replied calmly, "If they wish to sit in the reception hall, let them sit. If they want tea and pastries, serve them the finest we have."

Miriam sighed inwardly.

People always said a new bride had to endure her mother-in-law’s temper.

Cassiel had no mother.

Instead...

He had this impossible aunt.

Elysia reviewed the accounts for a while longer before finally closing the ledger.

"Miriam, have the kitchen prepare breakfast."

Miriam blinked in surprise.

"Are you hungry already, Your Grace?"

Elysia smiled faintly.

"Not for me. It’s for the Duke. He must be hungry by now."

Miriam looked puzzled.

"Isn’t His Grace still asleep?"

"He is," Elysia replied with a nod. "But he’ll be waking soon."

Her sister-in-law’s words echoed once more in her mind.

If your mother-in-law is utterly unreasonable, don’t confront her directly.

Start with your husband instead.

A wife is still an outsider in her husband’s family. There are things she cannot say and actions she cannot take.

But a husband is different.

That’s why the man you marry matters more than anything.

If he has a backbone and truly cares for you, your days will be much easier.

If he neglects you or lacks the courage to stand by your side, leaving you to bear every grievance alone... life becomes unbearable.

When she was younger, Elysia had listened without truly understanding.

Only after marrying into the Crown Prince’s Wing and enduring years of loneliness had she realized how true those words were.

Fortunately...

This life was different.

She was now the Duchess of Draevenor.

Before long, breakfast arrived from the kitchen.

Elysia rose and carried it toward the bedchamber.

Since Cassiel was still asleep, the windows remained shuttered, leaving the room dim and quiet.

She approached the bed softly, not wishing to wake him abruptly.

Taking a slow breath, she reached for the bed curtains.

The instant her fingertips brushed the fabric—

A powerful hand shot out and seized her wrist.

Before she could react, the world spun.

She was pulled forward and thrown onto the bed.

The next instant, a broad hand closed around her throat.

Elysia froze.

Above her hovered Cassiel’s handsome face, cold and utterly expressionless.

His dark eyes carried none of their usual warmth.

Only the instinctive vigilance of a seasoned warrior.

She felt the fingers around her neck tighten slightly.

"My lord... it’s me."

Her frightened voice finally reached him.

Cassiel’s gaze sharpened as though coming awake.

His eyes focused on her face.

Only then did he realize who lay beneath him.

The icy killing intent faded instantly.

He slowly loosened his grip.

"I didn’t know it was you."

His voice was rough with sleep.

Years of war...

Years of assassins lurking in the darkness...

His body had long since learned to react before his mind awoke.

That instinct had saved his life countless times.

Although he released her throat, his hand remained lightly against the delicate skin of her neck.

It was astonishingly soft beneath his fingertips.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked quietly.

His gentle tone made Elysia’s cheeks warm once again.

She shook her head.

"You didn’t use much strength. It doesn’t hurt."

Cassiel gave a quiet hum.

His thumb brushed lightly across the side of her neck before he finally withdrew his hand.

"Why did you come in?"

"I was hungry," Elysia answered softly. "So I asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I wanted to ask if you’d join me. It looked rather good. And there was too much for one person. I didn’t want it to go to waste."

Cassiel raised an eyebrow.

"Compared to your cooking?"

Her voice became almost a whisper.

"Probably not... If you’d rather eat something I make, I can prepare it now."

Cassiel shook his head.

"No need. The kitchen’s food is perfectly fine."

Seeing that he still looked slightly drowsy, guilt tugged at Elysia’s heart.

She had woken him.

Quietly, she fetched his clothes before helping him from the bed into his wheelchair.

Cassiel watched her every movement thoughtfully.

After a while, Elysia noticed his gaze.

"W-what is it?"

A faint smile curved his lips.

"I didn’t think much of it before. But now that you’re taking such good care of me..."

"I’m beginning to wonder if you have an ulterior motive."

Elysia’s heart skipped a beat.

Still, she feigned annoyance and shot him an indignant look.

"My lord misunderstands me again."

She met his eyes.

"Weren’t you the one who said I should get used to your presence?"

Cassiel regarded her steadily.

"I wouldn’t mind..."

"...if your ulterior motive concerned me."

Elysia blinked.

He wouldn’t mind?

What exactly did he mean by that?

Before she could think it through, Cassiel had already turned his wheelchair toward the dining table.

Seeing that he had no intention of explaining further, Elysia wisely let the matter drop.

Breakfast had been laid out while it was still piping hot.

Remembering their conversation that morning, Elysia remained attentive—but not overly so.

She served food onto his plate naturally without fussing over every little thing.

The atmosphere between them was unexpectedly comfortable.

After they had eaten for a short while, Clara entered.

"Your Grace, the tea and pastries have been delivered to the reception hall."

Elysia had just taken a bite of a savoury meat pie and couldn’t answer immediately.

Cassiel looked up.

"Tea and pastries? Delivered to whom?"

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!