Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Courtyard Remodel

Only then did Cassiel turn his attention to Lillian.

She stood with her head lowered, her face pale with shame and lingering fear.

When he addressed her, however, his tone was noticeably gentler.

"Discuss your thoughts with Elysia. She is kind-hearted and will find you a suitable husband."

Lillian nodded timidly.

"Yes, Your Grace."

Elysia smiled reassuringly at her.

"Go back with your mother for now. I’ll look into the eligible young men in the capital and arrange for you to meet them."

Relief flooded Lillian’s face.

"Thank you, Your Grace."

She curtsied before quietly following Melissa out of the room.

As Elysia wheeled Cassiel back toward their courtyard, she still found the entire scene difficult to believe.

Even Melissa’s tearful pleas had failed to sway him.

He had stood firmly on her side without hesitation.

Perhaps...

Melissa’s years of unreasonable behaviour had finally exhausted even his patience.

After a long silence, Cassiel spoke.

"The day after tomorrow is Uncle’s memorial."

Elysia lowered her gaze to him.

From where she stood behind his wheelchair, she could only see the sharp line of his profile, the bridge of his nose, and his long lashes.

She couldn’t see his expression.

But she could hear the heaviness in his voice.

After a moment’s thought, she asked gently,

"Would you like me to accompany you to pay my respects?"

Cassiel gave a quiet nod.

"Yes."

For some reason, Elysia felt his mood lighten ever so slightly.

After returning to the main courtyard, she asked, "My lord, would you like to rest a little longer?"

Cassiel shook his head.

"If I sleep now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight."

Elysia nodded.

"Then I’ll go review the household accounts."

Cassiel suddenly remembered the stack of books he had brought back from the palace.

Most notably...

Legends of Cassiopeia.

He had only read half of it.

"Very well."

As Elysia turned to wheel him toward the study, Cassiel asked casually, "Where do you usually review the household accounts?"

"In the room beside our bedchamber," she replied naturally.

Although the main courtyard was spacious, it contained only one proper study.

Cassiel’s study.

Growing up in a military family, Elysia knew that a duke’s study contained confidential documents, military maps, and official correspondence.

She had no wish to enter it casually.

If anything important were misplaced...

She would inevitably become the first person suspected.

As a child, she had wandered freely through her father’s and brothers’ studies at Hartwell Manor.

No one had ever questioned her.

But things had been very different in her previous life.

She had entered Vaelen’s study only twice.

The second time, an important military dispatch went missing.

Without hesitation, Vaelen had suspected her.

She had been punished despite having done nothing wrong.

From that day onward...

She had learned to stay away from places she wasn’t explicitly invited into.

The small room beside their bedchamber was enough for reviewing ledgers.

She had never felt the need for more.

Cassiel frowned slightly.

"That courtyard was never properly arranged."

Truthfully...

Before falling into his long coma, he had never imagined Elysia would become his wife.

Back then, nearly everyone in the capital believed she would one day marry Vaelen.

Even Cassiel himself had accepted that fate before departing for the battlefield.

He had never expected to awaken and find her waiting for him as the Duchess of Draevenor.

After considering the matter for a moment, he made his decision.

"This afternoon, I’ll have that room properly furnished."

Elysia looked at him in surprise.

"It already has a table and bookshelves. It’s perfectly adequate."

Cassiel shook his head.

"It isn’t. I know that room. The table is too low. You have to sit on the floor while reviewing the ledgers. That isn’t comfortable. The bookshelves are also too small. We’ll replace them as well."

Seeing that he had already made up his mind, Elysia smiled helplessly.

"Very well."

After a brief pause, Cassiel asked,

"Is there anything else that needs changing?"

Elysia thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"Nothing comes to mind."

Cassiel, however, continued thinking aloud.

"You don’t have a proper dressing room. Nor a wardrobe chamber."

"And this courtyard lacks a separate preparation kitchen."

Listening to him, Elysia suddenly remembered a scene from Legends of Cassiopeia.

After Veron and Cassiopeia married, they had spent days planning and decorating their new home together.

When she had written that Chapter, she had believed it to be one of the sweetest moments between husband and wife.

Building a home together.

Unfortunately...

In her previous life, she and Vaelen had never shared anything remotely like that.

Ironically she was experiencing it now with Cassiel instead.

Sometimes...

Fate truly enjoyed playing tricks on people.

Cassiel looked around thoughtfully.

"Don’t you think this courtyard feels rather empty? There are only a few trees but no flowers. What flowers do you like? I’ll have some planted."

Elysia looked embarrassed.

"I... don’t really know much about flowers."

Cassiel nodded.

"Then perhaps trees?"

Her face grew even warmer.

"I don’t know much about trees either."

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Elysia ventured timidly,

"Maybe... We could plant vegetables instead?"

Cassiel blinked.

Seeing his expression, Elysia’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Cassiel couldn’t help laughing softly.

"Very well. We’ll plant vegetables."

Once he made up his mind, he wasted no time.

That very afternoon, servants were dispatched throughout the capital to purchase furniture, shelves, cabinets, and everything else needed to renovate the courtyard.

Naturally...

Such unusual activity within Draevenor Manor did not escape the attention of the palace spies.

Before long news of the extensive renovations reached the imperial palace.

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