Provoking a Graceful Bloom

The first time Selena Campbell saw Freya Talmar was the very moment the latter tried to assassinate Frederick Lancaster, Selena's fiancé.

Though Freya was quickly captured after her failed attempt, Frederick did not punish her. Instead, he found something unusual in the ragged, fierce young woman.

"Are you really Henry Talmar's daughter?" Frederick asked, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the disheveled girl before him. "Lift your head so I can see you."

Frederick was a prince and Warbringer of Aurensia, a man whom every soldier obeyed without question.

But in the face of his anger, Freya stood proud and unyielding. "Kill me if you will. If I so much as frown, I have no right to call myself the daughter of the Desert Hawk."

Her spirit was unbreakable, her pride fierce. That image was etched deeply into Frederick's mind.

He grabbed her chin and lifted her grimy face. "To dare speak so boldly before me means you truly are unafraid of death."

"Let me go!" Freya snapped, struggling but unable to break free. "You scum! If you have the guts, then kill me!"

Frederick did not take offense.

Instead, his thin lips curved into a faint smile. "You are the first woman brave enough to curse me. How interesting."

Selena felt her heart tighten for reasons she could not explain.

The exchange between Frederick and Freya made her feel like nothing more than a background character in their story. And as time went on, Frederick's actions only made it clearer that Selena had become entangled in the twisted bond between the other two, a pawn in a game of love and war.

To force Freya to reveal Henry's remaining allies, Frederick imprisoned and interrogated her himself.

Frederick had defeated Henry's forces and was commanding the army's reorganization before they returned victoriously to the capital. Selena, the strategist, found herself with little to do after the battle. Her days passed quietly, spent reading or sewing.

Selena and Frederick's wedding was set for the first day of the next month. It was a match arranged long ago by her late parents. From the time they were children, she and Frederick had been the perfect pair — the golden boy and the darling girl, a match of charm and beauty that everyone envied.

Selena looked forward to the wedding with great anticipation. She even planned to sew her own wedding gown by hand.

However, Frederick seemed quite busy lately. At first, he came home every day to dine with her. But soon enough, entire days passed without a glimpse of him.

Rumor had it that he was still rooting out Henry's remaining allies. Each day, he rode across the desert with Freya, pressing her to reveal where the remnants of the enemy forces hid. People said that Freya was fierce-tempered and had faced death without fear in the beginning.

"If she was so fearless, why did she end up betraying her family's allies?" Selena asked casually while her maid, Sally Mauve, was gossiping nearby.

"It's said His Highness finally convinced her. He made her see that those men were cruel to the border townsfolk. They're not exactly heroes, so she chose honor over blood," Sally replied.

Selena slowed her sewing for a moment but quickly resumed. "So, Freya earned herself some credit then?"

Sally snorted. "Her father was a notorious bandit. No matter what she does, it won't wipe that away. Still, His Highness is a man of great reputation. He wouldn't punish a young woman like her. Since she cooperated, he likely spared her the law's wrath."

Selena said nothing.

Sally was never one to keep quiet and soon began complaining again. "But that woman has such a terrible temper. Can you believe she actually tore up His Highness' most prized military book?"

"Oh?" Selena raised an eyebrow. "And His Highness didn't get angry?"

"At first, of course he was furious. He had her imprisoned, but somehow let her go again. And after that, guess what? Ms. Talmar grew even more reckless. She even wounded one of the soldiers sent to capture her father."

Selena's face darkened, her expression serious. "How did His Highness deal with her?"

At her young age, Freya could get away with minor mischief. But to injure a soldier? That was a grave offense!

Sally huffed. "His Highness said she was still shaken and upset from losing her family. So, he only gave her a few light strikes on the hand before sending her off to rest."

A flicker of unease passed through Selena's mind. The general who had led the troops against Henry was none other than her brother, Sebastian Campbell. Before she could say anything, urgent knocking came at the door.

"Lady Campbell! It's bad news! General Campbell has been hurt!"