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Chapter 9

Author: Laughing Riot
"You're still angry about that? It's such a trivial thing, and you're holding onto it even now?" Frederick asked, clearly disappointed in Selena.

"Do you truly think ruining my brother's life is trivial?" she replied, just as deeply disappointed in him.

The Frederick she once knew, a man who was fair and impartial, had long since vanished.

Selena continued, "If you think it's so trivial, then maybe she should stab you next time. Let's see how you feel then."

The image made Frederick's stomach tighten.

Suddenly, a wave of helplessness washed over him, making him say, "Forget it, Lena. You stabbed her too. Do you know how badly she's hurt? Not just physically, but her pride as well. That wound makes her feel like she's no longer a perfect lady."

"Since when was she ever perfect?" Selena countered.

"Lena!" Frederick's tone sharpened. "I don't want to argue with you. Let's leave the past where it belongs. As for you and General Campbell deserting the army..."

Selena cut in, "I sent someone to deliver a message to the king and begged for permission to escort my brother back to the capital for treatment. His Majesty agreed. I received a verbal edict that allowed us to leave at any time."

Her calm gaze rested on the prince's suddenly flushed face, her expression unreadable. "If you don't believe me, you can go to the palace and ask His Majesty yourself."

Frederick stared at her. He hadn't expected her to have taken so many steps behind his back.

He was still a little upset. But when he caught sight of the wooden box in her hands, the anger in his chest quietly faded. Bringing a gift clearly indicated that she intended to make peace, and he wasn't so petty as to turn her away.

Besides, he had come with another purpose today.

"All right, let's forget the past. In ten days, we will be married. I've come to say something to you."

Selena said nothing, simply listening quietly.

Frederick hesitated. Such things were never easy to say. But with the wedding coming up soon, what he wanted to convey couldn't be delayed any longer.

"Lena, I... didn't think I needed to discuss this with you. But since we have known each other for so long, I hope we can live in peace going forward, without..."

"Do you intend to marry Freya, Your Highness?"

Selena's slender fingers traced the wooden box as she spoke, her calm manner unreadable. A faint, mocking smile played on her lips.

"Half a month ago, you said you would soon forget her, didn't you?"

Frederick turned his face away, avoiding her gaze. Her smile made him uncomfortable.

"Lena, I've known you for many years, and have always respected you. But before... Before I truly understood what love between a man and a woman meant, I thought what we had was passion—until I met Fey," he explained, now using an affectionate nickname for Freya.

He sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice as he continued, "Lena, I'm sorry. My heart belongs to Fey. She is the only woman I have ever truly desired."

"Your parents would never approve of you marrying the daughter of a traitor—"

"That is the fault of her father and brothers, not hers," Frederick cut in immediately.

"Since you've made up your mind, go beg the king for permission to marry her. Why come to me?"

Selena was well aware of the difficulty he faced. With Freya's background, getting permission to marry her wouldn't be easy.

Frederick's hand clenched slightly as he pondered his next words. After a long moment, he looked up at Selena, who was calmly drinking her tea, looking completely at ease. That only made his awkwardness stand out even more.

Finally, he said in a low voice, "Lena, I initially intended to marry only Fey. But you and I have known each other for so many years. I don't want my breaking off our engagement to leave you with nothing."

Selena raised an eyebrow, her perfect face unreadable. "So?"

"So, I won't break our engagement. We'll marry as planned, and you'll become my princess consort. However, I have two conditions."

His lips pressed together, betraying his struggle. Then, he forced himself to say, "First, you must go to the king. Ask him to grant me permission to take Fey as my secondary wife, and for the two of us to be wed on the same day as our wedding."
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  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 164

    "I won't go!" Freya exclaimed, instinctively retreating.Behind her was Frederick, laying on the stretcher.She hurried to his side, grasping his hand. "Fred, you wouldn't believe me when I told you that Selena wanted to get rid of me! Do you believe me now?""Someone must lead the way," Selena said, her gaze on Frederick.Though he was weak, half asleep, and dazed from the journey, she knew he was aware."If your prince were uninjured, he would go himself. As his woman, you should act as he would. Otherwise, you have no right to stand beside him," she added.Freya's cheeks flamed. She bristled with indignation, yet part of her truly feared that Selena would push her forward. Frederick's face was flushed as well, though whether from embarrassment or something else, no one could tell.When he tried to rise, William looked terrified and immediately urged, "Your Highness, you're still wounded! Don't strain yourself. I'll go in your stead."But before William even finished speaking

  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 163

    When the stretcher was ready, William and another soldier carefully lifted Frederick onto it. He roused faintly, the pain of his wounds sharp and unrelenting, his body wracked with fever.As Selena led the way, the men followed close behind. Though Freya stayed by Frederick's side, her hand never leaving his, he gave no response. Too weak to resist, he let her hold it as she pleased."Clinging to him like that here, does she fear the world might not know they're a couple?" Sally muttered under her breath, casting them a disdainful glance."Keep your attention on the way ahead," Selena instructed cooly.Seeing how indifferent her mistress was, Sally decided to follow suit. After all, if Frederick was a man Selena didn't want, whether he and Freya held hands or embraced in public mattered little.After quite some time of walking, there was still only jagged stone all around them, with no sign of escape.At last, Freya could no longer contain herself and exclaimed, "Selena, do you e

  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 162

    When Frederick sealed Freya's acupoint earlier, he had already been gravely wounded. With his strength and inner energy waning, the strike had lacked its usual power.No sooner had William asked his question than the hold upon Freya loosened, and she sprang up as if roused from a dream."What business have you here? You know nothing of fighting! You can't save the men, and you only bring them false hope before plunging them back into despair. That is worse than killing them!" she yelled furiously.Selena glanced at her calmly, then turned her gaze to the pale horizon. A faint wash of dawn was already brightening the east.She faced the men again and said, "My power is limited. I can't tend to every wounded man, and must do my utmost to save Prince Frederick. I'm sure everyone is aware that if His Highness dies, none of us may hope to survive."Her voice was low, yet in the hush that had fallen around them, every man heard it. The truth of it stung, but none could deny it. The prin

  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 161

    "It's truly her!""Lady Campbell has come!"The soldiers' cries, urgent appeals at first, erupted into excited cheers."Your Highness! Mr. Klein! Lady Campbell has truly come!"A sharp tension gripped Frederick's heart. He couldn't tell whether it was excitement or sheer emotion, and once again, streaks of blood ran from the corners of his lips.Wiping his eyes, William sprang to his feet and watched as something white moved through the men, parting the crowd with quick, purposeful strides. For a dizzy instant, he feared his eyes deceived him. But when he saw that figure approach, he felt the urge to weep."Lady Campbell, s-save our prince, please. Lady Campbell..."Selena had truly come.Knowing that Frederick had been gravely wounded, she quickened her pace immediately. It wasn't until she knelt beside the prince, until William's hand could actually brush against her hair, that he allowed himself to believe she had truly come."Lady Campbell, save His Highness. He has bled s

  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 160

    William looked at Frederick, a mist of unshed tears clouding his eyes. Just then, the prince slowly opened his own eyes. For a heartbeat, clarity returned to him."Pull it out," he murmured, his gaze fixed on William.This was the companion who had been at his side for more than ten years, and Frederick knew the panic and fear in his eyes were real."Do it. Whatever follows... you're absolved of guilt," he said, his voice hoarse, but steady."Your Highness..." William's voice broke. "We have no salves for a wound like this, and I won't be able to staunch the blood flow."He felt utterly useless. He had served Fredrick for more than a decade, yet at the moment of the prince's greatest need, he could not help in the slightest. He deserved death for this!Frederick coughed, the taste of blood filling his mouth.Freya's tears spilled over. "Do it quickly! Fred can't wait. If anything happens to him, I will see you dead!""Be... silent," Frederick rasped."Fred—" she began."Begon

  • Provoking a Graceful Bloom   Chapter 159

    Night had fallen.Around them lay a silence so deep it seemed the world itself had ceased to breathe. The men, scattered through the stone forest, sank wearily upon the rocks wherever they could find space. Hunger and exhaustion gnawed at them, and despair lingered like a shroud.Her stomach growling with hunger, Freya had already approached Frederick twice, hoping for a morsel to eat. Under William's furious gaze, the prince handed her the last piece of bread he had."That was kept for you, Your Highness!" William burst out, anger flashing in his eyes.He himself had not touched so much as a crumb."I… I only mean to eat a little. I shall leave some for Fred," Freya whispered, but her hands trembled.She was ravenous. These past days without sustenance had left her desperate, and only someone who had truly endured such hunger could understand its ache. If this continued, she would eat even grass without hesitation!She devoured more than half the bread in moments, leaving only

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