All Chapters of Provoking a Graceful Bloom: Chapter 261 - Chapter 270

"Freya has been subjected to a cruel punishment; I doubt she finds life worth living now. That said, keeping her locked up serves no purpose. Send her to a cleaning house instead," Selena said firmly.Andrew chuckled softly. "You truly have a kind heart, Lady Campbell. No wonder His Majesty admires both you and General Campbell so much. Ah, and there is a message he wished me to convey to you."Selena inclined her head politely. "Please do tell, Mr. Smith."He paused for a moment, then continued, "His Majesty says that you're not only wise and courageous, but also skilled in every manner of martial arts. He is greatly pleased. So long as you and General Campbell serve the kingdom faithfully, His Majesty will ensure the Duke of Blackmoor's household continues in honor and renown."Selena lowered her head respectfully. "I am most grateful for His Majesty's generous praise." Rising to her full height, she smiled warmly at Andrew. "And my thanks to you as well, Mr. Smith.""You're too

William went to see Ian, the Dragon Sentinels' civil officer in charge of records and correspondence, who relayed Frederick's request to Selena.By the time she arranged her affairs and arrived at Hawthorne Estate under the pretext of official business, two days had passed. In that time, Frederick's physical wounds had somewhat improved, but his mood remained bleak. Now, his face was pale, and his entire demeanor seemed devoid of life."Is there a reason you've sought me out, Your Highness? The Dragon Sentinels are tasked with ensuring the safety of the royal family. Has something happened? Has there been an attempt on your life?" Selena asked.She stood several paces away from the man seated on the bed, her expression unreadable. It had only been a week or so since they last met at the Autumn Hunt, yet Frederick looked like a different person altogether. The proud, spirited man from before was gone, and what remained was a pale, weary shadow of him."Lena...""You haven't answere

"No. Lena never intended to harm me," Frederick said, refusing to believe otherwise.Selena had denied it, but he knew the truth. She had crossed half the kingdom alone, risking her life to save him. The heavens knew how his heart had surged when he first saw her that day, back when he thought himself already beyond salvation.The sight of her, standing there against all odds, had moved him more than words could say.Compared to Freya, who had never once cared whether he lived or died, Selena had seemed almost divine, like a vision sent from the heavens. He hated himself for not cherishing her when he had the chance. He hated himself bitterly!"Lena and General Campbell have always been loyal to me. When have they ever plotted against me? Mother, I know you were the one who ordered people to spread those vile rumors about Lena and me. Did you truly think me a fool, that I would never see through it?" he said.In his fury, perhaps he had once been blind. But after all that passed,

"Shut up! Shut your mouth!" Freya screamed, tears streaming down her face.She scrambled off the bed and lunged forward, trying to rip Hannah's mouth apart. The elderly woman lifted her leg and kicked her squarely in the stomach.Pain exploded through her body. Freya crumpled to the floor, gasping, unable even to move. When she faced the royal mutilation punishment, her stomach had been horribly beaten and was now a weak point.She had barely survived the torture. The most terrifying part wasn't the beating. It was how those venomous matrons in the palace had sewn her shut, stripping her of the very essence of womanhood. In that moment, she knew with painful clarity that she had truly become a living, breathing monster.Her body was weak, her strength all but gone, and her mind and spirit were in tatters. Were it not for the stubborn hope that she could turn her life around after seeing Frederick, she wouldn't have had the will to go on living.No matter how hard she tried, Freya

As Selena hadn't come to Obsidian Estate for three days, a certain Demon Lord had grown increasingly irritable, especially when he heard she'd gone to Hawthorne Estate.Did she still have feelings for Frederick? Had she decided she didn't want Nathaniel anymore? The thought alone made his blood boil. He was this close to killing someone!"Your Highness, there's a young lady asking to see you," a guard reported."Quick, send her in!"He immediately changed into a fresh set of clothes, which were white in color. A few days ago, Selena had mentioned that he always wore dark colors, which made him look a bit intimidating. So, today, he chose a white outfit. He thought he looked surprisingly good.But as he stepped out, Nathaniel frowned.A young lady asking to see him? If it were Selena, the guard would have announced that Lady Campbell was here. Feeling a twinge of disappointment, he turned back toward his study to look over some letters.But then, he hesitated. What if it was Sele