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Home / Romance / Provoking a Graceful Bloom / Chapter 281 - Chapter 290

All Chapters of Provoking a Graceful Bloom: Chapter 281 - Chapter 290

366 Chapters

Chapter 281

No one spoke. Even Adelaide and Wilfred remained silent, their expressions grave.Selena's fingers trembled, and her eyes prickled. She couldn't name the storm of emotions swirling within her. All she knew was that her chest ached as though something had tugged violently at it.Nathaniel stepped forward and whispered, "Lena, you truly said it. You promised you'd marry me when you grew up. I've held onto that promise for nine long years. I never imagined that Frederick would deceive you and claim he was the one who saved you. While I was away at battle, he took the chance to come between us and steal your love.""Nate!" Wilfred called out, his face darkening slightly as he raised a hand in gentle protest.They were brothers, after all; such words would hurt their relationship.But Nathaniel's revelation had already reached every ear in the room. Though no one dared speak aloud, they had already passed judgment on Frederick in their hearts. He had stolen another man's glory, claimin

Chapter 282

"Lena, none of this is your fault. You didn't know anything back then. You were innocent."Sebastian only meant to comfort his sister, but he was not a man of many words. The more he spoke, the darker Selena's expression grew."Lena, I don't wish to force you. Your path is yours to choose, and whatever you decide, I will always stand by your side and support you.""I'm fine." Selena finally looked up and offered him a faint, composed smile. "We will be escorting the Dawnmere contingent out of the city tomorrow, so you should rest early. I'm tired and wish to sleep.""Lena—""I am truly weary."Sebastian could only sigh. After escorting her to the gates of Moonview Pavilion, he turned around and left her to her own thoughts. Selena dismissed even Sally before retreating to her room. After bathing and changing, she opened the window to let the night air in.The figure outside was still cold and distant, but Selena saw a strange hint of loneliness in it tonight."Do you wish to sp

Chapter 283

"So, you had already decided all along. No matter who came to propose, you would insist to my father that you must go to Southern Mundra and recover your parents' remains first before considering marriage." Nathaniel said, his expression darkening for a moment.Going to Southern Mundra was not going to be easy, and retrieving the remains of the Marquis of Whitgrave and his wife, along with Selena's uncles, was an even greater challenge. Even if there was a chance to reclaim Southern Mundra, those who had perished had been dead for years. Where would their remains even be found?It was a pursuit that could take five or ten years, or perhaps a lifetime. Since most couldn't wait that long, Selena had no reason to fear anyone's proposal."Lena, do you truly intend never to marry?" he asked."Yes." Selena nodded firmly, without a hint of evasion. "After what happened with Prince Frederick, I have grown weary of matters of love."Nathaniel said nothing.Selena studied him closely. "The

Chapter 284

Nathaniel said nothing, merely watching Selena in silence. His gaze was dark and unfathomable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.She said nothing, not wishing to disturb him. She knew he was feeling wronged again.Nine years... all because of her mistake. Nine long years he had endured, fueled by a mistake she made. If only she had never said that she would marry him when she grew up. Would he have carried such an obsession if she hadn't?Yet a flicker of doubt lingered in her heart."I remember... that fire was so terrible. I was certain I would die in the flames. I barely knew you then. Why did you risk yourself to save me?" she asked.It wasn't that she doubted his words. It was simply that saving her hardly seemed worth the effort. He was a prince, noble and untouchable, while she was merely the daughter of a subject.Unexpectedly, Nathaniel let out a quiet, soft laugh.Selena frowned. "What's so amusing?"He said nothing, only set his empty cup down on the table beside hi

Chapter 285

That night, Selena dreamed a long, vivid dream.In it, she was still a child, just over one year old, toddling along clumsily and unsteadily. She kept moving forward until she accidentally stumbled straight into a small, welcoming embrace. The boy holding her looked to be about seven or eight, a young lad of strikingly graceful and charming features.The moment little Selena saw his face, she was captivated. As he lifted her into his arms, she found herself cupping his face and pressing her lips to his in an innocent, joyous kiss. The boy froze, staring at her in astonishment.But little Selena's eyes sparkled with delight, her smile wide and bright. "When I grow up, I will marry you!""Lena, will you really marry me?" the young boy asked. His voice, though once high and innocent, had somehow grown deep and magnetic.Unable to resist, she pressed another chaste kiss to his face. But when she looked up afterward, the boy had grown into a man. He was now tall and impossibly handsome

Chapter 286

Hearing that Dawnmere's contingent had been ambushed, and their condition remained uncertain, Selena and Sebastian hastened to the palace without delay.The Dawnmere contingent was quartered within the palace itself at Concord Palace, near the main gate, where the guards were formidable and the security thorough. Yet, they had fallen prey to an ambush!By the time Selena and Sebastian arrived, Concord Palace was already engulfed in flames. Soldiers and attendants hurried to contain the fire, but the inferno raged with alarming intensity.As the siblings quickened their pace, Selena called out with urgency, "What's the situation?"Nathaniel had clearly just arrived himself. He immediately ordered all eighteen men of the Yelwyn Cavalry to assist with the fire, with even Liam and Cloud joining the frantic effort."I heard a series of explosions, and then the flames spread beyond control," Nathaniel replied.His gaze suddenly fell upon someone amidst the chaos. Moving quickly, he rea

Chapter 287

A scar! On Nathaniel's arm, a clear burn mark was visible.A sharp ache pricked at Selena's heart. She had never been prone to tears, yet her chest tightened so painfully that she almost wept right then. The memories she had lost were slowly returning, piece by piece.Now, she could clearly see the boy's face amidst the flames. A face, darkened by smoke and fire, yet still elegant and striking.It was him. It was truly him!Her mind unearthed the memories, tender and vivid. He had held her in his arms, coaxing her to take her medicine, bit by bit. He had whispered soothing words, saying he would drink what she left and suffer alongside her.Her leftover medicine had been bitter and coarse, yet he kept his promise, swallowing every last drop despite it being far more difficult to endure than her own portion. He had done it gladly, simply because she had finished hers.Though she had lived each day in a haze, she knew he was often absent. When he was gone, she was consumed by fear

Chapter 288

Sebastian finally managed to pull Lilia from the flames, but she had already fallen into a deep coma by then. The royal physicians were at a loss. In the end, it was Selena who pricked the princess with needles to draw out the poisoned blood, using her own unique technique to restore Lilia's breathing."She was drugged, and the smoke exposure was severe. That she survived at all is a miracle. As for any lingering effects, we won't know until she awakens," Selena said."Lingering effects?" Elias, who was now conscious, looked anxious. "Lady Campbell, what do you mean?"The royal physicians lowered their heads, unwilling to answer.Selena sighed. "While in a semi-conscious state, the princess was driven by sheer will to survive and tried to escape. Unfortunately, a fallen beam struck her head quite severely."The head was a complicated part of the human body. Injuries that appeared similar could lead to vastly different consequences. Until Lilia woke up, everything remained uncertai

Chapter 289

Elias had been drugged, and so had Lilia. As the first to discover this, Selena was soon summoned to the royal study for questioning. Inside, only her, Sebastian, Wilfred, Andrew, and Nathaniel—who had arrived earlier to aid in the rescue—were present. No one else.With the Dawnmerian contingent absent, the matter could be discussed openly."When I checked Prince Elias and Princess Lilia's vitals, I found that they had already been poisoned before the smoke reached them. It's a substance that clouds the mind and induces a deep, unrelenting sleep," Selena explained."You understand medicine?" Wilfred asked, surprise flickering across his face."Yes, Your Majesty. I studied under a master at the Southern Frontier. I would not claim my skill is unparalleled, but it is certainly on par with many of the royal physicians," she replied.Wilfred glanced at Andrew, who smiled. "Perhaps you might check my vitals to demonstrate, Lady Campbell?"When a person was overcome by thick smoke, the

Chapter 290

"Lena, taking on this matter yourself is hardly wise. This concerns the relations between two kingdoms. If you fail to unmask the true culprit, His Majesty may well make you the scapegoat and cast you out," said Sebastian.Those who were capable bore the heaviest burdens. By showing such initiative in front of Wilfred, Selena could only expect more responsibility in the future. Yet, she was still a young woman. In Sebastian's eyes, a young lady carrying so great a weight could never live happily."Seb, you're the commander of the Dragon Sentinels. Even if I don't shoulder this, much of it will inevitably fall to you," Selena said.She stepped carefully across the rubble, each footfall measured and deliberate, as though even the slightest misstep might cause her to miss a vital clue.Her voice calm but firm, she continued, "Seb, in His Majesty's eyes, there is a world of difference between taking responsibility willingly and having it thrust upon you. Voluntarily, it shows loyalty.

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