Lahat ng Kabanata ng Provoking a Graceful Bloom: Kabanata 351 - Kabanata 360

"The poison has been mostly purged, that much is true. But the potent venom once spread through his internal organs. No man recovers his strength easily after that," Selena explained.Knowing how weakened he still was, to send Nathaniel into danger now felt nothing short of reckless. Did Wilfred not consider that his son might not be able to withstand it? Why was he so suspicious of Isolde's family?"If you're that worried, I can take a team to assist him," Sebastian offered, having always held the prince in high regard.After all that had transpired, even Sebastian could not deny that Nathaniel would be the perfect match for Selena. In all likelihood, the two were meant to be together. And even if fate did not unite them, Nathaniel had already claimed a significant place in Selena's heart.To Sebastian and his aunts, the prince had become something like a future son-in-law of the Duke of Blackmoor's family."The palace has only just survived a catastrophe. No one knows whether an

"I thought you might resent Seb for keeping everything from me. It seems you care for him even more than I imagined," Selena said with a small laugh, giving her maid a teasing glance.Sally's cheeks flushed at once. "My lady, what are you saying! He is the young lord of the household, so of course I treat him well. I treat you even better!" She glared in flustered protest. "Please don't speak nonsense. We must first tend to whatever trouble Lord Sebastian is facing.""What could I possibly do?" Selena continued arranging the tableware. "His Majesty's words are as good as law. You and I can't pry. Do you wish to lose your head?"Sally understood well enough. Anything spoken by Wilfred was a royal edict, not to be repeated lightly.Even so, Sebastian had always confided in his sister. This time, he had returned with such a troubled expression and refused to say a single thing. The silence weighed uneasily on Sally's heart.Before long, Sebastian appeared with Lilia at his side. Seei

Last night, Lilia had drifted between sleep and wakefulness, trapped in a roaring inferno. The flames pressed around her, choking her with smoke. She struggled to escape, but her limbs refused to obey her commands.At last, she collapsed to the ground, the fire inching ever closer. She knew she was about to be consumed. In that moment, she felt nothing but despair. She truly believed she would die there. But just when she had accepted her fate, someone burst through the flames and swept her into his arms.The blaze surged toward them, but he wrapped his tall, solid frame around her, shielding her from every danger the flames could bring. She tried to lift her head to see the face of her rescuer, but the smoke blurred everything into darkness. She could only curl against him, listening to the steady, powerful rhythm of his heart.She knew then that it was Sebastian.The very man she had once tormented and even injured, yet he had always treated her with gentle courtesy. Not out of r

Selena stared at her, momentarily taken aback.But Sally's smile was gentle, almost serene, as she said, "Of course, given my status, it would be impossible for me to marry Lord Sebastian. I am just a maid."Selena opened her mouth to protest that Sally was part of the family, not just a maid. But she realized there was no need to say it. Sally understood that, and was talking about the opinions of the outside world.Sally's smile softened further. "Lord Sebastian is a good man. As Princess Lilia said, marrying a good man brings happiness. If I were to become his concubine, I would be happy as well."At first, that was truly my intention. I… I would use my body to help Lord Sebastian practice. You said he would gradually recover with the medicine, but without someone by his side, you could never know how fully he'd heal. Any delay in that could hinder his treatment.""You would sacrifice yourself for him?" Selena asked, her voice heavy with conflicted emotion.What a sacrifice! A

Alone, with no one by her side, Selena left the capital under the cover of night.Sebastian couldn't stop her, nor could he follow. Wilfred's summons awaited him tomorrow, specifically to prevent any involvement in this matter. However, the king probably had not yet received news of the Obsidian Monarch's predicament. What he might decide upon learning it remained unknown.Still, Sebastian knew he must appear before Wilfred, or the Duke of Blackmoor's household could face dire consequences. Resigned, he could do nothing but seek assistance elsewhere.Selena rode through the night without pause, traveling relentlessly for two days and nights. At last, she reached Hartshire. The scouts the Duke of Blackmoor's household had stationed there reported to her as soon as she arrived.The Obsidian Monarch's contingent of one hundred men had vanished. Not only could their own people not locate them, but it seemed the missing unit was searching for something as well."Why only a hundred? Was