Provoking a Graceful Bloom의 모든 챕터: 챕터 51 - 챕터 60

"Ah—"Emily's scream barely escaped her lips when another heavy blow landed across her back. Stars exploded behind her eyes, the pain robbing her of her voice. She nearly fainted, her eyes rolling back in shock.The sudden violence stunned everyone nearby into silence. They stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless.Just as the third blow was about to land, Emily's daughter, Lily Campbell, snapped out of her daze and screamed, "They're killing her! The Duke of Blackmoor's household is murdering someone!"Emily's husband, Ivan Campbell, rushed forward. He was the eldest son of the Earl of Greymoor, making him Selena's first cousin once removed.He grabbed Yuvan's wooden staff and growled, "You scoundrel! How dare you strike my wife!"Before anyone could stop him, he raised his hand to strike.Yuvan didn't flinch. When he raised the staff to hit Emily, he knew he couldn't avoid the consequences. After all, a servant striking a lady of a neighboring household—even if that household wa

Once, Selena had been the noble daughter of the Duke of Blackmoor's household. Who would've dared lay a finger on her?But now, Gideon was gravely ill and bedridden, while her parents were long gone. The only person she could rely on was her brother, who was now nothing more than a broken man, unlikely to ever rise to greatness.And most importantly, she'd once been engaged to Frederick. Believing she would become his esteemed princess consort, everyone had scrambled to curry favor with her. But after that disastrous palace banquet a few days ago, everything had changed. Everyone now knew Frederick had found someone new, and that Selena had been cast aside.So now, even people from the Earl of Greymoor's household dared to come and insult her."My lady, watch out!"Emily's hand was already mid-swing, about to strike Selena across the face, when Yuvan quickly lunged forward. He didn't dare retaliate against Emily, so the slap landed squarely on him instead.A loud smack echoed thr

Selena paused and turned back, giving him a puzzled look. "Dismissed like a servant? I would never dare do that, Your Highness. But you said yourself there was no need to thank you, and that you hadn't done anything for me. Or was I meant to throw myself at your feet and offer you flowery praise regardless?"Frederick nearly choked from anger. "You're not even curious why I came here?"He had tossed out a simple remark, and she had seized it like a weapon, neatly severing any obligation she might owe him for stepping in earlier. As if the favor had never existed at all. This woman certainly knew how to come out on top.Though there was not much of an expression on Selena's face and she wore no makeup, she was still breathtaking.Her voice was calm as she asked, "Then, may I ask what you're here for? Of course if you'd rather not say, I can assure you I've little interest in asking."Frederick's fists clenched at his sides. He wanted nothing more than to strangle her. This wasn't t

Sally's mouth twitched as if she wanted to speak, but seeing Selena's calm expression as she sipped her tea, she sighed softly and fell silent.Frederick continued to watch her, waiting for a response.Setting down her cup, Selena smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I've no desire to marry you, much less to be touched by you.""Lena, stop being so stubborn! Look at the position you and General Campbell have been forced into!" Frederick snapped.At this point, only Frederick could save the Duke of Blackmoor's household. She had nowhere to turn. Why was she stubbornly clinging to pride?"If I had not arrived when I did today, the Earl of Greymoor's family would have stormed Elysian Pavilion and revealed Sebastian's condition to your grandfather. If Lord Gideon learns his only grandson is practically an invalid, how many days do you think his frail body can hold out? He would die from shock!"Gideon had been gravely ill ever since losing his three sons in battle, bedridden

Sally also found Frederick's words both infuriating and absurd.He was clearly the one begging Selena to take him back, yet he still put on airs, acting as if he was the one doing her a favor. And to top it off, he had the nerve to declare that he'd promised Freya he wouldn't lay a finger on Selena for three years.He made it sound as if Selena was some desperate woman crying and pleading to wed him and share his bed. It would've been laughable if it weren't so maddening.But as Sally watched Frederick storm away in a huff, she couldn't help but feel uneasy."My lady, is the Obsidian Monarch truly sincere about helping us? He does seem... quite terrifying."It wasn't just the mask that made him frightening. It was his aura, that mysterious and commanding presence that made one's heart race and one's mind uneasy. Not knowing what he wanted, while feeling as though every part of one's self was laid bare under his watchful gaze, left a person utterly exposed.It was like being a fal