Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 120 "Princess Lilia, what nonsense are you speaking?" Frederick asked, his tone leaving no room for doubt that he felt not an ounce of goodwill toward her. Although Freya's wounds were only superficial and nothing serious, it mattered little. The audacity of the Dawnmerian princess to strike one of his people before his very eyes was simply intolerable. Lilia also held no goodwill toward him. Anyone who hurt Sebastian was no good in her eyes. For her part, Lilia showed him nothing but disdain as she explained, "I came with Lena to see General Campbell.

What possible concern of yours is it? And who can say whether you even belong here?" "What?" Frederick faltered. A low, commanding voice interrupted them, "You and Lena came here to seek out General Campbell?" Lilia froze, then recalled that Nathaniel was present. Whenever he was near, her attention invariably fell upon him. But today, perhaps driven to fury by Freya's antics, she had nearly forgotten to greet him. ---- "Nate!" she called, hastening forward. Nathaniel's gaze held her in silent expectation, as if waiting for an answer to the question he had just posed.

She thought for a moment, then said, "Yes. | intended to have Lena show me around today, but | didn't expect to run into General Campbell at Blackmoor Estate. |... | was still upset about what happened at the martial arts exhibition, and ended up hurting him in my carelessness." All eyes turned to Sebastian. The marks along his neck and jaw were plainly visible, though the blood had dried and been hastily cleaned, rendering the wounds far less shocking than before.

Lilia's eyes lingered on him, filled with genuine remorse as she continued, "I caused him harm, yet instead of being angry, General Campbell reassured me that it was nothing. He is far too kind, and my conscience has weighed heavily ever since. | couldn't bear it any longer, so | brought Lena here, wishing to apologize to General Campbell in person." Sebastian quickly said, "Merely a trifling scratch, Your Highness. There is no need to trouble yourself over it." Lilia exhaled a heavy sigh. It was precisely because he was so good and impossibly considerate that her heart ached all the more.

---- Turning her gaze to Frederick, she snorted in exasperation. "We only came here to see General Campbell. Who could have imagined that you and Nate would also be present, along with this utterly unreasonable woman?" Her eyes blazed as they fell on Freya. "Had | known you would be here, I never would have allowed Lena to accompany me. Truly, such misfortune!" Frederick's face flamed crimson. With anger, yes, but also with the heat of discomfort. For a moment, he had genuinely believed that Selena had come here for him. "Ah, it seems Lena didn't come for you after all, Fred.

She doesn't have feelings for you, so you don't need to feel burdened, " Nathaniel cut in, lightly amused. Frederick cast him a sharp glance, then turned to Selena, utterly confused. What exactly was the nature of the relationship between those two? And it appeared his brother had no intention of seeking revenge on Selena. In her usual measured manner, Selena finally said, "Indeed, | was unaware that Prince Frederick was present. Yet, even if | had known, it wouldn't have altered my purpose.

After all, Prince Frederick's affairs bear no relevance to me." Aweight settled over Frederick's chest. Confusion, frustration, ---- and something indefinably vexing left him utterly speechless. At his silence, Freya grew desperate "And what of recompense for what they did to me? Are they to go unpunished?" She glared at Frederick, her eyes red with anger. "Aren't you going to stand up for me at all? And you still keep saying you'll protect me for life!"