Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 122 Lilia's lips curled up into a disdainful smile. "Indeed, the gossip is everywhere. They say Prince Frederick has taken a fancy to some proud, aloof Desert Rose, and that is why he..." She let the sentence trail off, but Selena only smiled faintly and finished it, "Abandoned me, you mean?" "Lena, it is only the ignorant chatter of the world. Don't let it trouble you," Lilia said quickly, unwilling to see her friend upset. Selena's smile remained serene, almost amused. "Trouble me? Why would | be troubled?

It is the simple truth, after all." "Lena-" Selena cut her off with a wave of her hand. She had no need for consoling words or anyone's pity. Instead, she shifted the conversation, asking, "Very well, tell me, what is the world saying?" The mention of this made Lilia bristle further. "Those men are blind, all of them! They speak as if this Desert Rose walks alone above all others. They say her pride is unparalleled, that her temperament is unlike any other woman in the land.

Some even claim she refuses to pay her respects to ---- 'the queen, as though she holds all women who rely on men in contempt. "Even that night, when Joseph returned to report to Elias, he admitted he found the lady peculiar and expressed a desire to see her for himself." The story of Freya's audacious antics toward Frederick at the court banquet had spread like wildfire. The ladies of the court deemed her barbaric and insolent, yet the men were intrigued. After all, Frederick's station placed him above reproach. No woman would dare openly defy him, let alone strike him.

Yet, here was a young lady who feared no man, who even had the audacity to fight him. In doing so, she became the object of every man's curiosity. And curiosity in men often grew into something else, usually into a kind of affection. "She is using Prince Frederick as a stepping stone to make her name known," Lilia muttered. However, Selena had no desire to speak ill of another behind her back, especially not in front of men. She smiled lightly at Lilia. "Didn't you say you wished to tour the grounds, Your Highness? Wait just a moment.

| will first greet Prince Nathaniel, then return and show you around at leisure." A low hum of amusement escaped Nathaniel nearby. It seemed ---- the lady had remembered him at last. Selena inclined her head slightly and said with calm formality, " Greetings, Your Highness." Nathaniel waited expectantly for her to speak further, but to his surprise, she merely bowed and walked on. She left! After exchanging a few words with Sebastian, she took Lilia and departed entirely. At least Lilia had the courtesy to glance back and offer Nathaniel a polite farewell.

On the other hand, Selena ignored him completely as though he were invisible. Terrified by the chilling aura radiating from the prince, Cloud hurriedly stepped back. However, Liam had no such luxury. He remained rigid, bearing the full force of the prince's wrath. Some part of that anger needed venting, after all. Still, when would Selena ever show a little warmth toward Nathaniel? That cool, distant manner of hers was enough to drive the prince's followers to despair. Meanwhile, it had taken considerable effort for Frederick to coax Freya into his carriage.

However, she still refused to meet his gaze. ---- With a weary sigh, he said, "Fey, you struck first. By every measure, it is impossible for me to demand satisfaction from them. Were | to insist, it would be nothing but an abuse of my position. Surely you can see reason?" Freya's chest tightened, anger flashing in her eyes as she snapped back, "Are you saying I'm unreasonable?"