Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 124 The woman shrieked in terror, tears streaming down her face. " Your Highness, it is the lady who rode recklessly through the streets and collided with my son. Your Highness, please-" "Leave questions of right and wrong to the Court of Justice," Theodore said coolly, without even glancing at the trembling mother and child. "Once the matter is examined, the truth will reveal itself." His eyes remained fixed upon Freya as he smiled. "And what do you think of this, Ms. Talmar?" "An inquiry is precisely what is needed.

Clearly, it was them who spooked my horse!" Freya said, her voice cold and tinged with contempt as she glanced at the mother and child. Even as she spoke with disdain, the thrill of someone stepping forward on her behalf was undeniable. Her foul mood lifted at once. All the more so when Theodore removed his own robe and draped it over her shoulders. Even an esteemed prince treated her with the utmost courtesy, his words tinged with an almost deferential charm. Could anyone fail to envy such attention?

Her assurance having been shaken by Selena's earlier words, Freya now drew a small measure of confidence from Theodore's manner. ---- The woman continued to beg, "Your Highness, this is unjust, Your Highness, please-" The Court of Justice was a place the woman had never seen before, though she had heard tales of it. Once inside, those accused were often beaten or tortured before trial. It mattered little if she died, but her son was so young. How could she allow him to face such suffering?

Two guards moved to seize them, but Frederick arrived and firmly instructed, "Stop!" Theodore raised an eyebrow. "Fred?" Freya scoffed and didn't so much as glance at him. "Theodore, the child is far too young to be sent to the Court of Justice." Frederick stepped forward and stood in front of Freya, struggling to keep his anger in check. "Fey, your haste through the streets was reckless, but in this matter, the fault lies with us." Frederick had been chasing her all the way, yet Freya's riding skill proved far greater than he had anticipated. He nearly couldn't keep up.

Of course, he also had to consider the townspeople, and so he dared not push the horse to full speed. But Freya, heedless of all else, had pressed on recklessly. Because of that, Frederick knew a disaster was inevitable. ---- He turned to the woman on the ground and said, "Miss, this is entirely my fault. Had | not pursued Fey, she would never have collided with you-" "Frederick, what are you saying? It was their own fault for running out like that! They even frightened my horse-" "Fey!" Frederick snapped, refusing to continue this quarrel.

Though he was a prince, his station didn't permit him to oppress common folk. He turned away from Freya and addressed Theodore instead. "If this matter reaches the Court of Justice, it may well reach our father. Do you truly wish to provoke His Majesty?" To drag two defenseless citizens before the court would be scandalous enough. If anyone made a fuss, public outrage would surely follow. Frederick glanced around, noting the bustling street filled with witnesses, and added, "And so many people saw what happened. Are you certain you wish to investigate this?" A flicker crossed Theodore's eyes.

This matter did not truly require his intervention. He had only stepped in earlier for convenience, as a small courtesy to Freya. "Since it was a misunderstanding, the fault is mine," Theodore ---- calmly said, waving a hand gracefully. "Guards, attend to them Compensate this mother and child properly, and see that they are sent home." "Yes, Your Highness." The guards' manner toward the woman and her child immediately softened. After receiving the silver, the mother hurried away, clearly terrified of actually being taken to the Court of Justice.

Theodore glanced at Freya, whose eyes still blazed with indignation. He smiled and said, "Ms. Talmar, it isn't that | don't wish to assist you. Truly, itis..." He cast a quick look at Frederick, leaving the thought unspoken, yet the meaning was clear to all present. Freya ground her teeth, her eyes flashing as she glared at Frederick. "Scum! Is it that you cannot bear to see me treated well?"