Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 156 Frederick truly had no patience for Freya's chatter. At a life-or- death moment, she was still quibbling over such trivialities. Once, he had admired her blunt courage, her refusal to bow even when death loomed near. It had been that defiance, bright and unyielding, that first caught his eye. He still remembered the moment when she had been nothing but a prisoner, yet dared to meet his gaze with a spark of insolence that challenged his authority outright. How spirited she had seemed then, her pride so radiant that for a moment, she had truly dazzled him.

Looking at her now, she was still unafraid of death. But what he had once mistaken for noble pride seemed nothing more than reckless folly. "Lady Campbell..." a soldier whispered hoarsely. "Itold you," Freya snapped, her voice sharp with fury. "Do not speak that wretched woman's name again! If anyone dares-" "It's Lady Campbell! Truly, it is her!" "It is! She has come to save us!" One by one, the men lifted their weary heads, staring into the black vault of the night above. Frederick and Freya, despite themselves, followed their gaze. ---- Impossible. Mere fancy. And yet, they saw her.

Selena. Beside her stood the young maid, Sally. How could it be? "An illusion," Frederick rasped. His throat burned, but his eyes refused to leave that slender figure etched against the night. "It is false! All of you, snap out of it!" Freya cried, stamping her foot in rage. When the soldiers continued to gaze upward, enraptured, Freya stormed toward one of the archers. Snatching the bow from his hands, she loosed an arrow skyward. A sudden gust tore through the mist, scattering the cloud. The figures of Selena and Sally vanished As expected, it had been nothing but an illusion.

It had seemed s0 real a moment ago. They had seemed to be so close, walking among the jagged stones as though within arm's reach. Almost like a mirror casting their reflections into the night. The men turned frantically toward the misted air around them, ---- but there was nothing to be seen. Only the endless veil of fog. Where could Selena possibly be? "She won't come to save you. Right now, she's nestled in another man's arms, and you're still hoping for her? You're utterly foolish!" Freya was nearly brought to tears by anger. All of them hoped for Selena.

All of them spoke her name as if she alone could bring salvation. Selena was just a wretched, damnable woman. How could she be so important in their hearts? Freya couldn't stand it. What she could never endure was another woman outshining her. She was supposed to be the one who stood above all the rest! "Very well, if you're all so terrified, I'll carve a path to save you! Mark my words-only |, Freya Talmar, can save you! Only me!" She seized a nearby horse and vaulted into the saddle, galloping recklessly ina single direction. "Fey!" Frederick called after her.

Though she tried his patience sorely, she was still the young lady he had chosen. That rarest of gifts, love at first sight, had seemed so precious to him then, a jewel found in the vast crowd. Even now, he couldn't bring himself to admit that he had made the wrong choice back then. He vaulted to his feet and gave chase. ---- William started in alarm, scrambling to follow. Yet what hope did he have? One rode hard on horseback, the other vanished with uncanny swiftness. By the time he found another mount to pursue them, both figures were gone. "Your Highness!

Your Highness-" The soldiers' voices rose in panic. They could loathe Freya all they wished, but their loyalty to Frederick was unshakable. Beyond the stone forest lay nothing but bandit ambushes. If Freya charged to her death, no man would grieve her passing. But if their prince were lost as well, then none of them would leave this place alive.