Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 157 Before William and the others could give chase, Frederick and Freya had already returned. Freya appeared half-dazed, still shaken from the chaos she had just endured. Until now, she had always been the one protected, sheltered by Frederick's men while others risked their lives to force a way through the enemy lines. But this time, she had ridden out alone and unguarded. Without anyone to guard her, the arrows came flying straight at her. Her horse collapsed beneath her, pierced through by shafts.

One arrow grazed her arm, while another skimmed so close to her cheek that her skin still burned from the sting. Had Frederick not reached her in time, pulling her back into the shadows, she would surely have fallen like the poor beast, her body riddled with arrows. "Your Highness!" William and several soldiers rushed to them. They caught Frederick, who was bleeding heavily, and hurried him back into the shelter of the stone forest. Freya didn't even know who had collided with her, but the impact jolted her fully awake. ---- "My face...

my face!" she cried as she raised her hand to touch her cheek. When she looked at her hand, there was blood smeared across her fingers. "My face is ruined! My face-!" At last, the horror struck her, and she screamed in terror. No one paid her any heed. The scratch was shallow, little more than a trace of blood, and would heal without leaving the faintest scar. But inwardly, more than one man thought bitterly that it was a pity. If her beauty had been spoiled, perhaps the prince would at last turn from her and bring Selena back. That, they all agreed, would be a far happier fate.

"My face-" "Your face is unharmed," Frederick rasped from nearby, his voice hoarse with fury. "Sit down. And if you scream again, | shall have you punished under military law." He was truly enraged. Blood streamed from the wounds in his shoulder and abdomen, where arrows had pierced him. His strength faltered, his life slipping away by the moment. ---- William tore open the prince's garments and pressed a wad of cloth firmly against the bleeding wound. But the arrows remained lodged in his body, and the blood would not cease.

William had no skill in medicine, and the army physician had long since fallen to stray arrows during the previous battles. William was as helpless as any man could be. If Frederick's wounds were not tended to at once, he would die. The prince's face was ghastly pale, sweat slick upon his skin. Yet Freya continued to frantically dab at the scratch upon her cheek, shrieking and flailing as if the world threatened to end. For reasons he couldn't quite name, William found a courage he had not known he possessed. He strode forward and slapped her sharply, a blow that had an immediate effect.

The hysterical Freya stilled, eyes wide with astonished fury. "Y-you struck me. How dare you!" she cried in disbelief. What was William but Frederick's lackey? Even the prince wouldn't strike her, yet this man had dared, "How dare you! | will have your life for this!" Freya yelled, her outrage boiling over. "His Highness is gravely wounded because of you, but have you so much as spared a thought for him? Here you are, fussing over that hideous face of yours! Look at what has become of His ---- Highness!" "You dare call me hideous! How dare you!

You dare-" But even as she raged, she caught sight of Frederick on the ground. The arrow in his belly bled steadily, and he was unmistakably weakened. "I'll remember this slap. When we're out of this, | will take my due revenge." Freya glared at William, then hurried to Frederick's side. "Fred, how are you?" She knew nothing of medicine, nor did she know how to staunch such a wound. "Where is the army physician? Where is he? Come forth at once, or! will have your head!"