Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 161 "It's truly her!" "Lady Campbell has come!" The soldiers' cries, urgent appeals at first, erupted into excited cheers. "Your Highness! Mr. Klein! Lady Campbell has truly come!" A sharp tension gripped Frederick's heart. He couldn't tell whether it was excitement or sheer emotion, and once again, streaks of blood ran from the corners of his lips. Wiping his eyes, William sprang to his feet and watched as something white moved through the men, parting the crowd with quick, purposeful strides. For a dizzy instant, he feared his eyes deceived him.

But when he saw that figure approach, he felt the urge to weep "Lady Campbell, s-save our prince, please. Lady Campbell..." Selena had truly come. Knowing that Frederick had been gravely wounded, she quickened her pace immediately. It wasn't until she knelt beside the prince, until William's hand could actually brush against her hair, that he allowed himself to believe she had truly come. ---- "Lady Campbell, save His Highness. He has bled so much. H-he can't hold out much longer!" William pleaded.

Without answering, Selena drew a short blade and cut away Frederick's garments to expose the wound. The shaft had struck deep, resulting in a grievous injury. She looked into his eyes and said, "To remove the arrow, | must cut into your flesh. Can you endure it? We don't have any numbing salves here." Frederick looked at her, yet her words seemed to not fully reach him. He simply stared at her face, caught between reality and dream, unsure whether it was the haze of his fading consciousness or if he was already wandering in a half-slumber. Had she truly come?

Alone, braving the enemy's lines, to save him? "Lena. "Your Highness, it seems you have no choice," Selena said, her face calm and unreadable. She lit a tinderstick and carefully passed the flame over the edge of her blade, then turned to Sally. "There is no time for cleansing in the proper fashion. Bring what ---- medicines you have," she instructed. Sally carried some medicine, though only a small amount, enough for emergency use. "The medicines are ready, my lady," she said, kneeling beside Selena. The tip of Selena's blade pressed against the edge of Frederick's arrow wound.

It was just a slight touch, but he frowned in pain and was instantly awake. "Lena..." he whispered. She had truly come-for him! In that instant, Frederick's heart swelled with a torrent of emotions, too complex to name. He reached out, longing to take her hand. However, Selena shot him a sharp glance and commanded, " Don't move." "Lena... Argh!" The next instant, Frederick bit back a cry, his face paling, unable to speak another word. Nearby, Freya couldn't move and had no understanding of what was happening.

All she knew was that each muffled groan from ---- Frederick spoke of excruciating pain. She knew it. Selena had no real way to help the prince, yet those foolish soldiers treated her like a goddess and worshipped her. And besides, Selena had come alone! She was such a frail woman, full of schemes yet powerless in reality. What use could she possibly be here, other than to hinder them? The men were also well aware of that fact. Having come without any reinforcements, she alone could not accomplish much. Still, her mere presence brought an inexplicable comfort to the men.

Time ticked by slowly as Selena labored through the greater part of the night until she finally managed to staunch the flow of blood from Frederick's wound When she stood up and took a deep breath, William finally couldn't contain his anxiety and asked, "Lady Campbell, are you and Ms. Mauve the only ones who came?"