Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 167 William hurriedly replied, "Ms. Lester, His Highness has commanded that Ms. Talmar spend a few days in solitary reflection within her chambers. She has not been permitted to set foot in Moonchase Pavilion." Anna's brow furrowed deeply. "Why must she be confined? Could the rumors be true? Is it possible she drove Deputy General Lloyd to his death and, in doing so, brought grievous harm upon His Highness?" William hesitated. These matters were delicate, and he dared not speak carelessly. "| can't claim to know the full truth.

Perhaps it would be best to ask His Highness directly. | must see to the preparation of his medicine, so | shall take my leave for now." He spoke swiftly and departed without another word. Fortunately, it was Anna he was dealing with. If it had been Ruth, there would have been no chance of slipping away unscathed. Once Anna entered the room, she bent close to Ruth and whispered a few words. Though gravely wounded, Frederick was not so impaired as to miss the conversation. "Mother, these are but the fancies of soldiers driven to despair, ---- their minds clouded by fear and misfortune.

The truth is not as they imagine-" "Then, do you take your soldiers for fools, or do you believe that the fool is your mother?" Ruth snapped. "| would never dare, Mother." Ruth snorted, her temper bristling even as she looked at her injured son. "You truly are blind, my child! Selena is a remarkable young woman, and her brother follows her every command. The Duke of Blackmoor's household may seem to be in decline, yet it is of considerable worth." She pounded her hands against her chest in exasperation. "And now, with Sebastian crippled, his prospects are limited.

In the future, he will attach himself to whoever his sister marries. Marrying Selena will only make you all the stronger!" In the past, Frederick had always been victorious in battle, and Ruth had been reluctant to acknowledge that much of his success was due to Selena's talents. Yet during his first battle without her by his side, he had suffered a humiliating defeat, one so dire that it even required Selena and her brother to come to his rescue No matter how unwilling she was, Ruth could no longer deny the truth before her eyes. ---- Without Selena, her one and only son was nothing at all!

"You must immediately cast out that useless girl who only brings trouble. She must never set foot in your household again. Once you have recovered, | shall accompany you to petition the Duke of Blackmoor and bring about a union between our two families," said Ruth. Selena was a single, fragile young woman. Yet, she had rescued Frederick's men from utter ruin. Just how formidable she was needed no further explanation. The only thing she lacked was martial arts training. If Selena knew warfare, wouldn't the great generals and Warbringers have to take a back seat? "Mother, Fey has nowhere to go.

Her family is gone and she has no kin in the capital. If | cast her out now, would | not be driving her to her death?" Frederick protested. "She brought it upon herself!" Ruth answered angrily. "But she came to the city because of me. If | abandon her after bringing her here, what sort of man am I?" Frederick hurriedly said He had indeed grown deeply resentful of Freya, and her actions at Mount Iron left him utterly devastated. Still, Ruth's pressure stirred a return of pity. Freya, for all her faults, was his woman.

If he couldn't even ---- protect the woman who belonged to him, what kind of man would he be? "Mother, Fey has erred, and | have punished her. This matter has nothing to do with her, and | beg your understanding," Frederick pleaded. A mother knew her son better than anyone else. Politely, one might call Frederick sentimental. In harsher words, he was indecisive and weak-willed. But then, which man in this world was truly faithful? And he was destined to be king. How could he be bound by such sentiment? "Very well. If you insist on sheltering her, | won't make this harder on you.

But Lena risked her life for you and traveled a thousand miles to save you. How will you ever repay such devotion?" Ruth asked.