Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 172 "Why is that even you are so concerned, Seb?" Selena asked. Her throat was parched, so she cast a brief glance at Sally, who hurried to pour her a cup of tea. "That's because | watched you grow up, Lena," Sebastian replied, his voice tinged with helplessness. 'I can see your feelings for Prince Frederick with perfect clarity." Even one as steadfast as Selena couldn't escape the truths of the heart. Though she was extraordinary, her heart was as human as any other.

"You don't understand me, Seb." It was not the first time Selena had said such a thing, but this time, she was willing to explain earnestly. "Before Freya appeared, | never truly considered what consequences might come from marrying Prince Frederick. Her presence made my position painfully clear. | won't share a husband with another woman. So, whenever | meet Prince Frederick in the future, | shall avoid him entirely.

| won't allow myself to fall so deeply again." "But you and Prince Frederick-" ---- "Perhaps, what | feel now is gratitude more than anything else," Selena murmured, taking a sip of tea before setting the cup down and letting out a faint sigh. "Do you remember the fire | experienced when | was eight?" "Of course | remember," Sebastian said, a shadow of guilt crossing his features. "I cursed myself for not being there with you, for not protecting you from harm." Fortunately, Frederick had saved her. Selena smiled faintly.

"I'll never forget the moment he carried me out of the flames, and the calm and reassurance | felt in his arms. | promised myself then that | would marry him when | grew up. That promise has remained in my heart ever since." "But now, it is he who has wronged you first!" Sebastian reminded her, his resentment simmering. "Still, | remember the comfort | felt in his arms," Selena said quietly. "Lena. [mean that in this lifetime, | won't be with Prince Frederick, nor with any other man.

That's why | petitioned His Majesty for a royal edict to become a female general." "What?" Sebastian sprang to his feet, his face a storm of worry." ---- Lena! Do you know what you're saying? Youre still an unmarried girl. You can't become a general! If you do, you'll be unable to marry!" No law forbade a female general from marrying, yet everyone knew the truth. Generals must lead men into battle, and which household would willingly marry their son to a woman who would spend half her life at war? By choosing this path, Selena was closing off her future entirely.

"must go to the palace at once. | shall petition His Majesty before he issues the edict and plead for him to revoke it!" Selena darted after her brother, grabbing his sleeve with both hands. "Seb, do you still not understand? | asked you to volunteer to lead the reinforcements precisely so that everyone could see that I'm perfectly suited to be a female general! My abilities are not inferior to any mans!" But she cut him off, "How could that possibly have been for Prince Frederick? | no longer feel anything for him. It was for my own future!" Her grip on his sleeve tightened.

She wouldn't let him rush to Wilfred. "L also want the world to see the truth, that Prince Frederick's ---- previous victories were because | was at his side. This time, with me absent, he was utterly defeated. If | still harbored feelings for him, would I have gone so boldly to rescue him?" she added. Sebastian froze, his gaze dropping to the gentle, composed face of his sister. Yet beneath that calm exterior, his heart tightened with a slow, creeping dread. "So, you did this on purpose? You intend...

to overturn the hard- eamed reputation Prince Frederick has built among the people as a Warbringer?"