Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 202 "Seb, Qiana has lived not far from Blackmoor Estate for six years, " Selena said quietly. Sebastian felt a sudden pang in his chest, his surprise deepening. "Ms. Harper, why-" And then, as if a truth had just dawned on him, his heart tightened with a sharp, bittersweet ache "Why do you persist so, Ms. Harper?" he asked. Tobias was gone, and the dead couldn't return. She could have begun anew, freed herself from grief. Yet here she remained, bound by a devotion none could sway. "His Majesty is nearly here," Yuvan reminded them, breaking the moment.

With a deep breath, everyone steadied themselves, collecting their composure Yvette looked at Selena and smiled gently. "| was waiting for Ms. Harper's decision, which is why | arrived so late." "So, have you truly made your choice, Qiana?" Selena asked, turning to her. "Though | can sense your resolve, | must say this plainly. After today, you can never marry. Never." ---- "I could never marry anyone but Toby," Qiana replied, her eyes glistening as she inclined her head with solemn certainty.

Selena squeezed her hand and led her forward to stand before the banners of the Duke of Blackmoor's household. Shortly after, Wilfred arrived. Adelaide followed close behind, leading the women of the harem. With them came Elias and his retinue. After the formal greetings, Andrew spoke with a grin, "Prince Elias takes a keen interest in Aurensia's annual Autumn Hunt. He has brought his own team to compete this year, so we must take care not to be outdone." Elias' team numbered only four, while every Aurensian team had five.

If the Dawnmerian prince were to win, it would be a severe embarrassment, dealing a strong blow to Aurensia's pride. A surge of excitement ran through the assembled hunters. Each wanted to display their skill before Wilfred, especially with two more Aurensian princes joining the hunt this year-the eighth prince, Edward, and the ninth, Oliver Lancaster. Both princes remained without achievements, and were yet to earn their own lands or titles that marked a prince of merit. This year's Autumn Hunt offered more than sport. It was an opportunity to impress the king himself.

A display of skill here ---- could earn the princes a chance to distinguish themselves, and like the few who had already been granted titles, they could expand their influence and consolidate power. The audience-ground exercise, which was in truth, a very simple test, was about to begin. Each team would display its mounted archery skills across the vast open field before them. Andrew ordered the targets set, and the second prince, Zachary, led his team of five in a full circuit of the field, marking the start of the demonstration.

Three of them struck the very center of the targets, while the other two were hardly less impressive, their arrows landing just shy of the bullseye. None had missed entirely. The third prince, Theodore, followed immediately. Four members of his team all struck dead center, and again, no one missed. Then came the Obsidian Monarch, who turned back and casually selected two men from the group behind him to join himself and his aides, Cloud and Liam. "Those men are part of the famed Yelwyn Cavalry, which is made up of eighteen elite warriors. Their leader is likely not in the capital.

Even among the eighteen, those two are hardly remarkable," Sebastian whispered to his sister. Selena's eyes darkened slightly. "So, Prince Nathaniel truly ---- chose them at random?" Sebastian nodded. "Yes." At the very least, he knew the most skilled riders had not been included in Nathaniel's team, so they were not there to participate in the demonstration. Selena finally understood what the Obsidian Monarch had meant earlier when he said that anyone in his household was at her disposal. Truly, the men of his estate were so capable that there seemed to be no end to them.

That man had not been joking