Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 212 Qiana had first met Tobias in a small border town. Asimple girl from a humble village, she possessed a naturally bright spirit. Unlike highborn ladies, she had not been raised in a complicated environment. Her thoughts were straightforward, her heart unburdened. Though she was already past twenty, the simplicity of her days had preserved in her a trace of girlish innocence. Even Aurora found her utterly endearing. "Listen to Lena. If she wishes to take first place, then we shall contest the Obsidian Monarch''s team properly," Aurora said with asmile.

Qiana glanced at her niece, awaiting her response. However, Selena tured her gaze to Aurora. "Do you truly think only the Obsidian Monarch's team is worthy of the challenge?" Those words were blunt, perhaps even hurtful. Yet, honesty demanded no less. Aurora simply nodded. "Indeed." Sebastian winced and rubbed his temple. "Aurora, please choose your words with care." ---- "I'm just a woman from the countryside. How would | know when to hold my tongue? Or do you mean to have my mouth bound, dearest cousin-in-law?" she said with a teasing glance. Sebastian broke out in a cold sweat.

"|-of course not!" Selena couldn't suppress a small smile. "Aunt Qiana, go claim your spoils." "Ill take care of it, Leave the carrying to me!" Yvette declared loudly, striding forward Qiana spurred her horse forward, but before she could reach the fallen boar, someone else stepped in first and ordered their men to haul it away. "That's my kill," Qiana said, frowning. "It was | who struck it. My arrow is still lodged in its flank," came the retort. The young lady, Chloe Murray, hailed from the Marquis of Arden's household.

Though her mounted archery skills may not rival the greatest masters, she was far more talented than most ordinary girls. Selena approached on horseback, eyes fixed on the boar now carried by the attendants of the Marquis of Arden's household. ---- Her brow furrowed. "Lady Murray, your arrow struck the boar's hind leg, whereas my aunt's three arrows pierced its heart. This boar belongs to us." "On what grounds do you claim it?" Chloe huffed, her tone brimming with disdain. "My arrow is still lodged there. Do you not see it? Besides, my attendants lifted it first.

You have no right to it." Colin Murray, the heir of the Marquis of Arden's household, appeared, frowning at the commotion "What's going on?" he asked Chloe immediately turned to him and complained, "Colin, | struck the boar. Look, only my arrow is sticking out of it." Their attendants had already removed Qiana's three arrows and tossed them aside, leaving only Chloe's still embedded in the boar. Turning back to Selena, Chloe's eyes glinted with defiance. "Do you see? | say it is mine, so it's mine. And you think you can contest me?

Who do you think you are?" Sebastian stepped forward, his expression hardening. "Lady Murray, mind your tongue!" His voice was cold, yet carried the unwavering sense of justice ---- only a soldier could possess. Chloe flinched and instinctively moved behind her brother. But upon seeing who had arrived, she straightened her posture immediately, a sneer curling her lips. "Ah, | wondered who it might be! It's you, the fake man!" + "What did you say?" Yvette snapped, her anger flaring. She stepped forward, slamming her palm against a nearby tree. The thick trunk splintered under her strike.

Chloe recoiled, nearly letting out a shriek, yet her tongue remained sharp. "Oh? Do you intend to fight? You think because your mounted archery skills are inferior to ours, you may lay hands on me? Dare to touch me and see what happens! Let us see if the Duke of Blackmoor's household truly possesses the courage it claims!" "You-" "Aunt Yvette, there's no need to waste words on someone like her. It's pointless." Selena stepped forward, her gaze calm yet cold. "I won't strike you, but mark my words. If your team wins the preliminaries today, my name will be forever disgraced!"