Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 217 "If | say we will advance, then we shall advance. Shall we wager on it?" Selena asked with a smile. "What wager? Name it," Chloe snapped, pride flaring. On the other hand, Colin looked as if he might weep from panic. "Colin, don't be afraid. When they go hunting later, we shall meddle with them. If we can't advance, neither shall they!" Chloe said, insolent and certain. "My, how interesting. Then, try to stop us. I'll give you fifteen minutes." Selena smiled brightly, lowering her longbow as she turned to the others in the group.

"Everyone, let's meet back here in fifteen minutes. Loser treats everyone tonight." "Agreed!" With that, the five of them and their horses scattered, each dashing off so quickly it was as if they had vanished into thin air. Even the onlookers were left staring, bewildered. Where had they gone? Only a storm of dust remained. "Colin, hurry up and pursue them! Stop them! | will see them brought to nothing! | will drag them down with me!" Chloe clambered onto her horse, seething with fury. "| will have this ---- settled today!

I'll see them undone!" And yet, she remained rooted to the spot Colin looked utterly crestfallen. 'Where do we even start?" No one was in sight, and the hunting grounds were vast. How could they possibly catch up? At the end of the fifteen-minute mark, Colin's team members came trudging back. They were out of breath and exhausted, while Selena's party returned with cheerful smiles. Sebastian's heart raced with a mix of excitement and worry, terrified of losing. Sally and Yuvan had entered as a reserve team with two guards.

They had intended to occasionally carry back a hunted beast, but today, their masters were bent on revenge, so they'd been meandering about for half the day. Now, each of them stood frozen with shock. Sebastian had taken down an enormous wild boar, and just that one beast was frightening enough. But what about the ladies? Yvette had taken down two wild boars, each massive in size. Aurora brought back a stag and two boars upon her shoulders. Qiana had two stags slung across her saddle and still carried a boar herself. ---- And Selena outdid them all by taking down a black bear.

Wait, they were supposed to be just at the outer edge of the Beastlands. Where had that black bear come from? Had she actually ventured into the Untamed Peaks, where real predators roamed? In such a short span of time? Nathaniel's face had gone dark. She truly had no regard for her safety. No one else had entered the inner Beastlands today, and there were no guards with her. If anything had gone wrong, who would have protected her? Frederick's expression was grim. He'd only just realized how skilled Selena was at mounted archery, but this was beyond fast. It had only been fifteen minutes.

How had she managed it? Could it be that a black bear had somehow wandered into the outer area and she just happened to encounter it? Otherwise, where had it come from? Even skilled rider would take the better part of fifteen minutes just to reach the inner area and return, and that wasn't even counting the hunting time. Had she somehow gone in and picked one up from the ground? Ridiculous! Looking down at the Marquis of Arden's household's team, who were huffing and gasping from the chase, Selena laughed so hard she nearly toppled off her horse. "Let's all be ruined ---- together? Hahaha!

You lot? That's hilarious!" Sally could only stare, utterly exasperated, wondering what would become of her mistress' reputation. After all these years of cultivating an image of gentle composure, was it to be ruined ina single afternoon? Selena, clearly enjoying herself, pointed a finger at Chloe. "Apologize to my aunt and tell everyone exactly what happened this morning, down to the last detail. Once done, you'll have the remaining hour to redeem yourself as you see fit. Otherwise, your team will not manage to bring down even a single sparrow today.

Try me, if you dare!" she said, cool and commanding.