Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 227 Selena nearly rolled her eyes. Could this man not grasp the point of a single thing she said? Was that so difficult? "You-" But Nathaniel had already seated himself beside her, crossing his legs on the carpet just as she had. "Lena, what are you reading? Whatever you read, | must read as well," he said, leaning closer, his eyes fixed intently on the pages in her hands. His expression was surprisingly earnest, almost solemn. Selena frowned. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, " Why?" "Lfear you're far too remarkable, and that I'm not worthy of you.

Were other men to swarm around you, they would surely carry you off before | could." As he spoke, he glanced at her. The single look made Selena nearly jump out of her skin. What was that mournful, almost pitiful look? Was it truly befitting the monarch of the Northern Frontier? Yet Nathaniel was indeed filled with grievance. "Back then, | only ---- allowed my eyes to stray from you for a moment, and you were taken by Frederick. You're so wanton and fickle, and have no self- control. Truly, a wicked woman!" Selena could hardly process the words. What nonsense was he spouting?

"I didn't even know you back then," she said. "Look at that! Not only were you taken from me, but you've gone and forgotten me entirely!" he replied. A heartless, wicked woman! Still, it was all in the past. Nathaniel was a grown man, and he didn't intend to dwell on such things. It was just as well that Selena and Frederick had fallen out. It spared Nathaniel the trouble of devising schemes to break them up. As for all the strategies he had once contemplated, they were now wasted. Not one had seen the light of day.

He had even entertained darker notions, back when he was still at the Northern Frontier and unable to return. He even thought of drugging Frederick to make him dally with other women, among other devious tricks. But alas, none had been carried out. After considering for a while longer, Nathaniel finally persuaded himself to let it go. ---- "It is entirely my fault. | shouldn't have remained at the Northern Frontier for five long years.

| had intended to return before your coming-of-age ceremony, but | was grievously wounded that year, so | couldn't travel." As he spoke, he looked at the book in Selena's hands. His words sounded casual, almost careless, yet she couldn't help but feel that he was speaking the truth. He added, "Had | been able to move, | would have returned at once. | spent three months confined to a sickbed, and later heard that you and General Campbell went to Xandralle. With the war at the Northern Frontier pressing, | simply couldn't spare the time to leave.

"Still, | suppose that since you were all at camp, that scoundrel would hardly dare lay a hand on you. With such strict discipline in the army, there was no opportunity for mischief, so | could afford to wait a little longer." Selena's face flamed. She glared at him, yet couldn't find any words to contradict him. She never expected the Obsidian Monarch to harbor so many schemes and secret worries. This man's thoughts were not entirely pure. He spent his days conjuring these unsavory imaginings!

Not knowing why, Selena found herself instinctively replying, " There was never anything improper between us." ---- "IL know. | know that my beloved Lena was waiting for me," he said. Selena was speechless. Was Nathaniel overthinking things? Whatever happened between her and Frederick had nothing to do with him! Should she tell him that, at the time, she had never even thought of him? Yet Selena found herself strangely unsettled. Why did she think that back then, he had never occupied her mind? Could it be that he did now? No, no, no! A man would only slow her hand in battle!

She couldn't allow herself to indulge in such thoughts. "I don't like you now either!" she blurted, unsure whether she was speaking to him or warning herself. Nathaniel furrowed his brow and shot her a sharp look. But almost immediately, he persuaded himself otherwise, saying, "Not now, perhaps. But soon, you will love me. | have no doubt of it."