Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 231 "I didn't mean to look. It was Prince Nathaniel who came out without his mask." Sally shivered at the memory of Nathaniel's face. Just thinking of it sent a tremor through her. Last night, she had come dangerously close to screaming. Although she had stayed silent, the Obsidian Monarch had seen her, and she now knew his secret. Would he punish her for it? But... "My lady, you've seen his true face?" The man had come straight from Selena's tent. Had he wished to silence anyone, she would have been first in line.

Nathaniel's behavior toward her seemed unusual, especially given that he had been somewhat disheveled. Sally's eyes nearly popped from her head. "My lady, did you and His Highness-" "Nothing happened! Stop imagining things!" Selena interjected sharply. So, Sally hadn't seen certain indiscreet parts of him. On the whole, Selena's spirits remained quite good. ---- Sally's own heart felt heavy with concern. Nathaniel and Selena had a certain history between them. But of late, his attention toward her had been unusual. Whether for better or worse, Sally couldn't say.

"Did he say anything to you last night?" Sally pressed. With his true face revealed, surely he had offered some veiled threat? What could be running through his mind? Selena's cheeks tinged pink, and she shook her head. "Today's competition is far too important for idle speculation. Let's go. We must hear what rules His Majesty has changed." "Understood!" Sally responded, earnest and cautious. She had also donned fitted hunting attire for the day.

If matters proceeded as in the past, though she and Yuvan were not permitted to compete, they would still need to enter and haul out the quarry themselves. Danger awaited them. The day's trial would take them deep into the Beastlands, where the fiercest beasts roamed most freely. As they stepped out, Qiana approached, smiling. "Lena! Come quickly. Everyone's waiting for you." Today, Qiana was unmistakably different from the shy woman who had arrived the day before. Where she had been timid and ---- reserved, she now moved with ease, blending effortlessly among the others.

Selena took her hand and led her toward their team. As she glanced up, her eyes fell upon that familiar figure seated not far off, calmly sipping his tea. She barely glanced at him before quickly averting her eyes. Sally watched in equal parts awe and apprehension. The mask was back in place, as if he still refused to let anyone glimpse his true face. Yet the fleeting glimpse from last night had already burned itself into her memory. Nathaniel was astonishingly handsome. Next to him, the likes of Elias and Frederick faded into insignificance.

Why would he keep such a face hidden from the world? Moreover, when Selena had spoken with Sebastian, she mentioned that the rumor of Nathaniel's disfigurement had greatly influenced Wilfred's decision regarding the crown prince position. Surely, revealing that he was unscarred would only strengthen the Obsidian Monarch's position. Why did he choose secrecy? What could be going through his mind? Even someone as clever as Selena couldn't fathom it. Then, Nathaniel's gaze swept over them. Sally froze, breath caught in her throat, and tugged discreetly at her mistress' ---- sleeve.

Selena had no desire to acknowledge him. Even now, merely seeing him sent a strange pressure to her chest, an unsettling, swelling sensation. Such closeness felt utterly improper. In all her years of acquaintance with Frederick, they had never shared anything like that. What puzzled her most was that whenever she drew near to Nathaniel, there was an intoxicating familiarity about him, a presence so compelling that her thoughts scattered completely. Where could such a sense of familiarity possibly come from?