Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 233 After Frederick left Ruth's tent, he looked up and spotted Cloud approaching Selena's team, carrying something carefully in his hands. Cloud had meant to ignore him, but as Frederick walked straight toward him, all he could do was plaster on a polite smile and bow. "Greetings, Your Highness." "What do you have there?" Frederick asked, eyeing the covered tray. Cloud forced himself to keep his polite smile as he replied, " Your Highness, this is a honey cake specially prepared by Prince Nathaniel's cook.

His Highness knows that Lady Campbell prefers not to eat meat in the morning, so he had this ready in advance and waited for her to appear." This was the hunting grounds. Apart from the king and a few princes who brought their own cooks, only the more pampered teams did the same. Most others prepared their own meals, as they were trained in arms and accustomed to managing their own provisions. Last night, everyone feasted on roasted meat and drank wine. There was still plenty, so most had simply eaten the leftover roast for breakfast this morning.

---- Frederick never expected that Nathaniel would concern himself with such a trivial matter. He couldn't help but glance up at where his older brother was sitting across the way. Though Nathaniel sipped his tea, his eyes boldly lingered on the figure across from him, showing not the slightest hint of restraint. And the figure he was looking at... Frederick felt his heart seize in his chest once more. Today, her makeup was even more understated than it had been yesterday. She wore a simple riding habit, her hair tied back neatly, tidy and practical.

Even the ribbon securing her hair was the sort usually favored by men. Wait, why was there something familiar about the ribbon in her hair? Frederick felt as if he had seen it somewhere before. Seeing the prince lost in thought, Cloud inclined his head slightly, then swiftly delivered the tray to Selena while he remained distracted. However, he noticed something else when he stood next to her. "Lady Campbell, why are you wearing His Highness' ribbon?" Nathaniel had searched for it this morning, and when he was unable to find it, he decided to use Cloud's own ribbon in its place.

---- Cloud had been forced to improvise, tying his hair back with a scrap of cloth he cut himself. He had grumbled under his breath for some time, lamenting that their prince still had no lady of the house who would have thought to prepare extra ribbons before he went out. Selena nearly choked on the sip of tea she had just taken. Sally's sharp eyes immediately spotted the difference. "M-my lady, there's an 'N' on your ribbon." Selena's face flamed crimson. "Silence!" She couldn't help but glare sharply at Nathaniel, who was sitting across from her.

He put on an utterly innocent look in response. When Cloud returned to the prince, he leaned close and whispered, "Your Highness, the ribbon Lady Campbell is wearing today is the very one you misplaced. Did you forget that you gave it to her?" Looking at the ribbon in her hair, Cloud's frustration deepened. If Nathaniel gave away his pants next time, would Cloud have to hand over his own pants too? Nathaniel's eyes darkened. At first glance, the face behind the mask showed no emotion. But on closer inspection, there was something off about the expression.

---- "Your Highness, your face is so red. Are you unwell?" Cloud exclaimed Nathaniel's temper flared. He wanted nothing more than to strangle this noisy fool! "Get lost!" "But Your Highness, your face is really red-" He was promptly sent flying by a well-aimed kick from Nathaniel. Liam stood nearby, watching in disbelief. How had that man managed to serve at Nathaniel's side for over a decade without ever being dismissed?