Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 239 Ruth sprang to her feet, angrily snapping, "Your Majesty, Fred is Aurensia's Warbringer! Over the years, he has repeatedly brought glory to our kingdom! He's a loyal and steadfast general. How dare you speak of him in such a way!" Everyone present knew that, although Adelaide was the head of the harem, her status was still inferior to Ruth's, since she had no capable sons. Otherwise, the two women would never have been treated as equals during Wilfred's outings.

Because Ruth's son was formidable, she could hold herself equal to Adelaide in public affairs, except at the most formal occasions. More often than not, Wilfred would heed Ruth's counsel, while Adelaide was left somewhat neglected. The saying that a mother's power came from her son was fully evident in Ruth's demeanor. Meanwhile, Selena had returned to her seat and was quietly sipping her tea, still covered in dirt. She looked up briefly to see Nathaniel seated across from her, also drinking tea. Only, his movements were slower than before.

He had been injured quite severely, but showed no sign of it. With the dark clothes he wore, it was impossible to tell whose blood was on him. He insisted it was the creatures' blood, and ---- neither Wildred, Adelaide, or even Ruth doubted him. The quarrel between the queen and one of his concubines only added to the king's headache. He had been ready to retire and rest, but one son was still unaccounted for. The thought of him in the Beastlands gnawed at the king's mind. "Andrew, go and see what is keeping him," Wilfred instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Andrew was preparing to send someone to inquire when a sudden thunder of hooves approached from the distance. Someone was returning. Andrew's eyes were sharp, and he recognized them immediately. "It's a member from Prince Frederick's team." "Your Majesty, Mr. Smith! Please save Prince Frederick!" Two warriors from Frederick's team leapt from their mounts and fell to their knees with a thud. "Your Majesties, Lady Ruth! There's a pack of black wolves in the hunting grounds!" Wilfred's cup nearly slipped from his hands in shock. "What?!" Andrew's unease was evident.

"Black wolves in the hunting grounds? Are you certain you saw correctly?" "We swear it's true! It was indeed a pack of black wolves! H-His ---- Highness heard-" One warrior glanced toward Selena, still leisurely sipping her tea, before continuing, "He heard Lady Campbell was in the area where the wolves roam. Fearing for her safety, he went at once to rescue her." The other warrior added, "Indeed. We followed His Highness to rescue Lady Campbell, but along the way, we were ambushed by the black wolf pack and got separated from him. While Mr. Klein and Ms.

Mira rushed to save him, they ordered the two of us to return and report to Your Majesty, requesting that you send help immediately." "Andrew!" Wilfred's gaze shot to him immediately. "| will see to it at once, Your Majesty!" Andrew replied, hands trembling slightly as he called out, "General Warren! General Warren, where are you?" Eric, responsible for the security of the hunting grounds, should be nearby. Guards were immediately dispatched to fetch him Ruth only just managed to compose herself, then her gaze swept sharply to Selena.

"You encountered a pack of black wolves?" Selena set her cup down, rose without haste, and inclined her head toward Ruth. "On the way to find the black bear, | did ---- indeed run into a pack of black wolves. | assumed it was a test from His Majesty, so | didn't mention it." "You did it on purpose!" Ruth shouted, pointing at her, rage and panic mingling. "You deliberately lured Fred there, didn't you? You've been plotting against him from the start! If anything happens to him, | won't forgive you!"