Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 242 A sudden, deep terror gripped Freya. She didn't know what Selena intended, but she understood with absolute certainty that it would be something truly, unimaginably dreadful. Freya's blade had left Sebastian crippled, shattering the future of the Duke of Blackmoor's household. She had thought that when Selena previously struck her in return, it was the boldest act she could have committed That one slash had carved two long, deep scars across Freya's chest. It was a lifetime of shame and humiliation she would never forget. What more could Selena possibly do?

Selena no longer looked at Freya, moving to kneel in front of Wilfred. "Lady Campbell, what-" Andrew glanced at her, then at the king. He seemed to understand, yet unease churned in his chest. Meanwhile, Wilfred said nothing, but his expression was dark and forbidding. "Your Majesty, this woman has harmed the loyal and destroyed the reputation of the faithful. | beseech you to pass judgment on her on my behalf." Having said that, she bowed deeply and didn't rise again. ---- Wilfred's face turned ashen. Not a single person in the surrounding crowd dared utter a word. Even Ruth, who was.

extremely anxious, had fallen silent. All eyes finally turned to the king. Selena had made her intentions unmistakably clear. If Wilfred wanted her to throw herself wholeheartedly into rescuing Frederick, she demanded that justice be served first. But Sebastian had been wounded in the most grievous way possible. How could Wilfred act so decisively that he could fully assuage the anger and resentment in the hearts of the siblings? Sebastian moved to kneel beside his sister without a word. By kneeling alongside her, he made his stance clear.

Whatever Selena sought, he would support her to the death. Freya fell utterly silent, her eyes fixed on the king. With Frederick still absent, there was no one here to defend her. She truly wasn't afraid of dying, but an inexplicable dread had taken hold, a cold panic that made her hands tremble. "Your Majesty, Fred will return soon, h-he-" she stammered "Are you threatening His Majesty, Ms. Talmar?" Adelaide said coldly. Freya snapped her mouth shut and grew more frantic. ---- Wilfred frowned. At last, he made his decision and ordered, * Guards, take this woman to the palace.

She is to face royal mutilation!" Acry rang out. Several of the more faint-hearted ladies reeled back, some actually falling into a sitting heap. The rest shuffled away, faces pale. No one needed an explanation. Royal mutilation was a cruel punishment that stripped a woman of her ability to bear children forever. Even if those who suffered it survived, they would have been better off dead. They were broken, ruined, and forever unable to live a normal life. For men, the punishment involved being castrated.

But even in that case, they still had the option to become palace servants, as castration was one of the requirements. But for women, it was far worse. They would never again bear children, never marry, and would spend the rest of their lives dragging what remained of their ruined bodies. They were doomed to live as useless shells of themselves In Aurensia, no woman had suffered royal mutilation for generations. It was simply too cruel. Even Ruth went pale. Such a punishment was one that no. ordinary person could endure. Had it fallen upon herself, she ---- would sooner choose death.

Worse still, the sentence was given openly before all assembled. It wouldn't just destroy Freya's body, but strip away a lifetime's dignity. Even if she somehow survived, there would be nothing worth living for. Freya understood at once. The moment she heard the sentence, her legs gave out. "No! No, you can't do this to me! When Fred comes back, he'll kill you all! He won't let any of you go!"