Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 259 In truth, it mattered little to Nathaniel. A man of his stature didn't rely on looks to command respect. If ever forced to choose between his face and a finger, he would have gladly sacrificed the former to save the latter. To him, his face was hardly a concern at all. Selena spent a long while forcing herself to calm down. She wasn't quite sure what compelled her, but as if guided by some unseen force, she found herself at his bedside. On impulse, she reached out and lifted the mask from his face.

Perhaps it was the years of wearing it, but his skin was paler than most, lacking the roughness one would expect of a warrior. Maybe wearing a mask wasn't so bad after all. It shielded him from the sun and the elements, keeping him fair and untouched. Her thoughts wandered for a moment, drifting somewhere far away. When Selena finally came back to herself, she realized she had somehow seated herself at the edge of the bed, staring at Nathaniel's face as if in a trance. "So, do you believe me now?" he asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips. A flush of heat rushed to Selena's cheeks.

She tore her gaze away, reminding herself firmly that handsome men were ---- dangerous! She had never imagined a face could be so utterly captivating. One glance felt like a glimpse across eternity, enough to make her forget where she was. He hadn't been lying. "Perhaps it's just human nature," she murmured, standing and taking a seat a short distance away. "Now that I'm here, is there anything you wish to say? Oh, and your injuries aren't as severe as you let on. You needn't pretend to be unwell. Simply rest and recover properly." "lam gravely wounded," he replied.

The black wolf's claws had nearly pierced his heart. How could that be considered anything less than severe? Of course, the most important thing was that Selena hadn't come to see him. "It was certainly dangerous at the time, but it didn't strike your heart, did it? If it had, you wouldn't even be able to speak to me now, would you?" she said, deliberately avoiding looking at his. face. It would take time to adjust. Such astonishing beauty, placed so brazenly before her, made it difficult to think clearly. For the moment, she no longer doubted him.

Perhaps the mask had truly served its purpose, keeping life simpler for him and safer for everyone around him. ---- "If you're uncomfortable with my face, | can always put the mask back on," Nathaniel said, noticing how she avoided looking at him. "That won't be necessary. I'll get used to it." The words left her lips before she realized what she'd just implied. Get used to it? Didn't that mean she planned to see him often from now on? Naturally, Nathaniel caught onto that at once. His eyes brightened, and his smile turned boyish. "Good. Then, come see me more often.

You'll get used to it soon enough." Perhaps he was a little too pleased, for his breath hitched suddenly and he began to cough. The sound was harsh and wet, resulting in a trace of blood tainting his lips. Selena's expression softened despite herself. "Your Highness, you may not be in mortal danger, but your injuries are still severe. For the next ten days, don't use your inner energy. If you do, you'll only make it worse." He protested, "But those people want me dead, and they won't give up easily. | can't just hide for ten days.

I'll need someone strong to guard me-" ---- "Liam and Cloud will protect you," Selena interrupted, matter-of- fact. Nathaniel looked utterly appalled. "Those two? They're men who are clumsy, graceless, and far too loud. Who wants them hovering about?" Selena's patience snapped. "| wasn't suggesting-" "Do you even know what the duty of the Dragon Sentinels is?" he cut in, his voice taking on sudden gravity. "It's to protect members of the royal family, especially those of the purest bloodline. From now on, you're responsible for me. For the next ten days, wherever | go, you go.

You'll have to protect me well, Lena."