Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 264 Selena left after she said her piece. After all, Frederick didn't really have any urgent matters to address with her, so there was no point for her, as deputy commander of the Dragon Sentinels, to stay. Another seven days passed. Frederick's spirit had finally lifted somewhat, and his wounds had mostly healed. He could leave the house if he wished, but still refused to go out. His leg remained ruined, stubbornly refusing to obey. Invitations from his mother to the palace were ignored. Finally, Ruth herself arrived.

"You sent men to assassinate Lena?" Frederick asked flatly, his eyes cold and devoid of any warmth. Ruth's heart tightened. She shot him a glare, clearly upset. "Is this how you speak to your mother?" Frederick said nothing. He sat in a wheelchair, a cane at his side. Though his leg was ruined, it didn't leave him helpless. With the cane, he could still move steadily. Once, he had been so high-spirited and full of vigor. He was a prince, Aurensia's Warbringer! Now, he was a broken shell, ---- neither fully man nor legend. His injury went far beyond his leg.

It had claimed his honor, glory, and dignity. Even Selena no longer cared for him, and with a crippled leg, Wilfred would never pass the crown to him. Deep down, Frederick knew that hope had abandoned him. "Tell me, did you send someone to kill Lena?" he asked again. "Fred-" Ruth began. But he cut her off, voice rising sharply, "I asked you! Did you or did you not?" "It was her own doing! She wronged you, consorted with people from the Obsidian Monarch's household, and caused you to miss opportunity after opportunity! Even the mission at Mount Iron!

She engineered it to ruin your reputation!" Ruth ranted in reply. Seeing her son's condition, she felt a pain deeper than anyone else could understand. A king could die or be wounded, but he couldn't be maimed! How could he rule if he were crippled? Her son's future had already grown bleak, and with it, her own. She could no longer see a path forward Frederick said, "She didn't plot against me. She simply refused to be oppressed! Why would you still think of harming her at a ---- time like this-" "Do you think it was me who wanted to harm her?

The one who truly hurt her was you!" Ruth snapped. Having suppressed her emotions for so long, they finally erupted. Every ounce of restraint she had maintained crumbled in an instant, and her carefully preserved composure was gone "In the past, I ruled the harem and controlled everything! And Adelaide, that wretched woman? After her son died, what was she worth? She had to watch her every move and do as she was told! "But now? Now, she dares to accuse my people of crimes they never committed, take them away, and refuse to let them return!

She even dares to inspect my quarters, beating and humiliating my servants right in front of me. She's doing it on purpose! "My son is ruined, and she immediately parades her own worthless child before the king. Now, your father is paying attention to Edward! One day, when that boy gains merit, he'll be granted a proper title. When that happens, the queen will be even more brazen in the harem. She has long since stopped taking me seriously! "Even the other wretched concubines dare to speak arrogantly before me! They never dared raise their voices in front of me before! And why now?

Because my son was ruined! And who ---- ruined him? Selena Campbell!" All the rules of survival in the harem ultimately came down to a mother's status being tied to her child. If her son succeeded, the mother could walk the harem unchallenged. If her son failed, she would suffer indignities at every turn.