Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 275 "Do you wish for me to agree, Lena?" Nathaniel lowered his gaze toward her. "If you think | should, | will. I'll follow your lead." "This is your decision, Your Highness. My thoughts are of little consequence," Selena replied at once, careful to distance herself from any influence. However, Nathaniel shook his head. "I've long intended to invite you to serve as a strategist in my army. Your opinion matters greatly to me." As they spoke, the world around them seemed to vanish.

Those present felt as though they were nothing more than air, yet the weight of their conversation tightened every nerve. Everyone wanted to hear more. "The Northern Frontier is already in the zenith of its power, with countless skilled strategists at your command. What use could a mere woman like me possibly be to you?" Selena asked. "You made someone as useless as Fred become the Warbringer of Aurensia. | am a skilled, unbeatable combatant. If | have your help, pacifying Northern and Southern Mundra would just be a matter of time," Nathaniel answered the question with complete seriousness.

---- Her calm, composed demeanor faltered, and her face turned pale. "Y-you want to pacify Northern and Southern Mundra?" Sebastian's hand trembled. The cup he held clattered to the table, spilling tea across the surface, but no one moved to clean it. Selena grasped Nathaniel's sleeve, her voice trembling as she asked, "You truly plan to march against Northern and Southern Mundra?" Her parents and uncles had all perished in Southern Mundra, their bodies lost to the earth. It was a place of unimaginable danger! In the centuries since Aurensia was founded, no one had ever won a battle there.

As the Northern Frontier's monarch, Nathaniel had faced countless perils, but did he truly understand the reality of Southern Mundra? "Southern Mundra is full of extraordinary people. They have masters of battle arrays, Hexcraft, Venomcraft, Illusioncraft, and Enthrall Arrays. These are all methods of warfare no ordinary army can hope to match," said Selena. No matter how fierce the warriors of the Northern Frontier or the skill of Nathaniel's generals, they would be powerless against these deadly crafts and poisons.

Selena's parents had once ---- ventured to reclaim Southern Mundra with ambition and courage, but the result had been a disaster. Suddenly, a large hand wrapped around her icy fingers. Selena looked up sharply and found herself staring into the depths of Nathaniel's eyes. There was indulgence there, and an unwavering resolve that made her heart skip. "| know Southern Mundra weighs heavily upon your mind. If you wish, I'll go with you and face whatever perils await," he said. That afternoon, Lilia clung to Selena, insisting she accompany her on a walk through the hills.

Yet the princess spoke little, dragging the other woman along more out of habit than any true desire to wander or explore. Selena could tell that something was weighing on her mind. In the end, she guided Lilia back to Blackmoor Estate. Once Sally had served their finest tea and left the room, Selena broke the silence that had stretched between them. "If you don't want to talk, | won't ask. But if you do, I'll listen quietly from start to finish," she said. Lilia had come, but had said nothing, only watching Selena in silence for a long time.

If the stalemate continued, Selena worried Lilia might carry some lingering grievance and ---- frustration all the way back to Dawnmere. Finally, the princess exhaled after staring at her for a long moment. "Lena, | can see that Nate likes you. He really does. Did you and Nate know each other previously?" "| knew about the Obsidian Monarch from when | was very little, but we never spent time alone together. Does that count as knowing each other?" Selena replied. Lilia frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. She murmured, "I've known Nate for many years.

From what | know of him, he wouldn't just like someone for no reason. He must have liked you before, a long, long time ago!"