Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 90 The contest was over just like that? The audience was utterly stunned. Selena had handled it so casually! As Elias lowered his gaze to the stack of silk in his hands, he felt his heart tighten. Several layers had been pierced, yet a few clearly remained untouched. Andrew hurried forward, counting carefully. His eyes went wide, disbelief written across his face. "E-eight layers. Truly only eight layers!" He turned to Wilfred, his hands trembling with excitement. "Your Majesty, L-Lady Campbell pierced eight layers! Two remain completely intact! Lady Campbell...

Lady Campbell has won!" A hush fell over the audience. A deadly, reverent silence. Selena had won. She had bested Elias! No one knew quite what to say. The outcome had been entirely unexpected. Then, breaking the silence, came the sound of someone applauding and saying, "How delightful! Truly delightful! Lady Campbell, your learning and skills are unmatched. No strong but ---- simple-minded person can compare to you." It was the Obsidian Monarch! Nathaniel laughed loudly and boldly, and there was even a hint of pride in the sound. Elias' face darkened as he glared at Nathaniel.

Curse that jerk! He wanted to strike him down on the spot. No one else dared laugh, not even the king. Though Wilfred was in excellent spirits, he couldn't afford to mock a foreign prince. If the young man returned home to complain to his father, Wilfred would look like a bully, and that was utterly improper. Elias took a steadying breath, centering himself before facing Selena. He inclined his head and said, "Lady Campbell, your mind is as precise as your skill.

| am impressed." It was hard to judge whether her martial arts skills were truly good or if it had just been pure luck, but being that precise was undeniably impressive. The audience assumed it was luck. After all, that single stroke looked far too casual and effortless to belong to a seasoned warrior. There wasn't a hint of inner energy, nothing that suggested serious martial arts training. Selena returned his gesture with a polite smile. "Thank you for your courtesy, Your Highness." ---- Elias gave a quiet snort and said nothing further. Wilfred laughed heartily.

"Lena is still young and naive. Do forgive her indiscretion, Your Highness." Wilfred's tone left no doubt that he was in an excellent mood. Elias wasn't angry anymore. He nodded and turned to step down, from the stage. But to his surprise, Selena walked past him to the edge of the platform and knelt before the king. "Lena?" Wilfred was startled for a moment, then recognition lit his face. "Ah! Well done! There shall be a reward, indeed a generous one!" Of course, the specifics of the reward couldn't be announced in front of the defeated prince. It was only proper to preserve his dignity.

The Duke of Blackmoor's household had performed admirably today, and the king's delight promised a lavish reward in due course. However, Selena remained kneeling, back straight as she spoke clearly, "Your Majesty, | am fortunate to have succeeded, if only slightly. | am overjoyed and would like to humbly ask for one favor." "Oh?" Wilfred arched a brow. "And what might that be?" Everyone silently wondered if this young lady intended to ask for ---- something outrageous Sebastian's hands tightened in worry. What exactly was his sister thinking?

Selena met the king's gaze, her voice calm but unwavering as she said, "I've received word that the small states near the Southern Frontier are stirring once more. My maternal family remains stationed there, defending the border. "My brother worries for them day and night, and can find no rest. | humbly request your permission for him to lead the Campbell Regiment to the Southern Frontier, to aid our family in defending the frontier and safeguarding the realm." Ruth's expression darkened. That girl intended to relocate the Campbell Regiment!

Did she really think doing that would prevent the Campbell Regiment from falling into the hands of others? How utterly naive!