Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 91 Wilfred didn't respond immediately. He had much to consider. Though Sebastian had never heard Selena speak of this matter before, he understood her intentions the moment she voiced them. He quickly stepped onto the stage and knelt beside her. "Your Majesty, | humbly request permission to lead the Campbell Regiment to the Southern Frontier, to defend the lands of Aurensia!" Wilfred's brow furrowed in thought. However, Ruth suddenly smiled and said, "The Southern Frontier is far away. If General Campbell goes now, who knows when he might return?

But Lena has reached the proper age for marriage. Perhaps it would be wiser for General Campbell to wait until Lena is wed. Once she has someone to care for her, he can depart with fewer worries." She turned to the king, her smile softening even more. "What do you think, Your Majesty?" Wilfred considered her words and merely nodded. Ruth was just about to continue when Adelaide interjected, " Indeed. The Duke of Blackmoor's family is loyal and devoted, but among the younger generation, only General Campbell and ---- Lena remain.

I've watched them grow up, and the thought of sending General Campbell to the Southern Frontier fills me with reluctance. They're still so young, neither married nor settled." "Your Majesty-" "Lady Ruth, Frederick has already found a suitable match, and I'm happy for him. Lena and Frederick were childhood friends. Now that he has found happiness, she deserves her own chance at love," Adelaide continued, her voice calm. "Fred has not yet married. | must request that you mind your words, Your Majesty," Ruth said sharply, her smile fading as her eyes darkened with displeasure.

That insufferable woman! Every word from her was a pointed suggestion that Frederick had no claim over Selena. "| heard recently that a young lady has been attached to Frederick's household," said Adelaide, feigning surprise. "Since youve only heard about it, it means there's no proof. After all your years in the palace, shouldn't you know best the importance of careful speech?" Ruth retorted sharply. "How dare you!" "Enough!" Wilfred's voice cut through them, dark with irritation.

" Such bickering is most unbecoming." ---- With foreign dignitaries present, it was intolerable for these two women to engage in veiled insults so openly. Adelaide and Ruth fell silent, unwilling to speak further under the king's glare. Yet, Wilfred had his own thoughts. "Still, what Her Majesty and Lady Ruth said is not without merit. General Campbell, Lena, you're both of a proper age for marriage. One can't truly establish a household and a career at the same time.

Even if you are to go to the Southern Frontier, you should marry first," he said Smiling, he added, "In the coming weeks, | shall ask the queen dowager to assist you in discerning which young gentlemen and ladies are most suitable. Set a proper wedding date, see your households established, and then go forth to earn your achievements." Sebastian and Selena felt their hearts sink, as did Adelaide and Ruth. The matter had fallen into Victoria's hands! Selena's eyes flickered, as if she were about to speak.

Then, from not far behind her, Elias suddenly laughed and said, " So, Lady Campbell is not yet betrothed. How fortunate. Lady Campbell, | find myself quite taken with you. Would you grant me your hand in marriage?" What? The third prince of Dawnmere was proposing to Selena? ---- Half the young ladies in the audience gasped and rose to their feet, caught completely off guard. Elias had been the object of their attention all day. Selena and Sebastian both froze, whipping their heads around to stare at the prince in shock. Even Wilfred was so stunned that his jaw nearly dropped.

From somewhere in the crowd, a cup shattered with a sharp crack. Somewhere else, a fist clenched so tightly that knuckles cracked audibly. But Elias' gaze never left Selena. It was rare to see that sharp-minded girl show even the briefest flicker of surprise in her eyes. Suddenly, he felt this was turning out to be far more amusing than he had expected. The smile on Elias' lips deepened, making him look all the more striking, "Lena, | remain alone to this day, with not a single beauty in my residence. Would you be willing to marry me and become my princess consort?"