Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 95 In the end, Freya was persuaded to return. But tonight felt different somehow. She let Frederick stay in her chambers. "Frederick, | don't want to be apart from you tonight." Once she closed the door, she faced him and slowly removed each layer of her clothing. Frederick stiffened, heat rising to his cheeks. "Fey, didn't we agree that we'll wait until we're married?" As a prince, he could have given in, of course. How many men of royal or noble blood had women in their lives once they came of age?

But having known Selena for many years, Frederick had grown accustomed to keeping himself disciplined and honorable around her. Perhaps Selena's character wasn't flawless, and she was always scheming in some way. But in this, her virtue was impeccable. She never let him touch her, and had made it clear that they must wait until their wedding day. Frederick's habit of keeping himself chaste had been instilled in him by her. Even with Freya, though he sometimes got so angry that he ripped at her clothes to scare her, he never actually touched her.

---- Frederick even suspected that among all the adult men of the royal family and nobility, he might be the only one like this, all because of Selena Freya stepped closer, taking his hand and guiding it toward her chest. "If your heart is mine alone, and you promise never to seek another woman, then I'm willing to give myself to you." Frederick felt a flicker of temptation. But the moment his fingers brushed the smooth skin at her neck, he drew his hand back before she could guide it further. "Fey, | love you.

That's why | must respect you." To touch her that way before marriage would only harm her. Gently, he clasped her hand. "Trust me. I'll overcome any obstacle to make you my wife. | will never let you suffer." After a few more soothing words, he left, bidding her to rest. Yet even as he departed, a restless unease lingered in him Elias had proposed to Selena. Frederick disliked her cunning ways, but had unconsciously claimed her as his own over the years. Could he really stand by and watch her marry Elias? Once Frederick left, Freya's maid, Linda Reed, entered the room. Freya eyed her sharply.

"You" ---- "It's me, Freya," Linda said, her voice completely different from usual. A pang of worry hit Freya's heart. She hurried to close the door, drawing Linda to the farthest corer of the room. In a whisper, she asked, "Mira, he didn't want me. Does that mean he doesn't love me?" "No." The woman before her wasn't Linda, but Freya's elder sister, Mira Talmar. She had mastered the art of disguise so completely that even Frederick had not noticed. Freya had been completely flustered by Frederick today. After being kicked out of the martial arts exhibition, she thought all was lost.

If her sister hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have even considered running away as a solution. "So, what am | to do now? He still cares for Selena. Am | meant to swallow my pride and endure it? | can't bear such injustice," said Freya She and Frederick had just reconciled, but her temper was already flaring again. She had never been an easy girl to handle. "It doesn't matter. Prince Frederick rather likes your fire, at least for now," Mira replied, almost surprised herself. ---- Somehow, Frederick had been drawn to that exasperating streak in Freya. That man certainly had an unusual taste.

He was a prince-raised in luxury, always on a pedestal, and never used to hardship. Yet once he'd experienced a taste of it, he seemed to crave it! What a strange one.