Provoking a Graceful Bloom Novel

---- Chapter 97 No one, not even those closest to him, truly understood why Elias had proposed to Selena. Unable to contain her curiosity, Lilia asked, "Elias, did you know Lena before all this?" He shook his head. Lilia pressed on, "Then, why ask her to marry you? She looked positively terrified of you!" "Lady Campbell is a true beauty. In all your years in Dawnmere, have you ever seen a woman fairer than she?" Elias gave a faint, almost amused smile. "A beautiful lady is a desirable match for any gentleman. Is it any wonder that | wish to marry her?" Lilia blinked in disbelief.

"You're hardly the sort to chase after beauty. If you were, none of the women sent to you would have been returned untouched." Indeed, there had been no shortage of lovely young ladies paraded in front of Elias, each with their own charms. Some were full-figured, while others were slight and delicate. Regardless, he had never so much as glanced at them. So, Lilia couldn't help feeling that it was rather odd for her brother to suddenly declare he wished to marry Selena. ---- "Surely it's not because Lena bested you, so now you're bitter and want revenge?" she asked.

The more the princess thought about it, the more certain she became that this was indeed the case. She immediately grew angry. "Elias, Lena is a fine young lady. How could you treat her so unfairly? And besides, though she bested you with cleverness, she didn't resort to trickery. It was simply your skill that was lacking... No, that's not what | meant. | mean... she did nothing underhanded. She has done nothing wrong!" Elias' dark brows drew together. "Do you know her well? If | remember correctly, you've only just met her. How can you be so certain she's a good person?

Aren't you afraid you'll be deceived if you trust people so easily?" "Why would she do that? Lena doesn't even want to be friends with me. I'm the one pestering her," Lilia muttered, pouting in frustration. Elias raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't want to be friends with you?" That was unusual. With Selena's position, pleasing the Dawnmerian royalty would only bring her benefits. Yet, she acted in such a way that even ---- Lilia could see her reluctance. How unexpected. Just what sort of woman was Selena? "She is merely humoring me, afraid | might trouble her brother.

But | know she does not wish to be involved with me." Lilia sighed helplessly. "Still, | don't know why, but the more she brushes me off, the more sincere she seems. She's completely unlike the people around me. They're all so fake." She leaned on the table, resting her chin in her hand. "I'm a princess, so why won't she be my friend? Lena is truly peculiar." Elias remained silent. Lilia continued, "She's just a good person. Elias, you mustn't trouble her. She has her own burdens. | heard her brother's body is ruined. It's awful.

| feel so sorry for them." "You know already?" "Of course | know. The news has spread like wildfire. | heard it the moment | arrived." Selena's beloved, Frederick, had found someone new, and that new lover had even ruined Selena's brother. Yet Selena herself remained calm, as if nothing had occurred. Lilia couldn't help the swell of pity she felt, though she didn't understand why. However, Elias felt nothing of the sort. ---- Suddenly, a chill crept in from outside. Elias frowned slightly as he rose and walked out of the room.

Damon and Joseph hurried over, with the former quickly saying, " Your Highness, Prince Nathaniel, he-" "Nate!" Lilia called out. She had followed after Elias, and her eyes sparkled the instant she saw the figure perched on the treetop. His silhouette was tall and commanding, with a reckless charm that left her dazzled. "It's really him!" Lilia's breath caught in her throat, yet the next moment, sheer terror seized her. "W-what is he holding in his hand?!"