Provoking a Graceful Bloom

Selena said nothing and simply looked at Frederick with a faint, knowing smile.

He felt a flicker of disappointment. He had expected her to offer at least a few words of comfort to ease the weight on his heart. After all, he had always been honest and open, never hiding his true feelings from her.

Men were often fickle, and Frederick believed he had behaved better than any man under the sun.

Still, she wouldn't stay angry for long. Frederick knew Selena was kind and forgiving. Once she had time to think it through, she would eventually forgive him, regardless of what he had done.

"Cheer up. We'll get through this. Just wait for me," he said, forcing a smile before leaving.

When his figure disappeared beyond the garden gate, the faint smile on Selena's lips faded slowly. She turned and walked toward Sally's room. When she entered, she saw Sally sitting on the bed, wiping away tears.

Selena's eyes flickered with concern as she hurried over. "What's wrong? Are you still in pain?"

Sally shook her head but looked at Selena with tear-filled eyes. "My lady, I heard everything earlier. His Highness is too much! How could he treat you that way?"

Sally had sensed something was wrong between them the moment she heard Freya call Frederick scum. She had noticed how he didn't react as most would, as if he had grown used to being addressed that way.

Not even Selena had ever dared speak to him so boldly. It was clear how much Frederick doted on Freya.

"My lady, do you really believe he will change his mind?"

Selena stared out the window, her eyes calm and unreadable. "Whether he forgets Freya or not is no longer my concern."

Sally looked surprised. "My lady..."

"No one wants to stay in one place, hoping someone will occasionally look back at them. Since he has already walked away from the world we shared, all I can do is keep moving forward," Selena added.

Nine years of love couldn't be wiped away in a day. But once something was broken, it didn't matter how much one tried to fix or protect it. It would never be the same as before.

The old saying was right—some things just couldn't be fully repaired.

"Focus on getting well. We're going back to the capital soon." Selena stood and headed for the door. "I'll go check on my brother first."

Sally wanted to say more, but in the end, she just quietly watched Selena's graceful back and held her tongue.

Everyone thought Selena was fragile and gentle, someone who could be shaped and molded at will. But only Sally truly knew how strong she was.

When news came that Thomas and his wife, Lara Smith, had fallen in battle, Gideon fell ill and Sebastian fainted. It was the seemingly most fragile woman who single-handedly arranged all the funeral rites for her parents.

She seemed fragile, but everyone depended on her the most. Otherwise, Frederick wouldn't go to her for comfort every time he was wronged. He just didn't realize it himself!

After that day, Selena stayed with Sally and Sebastian, personally caring for both of them. Seeing that she neither cried nor caused a scene, Frederick assumed she had accepted the situation with Freya. With that, he felt somewhat at ease.

For seven days, they didn't see each other.

On the seventh day, the army finished its preparations and was ready to depart for the capital. A recovered but still weak Sebastian was leading the soldiers at the front, leaving Sally as the only one standing by Selena's side.

When they first arrived here, Frederick had been with Selena. They laughed together and were the picture of ease and happiness, drawing the envy of everyone around. But now, as they prepared to leave, the person next to the prince was someone else entirely.

Sally couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. In contrast, Selena remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

By midmorning, the army had been waiting for some time, but Frederick hadn't arrived. The soldiers waited another hour before the prince's carriage finally appeared in the distance, slowly making its way to the city gate.

Though the man himself had yet to arrive, the shouting could already be heard clearly by everyone nearby.

"You're already engaged to her, so why bring me to the capital? Do you think I'm like her? That I'd sacrifice my dignity for fame and status? I'm not and I won't. I will never share a man with another woman. If you can't promise to love only me for the rest of your life, then don't bother. Now, get out of here!"