Provoking a Graceful Bloom

"You're still angry about that? It's such a trivial thing, and you're holding onto it even now?" Frederick asked, clearly disappointed in Selena.

"Do you truly think ruining my brother's life is trivial?" she replied, just as deeply disappointed in him.

The Frederick she once knew, a man who was fair and impartial, had long since vanished.

Selena continued, "If you think it's so trivial, then maybe she should stab you next time. Let's see how you feel then."

The image made Frederick's stomach tighten.

Suddenly, a wave of helplessness washed over him, making him say, "Forget it, Lena. You stabbed her too. Do you know how badly she's hurt? Not just physically, but her pride as well. That wound makes her feel like she's no longer a perfect lady."

"Since when was she ever perfect?" Selena countered.

"Lena!" Frederick's tone sharpened. "I don't want to argue with you. Let's leave the past where it belongs. As for you and General Campbell deserting the army..."

Selena cut in, "I sent someone to deliver a message to the king and begged for permission to escort my brother back to the capital for treatment. His Majesty agreed. I received a verbal edict that allowed us to leave at any time."

Her calm gaze rested on the prince's suddenly flushed face, her expression unreadable. "If you don't believe me, you can go to the palace and ask His Majesty yourself."

Frederick stared at her. He hadn't expected her to have taken so many steps behind his back.

He was still a little upset. But when he caught sight of the wooden box in her hands, the anger in his chest quietly faded. Bringing a gift clearly indicated that she intended to make peace, and he wasn't so petty as to turn her away.

Besides, he had come with another purpose today.

"All right, let's forget the past. In ten days, we will be married. I've come to say something to you."

Selena said nothing, simply listening quietly.

Frederick hesitated. Such things were never easy to say. But with the wedding coming up soon, what he wanted to convey couldn't be delayed any longer.

"Lena, I... didn't think I needed to discuss this with you. But since we have known each other for so long, I hope we can live in peace going forward, without..."

"Do you intend to marry Freya, Your Highness?"

Selena's slender fingers traced the wooden box as she spoke, her calm manner unreadable. A faint, mocking smile played on her lips.

"Half a month ago, you said you would soon forget her, didn't you?"

Frederick turned his face away, avoiding her gaze. Her smile made him uncomfortable.

"Lena, I've known you for many years, and have always respected you. But before... Before I truly understood what love between a man and a woman meant, I thought what we had was passion—until I met Fey," he explained, now using an affectionate nickname for Freya.

He sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice as he continued, "Lena, I'm sorry. My heart belongs to Fey. She is the only woman I have ever truly desired."

"Your parents would never approve of you marrying the daughter of a traitor—"

"That is the fault of her father and brothers, not hers," Frederick cut in immediately.

"Since you've made up your mind, go beg the king for permission to marry her. Why come to me?"

Selena was well aware of the difficulty he faced. With Freya's background, getting permission to marry her wouldn't be easy.

Frederick's hand clenched slightly as he pondered his next words. After a long moment, he looked up at Selena, who was calmly drinking her tea, looking completely at ease. That only made his awkwardness stand out even more.

Finally, he said in a low voice, "Lena, I initially intended to marry only Fey. But you and I have known each other for so many years. I don't want my breaking off our engagement to leave you with nothing."

Selena raised an eyebrow, her perfect face unreadable. "So?"

"So, I won't break our engagement. We'll marry as planned, and you'll become my princess consort. However, I have two conditions."

His lips pressed together, betraying his struggle. Then, he forced himself to say, "First, you must go to the king. Ask him to grant me permission to take Fey as my secondary wife, and for the two of us to be wed on the same day as our wedding."