Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
As he looked at the leaves falling by the lake, he remembered how Sophie had used leaves to harm him. He probably wouldn’t be able to achieve that level of skill in his lifetime.
“Fight? As in the kind of sword dance that women do? Why does that matter?” Freya sneered.
Blake continued dully, “She might know sword-dancing too, but I’m talking about her combat skills. When I fought her today, she used leaves to injure my face.”
Freya shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t believe it. How is that possible? You exaggerated by saying she knows how to fight, and now you’re saying she can pick up leaves and use them to hurt people? Impossible. I’ve never heard of anyone who can do that.”
“She didn’t pick up the leaves. She propelled them with her inner force. There was no need to pick them, up,” Blake explained.
Freya looked at him skeptically. “Are you lying to me? I don’t believe it. You’re exaggerating too muchBlake fell silent. He had suffered a thorough defeat in today’s battle against Sophie, and it was embarrassing to talk about it.
“Is it really true?” Freya pressed.
Blake sighed. “Forget it, let’s not talk about this.”
Pouting. Freya punched him playfully. “I knew you were lying to me. Anyway, it doesn’t matter how she left. As long as everything’s settled, it’s fine.
“Since she said it’s not worth sharing the position of your wife with me, I actually feel the same. The cunning methods she learned while managing the household affairs are beyond my ability to match. That’s also where her real talent lies.”
She tilted her head and faced Blake. “I can’t learn her skills, but if you want me to sweet-talk you like her, I can manage that.”
Freya held her hands to her chest, smiled gently, and called in a cute voice, “Honey!”
She shivered dramatically. “Oh my god, that was so disgusting! How does she act like that?”
Blake shivered too. Freya’s deliberate act had reminded him that Sophie never did such things. She spoke softly, but her tone was neither humble nor overbearing. Her attitude was gentle but firm, and she never spoke nonsense.
Freya skipped away happily. Although Blake hadn’t taken half of Sophie’s dowry, it didn’t change the fact that she was gone. Freya would soon be Blake’s only rightful wife, without having to share the position with another woman.
Both losses and gains were simply a part of life.
The open-minded Freya didn’t want to be as pretentious as Sophie.
Instead of following after Freya, Blake sat down by the lake instead.
When the divorce edict arrived, it felt like a gust of wind had blown away the fog that clouded his confused mind.
He remembered many things-seeing Sophie for the first time, proposing marriage, and being ecstatic when she agreed to marry him after asking him a few questions. He recalled the preparations for their wedding and how reluctant he was to leave Sophie when he had to go off to war on their wedding day.
Even whilst marching to war, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how he had lifted Sophie’s veil. The memory of her stunning beauty had shaken him to the core. He could hardly believe Sophie had agreed to marry him; that they were now husband and wife.
Later, as the war raged on and many of his friends fell in battle, Blake no longer thought of Sophie. Instead, he focused on strategizing with Freya and their fellow soldiers, trying to figure out how to defeat the enemy.
When he saw Freya mount her horse with heroic grace, he realized that women could be valiant. Whilst on this battlefield of life and death, Sophie felt so far away from him.
And then a thought crossed his mind-perhaps a woman as refined and noble as Sophie wasn’t that great after all.
He fell in love with Freya when she shared her thoughts. She believed women should be as strong as men, unneeding of protection because they could protect themselves. Freya’s cheerfulness, bravery, and vigor made Blake see Sophie as nothing more than a pretty face whose delicate life was protected by the blood and sacrifices of soldiers like them.
He seemed to forget the sacrifices of the Devin family’s seven heroes. Compared to them, what were his and Freya’s accomplishments worth?
When Sophie arrived at Northwatch Estate, she noticed a new plaque bearing the estate’s name had been placed at the entrance. The royal chancellor had personally penned the words, which were then carefully carved onto the plaque by skilled craftsmen.
The main gates were wide open, letting Sophie enter the newly-renovated estate.
The main hall doors and courtyards had all been replaced, erasing any trace of blood or sword marks. Even the bloodstains on the walls, which couldn’t be washed away, were hidden behind a fresh coat of white paint.
Solomon came over to Northwatch Estate, bringing some of the younger members of the Devin family along with him to help Sophie unload and arrange everything. After they all hustled for a while, Solomon walked around the estate with Sophie.
Once bustling with life, the mansion now felt desolate,
“You’re the only lady of the duke’s estate now, and the servants you have are those who followed your from your natal home.
“You should find a steward to manage the household affairs and hire more servants for the rough work in the kitchen, garden, and stables, as well as to handle the carriages. If it’s inconvenient for you, I can help find some people for you,” said Solomon.
“Uncle Solomon, you’re busy with business. I wouldn’t want to trouble you. Holly and Lily will take care of it,” replied Sophie gratefully,
Solomon looked at his niece and sighed. “Family should never talk about not wanting to trouble each other. In the past, your father used to invite us to gather after returning from battles.
“Listening to his tales of danger on the battlefield both awed and scared us. But more than that, it filled us with pride. Now, there are no more warriors in the Devin family.”
Many descendants of the Devin family’s collateral branches chose to study or run businesses. It was a pity that such a distinguished family couldn’t produce more warriors. Sophie remained silent, her eyes filled with sorrow.
“From now on, cut off all ties with the Jaffe family. Don’t resent or see them again. Just live your own life well,” Solomon advised.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Solomon. I understand,” Sophie said respectfully.
Observing his quiet, virtuous, and beautiful niece, Solomon added, “One day, Blake will regret what he did.”
Sophie’s gaze turned cold and determined. “Perhaps, but I no longer care.”
The members of the Devin family could easily face challenges and let them go without lingering attachments.
Solomon nodded, satisfied with her unwavering determination. “Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to bring back the furniture included in your dowry. You don’t need to handle it.” “Thank you, Uncle Solomon.”
Solomon waved goodbye as he left the estate.
After a discussion, Holly and Lily decided to contact an agent to help hire new servants, as that was a priority.
Although they only had one lady to serve, the Duke of Northwatch’s family was still of high status, Coupled with the fact that Sophie had just gotten a divorce, there was a certain standard they needed to maintain so that people would not look down on her.
Apart from servants, they also needed to find a head steward. The servants who had accompanied Sophie to Valor Estate as part of her dowry ere not qualified enough to fill that position…
Holly asked Sophie to make the final decision. Having managed Valor Estate for a year, Sophie understood the importance of the head steward and knew she couldn’t be hasty.
Since she couldn’t find a suitable candidate at the moment, she said, “Let’s wait for my uncle to come tomorrow and ask him to help find someone. In the meantime, you can go ahead and hire some new servants and teach them the rules.”
“Understood, my lady!” Holly nodded and left.
Back in the day, from the cleaning servants to the head maid and all the housekeepers at Northwatch Estate, everyone was well-behaved and followed the rules. The noble families in the capital all praised them.
Unfortunately, they were all lost in that tragic massacre.