Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
The celebration feast was rather dull, filled with empty flattery.
The most praise was directed towards Rafael, followed by the seasoned generals who had spent many years on the Southern Frontier battlefield. Surprisingly, even a new general like Sophie received praise for her courage and resemblance to her father.
There were some awkward moments too.
Troy, who was slightly tipsy after having a few drinks, jokingly asked Blake if he regretted his marriage to Freya.
Blake glanced at Sophie, his eyes dim and hesitant. He wanted to speak but kept pausing. He couldn’t admit regret, because he had requested a marriage edict from the king. So, he dared not voice his thoughts. However, his expression spoke volumes.
Did he really regret it?
The atmosphere turned uncomfortable. Though Sophie maintained a calm exterior, she felt that Troy was indeed drunk. Such questions were inappropriate in any setting, especially this one.
Rafael stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, “I must thank the Ministry of Defense for promptly sending winter clothing. Otherwise, the campaign would have been much more difficult. Here’s to you, Minister Llyod.”
Rafael raised his glass and cast a cold glance at Davis, the Minister of Defense.
Looking visibly uncomfortable, Davis stood up to respond, “Your
Highness, it is all thanks to your valor that the Southern Frontier was
LIA REHAIR
reclaimed. Supplying military resources is the Ministry of Defense’s duty and does not warrant your gratitude.”
Troy’s behavior, influenced by his drunken state, had been inappropriate. It looked like Davis would have to scold him. tomorrow.
Meanwhile, at Valor Estate, Rebecca had just heard the rumors circulating outside when someone reported that Freya had returned. But instead of coming to pay her respects to her mother-in-law, Freya went straight to her quarters.
Rebecca was so enraged that she clutched her chest. “Bring her to me at once!”Freya returned to the capital in a state of dejection.
Blake kept his distance from her, even though he was injured and could have used her support. He was adamant about avoiding any physical contact with her. Even the others who had been captured with her glared at her with hatred.
They knew why they had been castrated-it was because in Fawnrun City, Freya had tortured that young general and ordered his castration, humiliating him.
Now, the eighteen soldiers who were captured had been treated the same way by the Westhaven soldiers, and they couldn’t voice their suffering or express their grievances. Their hatred for Freya ran deep. Throughout the journey, they avoided her as much as possible. They didn’t want to speak to her, and even when they saw her, they kept their distance.
Freya remembered her earlier enthusiasm, believing she would achieve great things in this war. Instead, she had returned with half her face disfigured and despised by everyone. She could barely tolerate these things, but what she found most unbearable was seeing how the soldiers idolized Sophie, how the generals protected her, and how even Rafael praised her.
Even after returning to the capital, Sophie was able to ride in the king’s carriage to receive the citizens’ congratulations, and she was also able to attend the victory feast. Meanwhile, Freya had to slink. back to her own residence in disgrace.
Her mood was at rock bottom.
Back at Valor Estate, she refused to see anyone. She covered her face and went straight to her room, locking the door behind her. She sat in front of a bronze mirror, scrutinizing her redeka
Her appearance had never held a candle to Sophie’s, and now, with half her face disfigured and the remaining skin dark and rough, she looked like a village woman. Without her former confidence, brora felt as though she was no different from a peasant women. #
As her thoughts swirled aimlessly, she reminded herself that she was married and that Blake cared for her, even if he was struggling to come to terms with her appearance. He might have thought she had been defiled, but she was innocent.
Her burns had been inflicted by Blake himself, proving that he did not despise her looks. After all, if he valued appearances, he would haye seen that Sophie was far more beautiful and would have had no reason to marry Freya.
Their feelings for each other were genuine. They deeply loved one another, having declared their intentions and surrendering everything to each other at Victory Pass.
Their bond was unbreakable. Once they got through this trial, they would live happier lives than Sophie. As long as Sophie’s life was worse than hers, Freya could find some balance within herself. True, Sophie was now a highly sought-after general, with the added prestige of her family. But in the end, she was still second-hand goods. Noble families and people of high moral character wouldn’t marry her; only those desperate for a title would come courting.
But given Sophie’s arrogance, she wouldn’t like any of those suitors either. It seemed she was destined for a life of solitude.
Thinking this, Freya felt a bit more at ease.
A knock sounded at the door. “Madam Freya, Madam Rebecca requests your presence.”
Freya frowned, her mood souring at the thought of the ailing old woman. She hastily covered her face with a piece of brocade fabric and went to Rebecca’s residence. Inside, her father in law, Jonathan, was also present. She gave a respectful curtsy. Jonathan nodded slightly. “It’s good that you’ve returned safely.”
Jonathan was known for his indecision and lack of ambition, which had kept him from securing a prominent official position.
But when Rebecca heard his words, she frowned. “What do you mean by that? She didn’t achieve anything, nor did Blake. Wasn’t it all for nothing? And why are you covering your face, Freya?” Freya felt a pang of frustration. When she first married into the family, Rebecca had been so warm and loving. Now, her tone was sharp and disdainful, much like how she spoke to Amelia. “My face is still healing from my injuries,” Freya replied coolly.
Rebecca slammed her hand on the edge of the bed. “Is it just healing wounds, or did the people of Westhaven torture you? Tell me, were you defiled by the Westhaven soldiers?!”
Freya froze for a moment, then snapped, “Who said that? Who said I was defiled?”
“Just answer the question,” Rebecca said, her face turning dark with anger. “Word has already spread all over town. Who needs to ask? Everyone is talking about it!”
Freya hadn’t expected news of the Southern Frontier events to reach the capital. Her mind went blank.
She raised her voice defensively, “I wasn’t defiled. Yes, I was captured, but I only endured physical suffering. My purity remains intact.”
Jonathan interjected, “Then, you should find someone to vouch for you. Weren’t there others with you when you were captured? They can testify for you.”
Freya’s frustration grew as she thought about her cousin and the other soldiers. Blake had questioned them, but they all claimed ignorance. They had all been locked up together in the wooden hut, so how could they not know?
Their claims of ignorance led Blake and everyone else to believe that Freya had been defiled.
Unable to find anyone to prove her innocence, she coldly replied to her father-in-law, “There’s no need to go out of one’s way to prove. one’s innocence to others. People can say whatever they want. I don’t care.”
“You may not care, but we do,” Rebecca retorted, her face flushed with indignation. “We’re the ones who face scorn and ridicule every day. We’ve become a laughingstock in the capital. We allowed your to marry into our family in hopes of you bringing honor to us, not disgrace.”
Rebecca was seething with regret, feeling as if she were in turmoil. With Freya’s great achievements at Victory Pass, Rebecca had been expecting a bright future. Instead, the disaster at the Southern Frontier had dragged the Jaffe family into the abyss.
Rebecca still had her young son and daughter to marry off. Bryan and Serena were of marriageable age, but their mother had been delaying making arrangements for their respective marriages, hoping to find more prestigious matches after Blake and Freya gained achievements at the Southern Frontier.
Now, with this scandal, who would want to align with the Jaffe family?
Furthermore, Blake and Freya’s names weren’t even on the list of military achievements!
Freya had already endured countless whispers on the battlefield. Coming home to face criticism from her mother-in-law and father-in-law was the last straw. Her pent-up anger erupted.
“When I married into the family, you were overjoyed and eager to get rid of Sophie. Now, I’ve faced defeat and capture at the Southern Frontier. Do you think I wanted this? You don’t care about the suffering I endured or the injuries I sustained. You’re only focusing on blaming me. Even when I say I haven’t been defiled, you don’t believe me. Is this what family is like? If I had known you were so hypocritical, I wouldn’t have entered your home no matter what!”
Having said that, Freya stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Rebecca clutched her chest, stunned by her daughter-in-law’s audacity. “She… she still thinks she’s in the right?!”