Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Blake only learned later that his mother and elder brother had caused a scene at Northwatch Estate. Furious, he spent two days away from home, staying at an inn.
Even there, he couldn’t find peace; the news of his family’s troubles spread throughout the capital, and the inn was no exception.
Meanwhile, Freya was shunned at Valor Estate and avoided by everyone. She eventually decided to return to her parents’ home for a few days, hoping to escape the situation.
Upon arriving, she discovered that her parents had sold their house and left the capital.
She asked her neighbor, who, upon seeing Freya’s veiled face, responded curtly. “Who wouldn’t leave under such circumstances? Every day, people point fingers and insult them. If your parents didn’t die from how furious they were with you, count yourself lucky!”
Freya had never imagined her parents would act so swiftly. They had likely sold the house at a low price.
It also made sense. With the gifts and money the Jaffes had given. them for her and Blake’s marriage, her parents were set for life. They no longer needed to endure the scorn of the people in the capital. Yet, Freya felt a pang of sadness. She understood her parents’ decision, but being abandoned by them was a painful blow. aSupport
Rafael had secluded himself, refusing visitors for several days. During this time, many would-be guests had come knocking. However, he was unwilling to see any of them. When he left the palace, he put aside his usual cheerful demeanor with his elder brother.
Rafael understood the meaning behind the royal edict
The order was clear: Sophie must marry within three months, or she would have to enter the palace as a concubine. Salvador was forcing him to make a choice.
The jests and scoldings exchanged in the palace’s study weren’t just idle chatter; each word carried hidden intentions.
Whether Sophie entered the palace was of no real concern to Salvador. It was a matter of showcasing his power-whether to allow her to remain free or to summon her to the palace was just a matter of issuing an edict.
Years earlier, Salvador had known of Rafael’s feelings for Sophie. Before Rafael headed to the Southern Frontier battlefield, he had approached Melanie, asking her to delay Sophie’s marriage. He promised to present the victory in the Southern Frontier as a dowry.
Salvador was aware of this promise. Now that the conflict in the Southern Frontier was over, Salvador expected him to marry Sophie.
The facade of brotherly affection and respect was clear, at least on the surface. However, a crucial remark made in the palace’s study held a deeper meaning.
It was suggested that Sophie’s marriage to any noble family could pose a threat to the kingdom’s military power.
That statement was aimed directly at Rafael. If he wished to marry Sophie, he would need to relinquish his military command, surrender the Hell Monarch Army, and cease to be its commander.
Salvador had always been wary of him. When the situation in the Southern Frontier became dire, Salvador hesitated to send him and the Hell Monarch Army to support the region. Salvador hoped Hector would be able to recapture the Southern Frontier as he had before, and resist Sandoria’s resurgence..
However, the war had dragged on for a long time. The kingdom was left in a state of emptiness-food, weapons, and warm clothing were all in short supply. Despite their best efforts, Hector and his forces. had been unable to hold out much longer without reinforcements.
It was only after Hector and his sons had sacrificed their lives that Salvador agreed to deploy Rafael and the Hell Monarch Army to the Southern Frontier battlefield, taking command of all the military. forces there.
Could Salvador not be wary of him?
The Hell Monarch Army was Rafael’s own creation. Before their father passed away, he had been granted the medal of command for the Hell Monarch Army, an honor that could never be revoked.
Now, the Mystic Army was made up of soldiers from the Hell Monarch Army, and some soldiers Hector had trained.
Though Rafael held the title of commander, the king could still mobilize them, which was a concession he made to the king.
Since childhood, Salvador had treated him well. The position of crown prince was decided early on, without any dissent. Salvador was indeed an exceptional heir apparent-he was well-versed in both civil and military matters, had been on the battlefield, and had received meticulous guidance from the royal chancellor.
However, being the crown prince was vastly different from being the king. While Salvador’s outward attitude remained unchanged and he showed Rafael continued affection/the underlying wariness had dent for the past three or four years.
“Your Highness, have some tea and take a break, the steward Luke said, entering the study with a servant carrying a pot.
Rafael nodded slightly. “Set it down Where’s Jacob now?”
Luke replied, “Mr. York and Deputy Ziegler have gone to the military camp. The king is rewarding the troops, and they are assisting the Ministry of Defense with their duties and helping to handle the compensation for the fallen soldiers.”
Luke had the pot and cups set down and dismissed the servant, leaving only himself to attend to Rafael.
Rafael was dressed in white, and his dark hair was tied back. His eyes still carried the fierce aura of someone who had recently returned from the battlefield. The killing intent embedded in his bones had not yet faded.
Yet his brow was furrowed, showing clear distress.
He didn’t avoid discussing matters with his trusted aides, so Luke was also aware of the royal edict and knew of Rafael’s earlier proposal to Melanie regarding Sophie.
“Have you made any decisions, Your Highness?” Luke asked softly.
Rafael replied with a hint of bitterness, “There’s nothing to consider. The war is over, and I was expected to relinquish my military command anyway. Still, my brother’s approach is unsettling.” Rafael had no ambitions for the throne, but holding significant military power always made Salvador uneasy.
Relinquishing command of the Hell Monarch Army and the medal of command bestowed by their father could be accomplished with just one word from him. There was no need for such a method. It left Rafael feeling as if he had a lump in his throat. He was unable to speak or swallow, and he felt deeply upset for Sophie.
Rafael often reminisced about the past when he and Salvador shared an open, candid relationship. In those days, any advice or guidance Salvador had to offer was direct and straightforward, without any need for deception.
Luke recalled something, and said, “Your Highness, by His Majesty’s grace, your mother will be moving into the estate in a few days. I’ve already arranged for Elysian Hall to be cleaned and furnished according to her specifications. The total cost came to thirty thousand silver coins.”
Rafael furrowed his brow. “Thirty thousand silver coins? What kind of furniture costs that much?”
He decided to visit Elysian Hall himself. When he arrived, he saw that various types of peonies had been planted in the garden, and a special greenhouse had been constructed. Though it was unnecessary in the summer, it would be useful in winter.
Rafael’s frown deepened. “Have all the orchids been removed?”
Luke followed behind Rafael, and answered cautiously, “They’ve all been relocated. Lady Helen said she doesn’t like orchids because they are prone to mold. She doesn’t want any mildew in her residence.”
Since Rafael had moved into this estate, he had filled the garden with orchids-white orchids, pink orchids, purple orchids, and so on. The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of orchids, reminiscent of being in Meadow Ridge.
Inside the residence, the furniture was neatly arranged and entirely made of mahogany wood. It was hard to believe it would cost thirty thousand silver coins. However, the truly expensive items were the antiques on the display shelves and the paintings on the walls.
The bedroom featured a vanity, a canopied bed, a soft couch, and a chaise lounge, all crafted from mahogany wood with exquisite carvings, matching the quality of the palace furnishings. It was evident Luke had heavily negotiated the thirty thousand silver coins to obtain all these items.
Rafael wasn’t the type to disregard money. He spent wisely and saved when possible. Spending thirty thousand silver coins to decorate a residence seemed excessively lavish to him.
In truth, he had no desire to live with his mother. However, before he set out for his campaign, Salvador had promised that once he had reclaimed the Southern Frontier, it would be a royal favor to allow Helen to reside outside the palace.
While it might sound like a royal favor, the truth was that Salvador was also displeased with how lavishly Helen spent money and her constant interference in the inner palace affairs.
As Helen was Salvador’s aunt and also a concubine of their late father, Salvador couldn’t argue or control her actions; he could only turn a blind eye.
Now that Rafael had returned victorious, he eagerly wished for Helen to move out of the palace as soon as possible, to avoid further trouble within the royal harem.
Helen had been pampered since childhood. Being the youngest daughter in her family, she was cherished by her grandparents and numerous uncles and aunts. After entering the palace, her elder sister, the then-queen consort, showed her extra care. Helen never experienced hardship or suffering in her life.
This indulgence had made her proud and demanding, always wanting the best in everything.