Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“Do you want to enter the palace and become a concubine?” Rafael asked bluntly.
Sophie studied Rafael’s face. “Did His Majesty send you?”
“No. I’m asking this for myself.”
Sophie met his clear, unwavering gaze and slowly shook her head. No, I don’t.”
Rafael then inquired, “Is there someone you have in your heart?”
He scrutinized her closely, noting every subtle change in her expression.
She replied firmly, “No, there isn’t.”
“Any particular person you have feelings for?”
“None.”
Rafael understood he held no place in her heart, but hearing her admit she had no feelings for any man at all was like a sharp sting from a bee.
It was a slight pain, but bearable, given that her indifference wasn’t directed solely at him.
Seeing his expression momentarily pale before returning to normal, Sophie pondered for a while before asking, “Your Highness, are you here to help me resolve this issue?” Rafael was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on her. “I like you and wish to marry you. Will you agree?”
Crash!
The cup in Sophie’s hand toppled over, shattering into pieces on the floor. She stared at Rafael in astonishment. “Marshal, this isn’t a jest you should make!”
Sophie quickly rose, shaking the water from her dress. Normally composed, she was now somewhat flustered.
“Although we’ve known each other since we were young, I went to Meadow Ridge when I was about seven. Even if you visit Meadow Ridge every year, I’ve never seen you…” “Alright, fine. I’ll stop teasing you,” Rafael said with a reassuring smile as he picked up his cup again.
“When I said I liked you, I was jesting. However, my intention to marry you is sincere. I’ve recovered the Southern Frontier, and the king wants to grant me a marriage. My sister-in-law showed me the portraits of several young women, but none of them were to my liking. Then I happened to hear from my siste in-law that the king has given you a three-month deadline to find a husband. If you don’t, you’ll have to enter the palace as a concubine.”
He picked up the cup to drink, but found it empty. Swallowing as if he were still drinking, he continued, “You don’t want to enter the palace, and I don’t want a wife forced onto me. Isn’t this a perfect. coincidence? If we marry, it will solve our immediate problems. Should you later find someone you truly like, I will grant you a divorce.”
It sounded quite reasonable, but Sophie was puzzled. “If you didn’t like the women, why didn’t the queen and Lady Helene continue their search? Surely they can find someone suitable?” Rafael’s fists tightened, his brows furrowing with a trace of unresolved sadness. He offered a faint, rueful smile.
“There will be no suitable match. The woman I wish to marry is already married.” =
Sophie sensed his helplessness from the faint smile of regret. She hadn’t expected someone as accomplished as him to be unable to be with his ideal partner.
Rafael’s voice softened. “Since my heart is already bound to her and
I can no longer share it with anyone else, why should I marry another and ruin their lives?”
Sophie was touched. She hadn’t imagined that Rafael could be so deeply affectionate.
Although she was touched, Sophie still refused.
“His Majesty’s edict requires me to find a husband within three. months. I believe he intends to designate a successor for the title. If I were to marry you under false pretenses, His Majesty might not approve.”
Rafael hadn’t anticipated this response. It seemed she still didn’t fully understand Salvador’s intentis. After a moment’s thought, he pressed his hand down in a calming gesture.
“You needn’t worry about that. I will speak to the king. His concern about designating a successor is likely due to his fear of you finding someone as fickle and unfaithful as Blake.” Disparaging her former suitor was a petty tactic, but it likely seemed reasonable to her.
When Sophie heard Blake’s name, she remained unmoved. However, what Rafael said wasn’t without merit. The title of duke was now backed by the Devin Army-the generals and soldiers. who used to follow Hector, and now Sophie. So, choosing a successor required careful consideration.
Previously, when Salvador had conferred honors upon her father, he had mentioned that her future husband could inherit the title. He probably hadn’t anticipated that she might earn the Devin Army’s recognition on the battlefield herself. Now that it was known, a casual selection was out of the question.
The three-month period, which was supposedly for her to find a husband, was, in reality, Salvador’s way of searching for a suitable successor. But Salvador would only consider whether the person was suitable for the title, not whether they were suitable for her or capable of spending a lifetime with her.
In this case, it was easy to end up with a mismatched partner who didn’t get along with her.
Following her line of thought, Rafael could easily guess her current feelings.
“Even after my ideal partner married, I hadn’t planned to take a wife. However, the king insists on granting me a marriage. Even though I’m his younger brother, I must comply with his wishes. Rather than marry someone else, it is better for my partner to be you,” he said. Sophie gazed into his deep black eyes beneath his long lashes, which seemed as dark as a starless night.
After a long pause, she finally said, “Your Highness. If we marry, and you find someone you like later, she would only be a concubine. I don’t need a divorce from you. I have already divorced once. If I were to do it again, it would be a disgrace to my late parents.”
Rafael fought the urge to leap. Instead, he pressed down on his crown with a restrained motion. He tried to maintain a nonchalant demeanor, but his lips betrayed him, curling upward despite his effort.
“Aside from her, I won’t have affection for any other woman. Living this way with you for the rest of our lives seems quite acceptable. At the very least, we can respect and honor each other as guests,” he said. Sophie couldn’t help but be curious. “May I ask who the lady is? Your clearly have a deep affection for her. How could she bear to disappoint you?”
When the woman in question was mentioned, Rafael’s eyes glowed brightly. “She doesn’t actually know my feelings. It was merely my one-sided affection. Before I went to the Southern Frontier, I went to her mother to ask for her hand in marriage, but her mother likely didn’t think much of me. After I left for the battlefield, she arranged. for her daughter to be married far away. As for who she is, it’s best. not to say. She is already married, and I wouldn’t want to affect her.” Sophie nodded in agreement. “What you say is very true. A woman’s reputation is important. Since she is already married, it’s not right for you to keep mentioning her.”
She felt a surge of respect for Rafael. Despite his bravery and strategic mind on the battlefield, he was so considerate and sensitive about the difficulties women face. Even though he loved the woman deeply, he refrained from mentioning her to avoid tarnishing her reputation.
If more men were like Rafael, the world would indeed be a kinder place for women.
Seeing her reaction, Rafael adopted a commanding tone similar to that of a military camp. “Sophie, give me a clear answer. Be straightforward, and don’t dawdle. If there are any issues, I’ll take full responsibility.”
At his tone, Sophie responded almost instinctively, “I’ll do it!”
Rafael felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Great! Let’s figure out our roles. You handle the household, while I’ll take care of everything outside it. My mother and sister will be living with us. After we marry, my sister won’t stay long, but my mother will be a challenge. She is accustomed to luxury and pride, and likes to exert her authority. But I’m confident she won’t be able to bully you.”
Sophie was a woman who became strong when faced with force, and soft when dealing with weakness. It was time for her to face some consequences.
Sophie couldn’t help but smile. “Your Highness, you’re truly considerate. I suspect you didn’t want to marry anyone else because you were worried your mother would mistreat your wife.”
Her comment, though a joke, carried an undercurrent of truth.
Rafael’s eyes burned with a fiery intensity. “Sophie, you really are perceptive.”
After Rafael left Frederick and two senior maids entered the room.
Sophie didn’t hide anything from them. She told them Rafael had come to propose, and that she had accepted.
Frederick and the two senior maids were taken aback. They were silent for a moment, then their expressions turned grave.
This is the best outcome.” Sophie said with a light smile. “Though His Highness and I do not share romantic feelings, we have a bond as comrades. Marrying him is certainly preferable to having to accept a random suitor into our family.”