Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Maybe he had thought he had Sophie under control. After all, she was an orphan with no family to rely on.
But who knew she was so skilled in martial arts, even surpassing him and Freya in many respects?
He couldn’t even imagine Sophie single-handedly charging into battle, displaying such bravery and earning countless merits. During the siege of Simonton City, he had witnessed her courage and decisiveness firsthand. Amidst a rain of arrows and countless dangers, she remained calm and composed. Even if her calmness was an act, it was enough to intimidate the enemy.
And it had intimidated him as well.
Seeing that he had not answered, Freya understood clearly and smiled bitterly.
“Retribution. Everything that happened is retribution. But we both wronged Sophie, so why haven’t you faced any consequences? You’re remarrying, and to the daughter from an earl’s family at that. You’ll join the Prince family, and from now on, your official career will face no more obstacles.”
Blake disliked hearing such words, and his patience wore thin.
“What consequences are you talking about in matters of love and relationships? I let Sophie down, but I haven’t harmed her in any way.
“If you want to speak of retribution, don’t you know what caused yours? Don’t you remember what happened in Fawnrun City? Do you not know the connection between Fawnrun City and the destruction of the Duke of Northwatch’s family? Dare you speak of retribution so lightly and not fear that true retribution might come for you?”
“I have already faced retribution,” Freya said bitterly. “The soldiers under my command have died, and those who survived are wounded. Now I have been dismissed from the military and can only remain in the corner of this estate, subject to the control of your legitimate wife.”
She suddenly lifted her head, her gaze sharp and cold.
“But Blake, let me tell you this-I despise the scheming of ladies in the inner household more than anything. I won’t provoke her, but if she dares to provoke me, I will make sure she regrets it!” Hearing her words, Blake already anticipated a tumultuous future in the inner household.
“You are you, and she is she. Just stick to your own duties. What’s this talk about provoking each other?”
“I’ve said my piece,” Freya declared. “After all, you and I are bound by the king’s edict. This life will likely see us tied together. If you cannot manage her, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Blake looked at the resentment in her eyes, and felt a surge of irritation.
“Do as you please,” he said, his voice cold.
With that, he stood up and left.
Freya watched his retreating figure, lifting her chin and holding back her tears with all her might, determined not to let a single drop fall.
She couldn’t cry, couldn’t be distressed, couldn’t let anyone see her as weak, especially not Sophie. She had gone to Grace Mansion earlier, and all the furniture had been replaced. It was necessary, as Sophie had taken most of the belongings when she left.
It was clear that a significant amount of money had been spent.
Hadn’t the Jaffe family always said they didn’t have money? She wondered how much money had been spent on bridal gifts, and how many more silver coins would be needed for the wedding banquet. Eventually, her tears slid down her cheeks. The satisfaction she once felt when provoking Sophie now seemed like a distant memory.
Her pride had turned to dust, and she felt utterly defeated.
She had lost.
Silverstone Estate was bustling with activity. Thanks to Oliver’s commanding position in the Hell Monarch Army, the estate was alive with excitement. Although the wedding was scheduled for the following day, the festivities had already begun with a grand banquet today.
When Viola received the divorce letter and left the Farrell family, they felt a sense of obligation toward their daughter-in-law. In addition to returning the dowry, they provided her with a substantial amount of silver coins. They even gave her Thomas’s military pension, and purchased land for her.
Being from a military background, the Farrell family felt that Viola shouldn’t spend her life in hardship. At that time, Viola had insisted she would never remarry. The Farrells worried that without money or land, her life could be very difficult. Hence, they gave her a considerable amount.
The wedding gown from Enchanted Boutique, which usually required a six-month advance booking, was secured for her with additional silver coins, ensuring she wore the most prestigious gown from the boutique.
Her dowry was re-packed into new chests and included numerous items, totaling sixty-eight loads. Viola had learned that Sophie’s dowry for marrying Rafael was only sixty-four loads. She intended to surpass Sophie in every way.
Sophie had divorced Blake and left the Jaffe family. How she lived in glory after marrying into the royal family was her own business, but on the day of the wedding, Viola must outshine Sophie. Otherwise, how could Viola hold her head high when entering the Jaffe family?
She had heard that Kyle had also left the capital. Only the Devin family members had come to Northwatch Estate, and it was unclear whether they had not invited others or if the guests simply hadn’t turned up.
Regardless of the reason, Sophie’s wedding to the Hell Monarch was indeed somewhat lacking in grandeur compared to hers. Viola was determined to make her own wedding more impressive than Sophie’s. The Hell Monarch, being a royal, would not personally fetch his bride. However, Blake would come to personally welcome her, which was another way to overshadow Sophie.
Viola was not interested in competing with Sophie, but given Sophie’s past prominence, she, as the new wife, could not afford to be outshone.
Moreover, Viola believed in what Serena had said. Evelyn was always muddled and insisted otherwise, but she was old, preoccupied with managing household affairs, and out of touch with romantic matters. If Sophie hadn’t liked Blake, she wouldn’t have married him in the first place. She wouldn’t have waited for him for an entire year, managed the household, taken care of his parents, or even used her own dowry to treat her mother-in-law’s illness.
A woman who loved someone didn’t easily let go. When Thomas died, Viola was heartbroken for a long time, only slowly recovering after returning to her parental home.
Now, Viola was embarking on a new marriage. Despite the scandal that had once surrounded the Jaffe family and the existence of a rightful wife bestowed by the king through an edict, she was still moved by Blake’s impressive demeanor when she met him.
Her brother had also said that this marriage couldn’t be refused. If Oliver wanted to maintain control over the army, he couldn’t go against the prime minister’s goodwill.
But this was not merely the prime minister’s goodwill. The king was promoting Blake, a young general. Rafael, being a prince, was a potential threat with too much power, which was why he had lost his military command and was marrying Sophie, a once-divorced woman.
Though Viola herself was also once divorced, her situation was different. Her previous husband had died in battle, and her in-laws had granted her a divorce out of sympathy.
Before Sophie received her divorce edict, she was to be cast aside. Sophie likely understood this well, which was why she sought the divorce so she could leave the Jaffe family with some dignity. Viola knew she could never truly compete with Sophie, but she had to outshine Sophie on her wedding day. This would help her establish her position in the Jaffe family.
She didn’t intend to step on Sophie’s toes deliberately. It was just that, having listened to Serena’s words and recalling Sophie’s calm demeanor on that day, she felt that Sophie was deliberately concealing her true feelings.
Such scheming was truly detestable. If Viola didn’t tear down Sophie’s facade, it would only serve to embolden her further.
On the twenty-fourth day of December, a snowstorm had swept through the morning. The sky was overcast, and the biting wind cut through like a blade.
Lily gazed at the gloomy sky, and prayed, “Today, our mistress is getting married. Heaven has already been unkind to the Devin family and to our mistress. Could you please grant us a clear day? I will pray diligently to the Lord every day.”
Early this morning, Sophie was awakened and taken by the staff from Elegance Atelier. They were there to cleanse her face, ensuring it was properly cared for so that her makeup would look its best. The staff applied some sort of paste to her face, instructing her to lie still and not speak. Feeling overwhelmed and having barely slept the night before, Sophie soon fell into a deep sleep while lying down on a chaise lounge.
It was only last night that she had fully resigned herself to the fact that her master, Violet, and the others wouldn’t be coming. Although she understood it was her own doing that caused their absence, it still pained her.
After a while, the paste was washed off by Sally, a staff member from Elegance Atelier. The process was thorough, requiring no effort on her part. However, Sophie woke up and remained lying still as they worked.
Three women from Elegance Atelier, all around thirty years old, attended to her. Their skin was as fair as snow, indicating their proficiency in skincare.
The excitement of Sophie’s attendants was evident, especially Lulu, who had brought Ryan along to witness the transformation of his aunt into a beautiful bride.
Ryan was understanding and perceptive. He held Sophie’s hand, and spoke more fluently than before. “Don’t be afraid. I’m from your natal family. Even though you’re getting married, you still have family with you.”
Sophie felt she was failing miserably at controlling her emotions, and even Ryan could tell she was unhappy.
She grasped Ryan’s hand in return. “Of course, I have family. I’m very happy today. Do you like the prince? We’ll be moving to his estate soon. Have you changed into your new clothes for today? Go and change into them so that your aunt can see.”
“Okay!” Ryan said cheerfully.
Lulu smiled, and took him downstairs to change into his new clothes. The lively presence of the child brightened Sophie’s mood significantly.