Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“And how do I compare to Sophie?” Serena pressed further.
Vivian hesitated for a moment, then smiled brightly. “My lady, you’re naturally livelier and more radiant than her.”
Serena felt a surge of pride. “Find that headpiece Sophie gifted me… No, forget it, don’t bother with her things.”
Jessica would arrange everything for Serena in due course. When the time came, she couldn’t afford to appear shabby. Otherwise, how would she capture the Hell O Monarch’s attention?
“Is there something you’re particularly happy about, my lady?” Vivian asked.
Serena was brimming with joy and excitement, almost bursting to share the news. But recalling Jessica’s instructions, she managed to hold back. The anticipation was nearly unbearable; she wouldn’t be able to endure keeping this secret for the next few days.
So, she went to Rebecca’s room. She sent away her mother’s maid, Jade, leaving just the two of them alone.
Rebecca looked frail, lying in bed with a sickly appearance. She hadn’t gotten up for several days. Though she was cleaned daily, there was still a lingering odor.
Serena sat at a distance, trying to contain her excitement. “Mom, Lady Helen’s birthday banquet at Hell Monarch Estate is next month, and Lady Jessica said she would take me.”
Rebecca’s response was curt, “Let her do her own thing. Why would you go? That woman didn’t even send us an invitation. Have you forgotten how she’s caused trouble for your brother? Don’t go to her celebration!”
“Mom!” Serena’s eyes were brimming with excitement. “I said Lady Jessica will take me there. She said that at the birthday banquet, she’ll help me become one of the Hell Monarch’s concubines.” Rebecca’s eyes, which had been as dead as a tomb, suddenly sparkled with life.
She struggled to sit up and asked, “Are you serious?”
“Of course. Lady Jessica told me in person, and Grand Princess Eleanor was there too.”
Rebecca’s heart leaped with excitement, as though her blood was rushing freely again, and her breathing quickened.
“If this works out, Grand Princess Eleanor and Lady Jessica will be our great benefactors.” Rebecca paused, frowning. “Why would they help you like this? Are they plotting something? Don’t be too happy just yet. Let me think about it.”
Serena stomped her foot in frustration. “Mom, no matter what their intentions are, all that matters is that I can marry into the royal family. Even if I have to be a concubine beneath Sophie, I don’t care. I’m younger than her, and she’s just a once-divorced woman who remarried. How can she be better than me?”
She sat down again. “Besides, Grand Princess Eleanor has always liked matchmaking. Perhaps she’s dissatisfied with Sophie and wants to send me to annoy her. Even if Grand Princess Eleanor has some scheme, I’ll do my best to help her as long as I can become the Hell Monarch’s concubine. After all, I’ll just be a concubine. It’s not like I can achieve much.”
Rebecca thought her daughter’s words made sense. However, she still remembered the events at Eleanor’s birthday banquet and had a lingering feeling that things were not so simple.
“Mom, Blake has now become a ninth-rank official. Dad and Benjamin have no hope of promotion, and Freya has always been against you. Viola is backed by the Earl of Silverstone’s family, but aside from offering some dowry to support our family, she doesn’t have much to offer us.”
Rebecca thought about it. Serena was right.
Could they rely on Bryan? He couldn’t even pass the first level of the national examination.
At this rate, how could they restore the glory of the Jaffe family?
Rebecca was wary of Eleanor and Jessica’s intentions, but if Serena could become the Hell Monarch’s concubine, the benefits would outweigh any potential costs. At least Serena’s position would be secured. That was a priority.
“Have you asked them what the plan is?” Rebecca asked with a sigh.
Serena relayed everything Jessica had told her. After listening, Rebecca pondered for a while. Although the plan seemed quite ordinary, it was indeed effective.
If Rafael embraced Serena in front of many quests, he would have to take responsibility for her, both out of respect and for the sake of his reputation. If he didn’t, it would tarnish his name.
Rebecca’s only concern was that even if Rafael married Serena, he might feel that she was scheming against him, which could result in him not favoring her. If that happened, Serena’s position as a concubine might end up being more symbolic than substantive.
But then Rebecca thought, so what if that happened?
The Hell Monarch was incredibly influential. He controlled the Mystic Army and served as Chief Judge in the Supreme Court. Once Serena became his concubine, whether she was favored or not in their private quarters would remain a mystery to outsiders.
Her status would make it easier for Jonathan, Benjamin, and Bryan to build connections and have more opportunities for promotion.
With that in mind, Rebecca nodded slowly. “Then, go ahead and act according to the situation.”
Suddenly, she remembered something and added, “Sophie has a good relationship with that old hag from the second branch of our family. I wonder if she will be invited this time. Go and ask.” “Mom, Lady Jessica said I can’t disclose this matter to anyone. She even forbade me to tell you in case someone around you leaks it.”
“I obviously won’t tell her. I just want to know if Sophie invited her.”
“Should I ask?”
“Have your eldest sister-in-law ask. You don’t need to go. Just ask her gently and say you want to know.”
Rebecca slowly lay back down, finding it difficult to talk for long without getting breathless. She still needed to take Snowdrop Pills.
Serena went to find Amelia, who indeed went to Charlotte and inquired.
Charlotte looked at her and asked, “Who sent you to ask this?”
“Serena,” Amelia answered honestly.
Charlotte smiled. “So, it was your mother-in-law who wanted to know. Tell her that I was invited.”
Taken aback, Amelia asked, “Were you really invited? Or is it a lie? After all, you’re also from our family. Why would she invite you?”
“Why wouldn’t she? Not everyone from our family is heartless,” Charlotte said with great pleasure and satisfaction. “Go back and tell Serena so that she’ll tell Rebecca. Let her stew over it a bit.” Amelia smiled wryly. “Aunt Charlotte, are you and my mother-in-law truly at such odds?”
Charlotte sneered. “Who’s at odds with her? I just can’t stand her greed, ruthlessness, and ingratitude. Amelia, let me tell you something you might not want to hear-you’re foolish. You can’t even tell who’s good to you and who’s not.”
“How could I not tell? Aunt Charlotte, you know my own family is not supportive, my husband doesn’t care much for me, and my mother-in-law looks down on me. What can I do?” Amelia replied.
“You may not be able to do much, but don’t aid their schemes,” Charlotte said firmly. “Your mother-in-law, Viola, Freya, and your youngest sister-in-law are all terrible people. They all want to make things difficult for Sophie. Just don’t help them.”
“Of course, I won’t,” Amelia quickly assured.
“Amelia, sometimes pretending to be deaf and dumb can be quite useful,” Charlotte said with a meaningful look.
Amelia was somewhat slow on the uptake, so it took a while for her to understand.
Finally, she said, “Recently, I’ve been feeling unwell. I need to rest for a while.”
Charlotte smiled. “Go ahead, then. Call a physician to check on you. Let them cause their own troubles, and don’t worry about anything else.”
Amelia understood, thanked her, and took her leave.
Charlotte looked at the invitation. She hadn’t planned to attend. She knew Sophie valued sentiment, but her presence would be inappropriate. At Helen’s birthday banquet, her appearance would inevitably represent the Jaffe family. She didn’t want to associate Sophie with the Jaffe family any further. Not in the slightest.