Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“Grandfather, Sophie’s right,” Rafael said gently. “All of this is interconnected-it’s impossible to separate them. And it’s not just for your sake, but to avoid war between the two kingdoms as well.”
If they were to tackle the issues separately, Westhaven might indeed admit their wrongs. They might even apologize and offer compensation, but doing so would weaken their bargaining position.
Dominic understood that logic. Still, it was too cruel to ask Sophie to bear the weight of it all. He couldn’t continue the conversation.
At this moment, grandfather and granddaughter faced each other. There was nothing they could say. Family matters were too sensitive, while national affairs were too painful to discuss. But it was rare for them to meet, so neither of them wanted to part ways so soon.
Rafael found the safest topic to bring up-Meadow Ridge.
He smiled and said, “Sophie, why don’t you tell Grandfather about your time at Meadow Ridge? I’m sure he’ll find it very interesting.”
Dominic’s eyes lit up immediately. “Ah, yes! You trained under Sage Adrian at Meadow Ridge, didn’t you? I’ve met him a couple of times. It’s a shame we didn’t get to talk more. What’s he like? Is he strict and stem? With your martial arts skills, you must have gone through a lot of hardship under his guidance. I imagine he’s been a very strict teacher.”
Sophie laughed. “Sage Adrian isn’t strict at all. He’s more like our big brother, and he’s even more mischievous than we are! That’s why our martial uncle, Sage Everett, doesn’t like his style. Every time he finds an excuse to punish us, it’s just to teach Sage Adrian a lesson.”
Dominic was surprised. “Mischievous? That doesn’t sound right. I’ve met him, and my impression was that he was always cold and serious, distant and unapproachable. How could you call him mischievous?”
Sophie laughed again. “He’s been fooling everyone. His so-called cold and serious demeanor? He’s just shy around strangers and afraid of socializing. Once you get to know him, he talks non-stop and shares everything. After a little wine, there’s no secret he can keep. He also loves to tinker with things and makes a mess at the Pathfinders Guild. That’s what drives Sage Everett mad.”
‘Really? I never would’ve guessed.” Dominic was utterly surprised. “I thought since he was a guild master, he was extra serious. I didn’t know he was such a fun-loving person on the inside!”
“That’s right.” Sophie rested her chin in her hand, her eyes sparkling. “When I was nine, I came back home for a month. He sent someone to fetch me. When I got to Meadow Ridge, he had them set off firecrackers every few steps, saying he wanted to make holes in my clothes so I wouldn’t dare leave Meadow Ridge for so long again.” Dominic laughed heartily, only speaking after he composed himself, “That’s just a child’s prank!” ‘Exactly! When I first went to Meadow Ridge, I was terrified of ghosts. One night, he dressed up as one and tried to scare me. I was so frightened I cried. Then, he pulled off his ghostly disguise, looked at me seriously, and told me that there’s no such thing as ghosts. He also said that even if there were, ghosts are weaker than humans.”
Dominic couldn’t help but chuckle, realizing how absurd it sounded for a grown man to try and scare a little girl with a ghost costume.
‘Because of that, Sage Everett grounded Sage Adrian,” Sophie added with a mischievous grin.
“Your martial uncle can ground your mentor?” Dominic asked.
“Yeah, he’s in charge of the Pathfinders Guild’s discipline and rules. There are over a thousand rules, but the punishments? There’s no consistency to them. Sometimes, if Sage Everett is in a bad mood, he’ll dig up old grievances and punish people for those.”
Dominic’s laughter filled the room. “Your martial uncle sounds like quite the interesting character.” “No, he’s boring.”
“Yes, he’s definitely interesting!”
Rafael and Sophie answered at the same time, but their responses couldn’t have been more different.
In truth, Rafael had always found the Adrian that Sophie spoke of to be somewhat unfamiliar. In the prince’s eyes, Adrian’s actions were measured, neither overly serious nor overly indulgent, but with a certain degree of protection toward his apprentices.
And when Sophie described Everett, he was a man of erratic moods, quick to punish without warning, and seemingly feared by everyone.
Dominic watched them with a curious expression. “So, is he interesting? Or not?”
Sophie groaned. “Raf is Sage Everett’s direct apprentice, so of course Sage Everett is good to him. It’s no surprise he thinks his mentor is interesting. But Sage Everett is only kind to him. With the rest of us? We get nothing but harsh punishments. Even my senior apprentice, who’s calm and steady, he sees as too frivolous.”
Dominic gasped in surprise. “Wait, so you two are fellow apprentices?”
Sophie corrected quickly. “He joined later than I did, so he’s my junior apprentice.”
*So, how does this junior apprentice treat his senior apprentice?” Dominic asked playfully.
Sophie’s cheeks turned a soft pink. “Very well!”
Dominic gave Rafael a knowing look. Sometimes, a man didn’t need to say much-the way he looked at someone was enough to show how much he cared.
Back at Victory Pass, Dominic had worried in silence. When Sophie remarried, would the Hell Monarch ever feel any disdain toward her? He had never quite understood Rafael’s true intentions in marrying her. Was there some sort of conspiracy or hidden plot behind it all?
When Dominic exchanged letters with Rafael, there was very little mention of his relationship with Sophie. Most of the letters focused on matters of Fawnrun City, leaving Dominic with even more questions.
After all, as a prince and a man of great accomplishment, didn’t he have a wide range of choices for a wife? Even if Salvador feared Rafael’s military success and disapproved of him marrying into a noble family, the options available to him were endless.
Dominic had once considered the possibility of love being the reason behind the marriage. Even then, it was a fleeting thought. If he truly believed that, he would have lost his vigilance. That would only have harmed Sophie.
Now, however, Dominic saw it clearly. He knew exactly what it looked like when a man had feelings for a woman; he had seen it in Hector’s eyes when he looked at Melanie, and in the way his sons looked at their wives.
He listened as Sophie continued talking. In truth, Dominic already knew most of the things she was saying about Meadow Ridge, including the personalities of Adrian and Everett. How could he not? His precious granddaughter had been sent to Meadow Ridge when she was just a little girl. Of course, he would investigate everything thoroughly.
Two hours later, Sophie let Rafael lead her away with obvious reluctance. Just before they left, she suddenly turned around, her eyes glistening with tears.
“I’ll bring Ryan here in a couple of days,” she said.
Dominic smiled through the ache in his heart. “Good. Go on, now. I should get some rest.”
At the gates of Hell Monarch Estate, Kyle was waiting with Violet and Travis. He noticed Sophie’s red-rimmed eyes and knew that she had been crying.
Violet stepped forward, linking arms with Sophie. “I made some dessert. Let’s have something sweet.”
Rafael didn’t seem upset about Violet openly stealing Sophie away. He understood. Sometimes, when one was feeling down, being with closest friends helped to relax more than anything else. Besides, Violet had made dessert personally. What could he say?
Inside the side hall, Sophie ate the dessert slowly, finishing a bowl in no time.
“Is it good?” Violet asked.
Sophie put down the bowl. “It’s a bit salty, but the spice is just right. It masks the sweetness a little.” “Salty? It tastes just fine to me. Life’s like that, you know? You need a little bit of everything-sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty-to really savor it,” said Violet, her comforting words coming with her signature lightheartedness.
Sophie smiled faintly, her eyes still red and puffy. “Vivi, I’m fine, really.”
“I know you’re fine.” Violet nodded. “Do you remember the sparring match we had at Blue Stone Spring?”
“Of course. You lost to me three times.
“We only sparred three rounds,” Violet said, propping her chin in her hand. “The first time, I went wild. The second time, I screamed, and the third time I cried. You mocked me for being weak and unable to accept reality. You were so cocky back then.”
Violet let out a small laugh. “I remember thinking, ‘Just wait until you face defeat. Let’s see if you cry, or completely lose it like I did.”
Sophie tapped the rim of the bowl, her nails clinking against the glass. A soft, clear sound rang out.
“Sometimes, not crying and not making a scene is actually more painful than the tears and noise,” she murmured.
“I figured that out later,” Violet said, rising to her feet and wrapping her arms around her friend. “That’s why I’ll always be by your side, until you give me back that arrogant Sophie from Blue Stone Spring.”
Sophie pushed her away gently, quickly wiping away tears that had fallen.