Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
He cursed himself. What had possessed him to drag such a good-for-nothing back? Drinking this much-Blake couldn’t have drunk himself to death, could he?
Frustrated, Michael stormed out and brought in a bucket of cold water, ready to douse him. But when he looked at Blake-lying there as still as a corpse, his face pale and green-he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He shook his head, calling for his servants to prepare a carriage. He would personally take Blake back to Valor Estate.
The ride was rough. Inside the carriage, Blake vomited wildly. Michael could smell the stench of it from outside as he drove the horses. It was like the foul water of a ditch that hadn’t been cleaned in years, mixed with the scent of decay. Fuming, Michael shouted into the carriage, “Blake, you’ll pay for this damn carriage!”
It was the only carriage he had the one his wife used when she went out. He never needed it himself, and now this mess was going to get him into so much trouble with her. He cursed under his breath.
One should really avoid being too nice, and never be too curious.
When the carriage finally arrived at Valor Estate, Michael jumped out, red-faced and fuming. He called for the Jaffe family servants.
“Get your precious master inside. I can’t deal with him.”
Benjamin rushed out with several servants. As soon as the carriage door was opened, the stench hit him like a brick. It was so overwhelming that he almost gagged.
He forced himself to breathe through his mouth and glanced inside. His younger brother was curled up in the carriage, lying in a mess of vomit and spilled wine. The stench was unbearable, the mixture of smells almost making his eyes sting with pain. Benjamin was furious. He quickly ordered the servants to carry Blake inside and back to his room. After that, he turned to Michael, thanked him, and then asked, “Mr. Brown, what on earth happened to make him drink like this?”
“I don’t know. You can ask him yourself. I’m going back to clean the damn carriage,” Michael replied impatiently.
Benjamin nodded awkwardly. “Take care, Mr. Brown. I’m sorry about all this.”
When Michael returned home, he couldn’t avoid the long lecture from his wife.
“It’s not that I mind you bringing someone over for a drink, but look at the kind of person you brought home. When you see someone like him, you should just stay away! How could you let him come here?
“And look at how filthy the carriage is! You’ve ruined it! How am I supposed to go visit Sage Violet tomorrow with the carriage in this state? Why did you have to get involved with someone like him? Of all the people, you had to choose that heartless man, someone who forgets favors and repays kindness with hatred! Ptooey!”
Lucille wasn’t normally a harsh person, but when it came to Blake, she spared no criticism. The truth was, some people just deserved it.
Michael didn’t say a word the entire time. He just worked with the servant to clean the carriage, hauling bucket after bucket of water. The spring air was already damp and the sun barely shone, making it impossible to know when the
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carriage would dry. Even when it did, the smell would linger.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was no better at Valor Estate.
When Blake woke up, Viola screamed in frustration, “I thought you were locked up in the Ministry of Justice and was trying to pull strings to get you out. But no! I found out you chose to stay there. If you don’t want to come back and see me, just give me a divorce letter and I’ll leave!
“Now look at you. The king issued an order to throw you out. You’ve angered him, and now you think you still have ve a future? You’ve been demoted and your salary has been docked for three years. How are we going to survive that? I was blind to marry you. I’m warning you don’t even think about touching my dowry!”
After dropping him off in his room, Benjamin had already left by the time Blake regained full awareness. After Amelia’s death, Benjamin stopped caring about things at home. Without a job, he relied entirely on the family for food and expenses. Blake sat there with a blank stare, letting Viola yell and scold him without saying a word in response.
It wasn’t until she finally sat down angrily, out of breath, that he slowly lifted his head and said calmly, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the palace to confess my mistakes and resign.”
Viola shot to her feet, her voice shrill with disbelief. “What did you say? Resign? Are you insane?”
In the royal study, Salvador’s brows twitched with barely contained fury as he glared at Blake, who was kneeling before him. His voice was icily cold. “Resign? Have you really thought this through?”
Blake lowered his head, his voice trembling. “Your Majesty, I am guilty. I have failed your expectations and the Sullivan family’s. I am ashamed before both.”
Salvador’s anger flared, a headache pounding behind his eyes. “If you know how much I’ve placed my hopes in you, then you should focus on doing your job well, not throwing a tantrum and resigning!”
Blake bowed his head lower. “Your Majesty, I am not throwing a tantrum. I have come to realize my incompetence and inability to live up to the role of deputy commander of the Nightsteel Guard. I ask for your mercy and understanding.” Even Derek couldn’t watch any longer.
To speak so much about guilt was to question the king’s judgment. Was that what Blake was implying?
Salvador’s voice grew even colder, “Go reflect on your actions. Come back after a few days. Leave now.”
Left with no choice, Blake stood and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Blake exited, Salvador’s face darkened, his expression like storm clouds. “Derek, go speak to him. If he feels guilty toward General Sullivan, he should not be resigning at this critical moment.”
Derek had wanted to speak up long before but had held back, knowing it wasn’t his place unless the king said something. Now that Salvador had spoken, Derek could no longer stay silent. He quickly followed Blake out of the study, catching up to him. “Deputy Commander Jaffe, wait!”
Blake’s shoulders were hunched in exhaustion. He paused and turned to face Derek. “What is it, Mr. Walker?”
Seeing the vacant expression on his face, Derek straightened his back and said firmly, “Deputy Commander Jaffe, have you lost your mind? If you resign now, how does that reflect on the Sullivan family and the other officers? You’re a court official-if word gets out, people will think you were dismissed in disgrace. If you must resign, at least wait until this storm blows over. Otherwise, you’ll only bring more shame upon the Sullivan family.”
Blake froze. “My resignation has nothing to do with the Sullivan family.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed, his words sharp. “Think about it. If you resign in shame, what are the Sullivan family’s generals supposed to do? Should they also submit letters of apology and resign? Whose command were you following when you went to Fawnrun City?” Blake’s eyelids fluttered, a deep pang of realization hitting him. “I… I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Then, start thinking,” Derek snapped. “If not for yourself, then for others. Stop living like a burden and dragging everyone else down with you.”
Derek rarely spoke so harshly, but dealing with someone so frustrating had pushed him to his limit. Some people weren’t evil, but their constant weakness and indecision made them unbearable.
Blake stared blankly at Derek for a long moment before finally saying, “Thank you for your advice, Mr. Walker.”
Derek studied his expression, unsure if his words had sunk in. “His Majesty told you to reflect, so go home and do just that. Return in a few days and resume your duties.”
Blake nodded and turned to leave, his steps slow and heavy. The March sunlight bathed his pale, haggard face, and his hand clenched around an Eternal Knot. The pain in his chest tightened as he thought back to the day he had left for Victory Pass just after marrying Sophie.
The knot had been with him for years-since the night he married Sophie. He had been ordered to the front lines at Victory Pass immediately after the ceremony Before leaving, he had untied one of the Eternal Knots and carried it with him.
Back then, the knot in his hand felt warm, almost burning. Her heartfelt gaze as she bid him farewell was like a guiding light, warming his heart and waiting for his safe return. If only he could go back to that moment.
“I truly regret it.”
Blake’s steps were slow and heavy, as if he had a huge weight on his feet, and tears rolled down his face.
“I really do. If I had another chance, I would cherish you. I would keep my promises, and I would never take another woman.”
–
Meanwhile, Michael accompanied Lucille to deliver some honey cakes to Violet. He had also brought a portion for Rafael and Sophie.
Lucille was skilled in the kitchen, and her delicately crafted pastries were truly impressive. Although Violet typically avoided overly sweet treats, she found herself enjoying them.
In public and private, Violet often praised Lucille for her thoughtfulness. But tonight, noticing her frosty demeanor and the way she kept giving Michael the cold shoulder, Violet couldn’t help but ask “Michael, did you do something to upset your wife?”