Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Sophie nodded. “Yes. In the past, they would walk with their heads held high, but now, they seem hunched It’s clear that a large family isn’t always an advantage. The more there is to manage, the more mistakes slip through. Everywhere you look, there are cracks
“His Highness’ decision to avoid expansion makes sense,” Jacob remarked, genuinely admiring Rafael’s wisdom.
Since Rafael had been brought up, Sophie couldn’t help but ask again, “Still no word?”
“Not yet,” Jacob replied, his worry evident.
It had been a month since the last letter, and there was still no news.
Jacob tried to comfort her. “Perhaps it’s difficult for them to send word, given that they’re deep in those mountains. But with His Highness and Mr. Spencer’s skills, there’s no need to worry. Plus, Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Mullen are with them.”
Sophie nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”
Still, despite the reassurances, a month without news had turned her initial longing into deep concern. As the days wore on, Sophie’s anxiety grew, making her restless and uneasy. At times, she would take a break at midday and visit Gracewood Women’s Academy or Skye Embroidery. There, she found a sense of calm, if only for a while.
The students were mostly children between seven and ten years old, and most of them didn’t know how to read. Teaching had to start from scratch, which took a lot of effort.
Still, both Catherine and Rosalind said the atmosphere at the academy was excellent. The students were eager to learn, and every task assigned was completed without complaint.
The schedule had originally included a half-day break for the girls to help at home. But after some time, the girls themselves suggested that they should study the whole day instead, returning only in the evening to assist with household chores and needlework.
Courtney and the other noble girls had become much more focused than before. The academy’s influence had molded them, and there were no longer any cliques or petty arguments. If there was ever a disagreement, it was settled with just a few words. The moment a teacher arrived, everyone lowered their heads and admitted fault.
They all understood how rare the opportunity to study was. Without Gracewood Women’s Academy, most of them would never have known how to write their names.
As the headmistress of Gracewood Women’s Academy, Sophie couldn’t teach much else, but she could teach martial arts. So, she asked the students if anyone would be interested in learning some basic self- defense techniques-something to both strengthen their bodies and help protect themselves. When she proposed the idea, more than half of the students were eager to give it a try.
However, martial arts required a certain level of aptitude. Even if they were all willing to learn, not everyone would be suited for it.
Seeing the interest, Sophie thought it might be a good idea for an additional class, one focused on building strength and agility-both for defense and for physical health.
For those who truly wanted to learn the martial arts, she would need to carefully select the most capable students. Coincidentally, Cynthia had heard that Violet had been teaching the Mystic Army, so she insisted on coming to the women’s academy to teach as well. Cynthia was insistent on having an official title as the female instructor, and Sophie relented, agreeing to give her the role.
The two of them took turns teaching. As for the regular lessons, Cynthia could handle those too since they weren’t very difficult.
Ten students were selected to begin their martial arts training. Most of them came from farming families and had no ambitions beyond learning a skill that could help them support themselves. Some thought that if things didn’t work out at home, they could become guards for noblewomen. That way, they wouldn’t have to sell themselves and could still earn a decent monthly wage.
One of these students, Tiny Malone, came from a long line of farmers. Her family couldn’t read, and she had only learned to write her name, which was given to her based on her position in the family. With seventeen cousins, she was the youngest, so they called her Tiny.
Her family hadn’t planned on sending her to school. However, her mom had started selling goods in the market but had trouble with calculations and often got tricked. After it happened several times, she realized the importance of learning. When the opportunity came, she immediately sent Tiny to the academy.
Tiny was eleven years old, bright and eager to learn. She was also unusually strong-she claimed that since the age of four, she had helped her dad carry grain. Her brothers couldn’t carry as much as she could.
She eagerly joined the martial arts class and told Sophie that when she returned home, she would teach her older siblings to read and practice martial arts as well. Even at a young age, she was already determined to break free from poverty. She believed that to succeed, one had to be skilled, and that the family had to stick together.
Tiny was a particularly bright and sunny girl, always wearing a smile on her face. No matter how bad one’s day was, her cheerfulness lifted the spirits of everyone around her.
The teachers adored her, and Catherine even gave her a new name-Roxana. It was a beautiful name, and when Roxana first heard it, she loved it immediately. However, when she tried to write it, she was stumped it was a difficult name to spell compared to her previous name!
But Roxana was determined. She practiced tirelessly, and by the third day, she was able to write her name beautifully.
Catherine remarked that not only did Roxana have a natural talent for martial arts, but she was also gifted in her studies.
However, after only a few days of training, Roxana was absent for two days in a row, and no one from her family came to explain why. Cynthia, who had grown quite fond of the girl, was deeply concerned. She confided in Sophie, who instructed her to go to the academy, ask for the girl’s address, and pay a visit to find out what had happened.
Cynthia and Bun went to the girl’s home and returned with Roxana in tow, bringing her straight back to Hell Monarch Estate.
The little girl carried a small bundle, looking anxious and uneasy. Her usual bright smile was gone, replaced with a nervous frown and tears in her eyes.
Cynthia had the kitchen prepare something for her. Then, without waiting around any longer, she rushed off to find Sophie at the Capital Guard headquarters.
“I brought Roxana back with me,”
Cynthia said. “I don’t know what the proper procedure is, but do we need some kind of contract? Should I ask Jacob to take care of it? Her brother was going going to sell her, you know for only five silver coins! He Know-for was planning to marry her off as a child bride, so I took action first. I didn’t bring any money with me, but I couldn’t leave her in that situation!”
Cynthia was panicking, her words coming out in a jumbled mess, without clearly explaining the situation.
Sophie tried to calm her. She asked Cynthia to take a breath and explain the details.
“What exactly happened? Her brother was going to sell her? What about her parents? I thought they doted on her.”
“Her parents were both injured in an accident, and they might not be able to work anymore,” Cynthia replied, her voice full of anger. “Her older brother already has a marriage lined up, but since the family was out of money, he thought he could self Roxana as a child bride for five silver coins. Can you believe it? He wants to sell his sister to get money for his wedding! What kind of logic is that? If he wants to get married so badly, why doesn’t he sell himself instead?!”
Sophie asked a few more questions to piece the whole situation together.
Roxana’s parents, Anna and George, wanted to provide money for their third son’s wedding. Thus, they decided to venture into the old forest while the wild beasts were hibernating for the winter. Most of the best medicinal herbs grew on the steepest mountainsides, and that was where they had gone.
However, after several days of trekking up the mountain, both of them were cold, hungry, and exhausted. In a tragic turn of events, Anna slipped on the icy ground, and George reached out to grab her. As a result, the two of them tumbled down the slope together.
If it hadn’t been for some herb collectors passing by, they would have surely perished on that mountain. Though they had been lucky enough to survive, their injuries were severe. Anna had injured her back, and George had broken his leg. Neither would ever be able to work again, and they would require constant care. With their injuries still needing treatment, they would also need money for further medical expenses. Meanwhile, their third son’s marriage was fast approaching, and the girl who had once spoken about unity now found herself a victim of circumstance.
“Do her parents know?” Sophie asked.
“They don’t,” Cynthia replied. “Her parents weren’t even living in a brick house-they’ve been carried back to their old, dilapidated home to recover.”
“And does everyone else agree to sell her?” Sophie pressed.
“I don’t know, but her eldest brother already made the arrangements. Five silver coins. The man who wanted to buy her was already at their door. Luckily, I got there first and took her away by force.”
Sophie nodded. “Leave this to Lily. Follow her and let her handle it, but don’t confront them directly or openly cause harm.”
Cynthia was well aware of the delicate way things should be handled. She recalled what Violet had told them during their time in Hell Monarch Estate.
“Even if you want to hit someone, don’t do it in broad daylight where everyone can see. It’s better to do it quietly, and never let them know who did it. It’s safer that way.”
The advice was to be cautious so that no one could make a fuss about it later.
“I held it in and didn’t hit anyone today,” Cynthia continued. “I just brought her back. I’ll go find Lily now. Let’s have dinner together later.”
With that, she hurried out the door.
When Sophie returned to the estate in the evening, Lily had already finished handling the situation. The two of them entered together, talking as they went.