Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Once a lie was shattered, the other rumors would be seen as false too-everyone would think this way. Rafael raised his sword high and called out, “A mere 200,000 enemy soldiers? We’ve defeated them before! We are the new Southern Frontier Army! Do we fear them now? Tell me, do you fear them?” “No, sir!”
“We don’t!”
The shouts echoed into the sky.
Rafael urged his horse forward through the ranks, his voice growing louder. “Tell me, can you defeat the Sandorians?”
“Yes, sir!”
The roar was deafening!
“Is anyone a coward? Step forward!”
“No, sir!”
The soldiers stood proud and tall.
The sunlight shone on Rafael’s face, casting a heroic glow over him. He looked every inch the War God people claimed him to be. His voice rang out with undeniable strength, resolute and unwavering. “Now show me, with your actions, that you are all heroes!”
The sea of soldiers, stretching as far as the eye could see, raised their arms in unison, roaring at the top of their lungs, “Sir, yes, sir!”
The new Southern Frontier Army, composed of the original Southern Frontier Army, the Devin Army, and the Hell Monarch Army, raised their banners high, their voices chanting “Victory is ours!”
They roared over and over, until their throats were raw. Yet the fervor of their words did not wane.
The rumors had plagued them for so long, shaking their confidence. They had almost forgotten that they were once the undefeated Southern Frontier Army, feared by all.
But now, with the return of their marshal, their spirits had been reignited. It was as if the flames of their determination had been rekindled, and they longed for nothing more than to march onto the battlefield and fight with everything they had, letting their resolve spread like wildfire.
Rafael rode ahead, his voice ringing out with words of fierce encouragement.
“There are no deserters in the Southern Frontier! Those who fled are nothing but cowardly traitors, and they will be nailed to the pillar of shame!
“Southern Frontier is our home. Every inch of land has been stained with the blood of our comrades. We will defend it with our lives!
“If the Sandorians think they can take our land, they’ll have to step over our bodies to do it!
“No one will shake our resolve to defeat the enemy. We must fight a glorious battle, one that will make His Majesty and all his court see us in a new light!”
Rafael’s voice carried across the training field, his words powered by his inner force, reaching every soldier with unwavering confidence.
In response, the air was filled with the sounds of rallying cries, hands raised in passionate cheers, lasting for nearly an hour.
The sunlight poured down like a blanket of gold, casting a warm glow on everyone’s faces. The faces grew more determined, eyes sharp with focus.
The pack of wolves that was the Southern Frontier Army had returned to their full strength.
Timothy and the others had shouted until their voices were nearly gone. By the time they returned to Redstone Manor, they could barely speak. They gulped down cold well water, the cool liquid soothing their throats, bringing relief to their raw voices.
Rafael sat in the marshal’s chair, his legs straight but trembling with exhaustion. The two military advisors approached, working to relax his tense muscles. It was clear Rafael had ridden for days, his body stiff from the long journey.
Rafael leaned back, his body fatigued from the long ride. He hadn’t slept much, not since hearing about Oliver’s escape. He hadn’t even stopped for food and headed straight for Simonton City. When he heard them rallying the troops, he immediately rode over.
In total, he had spent nearly two hours leading the cheers. At least half of that time had been spent shouting.
“Marshal Sanford, now that you’re here, we have hope,” Louis said, still not believing it and fearing it might be a dream.
Zachary was known for his toughness and was never one to shed a tear. Yet even he couldn’t hold back his emotions when he saw Rafael sitting there, whole and unharmed.
Thankfully, the rumors had been false.
A bowl of chicken noodle soup was placed before Rafael, but it was nowhere near enough to fill the emptiness in his stomach.
Louis mentioned that he had ordered roasted lamb and skewers, and that there was no shortage of rich food now. It was nothing like the days when the Southern Frontier was struggling. Even the common folk could afford meat these days.
Rafael shakily picked up the bowl and drank the soup in one go. The broth was salty, and he followed it with a whole jug of water. Slumping into his chair, he felt his strength gradually returning, though there was still an odd sensation, as if he were still bouncing on horseback.
The faces around him seemed to blur and retreat. He had to focus to make out their features.
Alec’s voice cracked with emotion. “Your Highness, you look utterly exhausted.”
Rafael rubbed his cheek. “Have the medic give me needle treatment for my face. It feels like it’s been blown off-kilter.”
Everyone took a closer look and indeed noticed that Rafael’s face was slightly askew.
Louis spoke up. “Marshal Sanford, you haven’t rested the entire way at all, have you?”
“There was no time,” Rafael said, then revealed a shocking truth. “I feigned illness first, then secretly came to the battlefield. All this time…”
He sheepishly pulled out a handful of medicine, holding his head low in a way that almost looked embarrassed.
“Actually, I wasn’t feigning illness. I was really sick. I’ve had to take these medicines along the way, and sometimes I forget. I have to take them again, or else Commander Devin will have my head.”
The others exchanged concerned glances but didn’t press further. Instead, they immediately sent for the military physician. Rafael’s health came first. They could discuss what came after later.
Brandon checked Rafael’s pulse. Upon feeling it, he let out a deep sigh. “How did you get in such a depleted state?”
“Is it serious?” Timothy asked urgently.
Brandon remained silent for a moment, but Rafael waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. A little rest, and it’ll be fine.”
But Brandon’s face turned grave. “The body can be gradually restored with care, but this depletion of your vital energy-I’m afraid it won’t be so easily fixed. You may struggle in certain…intimate matters going forward, Your Highness.”
Rafael gripped the armrest tightly, his eyes widening. “It’s that serious?”
Brandon looked at Rafael’s young, handsome face and sighed. “Alas, your body needs rest, yet you’ve been riding day after day without pause. You’ve neglected your restorative medicines, and the prolonged sitting in one place has caused heat to build up. Naturally, it’s affected…that part of you.”
“Are you saying I won’t be able to function as a man anymore?” Rafael gaped, stunned.
If that were the case, what use would Sophie have for him?
“It’s not that serious,” Brandon replied. “With Mr. Dalton’s treatment, your condition will surely improve. But for a while, I’m afraid you’ll have to live like…a priest.”