Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
After several days of deliberation, a consensus had been reached, though anxiety still plagued everyone. The riverworks project was progressing smoothly, and it was an important initiative for the people. But if possible, Salvador hoped to first eliminate the rebels once and for all.
The problem was that the workers were genuinely working on the riverbanks, repairing the infrastructure, and building the foundation dams. How could they be labeled as rebels?
Nicholas’ subtle approach was designed to provoke the court into sending military troops. This would give them a reason to rebel against the Mystic Army. By doing this, they wouldn’t be seen as rebels, but as poor commoners forced to fight by the government.
This way, they would gain the support of the people.
Salvador urgently pressed his advisors to find a way to force the enemy’s hand. Once they were branded as traitors, he could swiftly launch a crackdown. In other words, it was all about stirring up conflict and gaining the upper hand first.
The court was divided, with some supporting Salvador’s strategy, while others suggested it would be better to delay. On the one hand, the riverworks project was important. On the other, they could wait for Thomas to return to the capital after defeating Yuvan.
Some officials harbored doubts about Sophie’s leadership. While she had shown competence in leading the Mystic Army in peacetime, her abilities in war-especially in the capital-remained uncertain. Despite her martial prowess, she lacked experience in large-scale battles. This made some question whether it was too hasty to make her the commander just because she had led a couple of victorious campaigns at the Southern Frontier.
For several days, Sophie had attended the court meetings. In doing so, she began to understand the truth behind Jeremiah’s words that in matters of state, everyone had their own opinion, each with its own merit. The debates went on endlessly, with no clear direction given.
Arguments were made for and against, yet nothing was resolved.
Sophie felt she could no longer be a part of these discussions. Over the past few days, she had been swept up in the tide of conflicting opinions, unsure of which step to take next.
Moreover, Salvador’s health had not improved. He continued to cough persistently, trying to hold his composure despite his weakening body.
Some people took advantage of the situation and suggested it was time to designate the crown prince. It was brought up by a group of young officials, students of Malcolm, who had been won over by Kylie. They had been working hard to support Connor. Seeing Salvador’s worsening health and the growing troubles both inside and outside the kingdom, they suggested it was time to settle the matter of the succession sooner rather than later.
Malcolm was livid, his face turning a shade of red with anger. Despite his strong objections in front of Salvador, it only made people think he was trying to retreat strategically or distance himself from the issue.
The whole situation pushed Salvador to the brink of collapse, leaving everyone in a state of chaos and confusion, desperately scrambling to resolve the mess.
Seeking a way to remove herself from the chaos, Sophie made an excuse to focus on military training and withdrew from the court discussions.
She returned to speak with Jacob and Kyle about the matter.
Jacob furrowed his brow and said, “Isn’t the queen under house arrest? How can she still be stirring up trouble? If she’s making a fuss at a time like this, she’s only throwing herself and the Quinton family into danger.”
Sophie had little interest in the Quinton family and Kylie, but it was undeniable that what had once been a unified court was now being divided by this issue.
Kyle spoke up. “I have a suspicion. What if the one pushing to name the crown prince now is actually Prince Nicholas? The people the queen has gathered-could they be his people instead? He’s always been good at winning people over.”
Jacob thought for a moment.
“It wouldn’t be surprising. Prince
Connor is mediocre at best. If he’s named, His Majesty will surely oppose it, but he hasn’t abandoned him either. Now, he has Lord Ryan studying with Prince Connor, and he even brought Mr. Young back to help. It’s clear they intend to groom him. But now, with things so urgent, bringing this up could anger His Majesty. If he issues an order to stop the queen’s plans, everything the queen has done will be for nothing.”
“And it would drag the Quinton family down with her,” Kyle added with a sigh used to hear that the queen was a very intelligent and a sensible woman. Heget talented lady was renowned throughout the capital. But now, in the face of the nation’s crisis, all she cares about is naming the crown prince. It seems hunger for power can truly change a person.”
Jacob nodded. “Perhaps her reputation was just a facade crafted by the Quinton family. But that’s no longer our concern.”
The matter of the crown prince would be settled by the court officials, with Salvador and Jeremiah making the final decision. Sophie had no place in such deliberations-her role was to address the situation at hand. All else was secondary.
Winona also sent word from various fronts, updating them on the latest battle reports. Thomas had not launched a direct assault on Valken yet, choosing instead to lay siege and enter negotiations.
The strategy served two purposes. First, it delayed matters, buying time for Chester to swiftly eliminate the bandits and join forces. Second, Thomas feared that cornering the enemy could provoke the indiscriminate slaughter of Valken’s citizens, which would only worsen the situation.
Meanwhile, Chester had made remarkable progress. With Valken no longer a concern, his army had surged forward, winning several decisive victories. However, the rebellion had spread across a vast area, reaching even the distant Nanyara region, stretching his forces thin.
On the Southern Frontier, three consecutive victories had been secured. To date, the Sandorian forces had failed to breach Simonton City. These reports came from Winona’s network of spies, mixed with rumors of a scandal within the Sandorian camp. It was said that Victor was furious, angrily denouncing the Starhaven people for their lack of honor.
It was almost laughable. After withdrawing previously, the Sandorians had signed a pact promising not to invade. Now, they had the audacity to demand the rebels uphold some kind of honor and open Simonton City’s gates to allow them to march in unhindered.
The Southern Frontier’s situation wasn’t as dire as it seemed. The Sandorians, after all, had traveled from far away, and a prolonged stalemate would strain their resources. Meanwhile, the Southern Frontier had already developed. Crops were plentiful, and the Sandorians simply couldn’t sustain a prolonged campaign.
Victor was now in a precarious position and was unable to retreat. It seemed he had made a binding vow when he took command, promising to return victorious or face death upon his return. So, he dug in, unwilling to relent.
Meanwhile, Leroy pressed forward in
Victory Pass with great intensity, but his forces were limited in number. Still, it would be unwise to underestimate him. The king of Westhaven had sent Leroy, and he was driven by a thirst for revenge and the ambition to conquer Victory Pass. His troops fought with fervor, seeing themselves as the righteous army, and their morale was high.
However, Leroy and Edmund had never seen eye to eye, and each had their own agenda. With
Lisandra’s balancing influence, Edmund’s support for Leroy was limited.
At this moment, the greatest danger lay within the capital itself.
After all, the situation in the capital was still far from clear.
News arrived from Nerovia-the imposter posing as Nicholas had been uncovered. It turned out he was just a common man, someone who bore a striking resemblance to Nicholas. After being noticed by Nicholas, he had been taken in and trained to mimic his every move.
After Nicholas left Nerovia, this man had assumed his identity, visiting the places Nicholas was known to frequent. This explained why earlier investigations had suggested that Nicholas rarely left his fief. In reality, he had long since disguised himself and moved about freely.
“Has the man been secured?” Sophie asked quickly.
“Don’t worry, he’s been taken care of,” Jacob replied.
Sophie let out a small sigh of relief. “Good. Prince Nicholas cannot appear in Nerovia again. I’ve come to understand his intentions. He’s been hiding under the guise of Gordon, sending orders from Willowbrook Estate. Everyone would believe that the so-called rebel leader is Prince Hayden. Meanwhile, Prince Nicholas would have been known to be in Nerovia this whole time, never once involved in the rebellion.” Jacob nodded. “Yes. If the rebellion fails, it won’t concern him. He can even claim righteousness by killing Prince Hayden. If the rebellion succeeds, all of it would have been his to claim.”
“Then what of Mr. Murphy? Is he in Nerovia now?” Sophie asked.
Jacob shook his head. “Mr. Murphy isn’t in Nerovia. He’s likely taken control of most of Prince Yuvan’s forces. I’ve already sent word to General Farrell. Even if Prince Yuvan surrenders, we must remain cautious. There could be a trap.”
Sophie recognized Clifford’s cunning, but she knew Thomas was facing challenges of his own. She turned to Jacob and said, “Shouldn’t you consider going to General Farrell’s aid?”
“No,” Jacob refused firmly. “The siege at Valken is critical. Even if Mr. Murphy is manipulating Prince Yuvan’s feigned surrender, General Farrell will be prepared. The capital, however, is our primary concern. Their end goal is to force a palace coup. I cannot leave.”
“Then please keep an eye on the situation and send a carrier pigeon to General Farrell immediately,” Sophie said.
“Of course,” Jacob agreed. “But do be cautious during your patrols, Your Grace. Prince Nicholas hasn’t made a move yet, but his silence is unsettling. I fear he may be planning something-especially against you.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” Sophie assured him.
She had already considered this possibility, which was why she seldom joined the patrols, only going out when necessary.
Sophie knew that absolute safety was impossible, but she also knew that caution was crucial.