Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Kylie knew how highly Salvador regarded Trevor, so she couldn’t afford to offend him. She simply nodded slightly and said, “I understand. I only came to check on him for a moment. His hands are so cold. Why hasn’t he been given more layers of clothing?”
Trevor glanced at the thick cotton garments Connor was wearing and replied, “You need not worry, Your Majesty. His clothes are sufficient. His hands are cold because he has been writing.”
Kylie cast a lingering glance at Connor, reluctant to leave. “Go back to your lessons now. I’ll come see you at Serenity Palace later.”
Although Connor was reluctant to return, he dared not defy Trevor, fearing the older man would report to Victoria once again.
As Kylie left the study, she turned her ire upon those waiting outside to attend to Connor, including the nanny, Elena.
“I don’t expect you to take exceptional care of him, but at the very least, do the basics properly. It’s freezing out, and not one of you thought to bring him a small hand warmer? Or to have warm food ready for him?
“You all know better than anyone how he was raised with the utmost care and privilege! So why is it that the moment he steps into Serenity Palace, you stop treating him like your master? You disappoint me the most, Elena. Connor was raised on your milk. How can you not feel a shred of sympathy for him? Look at what he’s wearing today-still in his autumn jacket!”
The servants knelt before her.
Elena trembled, her voice faltering as she pleaded for forgiveness. “Your Majesty, please forgive me. Every morning when Prince Connor rises and changes, it’s the queen dowager who is by his side. She insisted that he shouldn’t wear too many clothes. She said this coat was enough. If he felt cold, he could run around after class to warm up…”
“Enough,” Kylie interrupted, her face a cold mask. Her displeasure was palpable. “What time is it now? It’s mealtime, not a time for running around. Do you think he’s not exhausted enough already?”
Elena fell silent immediately, her eyes darting around nervously, fearing that someone might overhear and report back to Victoria.
Those words were clearly a direct accusation against the queen dowager.
Why was Kylie this angry?
In the study, Connor listened to Kylie’s scolding, his tears falling in heavy drops. He had endured much lately but dared not speak of it. Now that his mom was standing up for him, the injustice he had endured felt even greater.
Trevor closed his eyes and let out a barely audible sigh.
Naturally, word of this also reached Serenity Palace.
Victoria’s face remained impassive as she listened to the report.
“Useless,” she muttered coldly.
Keith cautiously said, “Your Majesty, perhaps the queen is just worried from not seeing Prince Connor for a while. Please don’t let it upset you.”
“What do you mean by that? During her house arrest, I allowed Connor to visit her several times.” Victoria’s tone was sharp, tinged with an edge of anger. Had it been another time, she might not have been so upset, but things were different now. Connor absolutely couldn’t be ruined under her watch.
Kylie timed her visit perfectly and made another trip to the study to personally retrieve Connor. Together, they returned to Serenity Palace to offer their greetings to Victoria.
The procession was grand, with a whole entourage following behind. Even Connor was carried back by a young chamberlain, only being set down once they reached the palace gates.
Kylie straightened her appearance and held Connor’s hand firmly as they entered.
After performing the proper gestures to greet Victoria, Kylie remained on her knees and maintained perfect decorum throughout the entire time.
However, Victoria made no motion to let her rise. Instead, she turned her attention to Connor, gesturing for him to approach. “Did your tutor praise you today?”
Connor hesitated, shrinking back slightly. He cast a cautious glance at Victoria before answering in a timid voice, “The tutor forgot to praise me today.”
Still kneeling, Kylie quickly interjected. “Mother, Mr. Young is strict and doesn’t hand out compliments lightly.”
Kylie had no idea that Victoria had made a deal with Trevor. If Connor behaved well and showed diligence that day, Trevor would offer some praise at the end of the lessons. Otherwise, there would be none. This simple system allowed Victoria to immediately gauge Connor’s behavior on the day.
Victoria ignored Kylie’s explanation entirely. Her gaze remained on Connor as she asked evenly, “Do you remember the rules?”
Connor’s face paled, and he quickly tried to defend himself. “Grandmother, it’s because Mr. Young was unhappy that Mom came to see me. That’s why he didn’t praise me!”
“Oh? Then tell me,” Victoria said with measured calm, “who should be punished for this-yourself or your mom?”
Without missing a beat, Connor pointed at Kylie. “Punish Mom! She loves copying books the most.” “Yes, of course,” Kylie chimed in quickly, eager to shield him. “I’ll do the copying. I don’t mind. It’s my failing for not teaching him properly. I deserve the punishment.”
Victoria cast a cold glance at Kylie before turning to the nanny. “Take Connor inside for his meal, then send him to the study. He isn’t to leave until his copying is done. If he doesn’t finish by nine in the evening, he may stay the night in the study.”
Connor’s face fell immediately, and he turned pleading eyes to Victoria. “Grandmother, you promised we’d play hide and seek today!”
Victoria looked at his miserable, crestfallen face. It seemed like he was perpetually upset the moment he stepped into Serenity Palace.
It was only through strict supervision that he had managed to develop a semblance of discipline and focus in his studies. Yet the moment Kylie appeared, all that progress unraveled, and he reverted to his careless, lazy ways.
To put it plainly, even if they gave Connor a push, he wouldn’t take a single step unless forced. To entrust great responsibility to such a child-was it asking too much of him?
“Tell me honestly-do you truly not want to go to the study?”
Connor wanted to say yes. Every part of him longed to shout that he hated the study, the endless lessons, and how harshly Trevor treated him. But when his gaze met Victoria’s-those deep, ovel.
unfathomable eyes that seem ve pierce straight through him-the words caught in his throat.
Instead, he turned toward Kylie and Elena with a desperate, pleading look.
Kylie laughed awkwardly. “Mother, he’s still young. It’s only natural for children to want to play. Perhaps he could use a little rest…’
Victoria cut her off sharply. “Rest?
Certainly. Starting tomorrow, I’ll instruct the royal tutor to teach only Caden. But you should think carefully, Kylie. Connor is the eldest son of the king. If he doesn’t become Crown Prince-if he isn’t the future king-do you know what his fate will be?”
Victoria’s words were very straightforward, with no hints or indirectness that could lead to misunderstanding.
Kylie stared at her, disbelief flashing in her wide eyes. Her voice wavered as she replied, “What do you mean by that, Mother? He’s the eldest son of the king! It’s his rightful place to—“
“Rightful?” Victoria let out a cold laugh. “No wonder you’ve been indulging him so recklessly. You think everything will fall into place simply because of his birth? He may sit on the throne, but without any ability, he wouldn’t even see his downfall coming.
Kylie’s face turned pale. She wanted to say Grace wouldn’t dare do anything.
But if Grace wouldn’t, did that mean Sylvia wouldn’t either?
Victoria’s tone turned even colder, cutting through Kylie’s thoughts. “The position of Crown Prince isn’t a shield. On the contrary, it’s very fragile. He needs the ability and skill to hold onto it. If he can’t, it will lead to his death.”
The weight of Victoria’s words struck Kylie like a physical blow. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Of course, Kylie had always known that the royal family’s affairs were a constant battle-a perpetual struggle for power. Yet, she had clung to the belief that her son was different. After all, he was Salvador’s eldest son from the queen, not a concubine.
Surely, that alone set Connor apart.