Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
By the time Sophie returned, they had been playing for over an hour. Bits of charred and powdery red petals covered the ground in a thick layer, soft underfoot, leaving a red dusting on her shoes.
She loved this kind of lively atmosphere and quickly joined in. She never let the Flamepetals explode in her hands, always throwing them at just the right moment and sending them bursting with a sharp, satisfying pop in the air.
On the other hand, Travis had reddened hands from too many near-misses, but his grin never faded. His prizes already filled an entire table, piled high.
Jacob played along for a while before sitting to the side, watching Kyle paint. Depicted on the canvas were everyone’s youthful, radiant faces, smiling brightly. The red petals scattered across the floor reflected their flushed cheeks as they played, and the festive spirit seemed to spill right out of the painting. Lily had prepared meat pies and honeyed pies, both steaming hot.
The honeyed pies were Violet’s favorite. She had once said that eating them for the New Year symbolized reunion, harmony, and completeness. Meanwhile, Sophie said that meat pies were meant to be eaten for wealth, as their shape resembled gold coins, symbolizing prosperity.
Violet insisted Sophie eat the honeyed pies, while Sophie insisted Violet eat the meat pies. They argued, their faces growing red with mock indignation, before both of them broke into hearty laughter.
“You two are like a couple of madwomen,” Cynthia remarked.
Travis and Bun, on the other hand, didn’t really care for the traditions.
Wasn’t it good enough to eat both pies?
“It’s a shame Isaac went back to Meadow Ridge,” Sophie said with a smile as she leaned against Violet, her face a little flushed. “It would have been even livelier tonight if he were here. He plays every game.” Violet didn’t reply, simply reaching for a handful of roasted nuts to snack on.
“By the way, why did Isaac go back to Meadow Ridge? Wasn’t he supposed to stay here for the New Year with me?” Sophie asked, suddenly remembering that point.
Violet chewed on the roasted nuts, her voice calm as she replied, “He said he’s going back to prepare engagement gifts, then go to the Spencer family to propose.”
Sophie snatched a few nuts from her and tossed them in her mouth. “Did one of your cousins or aunts catch his eye?”
Violet suddenly sat up straighter, her expression a little strange. “He said he wants to marry me.” Everyone turned to look at her with wide eyes.
It was common knowledge that Violet had no intention of marrying anyone she was always the one declaring she would never get married.
Sophie grabbed her friend’s ear, tugging on it. “Is that for real?”
Violet didn’t resist, her face calm as she continued to eat the roasted nuts. “From the look on his face, he seemed serious.”
Cynthia rushed over and knelt in front of Violet. “So, are you going to marry him?”
“It was drunken nonsense,” Violet scoffed. “I told him not to go, but he insisted.”
“Spill it!” Sophie jumped to her feet. “You two made such a decision under my very nose and I had no idea? How could you do this to me?”
“Spill what?” Violet reached for another handful of roasted nuts, only for Cynthia to grab her hands.
“You have to explain,” Cynthia insisted, her wide eyes narrowing. “What do you mean by drunken nonsense? You two were drinking without us? And he got so drunk he started talking about marrying you? What exactly happened?”
Travis placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head in indignation. “Right? With no news from the Southern Frontier, here you are sneaking around with this little secret, and we had no clue!”
“Violet, we tell you everything we do, even the silliest stuff,” Bun added with mock outrage. “But when it comes to something as big as you and Isaac getting married, you keep it from us? That’s disrespectful. We’re cutting ties!”
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Violet shot him a sharp look, her eyes glinting “Who wants to know the silly stuff you do? And I’m telling you now Caren’t I? I even chose a grand occasion to share this simple little matter with you. Isn’t that enough respect?”
After much tugging and ear-pulling, Violet finally stood up, raising her voice as she explained, “There’s no long story to tell. We were just having a drink at Glimmering Tower. He suddenly said that many people’s dream might just be to get married and have children.
“When I agreed with him, he looked at me and asked, ‘Why don’t we try it?’ I said, ‘Sure.””
She sat back down, rubbing her hands over her face. “At the time, I thought he was just joking. But then, before the New Year, he said we should start preparing for our wedding. He’s going back to Meadow Ridge to consult with Sage Adrian, then he’ll ask Sage Conrad and my family for permission. So… what could I say?”
Sophie crossed her arms. “What do you mean, ‘what could you say’? If you don’t want to get married, just say no. Clear up the misunderstanding now. If you wait until he’s asked for your hand and your dad and mentor agree, but you refuse… Isn’t that just asking for trouble?”
Cynthia raised her hand to stop the conversation. “Wait, Vivi. Let me ask you something. Do you want to marry Isaac?”
Violet’s eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t know? How can you not know?”
“I really don’t know.”
Cynthia mimicked Travis’ stance, hands on hips, exasperated. “Then, do you even like him? You must have an answer to that.”
Violet thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t know that either.”
The others stared at her in disbelief.
Narrowing her eyes, Cynthia asked the final question, “So, will you marry him?”
Violet shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Cynthia stared at her, dumbfounded, before muttering, “Your indecisiveness makes me want to hit you.” Sophie wasn’t about to let anyone hit Violet-if anyone were going to do that, it would be her. Dragging the girl to the study, she questioned her using techniques often employed by the Capital Guard and Supreme Court. By the end of it, Violet was clinging to Sophie, sobbing loudly.
There was more to this than met the eye.
It all started after Nicholas’ rebellion. Isaac and Violet had helped clean up the battlefield, which was strewn with not only the bodies of the Mystic Army soldiers, but also the rebels’ remains. At the time, the court had ordered that all the rebels’ bodies be piled together and burned.
Having been on a battlefield before, Violet had experience with disposing of corpses. The first time they did it had left all of them grieving for a long while.
But Isaac had never been on battlefield. Although he had witnessed the cruelty of the human heart, he had never faced such widespread death. So, he showed great respect for the bodies, whether they were those of the rebels or the Mystic Army soldiers. He made sure to clear them all.
Then, while searching through the rebels’ clothes, he found some letters-some from family members, while others were suicide notes they had written themselves. He read them, then showed them to Violet. Afterward, they went together to help with the interrogation of the prisoners. That was when they realized the rebels hadn’t risked their lives for a title or to gain power. Most of them had joined not for glory, but for the promise of 50 silver coins.
One man had planned to use the money to buy his sister back, and another to marry his childhood sweetheart. A third wanted to pay for his parents’ medical care, and yet one more dreamed of sending his son to school, with hopes he might one day become a scholar and teach others. Of course, some really had hoped to rise in rank, but most had only simple dreams.
Isaac and Violet were filled with pain, which was why they drank together at Glimmering Tower, and why Isaac had asked that question. She had simply answered, agreeing with the heaviness in her heart.
“I honestly forgot about it after that,”
Violet said, her voice soft. “But when he came to me, seriously talking about making preparations, I wanted to refuse. It was right there on my lips, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I knew he was serious. I couldn’t just disregard his feelings because I knew how precious they were.”
Sophie wiped away her tears, but her heart ached too, so she cried with her friend.
Though Violet had lived her life freely and recklessly, she also understood the suffering of others. Yet, she always believed there was more beauty in the world than ugliness, more happiness than sorrow.
When she realized the things that came to her so easily were things others couldn’t obtain even at the cost of their lives, she became extremely cautious, even fearful. She didn’t dare to act brazenly like she once used to.