Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
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then went to find Isaac. The two of them walked through the fields of orchid blooms, the wind biting at their faces. The petals scattered on ground, remnants of blossoms that had once stood proud against the cold winds, now crumbled into the earth, no longer resisting.
“Look at them, how they bloom like this,” Sophie said, her gaze lingering on the sight.
There were orchids at Hell Monarch Estate and even in the palace. However, none of them could compare to the wild splendor of fields stretching endlessly around them.
Isaac smiled, his face as clear and bright as the sky. He might’ve known what Sophie had come for, but there wasn’t a trace of gloom on his face.
“No orchid anywhere compares to the ones at Meadow Ridge,” he said.
Sophie turned to him. “So, even after all the women you’ve been with, you still long for only Vivi?”
Isaac laughed softly. “What women? Where did that come from? If I really had been with so many women, Sage Everett would’ve had me killed long ago.”
“So, all this time, it’s always been her?” Sophie asked.
“Yes,” Isaac said, reaching out to touch a delicate pink petal. “From the very beginning to the end.” “Why didn’t you realize it before?” Sophie asked, genuinely curious.
How had he not noticed?
Isaac thought for a moment, then decided it wouldn’t hurt to be honest today.
“Previously, I thought that having feelings for someone was one thing, and getting married was another. They were separate matters,” he explained.
Sophie understood that Isaac was also afraid of marriage, but he had taken a step forward before Violet did.
“So, you never intended to let Vivi know your feelings?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded, then reached out as if to pick an orchid. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to, so he let his hand fall.
Isaac sighed. “The proposal was a bit impulsive. Looking back on it, it may have even been a bit opportunistic. She was in a low mood at the time, so though she agreed, I’m not sure she truly wants to marry me. Sage Everett scolded me when I got back to Meadow Ridge, and I’ve had time to calm down since then.”
Sophie stared at him, surprised. “You’ve already told Sage Everett?”
“Yes, the very day I got back. I was caught up in the heat of the moment.”
“Why did Sage Everett scold you? Was it because he disagreed?” asked Sophie, curious.
Isaac shrugged. “It wasn’t even about agreeing or disagreeing yet. He just scolded me first. The usual stuff, really.”
“How usual?”
Isaac avoided her gaze. “He called me ugly and told me to take a good look at myself in the mirror.” Sophie couldn’t help but laugh. “Sage Everett was kind to you, it seems.”
She then relayed what Violet had said. Listening intently as the biting wind swirled around him, a smile tugged at Isaac’s lips and his eyes gleamed with warmth.
“It’s alright. I can wait. I’ll wait slowly. A lifetime is a long time, after all,” he said softly.
Sophie stared at him for a long moment, truly surprised. The carefree, charismatic Isaac-someone who never let anything tie him down-had fallen so completely for Violet, of all people.
He actually said he would wait a lifetime!
They spent four comfortable days in Meadow Ridge, visiting all the guilds, before Everett began to chase them out. Naturally, Sophie and Lulu weren’t allowed to return alone. Everett had Winona send someone from Skywing Spire to quietly escort them. Then, he gave Isaac a long look and chased him out as well. Back in the capital, it was still the holidays, and the social scene was already busy. With people coming and going, paying visits, Sophie found herself more at ease with the social rounds than before.
She didn’t inquire about Isaac and Violet’s situation. It was clear neither was in a rush to marry, so there was no need for her to interfere. They would figure it out when they were ready.
On the seventh day of the new year, Zoey arrived with Luna. She also brought Courtney back to Hell Monarch Estate, as she would be studying martial arts under Cynthia with Roxana. Zoey had also started planning to do some business. This visit was to personally thank Sophie for introducing her to Janelle at the end of last year.
In truth, the Earl of Southstead’s family and the former Earl of Silverstone’s family were already familiar with each other, though their interactions had been limited. However, with Sophie’s introduction, Zoey and Janelle hit it off immediately. Smart and capable people always gravitated toward each other.
The former Earl of Silverstone’s family had once been involved in business, but Zoey had only managed the accounts, leaving the operations and shops to be run by the family servants. Now, without the noble title to protect or any reputation to maintain, Zoey wasn’t afraid to step into the public eye and take matters into her own hands. She was ready to roll up her sleeves and dive in.
When Zoey spoke of the future, her eyes sparkled with excitement. She shared with Sophie that Viola was also able to lend a hand now. Though occasionally still a bit muddled in her thinking, Viola listened when her sister-in-law gave directions.
Zoey sighed. “People can’t change overnight. I’m happy with how far she’s come. Who hasn’t made mistakes? The only issue now is that others still gossip about her past, so I don’t let her go out too much to avoid the rumors. It’s tough on her, and it could make her lose her clarity again.”
Sophie was quiet for a moment before she replied, “A woman’s mistakes aren’t easily forgiven, unlike a man’s. They would simply say he’s turned over a new leaf and it’s all forgotten. Luckily, though, she has you.”
Sophie’s thoughts drifted to Heather, who was still imprisoned. She wondered whether Leona still held a grudge against her mother. But even if Leona didn’t, Heather still wouldn’t be released.
On the eighth day of the new year, work resumed in earnest. Still, no news came from the Southern Frontier. The uncertainty surrounding the war and Salvador’s mysterious illness hung over the officials like two massive, crushing weights.
Those of lower rank had already started aligning themselves with the six department heads, particularly Malcolm, the Civil Minister and Patrick, the Minister of Justice.
Naturally, there were also those looking to cultivate connections with the Hell Monarch’s household. Some even made their way directly to the Capital Guard headquarters to seek out Sophie. However, she refused to meet with any of them.
On the second morning court session after the new year, Salvador once again coughed up blood, prompting an urgent return to the palace.
The court was thrown into turmoil. Two bouts of coughing up blood-what could the king’s illness be?
The very next day after Salvador coughed up blood, an urgent dispatch arrived from the Southern Frontier -the Hell Monarch had been ambushed and was missing.
The dispatch was sent urgently by a messenger from the military supply overseer at the Southern Frontier. They had finally received the grain supplies, but sent news that the Southern Frontier Army had been ambushed and the Hell Monarch was missing.
Jeremiah quickly convened a meeting with the six department heads, senior cabinet officials, military leaders, and Sophie to discuss the situation. Once the map was spread out, they saw that the Southern Frontier Army had been ambushed at Mount Whitemist, a part of the vast Atamore Mountain range. Having scattered after the ambush, the main force had now managed to regroup into six smaller units. However, with morale shattered, they could no longer hope to face Victor’s massive army head-on. Despite his frailty, Salvador arrived at the meeting. His face was pale and anxiety was evident in his eyes. His heart felt like it was lodged in his throat as he surveyed the room. He instinctively glanced at Sophie, whose brow furrowed in concern as she studied the map. Though there was clear worry in her expression, she seemed calm and unshaken by the news.
Once the department heads had bowed and exchanged formal pleasantries, Salvador followed Jeremiah’s finger to the spot indicated on the map.
The Atamore Mountain range stretched out like a great snake coiled across the land, splitting the terrain into two. The map showed only a thin line marking the mountains, but those lines represented wide, expansive regions.
The ambush took place at Mount Whitemist, which was known for its treacherous terrain. The elevation difference between the low and high points was about 165 meters, with a valley in between. It was indeed an ideal location for an ambush. However, precisely because it was such an easy place to set up an ambush, the Southern Frontier Army shouldn’t have fallen for it.
Salvador’s gaze shifted back to Sophie, noting that her expression was even more composed than before. It seemed she had already discerned something about the situation.
Salvador had always placed the highest trust in Rafael’s military strategy. He now wanted to hear what the civilian and military officials had to say.
In the midst of murmurs and concerns from the other officials, Tyler, Davis, and Thomas were firm in their belief that the terrain was too obvious for the Hell Monarch to have fallen into a trap. Unless Rafael entered it on purpose, pretending to be caught off guard, only to scatter his troops and switch to guerrilla warfare.
“This terrain calls for mountain warfare. The landscape is rugged and dense with forests, making large- scale battles impossible. Too many would die needlessly. The best option is guerrilla tactics-divide the forces, launch surprise attacks, and retreat quickly. That will sap the enemy’s morale and make it easier to take Marshal Crow’s head,” said Thomas, his voice steady.