Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Soon, Salvador arrived. Accompanied by the Nightsteel Guard, he sealed off the entire Everspring Palace, allowing only Lydia to remain within the halls.
Derek entered, carrying two items.
One of them was the poison powder Kylie had given to Connor days before. When it was placed on the table for her to inspect, she stood frozen in place. A cold, piercing chill spread through her, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
Witnessing this, Lydia immediately stumbled and dropped to her knees, her voice thick with fear as she cried out, “Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was all my doing! Her Majesty had no part in this!”
Salvador paid no attention to her desperate pleas.
Sitting down, he turned to Derek. “You may show Kylie the edict. There is no need for formalities.”
Derek nodded and unfurled the second item—a royal edict.
The moment it was placed before the queen, her eyes caught the first few lines, and it was as though she had seen a ghost.
“No!” she screamed, collapsing to the ground.
Tears flooded from her eyes as she frantically cried, “No! No…”
Lydia was unable to read the contents of the edict, and she dared not look. She kept her head bowed, her forehead bleeding slightly from the stumble she took to kneel previously.
Salvador’s gaze grew colder, sharper. “You were willing to poison him to preserve his reputation. Wasn’t it because you wanted to make him the crown prince? Since you were willing to use his life to stake the claim, then I will grant your wish. I declare him the crown prince. In exchange, you will forfeit your life. Fair enough?”
“No! He is your eldest son! He should be the crown prince! Your Majesty, I may have made mistakes, but I don’t deserve to die for them!” Kylie protested, throwing herself at the king’s feet.
Tears streamed down her face as she clung desperately to his legs. Her voice trembling with helpless despair, she entreated, “Your Majesty, he is my son. I never meant to harm him! I only wanted what was best for him!”
“What’s best for him? You got what you wanted—he’s the crown prince now, isn’t he? That was your goal all along!” Salvador’s voice rose, his anger unmistakable. “If you were willing to risk his life to protect his reputation, why not simply offer your own life to secure his place as crown prince? That would have saved you from having to do all that scheming and plotting.”
Kylie trembled uncontrollably, her mind struggling to grasp his words.
Had she truly gotten what she wanted?
Kylie’s voice broke, dry and hoarse as she pleaded, “No… it’s not like that… Your Majesty, even if I’ve made mistakes, it doesn’t mean I deserve to die for them!”
“The queen used her life to secure the nation’s future. There’s no crime here, only merit,” Salvador said coldly.
Fear crept across Kylie’s face, her strength slowly draining away. She lifted her head with great difficulty, her eyes clouded by tears. She could no longer make out Salvador’s expression, only feeling the suffocating pressure around her, tightening her chest until she could hardly breathe.
Lydia lifted her bloodstained face, her voice breaking as she cried out, “Your Majesty, there must be another choice for Her Majesty, right? You and the queen are husband and wife; you’ve been vel together all these years!”
“As long as you live, I will not depose you. So, you must choose your life or the position of crown prince,” Salvador declared, his voice cold and unyielding.
With that, the king turned and left. Derek followed behind him, leaving Everspring Palace cloaked in an unbearable chill.
Her limbs frozen in place and her body unable to move, Kylie was helped to a chair.
Time passed.
Finally, she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably, her voice barely a whisper through the tears.
“He’s so cruel… so cruel…”
She had no choice.
She truly had no choice.
The next day, Derek arrived, asking if the queen wished to announce last night’s edict or pretend nothing had happened.
Kylie was already prepared for the day. She had covered the puffiness under her eyes with makeup, and she wore a gentle, composed smile.
“Mr. Walker, you’ve worked hard in His Majesty’s service. Please come in and have some coffee. Enjoy some snacks with me.”
Derek understood immediately, giving a slight nod as he followed her into the palace to partake in the refreshments she had prepared.
Later, he returned to Salvador and reported back. Hearing the news the king wasn’t surprised. After reading through some reports, Salvador paused for a moment, a flicker of thought crossing his face.
“I thought she might be willing to give up her life for her son, especially after pampering him so much. Yet, it seems it was all to consolidate her own position,” he said.
Nowadays, Salvador would discuss matters concerning his sons with Rafael, especially since he often taught them in the evenings. After finishing his lessons, he would come over to accompany Salvador during his needle treatment sessions.
As the brothers talked more, the barriers between them lessened, as did the suspicion.
Of course, this varied from person to person. Rafael spoke sincerely and rarely held back, as long as the topic didn’t involve Sophie.
Up close, Salvador could always see things clearly. Any issues between them were now discussed openly, unlike before when they relied solely on assumptions.
Salvador credited this change to Sophie’s sharp words. It was as if she had shaken him awake, making him see things differently. Now, he could see Rafael as a brother, not just as a subject under his rule.
After Sebastian finished his needle treatment, he excused himself to rest. Rafael helped Salvador up and walked with him, with Derek trailing behind at a distance. The royal garden at night was softly lit by elaborately crafted lamps, their gentle, ethereal light casting a delicate glow that softened the features of those who passed beneath them.
Rafael listened to Salvador speak, but made no immediate comment. He knew that the king had his own plan and understanding of the situation, so he refrained from offering further advice.
As Salvador finished speaking, a wry smile crossed his face. “She’s not foolish. After all, he is my eldest son, borne by the queen of the kingdom. There’s always hope for him.”
Rafael gave a quiet hum in response, supporting his brother as they walked slowly together.
“How has his attitude been these past few days?” Salvador asked, as he did every day.
“It’s not a complete transformation, but he’s certainly working harder than before,” Rafael replied.
This was no exaggeration. Since the Verdant Hunt, Connor had changed as if he had suddenly gained insight. He realized his natural talents were lacking and began to put in real effort.
Moreover, he worked harder each day, truly taking Sophie’s words to heart and striving to improve himself every single day.
Salvador was pleased with that answer. Although he received the same response daily, it was exactly what he wanted to hear.
“And how is he getting along with Ryan?” Salvador asked further.
“Quite well. They’re helping each other.”
The king’s gaze grew distant, as he silently wished that his son’s generation might be able to renew the friendship he once had with Nathan.