Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Though she had fallen ill and passed away after the series of misfortunes struck the Devin family, no official mourning period was declared upon her death.
The court was aware of her passing, but chose not to publicize it. If they had, all the Sullivan family’s sons would have had to observe a period of mourning. Even if they were recalled to duty under special circumstances, it would still have involved a lot of complications and unnecessary delays.
With the war intensifying, many decisions had been made out of necessity, leaving little room for alternatives. Though there was no formal mourning period, all the proper rites had been observed without a single day missed.
Sophie still remembered her grandmother clearly-Edith had always been a kind, gentle woman. She never called her granddaughter by name, but instead always referred to her by her nickname, Little Gem. It signified how she, as the only girl among her six older brothers, was as precious as a gem.
Now, kneeling before Edith’s memorial plaque, Sophie couldn’t help but shed more tears.
Her voice caught as she whispered, “Grandma, your little gem is here to see you.”
After lighting a candle for Edith, everyone returned to the backyard. They wiped away their tears, set aside their grief, and gathered around Sophie to ask about her married life. The most frequent question was about how well Rafael treated her.
That was how families were. They knew she was capable, yet they couldn’t help but yearn for her spouse to treat her with genuine love and care.
Sophie had many cousins, all daughters of her uncles, but most had only met her a handful of times. Still, when they saw her, they were all overjoyed.
Her cousins were all married, and many had returned to Victory Pass with their husbands and children. Having heard so much about Sophie, they couldn’t help but feel a mix of admiration and sympathy.
Among them was Shayla Sullivan, the eldest daughter of Sophie’s second aunt. She had married Chase Hudson, one of Dominic’s subordinates. But within a year of marriage, Chase died in battle before their child had even been born.
Now, the child was 12 years old.
Shayla had opened an orphanage in Victory Pass, taking in abandoned babies. There were now over 30 children under her care, but life was incredibly difficult. Her resources were stretched thin, and some days, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could continue.
Upon hearing that Sophie had opened a workshop in the capital, she sought her out for advice on how to manage it successfully.
“I rely entirely on our family’s support now. Otherwise, the children wouldn’t even have enough to eat,” Shayla admitted in a humble tone, her voice thick with shame.
Sophie noticed her cousin’s coarse clothing, patched in several places. Even her shoes were worn through and patched. It was clear that times were hard.
“Shayla, running a workshop is different from running an orphanage,” Sophie began. “In the workshop, everyone is capable of supporting themselves. I only provide them with a place to stay and a community of people whose circumstances are similar to theirs, so they can support each other. But your orphanage is filled with infants who can’t fend for themselves. They depend on you entirely.”
“You’re right. They can’t care for themselves.” Shayla sighed, her face drawn with worry. “I’m not capable of much, but I can’t bear to turn them away.”
Her voice gentle but firm, Sophie offered some advice, saying, “Adopting infants is a noble cause, but you must act within your means. When it exceeds your capabilities, it becomes a burden. Not just on you, but on your family as well.
“You can’t send them away, of course, but you need to find a way to sustain them. I suggest you don’t take in any more children for now. And perhaps, since Victory Pass is temporarily exempt from paying taxes, you could petition the local government to establish the orphanage as an official institution. They may allocate funds to you, and it wouldn’t require approval from court, so it shouldn’t take long.”
The room fell silent as her words sank in.
Sophie observed their expressions and guessed that they had likely considered it. However, the separation of military and government affairs meant that if the Sullivan family pressured the local authorities, it could easily lead to criticism, especially since the orphanage was now under the management of one of their own.
On the surface, it might seem like a noble cause to help abandoned infants. But if someone wanted to stir up trouble, they could spin it in many ways. For instance, they might accuse the Sullivan family of using the orphanage to siphon tax money from the local treasury, or claim it was a front for personal gain.
What was once a noble cause could easily become a scandal and a serious crime.
Also, Magnus Smith, who worked in the local government, had been sent by Salvador. He was specifically there to oversee the Sullivan family.
How could those in high positions ever fully trust a family that held military power?
Sophie chuckled. “Actually, there’s no need for you to get involved. There’s someone else who is perfect for this task.”
Everyone looked at her, curiosity written on their faces, waiting for her to reveal who she meant.
Sophie only grinned and replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll speak to him first.”
Victory Pass was far from Salvador’s reach, and the military and local government were technically separate. However, in a region frequently plagued by war, the military naturally held a higher status. Yet, the balance between the two had been remarkably maintained.
The Sullivan family didn’t compete for status because their goals lay elsewhere.
But to others, this made them seem easy to manipulate.
Now, it wasn’t like Sophie wanted to fight for status on their behalf either. Orphanages existed in many parts of Starhaven, funded by the court and managed by local government offices.
If other states could have them, why not Victory Pass? The reason was simple: it wasn’t considered a political achievement and would require significant funds. Yet, this seemingly insignificant achievement was exactly what Kendrick needed.
He knew he had to remain low-key and unremarkable, but he also couldn’t bear to be seen as a useless prince. If he could earn a good reputation, it might elevate his standing when he returned to the capital.
Most importantly, the entire endeavor would bring him benefits without any drawbacks. From his behavior at the relay station, it was clear that he occasionally liked to make a splash, even if just a little.
So, let him have this.
Kendrick didn’t wake until well into the afternoon the following day, his body heavy with exhaustion and hunger. When his eyes finally fluttered open, he felt as if his entire body had been shattered. Every muscle ached, and lifting even his arm seemed like a Herculean task.
The weariness sank deep into his bones, and he had no energy to move. His attendant, a trusted servant by the name of Avery, stood at his bedside, awaiting his attention.
He said quietly, “Your Highness, Lady Sophie has been waiting for you for half the day. She wishes to speak with you.”
Kendrick had initially planned to stay in bed, have all his meals brought to him, and then drift back to sleep. He was simply too tired to move.
But when he heard that Sophie had waited so long, he immediately threw the covers off and commanded, “Prepare me, quickly.”
Over the course of the journey, Kendrick had come to understand just how formidable Sophie was. As a woman, she had never once complained about exhaustion and led the entire group safely through several dangerous situations. Even as many others fell ill along the way, she remained strong.
He knew better than to take someone like her lightly-such people rarely wasted time with idle conversation, and when they spoke, it was for a reason.
Despite his hunger gnawing at him, Kendrick hurriedly washed up, drank a quick bowl of porridge, and then went to see Sophie.
“What is it you wish to discuss, Lady Sophie?”
Sophie wasted no time explaining the matter of the orphanage. Kendrick listened carefully, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he nodded, as if understanding everything at once.
“I see. Though I arrived yesterday and collapsed from exhaustion, I couldn’t help but notice the simple furnishings here at Stormwatch Keep. Everything appears so humble and frugal. The grand general’s family has served the kingdom loyally and should not be treated so poorly.”
Sophie’s lips twitched slightly. “Your Highness, you misunderstand. This isn’t what I meant. The Sullivan family will not take a single coin for themselves from this. What we’re doing is for the children—and for your reputation. These children will remember your kindness, even from far away in the capital, and everyone in the court will praise your good deeds.”
She quickly added, “Of course, the Sullivan family will benefit from this too.”
Kendrick’s eyes widened slightly as he processed her words.
So, that was the plan. He could see the logic behind it. The Sullivan family might struggle, but they were not without support from the Duke of Northwatch’s family and the Hell Monarch’s wealth.