Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
This was the best outcome Sylvia could hope for. If she was lucky, there might be no further retribution.
Soon, the news of Sylvia’s transfer spread throughout the harem. Everyone still remembered her grand entrance into Tranquil Palace. Now, seeing her relegated to a palace near the Cold Palace, the gossip began. Many speculated that the move was tied to Jeanette’s miscarriage.
However, Salvador’s edict stated that the relocation was due to Cecil’s health. Though the young prince was recovering, he still needed peace and quiet to regain his strength. So, Sylvia and the children would move to Laurel Palace to avoid disturbances.
Additionally, Sylvia was to care for Cecil. As a result, her authority to manage the harem would be temporarily relinquished. Salvador instructed that a suitable person be selected to work with Grace in managing affairs.
While the official reasoning seemed clear, who could truly know the truth?
Perhaps the one most delighted by this turn of events was Kylie. At last, the thorn in her side had been removed.
“Has everything been handled?” Kylie asked, a trace of satisfaction in her voice.
Lydia nodded. “You need not worry, Your Majesty. The palace maid was taken by the queen dowager. She was tortured, and confessed about Lady Sylvia before being put to death. I don’t expect this matter to be tied to you, Your Majesty.”
Kylie felt a stir of unease upon hearing that Victoria had conducted the interrogation. But after a moment, she reminded herself that there was no need to worry too much. Since the palace maid had already confessed Sylvia’s involvement, Victoria would have no reason to probe further.
Still, the queen found her joy somewhat dampened. After all, Sylvia was only being moved to another palace, and had been demoted rather than imprisoned. Even more irksome was the fact that Salvador and Victoria had gone so far as to make excuses, claiming the relocation was necessary for Cecil’s recuperation.
“His Majesty will never let Lady Grace wield all the power. Do you think I have a chance of regaining control of the harem?” Kylie asked, her voice steady but sharp.
She had hoped this move would serve two purposes. Not only would it pull Sylvia from power, it might also allow Kylie to reclaim her authority of the harem. If she could take charge again, even if Grace remained in charge of certain matters, at least Kylie would retain ultimate say over the harem.
Lydia hesitated, unwilling to give false hope.
Finally, she simply said, “Your Majesty, we can only abide by His Majesty’s decisions.”
However, what came as a surprise to many was that Grace’s authority was also rescinded. The control of the harem was temporarily handed to Victoria.
Others were perplexed by this shift, but Sophie understood. With the power in the queen dowager’s hands, any plot against the crown prince would be far more difficult to execute. Everyone would have to lie low and wait-no one would dare make any bold moves in the short term.
On the third day after Sylvia’s relocation, she made her way to Serenity Palace to seek an audience with Victoria.
Sylvia had come to terms with her downfall. When one chose a path, one had to be prepared for the consequences. Yet, this time, she knew that someone else had meddled behind the scenes. For that reason, she requested to see the queen dowager and spoke her suspicions aloud.
Victoria listened quietly as Sylvia confessed to having given Jeanette the miscarriage-inducing drug.
“If the medicine was to remain undetected, the dosage couldn’t be too large. Otherwise, the royal physicians would surely notice.
“So, I instructed the palace maid to administer it slowly over the course of half a month. But Lady Jeanette’s miscarriage occurred the very next day. I believe someone interfered behind the scenes. I am guilty, but the one who acted in the shadows is equally to blame,” Sylvia explained.
Victoria looked at her with tired, swollen eyes.
Instead of responding to the accusation, she said, “You should focus on caring for Cecil in Laurel
Palace. The child is innocent, andet the king will not take his wrath out on him. In time, Cecil will have better days. But mark my words do not stir up any more trouble. That is my final counsel to you.”
Sylvia’s lips parted in shock. Her mind was in turmoil.
Based on Victoria’s words, it was clear that they knew the truth, yet had no intention of investigating further.
But did Sylvia truly wish for them to pursue the matter?
If they did, she would be the first to bear the consequences. Regret settled over her like a heavy cloak. Coming to confess had only cemented her guilt. Lowering herself to the floor, she bowed deeply before stumbling out on unsteady feet.
Watching her retreating figure, Victoria thought back to when Sylvia first entered the palace. Back then, she had been strikingly beautiful, with a proud and aloof temperament. After securing Salvador’s favor, she had become arrogant, even domineering.
Over the past two years, she had learned to restrain herself, but the pride in her bones had never truly faded. And now, just the glimmer of ambition had driven her to this.
Power could really drive people to madness.
To prevent further complications, Victoria issued an order: Kylie and Grace were to copy religious texts, a task that would last until New Year’s Eve. Only then would they be permitted to leave their quarters.
As for Connor and Caden, they were to spend their days studying and their evenings training in martial arts under Rafael’s guidance. Also, they would reside in Serenity Palace, with Kylie and Grace barred from seeing them.
Because Serenity Palace was an impenetrable stronghold, there was little risk of the princes’ food or drink being tampered with. However, they were most vulnerable when traveling to and from their lessons, so Rafael arranged for soldiers from the Mystic Army to escort them, ensuring their safety.
Days passed, and before long, a rumor spread through the palace. It was said that Sylvia’s demotion had been due to her involvement in Jeanette miscarriage.
But within a few days, another rumor arose, claiming that Sylvia had been innocent all along. The true culprit was Kylie, and Sylvia had merely taken the fall for her.
The rumor spread like wildfire, sweeping through the palace corridors until it reached the queen’s ears.
Kylie was certain Sylvia had started the rumors. Now was the time for the queen to restore her reputation. Even if she had played a role in Jeanette’s miscarriage, she couldn’t allow the blame to fall upon her. Besides, she was confident there was no evidence against her. If there was, Salvador’s wrath would have already descended upon Everspring Palace.
More importantly, Kylie knew precisely whom she could not afford to offend, and who might be worth stepping on, if only to test where Salvador’s favor truly lay.
With that in mind, the queen led her attendants straight to Laurel Palace. The moment she laid eyes on Sylvia, she unleashed a torrent of scathing accusations. She claimed Sylvia had slandered her, spreading falsehoods and committing the grave offense of insubordination.
On those two charges, Kylie ordered her attendants to slap Sylvia as punishment.
Everyone in the palace knew that Sylvia had long since fallen from favor. With that in mind, how could the few attendants remaining in Laurel Palace protect her?
Right before Cecil and Phoebe’s eyes, Sylvia was seized by the shoulders and struck across the face a dozen times. They slapped her until blood spilled from her lips and the world spun around her.
Phoebe fell to her knees and cried, “Mother, please spare her! Mom never said such things!”
But Cecil resorted to far more direct methods. He lunged at Kylie and sank his teeth into her arm, biting down with all his strength. Despite her striking him across the face, sending him tumbling to the ground, he scrambled up and bit her again.
The palace attendants hurried to stop him, but it took a lot of effort to control the child.
Pain flared in Kylie’s arm, but she made no move to retaliate further. Instead, she cast Sylvia a cold, disdainful look.
“Look at the son you’ve raised. How dare he attack me! Such reckless defiance! If he behaves this way now, what chaos will he bring upon the kingdom in the future?”
Sylvia could hardly stand, swaying as her attendants held her up. Her hair had come undone and her accessories were scattered on the ground. Yet, even in such a wretched state, she still shielded her children behind her. Her glare was fierce as she fixed it upon Kylie.
In a hoarse voice, she said, “Are you truly so blameless, Your Majesty? Do you dare swear to the heavens that you had no hand in the loss of Lady Jeanette’s child?”
Obviously, Kylie had no intention of swearing such an oath.
Instead, she straightened up and declared with righteous indignation, “Only the guilty resort to deceitful words and show no remorse or shame. You even incited palace net servants to spread vile rumors and conspired to lay blame upon me. But the heavens see all, Lady Sylvia. Your retribution has come.”