Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Rafael asked curiously, “What did you say before you left?”
Sophie recounted the events in the inner courtyard and her argument with Jessica, relaying every word she had said.
Rafael listened without any hint of surprise, as if he had anticipated her reaction.
Who could bully this little demoness from the Pathfinders Guild? The Jaffe family might have thought they had the upper hand. However, they were unaware that Sophie only married into their family due to Melanie’s instructions after Hector and his sons sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.
As Blake went to battle to defend Starhaven, Sophie vowed to care for those in the Jaffe family household.
She was never someone to be easily manipulated.
Years ago, when Rafael went up the mountain, he had witnessed Sophie pinning her senior, Winona, to the ground. Winona hadn’t gone easy on her-she truly was outmatched.
Of course, Winona was renowned for her Lightfoot Skill and was one of the most famous spies in the martial world, though not many knew of this particular event.
According to Adrian, Sophie was a martial prodigy. Among all the guild apprentices, she had no peers in terms of martial skills. Not only among the guild members but also across all the guilds in Meadow Ridge.
Who hadn’t Sophie challenged in her younger, more reckless days?
Regardless, none could surpass her.
When Adrian spoke of her, he did so with a proud expression.
However, Rafael was surprised by Helen’s public announcement of their impending marriage. Given her nature, she would surely oppose the marriage vehemently. Even if someone asked her, she would likely remain silent. Her choice to speak out without being prompted was very unlike her.
“My mom will surely regret her public announcement tonight when she returns to the palace,” Rafael said, knowing her well.
Sophie found it amusing. “Your mom spoke to me with such arrogance the other day, but in front of Grand Princess Eleanor and Lady Jessica, she was as meek as a puppy. She was angry, but dared not retort. She could only glare at them. It was quite amusing to watch.”
“Grand Princess Eleanor is my aunt. She was pampered by my grandfather from a young age. When she lived in the palace with her mother, she learned many underhanded tactics. After she grew up, even my father had to give in to her. How could my mom not be afraid of her?”
Rafael’s long fingers traced the rim of the cup as he continued, “My grandfather was quite compliant with her demands, but when it came to her interest in your father, he didn’t comply. That’s why she harbored resentment towards the Devin family.”
Sophie replied, “Anyone with a brain knows that a princess can’t command a military force. My father was a formidable general in his youth, capable of standing on his own. How could the court allow him to marry the princess? It’s something everyone understands. How could she not? It’s just her unwillingness to accept it.”
Rafael’s lips curled into a smile that was as captivating as it was mesmerizing. “Yes, she’s merely using the opportunity to vent her frustrations. By the way, how did you know about the grievances in her household?”
Just then, the waiter brought out the food to be served, and Sophie fell silent. She watched as each dish was laid out before them.
Among them was her favorite-spicy stuffed peppers. Their vibrant red and green hues looked utterly appetizing.
There was a variety of dishes, both spicy and mild options, and the fragrant aroma soon filled the room.
Sophie was ravenous. She picked up her utensils, and addressed Rafael’s earlier question.
“When we left, Frederick mentioned that over the years, Lord Henry had taken many concubines. Most of them died after giving birth. I thought, if a concubine dies, it could be due to an accident or childbirth complications, but for so many to die—it’s hard not to be suspicious.”
As she spoke, she picked up a stuffed pepper and placed it on her plate. She also served some to Rafael. “Try some of this. It’s the star of all the dishes.”
Then, she spooned a small amount of red chili and green chili onto his plate.
“Okay.” Rafael looked at the bright red chili with a serious expression, not hurrying to eat. “Your suspicion is correct. Indeed, Henry’s concubines were all cruelly mistreated and died terrible deaths.” Sophie asked, “I didn’t see any concubines around Grand Princess Eleanor today. Were all killed? And the children born of those concubines are missing too?”
“Not exactly. Those who knew how to behave might have survived. After giving birth, they would offer their children to her and then serve as footmaids by her side, which allowed them to stay alive. As for the children…”
He finally took a bite of the pepper. After chewing briefly, he quickly swallowed. His eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and he grabbed his cup to drink, coughing as he said, “It’s too spicy…!”
As he coughed, he pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth. The handkerchief was overly conspicuous, and Sophie turned her face away, unable to look.
What kind of embroidery was that? It was neither a bird nor a bee, and it was all wrinkled!
Did he even remember who gave him this handkerchief?
No, she needed to find a way to steal it and destroy it!
She took a bite of the stuffed pepper, savoring its spicy and smooth taste. It was truly soul-satisfying. However, her focus wasn’t on the food but on his handkerchief. Casually, she asked, “This handkerchief of yours doesn’t seem very well embroidered. Was it made by one of the seamstresses in your residence?”
Rafael, his cheeks flushed from the spiciness, continued to drink water, gradually clearing the fiery sensation from his mouth.
He finally lifted the handkerchief, and said, “This? It’s probably not from the residence’s seamstresses. This handkerchief has been with me for a long time. I remember it was made by a young girl who was just learning embroidery. It was the first handmade gift I received, so I’ve kept it. I’m just a bit regretful that I can’t recall who the girl was.”
He spoke with sincerity, and his eyes showed genuine regret, indicating he had truly forgotten who gave it to him.
Sophie was relieved. If he had forgotten for so long, he would likely never remember. She needed to practice her embroidery diligently in the coming days, and make sure he didn’t notice how rough her skills were in the past.
“Before this handkerchief, has anyone ever given you a handmade gift?” Sophie asked while serving him more food. “Here, try this.”
He poured more water, and let the food cool a bit before he ate. His manners were very refined, a stark contrast to his demeanor on the battlefield.
It seemed that everyone started putting on airs after returning to the capital.
“My mom never did embroidery. If I needed handkerchiefs or such, the palace had plenty. Gillian could easily fetch me some,” Rafael said, only to start coughing again.
This time, it seemed the spiciness had hit him hard. He gulped the water down, but ended up coughing even more.
Dylan watched him with growing concern as Rafael coughed so violently that it seemed like his lungs might come out. He couldn’t help but worry.
Rafael had never been able to handle spicy food before.
Why was he claiming to thrive on it today?!
Sophie also noticed that Rafael started coughing as soon as he ate, and his cheeks turned red from the coughing.
Clearly, he wasn’t used to spicy food. So why did he choose this restaurant?
She moved the list of non-spicy dishes to his side, and said, “Even though you like spicy food, I think your throat is sore today. You should avoid spicy dishes for now and eat something lighter.” “My throat does feel off,” Rafael said, clearing his throat as he felt the lingering burn from the spices.
It was quite uncomfortable.
“I’ll have someone bring you a glass of milk,” Sophie said, standing up to open the door to the private room. She called for a waiter to bring a cup of milk.
“Milk can help neutralize the spiciness,” she said with a smile, as if comforting a child. “Drink up.”