Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
He couldn’t predict Oliver’s temperament. Though Salvador had yet to decide whether or not to agree to Sandoria’s proposal to exchange Septimus for a city, Oliver would certainly refuse. Rafael feared that if
Oliver refused too decidif
The
Sandorian people might execute Septimus on the spot.
Rafael left the city that night, taking Dylan and Jacob with him. At the same time, a carrier pigeon flew back to the Pathfinders Guild, carrying a letter requesting help from Everett.
After Rafael left, Violet pulled Sophie into the next room to sleep together, under the excuse that she was worried Sophie would feel lonely after getting used to having someone beside her. Sophie knocked on her head. “I’m not lonely at all. You’re just bored, aren’t you? Why don’t you go play with Rod?”
“I’m not going to him. He’s all high and mighty now ever since becoming a drill instructor for the household soldiers. He walks around like a peacock,” Violet said, lying on the bed with her chin propped up on her hands.
“And I’m not bored or lonely. I just wanted to chat with you. In a couple of days, we’ll have something fun to watch-Serena’s going to be taken into the Marquis of Ironridge’s family as a concubine.” Sophie folded her arms behind her head. “I know, but I’ve been thinking about something else lately.”
“What are you thinking about? Wondering if Jessica will die of anger?” Violet turned her head, grinning mischievously.
“No. Why are you so focused on their family drama?”
“It’s not just theirs. I’m also keeping an eye on the Earl of Gracehold’s family,” Violet said, kicking her legs up playfully. “Samuel and Ruby were living the good life a few days ago. I wonder if they’ll cry themselves to death after Samuel gets stripped of his heir status.”
Sophie smiled faintly. “Who knows?”
“Sophie, you don’t smile as cheerfully as you used to,” Violet said, poking her finger between Sophie’s brows. “You should lighten up! There’s gossip to follow, jokes to laugh at, and unfortunate people to kick when they’re down.”
Sophie turned to look at her. “Let me ask you something. Imagine this:
during the war, you were already married and presumed dead battle. But in reality, you were captured. When you finally came back, you discovered that your husband had remarried. How would you feel-heartbroken or angry?”
Violet thought for a moment. “I can’t put myself in that situation. I don’t have a husband. You do, though. Why don’t you imagine it for yourself? You’ll understand how it feels.”
Sophie’s voice turned soft and distant. “I’ve already thought about it. If Rafael thought I died in battle and remarried after a few years, I would be heartbroken, but I think I could understand. After all, no one can wait for someone forever. It’s too much to ask.”
“Is this what’s been bothering you? No wonder you’ve looked so down,” Violet said, rolling over onto her back before turning to look at Sophie again. “Why are you even thinking about this? Are you just torturing yourself, or is something actually going on?”
“I’m not sure, but I can tell you about it. You know how to keep a secret,” Sophie replied.
She then told Violet her suspicions about Septimus possibly being Thomas. After finishing, she emphasized, “It’s just a suspicion. We’ll only know for sure once we rescue him.”
Violet listened, and then said, “After
Thomas died, the Farrell family was generous enough to release Viola back to her family. I heard they even gave her two shops as compensation, along with The pension. If Thomas is really still alive, it’s not entirely Viola’s fault. But if she decided to return to her family, why did she take his pension and the shops the Farrell family gave her?”
She paused to think for a moment.
“If it were me,” she said, “I wouldn’t have taken them. After all, the Farrell family isn’t some wealthy noble house. They’re not exactly swimming in money. So many oset their sons died on the battlefield, and they have so many widows and orphans to take care of. From a moral standpoint, Viola shouldn’t have taken the two shops or
Thomas’s pension. Taking back her dowry would’ve been enough.”
“Yeah, and now she’s using that pension and those two shops in her marriage to Blake. If Thomas really does come back, he’ll probably feel pretty hurt.”
“It’s a tough situation involving loyalty and personal happiness,” Sophie said with a sigh, her mood growing heavy as well. “If it is Thomas, and he didn’t let Viola know he was alive because of his loyalty, then Viola remarrying is understandable. It’s a sad reality.”
That was just how it was, but the whole situation was overwhelmingly sad.
The two friends chatted through the night. After experiencing the battles in the Southern Frontier, Violet had matured a great deal. Especially now that she was living in the capital, she had come to learn much about the affairs of powerful families. She realized that the world wasn’t as simple as it had seemed back in Meadow Ridge.
Life in Meadow Ridge had been far too easy. Every day was spent causing trouble, walking dogs, teasing cats, digging around for snakes, or chasing wild boars. The worst thing that ever happened was getting beaten up by apprentices from other guilds.
As they talked, they grew sleepy.
Violet turned over and casually threw a leg over Sophie, yawning. “I really envy you for having such a good mother-in-law. Lady Helen’s always so protective of you.”
“I know.”
“Maybe I should just marry the marshal too, then she’d be my—“
Before Violet could finish her sentence, Sophie kicked her off the bed. Violet jumped back up and started pounding on Sophie, laughing.
“I was just kidding! Did you really take it seriously? Besides, Lady Helen already said she’d take me as her goddaughter. I’m just making her wait for me to accept. She absolutely adores me!”
Sophie blocked Violet’s punches with her elbows, then raised a leg and pressed it against Violet’s neck, pinning her head to the bed. “I’m exhausted. Sleep!”
Violet struggled to free herself from beneath Sophie’s leg, then flopped back down onto the bed and wriggled under the thin blanket. “Fine, I’ll sleep. I’m really tired.”
The next day, Sophie took Kiera and Violet out shopping.
Their main stop was The Golden Tower to check out the latest styles. Of course, they could have had the shop send the new items to their residence to choose from. However, Kiera wanted to see a wider selection. She had been cooped up at home for too long, and was eager to get out and walk around.
Although the palace had already prepared jewelry and accessories for Kiera’s wedding, Sophie didn’t think it was enough. Kiera also wanted to buy more—after all, young girls love looking pretty. Who didn’t love beautiful jewelry?
After breakfast, Helen went back to sleep for a while. When lunchtime came and Sophie, Violet, and Kiera still hadn’t shown up to check on her, Helen sent someone to find out where they were. To her shock, she learned that the three of them had gone out shopping without her.
They had gone without her?
Helen could hardly believe it. How dare they go shopping without her?
To ignore someone as dignified and esteemed as her-how outrageous!
Storming out, she muttered, “Janice has been with me for so many years, and I gave her up generously. Now they go shopping without inviting me? They can forget about me ever paying them any attention again.”
Gillian and Mindy hurried after her, asking, “Where are you going, Your Grace?”
“I’m going to the palace! It’s not as if I need them for company!” Helen snapped furiously.
The Golden Tower was located on South Street in the capital, and it was a well-established shop with a long-standing reputation. Their designs were unique, some even more exquisite than what the palace craftsmen could produce. In fact, many of the palace concubines sent people to The Golden Tower to buy jewelry and accessories.
Moreover, the young heir of The Golden Tower knew how to market his products. Some items were made in very limited quantities. Even though the profit from just a pieces wasn’t huge, it helped maintain the store’s prestigious reputation. Keeping that reputation venet alive was what really mattered in the long run.
The building had three floors: the first sold more affordable items, the second held higher-end goods, and the third was reserved for limited-edition pieces. But even the items from the first floor, though lower in price, were special simply because they came from The Golden Tower.
After they parked the carriage, the driver stayed outside to wait while Sophie, Kiera, and Violet entered the tower, hand in hand.