Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Since they were soaked through, they had to return to the estate and change into dry clothes. Sophie had Travis arrange for a few household soldiers to keep watch and later bring Ryan back.
In the afternoon, both women felt unwell after being caught in the rain for so long. They had the estate physician prescribe medicine. After taking it, they both went to bed.
In the evening, Blake emerged from the Capital Guard barracks. He was requesting time off because his mother had fallen ill since that day. Serena had been unwilling to part with the ruby tiara and was now keeping it with her constantly while caring for his mother, displaying an unprecedented level of devotion. Blake planned to take a few days off to handle matters at home. If Serena continued to refuse to return the tiara, he would have to take it by force. He couldn’t allow Serena to use Thomas’s pension to buy it.
It would be an insult to both him and Thomas.
Blake went out and bought a gold hairpin, and placed it in a box. Upon returning to the estate, he inquired about Serena and learned that she was in their mother’s room. He went straight there. As expected, Serena was holding the jewelry box when he arrived. Seeing him, she immediately stood up, her expression wary. “Aren’t you on duty tonight? Why are you back so soon?” “This is for you.” Blake handed her the box and said coolly, “I bought it with my allowance.”
Serena looked at him with suspicion. “You bought a hairpin for me? Why?”
She clutched her jewelry box tighter. For the past few days, she had been told to return the ruby tiara. Now, she was suddenly being given a hairpin?
“It’s to add to your dowry, and also because you’ve been taking such good care of our mom these past few days. Just accept it,” Blake said with a sigh, then turned to look at Rebecca on the bed. “Mom, how are you feeling today?”
Rebecca was surprised by her son’s actions. She replied, “Your sister has indeed worked hard taking care of me. I’m feeling somewhat better today. I should be able to get out of bed and walk tomorrow.” “Shall I help you up for a walk now?” Blake lifted the blanket, and extended his hand to assist her.
Seeing this, Serena finally set aside the jewelry box that held the ruby tiara and opened the new box. Inside was a gold hairpin.
She picked it up, noting its weight and the fine craftsmanship. It resembled the hairpins from the Golden Tower. But upon closer inspection, she saw it was a bit different. It was likely from the Gilded Tower. Although she felt a twinge of disappointment, it was still pure gold and not a loss. She looked up at Blake. “Thank you, Blake.”
“Try it on and see if it suits you,” Blake said as he helped their mother stand.
Serena went to the dressing table to try it on, but was startled by Rebecca’s exclamation from behind, “Blake, what are you doing?”
Serena turned around abruptly to see that Blake was no longer assisting their mother, but was holding her ruby tiara.
Her heart leaped to her throat. “Blake, what are you planning to do?!”
Blake said coldly, “Since you can’t wear a ruby tiara made from pure gold as a concubine in the Marquis of Ironridge’s family, I’ll return it for you.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
“No!” Serena screamed, rushing forward. “Give it back!”
Blake had already used his Lightfoot Skill to leap away, quickly mounting his horse and heading towards The Golden Tower.
He needed to return the item and retrieve the money before the Golden Tower closed for the night.x Although the Golden Tower was still open, there were few customers left. The capital didn’t enforce a curfew, but no wealthy patrons would visit the store at night, so they would close by dark.
Blake was the last customer of the day.
William was the one who greeted Blake. Upon hearing that he was here to return the ruby tiara, he maintained his smile. William’s friendly demeanor eased Blake’s embarrassment. He had expected the return process to be a hassle, but to his surprise, the Golden Tower staff handled it smoothly. After inspecting the ruby tiara, they promptly processed the return.
The full sum of 36,800 silver coins was refunded without any deductions.
William personally escorted Blake to the door and politely said, “We look forward to your next visit.”
As Blake looked back at the Golden Tower’s golden sign, he thought to himself that he would never set foot in the place again.
The last shred of his pride had been lost there.
Riding swiftly back to the estate, Blake found the place in chaos.
Knowing she could not catch up with her brother, Serena concluded that Viola had forced him to return the tiara. Enraged, she had stormed into Grace Mansion and slapped Viola across the face with all her strength.
Viola had spent a lot of money buying the ruby tiara and had been feeling resentful about her husband’s indifference. So, when Serena came in and slapped her without warning, she was infuriated and immediately retaliated with a stap of her own.
The two women began to fight, struggling and hitting each other.
When Blake returned to Valor Estate, the maid had managed to pull the two women apart.
However, both Serena and Viola were in a terrible state-hair disheveled, clothes torn, and their faces marked with scratches and handprints. They looked like they had been in a street brawl.
Rebecca sat on a chair, gasping for breath and glaring fiercely at Viola. “Serena is about to debut into society! How can she face anyone with her face so marred?”
Viola was sitting on the floor, crying inconsolably. Her sobs filled with deep frustration and helplessness.
Blake strode in and helped Viola to her feet, then handed her a stack of banknotes. “The ruby tiara has been returned. Take this money back with you.”
“Are you out of your mind, Blake?” Rebecca snapped, rising angrily. “Returning the jewelry we bought-what’s left of our family’s dignity?”
“Bring it back! I won’t return it!” Serena had just caught her breath, and she rushed at him. She pounded his chest and displayed an unseemly tantrum. Blake endured her blows stoically, his face impassive. He was weary of this life, and was utterly exhausted.
Viola was stunned as she held the banknotes in a daze, momentarily forgetting her tears.
After striking Blake for a while, Serena turned to snatch the banknotes from Viola, who quickly hid them behind her and stepped back.
“What are you trying to do?”
“That was a gift you bought for me! You insisted on buying it,” Serena’s voice was hoarse and filled with bitterness.
“I regret it,” Viola said blankly.
Was she regretting the purchase of the ruby tiara, or something else? She wasn’t sure of her own feelings.
But this was not the life she wanted.
The Jaffe family felt like a rotting, festering cesspool into which she had plunged headlong.
However, she had no say in this marriage. It had been arranged by Natalie, who had come as a matchmaker. Her mother had explained the reasons behind it, and it wasn’t that she couldn’t refuse, but rejecting it would have been detrimental to her eldest brother’s prospects.
Moreover, she had been very lonely then. She wanted someone by her side who understood her, someone who would make her feel the way she had felt with Thomas.
She had thought Blake would be like Thomas, but he wasn’t.
The Jaffe family was also a far cry from the Farrell family. Everyone in the Farrell family was so easy to get along with. Alice treated her like a beloved daughter, sparing her from daily duties and not requiring her to wait on her. In the Farrell household, there was no one difficult to deal with.
In contrast, the Jaffe family was full of difficult people. The air was et constantly filled with the sounds of insults, shouts, and cries.
Suddenly, she felt a deep sense of weariness. Holding the banknotes, she turned and walked out, sitting listlessly in the side hall.
By evening, Viola’s crying had finally stopped. She leaned back on the chaise, tears still quietly falling.