Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
In her case, she was using this as an excuse to check on Sophie. She had been worried about how Sophie had been faring this past month.
She wouldn’t be at ease until she saw Sophie.D
The first snowfall lasted less than an hour before stopping.
Sophie was dressed in her usual plain white attire with a white flower pinned in her hair, and moved gracefully through the estate. She had worn white since her parents’ passing, observing the traditional three-year mourning period and avoiding bright colors.
She entered the room, her steps steady and unhurried, and greeted Charlotte with a respectful bow.” Hello, Aunt Charlotte.”
Sophie then nodded politely to Amelia, acknowledging her presence.
Charlotte stood up and took Sophie’s hand, examining her closely. Sophie’s complexion was smooth and pale, her overall appearance even more refined than during her time at the Valor Estate. Satisfied that Sophie looked healthy and well, Charlotte’s eyes welled with tears as she recalled Sophie’s difficult days with the Jaffes.
“Sophie, how have you been?” she asked.
“Thank you for your concern, Aunt Charlotte. I’m doing well,” Sophie replied with a gentle smile as she guided the older woman to sit down. “How have you been?”
“Good. Everything’s fine,” Charlotte reassured her, relieved to see that Blake and Freya’s marriage hadn’t affected Sophie.
Standing nearby, Amelia was anxious to speak. “Sophie, it’s about-*
Charlotte cast a sideways glance at Amelia, and interrupted, “Why are you in such a hurry? Your mother-in-law isn’t going to die right this moment. Let me have a few words with Sophie first.” Sophie understood immediately that the issue was related to Rebecca’s illness flaring up again.
However, she chose to focus on the conversation with Charlotte instead.
Charlotte clasped her hands. She wore a blue patterned top that Sophie had ordered for her last autumn. The white fox fur scarf beside her was also a gift from Sophie.
“Don’t pay any attention to the rumors outside. People forget easily. By the time the new year comes around, they won’t even remember what was said about you. So, don’t let those falsehoods upset you, Charlotte advised.
Sophie nodded, appreciating Charlotte’s comforting words.
“I don’t concern myself with what people outside are saying,” Sophie replied.
Hearing this, Charlotte felt even more at ease and changed the subject. She didn’t ask about the royal guards stationed outside, but inquired about Sophie’s daily activities and what Sophie did for leisure. The two chatted for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Meanwhile, Amelia grew increasingly anxious as she listened to their casual conversation. Finally, unable to contain herself, she interrupted them.
“Sophie, I came here today with a request.”
Charlotte took a sip of her tea with an indifferent expression. She had already asked everything she needed to, and learned what she wanted to know.
From this point on, she had no intention of offering any help to Amelia.
Sophie looked at Amelia, noticing her chapped lips and the cold sore at the corner of her mouth. It was clear Amelia had been under a lot of stress lately.
*Please, go ahead, ma’am,” Sophie said gently.
Hearing Sophie call her that made Amelia feel a pang of sadness.
“You used to call me by name…but never mind. I shouldn’t dwell on that. I’m here because my mother-in-law’s illness flared up last night. By this morning, she was so angry that she fainted. Although she’s awake now, without Sebastian’s Snowdrop Pills, the doctor says she won’t last long. I came to ask you to speak. to Sebastian on our behalf.”
Amelia knew it was shameless to come asking for help now, but she had no choice. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“My mother-in-law said that if I can’t get Sebastian, she’ll get Benjamin to divorce me. You know that in the four years since I married into the family, I’ve only had one daughter. When you were there, you took care of her. If Mom gets Benjamin to divorce me for being disrespectful and negligent, I’ll be thrown out!! have no other option but to beg you.”
“She fainted?” Sophie remembered that Rebecca had taken Snowdrop Pills just over a month ago. Even if her illness flared up, it shouldn’t have been severe enough to cause fainting. “Why did it suddenly become so serious?”
Amelia’s face flushed with anger. “It’s because of Blake and Freya’s wedding yesterday.”
She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said too much, and quickly fell silent.
Sophie made a small sound of acknowledgment, her expression calm. She remembered the wedding was at the end of October, but she didn’t know the exact date.Seeing Amelia’s restless and anxious state, Sophie couldn’t help but smile gently. “Go ahead, speak your mind.”
Sophie was leaving the capital tonight. If things weren’t resolved today, Amelia would return tomorrow or the day after. She didn’t want Amelia to spend days standing at the estate’s gates and asking to meet her but couldn’t, as that would only escalate matters
Sophie knew Rebecca didn’t favor Amelia. Apart from not having a son, Amelia’s family background was not influential, and her dowry was meager. She lacked the grace and elegance expected of noble ladies.
Amelia didn’t hesitate to pour out her grievances. Tears fell like rain as she recounted the chaos at the wedding party. Guests had fled, and even the soldiers Freya invited had left disgruntled. Everyone blamed her, including her husband Benjamin.
“On their wedding night,” Amelia continued with frustration and sadness, “Freya overturned the table in their room. Blake had actually left, but when Mom found out, she sent him back.”
“That’s not all,” she went on, her voice trembling with anger. “This morning, the maid went to their new room and found no signs of consummation. Mom thought they quarreled and didn’t sleep together, but Freya boldly admitted they had already been intimate on their way back to the capital. Even the soldiers who returned with them knew. When Mom heard this, she fainted.”
Listening nearby, Lily frowned deeply. “Ma’am, there’s no need to discuss these matters. Lady Devin is young, and still hasn’t experienced those things. She shouldn’t hear such drivel.” What was Sophie’s status? Why tell her about a couple who were intimate even before they were married?
Even though the Jaffes had declined, Rebecca cherished their reputation. She wanted Sophie’s dowry. and found many excuses to take it. After Sophie left the Valor Estate, Rebecca complained about how disrespectful Sophie had been to everyone she met.
Most of the gossip circulating outside had originated from Rebecca, embellished further by gossip-
mongers.
Lily used to be the steward of the Valor Estate, and Amelia respected her greatly. Seeing her sudden change in demeanor, Amelia felt a pang of fear and quickly said, “You’re right. I spoke out of turn.” Meanwhile, Charlotte’s heart was filled with complex emotions after she heard Amelia’s words.
Sophie hadn’t consummated her marriage with Blake, even though they had been married for a year. Perhaps it was for the best; it prevented that ungrateful and insincere man from gaining any advantage over her.
If Sophie found a husband in the future, it would be a pure match free from any criticism.
Amelia twisted her handkerchief in distress, feeling helpless.
“I spoke out of turn earlier. Please, Sophie! For the sake of our past ties as family, help me. Ask Sebastian to come visit. Even if he doesn’t come, at least sell us some Snowdrop Pills,” she pleaded. Sophie remained silent, her expression calm and neutral. Even Amelia suspected that she was preventing Sebastian from treating Rebecca.
Lily had heard enough. “Ma’am, your words are strange, If you can’t invite him, do you think we can?
Sebastian refuses to treat your mother-in-law because he disapproves of her character. It has nothing to do with Lady Devin. If this rumor spreads, our lady will be slandered again.” Amelia sighed heavily. “No matter what I say, I’m wrong. I won’t speak anymore. Sophie, I’ll just kneel to you.”
“Ma’am, Before she could carry out her gesture, Lily swiftly held her back, unable to contain her anger. why humiliate our lady like this? You used to be her elder sister-in-law! If you kneel to her, how can she live with herself?”
Charlotte also found Amelia’s behavior improper.
“You came to Sophie for help, and did your best. If you can’t manage it, go back and tell them to figure it out themselves. They’re capable people, aren’t they? Why are you taking all this upon yourself? Are you an idiot?” she snapped.
Amelia’s voice was choked with tears as she replied, “They said if I can’t handle this, Benjamin will divorce me! You know how they are. Everyone knows! They really will get him to divorce me!”
Sophie looked at Amelia’s despairing eyes. She realized that Amella must have been deeply frightened by Blake divorcing her.