Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
At present, there was no other option but to proceed this way.
The carrier pigeon could cover a thousand miles in a day, so Rafael hoped that Sophie would soon set out. Meanwhile, they needed to be ready.
He suggested that Thomas stay behind to recuperate and return to the capital when his injuries were better. However, Thomas insisted on accompanying Lawrence.
“We’ve been through thick and thin together for years. I won’t abandon him now,” Thomas said, his voice firm and eyes reddened.
Felix’s voice choked with emotion as he added, “We will stay with him. Please permit us to do so, Your Highness.”
Felix was injured, but not severely. It was Louis who was reluctant to let the man travel while wounded. Louis figured it was better to give Felix some time to recover before sending him on the long journey back. After all, Lawrence would likely need treatment in Westglade. “Very well, we’ll go together.” Rafael nodded.
However, no one felt any joy. Returning to Simonton City had been exhilarating a feeling beyond words. But after the military physician examined Lawrence and said the outlook wasn’t good, their smiles vanished. They couldn’t bring themselves to feel happy anymore.
–
Rafael approached Oliver, requesting that the military physician accompany them. Oliver immediately agreed. After all, they had more than one military physician available.
Once Oliver’s official report was sent out, all the scheming and calculations were behind him. He looked at the eleven men with a deep sense of respect. Hearing that Lawrence’s condition was critical, his concern grew. Regardless of what happened, Oliver was a soldier at heart. Even though he once considered abandoning Septimus, seeing the eleven men return stirred something in him.
No one could help but admire heroes, unless those heroes threaten their own position.
But clearly, the safe return of these eleven men was partly thanks to Rafael’s efforts and partly Oliver’s own. After all, it was he who had sent Louis and Timothy.
Oliver also wanted to save Lawrence, and it was driven partly by his own interests. Lawrence was the Marquis of Elderglen’s second son. Oliver was still in an unstable position within the military, and needed the support of influential families. However, what surprised Oliver more was that Thomas was also a Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team member.
Viola was already married off to someone else, and Oliver found himself uncertain about how to face Thomas. Perhaps it was best to pretend not to know him, as they no longer had any familial ties.
At Hell Monarch Estate, Sophie had just gone to bed when Travis pounded on the door and shouted urgently, “Sophie, there’s an emergency!”
Travis adhered to the etiquette of high society, and he usually avoided addressing her by name in public. He only reserved it for private moments. His nighttime visit and forceful knocking indicated that something serious had happened. Sophie hurriedly threw on a robe as Lulu opened the door. Travis held a note that he had clearly already read as he came in, and said urgently, “You need to get Sebastian and Lady Kayla right away! There’s no time to lose!” Sophie was startled at Travis’ words. She quickly took the note, which contained only a few brief lines.
[The rescue was successful, but Lawrence was gravely injured. Bring Sebastian and Lawrence’s wife, the second madam of the Ziegler family, to Westglade immediately.]
Lawrence? Was Septimus actually Lawrence, and not Thomas?
“Rod, prepare the horses and some provisions. I’m leaving the city tonight,” she instructed Travis.
Then, Sophie turned to Pearl and said, “Choose a few practical outfits for me and find my deputy commander’s emblem.”
Violet had been speaking with Helen, and she came over upon hearing the commotion through the wall.
“What happened? What’s going on?”
Sophie immediately replied, “Vivi, you’re just in time. Go to Arcane Sanctum and look for Sebastian. Tell him there’s a hero gravely injured, and I need him to accompany me to Westglade. I’ll go to Elderglen Estate to fetch Lady Kayla.” She handed Violet the letter from the carrier pigeon, and then quickly went to change. After Violet read the note, she gasped in surprise. Then, her expression turned serious.
“I’ll get Sebastian right away.”
After Sophie changed, she and Lulu hurriedly left for Elderglen Estate.
“Lulu, what time is it now?”
“It’s around nine,” Lulu replied, her voice tinged with both anxiety and excitement.
Everyone had a sense of duty to their kingdom, and Lulu was easily moved to tears. She blinked back the tears threatening to spill over and asked, “My lady, will General Zielger be alright?”
“He will be!” Sophie answered firmly. “As long as we move quickly enough.”
That was why Sophie insisted on leaving the city the same night. Every minute wasted meant more danger for Lawrence.
The Marquis of Elderglen’s family was known for its strict family values. By nine in the evening, everyone in the household was already settling down for the night. The arrival of the Hell Monarch’s princess consort at this hour startled everyone.
The Marquis of Elderglen’s wife, Agnes, knew that Sophie had once helped her unfortunate daughter-in-law. Agnes even sent a gift with Kayla to visit Sophie to express her gratitude.
But what could be the reason for Sophie’s late-night visit?
“Quickly, get changed. No time for idle chatter,” the Marquis of Elderglen, Edwin Ziegler, instructed.
He was already dressed. At this hour, a visit from the Hell Monarch’s princess consort deserved proper respect.
Edwin had a tall and imposing figure. He held the esteemed position of Minister of Infrastructure, a second-rank official.
The main gate of Elderlgen Estate was opened to welcome Sophie inside.
Everyone in the residence bowed to Sophie, and Agnes invited her to take a seat and ordered refreshments to be brought.
Sophie waved her hand to stop the formalities. Not seeing Kayla, she said, “I have urgent business with Lady Kayla. Please have her pack a bag and come with me to Westglade.” Everyone was taken aback.
Westglade?
The Marquis of Elderglen’s heir,
Julian Ziegler quickly spoke up, “Lady Sophie, my sister-in-law rarely leaves the residence since becoming a widow. Is there something urgent that regu i net her to go to Westglade, which is such a distant place? If it’s not absolutely necessary for her to go, might I go instead?”
“Julian is right. Also, it’s the middle of the night-“
Sophie interrupted them, “Send someone to fetch her immediately and have her pack her things. Once you’ve done that, I’ll explain the situation.” Seeing her grave expression, Edwin promptly dispatched a capable maid to help pack Kayla’s belongings and bring her out.
Once the maid left, Sophie began, “Prince Rafael went to Simonton City to negotiate with Sandoria’s representatives over an informant named Septimus. Septimus is an informant who escaped after being captured by our enemy. During the Southern Frontier conflict, he continuously sent us intelligence. However, he was recently caught, and the Sandoria people are trying to exchange him for Simonton City.”
As Sophie spoke, everyone’s breathing grew rapid, waiting for her to continue.
“So, the king dispatched Prince Rafael to Simonton City. On the surface, it was for negotiations. In actuality, Prince Rafael would secretly attempt a rescue operation. Septimus has been rescued, and he’s now in Simonton City. It has been confirmed that Septimus is actually Lawrence Ziegler, the Marquis of Elderglen’s second son.
“However, his injuries are severe. Prince Rafael’s message via carrier pigeon requests that Sebastian and Lady Kayla be brought along. We must leave tonight. There is no time to waste.” “Oh, my God! Oh, heavens!”
Agnes trembled all over. The news that her son was not dead, but was gravely injured instead, was almost too much for her to bear. “I-I’ll go too!”
Julian held his mother, and supported her in standing up. “Mom, you shouldn’t go. I’ll go in your place. I’ll accompany my sister-in-law.”
His voice was already choked with emotion.
“I will also go,” Edwin said, his voice slightly trembling. He smiled, but his eyes were filled with tears. “Our son is brave and remarkable. We will go and bring him home. We must.” Edwin was known to be a stoic man. He was a marquis and a dignified second-rank official. Back then, he had managed to hold back tears upon hearing the news of his son’s sacrifice.