Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Sophie and her group left the city together, but they would travel in two separate groups.
Julian, Travis, and Sebastian could ride horses and would set out first.
Violet and Sophie were capable of riding horses, but they needed to accompany Kayla. Kayla was not skilled in riding, and would travel by carriage.
For Kayla, traveling at night was a new experience. She had rarely traveled far in her life, especially not to a distant place like Westglade.
She wasn’t nervous, but she was worried. Sophie had explained everything to her during the carriage ride.
Kayla didn’t shed another tear. If her husband could be so strong, she resolved to be strong as well.
The carriage jolted over the uneven road, and the hurried pace only made the ride more grueling for Kayla. After just half an hour, Sophie noticed Kayla’s face had gone pale, her hand clutching her chest as if she were about to be sick. Sophie asked, “Are you feeling nauseous from the carriage ride? Should I have the driver slow down?”
“No, don’t slow down,” Kayla waved her hand dismissively. “We need to go as fast as possible. I wish this horse had wings to fly us to Westglade. Don’t mind how frail I look, Your Grace I can endure hardship.”
“Alright, then.” Sophie reached into her bag and pulled out the dried fruits Lulu had packed. Finding some ginger candies, she said, “Suck on this candy. It’ll help you feel better.”
“Thank you!” Kayla popped a piece into her mouth. The sweet and spicy taste spread in her mouth, somewhat alleviating her nausea.
–
Meanwhile, Rafael had arranged for the carriage to be modified in Simonton City. It was now spacious enough for Lawrence to lie down comfortably. Soft padding was added to ease the pain from the bumps. The military physician sat in the carriage with him, fanning away the heat and monitoring his condition.
Oliver had provided the best horses for everyone else.
Having stayed out of sight for a while, Oliver finally came out to see them off. He avoided eye contact with Thomas, and Thomas did the same. There was almost no exchange of glances between them.
As Thomas was about to mount his horse, however, Oliver suddenly called out, “Thomas!”
Thomas turned around. “Do you need something, Marshal Prince?”
Oliver looked at Thomas’ tanned, clean-shaven face, noting the absence of his former charm. He felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
“I’m glad you’re still alive.”
Thomas grinned. “Thank you, Marshal Prince. Farewell.”
Despite his injuries, Oliver watched Thomas swing himself onto the horse with practiced ease. The man sat upright with the poise of a soldier. Of all Oliver’s brothers-in-law, Thomas was the one Oliver admired most. It was a shame that fate had severed their connection so soon.
Louis and Timothy were escorting them all the way to Westglade. Since there was no ongoing war, their extended absence was not an issue, and Oliver didn’t make things difficult for them.
Considering the relatives had not seen each other for years and once thought they would never meet again, it was only natural to want to spend as much time together as possible upon reuniting.
That was a common human sentiment.
“Farewell, Your Highness!” Oliver said, but Rafael didn’t even turn his head. He simply waved his hand, and spurred his horse forward.
Everett wouldn’t stay in Westglade, but would return directly to Meadow Ridge. However, the route he traveled for now was the same as Rafael and his group.
Given Lawrence’s injuries, their pace was slow. Everett and Rafael rode side by side.
“It would be good if there was no war in the Southern Frontier in the future. But if there is one, it will surely be a disaster under Oliver’s command,” Everett remarked. Everett had a sharp eye for people, and could read them with uncanny accuracy. He had only met Oliver a handful of times, but it was enough to see through him. Whether someone was weak, strong, cowardly, or confident-Everett could tell at a glance.
Oliver didn’t have the true confidence of a marshal. His confidence was merely an act, and it was obvious. Beneath his bravado, he was all bark and no bite.
Rafael said, “I know what kind of man Oliver is he loves glory and attention. He’s good at keeping up appearances, so he didn’t offend people in the capital. But when it comes to taking the spotlight, he’ll jump at the chance. In the military, he hasn’t made any big mistakes or significant contributions, was his commanding officer who earned the real achievements. He just followed along and picked up some merit along the way.”
“He only got noticed because he stole the spotlight. Why else would the king have picked him? Besides, he’s easy to control. He’s not skilled enough to act recklessly. If he had real talent, he would do more and make more mistakes. That is something even idiots understand,” Everett said.
Rafael glanced at Everett, and smiled. He couldn’t help but admit that his master’s sharp tongue could sometimes be brutal.
If Rafael pushed his horse to its limits, the group could have reached Westglade in a day. But at their current pace, it would take between three to five days to arrive.
Conveniently, it would also take four or five days for a fast rider to travel from the capital to Westglade.
The timing matched perfectly.
Throughout the journey, everyone was genuinely on edge.
Lawrence’s high fever refused to subside. The military physician, who carried a portable stove and medicine packs, prepared and administered fever-reducing and decontaminating potions to little effect.
Sebastian’s pills had minimal impact, though they were somewhat more effective than the decoctions.
Lawrence would occasionally regain consciousness. Each time, he would ask, “Is this our territory?”
Upon receiving confirmation, he would force a weak smile before slipping back into unconsciousness.
The military physician explained that persistent high fever could impair brain function, and memory loss was a normal consequence.
Eventually, Rafael decided to have Dylan lead his horse alongside the carriage, and he joined Lawrence inside.
Even when Lawrence was semi-conscious, Rafael would gently hold his hand and talk to him. He would describe the beauty of the Southern Frontier, update him on his family’s situation, and reassure him that his wife was on her way and that they would soon be reunited. Every time Rafael spoke of these things, Lawrence’s breathing would become more even. He would open his eyes slightly, his gaze gaining a hint of life, no longer as vacant and hollow.
He was truly clinging to life, fighting with every ounce of his strength.
When they were about twenty miles from Westglade’s inn, they had no choice but to halt. Lawrence’s breaths had become faint, with more exhalations than inhalations.
The military physician had exhausted all options, and he looked at Rafael with a desperate expression. “I can’t do anything else. All the medicines we have are used up, and I’ve administered acupuncture treatment multiple times. I’ve done it twice today and can’t do it again.”
The Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team members stood together in heavy sorrow, their faces etched with grief. They didn’t even dare lift the carriage curtain to look at Lawrence. Seeing him so thin and covered in injuries pained them deeply. Rafael glanced at Everett, seeking advice.
Everett sighed. “This is the last resort. But you also know that if you use your inner force to protect his heart, we have to reach Westglade’s relay station within an hour. Lawrence will be beyond saving if we don’t, or if Sebastian isn’t there when we arrive.” Rafael nodded, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I understand. Even if we make it to the relay station and Sebastian is there, the outcome will be the same if we don’t try to extend Lawrence’s life here.”
“Also, we’ll have to significantly increase our speed to cover twenty miles in an hour. Can he endure that? The risk is very high.”
Everyone fell silent. The road might have been more forgiving if it were smoother However, the Southern Frontier had endured war. The paths were uneven terrain. The carriage itself was a concern, as it might overturn at any moment.
ddled with potholes a Paths
Increasing speed posed even greater dangers. If the carriage were to overturn, it would be nearly impossible for Lawrence to survive. Riding a horse with him wasn’t an option either-they would likely be thrown off within a few steps.
After some thought, Everett suggested, “Why don’t we do this-After using your inner force to protect his heart, have two men lie down in the carriage first, then lay down some soft cushions.