Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“What’s your name?” Sophie asked.
The maid bowed. “My name is Greta.”
Sophie turned to the guard. “And you?”
“My name is Dustin,” the guard replied in a slightly gruff voice.
Though he was sturdy and appeared honest, a person’s appearance didn’t always reflect their true nature.
Sophie asked a few more questions but didn’t get much more information. It was clear she wasn’t expecting to learn anything significant from them.
At supper time, a pinch of Sebastian’s colorless, tasteless powder rendered Dustin, Greta, and the driver unconscious. Once that was done, Carmen knelt before Sophie and Rafael. Violet sat on the other side, listening without objection.
Carmen looked up, her eyes filled with distress and urgency. “My mother, Grand Princess Eleanor, originally wanted me to seduce Prince Rafael and ruin your relationship. She hopes that you two will turn against each other. She believed that I would be suitable for this task because I have some skill in martial arts, and His Highness favors such women.
“However, I refused to do it. I knew that even if I did, she wouldn’t release my real mom. My twin sister, Celeste, entered the Earl of Gracehold’s family and completed her task, but she still had another mission. My mom is imprisoned in Harmony Palace’s dungeon and isn’t given proper food or clothing.
“Your Highness, Your Grace, I implore you to rescue my mom. If this can be accomplished, I will owe you a tremendous debt. I will be at your service, and even in my next life, I will repay you with all my gratitude.” “How many siblings do you have?” Sophie asked.
She knew that Eleanor had found many concubines for her husband, but no one had ever seen those concubines or their children. The exact number remained unknown.
“I don’t know how many were born, but there are eight still alive. We don’t have any male siblings. They were all killed at birth,” Carmen replied.
“Doesn’t your dad care about this? His own children are being killed!” Violet exclaimed, her anger flaring.
“Care?” Carmen’s face showed a flash of anger. “He’s powerless and unwilling to clash with the grand princess. He doesn’t dare to go against her because he’s afraid she’ll retaliate against the Kingsley family.”
“I just don’t understand,” Violet said. “Why can’t these matters be brought to the king or the queen dowager?”
Carmen’s eyes brimmed with blood-like hatred. “Grand Princess Eleanor is ruthless and leaves no evidence. Without evidence, neither the king nor the queen dowager would investigate what’s happening in Harmony Palace.”
Sophie explained to Violet, “Grand Princess Eleanor’s mom, Lady Chloe, was greatly favored. So, King Augustus cherished Grand Princess Eleanor as well. After Lady Chloe’s death, Grand Princess Eleanor was sent to Lady Ruth to be taken care of.
“Since Grand Princess Eleanor and
King Sigmund were siblings, certain matters were overlooked. Now that a new king is on the throne, he’s even less likely to get involved innet family issues. He will only do something if there’s clear evidence and strong pressure from ministers pushing for changes in the behavior of the royal family members.”
Carmen added, “Unfortunately, my mother harbors no gratitude towards King Augustus. She blames him for not arranging a marriage for her with Lady Sin- I mean, Your Grace’s dad, but instead marrying her off to the declining Kingsley family. She resents King Augustus deeply for that.
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“The Kingsley family, which was on its third generation of hereditary titles under my grandfather, was about to have its title revoked. But because my dad married Grand Princess Eleanor, it extended the family’s influence for two more generations. The Kingsley family refies entirely on Grand Princess Eleanor. They would never oppose her.”
Recalling something from the past, Rafael said, “One year, at the year-end palace banquet, I saw Lord Kingsley hiding in a rock garden. He was drunk and crying. Maybe because I was young, he pulled me aside and told me about his family’s troubles. “He said that a concubine’s child had been killed because the concubine argued with the grand princess. The grand princess had thrown the child to its death and also harmed the concubine.”
Violet and Sophie shuddered at the thought. To throw a newborn baby to its death was an act of unimaginable cruelty.
Carmen managed a bitter smile. “Such things… who knows how many cruel and vicious secrets are hidden in the grand princess’ inner palace? I once had a younger brother. When my mom was pregnant, she was sure it was a boy.
“She knew my dad couldn’t protect her and that the grand princess wouldn’t allow a boy to live. Boys were doomed from the start. So, my mom wanted to escape, but the grand princess had people watching her. Once you enter the grand princess’ inner palace, the only way out is as a corpse.”
Carmen wiped her tears and continued, “My dad promised to help her escape. My mom believed him and waited for a chance. When the time finally came, it was almost too late, but she finally had a chance the grand princess was out for a banquet and wouldn’t return until late.”
“Did she manage to escape?” Violet asked, both angry and anxious.
“She did escape, but was caught halfway. My brother was born in the carriage, and they didn’t even cut his umbilical cord. When they were dragged back to Harmony Palace, my mom and brother were pulled across the ground all the way to Fragrance Courtyard. By the time they got there, my brother had stopped crying. His skin was torn, and he was just a bloody mess. He wasn’t even breathing anymore,” said Carmen.
Sophie, Rafael, and Violet had seen the brutality of a battlefield many times. However, that was a war between nations, where lives were exchanged and cruelty was unavoidable.
But now, they were talking about a grand princess’ inner palace-how could she commit such insane and vicious acts? How cruel and twisted could a person’s heart be?
Carmen looked at Sophie, her smile full of despair. “You haven’t seen my mom or the other concubines in Harmony Palace. If you did, you would understand why the grand princess treated them that way.” Goosebumps erupted all over Sophie’s skin as she came to a sudden realization.
“Could it be that they all resemble my mom?” she asked sharply.
Carmen’s tears fell freely. “That’s right. My mom was mistreated so horribly because she resembles Madam Devin. The grand princess gathered every woman who resembled Madam Devin an made them my dad’s concubines. She humiliated them, tortured them, and took out all her hatred for Madam Devin on them.”
Sophie clenched her fists, a glimmer of ruthless intent in her eyes.
Violet’s face turned ashen, her voice seething with anger as she declared, “We’ll kill her!”
Grasping Sophie’s hand, Rafael turned to Carmen and asked, “What is your mom’s name? What is her connection to the Lester family that Greta mentioned?”
Since Greta had provided a specific address, they would need to verify it upon returning to the capital. If the verification didn’t match, they would doubt Carmen’s words, and Eleanor’s plan would be jeopardized.
“My mom’s name is Melanie Lester. The Lester family is my mom’s natal family. They were also coerced and enticed by the grand princess. Moreover, as merchants, they couldn’t possibly stand against Grand Princess Eleanor,” Carmen replied.
“Sophie, your mom’s name is Melanie Sullivan,” Violet said angrily.
Still on her knees, Carmen pleaded, her voice choked and broken, “Just because they share the same name in addition to looking alike, my mom endured even more suffering than other concubines.
“Your Grace, I swear that if you can save my mom, I will repay you with my life. I have no other option but to beg you know you do not like Grand Princess Eleanor either. We can join forces. Whatever you need from me, just give the order I will face any danger for you.”
Sophie helped her up. “You will come back to the capital with me and follow their plan for now. I don’t fully trust you yet. I need to investigate once we return. But if you’re sincere, tell me what’s hidden in the western courtyard of Harmony Palace?”
Previously, Sophie had thought the western courtyard might be where the concubines were hidden. But if it were only concubines, it wouldn’t be so heavily guarded.
“When we were in Harmony Palace, we weren’t allowed to leave our own courtyards. Whether it was practicing martial arts or receiving instruction from the courtesans as my sister did, it all took place within our own courtyards. “I’ve never been to the western courtyard before. However, according to the servants, it’s used for religious worship. Grand Princess Eleanor goes there to pray on the first and fifteenth days of each month,” Carmen replied. Sophie frowned. “So, there’s a temple there?”
It couldn’t be as simple as a temple. If it were, why would Eleanor be so anxious? It seemed Sophie would need to find an opportunity to investigate further.
“You mentioned you have some skill in martial arts?” Sophie asked.
“Greta is my teacher. I’ve trained for several years. We sisters all have similar skills. Since the grand princess raised us, she needed us to be useful. She wouldn’t want to waste her efforts,” Carmen answered. Sophie nodded. That was true.
Eleanor was not merely cruel. Her collusion with Yuvan indicated she was plotting something significant, and she would naturally make full use of her resources.
“How does your dad treat your mom?” Sophie queried.
“Because my dad particularly favored my mom, Grand Princess Eleanor was able to manipulate him,” Carmen said, her voice filled with frustration. “But my mom always wanted to escape from Harmony Palace. My dad had opportunities to help her in the past but didn’t. “It wasn’t until my mom was pregnant with my brother that he started to fear. But by then, my mom was heavily pregnant and about to give birth. How could she escape then?”
Her tone was full of resentment towards Henry, equal to her resentment towards Eleanor.