Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
She regretted coming to this gathering. She hadn’t wanted to attend, but her mother-in-law had insisted that since the Quinton family had sent an invitation, it would be disrespectful to not attend. With the constant buzz of praise for Kayla ringing in her ears, Viola felt increasingly agitated and decided to take a stroll outside.
Noticing her sister-in-law’s unrest, Zoey discreetly sent a maid to follow her. Viola had been particularly irritable lately, and Zoey didn’t want her causing any trouble at the Quinton family’s banquet.
Viola wandered alone into the garden, where laughter echoed from the occasional passing guests. The sound only heightened her irritation, and she unconsciously moved past an archway adorned with cascading flowers. It wasn’t until she heard a man’s voice that she abruptly halted.
Beyond the archway lay the front courtyard, where the male guests gathered. Blue lanterns and silk ribbons hung from the branches, filling the air with a festive atmosphere.
Lifting her head, Viola saw several men standing in the courtyard under the shade of the trees. One of the men happened to look up just then, locking eyes with her. A jolt coursed through her and she froze, unable to move. He… he had gotten darker, but he still looked as handsome and confident as ever, his figure tall and poised.
Thomas regarded Viola for a moment, then steadied himself and quickly averted his gaze before briskly walking away.
“Madam Viola!” Zoey’s maid, Jane, called out as she hurried over. “What are you doing here?”
Viola turned away, her face pale as she murmured, “I heard he’s now a third-rank major general.”
“Who are you talking about, Madam Viola? It’s best not to gossip about others,” Jane replied.
She had spent many years by Zoey’s side and knew exactly who Viola was referring to. She sought to remind Viola to tread carefully.
But Viola seemed oblivious to Jane’s warning, saying, “The king only made my brother a major general before he left for the Southern Frontier. A major general is the main commander responsible for defending a region. Which region would he be stationed at?” Jane’s tone turned serious, “Madam Viola, you should be more concerned about your husband. He’s here today too.”
Her heart filled with bitterness, Viola appeared not to hear Jane’s words, continuing, “What merit did he achieve to earn such a reward? Lady Kayla’s husband was granted an earldom, and now she has a noble title of her own. He received a third-rank major general title. What great achievement does that represent? Wasn’t it just delivering messages? On what grounds? What about those soldiers who truly fight on the battlefield-don’t they feel disheartened?”
Jane grasped her arm tightly, her nails digging in to pull Viola back to reality. “Madam Viola, mind your words. We’re at the Quinton family’s residence.”
The sharp pain in her arm jolted Viola, bringing her back to herself. She felt a mix of shame and anger.
“Who told you to follow me?”
“Madam Zoey was worried you might get lost, so she sent me to accompany you,” Jane replied calmly.
“Is she afraid I’ll get lost? Or is it that she fears I won’t know my place? She’s worried I’ll embarrass myself and tarnish the reputation of the Earl of Silverstone’s family,” Viola shot back coldly.
“You wouldn’t do such a thing, Madam Viola. Madam Zoey doesn’t think that way either. If you find the crowd too noisy, I can keep you company while you take a walk in the garden. The breeze today is nice. It will clear your mind and remind you of your identity as a member of the Jaffe family,” Jane responded.
Viola glared at her fiercely. “Shut your mouth. If you’re going to follow me, stay at least ten feet away.”
Fuming, Viola turned to walk away, but it was too late-several eyes were already on them. Now, every glance directed at her felt mocking, as if she were the subject of a cruel joke. She truly didn’t want to stay in this place for another moment.
Lost in her thoughts, Viola marched straight out of the Quiton family’s residence, leaving even her maid, Poppy, behind.
Upon returning, Jane quietly reported to Zoey, who frowned when she heard what happened.
Viola just left like that? Blake was still in the courtyard. Also, she hadn’t informed the host before leaving.
That was quite embarrassing,
?
especially since there were so many people at the entrance.
Despite the anger simmering inside her, Zoey maintained a calm demeanor on the outside. Privately, she instructed Jane to find Poppy and have her return as well.
“Tell her to keep an eye on things,” she added. “If anything happens, report back immediately. Also, give her an extra monthly allowance.”
Blake only learned about Viola’s early departure after the feast had concluded. Once he returned to the estate, he hurried straight to Grace Mansion, where he found her already lying in bed. “Why did you leave early? You could have at least told me,” he asked, irritated.
Viola rubbed her forehead. “I had a terrible headache and thought it best to come home.”
Seeing her pale face, Blake’s irritation softened into concern. He sat down beside her. “You should have mentioned that you weren’t feeling well. It’s not proper to just walk out like that without informing anyone.”
As he reached out to gently massage her forehead, Viola couldn’t shake her gloom. Before Thomas returned, Blake’s tenderness would have warmed her heart, but now…
The two men were hardly comparable. One was merely a low-ranking guard, while the other was a third-rank major general who commanded troops.
Today, that fleeting glance from Thomas had still made her heart race. Though it was quick, the meaning behind that look was clear-Viola understood it all too well after being married to him. Thomas hadn’t truly let go of her. She was still in his thoughts.
Frustration bubbled within her, especially towards her sister-in-law, who had returned Thomas’ death pension as if to signify the end of their connection. It left her feeling trapped and uncertain about her next steps.
No, Viola had to see Thomas, no matter what.
Noticing her silence, Blake’s expression grew more worried. “Are you still feeling unwell? I can send for a physician.”
“I’m much better,” she replied, grasping his hand.
The next day, Viola dressed with care. She pinned a peony blossom in her hair before heading out with Poppy. She had a specific destination in mind. If she found him there, it would confirm that Thomas still held her in his heart.
At the base of Richspire Peak, there was a stream. About halfway up, the stream flowed down a steep slope, forming a small waterfall. Whenever Thomas felt upset, couldn’t figure something out, or struggled to make a decision, he would come here to practice his swordsmanship. He had brought her to this spot once before.
As they climbed, Poppy supported her. However, Poppy grew increasingly uneasy as they ventured further from civilization. “Madam Viola, where are we going? It’s still so hot. Do you think you can handle it?” “We’re almost there.”
Viola felt exhausted, but it wasn’t like she could ride a carriage up this mountain. It had been years since she had walked such a rugged path. She paused to catch her breath, casting a cold glance at Poppy. “No matter whom we see today, you mustn’t breathe a word to anyone, understand?”
Poppy nodded nervously. Though she hadn’t learned proper manners, she sensed that their trip to the mountains was not entirely appropriate, especially with so few people around.
What would they do if they encountered danger? Who was Viola even going to meet? The secrecy weighed on Poppy’s mind, and she recalled Jane’s words from the night before.
By the time they reached the halfway point, the sound of the waterfall reached Viola’s ears, making her heart race.
Would he really be here?
Suddenly, the ground felt impossibly heavy beneath her feet.
What if he wasn’t? She had spent all night thinking about him. If he were absent, wouldn’t her actions have been ridiculous?
After taking a few deep breaths, Viola made her way along the narrow mountain path. It had been years since she had last visited; now, there were even small trails, indicating that others had discovered this scenic spot. Back then, when they came, he would hold her hand as they leaped over waist-high grass. That exhilarating sensation of being airborne was thrilling and refreshing.
As she rounded a bend, the view opened up before her.
There he was, practicing his sword dance by the waterfall. The sight ignited her blood with fervor-he was here.
Thomas was really here.