Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Viola brushed the peony blossom in her hair. Then, she took a deep breath and instructed Poppy, “Stay here and don’t come any closer.”
Seeing Viola approach a man alone, Poppy turned pale with fear. “Madam Viola, y-you can’t do this! If the general finds out…”
“He’s no longer a general.” Viola shot her a cold glance. “If you don’t say anything, no one will know. Just stay here and keep watch.”
As the sound of voices reached him,
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Thomas Sheathed his sword. Even amidst the roar of the wa he could still hear clearly-a skilt honed during his time as a spy.
Turning to the source of the sound, he saw Viola approaching.
He blinked in surprise. Was it really her?
As they locked eyes, Viola moved closer, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She didn’t wipe them away. Instead, she let them flow freely down her cheeks.
Thomas was drenched, revealing his lean and tall figure. He retreated a few steps and asked, “Why are you here?”
Viola took another step forward, her voice breaking as she cried, “I wanted to see you! I was so happy when found out you were back. Thomas, you’re alive! You have no idea how happy I am.”
Seeing her tears twisted his heart. Since the day they married, he had sworn to protect her. But even amid his pain, he knew the boundaries they had to respect.
“Thank you for your concern, but we’re no longer husband and wife. You’ve married someone else. We need to keep our distance.”
“Keep our distance?” Viola let out a bittersweet laugh through her tears. “Have you really become this cold-hearted?”
“I…” Thomas stood in the water, watching her approach despite her shoes and socks getting wet. “Don’t come down. I’ll come up.”
He climbed onto the bank but instinctively stepped a few paces to the left, maintaining the distance between them.
“You shouldn’t have come. We shouldn’t meet like this. If word gets out, it could harm your reputation.”
Viola cried out, “I don’t care! What reputation do I have left? You’ve probably heard about the Jaffe family. I’ve walked straight into a den of wolves! Thomas, you owe me this! If you were alive, why didn’t you send me a letter? Even after receiving the divorce letter, I’ve remained a widow for you at my family’s home. “If it weren’t for Mrs. Murray’s matchmaking, I would still be a widow for you. I was trapped at my family’s house, and was completely powerless. My sister-in-law looked down on me, and was eager to marry me off. When Mrs. Murray came to talk about a marriage, I didn’t have a chance to refuse her!”
Hearing her words twisted his heart. Thomas had been struggling with his feelings for days. It wasn’t just because his wife had remarried; it was also the sorrow and pain his mom and family felt over his “death”. His mom had even fallen ill because of it, though her health had improved recently.
He kept telling himself that loyalty and devotion were often at odds; but deep down, he felt he had let his family down. He wanted desperately to make amends, but living like he used to felt impossible. Even at home, he remained in the same tense state as when he was a spy. On top of that, the king had entrusted him with significant responsibilities. How could he manage when he couldn’t even hold his life together, let alone meet the king’s expectations?
The sleepless nights and mounting frustration drove him to practice swordplay here, seeking even a fleeting sense of peace.
Now, Viola’s accusations made him feel as if he had betrayed another person.
But all he could say to her was, “I’m sorry. I’ve let you down.”
Viola scoffed through her tears. “How can you think you’ve let me down? You must think I can’t compare to Kayla. She’s remained a widow for her husband for all these years, and the two women from the Quinton family have also…”
Thomas shook his head vigorously. “I never thought that! I’ve never compared you to anyone. Everyone is different, and your choices were not wrong. You were young then. If you had wasted your life for me, I would have felt even guiltier. I’ve let you down.” “How could you think that? You’re the hero returning in glory. Everyone praises you. How can you feel you’ve let me down?”
The pain in Thomas’ eyes deepened. The so-called hero returning in triumph was the source of his anguish. He didn’t want that kind of fame. It wasn’t about pride. He felt that the credit for reclaiming the Southern Frontier didn’t belong to him or their team-they had merely contributed a small part.
Salvador had awarded him the title of third-rank major general, while those who had truly fought and bled for the Southern Frontier received far less recognition.
Thomas couldn’t refuse, and he remembered Derek’s words that day. Salvador wanted to commend them for their spirit. After all, the Septimus Tetra reconnaissance team had set an example and inspired the troops.
Thomas sighed heavily. “It’s not like that. Don’t misunderstand.”
Wiping her tears, Viola looked at him with glistening eyes. “Do you really think you’ve let me down? If you truly believe that, then treat me well.”
Looking at his former wife and recalling their past affection, Thomas felt a surge of complicated emotions. “You’ve married someone else. We shouldn’t be meeting in private anymore.”
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“I want a divorce!” Viola’s determination was unwavering as she lifted her chin and asked, “I want to know, if I get a divorce, would you still want me?” Thomas was taken aback. “You want a divorce?”
Viola stepped closer, her eyes sparkling with intensity. “I want a divorce. Marrying him wasn’t my choice. My sister-in-law forced mez into it. Blake doesn’t treat me well, and assassins have once infiltrated Valor Estate. My two maids, Julia and Yvonne, were killed by assassins. All I need from you is one answer: do you despise me for having married Blake?”
“Julia and Yvonne are dead?”
Thomas was shocked. He remembered the two maids-they had been Viola’s attendants. But many years have passed since then. Had they returned to serve her at the Jaffe family again?
Given their ages, the two maids should have been married off by now.
Viola cried, “They died protecting me! They were slaughtered by the assassins! I could die at any moment in Valor Estate. I want a divorce! Just answer me: would you despise me?” Thomas’ heart raced at her words. Without thinking, he shook his head. However, his mind lingered on the news of the assassination attempt at Valor Estate.
Currently, there were no high-ranking officials living in Valor Estate. Even if they had offended someone, it shouldn’t have resulted in an assassination attack. Something was off.
Seeing him shake his head, Viola sighed in relief. “You said you won’t despise me you can’t go back on your word. This is what you owe me.”
Thomas looked up. “You want a divorce because the Jaffe family mistreats you, Blake treats you poorly, and there are assassins threatening your life. It’s not because I’ve returned, right?”
Viola stepped forward suddenly, and wrapped her arms around him. Thomas was startled at her actions. He pushed her away, and stumbled back several steps.
Seeing his reaction, Viola froze for a moment. Then, tears streamed down her face, her heart breaking. “Do I disgust you? It seems that I do.”
Thomas looked at her, his emotions simmering just beneath the surface. “I’ll look into what’s happening at Valor Estate.”
“I don’t need you to investigate!” Viola’s voice rose, teetering on the edge of desperation. “What are you going to investigate? Don’t you trust me? All I ask is this: if I get a divorce, will you still want me? Do you despise me or not? Just answer that question.” Faced with her aggressive questioning, Thomas took a deep breath. He opened his mouth several times, but couldn’t find the words. His heart was a tumult of confusion, and he didn’t want to make any promises until things were clearer.
However, he couldn’t shake the guilt he carried toward her. After a long silence, he finally murmured, “I don’t despise you. I don’t have the right to.”
Viola’s tear-filled eyes brightened. “With that, I can rest easy. Wait for me, Thomas.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Thomas wanted to call her back, but recalled her earlier words. The attack on the Jaffe family couldn’t be simple. It was a matter of life and death. Julia and Yvonne were gone, and Viola could be in danger too.
He sighed heavily. These matters were beyond his control. He had already let Viola down. If her life were truly at stake, wanting a divorce was understandable.
If it ever came to that point and she came back to him, he wouldn’t have any reason to refuse her. It was also a responsibility Thomas felt he needed to take.
Viola made her way down the mountain with Poppy, her steps light and her heart soaring. She hadn’t been wrong-Thomas still cared for her.