Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Heather turned pale, “You’re a royal physician! I-If you don’t know what to do, what are we to do?”
She suddenly looked at Sophie, her eyes wide with urgency. “Sophie, think of something to help your cousin. You know Sebastian, right? You must send someone to fetch him!”
“Alana has already gone to get him,”
Sophie replied. She turned to Hazel and Kate and said, “Bring more hot water and apply a warm compress to her belly. Let’s see if we can help things along.”
Abigail left Hazel and Kate with Leona while she stepped out to give orders. At this moment, the people from Graeehold Estate needed to take action. Even if it seemed futile, they needed to do something
Meanwhile, Harvey was in the side hall, and servants were bringing him updates. Initially, he thought the arrival of the royal physician would be enough, but when he learned that the royal physician had no solution, a wave of anxiety gripped him.
They waited for nearly an hour, and Leona had lost the strength to cry out in pain. She felt as though she had been pulled from the depths of water, her body drenched in sweat.
Sophie stood by, wiping Leona’s forehead with a cloth and murmuring comforting words into her ear. But in her agony, Leona couldn’t process any of it. She felt as if she were on the brink of death. She managed to open her eyes with great effort, but they were vacant and hollow. She forced out a pained whisper, “It’d be better…better to just die.”
“Don’t say such foolish things. Sebastian is almost here,” Sophie choked out, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness. It was the emotion she feared the most, as it signified her inability to do anything. Tears streamed down Heather’s face. “Leona, please listen to me. Don’t talk like that. Just hold on a little longer. Listen to your cousin. Sebastian is coming.”
Leona could only emit feeble groans, her eyes wide and unseeing. All her remaining strength was devoted to fighting the relentless pain. It felt as if her very insides were being twisted and turned, and she could hardly bear it. Outside the room, Dorothy finally fell silent and felt fear creeping into her heart. She had initially thought that the impact to Leona’s belly might just lead to labor, but she never expected the severity of the situation. She wasn’t worried about Leona. She was worried that if something happened to Leona, it would implicate Samuel. If the king were to unleash his fury, the Earl of Gracehold’s family would likely cease to exist. Samuel’s life would likely be forfeit as well.
Realizing this, Dorothy began to tremble. She cast several discreet glances at the nearby servants, signaling them to find someone who could release Samuel and ensure he fled for his life.
The servants understood her intent, and went to gather a few guards to help with Samuel’s release. However, Leah caught wind of their plan. With a sharp crack of her whip, she drove them back. “Who dares to set him free? Without Lady Sophie’s order, I’ll bind anyone who tries!”
Leah knew the people in Gracehold Estate well. Others might hesitate, but that old woman would never allow her grandson to come to harm. If Dorothy sensed even the slightest hint of danger, she would see to it that he escaped. So Leah stood guard, determined not to let anyone approach him.
Just when everyone was feeling anxious, Alana rushed in at lightning speed, carrying Sebastian on her back. Sebastian’s face was pale.
“I can walk myself!” he protested.
He wasn’t on his last legs, so being carried by a woman was just humiliating. It wasn’t dignified at all!
Alana moved like a gust of wind, darting straight from the outer room into the delivery room before finally setting Sebastian down.
Once his feet hit the ground, Sebastian steadied himself and then kicked Alana lightly. “You’ve embarrassed me.”
Breathless, Alana shot back, “You can scold me later. Right now, we need to check on Lady Leona!”
From behind the partition screen, the royal physician called out urgently, “The duchess is of royal blood. How can a man enter during her labor?” Heather was taken aback and raised her hand to stop Sebastian. “You… You should stay behind the partition screen.”
Sebastian glanced at Leona, and immediately sensed the gravity of the situation. His expression darkened “This is a matter of life et and death! Are we really going to worry about decorum now? Is it a choice between life and reputation?”
Outside, Dorothy began to protest. “This can’t happen! It will ruin the duchess’ honor! If a woman loses her honor, it’s like losing her life!”
“Silence!” Sophie shouted. She pushed Heather aside with one hand, and used her other to push Abigail away. “Sebastian, please check on her. She’s in terrible pain!”
“No, Sophie, you can’t harm your cousin like this-” Heather hadn’t finished her sentence before Violet stepped in and dragged her out.
“You can stay outside. Don’t go in!” Violet positioned herself at the curtain. Her arms were crossed defiantly over her chest, barring anyone from entering.
After checking Leona’s pulse,
Sebastian’s expression shifted. He pressed against her belly through the fabric to confirm what he felt After doing so, he spoke in a grave tone. The child is likely gone. Our priority now is to save the mother.”
“Gone?” Abigail swayed unsteadily, but she quickly steadied herself. “Sebastian, please save Leona!”
With Sophie and Violet present, and Abigail also pleading for Sebastian to stay in the delivery room to save Leona, the people in the outer room didn’t dare to voice their opinions. Though Heather hesitated at first, after seeing her daughter’s breathing becoming shallow, she panicked and silently acquiesced.
Sebastian focused solely on the task at hand. At this point, saving the child was no longer an option. The priority was to save Leona, so he had to be bolder with his acupuncture. After feeding her a Snowdrop Pill and a Heartshield Pill, he ordered an increase in the dosage of the labor-inducing medication.
Gavin, the royal physician, felt his heart race at the thought of such boldness. But since he had heard of the pills’ efficacy, he kept his opinions to himself. Besides, he was behind the partition screen and had no way of knowing which acupoints Sebastian had inserted needles into. If Gavin had seen, he would have been even more astonished.
Sebastian pulled out two traditional concoctions, Bloodmusk and Heartsage, to be used. When the smell of the Bloodmusk concoction filled the room, the onlookers paled at the scent. Bloodmusk had to be administered at a precise dosage, or it would affect not only a woman’s current pregnancy, but also her future ones.
When Gavin heard what medicines Sebastian was using, he could only think that the famed physician was grasping at straws in a hopeless situation.
Finally, after much effort, Leona’s cervix finally opened.
The previous doses of Snowdrop Pills and Heartshield Pills began to take effect. The initially exhausted Leona slowly began to regain her strength. The golden needle inserted into her acupoints caused her uterus to contract violently, and she felt a strong pulling sensation downward. The midwife urged Leona to push. The duchess clenched her teeth and exerted every ounce of strength she had left. After much struggle, the baby finally made its way out.
Sebastian had already turned and stepped outside, leaving Ivy and the midwife to handle the aftermath.
Leona had given birth to a boy. But sadly, the baby was lifeless, his body bruised.
As Abigail gazed at the baby’s features, which bore a striking resemblance to Samuel. she couldn’t hold back a soft sob.
Heather’s tears flowed uncontrollably as she looked at the baby. “Oh, my poor grandson!”
Sebastian coldly said, “You might want to pity your poor daughter first.”
Signs of heavy bleeding were already apparent, a consequence of the previous excessive use of blood-circulating medicine. Now, they needed to use medication to clot the blood and apply acupuncture to stop the blood flow. In other words, while the baby had been delivered, Leona’s life still hung in the balance.
Sophie sat anxiously at the head of the bed as she held her cousin’s hand. Leona had already passed out, and Ivy was diligently administering the needed treatment. She was working through Leona’s acupoints under Sebastian’s instructions, following his every word.
Violet felt numb all over. Before coming here, she had expressed her fear of witnessing childbirth, but the urgent situation made her push her dread aside. All she could focus on was hoping that the duchess would be fine. However, Violet witnessed Leona repeatedly teeter on the brink of death. Even now, she was still not out of danger yet.
Violet felt her heart ache. Why did it have to be this way? If Leona was in this condition for someone worthy perhaps it would make the situation better. But why did she have to endure this agony for such an unworthy scumbag? Even now, it was uncertain if she would live through this.
It wasn’t worth it-not at all..
Violet had already been contemplating a life without marriage, and now, she felt even more certain. This world didn’t allow women to remain unmarried, yet it was even less forgiving of those who married but failed to bear children.
Violet’s body belonged to her, her future was hers to shape, and her life was her own. She would never entrust everything to an maul man. No one deserved such a sacrifice from her, not even the one she loved. If the man truly cared for her, he wouldn’t want her to suffer like this. If he disagreed with her decisions, it only proved he didn’t love her enough.
Why should Violet settle for less?
But she understood that not everyone would make the same choices she had. She could afford to think this way because she had enough backing-the Inferno Guild would always be her home.
So many women didn’t have that luxury.
She recalled Sophie mentioning the idea of starting an academy for women. At that time, Violet had argued that a martial arts class would be more beneficial, allowing women to learn self-defense and avoid being bullied in the future. But at its core, the real change had to come from altering mindsets. Sophie was right.
Violet resolved then and there to support Sophie in establishing the academy, both in terms of manpower and money.