Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Blake couldn’t help but say, The Devins have countless military achievements. I doubt she’ll be jealous.”
Freya snorted. “Her only connection to those achievements is enjoying the honor and luxury brought by her family’s success! Has she earned any of it herself?”
Blake sighed. “Freya, let’s not talk about her. It doesn’t matter how she fares-whether she’s wealthy or destitute-it doesn’t concern us.”
“Of course it doesn’t,” Freya agreed, but then added with a touch of false sympathy, “Still, I don’t need to make things difficult for her. Women are pitiable to begin with.”
Blake fell silent, contemplating her words. Previously, he would have admired and felt reassured by Freya’s sentiments. After marrying her, he realized that her views on women were even more contemptuous than most men.
The night was like a giant beast, swallowing the world in darkness. Not a single ray of light could be seen, and even the stars were hidden behind thick clouds
The news that Blake and Freya were heading to the Southern Frontier stirred both excitement and concern in Rebecca. She knew that going to battle meant both fortune and peril-victory would bring great achievements, while defeat could cost their lives
After reflecting on it, Rebecca trusted her son and Freya. After all, Freya had played a crucial role in the Victory Pass battle. She was capable.
As generals, they would only need to command the tropps-the soldiers would do the actual fighting. With this thought, Rebecca’s joy overshadowed her worry. She made preparations for their departure.
A few days after Blake and Freya left the capital with their troops, the Starhaven sples stationed in Sandoria finally returned with reports.
The confidential messages matched exactly with the news from Rafael at the Southern Frontier and the information Sophie had provided over half a month ago.
The young and handsome king angrily tore up the reports. Over half a month had been lost! If he had heeded Sophie’s warnings earlier, dispatched reinforcements, and arranged supplies, Starhaven’s chances of success would have been much higher.
Although Freya claimed she could arrive before the Westhaven forces reached the Southern Frontier, Salvador knew that was impossible given the distance and marching speed. After all, he had once been on the battlefield himself.
He couldn’t help but feel deep frustration.
“How could I have thought that Sophie was simply consumed by personal grudges and petty revenge against Blake? She clearly brought urgent military intelligence, but I didn’t believe her!”
Derek carefully refilled Salvador’s tea, and said softly, “It’s also because Lady Devin forged a letter from Kyle that led you to doubt her, Your Majesty.”
Salvador shook his head.
“Without the forgery of Kyle’s letter, I wouldn’t have trusted her unsubstantiated claims even more. After all, Starhaven and Westhaven had just signed a non-aggression peace treaty. Since Freya was the one who secured that agreement, I thought Sophie’s intention was to undermine Freya’s achievements.”
He smiled bitterly.
“I underestimated her and used a petty mindset to judge someone as noble as her. She’s the Duke of Northwatch’s daughter, and she grew up training in the Pathfinders Guild. How could she be the kind not to easily let things go?”
Derek suddenly recalled something. “Your Majesty, when I went to Valor Estate to deliver your edict, I saw General Blake and Lady Devin sparring. Lady Devin’s skills were indeed impressive, General Blake couldn’t hold up for more than a few moves against her. Of course, I don’t know much about martial arts, so it’s possible General Blake was holding back.”
Salvador had seen Blake’s skills himself. Although Blake wasn’t the best, he was still among the top among the young generals.
“Blake must have let her win. Derek, go to Northwatch Estate and bring Lady Devin to the palace. With the Westhaven forces being so unpredictable, I suspect there might be issues with the Victory Pass battle that I’m unaware of.”
Derek went to Northwatch Estate personally. After removing the guards, he informed the servants that the king had summoned Sophie to the palace.
As the king had summoned Sophie, the servants at the estate could no longer keep her absence a secret. So, they had no choice but to tell the truth and kneel in apology. When Derek returned to the palace and reported what had happened, Salvador was shocked.
“Are you telling me that even when I had the royal guards watch her, she still managed to sneak out that night? She went to the Southern Frontier to deliver the message?”
Derek knelt.
“Please calm down, Your Majesty. According to the estate’s steward, she had to go herself because the Situation was urgent. She had no other connections in the capital she could rely on except for you. “According to one of the senior maids, Lady Devin traveled alone on horse and was expected to reach the Southern Frontier in about five days. She must have reported to the Hell Monarch. After he confirmed the situation, he sent the urgent report back to the capital requesting reinforcements.”
After Derek finished speaking, he glanced at the king in secret before adding, “The steward also said that Lady Devin mentioned she would come back to personally apologize to Your Majesty when she returns”How is she at fault? She went to the Southern Frontier with important news. If only I had trusted her, we could have been better prepared and not caught off guard. Even a day or an hour can make a difference in warfare. She did her duty. It’s my fault for not believing her,” Salvador sald.
He leaned slightly to the side.
“I had the royal guards watch her, and she still managed to slip away in the middle of the night? It seems her Lightfoot Skills are quite impressive.”
Derek smiled. “Your Majesty, she trained for seven to eight years at the Pathfinders Guild, the leading martial arts school in Starhaven. I heard she was one of their most talented apprentices.”
“Really?” Salvador was surprised. He only knew of Pathfinders Guild through Kyle, and hadn’t realized. Sophie was so capable. “I find it odd that Madam Devin would choose Blake as her son-in-law. With the Devins’ standing, she could have picked any prominent family. Why choose the declining Jaffe family?”.
Derek hesitated before replying softly, I’ve heard that there were many suitors, but only Blake swore to Lady Devin that he would never take a concubine.”
Salvador was momentarily stunned; then, his expression darkened with displeasure. “How ironic. He promised not to take a concubine, but right after achieving some merit, he immediately requested a marriage edict and made me an accomplice in his scheme. Madam Devin must have misjudged him.”
Derek sighed. “Indeed. Madam Devin’s misjudgment wasn’t limited to Blake alone.”
Salvador looked at him. “What else is there?”
Derek continued, “Lady Leona got married recently. Lady Devin sent gifts to help with her wedding preparations, but the gifts didn’t even make it past the gates. They were all returned. The princess’s household refused them, saying that gifts from a divorced woman were unlucky.”
Salvador was stunned. “How could such a thing happen? Lady Heather and Madam Devin were sisters! Leona and Sophie have been close since they were young. As cousins, what’s the harm in accepting gifts? This divorce was my decision. Did Lady Heather feel that my edict brings misfortune?”
“Divorced women are often looked down upon. Now that the Duke of Northwatch’s family has only Lady Devin left and with no chance for a comeback, she’s left out in the cold. Even her close relatives have distanced themselves.” Derek explained.
Salvador thought about the friendship between his mother and Melanie, and frowned deeply.
“This matter must not reach the empress dowager. She is very fond of Sophie, and would have adopted her as a goddaughter if she could. If she learns that Sophie has been treated with such disdain after the divorce, it would surely cause her to fall ill again.”
Derek replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I will be careful.”
Salvador’s anger grew as he realized Sophie’s suffering stemmed from his decision to allow the marriage -between Blake and Freya.
“Send word to Hartstone Estate. Prince Harvey and his wife are to reflect on their actions for a month. Inform them that they will not be allowed to come to the palace for New Year’s Eve,” he ordered.
Derek’s eyes flickered with understanding. “I hear and obey, Your Majesty.”
As Derek left the palace, he looked up at the gray sky, feeling a heavy weight on his chest. He remembered a similar gray and cold day, when the then-crown prince’s meals had been poisoned. Having failed in his duties, Derek was punished by the late king with fifty lashes, and was on the brink of death.
Melanie had learned of the incident from the empress dowager, and she brought Sebastian to treat him. This move saved his life. If Melanie hadn’t taken action, he would have perished in that harsh winter. Now, with Melanie’s daughter being treated with such disrespect, how could he stand by and do nothing? Thus, despite his usual silence, he took the step to file a complaint to the king. Since Harvey was merely a prince with no official duties and stayed in the capital to serve the empress dowager,
Salvador would not see Derek’s complaints as interference in state matters.
Derek summoned two of the court attendants, and went to the Hartstone Estate to deliver the edict. Harvey and Heather exchanged puzzled looks, unable to understand why they were being punished. Salvador had disregarded that Harvey was his uncle, and ordered them to reflect on their actions for a month. Salvador had even barred them from accompanying the empress dowager for New Year’s Eve. After receiving the edict, Harvey pulled Derek aside and asked quietly, “Mr. Walker, please tell me. What exactly have my wife and I have done to incur such displeasure from His Majesty?”Ignorance was the most frightening thing.
Derek shook his head. “I don’t know anything. I’m just following orders.”
His simple statement refrained Harvey from asking further questions. The king’s will was akin to divine authority-punishment was also a form of reward.