Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
When Derek heard this, he realized she genuinely understood his message and felt relieved.
He stood. “There’s not much more I can say. Just make sure to share what we discussed today with His Highness later.”
“Of course I will. Thank you, Mr. Walker.”
Derek waved his hand. “I’ll take my leave now that my tasks here are done.”
“I’ll see you out.
Sophie walked with him to the door, where a few royal guards waited outside. As Jacob had been reuniting with his sister, Sophie had personally come out to handle giving some monetary gifts to the royal guards.
However, knowing he wasn’t motivated by that, she didn’t offer any rewards to Derek. She would remember his preferences and send him some gifts later on.
Harmony Palace was in disarray.
All the stewards, along with Eleanor, had been taken away. The palace maids and servants were temporarily confined in Harmony Palace under the watchful eye of the Supreme Court officials, to be summoned later for questioning.
The Capital Guard and the Garrison Unit had withdrawn, and the case was now in the hands of the Supreme Court.
Rafael’s deputy minister, Matthew, arranged for the women who had been imprisoned to send word back to their families. If their families were found to be involved and their assets needed to be confiscated after the case was over, the Supreme Court would take the money from Eleanor’s funds instead.
Melanie Lester lived in the capital, so she was allowed to return home first. Carmen came to pick her up personally, still reeling in disbelief that the operation had taken place on the first of October rather than the fifteenth
Thinking about how Sophie had kept that from her, Carmen felt a surge of anger. Sophie didn’t trust her. Carmen had shared everything with her and had even brought Henry along, yet Sophie had concealed her true plan.
It wasn’t until they were in the carriage on the way home that her mother spoke up. “Your dad never intended to cooperate with Lady Sophie, He told Grand Princess Eleanor about the plan for the fifteenth. It wouldn’t have succeeded if the timetable hadn’t been moved up.”
Carmen could hardly believe her ears. “Dad sold me out? Doesn’t he realize he could have gotten me killed?”
Melanie leaned weakly against her daughter’s shoulder, tears slipping down her cheeks. “He sees each daughter as a tool, just like Grand Princess Eleanor.”
“But… He loves you the most, doesn’t he?” Carmen wiped the tears from her mom’s face, but her own tears began to spill. “He said he’d do anything for you as long as you could get out of the dungeon!”
“You would do well to not trust a man’s words. If you trust him completely, you’ll be irreparably lost.” Melanie said bitterly, resentment swirling in her heart. In the beginning, your father paid some attention to me because of my beauty. But love? There was none.
“It was all an act to make Grand Princess Eleanor think she had something on him. His weakness lies with the Kingsley family. His repeated visits to the dungeon were merely for the grand princess to think she was using the bond between us three to control him. Meanwhile, he was using that to control you and Celeste.”
Melanie coughed a few times, her face pale with a hint of anger. “If he had even the slightest bit of concern for you and your sister, he wouldn’t have told that poisonous woman your plan. If he thought it was too risky, he could have persuaded you to give up instead of pretending to agree and then betraying you.”
Carmen clutched her mom tightly. Her admiration for her dad had been shattered.
“How could he be so cruel? I’ve always obeyed him. Doesn’t that mean anything to him? I’m his flesh and blood! Carmen cried,
Melanie gripped her daughter’s hand, teeth clenched as she warned, “Remember, you can’t trust men. Don’t give your heart away even when it comes time for you to marry. Never follow the same path as me. I fell for his lies, and it led to you two being used by him, You’re better off because you’ve had some training in martial arts and are on the right path. However, your sister has been taught all the wrong things from childhood. Her life is ruined.”
“Now that you’re safe, Celeste doesn’t have to carry out any more tasks. She can come home,” Carmen said, wiping her tears.
Melanie let out a long sigh. “She visited me. I told her to escape and forget about me. She claimed she was merely playing the part of a servant for that poisonous woman, but deep down, she wants to entangle herself with a powerful family.
“She wondered why she should settle for less. She’s gone astray, and likely thinks she can make her own way in the world. But it’s not entirely her fault. From a young age, that venomous woman taught her to only pursue wealth and power. Those are the only things in Celeste’s eyes now.”
Carmen felt a chill run through her as she listened to her mom.
“That can’t be true! If she really wants to rely on a powerful family, wasn’t Samuel a good match? He loved her dearly.”
Melanie smiled bitterly. “Samuel was the Earl of Gracehold’s heir and a top scholar. However, he married the Duchess of Everpeace, Prince Harvey’s daughter, Since that was the case, Celeste had no hope of rising higher. Samuel may have said he loved her, but he never truly did anything for her. He doted on her, but he wouldn’t dare elevate her to the status of a rightful wife.”
Carmen blinked in confusion. “A rightful wife?”
As the carriage rolled forward, Melanie’s gaze darkened. “Yes. She believes that unless she becomes a rightful wife, she’ll have no chance of becoming the main wife after the current wife dies. If she can’t become a rightful wife, she’ll just be a concubine. Even if the main wife dies, she won’t attain her desired status. She said she could accept being a concubine, but she doesn’t want to spend her life in that role.”
“It’s understandable she wouldn’t want to be a concubine. Who would choose such a fate unless they had no other options? And she’s been used all this time for your sake. It’s tragic for her,” said Carmen, her heart twisting in turmoil.
Melanie leaned against Carmen, her breath coming in short gasps before a violent cough wracked her body, causing her to spit out blood.
Carmen anxiously patted her back. “Why are you coughing so violently, Mom? Didn’t you say a physician checked your health?”
“Yes,” Melanie replied, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with her tattered sleeve, forcing a weak smile, “Don’t worry. I’ll get better. Remember my words??o matter what your sister asks you to do in the future, you must never agree to it. Remember??o matter what it is, don’t agree.”
Carmen frowned in confusion. ‘Grand Princess Eleanor has fallen. What could Celeste possibly ask me to do? We can leave the capital and live somewhere no one knows us.”
Melanie grasped her daughter’s wrist tightly, her breath coming in quick gasps. “Remember my words. You mustn’t have too much contact with her, and you shouldn’t see her again. Do you understand?”
As she finished speaking, another fit of coughing seized her, making her double over. It took a moment before she could straighten up again.
Once she did, she held onto Carmen’s hand and whispered hoarsely, “Do you understand?”
“I understand, Mom,” Carmen replied, tears brimming in her eyes as she watched her mother struggle to breathe. “Didn’t you say a physician checked on you? Why is your illness still this severe?”
Melanie leaned weakly against her daughter, her silence filled with unspoken sorrow. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a reflection of her profound grief.
The entire court was stunned by the scandal. No one had anticipated that Eleanor harbored such wicked ambitions. Alongside their shock, many officials were genuinely afraid, as their families frequently
Interacted with her.
During the morning court session, Salvador erupted in a furious rage. He issued orders for a thorough investigation. Still simmering with anger, he seized the moment to promote Sophie to the role of the Mystic Army’s commander, giving her control over the army and all its divisions.
Some officials opposed this decision, but no one dared to provoke Salvador’s wrath. Evert the Oversight Department minister was silent, so the officials who opposed the decision had nothing more to say.
Furthermore, it was worth noting that Sophie had previously been the deputy commander of the Mystic Army, while the Hell Monarch was the commander. Now, she was just taking over her husband’s position. Her abilities were clear for everyone to see.
However, some conservative officials believed that allowing women to hold positions at court would lead to chaos. They were particularly alarmed because, in addition to promoting Sophie, the king had also permitted her to establish a women’s academy in the name of the queen dowager.
If this continued, wouldn’t it mean women would rise to unprecedented power?
Of course, these concerns could be raised gradually. Today wasn’t the time to voice them.
The Supreme Court was busier than ever today. At Rafael’s command, all leave was canceled. Even the assistant minister, Peter Salter, who was at home mourning a loss, was worried about keeping his position.
When the major conspiracy case arose and Rafael asked him to return, Peter quickly put on his official uniform and went back.
Eleanor and Henry were brought to the Supreme Court, Rafael would personally interrogate his aunt, while Matthew was tasked with questioning Henry. Peter and Jared Lynch, the Supreme Court’s associate chief, would interrogate the remaining officials, servants, household physicians, and other staff.