Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“What good would it do to see him? It would only deepen the pain… and the anger. He has done such terrible things that our family cannot accept him,” she said.
“Indeed, he is guilty of unforgivable crimes. Perhaps it is better not to see him,” Martin echoed.
They were eager to distance themselves from Henry. It wasn’t that they didn’t care for their son??e was as good as dead, and it was better if the family wasn’t implicated.
Sophie had merely fulfilled her duty to inform the Kingsley family. Whether they chose to see Henry was entirely up to them. Since they opted not to, she accepted the banknote and dismissed them.
Fifty thousand silver coins??t was an amount carefully calculated.
The Kingsley family members understood the art of negotiation. Pulling together one hundred thousand silver coins all at once would suggest they had no financial woes. They also believed Salvador would provide a portion of the funds seized from Eleanor, so they aimed to give as little as possible.
However, there couldn’t be a single coin missing from their payment.
The next day, they brought the remaining fifty thousand silver coins. Sophie took the money and allocated a portion to the women who would be returning home. She made it clear that no one was to refer to them as concubines any longer. They were now their own selves and no longer anyone’s property.
However, many of them had daughters, young and old, and were reluctant to leave. Most chose to go to
Pearwater Convent.
Carmen wouldn’t be going to the convent, so Violet needed to keep track of her movements.
Chaya wouldn’t be going either. Hayden had made it clear that as long as she hadn’t turned into a pig, he wouldn’t let her leave.
Malcolm’s mistress, Casey, was sent to Pearwater Convent by Lionel. As Sophie was busy with arrangements, she noticed Lionel bringing Casey in. When she saw that, she instructed her staff to make the necessary preparations.
Lionel looked at Sophie with pleading eyes. “May I have a word with you, Commander Devin?”
Sophie handed the list to Violet, then replied to Lionel ‘Let’s step outside. It’s not appropriate for you to be in here with all the women.”
“Of course, thank you!” Lionel led the way, stepping out into the fresh air.
“No, it’s better for them to save any extra. When they leave here, it’ll be good to have some money on hand. You know my family can’t give them money directly, Commander Devin.”
Sophie pondered for a moment. “Alright, then.”
Casey would need to support her daughter on her own in the future, so having extra money would be beneficial. Sophie hoped Yuvan’s rebellion would conclude soon so the women could all leave this place.
“Thank you, Commander Devin.”
“And where is the child? Will you send someone to bring her, or should we send someone to fetch her?”
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Lionel bowed slightly and said, “It would be best if you could fetch her. It’s really not appropriate for me bring her here. She’s currently at an apple farm outside the city and is cared for by a wet nurse. She’s weaned now, and when she comes here, she can eat just like any other child.”
“Very well, I’ll go pick her up,” Sophie replied.
“Thank you!”
Lionel’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. He also wanted to apologize for his earlier inappropriate comments.
“I truly spoke out of turn in the heat of the moment, Commander Devin. Please don’t take it to heart. These past few days have been quite chaotic for me. Casey initially tried to get close to me, but I managed to avoid her. My dad, however, was not so fortunate. I assume you’ve uncovered all of this as well.”
The moment he saw Casey, his world felt like it was collapsing. Even as he maintained a facade of respect for his dad while dealing with the situation, the way he viewed Malcolm had fundamentally changed.
Sophie nodded. “We did. But actually, Eleanor initially intended for her to approach your dad. However, upon further reflection, she felt your dad was a man of integrity who had a loving relationship with your mother. That’s why she chose to target you instead. In the end, when that didn’t work, Eleanor decided to let her try her luck with your dad.”
Lionel sighed deeply, feeling increasingly unsettled as he learned more. In the end, he nodded respectfully and stumbled away without another word.
Violet stepped outside and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Lord Malcolm once said that Casey couldn’t have children around her, but now he’s sending the child here. As a minister, how can he be so indecisive? If he can’t even take care of his own child, why have one at all? Children are always innocent,” Sophie explained briefly, her tone sharp.
Violet was equally outraged. “It’s likely he said that out of impulse. After thinking it over, he realized it wouldn’t work, so he begged the abbess to take the child. But sending her here doesn’t mean they can be together. It’s just placing the child in the care of the convent under the guise of being an orphan. It’s absurd-she has parents, yet she’s being treated like an orphan. Is Malcolm cursing himself?”
‘Forget him,’ Sophie replied. “We just need to take care of the people we should. If the Quinton family won’t raise that child, then she can stay at the convent. For Lady Marjorie, both Casey and this child are cruel reminders of her broken happiness.”
“Is broken happiness still happiness?” Violet mused. “Does she really know nothing at all?”
“Only she knows the truth.
“By the way,” Violet said, checking the roster. “Cecilia from Oakspire Estate hasn’t shown up. Didn’t she steal the blueprints? Is the king going to deal with her separately?”
Sophie’s icy gaze softened slightly. “Lady Cecilia received twenty lashes, while Lord Gareth got thirty. His pay was docked for two years. But Lord Gareth took on Lady Cecilia’s punishment, so he received fifty strokes in total. The punishment was carried out yesterday, and it nearly cost him his life.”
Violet remarked, “At least that man has some responsibility. Compared to Malcolm, the difference is stark.”
Sophie nodded. “True, but when people rise to high positions, they have to consider many things. Lord Malcolm has a great reputation and holds a significant post in court. He won’t allow even a hint of scandal to taint his name, so he can easily abandon those who threaten it.
*From what we see, Lord Gareth does seem more responsible, but who knows if he’d still protect Lady Cecilia if he were in Lord Malcolm’s position? Their circumstances are different. Lord Malcolm’s situation involves a mistress, which is something he can’t show publicly. On the other hand, Lord Gareth has a legitimate relationship with Lady Cecilia, and their children are recognized by the Duke of Oakspire’s family.”
Violet felt frustrated by the chaos. “In any case, not getting married is the best choice. When are we going to pick up Casey’s child?”
Sophie thought for a moment. “Henry is set to be executed tomorrow, so let’s go the day after.”
Violet considered it and suggested, “Why don’t we leave now while it’s still early? We can leave the inside matters to Claire and Michael. Michael may be a bit rough around the edges, but with Claire and the others looking after things, everything should be fine.”
Sophie glanced at the sky. It was around mid-afternoon, which meant there was plenty of time left.
“Alright then. Since she’s just at an apple farm outside the city, we can go there.”
The two women rode straight toward the Quinton family’s apple farm. During their investigation, they had thoroughly familiarized themselves with the officials’ residences and properties. The apple farm wasn’t far. It was just a turn outside the city and a one-mile ride to reach.
Sophie and Violet were quick, and they arrived in an hour. After knocking on the door, Sophie announced herself. A servant respectfully invited her inside, clearly having been informed of her arrival.
The wet nurse emerged, cradling a small girl in her arms. The one-year-old girl was a plump little darling, her delicate features strikingly similar to Casey’s. She wasn’t shy at all. When she saw Violet in vibrant red attire, she opened her arms, eager for a hug.
However, she seemed a bit wary of Sophie, perhaps due to her official uniform lending an air of authority.
Sophie asked the wet nurse, “What’s her name?”
The wet nurse hesitated for a moment before replying, “Her name is Amara. She no longer has a family name now.”