Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“And you? Is everything well?” Charlotte asked.
“Quite well.” Sophie helped her sit down and introduced her friend, “This is my dear friend et Spencer.
I’ve heard of you, Ms. Spencer.” Charlotte smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here, Madam Charlotte!” Violet responded with great respect. Anyone who treated Sophie kindly was a good person in her eyes.
Sophie continued, “Aunt Charlotte, I invited you here to ask about Amelia. This morning, she was found sitting at the entrance of Northwatch Estate. She looked like she had been in the cold for quite some time. What happened?”
Charlotte gasped in surprise. “She went to Northwatch Estate? Where is she now?”
“I don’t know. By the time Frederick found out, she had already disappeared. But he said something was off about her and that she had been crying. He suspected she had come in the middle of the night. That’s why I thought it would be best to ask you what really happened.”
Charlotte sighed. “At first, I had no idea what was happening. I try to stay out of the main household’s affairs as much as possible. I’ve wanted to separate from them for a long time, but have always feared. that outsiders will think the Jaffe family is divided. So, I held back
“Lately, things at Valor Estate have become chaotic. Since Viola became pregnant, she’s been nominally in charge, but Amelia is still the one managing things. The only thing she needs to clear with Viola is the money she withdraws. With Rebecca’s health fluctuating, Amelia has been by her side, tending to her. You know how Rebecca is??he has nothing but disdain for Amelia and opposes her in everything.”
Sophie nodded. “I can guess Amelia’s predicament.”
“This morning. Amelia disappeared. They searched every corner of Valor Estate and even came to my house looking for her, insisting I was hiding her. I told them I hadn’t seen her, but they didn’t believe me. I had to get angry before they accepted it. I later learned that Amelia had argued with Viola about household matters.
“Viola said Amelia could manage things, but Blake would only contribute 30 percent of his salary to the family funds. They got into a huge fight, and Viola even shouted that Amelia was trying to drive her to her grave. She even brandished a pair of scissors at Amelia and asked Amelia to stab her in the stomach.
Charlotte recounted everything she had learned to Sophie and Violet, including how Rebecca and Benjamin had slapped Amelia and how they threatened to throw her out of the family.
“After hearing all that, I felt uneasy. But they hadn’t sent anyone out to look for her. Rebecca thinks Amelia wouldn’t go far??ust out for a walk. They think she just wants to scare a few people by disappearing for a bit, and figure they’ll deal with her when she returns. But I sense that something is wrong. Amelia would never act like that. That’s why I sent someone out to search for her,” Charlotte added.
“That’s outrageous! Those people went too far!” Violet slammed her hand on the table in anger.
Sophie furrowed her brow. “Is she really living such a life?”
“Yes. It’s quite sad. I’ve advised her to pretend to be ill and not manage anything, but she couldn’t keep up the act anymore. Rebecca was in decent health when Amelia first married into the family, so she didn’t relinquish control to her. Later, you came in, and Amelia didn’t have to worry about anything.
“Now, everything has fallen onto her shoulders. That scoundrel Benjamin thinks only of being dutiful to his parents. He sacrificed his wife’s wellbeing, all while believing he was doing the right thing. None of them respect Amelia, and her temperament is so weak.”
“Just because she’s weak doesn’t mean people can bully her,” Violet said angrily. Her spirited nature couldn’t stand such injustice, and just thinking about it infuriated her. “Weakness isn’t a sin, but bullying is.
Sophie placed a comforting hand on hers. “Let’s focus on finding Amelia first. I’m worried something bad might happen.”
Charlotte rose to her feet. “I’m counting on you, Your Grace. I won’t keep you any longer, I’ll take care of the bill for this meal.”
Violet, who came from wealth, stood up as well. “There’s no need for anyone to pay since I’m here.”
“How can I do that? You shouldn’t…”
Sophie grasped Charlotte’s hand. “Don’t argue with her She has more money than she knows what to do with. If you’re not in a hurry to head back, why not enjoy some coffee and snacks here? The bill will be taken care of.”
“Very well. It’s indeed a rare opportunity. Thank you,” Charlotte said.
Although Charlotte was worried about Amelia, she understood that Sophie meant well and wanted her to enjoy herself. She was perceptive enough not to reject Sophie’s kindness.
“Well then, we’ll be on our way. Try not to worry too much,” Sophie said, rising along with Violet as they headed downstairs to settle the bill.
Violet tossed a hundred silver coins onto the table and said, “If there’s extra, give it to Madam Charlotte.”
Back at the Capital Guard headquarters, Sophie asked Michael to gather some people to help search and to check at the city gates to see if Amelia had left the city earlier that morning.
Just then, Jacob sent word that they still hadn’t located Amelia. Since she had visited Arcane Sanctum yesterday, Sophie and Violet decided to go there themselves to inquire with the shop assistant who had spoken to her.
The shop assistants at Arcane Sanctum were familiar with Amelia, and Paul recounted what had happened yesterday.
“She must have pawned some jewelry to come here. When she arrived, she looked dazed and was clutching a pawn ticket. I took a quick glance, and it was from a pawnshop called Treasure Exchange.
“Right away, she asked to buy seven or eight Evergreen Pills. I suggested she only needed two??ne for childbirth and one for postpartum recovery. There’s really no need for more at other times,” he said, based on his observations.
“You could tell she had been crying, right?”
“Absolutely. She hadn’t even dried her tears when she walked in.”
“Thank you,” Sophie said, not wanting to pry further.
She then had the staff member lead her to Treasure Exchange.
As she was dressed in official uniform, the shopkeeper produced the items that Amelia had pawned when asked about them. Sophie recognized them as gifts she had once given Amelia.
“She said she would redeem them, so they’re not permanently pawned,” the shopkeeper informed Sophie.
This meant that at the time of pawning, Amelia still had some hope of getting her jewelry back. It was only after returning home to face scolding and slaps, even threats of being kicked out, that she decided to leave.
Amelia was timid and scared of the dark, so leaving home in the middle of the night suggested she had suffered a significant blow. There was a real possibility she might consider ending it all.
But where would she go? The capital city was vast, and since no missing person report had been filed, it was unlikely the Capital Guard or Garrison Unit would conduct a widespread search.
Sophie dispatched someone to check Amelia’s natal family’s residence to see if she had gone there. The report came back quickly??he locks on the front gate were rusted, indicating no one had been there for a while.
Inquiries at the city gates also revealed that no woman had left the city alone that morning.
This meant Amelia was still somewhere in the capital. Given that she could only walk, she couldn’t have gone very far. If she was still wandering around the city or hiding in some alley to escape the cold, it was possible to find her.
Michael and the guards from Hell Monarch Estate searched everywhere. They checked every major and minor inn but found no trace of Amelia. Even the discreet inquiries at Valor Estate confirmed she hadn’t returned
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the wind picked up, the night promised to be even colder. Deciding not to waste any more time, Sophie sent out additional people to search for Amelia, with Violet joining the efforts as well.
After a moment’s thought, Sophie ordered someone to summon Blake to the Capital Guard. headquarters. When he arrived, he was unsure why he had been called. All he knew was that Sophie had requested his presence, leaving him feeling both anxious and vaguely hopeful.
Without beating around the bush, Sophie confronted him directly, asking. “Your sister??n??aw is missing. Are you aware of this?”
Blake blinked in confusion. “Missing? What do you mean?”
He had attended court that day and hadn’t heard anything about Amelia’s disappearance. Given the family disputes brewing at home, he had planned to stay late at the palace before returning to the estate.
“Exactly what it sounds like. Early this morning, the Northwatch Estate gatekeeper found her sitting. outside next to the stone lion. When asked what she was doing, she left. She hasn’t returned to Valor Estate since.”