Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Suddenly, Sophie recalled the first time she saw him on the battlefield, looking like a wild man with his unkempt beard. During strategy meetings, she often found herself staring at it, wondering if the ends would split when it grew long enough.
A laugh escaped her lips. “I really can’t understand how the man you are now is the same one I knew at the Southern Frontier.”
“I looked better back then,” Rafael replied, a grin tugging at his lips. “A man needs that kind of grit to have a presence.”
“You looked fine then, and you also look fine now,” Sophie said, reaching out to stroke his face. Her fingers glided over his skin, which no longer felt rough and rugged.
Rafael gazed at his wife, surprised at her rare display of affection. Feeling the heat of her palm against his cheek, his heart swelled with warmth.
It was clear that spending time alone together was necessary for their relationship to flourish. Lately, they had both been so busy. When Sophie returned home, she practically collapsed into bed. Even if Rafael wanted to do something for her, he wouldn’t dare disturb her rest.
He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on her face. The fragrance of her clothes mingled with his, both carrying a light, deep water scent. Though he had the same scent, hers intoxicated him in a way that made his heart flutter.
Once they finished their meal, the couple set off toward the mountains. There was still some snow at the base, but it wasn’t deep. The path was fairly easy to navigate, allowing the horses to manage well.
Not long into their journey, however, the trail began to deteriorate. The biting wind stung their cheeks as the weather took a turn for the worse.
Rafael began to doubt himself. Was this outing really a good idea?
But they had already come this far, and Thomas had raved about the breathtaking scenery. With the added snow, the mountain views would be even more stunning.
His spirits lifted at the thought, and he said, “Let’s tie up the horses here and walk the rest of the way. If you can’t keep up, I’ll carry you.”
“I can walk just fine,” Sophie replied.
She felt that it wouldn’t be a problem to tie the horses here. Given the weather, it was unlikely anyone else would be heading up the mountain. Even if someone did, Lightning and Rafael’s horse, Skyhawk, weren’t horses anyone could just lead away.
Once they secured the horses, they took each other’s hands and ventured up the mountain. The trail was indeed challenging. It was narrow, covered in thick snow, and obstructed by many dry thorny vines.
Several times, the thorns snagged Sophie’s clothing, prompting Rafael to awkwardly explain, “This mountain doesn’t see many visitors, so the paths aren’t well??ept. But trust me, once we get higher, the views will be worth it.”
“Of course, I trust you,” Sophie replied with a smile, her cheeks flushed from the cold.
The further they ascended the mountain, the more Rafael felt that something was off.
There were no vibrant mountain flowers or rushing streams as Thomas had described??nly bare trees and endless stretches of white snow. At this time of year, the waterfalls had all but disappeared, leaving behind the starkness of early winter.
It wasn’t that the snow wasn’t beautiful. After spending so long at the Southern Frontier, the prince had grown weary of snow. If only there were flowing water and winter blooms to complement the landscape, it would have made all the difference.
But there was nothing??ot a single orchid to be found. It was almost laughable.
However, to the north of Richspire Peak, there was a steep slope covered in unblemished snow, free of obstacles. It was a perfect spot for sledding and skiing.
Changing his approach, Rafael led Sophie with a burst of energy, using his Lightfoot Skill to dash across to the northern slope. Reaching the peak, he caught his breath and turned to his wife, his excitement palpable.
Isn’t it still beautiful? Let’s wait for the sunset, and afterward, we can ski down. It’ll be so much fun!”
Sophie lifted her gaze and nodded.
The view was indeed a striking expanse of white and bare branches, exuding a grandeur and desolation that held a unique beauty. If only it weren’t so cold…
The north wind whipped against her cheeks like a knife, and her ears felt almost numb from the chill. Though the hood of her cloak could be pulled over her head, the wind still managed to sneak in around the edges.
Yet, Sophie smiled at Rafael and replied, “Okay, let’s sit here and wait for the sunset.”
It was rare for him to show such enthusiasm for something elegant, so she wanted to indulge him and keep him happy.
It was probably around five in the evening, meaning they would need to wait for at least two hours before the sun began to set??ssuming they would even be able to see it in the heavy overcast sky.
She glanced at her handsome junior guild member. She would trust him with her life, but she suspected he was only joking about skiing. The slope was quite steep, and skiing would require proper skis.
Rafael had assessed the terrain and pressed the snow, deciding that with their cloaks as makeshift pads, they could slide down if they gained enough speed. After all, that was how he had done it back at the Southern Frontier.
Sitting together in the snow at the mountaintop, Rafael wrapped his arms around Sophie, trying to share warmth.
It was too cold; the wind howled fiercely, leaving little room for any feelings of beauty or tenderness. Instead, all of their inner force was focused on resisting the cold.
Sophie buried her head in Rafael’s embrace, thinking she must be out of her mind to be waiting for a sunset on a day this cold. After a while, she felt her body growing stiff from the chill and glanced up at the sky.
“It doesn’t look like there will be a sunset tonight. Why don’t we head back down?” she suggested.
Rafael stood up and surveyed the sky, which was a heavy, oppressive gray. The sun was hidden behind the clouds, stingy with its warmth. He felt somewhat deflated. He had originally hoped to bring Sophie here for a fun outing, but now, all he could think about was how much more comfortable it would be to curl up together by the fire back at home.
“Alright, then,” he said reluctantly. “I’ll try sliding down first. You just stay put for now.”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “Are you really planning to slide down like that? The slope is too steep, and we don’t have skis!”
“It’ll be fine,” he replied confidently. “We always did this at the Southern Frontier. It wasn’t just me. Many soldiers would do the same when chasing the enemy. We’d slide down steep snow??overed mountains- it was faster that way!”
He lowered himself slightly, turning to face Sophie. He caught a mouthful of the icy wind, yet he still smiled.
“Come on, give me a little push. Let me test the waters “
“Are you sure?” Sophie glanced down the slope, where the drop seemed endless and steep. “If you can’t stop, you’ll just tumble straight down!”
With complete assurance, Rafael replied, “Don’t worry. Even if I fall, my Lightfoot Skill is like having wings. Worst case, it’s like chicken wings??’ll flap around a bit and steady myself.”
Seeing his confidence, Sophie recalled how many steep slopes they had faced at the Southern Frontier. He must have experience.
With her hands on his back, she pushed him gently. He used his arms to brace against the ground, kicked off, and shot down the slope with a whoosh.
He soared down, exhilaration washing over him. Just as he felt everything was going smoothly and planned to stop and turn back to take her with him, he suddenly realized the ground beneath him had dropped away.
He hadn’t noticed that the slope had a dip hidden beneath the snow.
He was sliding too fast. When his body hit the dip, he was launched into the air. In a panic, he couldn’t regain his balance. He tumbled several times and plummeted straight down.
Sophie stared in shock as he disappeared from view.
Didn’t he say that having his Lightfoot Skill was like having wings?
Now, he was just… plummeting downwards!