Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“If you had taken one step at a time, with General Sullivan and Sophie to assist you, you would have ultimately achieved something worthwhile. While your family may never have returned to the heights of the past, you could have at least carved out a place for yourself.
“When you met Freya, you were taken aback by her supposed strength as a woman. If only you had more insight, you’d have realized her words were all misguided. When a woman belittles others to elevate herself, she inherently disrespects all women. And after she achieved her success, you were further enamored by her. Back then, Freya stood out brilliantly among the officers, and you thought Sophie could never compare to her. “Your mistakes stem from your youth, your lack of experience, your muddled thinking, and your blindness to the corrupting influence of wealth. You naively believed you had found true love. At that point, you weren’t beyond saving. If you had returned to the capital and had elders to help you analyze your situation, you should have been able to regain your clarity.
“But your mom’s short-sightedness led her to repay kindness with cruelty. Instead of comforting Sophie, she oppressed her as her mother-in-law. She tried to force Sophie to give you and Freya money for the wedding. When that didn’t work, she plotted to have you divorce Sophie and seize her dowry.
‘Surprisingly, you didn’t stop her. Instead, you actively took part in her schemes, and one misstep led to another. When you all acted that way, the dead end was laid out before your mom. It was only because of Amelia that she managed to survive this long.”
After finishing his remarks, Sebastian drained his cup and turned to Blake.
“She should have been long gone, yet she lives on thanks to the devotion of her two daughters-in-law. She should have considered it a blessing. But now, one is no longer part of the family while the other is dead, and that blessing has vanished.
*And you… You’re not innocent in this at all. Didn’t you realize that some things were fundamentally wrong? You knew they were, yet you still did them. While you may not have committed great evils, the things you’ve done are utterly repulsive. Because you haven’t engaged in truly monstrous acts, you still have a chance to redeem yourself. I hope this heartfelt conversation will wake you up.”
Blake trembled, his face pale.
Each of Sebastian’s words struck him like a hammer, forcing him to relive his past mistakes. Step after step, he had gone wrong. Just as Sebastian had said, he did know some things were wrong, but why had he chosen to act that way?
“Go home. There’s no need to kneel in this freezing weather. You’re the dignified commander of the Crown Guard. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re inviting by kneeling in front of my shop? You’re dishonoring General Wyatt, who sacrificed an arm for you.”
Blake felt a deep shame and a dull pain in his heart.
Ultimately, Rebecca was still his mom. He had no choice but to plead once more.
“Sebastian, just one pill. Let her get through this New Year, please?”
“She doesn’t deserve it! Sebastian snapped, then gestured to his staff. “Escort him out!”
Blake left Arcane Sanctumn in a daze.
Ivy stepped in and asked, “Sir, why did you say so much to him?”
She was confused. Her mentor had always harbored a deep disdain for the Jaffe family. He rarely bothered to acknowledge them. Yet, Sebastian had spent his break time trying to reason with Blake today.
Sebastian sighed softly. “I don’t want the world to think that Madam Devin was blind and muddle-headed for marrying her daughter to him. While it’s true, I just don’t want to hear others say it.”
He stood up and placed a piece of charcoal into the brazier to warm his hands.
“Besides, he’s not truly wicked. He can tell right from wrong when it counts. General Wyatt lost an arm saving him. If Blake doesn’t wake up and continues to be led astray by his mom, then that lost arm will be a tragic injustice,” he added.
“Is there something else?” Ivy felt there was more to it.
When Sebastian loathed someone, he wouldn’t waste his breath speaking to them.
Sebastian’s gaze darkened. “Don’t ask. I hope it won’t be necessary.”
Blake returned home empty-handed. Everyone in the household had already prepared themselves for this outcome. After so many failed attempts to obtain the medicine, what could he do differently?
Moreover, Sebastian despised him most of all, so it was even less likely he would succeed.
Rebecca was still conscious, aware that her son had gone to seek the medicine. She held onto a flicker of hope in her heart.
Sure enough, when Blake returned, he was holding a small wooden box. She recognized it immediately-it was the box that contained the Snowdrop Pills.
Her heart raced with joy. “Did you… manage to get it?”
Blake hid the bitterness in his eyes and instructed, “Bring a small cup of hot water to prepare the medicine.”
Tara knew the situation and followed his orders. Once the medicine was brewed and turned into a liquid, Rebecca couldn’t wait to drink it. However, the moment the liquid touched her tongue, she realized something was wrong.
The taste was completely different.
Snowdrop Pills had a faint aroma of Evergreen Root and a refreshing taste. After consuming them for so long. Rebecca could easily discem even the slightest difference, and this was completely unlike what she was used to.
She gasped and knocked the medicine away. “No… This isn’t it!”
“Mom!” Blake’s voice was heavy with concern as he looked at her. “This medicine was prescribed by another physician. It’s meant to treat your illness. It may not be as effective as Snowdrop Pills, but it should help you feel a little better.”
“I don’t want it!” Rebecca seethed, becoming more breathless by the moment. “Only Snowdrop Pills… only Snowdrop Pills work!”
“Madam Rebecca, don’t be unreasonable. This medicine is quite expensive too,” Tara pleaded through her tears. “All of you are useless!” Her gaze swept over everyone in the room. “Where’s Serena? Call her back… The Marquis of Ironridge’s family can buy them!”
“If she wanted to come back, she would have already. We’ve sent people to escort her several times, but she refuses to come,” Blake replied, his heart heavy with pain.
Yet, as the pain piled on, he found himself growing numb to it. Instead, he felt a rising irritation within him.
How had Sophie managed to care for someone so ill for an entire year without a single complaint? Even as Rebecca’s son, he felt utterly drained.
“Useless! All of you are useless!”
Rebecca’s anger flared again. The dull pain in her chest intensified, making it hard for her to breathe.
She gasped, struggling for air, her voice rising in desperate moans, ‘Help… help me.”
Blake sent for the physician, who had visited several times already and had long since determined that Rebecca wouldn’t make it to the New Year. That she had held on this long was a testament to her tenacity.
After the examination, the physician came out to speak with them.
“It’s only a matter of days now. Prepare for what comes next. She will suffer more from here on out. The difficulty in breathing may lead to some hallucinations, and she might say strange things. Don’t be alarmed if she claims to see ghosts.”
As he finished, the physician added, “There’s no need for a prescription either. It would be pointless. Taking the medicine will only cause more suffering.
On the evening of the twenty-sixth, Rebecca indeed began to hallucinate. Strangely enough, her condition seemed to improve.
She could even sit up as she pointed at the air and shouted, “Get out! Go away! You’re all useless, nothing but worthless trash! Amelia, how dare you touch me? You’re so disrespectful…
Rebecca clutched her own throat as if struggling to breathe, her face turning a deep shade of purple.
Since the physician had warned them about her condition, no one thought she was actually seeing ghosts. Blake rushed to pry her hands away and shouted, “Mom, there’s no one here! Amelia isn’t here!”
“She’s come to take revenge! She hates me!” Rebecca grabbed Blake’s sleeve, her fierce expression shifting to one of terror. “Tell her I didn’t want her dead! I just wanted to enforce some rules! I needed to teach her a lesson! Ah… Stay away, Amelia! How dare you!”
Rebecca swung her arms wildly, slapping Blake across the face again and again. He stood still, letting her strike him.