Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
In the end, Ernest gave up.
*Just keep learning what you can,” he said. “Whatever you manage to learn is enough.”
Violet listened to Kevin’s story with mixed emotions. Was this guy some kind of bad luck magnet? His life was one misfortune after another, and it seemed like he even brought bad luck to his mentors.
She couldn’t help but wonder-would that affect her too?
Based on his past experiences, it always seemed like something would go wrong before he could formally apprentice. Now that he had finally managed to find a mentor and things were going smoothly, maybe it was a sign that his luck had finally turned. Since he managed to apprentice without issues, perhaps it meant his bad streak had come to an end and everything would start going well.
Kevin had officially met his senior apprentices. Seeing his sincere and respectful attitude, none of them made things difficult for him.
However, Sophie asked him, “You’re from the Nightsteel Guard. Aren’t you worried that apprenticing directly to a mentor like this might make it hard for you to rise in the ranks there?”
“It doesn’t matter if I can’t rise to the top right now,” Kevin answered respectfully. “As long as I have the ability, I’ll eventually make a name for myself. But if I don’t hone my martial arts skills, even if the king values me, I won’t have the ability to perform. It’d be even worse if I’m removed from my position later. I’m still young. I can wait.”
Sophie nodded slightly, agreeing with his perspective. His persistence was rare-he hadn’t let his bad luck push him off course, and despite everything, he hadn’t gone down the wrong path.
It seemed Rafael’s faith in him wasn’t without reason.
After they left, Travis entered and eyed the gifts. Unlike before, he didn’t rush over to inspect them. Earlier in the year, he had returned to his guild. Every last bit of the money he earned had gone to his mentor, and in return, he got a beating.
The reason? He had spent the money on jewelry, lip balm, and rouge. His mentor scolded him for wasting money and gave him a good thrashing. The next day, all the senior apprentices of the guild had painted their lips and applied rouge, protesting in their own way by using the very things their mentor had punished Travis for.
Alana and Leah were among the few who had traveled and seen more of the world. They told their mentor, ‘All girls today take the time to make themselves up. It’s not a big deal for them to dress up once or twice. After all, it’s the New Year, right?”
Though their mentor was stern, she was soft-hearted. After muttering that it was easy to fall into luxury but hard to return to frugality, she gave up on scolding them.
The night before Travis left the mountain to return to the capital, his mentor spoke with him for two hours.
“We may be poor, but we’ve been poor for so long that it’s become part of us. Poverty should come with dignity. If someone offers you a gift, you must thank them. If they don’t offer one, don’t take it by force, or you’ll lose your manners, and more importantly, your dignity. This year, my hope for you is that you become a person of culture, someone who can manage their emotions and remain stable. Learn to control yourself, and always keep your composure.”
Travis was deeply moved by these words.
After the sentiment passed, however, he couldn’t help but ask, “When I was a kid, did you purposely send me to fight Sophie? And when I lost, did you go to them to ask for reduced rent? Wasn’t that a sign of a lack of dignity? Didn’t that embarrass you?”
That question almost got him kicked out of the guild.
So, this year, he promised to be good, to listen, and to be a person of culture-someone who could control his emotions and behave with grace.
Violet noticed Travis had been staring but hadn’t approached the gifts.
‘Don’t you want to take a look?” she asked.
“That belongs to you. I’m not some rude person,” Travis said with righteous indignation.
Sophie and Violet were both taken aback by his statement.
‘Do you hear yourself? You’re not rude? Then, who was it who used to mess with my gifts?” Violet questioned, almost in disbelief.
“That was in the past. Now is now. I’ve reformed. I’m a person of high moral standing… very high,” he stammered, trying to say something nice about himself but failing, since he hadn’t quite grasped the finer points of culture. ‘But still, why is Sophie your apprentices’ martial aunt? You two come from different guilds,’ he added. “Mind your own business, Violet replied, opening several embroidered boxes.
Inside, there were two Evergreen Roots, a pair of crystal figurines, and a few other tonic herbs.
“Put these in your private stash. These are for your mentor. She’s looking a little too thin and could use a good supplement,” said Violet, handing everything over to Travis.
Since Violet was giving him the items, Travis didn’t hesitate. With perfect politeness, he thanked her and accepted everything without a second thought.
The following evening, Rafael and Sophie arrived at Sullivan Estate.
From the outside, it was clear that the Griffinblade Unit wasn’t slacking off. The plaque had been rehung, the front gate cleaned, and every copper nail on the door had been carefully polished to a shine.
During the day, common people had come to offer their respects, bringing simple gifts-fruits, vegetables, and meat. The people’s affections were the purest. They couldn’t do much else, but they gave what they could.
Blake stood at the gate, looking a bit out of place. He couldn’t bring himself to come during the day, so he had taken to standing guard at night. He was gathering the courage to go in and apologize. Despite trying to work up the nerve, he couldn’t bring himself to open the door.
When Rafael and Sophie arrived, Blake instinctively stepped back and hid from view.
It was a reflex, driven by the sharp insults he had been receiving from the townsfolk. He even had rotten vegetable leaves thrown at him when walking down the street. He understood now-his glory at Victory Pass was being repaid by the people’s anger, and their bitterness was coming back to haunt him.
Still, he bore the abuse stoically. At least now, he didn’t have to explain himself to his mom or face her wrath. He would take what he deserved, and after that, things would pass.
Rafael and Sophie came out of the carriage hand in hand. As Blake’s gaze fell on their intertwined fingers, a strange, unspoken feeling surged within him.
Sophie wore a gown of dark cloud-patterned satin, embroidered with large flowers. Her cloak was black on the outside, red on the inside, fluttering in the night wind.
The last few times Blake saw her, she had been in her official uniform and exuded authority. Now, in her female attire, she seemed even more stunning. Her delicate eyes were tinged with a reddish glow from her makeup, captivating anyone who looked at her.
Blake quickly averted his gaze, hoping the dim light at the gate would shield him from their sight. He didn’t want them to see him standing there. He didn’t even dare look at Rafael, not wanting to face how perfectly matched they were, how harmonious they seemed together.
He acted as though he hadn’t seen them and kept his eyes lowered. Naturally, Rafael and Sophie paid him no mind. The Griffinblade Unit guard opened the door, and the two of them entered.
Having been informed in advance that they would be coming, Dominic had waited in the main hall after finishing dinner. Finally, he heard the sound of footsteps. He looked up and saw them enter, hand in hand, their figures illuminated by the soft glow of the lanterns.
Seeing this, Dominic’s heart settled at once. He didn’t care if they were supposedly a match made in heaven. What mattered to him most was whether Rafael truly loved Sophie.
Back at Victory Pass, their letters had mostly concerned matters of Fawnrun City, with only passing mentions of other things, Dominic had heard that Rafael treated Sophie very well, and had witnessed this himself when he saw them together at the city gates yesterday.
Now, seeing them walk hand in hand, with that familiar, protective tenderness Rafael showed so openly, Dominic knew the prince’s feelings for Sophie were genuine.
The two of them stood before Dominic and bowed deeply.
Sophie called out “Grandpa” with a catch in her voice, her words faltering as she struggled to hold back her tears. She kept her head lowered, trying to control her emotions, not wanting her grandfather to see her in such a fragile state.
At this moment, weakness would do nothing for her grandfather.
Dominic knew she was crying-he could see her shoulders trembling ever since she had bowed. Sophie had truly grown up. She could now stand on a battlefield and no longer easily displayed her emotions.
But why did it hurt so much inside?
Dominic and Hector had chosen Sophie’s name together. Melanie had given birth to six sons, all of them remarkable in their own right. When they were blessed with a darling daughter, they cherished her with all their hearts, and that was reflected in her name.
As their only daughter, they showered Sophie with love and affection, allowing her to grow up pampered and adored. Whatever she wanted to do, they let her-so long as she lived joyfully, freely.