Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Indeed, it was a different time. When Salvador first ascended, he needed the support of those influential families. Now that his power was solidified, it was only a matter of time before the Garrison Unit was reformed.
Max’s thoughts were somewhat misguided by Sophie. In truth, Salvador wasn’t interested in cleaning up the Garrison Unit just yet.
As long as things didn’t get out of hand, Salvador was content to leave these small matters be. Balance was key, especially now, when the treason case investigation was ongoing. Though Yuvan and Harvey had both come into his line of sight, the evidence against them wasn’t solid yet. If these men were purged too early, it could push Yuvan into taking matters into his own hands.
It wasn’t uncommon for one person’s betrayal to drag down an entire family.
Besides, Salvador had deeper ambitions. If he couldn’t control the Mystic Army, he would let it rot from the inside. That way, it would be logical for the Nightsteel Guard to take its place, something that would naturally occur once the Mystic Army fell apart. Sophie wouldn’t stand by and let these useless men cause chaos in the Garrison Unit. People who held even a modicum of power often abused it, trampling over the common folk.
Either the Garrison Unit needed to be disbanded completely, or it had to be thoroughly reformed. If not, the Garrison Unit would remain a group of thugs living off the court’s salary.
Salvador didn’t want to intervene because the problems had been kept under wraps, never making it to his doorstep. However, digging too deep could expose everything. Once those things were unearthed, they would be sent straight to the Oversight Department and brought up in the next court meeting. At that point, Salvador wouldn’t be able to ignore it, no matter how much he tried.
Sophie didn’t want to oppose the king, but as the commander of the Mystic Army, she couldn’t let her subordinates exploit the people. If the reputation of the Mystic Army was tarnished, it would no longer be seen as a protector of the people, but as a gang of thugs preying on them.
Max quickly handed over the list, and Sophie went over it. That evening, she gathered Violet and Claire.
“Look into these people.”
When Winona left, she left behind a few people and even opened a branch of Skywing Spire in the capital, located in Glimmering Tower.
With no other duties to attend to, Violet had taken charge of the Skywing Spire branch. Now, the people there all followed her lead.
Two days later, Blake was thrown out of the Ministry of Justice. To be more precise, he wasn’t just escorted out-he was practically tossed out.
Michael happened to witness the scene and was left dumbfounded.
Ultimately, Michael had once been Blake’s superior. Though Michael had little respect for the man, seeing him now, disheveled and covered in filth, looking nothing like the dignified official he used to be, Michael couldn’t just leave him there in disgrace. With a reluctant sigh, he stepped forward to help Blake up.
The smell hit him immediately, sharp and unpleasant. Michael recoiled, lifting his sleeve to cover his nose.
“How did you end up like this?” he asked, his voice strained.
Blake seemed dazed, barely registering Michael’s presence. When he finally did, he gave a weak, rueful smile. “I must be a joke to you, Deputy Commander Brown.”
“I’m not laughing,” Michael replied, shaking his head. “What are you still doing here at the Ministry of Justice? I thought you would’ve left by now.”
Michael had heard the rumors that
Blake was staying on at the Ministry of Justice, though he had no idea why. He figured it was just temporary, maybe a few days at most, but he never expected that Blake would be physically thrown out only now.
Blake’s gaze was empty, as if he didn’t quite understand what had happened either. “They said His Majesty gave an order… that I’m not allowed to stay at the Ministry of Justice anymore.”
“Then, you should go home. Why are you still here?” Michael asked, already turning to leave.
Blake suddenly grabbed his sleeve. “Deputy Commander Brown… Would it be possible for me to stay at your house for a few days?”
Michael stopped short, stunned. “Stay at my house? Are you out of your mind? Don’t you have a place of your own?”
“I don’t want to go back…” Blake’s voice was barely a whisper, the desperation in his eyes plain to see. “Please, Deputy Commander Brown.”
Michael jerked his sleeve out of Blake’s grasp and stepped back. “What’s the matter with you? You have a home, yet you want to stay with me? What kind of sense does that make?”
Blake let his hands fall to his sides, and Michael couldn’t help but notice the childlike sadness in his posture, like someone who had been beaten down by life. Michael’s brow furrowed. How could the king still want this man in his service?
Blake lifted his head again. “Deputy Commander Brown, would you mind having a drink with me?”
Michael’s gaze swept over Blake. His clothes were wrinkled and unkempt, his hair a mess. His face was gaunt, and his eyes were lifeless and full of sorrow. For a moment, Michael was overcome with frustration and the urge to kick Blake out, but then something else stopped him-a flicker of sympathy.
Michael knew he shouldn’t feel sorry for him, but in that moment, he did. With a heavy sigh, he gave in.
“You look like you’d be thrown out of a tavern the moment you stepped inside. Fine, let’s go to my house.”
Michael was honestly curious-Blake had always been the ambitious type, so why had he defied orders and stayed in the Ministry of Justice? Had he given up on his future completely?
Michael’s wife, Lucille, had no love for Blake at all. She had someone bring out just a couple of snacks to go with the drinks before quickly retreating, taking the servants with her. The room still reeked, and she wasn’t about to stay and serve him. Blake drank in silence, barely touching the food. He could see the contempt Lucille had for him, and it only soured his mood. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
“You should eat something,” Michael said, breaking the silence. “Stop just drinking. What’s going on with you?”
Blake drained his glass in one go, then suddenly collapsed onto the table, his body shaking with quiet sobs. The sound was muffled, like someone pressing a pillow over his face. The sobs were low and strained, barely escaping his chest. Michael fell silent, focusing on his drink and food. Maybe Blake just needed a place to let it out, though Michael couldn’t tell what exactly he was crying about.
After a long while, when it seemed no one would offer any comfort, Blake wiped his tears and looked up. His eyes, red and raw from the tears, were now streaked clean, revealing their dark depths beneath, giving him a strangely comical appearance. The sight made Michael laugh quietly without meaning to.
“You think I’m a joke, don’t you, Deputy Commander Brown?” Blake’s smile was hollow, sad. “I’m nothing but a joke. A complete and utter joke.” Michael nodded, acknowledging the truth of it, but then shook his head. He couldn’t allow himself to lose all empathy. “Why won’t you go home?”
Blake drained two more glasses. “Go home? Why would I? All I’d get is more scolding, more mockery.”
Michael pursed his lips. “Are you really giving up on even your official position? If you anger His Majesty, you’ll have no future left.”
“Does it matter?” Blake’s voice was flat, defeated. “It was always going to end like this. I never had a future to begin with. Demoted, salary docked for three years… Why go back and waste my time? I’d rather be out here, out of the king’s sight.” Michael frowned deeply. “You don’t have to waste your time. You could still do your job-do it well, show His Majesty what you’re capable of.”
“What can I do? What am I good for?” Blake laughed bitterly, his voice cracking. “My only talent is disappointing one woman after another. I even gave up my military merits, thinking Freya and I had something real. In the end, it was all a joke. I even betrayed her.
“I can’t even sleep at the Ministry of Justice,” Blake murmured, his voice thick with despair. “Every time I close my eyes, I have nightmares. dream about her being torn apart by the Westhaven people, her bone’s shattered, covered in blood, begging me to save her. Sometimes, I dream she’s shouting at me, cursing me, asking why I betrayed her.”
He paused, then continued, “I used to have hope for the future. Back then, I thought I was favored by fate. So many noble families in the capital came to Northwatch Estate to ask for her hand in marriage. Yet, it was me whom Madam Devin chose…” “Stop. Enough,” Michael interjected sharply, quickly cutting Blake off when he started talking about Sophie. “Talk about Freya instead. She’s the love of your life. The reason you’re so lost right now is because of her.”
“Love?” Blake chuckled bitterly, emptying his glass. The alcohol only deepened the sorrow in his chest. “What do I know about love? Back then, I just thought she was different. Different from all the other women I’d known. When she spoke, her eyes would light up. They’d shine.’
Michael scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “Oh, do you want to see my eyes? My eyes glow even when I’m silent. If they don’t, then maybe I’m dead.”
Blake fell silent immediately.
Michael felt no patience for this pity party. The truth was, Blake couldn’t face reality and couldn’t bear to admit his weaknesses.
“Stop whining about nothing. Don’t you have a wife? Freya was just a concubine, even though you called her a rightful wife. Men shouldn’t even have one of those. Now that she’s gone, you’re talking about betrayal and selling her out? What’s the matter? Are you still protecting her?
“You’ve got enough to answer for already. Also, how do you know who she was working with? If it was a traitor, that’s a crime that wipes out entire families. Stop making excuses. Go back, clean yourself up, and go to the palace to beg forgiveness from His Majesty. Since you’re a man, you should act like one.”
After saying that, Michael ordered Blake to leave and reached out to take away the leftover wine. But before he could, Blake grabbed the bottle out of his hand and started drinking it down loudly.
By the time Michael realized what had happened and tried to take the wine bottle back from Blake, most of the contents were already gone. Blake ended up so drunk that he collapsed, unconscious. Michael couldn’t get rid of him-not at all.