Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“If I were completely opposed, Your Highness, I wouldn’t have provided the drug in the first place. I only hope that you remain clear-headed and rational at all times. Violet is a tool to be used. Even if you take her body, it must only be for the sake of your grand ambitions-not because of fleeting lust ignited by her beauty. Lust is a whirlpool, Your Highness. It will drag you down and leave you with nothing.”
Yuvan was seething with humiliation and rage. He never imagined that his first argument with Wayne would be over something like this.
He held his tongue, suppressing the urge to lash out, and left without another word.
–
The tension arose because Molly
Molly and Fiona had already welcomed the guests inside. They were chatting and laughing in the main hall, but the atmosphere was growing increasingly awkward.
kept undercutting every remark Fiona made. At the door earlier, Molly had felt disrespected. She was also worried that Violet might have overheard-it would hurt her standing as Yuvan’s princess consort. So now, she seized every opportunity to make veiled jabs, trying to restore her pride while venting her anger.
Despite her usual composure, Fiona barely managed to not lose her temper. It wouldn’t have been too bad if they were all women, but the Hell Monarch was sitting right there. The two of them bickering like petty housewives in front of suck guests was beyond disgraceful.
Luckily, the awkwardness didn’t last long.
After a short while, a servant announced, “Prince Yuvan has arrived.”
The group rose from their seats as Yuvan strode in, his demeanor regal and commanding.
“Apologies for intruding on you today, Uncle Yuvan,” Rafael said.
Yuvan smiled, stepping forward to pat Rafael on the shoulder. “I’ve visited your estate so many times, but you’re always too busy to meet with me. For a while, I thought you might be upset with me.” As he spoke, his gaze drifted lightly over Violet. Her face, free of makeup, looked naturally beautiful in a pure, untouched way that was simply captivating.
Rafael chuckled. “Uncle Yuvan, how could you think I’d be upset with you? Unless, of course, you’ve done something to wrong me?”
Yuvan laughed heartily, waving a hand dismissively in front of Rafael. “Of course not!”
He was the first to stride over to his seat, sweeping his cloak aside as he sat down with an air of authority. “Please, sit. No need to stand on ceremony.”
He was dressed in a finely embroidered surcoat of rich brocade, featuring a golden thread pattern of soaring cranes. A faint touch of color stained his lips, giving them a subtle red hue, and his face radiated with a confident smile.
Violet glanced at him, unable to shake the impression that he resembled a peacock spreading its feathers.
Once everyone was seated, Wayne entered with Randall and Lucian. The two brothers had been genuinely happy to see Sophie and Rafael earlier, but now there was a noticeable awkwardness in the air. After greeting them, they sat down, their expressions stiff and uncomfortable. They even avoided making eye contact with Rafael.
Knowing he was Yuvan’s strategist, Rafael studied Wayne for a moment. Though he wasn’t sure why, it seemed as if there had been some kind of disagreement between them. And from the looks of it, it wasn’t a trivial matter. Both men had the telltale signs of lingering anger-an anger that would surely turn into bitterness. Martial artists, of all people, could sense these things.
His gaze shifted back to Yuvan’s face, and he asked with a smile, “Uncle Yuvan, you suddenly invited us to your estate. Is there some happy news you’re celebrating?”
Yuvan had been simmering with frustration, and he wasn’t about to mention that he hadn’t invited Rafael at all.
He cast a brief glance at Molly before forcing a smile. “As I mentioned earlier, I’ve visited your estate several times, but you’ve always been unavailable. So, I thought I’d extend the invitation to you and your wife. After all, we’re family, and we should make the effort to keep in touch.”
Rafael couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. He wasn’t just unavailable-he had flat-out shut Yuvan out.
“You’re absolutely right, Uncle Yuvan. It’s important to keep in touch.”
While Rafael handled the conversation, Sophie observed Yuvan in silence. In just a few exchanged words, she noticed that his eyes kept drifting toward Violet. There was something about the way his gaze lingered that was unsettling-dirty, almost predatory. Sophie knew Molly had invited Violet to dinner with less-than-noble intentions, but she assumed it was just an attempt to have her cousin on her side.
She never imagined it would be for such dirty intentions.
“Your Grace. Your Grace?”
Sophie returned to her senses after Fiona called out to her.
“Yes?”
Fiona smiled and asked, “Why have you been staring at Stephanie?”
Sophie had been lost in her thoughts, her gaze drifting to Stephanie as she thought about Yuvan’s vile intentions. Fiona had assumed she was staring at Stephanie, and the look in Sophie’s eyes had been so sharp it startled Stephanie. “Nothing,” Sophie replied coolly. “I just thought of my late aunt when I looked at them.”
Her eyes swept over Stephanie once more before settling on Sabrina. The intensity in her gaze was the same as it had been when she had been lost in thought earlier, sharp and unrelenting.
Neither Stephanie nor Sabrina dared to speak. They had been
??????
disrespectful to Sophie in the past, but ever since she became the commander of the Mystic Army, they couldn’t look down on her anymore. In fact, they now found themselves a little afraid of her.
Molly turned her head away, her expression one of distaste. To mention a dead person in front of her-how unlucky! However, Fiona saw it as a good conversation starter.
Smiling brightly, she said, “You’re so sentimental, your Grace. Speaking of that, I have a small favor to ask. Both Stephanie and Sabrina are of marriageable age, and it’s time they get engaged. As I’m not in the capital, I don’t know which young noblemen have the right character to be entrusted with their futures.”
Sophie recalled how Ivy had once told her that Sabrina had neglected Avis when she fell ill. Stephanie would occasionally come to serve her medicine, but her attitude was hardly respectful. When Avis got Stephanie’s clothes dirty, she would lash out. Sophie was usually good at controlling her emotions, but only when it was necessary.
She didn’t feel it was needed now, so she responded coldly, “Any young nobleman with decent character wouldn’t teven look at women who aren’t dutiful and kind. If they want to make a match in the capital, t Oto their would be wise for them to mom’s grave and beg for forgiveness. Even a little bit of false devotion would be better than acting like animals.”
Stephanie was initially a bit afraid of Sophie, but when she heard those words, she stood up in a huff and demanded, “Sophie, how can you slander me like this and ruin my reputation? What do you gain from this?” Immediately, Travis barked sharply, “How dare you call the princess consort by her name?”
Sophie raised her hand, signaling for Travis to step back.
She then looked up at Stephanie, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “I see you’re quick to speak harshly, but when your mom was treated so poorly, you didn’t utter a word of protest. Why? If you were too scared to speak up, you should have at least served her properly. Don’t forget, she gave birth to you.”
Stephanie was seething with anger. She was about to retort, but when Rafael’s cold gaze swept across the room, her anger quickly turned to hesitation.
She dared not speak further, though she muttered bitterly, “What does this have to do with you? If you’re so capable, why didn’t you do something about it? It’s easy to criticize others, but why didn’t you act on it?”
Sophie scoffed. “What an excellent point you make! So, if someone doesn’t fulfill their duties to their parents, they can still criticize others for not doing enough? I’ll be sure to remember this and tell Mrs. Murray. She’ll be so pleased to hear how you want her to spread the word about your remarkable sense.”
Yuvan’s expression darkened. “Stephanie, don’t be disrespectful to your cousin.”
Stephanie shot Sophie a venomous glare but reluctantly replied, “Yes, Dad.”
Yuvan was even more upset than Stephanie. Sophie’s words were an obvious jab at his harsh treatment of his former wife. Worse, she said it in front of Violet. How could he preserve his reputation after that?
Fortunately, Rafael stepped in to defuse the tension, saying, “Alright, let’s not bring up unpleasant matters today. We’re here to enjoy ourselves, so let’s not spoil the mood.”
Sophie noticed that her husband was irritated and retorted, “What? Now I’m not allowed to speak? What’s wrong with a few words? I’m just saying, my aunt didn’t deserve to have two ungrateful daughters and two ungrateful sons.”
Yuvan’s face flushed with anger. Was she accusing the children of being ungrateful? No, this was an accusation against him.