Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
linking them together. Rafael stood off to the side, observing. These places regions, struggling with taxes that were never paid, and places that e mostly impoverished needed regular government relief to survive.
An idea sparked in Rafael’s mind-fragments of a puzzle began to shift, but the pieces didn’t quite fit together yet.
It seemed Lunvale would have to be investigated further. Once they understood more about it, the other things might become clearer as well.
After wrapping up matters at work and the estate, and ensuring everything was in order, Rafael prepared to leave.
This was the first time since his marriage to Sophie that he wouldn’t be spending New Year’s Eve with her. He hated the thought of leaving her.
In their room, they talked for quite a while, before sharing more words in the main hall. And even when they reached the door, he still couldn’t bring himself to let go of her hand.
“I’ll be back soon. But even then, I won’t make it in time for New Year’s. Be sure to eat your meals on time, don’t let your stomach suffer. It’s cold outside, so bundle up when you go out-don’t catch a chill.”
He repeated the same words again and again, and by the time they reached the door, Helen, who had come to see her son off, was rolling her eyes.
“How many times are you going to repeat yourself? You just said that inside, didn’t you? Do you think she’s deaf, or are you just forgetting what you’ve already said?”
With a mom who had a temperament that marred the atmosphere. Rafael couldn’t help but wonder if this was the consequence of his past neglect toward her.
Sophie had her own list of reminders for Rafael-to be careful on the road, to stay alert, and most importantly, if he came across any “pretty flowers” along the way, to look but not bring them back. The hint of jealousy in her tone made Rafael’s heart soar with joy. As he swung himself onto his horse, he flashed a grin and swore his loyalty.
“I won’t even spare a glance,” he promised.
However, Travis looked puzzled for a moment, then asked, “What flowers could you possibly find on the road in the middle of winter? Even if there are any, they’re likely being well-tended by someone. How could anyone just pick them? You can look, but why wouldn’t you look?”
His confusion made both Jacob and Kyle chuckle.
Violet snorted and teased, “Poor fool, stop talking! You’re completely missing the point. You’re talking about one thing when they’re talking about something completely different.” Travis scratched his chin, deep in thought. He still couldn’t understand it, even when Dylan called out for departure.
As soon as Rafael was on his horse, Helen turned and headed back into the house. The cold wind at the gate was unbearable, making her shiver. It was enough to see her son get on his horse. There was no need to stand there in the wind, especially since he wasn’t even looking back at her.
Jacob, Lily, and Sophie’s other attendants also followed Helen back in. Sophie and Violet remained, watching as the group rode slowly away.
Violet nudged Sophie’s shoulder lightly. “Are you going to miss him?”
“A little,” Sophie admitted, her gaze lingering until they were out of sight.
A wave of emptiness washed over her.
Though she and Rafael were both busy after their marriage, they had spent nearly every night together, and at least one moment of the day could always be theirs. Now, it would be two months stretched ahead with no chance of seeing him. “Two months… feels so long,” she lamented with a sigh.
Violet tilted her head. “Long? It’s only two months, not two years.”
She wrapped an arm around Sophie’s shoulders as they walked back inside. “You should enjoy your freedom while it lasts. It’s rare to not have him around. Do what you want-I’m planning to take you out to eat, drink, and be merry.”
Oblivious to her friend’s mood, she continued, “I heard from Isaac that there are a few nice places in the capital. I’ve always wanted to check them out, but with His Highness around I didn’t think it was
?.?
ve appropriate to ask you to come. Now’s the perfect time-he won’t be back for at least two months, so we have plenty of time to explore.”
“What restaurants are you talking about that wouldn’t be appropriate to visit when Raf is around? Are they better than Glimmering Tower?” Sophie waved her hand
1.n dismissively. “Never mind, I’m not really in the mood to eat.”
“It’s not that!” Violet’s radiant face broke into a mysterious smile. “It’s a gentlemen’s retreat, a place with male courtesans. We’ll dress as men…”
Sophie suddenly stopped in her tracks. “You’ve been there? Did Isaac take you? Where is he?”
Violet shook her head. “He didn’t take me, he just told me about it. Aren’t you curious about this place?”
“I’m not curious, and I don’t want to go,” Sophie replied sharply. “Why is Isaac telling you about such things?”
“To broaden my horizons. When we travel the world, we should learn as much as we can,” Violet said with a mischievous grin.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she was the only one intrigued. She had heard of a gentlemen’s retreat, a place for men, but it was full of men as well. The thought of men with men wasn’t that enough to make Sophie curious?
Violet had heard of it, but had never seen it.
“Sophie, it’s so unfair. Men can go to places like gentlemen’s retreats or entertainment parlors. There’s no place like that where women can go openly,” Violet said. Sophie stood with her hands behind her back, her posture carrying an air of melancholy as she sighed.
“Who says it isn’t unfair?” She dropped her hands and straightened up, her tone serious. “Even if there were such places, I wouldn’t go. I’m married now. I have a husband.”
“I don’t have a husband,” Violet said, her voice gleaming with excitement. “I could go and have some fun.”
Sophie assumed her friend was joking, but little did she know, Violet wasn’t just playing around. That very night, she insisted Isaac accompany her to a gentlemen’s retreat.
When Violet returned, she rushed into Sophie’s room, still in her men’s clothes, her entire body smelling of alcohol. The stench was enough to make Sophie want to throw her out immediately.
But Violet grabbed Sophie’s shoulder, swaying unsteadily as she spoke with a serious expression, saying, “Do you know who I saw there? You’ll never guess. If you can guess, I’ll make Isaac do something ridiculous.”
Sophie gently helped Violet to a chaise lounge, settling her down. “Thank Isaac for me, but I won’t guess. Just tell me who did you see?”
“Victor!” Violet’s eyes went wide, possibly from the alcohol, though it could have been from the sheer shock of what she was about to say. “Yes, it was Victor, the Sandoria marshal. And not just one, there were several Victors.” “Several Victors, or several people who looked like Victor?” Sophie pressed her hand to Violet’s forehead. “How much did you drink to get this drunk?”
“Victor…” Violet mumbled, her head growing still, as though the name had locked her into place. “But not as old as Victor.”
“You mean people who looked like Victor? Sandorians?”
Sophie’s mind started racing. Sandoria and Starhaven hadn’t had much interaction, and for a Sandorian to make it to Starhaven let alone to the capital-seemed impossible. Even harder to think they could settle here.
“Yes… Sandorians. How could there be Sandorians in the capital? They were… they’re hiding in the gentlemen’s retreat. Why doesn’t anyone talk about the guests at the gentlemen’s retreat? I saw them those guests surely saw them too,” said Violet, her words slurring as she tried to get them out.
Sophie’s heart skipped a beat.
Of course, the guests of the gentlemen’s retreat wouldn’t talk about it. To speak of it would be to admit they had gone there. But the real question was when had the Sandorians come to the capital? It was no wonder no one had discovered them. They had been hiding in a gentlemen’s retreat.
Though there were a few gentlemen’s retreats in the city, they operated discreetly. Sigmund had strictly outlawed them and monitored them closely. After Salvador ascended the throne, such matters were barely addressed.
Though there were no restrictions, they weren’t actively promoted either. The people were a bit more open-minded compared to Sigmund’s time, but homosexuality was still frowned upon by society. No one would openly talk about it, and since no one mentioned it, no one paid attention. Everything seemed fine, and no one would think to look in places like a gentlemen’s retreat.
Violet’s head suddenly tilted to the side, and before Sophie could react, she was fast asleep, unable to answer any more questions.