Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Sophie sighed, calling for Lulu to help tend to Violet. Then, turning on her heel, she rushed out to find Isaac. She knew well that he had a remarkable tolerance for alcohol and wouldn’t have gotten drunk so easily.
“Yes, I took her there on purpose. I noticed them a few days ago,” Isaac said, his voice clear and sharp.
Having splashed water on his face, his hair was slightly damp and sticking to his temples, but he appeared fully awake and alert.
Isaac wiped his hands with a handkerchief and gestured for Sophie to sit. “I had planned to bring you along, but since you didn’t want to go, I took Violet instead. After all, she’s been to the battlefield and has seen Sandorians before.”
Sandorians were tall, with prominent noses and distinct eye colors. But some Sandorians were of average height, with eyes nearly identical to Starhaven people. Only their noses were slightly higher and their eyes more piercing, giving them a stronger presence, though not so different from Starhaven natives at a glance.
The ones in the gentlemen’s retreat were like that-strikingly handsome, but with a touch of feminine air. So, not everyone who went there would necessarily guess they were Sandorians.
“Why didn’t you explain the situation to me, then?” Sophie asked, frowning. “If you had told me the truth, I would’ve gone.”
Isaac glanced at her. “That wouldn’t have worked. It had to be Violet who invited you. If I asked you to come, word would get back to Meadow Ridge, and Sage Adrian and Sage Everett would never forgive me!” Sophie was speechless.
Seriously? That was the reason?!
“How did you find out?” Sophie eyed him. “You didn’t go to those places to drink again, did you? You said you wouldn’t go.”
“What are you talking about? It’s just a lively place for drinking, not a place of ill repute. I just went there for the drinks, not to do anything else,” Isaac said confidently.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Would you say that to Sage Everett?”
Isaac shot her a sideways glance. “If you don’t tell him, he won’t know. I came to the capital on Sage Adrian’s orders with an important task to complete. What’s wrong with drinking a little? Now, enoughel
Let’s talk about the gentlemen’s this.
retreat. But if you go and tell on me, I’ll deal with you later.”
They sat down, and Isaac continued, “The reason got so drunk tonight was to investigate how many people from Sandoria are hiding there. I found seven, and that’s just at one of the establishments. There are five such gentlemen’s retreats in the capital.”
Tonight, Isaac had picked a handsome young man to sit with him and have a drink. To protect Violet, he had been touched from head to toe by a stranger. Who could he complain to about the treatment he received? “Did you learn if they have any martial arts skills?” Sophie asked.
Isaac nodded without hesitation. “Yes. Every single one of them knows how to fight.”
Sophie went to Jacob with the news.
He was clearly taken aback before instinctively asking, “How did the Sandorians get into the capital, and why are they staying here?”
“That’s exactly what we need to figure out. We’ll need to check out the remaining gentlemen’s retreats and find their owners. If they’re allowing Sandorians to be patrons there, they must know more than they’re letting on,” Sophie replied. What they needed to uncover was when the Sandorians arrived, who brought them, and what their purpose was in the capital.
Sophie decided to personally investigate the remaining gentlemen’s retreats, and of course, she took Violet and Isaac along. Over several days, they visited the five gentlemen’s retreats. Of the five, three were hiding Sandorians, with a total of 15 people. By their breathing and movements, it was clear that all 15 were skilled in martial arts.
Though they didn’t all look entirely like typical Sandorians, they resembled average Southern Frontier people. It was evident they had been carefully selected for their roles.
If the lighting had been a little dimmer, one might not have noticed. Their Stellish accent was flawless, with particularly precise pronunciation, which probably explained why no one suspected anything. The same person owned all three gentlemen’s retreats-the Marquis of Glandale, Fabian Schmitt.
After discussing their next move, Sophie and the others decided not to act too hastily. Instead, they quietly sent people to keep an eye on the gentlemen’s retreats and observe the Sandorians’ intentions.
As for Fabian himself, Jacob launched a fresh investigation into him.
Fabian was known to indulge in male companionship, though that didn’t mean he wasn’t interested in women-he was married, with children and a harem. Hailey was his youngest daughter.
This was a surprise to everyone, as the Marquis of Glandale’s household was so discreet. Apart from a few incidents involving Hailey and Jocelyn causing a stir at Gracewood Women’s Academy, they hadn’t caused any scandals. The family’s reserved nature was such that it was easy to forget they even existed.
Who could have guessed that behind the Marquis of Glandale’s unobtrusive demeanor, he had established three gentlemen’s retreats, harboring a total of 15 Sandorians?
After visiting gentlemen’s retreats several times, Sophie began to notice the patrons. Many powerful figures from court and the sons of noble families frequented these establishments for drink and pleasure.
That evening, Sophie encountered someone she never imagined she’d see in such a place, not even in her wildest dreams.
Gerald Quinton, the royal tutor of the previous king!
He was being helped upstairs, and he was disguised with makeup that made his face pale and white. His once-grand appearance now looked frail and sickly, which under the dim light, gave off a creepy vibe. Dressed in the lavish silks of an old wealthy gentleman, he lacked the ethereal grace he once possessed. His usual scholarly demeanor was nowhere to be found.
In that disguise, Sophie almost didn’t recognize him. If it weren’t for the emerald pendant with the Quinton family crest hanging from his waist, she would never have believed it. That night, she had a nightmare of Gerald being no’
surrounded by a group of handsome men, and she woke up terrified.
The next day, she was still shaken.
After a quick wash and freshen-up, she decided to visit Gracewood Women’s Academy. It was a special day-exam results were being announced, and students who had excelled would receive rewards. Afterward, the school would be closed for the holidays until the eighth of January.
Without Jocelyn’s disruptive presence, the atmosphere at the academy was far more peaceful. While the young women still formed cliques and made fun of each other’s appearances and clothing, the malice that once filled the air had significantly lessened. However, just as the award ceremony was concluding, chaos erupted. A group of men burst into the academy, rushing toward the students. Screams filled the air as everyone scattered in panic.
Today, it was Claire’s turn to be on a guard duty. She had just finished using the restroom when she saw middle-aged man reaching for Courtney. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward him, landing a punch square in his face. Grabbing him by the collar, she hurled him out of the building.
When she turned back, she saw Courtney frozen in terror, her face pale and her feet seemingly rooted to the ground, unable to move.
The screams from the hall grew louder and more frantic. As she sprinted toward the noise, Claire shouted, “Don’t run around-find somewhere to hide!” Inside the hall, both Catherine and Harriet were visibly shaken, frantically shielding the students behind them.
Rosalind and Athena gripped sticks in their hands, desperately striking at the men who had charged in, trying to keep them away from the young women. However, Rosalind was no match for their strength. As she saw one man move toward Cassidy, who screamed in terror, she swung her stick with all her might. But the blow didn’t knock him down. Instead, he grinned and lunged toward her.
By the time Claire arrived, Rosalind was already in the man’s arms, who was leaning in to kiss her. Rosalind struggled violently, pushing against him with all her strength, but she was no match for him. She scratched at his face, trying to stop him from kissing her. Seeing this, Claire’s temper flared. She seized the man by the back of his coat and threw him hard to the ground. With a swift kick to his stomach, he writhed in pain, rolling around on the floor.
Claire snatched Athena’s stick from her and began to swing it wildly. The men scattered, cowering and clutching their heads in an attempt to protect themselves.
The man who had dared to assault Rosalind was knocked to the ground, the stick landing across his legs with a sickening crack, followed by a sharp, painful scream.
At that very moment, the carriages of the students’ families began to arrive. When the onlookers saw the chaos, their faces went pale.
“What’s happened? What’s going on here?” someone cried. “How did these men get in?”
The shout caused a rush of people to crowd into the hall, only to be met with the sight of a man lying on the floor, while the students stood frozen in fear.
When the students saw their parents, they rushed toward them in a panic, sobbing.
“Dad! Mom! It’s awful! They broke in and grabbed Ms. Young!”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Rosalind. She was pale, her hair disheveled, and her hairpins askew. Despite Athena’s efforts to hold her steady, Rosalind’s entire body was trembling uncontrollably.
Catherine, seasoned and quick-witted, understood the gravity of the situation. She knew that if word of this event spread, Rosalind’s reputation would be irreparably damaged. Worse still, the entire school would be ruined.