Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now,” she said, eager to leave.
She had been waiting to return to her estate. Cynthia and Bun were on her mind.
As for how Salvador decided to deal with things now, that was his problem. The Capital Guard and the Garrison Unit had already done their part-the gentlemen’s retreats had been raided and the spies had been sent to the Supreme Court
Sophie rode swiftly toward Hell Monarch Estate, her horse’s hooves echoing against the cobblestones. As she reached the gates, she dismounted and handed the reins to the stableman, not even slowing her pace as she hurried inside.
“Her Grace has returned!” someone called out.
Violet had probably stationed someone at the gate, ready to report as soon as Sophie arrived.
As she rounded the white partition screen, a flash of red came into view. Just before reaching her, the figure leaped a few steps ahead. Sophie quickly reached out to catch her, and they spun around several times in place as Cynthia’s delighted voice rang in her ears.
“You’re finally back, my great noble lord, Commander Devin!”
Sophie set her down, her hands immediately reaching up to squeeze Cynthia’s round, soft cheeks in pure joy. “Thia, you’ve gained weight!”
Cynthia pushed her away with a playful pout, her lips curving upward. “Couldn’t you say something nicer? You see me for the first time in ages, and you go straight for the jugular.”
Sophie grinned. “You’re not fat, just a bit more… rounded. You’re still as beautiful as ever.”
“The truly fat one hasn’t appeared yet,” Cynthia teased, looping her arm through Sophie’s as they strolled forward.
Just then, Violet and Bun appeared, leisurely walking toward them. Bun was no longer as plump as before, but he was definitely more solid, giving him a more steady presence. When he saw Sophie, his face lit up with a big smile.
“Sophie, what took you so long to get back? Is work really that busy?”
“Bun!” Sophie dragged Cynthia forward and playfully punched him in the chest. She felt the firm muscles under his tunic. “Good lad, are you close to joining the ranks of first-rate martial artists?”
Bun beamed proudly. “I don’t know about first- or second-rate, but I’ve improved a lot. If I spar with you now, I might not lose.”
“Oh?” Sophie raised an eyebrow. “We should definitely have a match, then.”
Cynthia scoffed, giving Bun a playful shove. “Are you serious? A couple hundred moves, and you’d be crawling on the floor, looking for your teeth. Do you think two years of training makes you invincible? Don’t embarrass yourself.”
Sophie chuckled softly, knowing the playful rivalry between them had always been a part of their friendship. Cynthia especially liked to tease Bun.
Violet let out a snort. “Bun, remember, we fought last night. You were no match for me.”
Bun pouted, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “I was holding back. If I had gone all out, I wouldn’t have lost.”
The group laughed as they
?t continued walking inside. Jacob had already arranged a meal for them, and Lily Kad personally prepared a nourishing soup. After a night of working, how could they not feel concerned for Sophie’s wellbeing?
Lulu emerged with a warm towel, gently wiping Sophie’s face and hands before leading everyone to the dining room to catch up over food and drink.
“Jasper wanted to come see you too, but he didn’t want to face your husband, so he decided not to come,” Bun said in a deep voice.
Sophie shot him a glare. “Stop making things up. Jasper only sees me as his martial sister.”
Sophie once had admirers at Meadow Ridge, with one of them being Jasper from the Crystal Bloom Guild. This was widely known, even to Adrian.
Back then, Jasper had come every day for a month, carrying flowers and waiting for Sophie outside the Pathfinders Guild. His persistence eventually pushed Adrian, who was usually indifferent to such matters, to explode in fury.
Pointing at Jasper, he shouted, “You’re an 18-year-old man. How dare you fancy a 14-year-old girl? You’re a disgrace!”
His outburst became legendary. In the Crystal Bloom Guild, everyone knew the fiercest person wasn’t Everett, but Adrian.
Utterly crushed by Adrian’s words, Jasper had considered hanging himself. For weeks, he suffered from the pain of unrequited love, but it was Adrian’s scornful words that shamed him the most.
Back then, Sophie had been too innocent to understand matters of the heart. She had even tried to defend Jasper, thinking it was kind of him to bring flowers every day. She had felt Adrian was too harsh, cruel even, for shaming him so thoroughly.
Adrian practically knocked some sense into her, making her too afraid to speak up for Jasper again.
The group chattered away, exchanging stories of what had happened since their last meeting. Then, came the big news-a bombshell, really-that Cynthia and Bun were officially betrothed. Sophie and Violet were both stunned. They shot to their feet, staring at the couple in disbelief. Sophie, chin in hand, mused, “Well, I’ll be. They really do look like a married couple now, don’t they? Both with those round, cherubic faces.’
Violet raised an eyebrow, adding, “Now that you mention it, they do have the same features-eyes, ears, nose, mouth, all in perfect proportion. Are we sure they aren’t siblings?”
Cynthia blushed deeply and scoffed. “Ugh, you two are the ones who look like siblings.”
Violet looked between them and asked, “But seriously, when did you two catch each other’s eye?” Violet was already thinking about whether she would need to prepare a wedding gift or add to Cynthia’s trousseau. Well, she might end up doing both since the bride and groom were both her good friends. She sighed happily. It had been a long time since she had the pleasure of spending money so freely. “Go ahead and tell them, Thia,” Bun said, glancing at her.
He really had become much more composed. His slimmer face even made him look rather handsome now.
“It wasn’t about catching each other’s eye. It’s just that I’m at the right age, and my mentor said we shouldn’t let good things go to outsiders, so he told me to take him,” Cynthia explained, slightly embarrassed.
“Good things, huh?” Violet teased, looking back and forth between them. “Alright, Bun, you’ve lost weight but you’re still a good thing, I suppose.”
In the Crystal Bloom Guild, many of the senior apprentices married among themselves, mainly because they rarely interacted with outsiders. Besides, when young men and women spent so much time together, it was inevitable that some feelings would develop.
Cynthia and Bun had fought side by side battles, sharing a bond of camaraderie and mutual respect. Having grown up together, their paths had intertwined over the years. They weren’t perfect, but they had grown to understand each other well enough to know that they could live a happy life together.
After the congratulatory remarks and a few sighs, the conversation shifted to the raid on the gentlemen’s retreats that Sophie had carried out.
“To think you had to stay up all night, Sophie. Being an official must be tough. Thank goodness we didn’t stay in the capital,” Cynthia said, her face full of sympathy.
“I saw the frustration on your face when you came in. Did someone upset you? If it’s both exhausting and frustrating, why bother being an official? Come back to Meadow Ridge with us, life would be so much more carefree and enjoyable there,” she added.
Sophie naturally longed to return to Meadow Ridge-the thought alone made her happy.
“I will, eventually. Not right now, though. Growing up means taking on responsibilities. Once I’ve wrapped up all the things I’m working on, I’ll convince Raf to come back with me and settle down at Meadow Ridge,” said Sophie.
Violet sighed. “But even if you go back to Meadow Ridge, it won’t be all sunshine and roses. Your martial uncle’s rules are strict.”
Sophie stood tall, her chest puffed out with pride. “I’m not worried. I have Raf, whom Sage Everett dotes on. He’s also fiercely protective of Raf, and I’m sure he’ll extend that affection to me too.”
“You’re right about that! I don’t think there’s anywhere better than Meadow Ridge. If Sophie’s going back, I’m following her. They’ll probably have kids in the future, and I’m going to be their godmother!” Violet said with a chuckle, sounding more enthusiastic now.
The four of them chatted all the way into the afternoon, their excitement and joy making it seem like the conversation would never run out of steam. The only regret was that o
Travis wasn’t there. If he was, the five young generals from the battlefield would have been reunited.