Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Kylie coldly watched as Marjorie was dragged away. This time, when returning to her family home, Kylie brought many trusted palace servants who were all at her command. Even the Quinton family members present dared not defy her.
Once Marjorie was out of sight, Kylie turned to Lydia and motioned for her to follow. The two of them made their way to Gerald’s residence.
There, Cody emerged from the room and bowed respectfully. “My lord, Lord Gerald wishes to meet only with Lady Sophie.
“Please inform Lord Gerald that Mr. Murray is here to visit, and Mr. Dalton is also here.”
“I’m afraid Lord Gerald insists on meeting only with Lady Sophie,” Cody replied.
Kylie arrived just in time to hear the conversation and she immediately ordered, “Let Sophie go in the bedroom alone, but everyone elsect may remain inside the hall. Also, summon the Quinton family members to wait in the outer hall if Grandfather has any instructions for them.”
The bedroom was separated from the main hall by a curtain, and the distance was short enough that the conversation could easily be heard.
Kylie knew that whether or not Sophie could handle the confrontation, once Gerald became enraged, it would undoubtedly hasten his condition.
The royal physician had warned that if anger overwhelmed Gerald, there was a risk of the outcome being fatal.
A delicate curtain separated the bedroom from the inner hall. As Sophie parted the beaded curtain, the soft sound of pearls clinking together echoed in the quiet room.
People said a small room helped preserve energy. For the elderly, the room shouldn’t be too spacious, as it could cause the life force to scatter and harm their health.
Thus, the room was modest in size, with carved cherrywood bed positioned to the east and a low couch to the south. A small wardrobe stood nearby, though Sophie had already noticed another wardrobe in the inner hall, suggesting that this one had been specially added.
She glanced around the room, noting the fine, elegant furnishings-everything was of the highest quality. “Lord Gerald,” Sophie called softly. When she thought about it, there was no personal grudge between them. Their paths had merely crossed at the wrong time.
Gerald opened his eyes slowly, his dull, murky gaze sweeping the room. Only when he confirmed that it was just her did he sigh wearily.
He was frail, his breathing shallow-indeed, he seemed to be at the very end of his strength.
On the table beside him was a bowl of medicine and a bowl of gruel that was still warm. It seemed someone had tried to feed him, but he had refused.
He lifted a trembling hand and pointed weakly at the gruel.
Sophie looked over at the bowl. “You want some gruel? I’ll have someone feed you.”
Cody entered at once, casting a grateful glance at Sophie. Gerald hadn’t eaten for several days, and now he wanted gruel just because Sophie was here. For this alone, Cody was deeply appreciative.
Outside, Kylie listened carefully, a slight frown forming on her face. This wasn’t what she had expected- why was Gerald eating gruel now? She thought for a moment, deciding that perhaps he lacked the strength to scold Sophie and needed the nourishment just to keep his energy up.
She would wait and see.
Gerald drank little, and the gruel was thin and brewed with nourishing herbs. After finishing nearly half a bowl, he shook his head and gestured for Cody to leave.
After Gerald had consumed some gruel, Cody nearly burst into tears. If Gerald died, he too would likely follow soon after. For now, he hadn’t yet been summoned for judgment as Gerald still needed him. After eating the gruel with nourishing herbs, Sophie could tell from Gerald’s breathing that he had improved slightly. But he did not speak right away. He was too weak, and even the nourishing herbs would take some time to show its effects.
The Quinton family had naturally only brought in top-quality herbs to be used.
Sophie pulled up a chair and sat down beside his bed, just as she had at the Capital Guard headquarters.
Gerald’s eyes were half-closed, and he began to speak in a weak voice.
“That day, you said I hadn’t fought for anything. Today, I called you here…”
He exhaled slowly, then inhaled with great effort. It was as though it took all his strength to draw in a breath.
After a long pause, he continued, “I want to tell you that some things, no matter how hard you fight for, are in vain. They only harm both others and yourself.”
Sophie remained silent, understanding that he wasn’t finished.
After another pause, he went on, “What you’re doing now… It won’t succeed, either. The success you see now is but an illusion. In the end, in the world we live in… It won’t be allowed.”
He gasped for air several times, and a murky tear slid down from the corner of his eye. “Years ago, King Sigmund forbade it because…because he saw right through me.”
His thin, brittle hand clutched the blanket, the veins standing out like twisted roots, as he fought to speak his words. “One cannot defy the king’s command! If you can’t fight, then…then surrender.”
Sophie felt he had said all he wanted. His eyes closed with exhaustion, his breathing shallow and labored.
Finally, she said, “Actually, there’s no need to bring up the past. You made your choices when you were young. Let’s focus on just one thing-officials are not allowed to visit the red-light districts. As a Royal Tutor, even if you didn’t go to the gentlemen’s retreat, you would’ve been condemned if you’d stepped into the entertainment parlors.”
“Yes, I was wrong,” he murmured softly, “but when I went to the gentlemen’s retreat, I only wanted to see them. There are always some who find happiness there. Just seeing them…gave me a sense of comfort.”
Sophie shook her head, disagreement in her eyes. “No, those who go to places like that are not the ones who are truly happy. To me, they are just seeking fleeting pleasures. True happiness comes from a meeting of hearts, not just physical enjoyment without any emotional foundation.”
“But at least… I knew there were others like me. That was enough.”
“You’ve always known there were others like you. You didn’t need to go to the gentlemen’s retreat to prove that,” Sophie countered.
Gerald was silent for a long time, his breathing growing more rapid, as though anger were rising within him.
Kylie had been listening from outside. When she sensed the conversation was straying, she almost stepped forward to intervene. But when she heard her grandfather’s labored breath, she stopped in her tracks.
She was certain of her guess-with the crushing blow Gerald had received, his pride couldn’t take it. He would see this as the greatest humiliation and would surely seek revenge against Sophie. If he had nothing left to live for, why not use his death to take vengeance?
But after a while, she still heard no outburst, only Gerald’s faint voice.
“Perhaps you’re right. But what you said at the Capital Guard headquarters was wrong. Struggling is pointless. What you’re doing now is also all in vain,” he retorted.
Sophie smiled softly. “Would you dare take a bet with me, Lord Gerald?”
“A bet?” Gerald chuckled, though it was a hollow, bitter sound. “Do you think you can win? And how would you even measure victory?”
“In a few years, you’ll see many more workshops like Skye Embroidery and women’s academies springing up all over. Will that count as my win?”
“Delusions,” Gerald muttered, shaking his head slowly. He struggled to speak. “The women’s academy in the capital exists because of the queen dowager. Elsewhere, it would never work. As for workshops, they are even less likely.”
Sophie leaned in a little closer. The stench of his body hit her sharply, making her eyes sting, but she didn’t shy away. “That’s why I want to make a bet with you, Lord Gerald. It won’t take long. Just two years -two years should be enough.”
Gerald’s mind seemed to be clouded as his eyes wandered aimlessly to the ceiling. “We’re not the same. My ideas are far more shocking than yours. No one will ever truly accept them. They can never be made public, nor will society ever approve.”
“But you don’t even accept them yourself. You’ve gone against your own heart. You don’t like women, yet you married and had children. You betrayed yourself, so what right do you have to talk about earning society’s approval?” Sophie said.
“Do you accept them?” Gerald asked.