Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“lan,” Salvador said, his voice serious, “look into whether Nicholas has left his fief recently.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll send someone immediately.” lan bowed and withdrew.
Salvador’s investigation matched Winona’s findings.
Nicholas had not left his fief; he spent almost every day taking his wife and children to see plays or listen to music.
In Nerovia, there were a few orphanages that Nicholas had established. They were dedicated to caring for orphans and the elderly who had nowhere else to turn. He would often attend a play and then visit one of these orphanages afterward.
However, Winona uncovered something that Salvador had missed.
It was the fact that Nicholas had once saved Eustace’s life.
This event occurred seven or eight years ago, when Eustace was not yet the head of the Spencer family. He had been ambushed during a routine inspection of his estates. By chance, Nicholas and his men had passed by, and he rescued Eustace from certain death.
Nicholas was a modest man, and he had no desire for recognition or further dealings with the Spencer family. He had asked Eustace not to make a public fuss over the incident. To Nicholas, saving someone’s life was simply a matter of doing what was right, not something that required repayment.
At the time of the ambush, almost everyone with Eustace had been killed. Only Eustace and his trusted bodyguard, Marvin, had survived. Interestingly, Winona had helped Marvin once when he was attacked while escorting goods. So when Winona investigated and spoke to Marvin, the latter told her this old story. When Winona’s report arrived, Sophie asked Violet about it, and Violet was taken aback. “Something like that happened? I didn’t know anything about it.”
That was seven or eight years ago, and Violet had been in Meadow Ridge at the time. Naturally, she hadn’t been aware of what had happened at home.
“Should I write a letter to my dad?” Violet asked, furrowing her brow. Worry settled in her heart.
Eustace owed Nicholas a life debt. If Nicholas were indeed the mastermind behind the scenes, would he try to use that to pressure Eustace into helping him when the time came?
In the past, Violet had never been concerned when her family was involved. She knew her dad was loyal to the throne. As a royal merchant, he provided horses to the military and supplied weapons to the Ministry of Defense. It was impossible for him to support any traitors.
But if there was a life debt involved, that could complicate things. Even the most loyal subjects understood the importance of repaying such a debt.
Sophie reassured her, “There’s no need to rush. Let’s wait for Winona to finish investigating the details of your dad’s ambush.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Is Winona suspicious about what happened to my dad?”
“She only said she would continue looking into it. She didn’t suggest anything else,” Sophie soothed. “Don’t worry. She’ll get to the bottom of this, and I trust your dad. A life debt may be repaid, but there are boundaries to that repayment.”
Violet was lost in thought.
“If Dad’s ambush was part of a conspiracy, then Nicholas must have started plotting this seven or eight years ago. All these years, he has never let anything slip or given anyone reason to suspect him. Even after all the recent investigations, the only thing that’s come up is the questionable lead from Willowbrook Estate. How terrifying must this man be?”
“With mountain bandits, robbers, and refugees stirring up trouble all over, I don’t believe it could happen without his involvement. Prince Yuvan doesn’t have the ability to pull this off on his own,” Sophie replied. She continued, “He’s been helping Prince Yuvan, but in reality, he’s been helping himself. Prince Yuvan’s just been a puppet. The wars between Sandoria and Westhaven, combined with the mountain bandits causing trouble, have spread the empire’s military forces thin. If he is the true mastermind-or whoever it is-they’ll likely aim straight for the capital and seize the throne next.”
Violet found people of such devious minds most frustrating, for they always made things complicated and hard to see through.
“So, what do we do now? Only the Mystic Army is left in the capital.”
Sophie pressed her lips together. The Mystic Army had once numbered 30,000 soldiers, but not all of them were elite soldiers. Among them were members of the Garrison Unit, who were hardly fit for battle- most of them were nothing but drunkards and gluttons.
When they were sent to the Southern Frontier, they had taken 15,000 men and lost over 2,000 in battle. Afterward, hundreds were sent back home as they were unfit for duty.
Later, Salvador split the Mystic Army into separate units. So now, combining the Capital Guard, the Royal Guard, and the Garrison Unit, their total force was barely over 10,000 men.
Of course, if the Nightsteel Guard under lan’s command were included, they could muster just over 20,000 soldiers.
They had no idea how many men the true mastermind might have, or where they were hiding.
The one thing they did know for certain was that if an assault on the capital was coming, it would not be delayed for long. The true mastermind’s forces would already be in place, with some stationed outside the city and others inside.
The next day, Sophie went to the palace to meet Salvador. She suggested that all the Mystic Army soldiers in the Nightsteel Guard be placed back under her command.
Upon hearing this, Salvador fixed her with a piercing gaze. “Are you suggesting that I hand over all the forces in the capital to you?”
“The Mystic Army, Your Majesty,” Sophie replied, lifting her chin, her eyes unwavering. “The troops stationed outside the capital, including 15,000 men of the Sacred Fire Regiment, are being sent to Valken. The capital’s only remaining line of defense is the Mystic Army, and it cannot be split any further.” Salvador repeated the question, his tone flat but tinged with skepticism. “You want me to place all the forces in the capital, including my personal guards, under your command?”
Sophie didn’t hesitate or even consider whether he might suspect her. She simply nodded firmly and said, “Yes, Your Majesty!”
Salvador looked at her for a long moment, then smiled.
“Your husband commands the forces at the Southern Frontier. Your grandfather and uncles lead the troops at Victory Pass against Westhaven. General Murray is your dad’s former subordinate, and General Farrell is one of the men you rescued. Now, you ask me to hand over the entire military force of the capital to you. Do you understand what this means, Commander Devin?”
Sophie stood tall, unflinching. “Prince Rafael defends the Southern Frontier. My grandfather and uncles protect Victory Pass from Westhaven. General Murray deals with the mountain bandits. General Farrell is stationed to confront the rebels. As for me, I will protect the capital. This is about each of us playing our part to defend the kingdom and its people.
Salvador nodded thoughtfully, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, though it did little to soften the coldness in his eyes. “You make a compelling argument, but I would be entrusting the entire country-and my own life-to you all. Do you understand how heavy this trust is?”
Sophie’s response was immediate and without hesitation. “I will give my all, even if it costs my life.” Salvador studied her for a long moment before lowering his gaze to organize his papers.
“I agree. By the way, the queen dowager is now raising Connor, which is a great burden on her. I plan to bring Aunt Helen and Ryan into the palace. Aunt Helen will stay with my mom, and Ryan will act as Connor’s study partner.”
He didn’t ask for her opinion. His words were declarative.
A surge of anger rose within Sophie’s chest. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She reminded herself that Salvador was the king.
He was giving her command of the military, so he must feel insecure. This was normal!
She had to be patient. She had to endure!
After a long moment of silence, she finally looked up, her gaze sharp. “Your Majesty, I must ask-do you truly wish for my mother-in-law and Ryan to accompany the queen dowager in the palace, or do you intend to use them as hostages, to control us should my husband and I make a move against you?”
A dangerous glint flickered in Salvador’s eyes, but his tone remained measured. “Sophie, you’ve gone too far!”
“Your Majesty, please allow me to be a little bolder one more time,” Sophie said, her voice unwavering. “Earlier, you mentioned that Prince Rafael holds the military command at the Southern Frontier, and my grandfather and uncles are defending Victory Pass against Westhaven. Meanwhile, I’ve been given command of the Mystic Army.
“But what does all this mean? That we gain wealth and power? No. It’s a matter of risking our lives and shedding blood to protect the land beneath our feet. We’re not fools who seek to gain at any cost. We’re putting ourselves at risk, and we even have to send our family members to the palace as hostages.” Seeing Salvador’s expression darkened even further, Sophie’s frustration grew.
“As your subjects, it’s our duty to ease your burdens and help you feel secure. But have you ever heard the saying, ‘If you use someone, trust them. If you don’t trust them, don’t use them’? If you trust us, we’ll give it everything we have. If you don’t trust us…” She took a deep breath, her chest tight with emotion. “We’ll fight with our lives, but it will be done begrudgingly.”
Salvador studied her flushed face, his lips curling into a faint smile.
“Fine, then. You fight begrudgingly. But tomorrow, have Aunt Helen and Ryan come to the palace. I’m not bringing them here to use them as hostages. Connor is truly a handful for my mom. Aunt Helen is her confidante, the only one who can bring her joy. As for Ryan, I know he’s a good boy. It’s time for Connor to see what a truly intelligent and diligent child looks like.”
Sophie bit back an angry retort.
This hypocritical king!