Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Celeste didn’t relent. Her voice was ice-cold as she sneered, “Why all the pretense? You people, sitting up there on your high horses, make me sick. Stop pretending to be virtuous. Do you think sending my sisters to a monastery makes you some kind of saint?
“The suffering they’ve endured can’t be erased with a bowl of soup or a cup of coffee. Spare me the act. You’re just using them to boost your reputation, but you won’t succeed. Sooner or later, someone will see through your hypocrisy.”
Sophie rose from her chair, pushing it aside.
She hadn’t wanted to speak more, but when she saw Celeste’s eyes burning with malice, she paused and said, “I wasn’t the one who caused their suffering. Whether a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup brings them peace, that’s for them to decide. And as for a good reputation… I don’t think I need it.’
Eyes steady, she paused, then added, “As for the suffering you mentioned,
0 in this world doesn’t face hardships? It’s a matter of degree and how one chooses to break free from it. Your body and your beauty are yours to use as you wish. Apart from the mother who gave you life, no one has the right to dictate that. And by the way, your mother defended you until her dying breath.”
Having said that, she glanced at Celeste’s pale face one last time before leaving with Michael. There was no need for further questioning. They needed to send someone to Stonebridge County to search for Oliver. Celeste would be sentenced according to the law, but one thing was certain-killing one’s own mom was a capital offense.
She resented the unfairness of fate, yet she always found comfort in the suffering of others. Did she not realize that what she called the unfairness of the heavens was often the harm people inflicted on one another?
Oliver’s situation caught Sophie off guard. She had assumed he would have taken trusted allies with him, at least people capable of keeping themselves hidden for two or three years.
Who would have thought he would be robbed halfway through, losing everything, including the mistress he doted on, who ended up abandoning him? In that moment, did he regret his reckless choices?
To think that, at his age, he still believed in true love. He even dared to cast aside the wife who had worked tirelessly for over ten years to care for him, only to be discarded himself. Perhaps that was his karmic punishment.
But his punishment didn’t end there.
Knowing Celeste’s temperament, Sophie imagined that she had likely humiliated Oliver when she left, just as she had once done to Samuel. Celeste used her beauty as a tool but despised the men who coveted it.
Sophie didn’t think Oliver would stay in Stonebridge County. Given his fugitive status, he couldn’t risk revealing his true identity, and he certainly wouldn’t stay in one place for too long. He would be forced to hide, and he still had a child with him.
Sophie wondered when he had nowhere else to turn, would he try sneaking back into the capital? Despite Oliver’s foolishness, he wasn’t entirely stupid. He knew the most dangerous place was often the safest. As a military official, he likely had the means to forge a fake identity. If he came back to the city with his child and changed his appearance, the guards at the gates might never recognize him. With that thought in mind, Sophie ordered Max to keep an eye out for men traveling with a child. She then went to Skye Embroidery to see Zoey and tell her of this possibility, so the latter could keep an ear out as well.
If reporting Oliver could earn them some credit, it would be a huge benefit for Zoey and her entire family. Still, there was concern that someone might soften their stance. After all, a mother might forgive her child’s catastrophic mistakes with just a few pleas and some tears.
Zoey frowned after hearing about Oliver’s situation. From what she knew of her husband, he wasn’t the type of man who would be a good dad. When he was desperate, he wouldn’t want the burden of a child. ?specially when he needed to stay on the move, a child would only slow him down. He would likely abandon the child without a second thought.
“He may not even bring the child with him,” Zoey mused. “So, we can’t just focus on men with children.” Sophie blinked, surprised. “You mean he might leave the child behind?”
Sophie didn’t believe Oliver had any genuine fatherly affection. Rather, she thought that carrying the child might help him avoid some scrutiny. But upon reflection, she realized it was widely known that he had fled with his child and concubine, so he might very well abandon the child after all.
And considering that the child’s mom had already turned her back on Oliver, it could be a significant blow to him. He may well be able to discard the child without hesitation.
So, the instructions Sophie had given Max about keeping an eye on men with children weren’t entirely accurate. She needed to reconsider her approach.
“How is Madam Prince? Has she gone out recently?” Sophie asked, concerned that Evelyn would show Oliver mercy.
“She visits Arcane Sanctum three times a month-once every ten days. Viola always accompanies her. Counting the days, she’s due to go out tomorrow,” Zoey replied.
Sophie nodded thoughtfully. “Keep a close eye on her. If you happen to find any trace of Mr. Prince, report it to the Capital Guard headquarters immediately. If your tip-off leads to something, Cedric and the others might be able to come back sooner.”
Zoey, who had once wished for Oliver’s downfall, now found herself hoping he would survive.
She nodded. “Thank you, Your Grace. I’ll keep an eye out. But please don’t send anyone to follow my mother-in-law and Viola. If Oliver does return to the capital, he won’t dare show himself if he knows we’re being watched.”
“Understood. I’ll leave that honor to you, but only if he actually sneaks back into the city,” Sophie replied with a smile.
“If he’s really backed into a corner, he’ll come crawling back,” Zoey said with conviction.
She knew him better than anyone. Oliver didn’t have much in the way of ability. In the past, whenever trouble arose, he always turned to her to fix it. He had always believed that, no matter what he did, she would forgive him without question, and even be glad to help him pick up the pieces.
In the past, she really would have done it. After all, her son’s career and her daughter’s marriage depended on maintaining their family’s reputation. So, she had to cover up all those messy things. However, with the fall of the Earl of Silverstone’s family, she had nothing left to worry about.
Zoey chose not to tell Evelyn or Viola about her plan. The next day, as they set off for their routine visit to Arcane Sanctum, Zoey disguised herself as a peasant woman and quietly followed them.
She trailed them the entire way. From the moment they left to when they returned, no one came close to their donkey cart, and it didn’t even make a single stop along the way.
After returning to Skye Embroidery, Viola immediately began preparing medicine. At the workshop, no one had servants. Everyone took turns cooking. When Viola first arrived, she was utterly inexperienced. It took three days of practice for her to even be able to start a fire, and the first meal she cooked was barely edible.
The people at Skye Embroidery were cooperative but also fond of teasing. They joked and said Viola carried herself like a lady of high status but didn’t have the luck to actually live that life.
At first, Viola was furious and felt unjustly treated, as though the others were deliberately targeting her. She couldn’t understand why she had to endure this. But one day, when Jessica came to visit Skye Embroidery, she personally cooked a meal. Though it wasn’t perfect in taste or appearance, it was well- seasoned and balanced.
Seeing that, Viola fell silent. She knew exactly what kind of person Jessica had been a once-arrogant duchess, so proud and untouchable. After being divorced and taken back into the family, she somehow managed to swallow her pride and even cooked meals for this group of abandoned women.
The surprising part? Jessica actually knew how to cook.
But that wasn’t what truly shocked Viola. Even Leona, a guest staying at the workshop, could step into the kitchen and whip up an incredible meal. Viola was dumbfounded.
From then on, even if she wasn’t the one cooking, she would always help in the kitchen. She picked up the tasks and learned as she went. Now, her skills had surpassed Jessica’s.
Camila entered the kitchen just in time to see Viola lost in thought, staring at a boiling pot, completely unaware of the bubbling liquid.
“Viola, the medicine’s about to boil over. Didn’t you notice? Pull the coals back and let it simmer,” Camila cautioned.
Viola hurriedly lifted the lid of the pot, but the scalding steam rose up, burning her hand. She quickly dropped the lid, which crashed to the ground, splitting into two pieces.
Camila quickly fetched a bowl of cold water from the water pot and brought it over. “Put your hand in here to soak, or it’ll blister.”
Viola dipped both hands into the water, the coolness helping to ease the sting. “Thank you, Ms. Moore.” “Are you alright?” Camila asked.
“I’m fine. Nothing to worry about,” Viola said, shaking her head. However, her eyes still seemed unfocused.
Camila moved to the stove, pulling out the firewood and leaving just a few pieces of coal burning. “How is your mom? Better?”
“Much better.” Viola glanced at the medicine pot, frustrated. “How much medicine is left? We need to simmer it on low heat for another hour… I don’t think there’s enough of it left now.”
Camila looked at the uncovered pot. “There’s enough, but you can’t simmer it without a lid. All the medicinal vapors will escape. You’ll need to quickly buy a new one.”
Viola hesitated, her gaze turning pleading. “Ms. Moore, could you go buy one for me? I don’t know where to get it.”
“I could, but why don’t you go yourself?” Camila gave her a pointed look. “It’s just down the street at the general store. Didn’t you go there yesterday to buy a stew pot? How could you have forgotten already?”
Viola scratched her head awkwardly under Camila’s curious gaze. “Oh, right… I forgot for a moment. I’ll go buy it now.”
Camila moved to the stove to make barley porridge. The weather had warmed up, and everyone had lost their appetite. She decided to make some barley porridge, which helped cook the body and settle the