Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Lulu helped remove her makeup and was about to prepare a bath, but Sophie stopped her, pulling her down to sit beside her instead.
“Lulu, I’ve mentioned before that we need to talk about your marriage. Have you thought about anyone in particular?” she asked.
Lulu glanced at her, amused. “Did you enjoy the wedding feast so much you want another helping?” Sophie laughed lightly. “Am I really that greedy? I’m doing this for your sake. If you don’t decide soon, you’ll become an old maid. You’re not planning to follow in Vivi’s footsteps and decide not to marry, are you?”
Lulu shook her head. “No, that’s not it. I’ll get married. Even if I do, I’ll stay by your side after.”
Sophie reached out to tap the tip of her nose. “How is it that you’re going to get married but not live with your husband? Instead, you’ll stay with your natal family?”
Lulu’s eyes immediately welled up with tears when Sophie said she was her natal family. Her voice trembled as she said, “My lady, you’re my only family now. I have no one else. No matter what, I’ll stay by your side. If a suitable servant or guard comes along, someone with good character and loyalty to the household, I’ll marry him.”
Tears rolled down her face as she spoke.
Sophie gently wiped away the tears, her voice soft. “No, Lulu. The most important thing is that you marry someone you love. When I saw the happiness and joy in Ms. Young’s face today, I realized that the real meaning of marriage is being with the one you truly love. Of course, character matters too.”
–
Lulu, still stubborn, replied, “Regardless, I just want to stay with you.”
She didn’t have a family or home anymore. Wherever Sophie was, that was where Lulu’s home was. Sophie smiled warmly. “Alright, we’ll make sure you stay in the capital.”
“You mean by your side, my lady,” Lulu reiterated with quiet determination.
Sophie gently pushed her toward the bath. “Go to the bath chambers.”
At Redstone Manor, Rafael received a letter from Sophie and read it several times, unable to suppress the smile that kept creeping up on his face.
Sophie had written she missed him-she had actually taken the time to write it down.
She missed him!
Timothy and the others had been waiting outside for quite a while and were beginning to get anxious. They knocked once more. “Marshal Sanford, may I enter?”
Rafael folded the letter carefully, smoothing his expression to appear more serious. “Come in.”
The reason they were summoned today was because Victor had been sitting idle-neither retreating nor advancing and that kind of stalemate couldn’t go on forever.
So, they had made contact with the Wolf Chief of the grassland tribes, Balin Storm, hoping to form an alliance.
Originally, the tribes had been reluctant to ally with any side. But Victor had been hoarding troops, and his supplies were running low He had been engaging in sneaky tactics-stealing sheep from the grasslands-which greatly angered Balin.
Anger aside, there was a sense of worry.
They understood Victor’s situation-if he was defeated, he would be punished once he returned home.
So, his only option was to go all in. If he couldn’t take Simonton City, he would have to take control of the grasslands.
Originally, Victor had only sent someone to negotiate. But now he had lost all sense of pride, resorting to stealing sheep and killing cattle. This couldn’t be tolerated any longer.
They had to make a choice.
Just as this tension mounted, an emissary from the Hell Monarch arrived. Balin had readily agreed to meet and was willing to enter the city and negotiate. This showed genuine intent to discuss matters, as they knew the generals of the Southern Frontier Army couldn’t leave the city freely, and Victor’s current tactics were despicable.
Because of this negotiation, Rafael called Timothy and the others to join him.
“They are willing to enter the city, so according to our customs, they are our guests now,” Rafael said, looking at the gathered men. “General Farrell will handle their reception-prepare the best food and drink.”
Timothy nodded. “Yes, Marshal Sanford. I’ll make sure it’s properly arranged.”
Louis spoke up. “Sir, do you think an alliance with the grasslands tribes is possible? Could we get them to send troops?”
Rafael shook his head, his gaze firm. “No need for that. As long as the grasslands, tribes allow us on their land, we can pursue Marshal Crow directly. We must take his head As long as he breathes, he will never surrender.”
The others nodded in agreement. Sandoria’s troops were already demoralized and lacked the will to fight.
It was only Victor’s stubbornness that kept them from retreating.
Once he was gone, Sandoria’s forces would crumble.
Balin entered the city with just a dozen men. They were all strong and sturdy, with curved blades at their waists, looking fierce and intimidating.
But when they sat down to eat and drink, their tanned faces broke into wide, radiant smiles.
Balin was in his fifties, with skin as dark and shining as his men’s, his eyes sharp and intelligent. He was a man of great wisdom and was meticulous in his thinking. In other words, he remained cautious and never fully trusted the Hell Monarch.
His one demand was simple: this would be a one-time alliance. After driving back the Sandorians, the Southern Frontier Army was to withdraw from the grasslands swiftly. No one was to step foot in the heart of the grasslands again without permission.
Rafael agreed, and the treaty was signed immediately.
Once the agreement was made, they didn’t linger any longer than necessary and left.
The grassland tribes held little fondness for Starhaven, as the endless warfare often spilled over into their territories. However, with so many tribes scattered across the land, they weren’t united, which meant they couldn’t oppose either Starhaven or Sandoria directly.
Timothy escorted them out of the city, then returned to Redstone Manor to discuss how best to conduct the upcoming pursuit.
The grassland tribes had offered their land, allowing the Southern Frontier Army to press forward in pursuit. However, a pursuit was very different from a siege. Logistics were crucial-supplies, food, arrows, weapons-all had to be accounted for. Medical care, stretchers, and support for the troops were also necessary.
It was a large-scale operation, complicated by the harsh winter cold. The risks were significant, but the rewards could be great. If they succeeded, it would deter Sandoria for at least the next ten years. The generals deliberated through the night, crafting a strategy. By morning, the basic plan was ready, and orders were issued. Naturally, they also sent an urgent report to Salvador. As usual, a letter for Sophie was included with it.
When on the battlefield, there were no secrets between husband and wife, and fewer complications were always better.
When the court received the report, some officials felt Rafael’s decision was overly ambitious and reckless. With the harsh winter looming, leading a large force into pursuit seemed a risky move. Plus, they still had to guard against the grasslands tribes seizing the opportunity to attack Simonton City.
The officials petitioned Salvador to order the Hell Monarch to retreat and defend Simonton City, arguing that holding the city would be sufficient to keep the Sandorians at bay.
However, some believed that simply holding the city would cause more problems in the long run. Soldiers unable to farm would increase the burden on the court, and military supplies would drain the treasury. Even their families had to be supported.
If they let Victor drag things on, who knew how long it would take?
Plus, he might never return to his homeland. With a group of soldiers with no food or clothing, they would likely resort to raiding, occasionally harassing border towns, killing civilians, and looting. It would be a real nightmare, and the people Would live in constant fear, never truly having peace.
In the court, the two sides argued back and forth, each expressing their opinions, but Salvador remained mostly silent.