Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
So, it wasn’t hard to understand why he had performed poorly.
However, when Connor had been brought back from the forest earlier, Kylie had mentioned he was unwell.
It left the people wondering: If he was so ill, why did he even come to hunt in the first place?
In royal matters, people seldom delve too deeply.
Especially since Connor was still young, his failure today wasn’t seen as anything of real consequence. After all, he was the queen’s son, destined for great honor in the future-no one would judge him too harshly over a small setback.
As everyone saw him suffering in pain, many began suggesting various remedies. Some had oils to apply on his stomach, while others offered their own suggestions of concoctions.
Even Sylvia and Grace came in to inquire after him. After all, they had brought their children along and surely carried some medicine with them. Seeing Connor’s discomfort, they offered their remedies.
However, Kylie made no use of their offers. Her goal was simply to have them see Connor’s current condition so they would report it to their families later.
In short, Connor’s failure needed an explanation, a reason to let everyone know that he wasn’t incompetent-it was just due to his physical discomfort.
After everyone had checked on Connor, they left. Marjorie lingered, offering to stay and help. However, Kylie politely insisted that she leave.
Lydia was heartbroken as she gently rubbed Connor’s stomach, secretly wiping away tears with her other hand.
The water she had given him earlier contained a trace of poison. The poison powder was originally used to repel mosquitoes and venomous insects. In large doses, it could be fatal, but in small doses, it only caused pain and vomiting.
As a royal physician, Dorian should have been able to detect it. However, he was cowardly, timid, and greedy for money he wouldn’t say a word.
This was a plan Kylie came up with in a moment of desperation.
“It will pass soon,” Kylie said quietly, her face a mask of complex emotions. Seeing her son suffer also caused her pain, but there was little she could do about it now.
Without a word, Lydia continued her ministrations and then went to prepare some medicine.
As the sun dipped lower, the hunting party returned, still in high spirits. Everyone had expected the Hell Monarch to have caught the most game, but to their surprise, he returned empty-handed.
It was Thomas who had the most impressive haul.
Not a single deer had been caught, and Sylvia shook her head with a wry smile. “It seems I won’t be able to offer any prizes today.”
She had planned to make a pair of deer-hide boots for Cecil, but hearing of a fox caught, she mused instead about crafting a small fox-fur cloak.
Salvador, clearly in high spirits, seemed completely unaffected by Connor’s failure. He acted as though he had already forgotten about the incident entirely.
Caden dismounted from his horse, looking weary but still smiling as he made his way toward Grace. He had merely followed the hunting party, not having caught a single animal himself.
Grace laughed softly and took his hand. “Tired?”
“Not at all. It was great fun,” Caden replied with a grin.
Meanwhile, Cecil, full of energy, rushed toward Sylvia. He had a handful of wildflowers clutched in his hand. “Mom, look at these flowers I picked! Aren’t they beautiful?”
Sylvia quickly scooped him up into her arms, a playful scolding in her voice. “You’re so noisy, don’t you worry about tripping over?”
Cecil proudly presented the flowers, though by the time he reached her, they were mostly crushed, with only two or three still intact.
Sylvia recognized only the wild chrysanthemums and clover, while the rest were unfamiliar to her. She set the chrysanthemums and clovers aside and handed the rest to a nearby servant.
“Take Prince Cecil and have him wash his hands and face. Then, find a physician and check if any of these are poisonous. If they are, make sure to give him an antidote right away.”
“Of course!” the maid by Sylvia’s side replied, taking the flowers with her.
As she spoke, her daughter, Phoebe, approached them. The girl pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her younger brother’s face. “Look at you, you little ragamuffin! What did you manage to catch today with Dad?”
Cecil blinked up at her, wide-eyed with surprise. “You make it sound so easy, Phoebe. If even Uncle Rafael couldn’t catch anything, how could I? I’m still too little.”
Salvador, surrounded by his court officials, came into earshot and laughed. “Oh? So, you’ll be able to catch something once you’re grown up, is that it?”
Cecil smiled brightly, his eyes full of mischief. “Of course! I’ll practice my archery every day, and next year when you bring me hunting again, I’ll catch something too.”
Salvador laughed heartily, clapping him on the back. “Good! You may not have the skills yet, but your ambition is commendable.”
The court officials around them all joined in the laughter, nodding and offering praises for Cecil’s spirit.
As Kylie stepped out, she caught sight of the scene before her, and a shadow seemed to fall across her heart. The feeling was difficult to describe.
She approached, seizing the opportunity with the court officials present, and spoke up.
“Prince Connor’s failure today was indeed a disappointment. However, he had been suffering from stomach pains and weakness since this morning. I’ve already called for a royal physician and had medicine prepared.”
Salvador’s brow furrowed. “What did the royal physician say?”
“He believes it’s due to something Prince Connor ate. He’s taken the medicine, and he’s feeling somewhat better now,” Kylie responded quickly.
Salvador’s response was indifferent. “Then take good care of him.”
“Of course!” Kylie answered, stealing a glance at the others in the room.
Though their expressions were unreadable, Salvador didn’t seem particularly angry. Perhaps this matter was already behind them.
She smiled and was about to congratulate Salvador on hunting the wild boar, but then she heard him say, “His failure today has nothing to do with his illness. If he couldn’t catch anything, then he simply couldn’t. But to cry and carry on about it— what kind of behavior is that?”
Kylie’s smile froze on her lips.
Salvador had kicked Connor out of the woods because he was crying? Wasn’t today supposed to be a special day for them to compete and show their skills?
Kylie paused, momentarily taken aback. Perhaps Salvador didn’t believe her. She quickly turned to instruct someone to bring Connor out.
With the help of Ryan and Lydia, Connor was led forward.
As soon as Ryan had heard of Connor’s discomfort, he rushed to check on him. Although there had been tension between them in the past, their time spent together in recent days had allowed a bond to form.
Connor was ing much better, ugh his face was still pale and he seemed drained. Upon seeing his dad, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. But remembering the encouraging words of Sophie and Marjorie, he found the strength to approach and fell to one knee.
“Father, I know I’ve been lazy and careless in my training. I didn’t practice my archery properly with Uncle Rafael, and that’s why I failed today. I’ve embarrassed you, and I understand my mistake. I’ll work harder from now on and train diligently with Uncle Rafael. I won’t disappoint you again.”