Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“You should rest, Your Grace. It is late,” Lyra murmured.
Grace pulled her cloak tighter, the high collar shadowing the edges of her face. Her eyes, however, glinted coldly in the darkness.
“This night is not meant for sleep. No doubt Queen Kylie is just as restless. She still clings to the foolish hope that Prince Connor will prove himself tomorrow, that the court officials might change their minds about him,” she said.
Lyra shook her head. “If anything, Queen Kylie is torn between hope and despair. Prince Connor is improving, but has grown distant. She sought him out at Serenity Palace, yet he barely spoke to her. She left in tears.”
“What a fool,” Grace scoffed. “Who vel told her to resort to such extreme measures? She hurt her own son merely to preserve her dignity. Adults may understand her reasoning, but Prince Connopis still a child. How could he possibly accept that his own mother would go so far as to harm him in pursuit of her schemes?”
Lyra chuckled. “You’re absolutely right, Your Grace. A royal prince doesn’t act lightly, but when he does, he must secure the greatest advantage.”
Grace remained silent, her brows knitted in thought.
It had never been her wish for her son to stain his hands with blood, but what choice did she have?
Meanwhile, Connor and Ryan were staying in Serenity Palace as they always did. Victoria had arranged shared chambers for them, believing that Ryan’s presence would help drive Connor to improve.
Originally, their beds had been placed at opposite ends of the room, as per the eldest prince’s request.
But as their bond grew, he had ordered the servants to move the beds closer, so they could speak more easily in the evenings.
An anxious Connor turned to Ryan, asking, “You don’t think I’ll falter tomorrow, do you? If I ride poorly, my father will be so disappointed.”
Ryan smiled reassuringly and said, “You’ve been training diligently. Even Uncle Rafael has praised your progress. Just relax. Don’t let fear get the better of you. Ride as if it were any other day of practice.”
“How am I supposed to not be nervous?” Connor groaned. “Do you remember the Verdant Hunt? Ugh mustn’t think of it. The moment I do,
I want to disappear from shame.
What was I thinking? I cried!
actually cried! How humiliating.”
Mortified, he pulled the blanket over his face and kicked his legs in frustration.
“What’s so shameful about that? I once fought a dog for scraps from a rubbish dump. Not only did the dog get the food, it also bit me,” Ryan said lazily, his tone lighthearted.
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a crescent-shaped scar on his arm. The edges of the old wound were thickened with scar tissue-evidence of how deep the bite had been.
“See? Many were watching, and they all had a good laugh. Now, that was embarrassing. Your situation hardly compares,” he added.
Connor gazed at the mark on his friend’s arm, noting how deep the bite had been. A pang of sorrow stirred in his chest.
“You endured such hardships… It’s a relief that Uncle Rafael found you. I swear, you’ll never go hungry again, nor will you ever have to fight a dog for scraps.”
Ryan grinned. “Of course. From now on, I’ll stick close to you. I’ll be eating fine meals and drinking the best wine.”
“You will,” Connor promised. “Where there’s food for me, there will be food for you as well.”
At dawn, Connor and Ryan rose with high spirits, brimming with confidence.
In stark contrast, Caden appeared weary and drained, his dark circles more pronounced than ever after having been tormented throughout the night.
Nightmare after nightmare had plagued him. One had consisted of visions of his own severed head rolling across the floor, pools of blood staining the ground. In another dream, Connor lay before him with both legs shattered, his agonized screams echoing through the darkness. He also dreamed of the tortured chamberlain, the man’s words playing over and over in his mind.
Whether in sleep or while awake, terror clung to Caden, leaving him trembling uncontrollably.
Grace arrived with Lyra to personally dress him. As she helped him into his formal attire, she spoke softly, coaxing him and reminding him of what had to be done today. She soothed his nerves, assuring him that Connor would not die.
As she saw Caden’s expression ease, she pressed on, painting a grand vision of power for him. With it, he could bring prosperity to Starhaven, making his reign a golden age that would be remembered for centuries.
Grace knew her son better than anyone. He was not without ambition, far from it in fact. But Victoria had been deliberately drawing the brothers closer by arranging for them to study, train, and play together-all to cultivate their brotherly bond.
Children were sentimental creatures and easily swayed by companionship. However, these feelings were trivial indulgences. If Caden lost sight of his future because of such things, the cost would be far too great.
With both Grace and Lyra urging him on, his resolve began to solidify. The doubt faded from his eyes, replaced by a steely determination.
Dressed and ready, they stepped out together.
–
Long before dawn, Salvador had already departed for the Celestial Sanctum, leading the court ministers and military officials in the sacrificial rites. By the time the royal concubines, princes, and princesses arrived, the ceremony was well underway.
The royal gardens were draped in blue, a festive air suffusing every corner of the palace. Salvador was in excellent spirits today. During the ceremony, he even made a wish-for a few more years of life.
The Archseer cast his divinations and assured the king that his wish would be granted. With that prophecy and Sebastian treating him, Salvador believed it.
Summoning all his children before him, he prepared to receive their well wishes and birthday greetings. He bestowed gifts upon each of his children, his expression warm as he exchanged a few words with them.
Victoria was absent today. The bitter cold made it unwise for her to leave her chambers, lest she fall ill. Yet before departing the palace that morning, Salvador had already gone to visit her.
With the formalities concluded, the king instructed the princes and princesses to spend time with their horses, ensuring they were familiar with them before the riding competition at noon.
Beyond the competition, the day promised further amusements in the form of various games and entertainment. A temporary stage had even been erected just for the occasion, and would soon be the site of an opera performance.
The military officers were also set to compete, showcasing their riding skills and engaging in a spirited match of polo. The stables were already at full capacity, with some horses tethered outside due to the lack of space.
However, the mounts belonging to the three princes and Ryan were kept under close guard. No one was permitted near them, lest some treachery be attempted. Their feed had been thoroughly inspected too.
Victoria had seen to these precautions well in advance. Though she had not come in person, she had sent Keith to oversee every detail.
Meanwhile, Sophie led soldiers from the Capital Guard and Royal Guard in conducting a thorough security sweep. The racetrack consisted of a dry, yellowed field, while the adjacent sandy terrain had been designated for polo. Though the three princes would not be participating in the polo match, the area was still checked just in case.
Seated within the main hall, Salvador received the well wishes of the court officials and accepted their gifts. He had little taste for extravagance, the gifts presented were not particularly expensive but covers with thought and care.
If he had any particular fondness, it was for calligraphy and painting, which was why Kyle’s gift—a grand landscape painting with the sun rising high, creating a grand and majestic scene-was his favourite of the lot.
Salvador studied it for a long while, his admiration only growing the more he looked at it. He couldn’t praise Kyle’s artistry enough, even inviting the assembled ministers to step forward and appreciate the piece for themselves.
The artists who resided in the palace had come along today as well. After seeing the landscape painting, they couldn’t help but admit its excellence, raising their thumbs in silent acknowledgment of its superiority.
Rafael stood by and watched too, but he had seen this painting before. It was Kyle’s most recent work, which he had worked on for ovamet three months. At first sight, it had astonished Rafael. Even now upon a second viewing, it still left him in awe.