Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“Prince Cecil is a suspect, but I spoke to Ryan. That day, Prince Cecil was indeed riding Prince Connor’s horse, but it was Prince Caden who helped him down. Prince Caden wasn’t strong or tall enough, so it took some effort,” Sophie replied.
“So, Prince Cecil wasn’t the only one who touched the horse,” Violet pointed out.
“Exactly. I verified Ryan’s words with the guards who were there.” Sophie paused. “But right now, Prince Caden is still recovering, and Prince Cecil just lost his mother. I haven’t questioned them yet.”
In addition to this, Sophie had gathered other pieces of evidence, all of which pointed toward Grace and Caden.
Once the truth was uncovered, she feared it would be even more painful to bear.
During her investigation, Sophie learned a troubling piece of information from a young chamberlain. The caltrop Cecil had been playing with had indeed gone missing, and a palace maid had picked it up.
The chamberlain had witnessed the moment the caltrop was picked up, and recognized the maid in question as Clara, who served Penelope, one of Salvador’s concubines.
It was clear to Sophie that Penelope had no reason to harm Connor. Her relationship with Grace and Sylvia was rather indifferent. Thus, Sophie formally petitioned Victoria for permission to conduct an inquiry within the harem and see if Clara was secretly loyal to someone else.
As expected, Sophie uncovered that Clara had entered the palace years earlier as a low-ranking maid, assigned to laundry duty and forced to endure a hard life. She was from the same hometown as Lyra, one of Grace’s trusted maids.
Lyra helped Clara by making arrangements with the head maid, sending her to Penelope’s residence to work as a cleaner. Over the years, the quick-witted Clara managed to earn Penelope’s trust, becoming one of her closest confidantes.
Further examination of the palace records revealed that when Clara was first sent to Penelope, her place of origin had been altered. Sophie only found her actual hometown in the records from the year Clara entered the palace. If she had not been particularly diligent, she might never have noticed the connection between Clara and Lyra.
Following this lead, it was easy to uncover that Clara had secretly been in contact with Lyra, and it also revealed that Grace had planted people in various places.
Over the years, Grace had acquired many valuable things. Even during the years when she wasn’t in charge of the harem, she was still able to easily obtain everything she wanted, whether it was rightfully hers or not.
This was the benefit of the humble and gentle persona Grace had built. Sylvia didn’t bother competing with her, while Kylie thought that giving her a few gifts would help build a closer relationship and make it easier to use her.
And because of Grace’s kind nature, the other lower-ranking concubines were also willing to give her gifts to please her. She had a good reputation both in the palace and in court.
No one thought about how easily that reputation had been built.
Strictly speaking, Grace hadn’t done many humble or compassionate things at all. When Sophie investigated, she discovered that the people Grace had planted would always speak well of her in front of their own mistresses. They would praise her modesty, gentle disposition, and reluctance to engage in conflict. Over time, everyone began to believe it.
Would someone so clever have hidden their true nature for so many years just for a good reputation? Clearly, there was something else behind it.
The information Sophie uncovered had already been reported to Victoria and Salvador. The king instructed her to continue her investigation, though he ordered that no action be taken regarding Caden for the moment, as he intended to handle that personally.
Sophie understood Salvador’s strategy. His instruction to continue the investigation was designed to lull Grace and the others in the harem into a false sense of net making them believe that the truth might never be revealed. As the weeks passed, they would grow complacent, and only then would Salvador strike with a fatal blow.
Yet, Rafael believed his brother was merely buying time to mentally prepare himself for the harsh reality that his second son might have been involved in the attempted murder of his firstborn.
In the new year, Salvador failed to attend court for three consecutive days, so affairs of state were temporarily entrusted to Jeremiah and Rafael. Derek stayed close by, making sure he never left the king’s side. He kept bringing Salvador medicine, as Rowan had said the king couldn’t stop taking it.
On the 23rd of the month, Sophie came again to report, detailing how one of Salvador’s close attendants, a man named Shawn, was known to be loyal to Grace.
Shawn was Derek’s godson. Although he didn’t usually serve in the royal study, when Salvador returned to the palace, it was mostly him who stayed by the king’s side.
After Salvador fell ill, Shawn also helped with the medicine preparation. Every time Sebastian came to check on the king, Shawn was sent out. But if he wanted to, he could likely find out something.
In other words, Grace must have had at least a partial understanding of Salvador’s condition.
Upon hearing this, Salvador’s fury was immediate and intense. In a fit of rage, he hurled the vial of medicine on his desk, shattering it upon the floor.
The matter, when viewed through a narrow lens, was simply the ambition of a concubine, seeking to gain favor by using Shawn to spy on the king’s habits and preferences. But when viewed more broadly, the possibility of Shawn poisoning the king’s medicine was not so far-fetched.
Salvador could no longer tolerate this. He ordered that Shawn be detained immediately, then headed to Iridescent Palace.
Grace received Salvador’s arrival with a sense of dread.
The past days had been filled with Sophie’s relentless probing, which had left Grace in a state of terror. Yet, despite her fear, a small spark of hope still flickered within her.
Connor was dead, while Cecil was but a child and of frail health. It was Caden- intelligent as well as gifted in both studies and martial arts—who was undoubtedly the most suitable choice for the throne.
If not Caden, then who? Could it truly be Cecil?
If Caden were chosen, Grace was certain she wouldn’t be blamed for anything. Salvador wouldn’t tarnish the reputation of the birth mother of the crown prince and future king.
Now, as Salvador arrived at Iridescent Palace, Grace’s heart began to race. His presence could only mean one of two things. Either he had come to check on Caden’s progress and finalize his selection as crown prince, or more dangerously he had come with evidence and questions regarding the events that had unfolded.
Either way, today would bring an answer.
Grace led the servants to kneel in greeting. She kept her head lowered, her gaze fixed on the king’s golden silk shoes embroidered with flying griffins.
Salvador extended his hand toward her, his voice gentle but firm as he said, “Rise, Grace. It is far too cold to be kneeling for so long. Do not risk damaging your knees.”
Her tense shoulders relaxed as she slowly placed her hand in his and stood up. Her expression remained as gentle as ever as she replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Are you feeling better?”
“Much better, thank you,” Salvador responded, leading her further into the room. His demeanor was no different from usual. “It occurred to me that I haven’t visited you or Caden in some time, and as I had some free moments today, I thought I would come and see how you both are faring. Has the medicine led to any improvement for him?”
Grace’s heart soared at Salvador’s concern for Caden, though her expression remained unchanged.
“The royal physicians have said that Caden’s condition was caused by a great shock. He must rest for another two or three months before he fully recovers,” she answered calmly.
Salvador seated himself with ease, his expression still kind and patient. “Bring him to me. He will be at ease knowing I am here.”
Grace immediately signaled for Lyra to fetch Caden. Over the last few days, the second prince had seemed somewhat better. He ate and dressed normally, though he scarcely spoke.
She prepared Salvador for what to expect, saying, “Your Majesty, Caden is not speaking much these days. He doesn’t answer when asked, but otherwise, his routine is normal… On occasion, he reads or practices his martial arts.”
In truth, Caden had neither read nor practiced any martial arts. Grace had once tried to give him a book, only for him to tear it apart. Yet, in Salvador’s presence, she needed to present Caden as a diligent and studious child-qualities the king valued above all.
Salvador’s expression softened, a look of approval crossing his features. “That’s good to hear.”
At the sight of his gentle demeanor, Grace’s heart finally settled.
Caden appeared from behind Lyra, a handful of servants trailing just outside the hall. However, they didn’t approach any closer.
Caden had grown thinner, his face hollow, with dark circles under his eyes. His complexion was sickly pale, and his once-fitting garments now hung loosely about him. Even the cloak draped over him couldn’t hide how his waistline had thinned. His expression was vacant, his eyes fixed and unblinking, as if he had lost the will to move.
Lyra gently guided him to stand in front of Salvador.
Grace immediately stepped forward. “Your father is here to see you. Show your respect to him, Caden.”