Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Carsse’s kneeing posture exuded the authority of a seasoned warrior, pertaps a residual effect from her recent return from the barefec. Helen could almost hear the echoes of combat in the air around them.
This any imensried Helen’s displeasure.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at Sophie coldly and said, “You are well aware of your status. You’re not worthy of my son. I hope you understand your place. In consideration of the merits you sarted at the Southern Frontier, I will overlook today’s offense.”
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Sophie looked up, her expression solemn. “Thank you for your leniency, Your Highness. As for my status and whether I am worthy of the marshal, that is for him to decide. Either way, since he proposed, I will marry him.”
“He’s simply momentarily confused! He will come to his senses eventually. You’re a woman who was discarded by the Jaffe family. He’s only intrigued by you for now, but he will abandon your once the novelty wears off. In the end, you will be the one who suffers. I’m looking out for you. Why are you so ungrateful?” Helen argued furiously.
divorced Blake. I’m not a discarded woman-I requested the divorce edict. If anyone was discarded, it was him. The Jaffe family had no say in it. Nevertheless, I appreciate your concern,” Sophie replied. Still angry, Helen retorted, “Regardless of who left whom, you’re still a woman who has married once. A virtuous woman does not remarry. Since you chose to divorce, you should stay at home and not aim for higher status. What you’re doing now is tarnishing the reputation of women.”
“Men can divorce and remarry, even take multiple wives and concubines. Why can’t women remarry? As for tarnishing the reputation of women, many women see me as a role model. Even the king said at the celebration feast that women of the realm should emulate me,” Sophie said calmly, maintaining her composure.
Helen scoffed. “You’re sharp-tongued and argumentative. If all women were like you, the world would be in chaos. Women should adhere to their expected roles and behavior-obedience to their father before marriage, obedience to their husband after marriage, and obedience to their son after the husband’s death. They should. also have proper virtue, speech, appearance, and skills.
“And you? You think that just because you have some military achievements, you’re a role model for women? What about those who can’t go to the battlefield? Are they supposed to be doomed?” That argument sounded familiar to Sophie. She remembered asking Freya a similar question.
Sophie calmly countered, “Being a role model doesn’t mean all women need to go to the battlefield. The king’s praise was not just for my military accomplishments, but also my indomitable spirit.
“As for the expected roles and behavior for women… As you mentioned earlier, Your Highness, a woman should obey her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son if widowed. In that case, shouldn’t you now follow the marshal’s wishes?”
“How dare you criticize the late king?” Helen slammed her hand on the armrest, her voice filled with anger.
Sophie raised her hands in surrender. “I mean no disrespect to the late king. He was a wise and enlightened ruler whom I deeply respected. How could I dare to speak ill of him?”
Helen spoke coldly, “It seems you’ve used your alluring appearance and sharp tongue to deceive my son. You speak of grand principles, but your heart is full of petty schemes. I know exactly what you’re up
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“The Duke of Northwatch’s family is in decline. And you, an orphaned girl and a discarded woman, are the only one left. You aim to join the royal family to make those who once looked down on and insulted you see you differently, to be jealous of you.
“Perhaps you even want to use the status of a princess consort to take revenge on them.”
Sophie’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Your Highness, you’re overthinking this. If I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t need to rely on anyone.”
Helen recalled the display of Sophie’s strength earlier and hesitated. The stubborn girl was indeed beyond her control.
Due to Sophie’s military achievements, physically dragging her out. and punishing her was out of the question. The intended slap was merely meant to establish authority, to make her realize the difficulties ahead and make her retreat.
As one of the late king’s concubines and a palace veteran, Helen slapping Sophie could still be justified. But that slap hadn’t even touched Sophie, and instead, Helen’s own people had gotten hurt. Helen had never suffered such a setback in her life. Realizing that confrontation wouldn’t work with Sophie, her head ached.
She waved her hand dismissively. “Enough. Don’t think about marrying into the royal family. I’ll find you a suitable match- someone reliable to inherit your father’s title.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. However, I have already given the marshal my word. A person without integrity cannot stand in society. I don’t wish to be someone who breaks their word,” Sophie responded.
Helen glared at her.
Sophie was such a brazen girl. She spoke of climbing the social ladder with such righteousness!
What infuriated Helen the most was that Sophie, who kept proclaiming her desire to marry Rafael, showed no inclination to curry favor with her future mother-in-law!
Helen didn’t want to let Sophie leave so easily, at least not before she gave up the idea of marrying into the royal family. However, Sophie didn’t mind kneeling. Having been punished with kneeling plenty of times at Meadow Ridge, she had grown accustomed to it.
She had no intention of currying favor with Helen, who already had plenty of people around her doing just that. Besides, Sophie’s marriage to Rafael was a mutually beneficial arrangement. There was no need for unnecessary flattery.
In fact, Helen’s straightforward personality made her easier to deal with. She was fierce but not cunning, which was preferable to those who were two-faced.
Sophie wouldn’t bully Helen, but she wouldn’t let her future mother-in-law bully her either. It was much like when Sophie had to deal with Rebecca when she was still part of the Jaffe family.
Before Blake returned, Rebecca had always been kind to her, so Sophie naturally showed her respect. But after Blake’s return and his decision to marry Freya, Rebecca’s attitude changed, and Sophie no longer needed to endure it.
As the standoff continued, a voice called out, “Mom!”
Kiera entered the hall with her attendants.
Kiera, who had just turned fifteen and recently had her debutante ball, was a delicate and charming girl with a hint of royal elegance. She wore a light yellow blouse and a matching pleated skirt.
As she walked in, she stole curious glances at Sophie, who was still kneeling on the floor.
Having heard from the palace attendants that Sophie, the female general, was at Evergreen Palace, Kiera had hurried over to see her.
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She hadn’t expected to find her kneeling, seemingly at odds with Helen.
Sophie looked up and met Kiera’s daze. Since she was already kneeling, she greeted, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“General Devin? Are you really General Devin?” Kiera exclaimed excitedly, hurrying over to help her up. “Please, risel??/p>
“Kikil” Helen called the princess by her nickname, her expression. displeased. “Who allowed you to come here?”
“Mom, I heard General Devin was here and came to see her.” Kiera pouted slightly as she helped Sophie to her feet. “How could you let General Devin kneel here? She just returned from the battlefield and is injured.”
Helen rolled her eyes. “What’s so unusual about a general being. injured? Doesn’t your elder brother get injured often too?”
“Don’t you feel sorry when he gets-hurt? General Devin’s family would also be heartbroken if she were injured,” Kiera replied.
Helen scoffed. “What family does she have left? They’re all dead.”
Sophie’s eyes darkened, and anger radiated from her.
“Mind your words, Your Highness. My father and brothers sacrificed themselves on the Southern Frontier battlefield. And my family was massacred by Westhaven spies.
“That was a great tragedy for Starhaven. Your flippant remark about. their deaths not only wounds me, but also pains the king of Starhaven, the entire court, and the people of this nation.”
Helen felt a headache coming on. She had never involved herself in state affairs, battles, or court politics-they always seemed distant and irrelevant to her. Hearing Sophie speak with such righteous. fervor, echoing her son’s sentiments, filled her with an inexplicable sense of suffocation.
It was infuriating! She couldn’t even refute a single word.
Helen waved her hand impatiently. “Leave, all of you. I need my afternoon rest.