The Slave Queen - Chapter 106: Chapter 106

Shawn stepped into the room, brushing snow from his shoulders as he casually asked, "How are things looking in Horands?"
Max respectfully reported, "My Lord, everything is ready. We're just waiting for the bandits to walk into our trap."
"Well done."
Praise from Shawn was rare.
Max immediately lowered his head further. "It's my duty, my Lord."
Shawn said, "You've done well. But there's one more thing I need you to handle tonight."
After a moment's thought, he motioned for Max to lean in before whispering his instructions.
Max committed his instructions to heart. Though a fleeting flicker of confusion crossed his face, he quickly reined it in.
"Yes, my lord. I'll handle it right away," he replied.
Max vanished from the room in a blur, like a passing breeze.
Shawn casually closed the door behind him and lit the charcoal brazier.
Shawn's courtyard remained perpetually quiet and deserted.
Unwilling to have his personal domain intruded upon, he permitted no one inside except for Max and a handful of trusted confidants. He did not even hire any servants.
On ordinary days, it wasn't too bad.
Over this period, outlaws suddenly emerged in Horands, later establishing a camp at Modegan.
To quell them, Shawn had dispatched his entire retinue in advance.
Thus, when he returned so late that night, his chambers felt utterly desolate.
That was why, almost unconsciously, Shawn found himself lingering a little longer in Raelynn's courtyard today.
He simply wanted to have people around for a while longer.
At the same time, he realized that he wanted to be with her.
Yet, she still seemed as distant as ever with Shawn. But he didn't mind.
At this thought, Shawn drew from his chest the hand warmer that Julia had once held in her delicate hands, and an almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his lips.
Although he had initially agreed to the engagement as recompense to the Lennox family, the more time he spent with Julia, the more he realized she truly matched what he was looking for in a partner.
the more time he spent with Julia, the more he realized she truly matched what he was looking for in a partner.
'Had Julia not returned that hand warmer to me today, coming back to this icy room at this hour would have felt even colder,' Shawn thought.
At some point, without realizing it, he had begun to yearn for warmth.
The charcoal brazier soon blazed to life.
The room gradually grew warmer. After washing up, Shawn glanced around at the furnishings in his chambers. For some reason, a sudden thought crossed his mind. He flicked his sleeve sharply.
The faint, flickering candlelight on the desk instantly died.
Darkness swallowed the room once more.
Shawn slipped into bed wordlessly, still cradling the now-cool hand warmer in his arms.
The next day.
In a quiet corner of Moonspire Keep.
Julia awoke from pleasant dreams.
Perhaps because she had entrusted Katherine with the task last night, Julia felt at ease. To her surprise, she enjoyed a night filled with wonderful dreams.
She dreamed that Raelynn had never come back to the Duke's estate. She lived out her days in perfect happiness and fulfillment with her family.
Even Margot was included in her dream.
Margot remained as distant toward Julia as ever in the dream.
Yet when Julia married Shawn, Margot still generously gave most of her fortune as a wedding gift.
On Julia's wedding day, Margot even held Julia's hand and said with rare tenderness, "I know I neglected you in the past. After you're married, don't forget to come back to the Duke's estate to visit me."
Everything in her dream was utterly perfect.
When Julia woke up, she was still in a daze, her eyes wide, struggling for a moment to discern whether she was still dreaming or truly awake.
Only when she saw Katherine sitting by her bed with an inscrutable expression did Julia finally come to her senses. Rubbing her eyes, she took in her surroundings and realized where she truly was.
Julia felt a sudden surge of anger welling up inside her.
She thought bitterly, 'If only everything could be just like it was in my dream! I was meant to have that life.
'Raelynn is the thieving bitch who stole my rightful place.
'She's the one who stole the life that should have been mine.'
Her eyes suddenly blazed with venomous hatred.
Katherine flinched at the sudden venom in Julia's eyes.
Fortunately, Julia didn't take her anger out on her.
Recalling the task she had entrusted to Katherine before bed last night, Julia forced herself to ask patiently, "How did things go?"
Katherine nodded. "My Lady, I've done everything just as you instructed."
"Good." A wave of relief washed over Julia.
Even her gaze toward Katherine softened a little.
"Help me get up and freshen up," Julia ordered.
She didn't notice at all that Katherine seemed on the verge of saying something, but stopped herself.
"Yes, my lady," Katherine replied.
Suddenly, Isabel hurried in, breathless. "My Lady!" she gasped.
She thought, 'This is bad!'
Julia shot Isabel a displeased look, her delicate brows knitting together. "What's going on? Why are you in such a rush?"
Isabel shot a nervous glance at Katherine, who kept her head down and seemed to be oblivous to what was going on.
Swallowing hard, she finally stammered, "Everyone's saying..."
Julia pressed, "What exactly are they saying?"
Julia instantly sensed that whatever Isabel was about to say had something to do with her, and it was clearly nothing good.
Julia instantly tensed, her slender fingers gripping her handkerchief as her gaze locked onto Isabel.