The Slave Queen - Chapter 109: Chapter 109
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More importantly, given Raelynn's burning hatred for the Duke's estate these days, if she were to marry Shawn, it would surely spell disaster for them.
Therefore, whether for Julia's happiness or the Lennox family's future prosperity, having her marry Shawn was undoubtedly the best choice.
Of course, Gabriel had also considered all the very same concerns that Hugo had.
But Gabriel pressed his lips together, frowned, and shook his head. "Not yet," he admitted.
Gabriel said, "Right now, Shawn is fiercely protective of Raelynn. If we act rashly against her, it could easily backfire on us."
Moreover, if this substitute bride scheme were brought into the open, both Shawn and Ian would certainly never agree to it.
Julia's eyes widened in shock as she shrieked, "What? Brother, why would Lord Shawn protect her?"
Gabriel's face stiffened momentarily.
After a moment's hesitation, Gabriel finally recounted what had transpired outside the Duke's estate the previous night, though he carefully omitted the part where Raelynn had slapped him across the face.
If people found out he got slapped, it'd just make him look bad.
Moreover, driven by a brother's instinct to protect his sister, Gabriel also didn't want his parents to cause trouble for Raelynn because of the incident.
Even though he still felt resentment from Raelynn's slap, Gabriel felt that there was no need to involve his parents in his fight with Raelynn.
So Gabriel focused solely on recounting Shawn's warning to him.
When they heard that Shawn had actually threatened to interfere with Ian's marriage if they dared treat Raelynn unfairly again, a heavy, uneasy silence instantly fell over the room.
Cecilia's lips trembled as she said, "Ian is his nephew, after all. No matter how ruthless he is, surely he wouldn't harm his own flesh and blood, would he?"
Hugo snorted dismissively. "Ian is, after all, the rightful heir to the Marquis' estate, and he is destined to inherit the title. What possible leverage could Shawn have over his marriage?"
Gabriel shook his head. "Father, Mother, you're underestimating Shawn too much. Sure, Ian is his nephew, but have you forgotten what happened to Lord Robert two years ago?"
At the mention of Robert Daniel, Hugo and Cecilia's faces darkened.
They recalled that Robert had once been Shawn's political rival.
Later, after Robert had completely incurred Shawn's wrath over certain matters, Shawn subtly arranged for several women to be sent into Robert's room as a form of retaliation.
Before long, Robert suffered a fatal stroke during intercourse and died in his bed.
The affair quickly became the talk of Hazond City, making the Daniel family a public laughingstock.
Though Shawn wouldn't go so far as to have Ian meet the same scandalous end in bed, if he arranged for a few women to be sent into Ian's room, Julia would end up having a miserable life even if she married Ian.
Cecilia tightened her embrace around Julia at the thought.
"My poor, unfortunate Julia," Cecilia murmured sorrowfully.
Julia sniffled and felt utterly wronged as she nestled into Cecilia's embrace.
Hugo demanded, "Then you tell us. What should we do?"
Hugo, who had been blinded by rage, finally regained a semblance of rationality after Gabriel's chilling reminder.
Gabriel bit his lower lip, pondering for a moment before saying, "I think our only option is to pull a switcheroo."
"A switcheroo?" they murmured in unison.
The three of them stared at Gabriel, their faces full of confusion.
In the next instant, Hugo and Julia's eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
Hugo fixed his gaze on Gabriel. "Gabriel, are you suggesting..."
Julia, however, instantly grasped Gabriel's implication.
Julia remained silent, but her eager gaze was fixed on Gabriel, brimming with anticipation.
Julia thought, 'If that's really what he meant...'
Only Cecilia still wore a look of utter confusion. "Gabriel, what exactly does 'pulling a switcheroo' mean?"
Since childhood, Cecilia had been her family's beloved daughter. After marrying Hugo, he never had other women. As a result, she had little experience with the usual intrigue and scheming of noble families.
Since childhood, Cecilia's mother had only taught her the proper ways to manage a family.
Cecilia never received training in the vicious schemes of competing with other women over a man.
Even the noble ladies she had befriended rarely mentioned topics regarding that.
So, Cecilia couldn't quite grasp what Gabriel was implying.
Gabriel glanced at his naive mother, pursed his lips, and for a moment, he was at a loss for how to answer.
After all, in other noble families, such schemes would typically be orchestrated by the woman of the house.
Yet in the Duke's estate, the responsibility fell to Gabriel, who was supposed to bring honor to the family.
Gabriel thought, 'Scheming against my own sister is anything but honorable.'
Just as Gabriel hesitated, Hugo spoke up for him, "Gabriel, are you suggesting we arrange for Julia to take Raelynn's place in the marriage?"
Gabriel gave a silent, grim nod.
Yet, he didn't miss observing Cecilia's reaction.
Sure enough, upon hearing that, it finally dawned on Cecilia what Gabriel had meant.
Therefore, whether for Julia's happiness or the Lennox family's future prosperity, having her marry Shawn was undoubtedly the best choice.
Of course, Gabriel had also considered all the very same concerns that Hugo had.
But Gabriel pressed his lips together, frowned, and shook his head. "Not yet," he admitted.
Gabriel said, "Right now, Shawn is fiercely protective of Raelynn. If we act rashly against her, it could easily backfire on us."
Moreover, if this substitute bride scheme were brought into the open, both Shawn and Ian would certainly never agree to it.
Julia's eyes widened in shock as she shrieked, "What? Brother, why would Lord Shawn protect her?"
Gabriel's face stiffened momentarily.
After a moment's hesitation, Gabriel finally recounted what had transpired outside the Duke's estate the previous night, though he carefully omitted the part where Raelynn had slapped him across the face.
If people found out he got slapped, it'd just make him look bad.
Moreover, driven by a brother's instinct to protect his sister, Gabriel also didn't want his parents to cause trouble for Raelynn because of the incident.
Even though he still felt resentment from Raelynn's slap, Gabriel felt that there was no need to involve his parents in his fight with Raelynn.
So Gabriel focused solely on recounting Shawn's warning to him.
When they heard that Shawn had actually threatened to interfere with Ian's marriage if they dared treat Raelynn unfairly again, a heavy, uneasy silence instantly fell over the room.
Cecilia's lips trembled as she said, "Ian is his nephew, after all. No matter how ruthless he is, surely he wouldn't harm his own flesh and blood, would he?"
Hugo snorted dismissively. "Ian is, after all, the rightful heir to the Marquis' estate, and he is destined to inherit the title. What possible leverage could Shawn have over his marriage?"
Gabriel shook his head. "Father, Mother, you're underestimating Shawn too much. Sure, Ian is his nephew, but have you forgotten what happened to Lord Robert two years ago?"
At the mention of Robert Daniel, Hugo and Cecilia's faces darkened.
They recalled that Robert had once been Shawn's political rival.
Later, after Robert had completely incurred Shawn's wrath over certain matters, Shawn subtly arranged for several women to be sent into Robert's room as a form of retaliation.
Before long, Robert suffered a fatal stroke during intercourse and died in his bed.
The affair quickly became the talk of Hazond City, making the Daniel family a public laughingstock.
Though Shawn wouldn't go so far as to have Ian meet the same scandalous end in bed, if he arranged for a few women to be sent into Ian's room, Julia would end up having a miserable life even if she married Ian.
Cecilia tightened her embrace around Julia at the thought.
"My poor, unfortunate Julia," Cecilia murmured sorrowfully.
Julia sniffled and felt utterly wronged as she nestled into Cecilia's embrace.
Hugo demanded, "Then you tell us. What should we do?"
Hugo, who had been blinded by rage, finally regained a semblance of rationality after Gabriel's chilling reminder.
Gabriel bit his lower lip, pondering for a moment before saying, "I think our only option is to pull a switcheroo."
"A switcheroo?" they murmured in unison.
The three of them stared at Gabriel, their faces full of confusion.
In the next instant, Hugo and Julia's eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
Hugo fixed his gaze on Gabriel. "Gabriel, are you suggesting..."
Julia, however, instantly grasped Gabriel's implication.
Julia remained silent, but her eager gaze was fixed on Gabriel, brimming with anticipation.
Julia thought, 'If that's really what he meant...'
Only Cecilia still wore a look of utter confusion. "Gabriel, what exactly does 'pulling a switcheroo' mean?"
Since childhood, Cecilia had been her family's beloved daughter. After marrying Hugo, he never had other women. As a result, she had little experience with the usual intrigue and scheming of noble families.
Since childhood, Cecilia's mother had only taught her the proper ways to manage a family.
Cecilia never received training in the vicious schemes of competing with other women over a man.
Even the noble ladies she had befriended rarely mentioned topics regarding that.
So, Cecilia couldn't quite grasp what Gabriel was implying.
Gabriel glanced at his naive mother, pursed his lips, and for a moment, he was at a loss for how to answer.
After all, in other noble families, such schemes would typically be orchestrated by the woman of the house.
Yet in the Duke's estate, the responsibility fell to Gabriel, who was supposed to bring honor to the family.
Gabriel thought, 'Scheming against my own sister is anything but honorable.'
Just as Gabriel hesitated, Hugo spoke up for him, "Gabriel, are you suggesting we arrange for Julia to take Raelynn's place in the marriage?"
Gabriel gave a silent, grim nod.
Yet, he didn't miss observing Cecilia's reaction.
Sure enough, upon hearing that, it finally dawned on Cecilia what Gabriel had meant.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 109. Continue reading Chapter 110 or return to The Slave Queen book page.