The Slave Queen - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Just as Raelynn hesitated, Margot had already sensed her unease.
"Raelynn," she said gently, "be honest with me. Did they treat you poorly after you came back?"
Esther quickly stepped in. "Lady Margot, Lady Raelynn isn't staying in Lunebloom Hollow anymore."
Margot's brow furrowed. "That's her courtyard. If she's not in Lunebloom Hollow, then where is she supposed to be living..."
She trailed off mid-sentence and fell silent.
Then, she gave a cold, bitter laugh.
'Well. Isn't that just wonderful,' she thought.
"Come. Take me to your current courtyard," she said, her voice sharp. "I want to see what kind of lovely arrangements that biased mother of yours has made for you!"
Raelynn had no choice but to lead her grandmother toward Evermist Hall.
Along the way, she tried to lighten the mood, clinging to Margot's arm and playfully saying, "Grandmother, I really don't mind where I live. Honestly, what I want most is just to be with you every day."
Margot looked at her with deep affection.
Of everyone in her life, Raelynn was the one she cherished most.
They'd been apart for four years, and she had longed to hold her again at night, to soothe the pain and heartache she'd endured.
But...
"If you want to sleep beside me every day, I'd be more than happy to have you. But even if you don't want your things, I won't let anyone take them from you!"
That open, unabashed favoritism made Raelynn's eyes sting and her throat tighten.
Thank heavens—at least she still had Margot.
Before long, they arrived at Evermist Hall.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of cold, damp air hit them. Not a single brazier had been lit, and there wasn't even a hand warmer in sight.
Only two clumsy maidservants were awkwardly shoveling snow in the courtyard.
Seeing the state of the place, Margot was seized by a violent coughing fit.
"Grandmother!"
"This place is too cold," Esther said anxiously. "Let's go back for now. I'll ask Lord Hugo and Lady Cecilia to assign the young miss a better courtyard."
But Margot shook her head firmly. "No. Esther, go to Moonspire Keep right now and tell that good daughter-in-law of mine—either Raelynn moves back into Lunebloom Hollow, or she comes to live with me in Embergrace House. I'll move into this courtyard!"
Everyone was stunned by her words.
Raelynn was already in tears. "Grandmother, please! Let me take you back to Embergrace House. It's freezing—you could get seriously ill in this weather!"
Margot's expression turned somber, nearly grief-stricken.
"My granddaughter took the blame for someone else in Aether Sanctum, suffered four years of torment—and now that she's finally home, she has to live like this?
"If you can live here, then why can't I? You're my own flesh and blood, the apple of my eye! Either you move back to your rightful courtyard, or I'll stay right here with you!"
As she spoke, she sat down on the icy wooden bench, completely disregarding her own frail health.
Raelynn was so distressed that tears streamed down her cheeks.
She thought, 'What have I done to deserve such fierce love from my grandmother?'
Even Esther's eyes grew misty.
Choking up, she answered, "Yes, Lady Margot," and hurried off toward Moonspire Keep.
Afraid Margot might truly fall ill, Raelynn quickly sent a maid to fetch hot soup to help warm her up.
But just as the soup was brought back, they were suddenly confronted by Gabriel, storming in with a face like thunder.
"Raelynn! When did you become so cruel?"
He grabbed her roughly from behind, completely ignoring the scalding soup that spilled onto her.
Her already frostbitten hands turned red and swollen from the burn.
Pain twisted her delicate features.
But Gabriel only thought she was putting on a show.
"Spare me the act!" he snapped. "Raelynn, you make me sick!"
She tried to pull away from his grip, but when she couldn't, she simply stopped struggling.
"I don't know what I've done to make you this angry," she said quietly. "The soup was for Grandmother, to keep her warm. If she catches cold because of this..."
Before she could finish, Gabriel cut her off, his voice harsh.
"Shut up! You don't even deserve to mention Grandmother!
"She adores you, gave up a Royal Pardon just to win your freedom—and now you use her as leverage to threaten Mother?
"It's just a courtyard, but even that you have to fight over. Raelynn, how did I end up with a sister like you?"
Now she understood why he was so furious—again.
She let out a short laugh.
She knew it. Other than Julia, nothing else could rile up the proud heir of the Duke's estate this much.
"I'm just a servant," she said softly. "I wouldn't dare meddle in my masters' decisions."
Gabriel glared at her, his eyes full of fury.
Seeing her so calm and detached only made him feel like he was punching air.
He almost wished she'd cry, like she used to. That she'd pout and act spoiled with him again, like before.
In truth, he hadn't come just to scold her.
He wanted to see her.
To give her a way out, so they wouldn't always be at odds, with her looking so lifeless every time they met.
But once again... she disappointed him.