The Slave Queen - Chapter 111: Chapter 111
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A moment later, Gabriel, as if a sudden thought had struck him, turned to Julia and said, "Julia, since we've all agreed on this, there's no time to waste. Go see Ian today and finalize the wedding date. It must be on the very same day Raelynn marries into the Lindsay family."
"Yes, Gabriel. I understand," Julia said with a nod.
She could hardly conceal the overwhelming joy surging inside her.
Julia thought triumphantly, 'Only if we marry on the same day will no one suspect a thing. By the time the wedding night comes and Shawn discovers the switch, it'll already be too late. Once we've exchanged vows, I'll be his lawful wife. There's no going back then."
While Julia was still secretly relishing her triumph, Gabriel had already shifted his gaze to Hugo and Cecilia. "Father, Mother, we should start preparing Julia's wedding dress and gifts right away.
"But with so little time, I'm afraid Julia won't get what she deserves."
As he spoke, Gabriel glanced at Julia apologetically.
When Gabriel was young, he often fantasized about the glorious spectacle it would be when Julia got married.
Even during the four years when Raelynn was away, Ian would repeatedly talk about how he would marry Julia in grand style.
Back then, both Gabriel and Ian dreamed of giving Julia the most exquisite wedding dress and the grandest wedding celebration.
Gabriel thought ruefully, 'But fate seldom goes as one wishes.
'Julia, our precious jewel, is being sent off in such an underhanded way. Who could have imagined it would come to this?
'Still, if the outcome is good, then perhaps everything we've done will have been worth it.
'As long as Shawn treats Julia well after the wedding and makes up for what this rushed marriage lacks, maybe I can bring myself to forgive him.'
These thoughts swirled through Gabriel's mind.
After meticulously planning every detail, the four of them went their separate ways to carry out their tasks.
Hugo summoned Gabriel to the study.
Julia had Isabel and Katherine help her prepare, then personally set out for the Marquis' estate to meet Ian.
Unbeknownst to Julia, just as she boarded her carriage, another carriage bearing the Ramos family crest pulled up at the gate of the Duke's estate.
The maid, Mandy Watkins, was the one delivering the invitation.
She handed it to the gatekeeper, asking him to inform Julia that Jaylee Ramos wished to invite her to dinner.
Unfortunately, the gatekeeper had just seen Julia leave the estate.
He apologized, "I'm sorry, miss, but Lady Julia just left. With everything going on at the estate and her wedding preparations underway, I'm afraid she won't have any time to spare..."
The moment Gabriel finalized the bride swap with Julia, he wasted no time informing all the household staff.
His goal, naturally, was to preempt Raelynn in case she detected anything amiss.
Thus, even the gatekeeper became aware that Julia was about to marry Shawn.
Upon hearing this, Mandy's delicate brows furrowed sharply in annoyance.
She snapped, "You think some nobody's wedding could possibly outrank my employer's invitation? Do you even know who she is?"
The gatekeeper shook his head, though inwardly a bit annoyed.
'No matter who this little maid's employer is, that doesn't change the fact that she's just a servant,' he thought.
Of course, he would never dare say that out loud.
Instead, he simply promised Mandy that he would deliver the message to Julia once she returned.
Mandy was about to storm off, but remembering Jaylee's plan, she forced herself to stay.
Suppressing the urge to slap the clueless gatekeeper, she sneered and tossed the invitation down. "Don't you forget, if you dare offend my lady, your miserable life will be forfeit."
Julia was now, at least in name, the young lady of the Duke's estate.
While Jaylee might be able to do anything to her, killing a mere servant would be too easy.
Without a backward glance at the bowing gatekeeper, Mandy spun on her heel and boarded her carriage.
As soon as Mandy returned to the Grand Marshall's estate, she went to tell Jaylee what had happened.
Jaylee flew into a rage, wishing she could give Julia and that insolent servant a good beating.
Fuming, she ripped the bracelet from her wrist and hurled it to the ground with a crash.
Finally, she spat out a resentful curse. "Fine. That stupid wretch doesn't know what's good for her. Mandy, come shopping with me."
She had always loved shopping for jewelry or having clothes custom-made.
Whenever she was upset, she'd go on a shopping spree.
So today, in a foul mood, all she wanted was to shop.
"Yes, Miss," Mandy replied.
Meanwhile, Cecilia stepped out of Julia's courtyard, only to realize that her family was all preoccupied with the same matter.
She realized that she was left utterly alone in the vast estate.
The more Cecilia thought about her family's scheming against Raelynn, the deeper her unease grew.
She fretted inwardly, 'Even though I agreed to this, I just can't shake this sense of panic.'
She knew deep down that what they were doing was wrong and that it would only drive Raelynn further and further away from them.
Yet, on the other hand, she couldn't deny that Gabriel had a point.
"Yes, Gabriel. I understand," Julia said with a nod.
She could hardly conceal the overwhelming joy surging inside her.
Julia thought triumphantly, 'Only if we marry on the same day will no one suspect a thing. By the time the wedding night comes and Shawn discovers the switch, it'll already be too late. Once we've exchanged vows, I'll be his lawful wife. There's no going back then."
While Julia was still secretly relishing her triumph, Gabriel had already shifted his gaze to Hugo and Cecilia. "Father, Mother, we should start preparing Julia's wedding dress and gifts right away.
"But with so little time, I'm afraid Julia won't get what she deserves."
As he spoke, Gabriel glanced at Julia apologetically.
When Gabriel was young, he often fantasized about the glorious spectacle it would be when Julia got married.
Even during the four years when Raelynn was away, Ian would repeatedly talk about how he would marry Julia in grand style.
Back then, both Gabriel and Ian dreamed of giving Julia the most exquisite wedding dress and the grandest wedding celebration.
Gabriel thought ruefully, 'But fate seldom goes as one wishes.
'Julia, our precious jewel, is being sent off in such an underhanded way. Who could have imagined it would come to this?
'Still, if the outcome is good, then perhaps everything we've done will have been worth it.
'As long as Shawn treats Julia well after the wedding and makes up for what this rushed marriage lacks, maybe I can bring myself to forgive him.'
These thoughts swirled through Gabriel's mind.
After meticulously planning every detail, the four of them went their separate ways to carry out their tasks.
Hugo summoned Gabriel to the study.
Julia had Isabel and Katherine help her prepare, then personally set out for the Marquis' estate to meet Ian.
Unbeknownst to Julia, just as she boarded her carriage, another carriage bearing the Ramos family crest pulled up at the gate of the Duke's estate.
The maid, Mandy Watkins, was the one delivering the invitation.
She handed it to the gatekeeper, asking him to inform Julia that Jaylee Ramos wished to invite her to dinner.
Unfortunately, the gatekeeper had just seen Julia leave the estate.
He apologized, "I'm sorry, miss, but Lady Julia just left. With everything going on at the estate and her wedding preparations underway, I'm afraid she won't have any time to spare..."
The moment Gabriel finalized the bride swap with Julia, he wasted no time informing all the household staff.
His goal, naturally, was to preempt Raelynn in case she detected anything amiss.
Thus, even the gatekeeper became aware that Julia was about to marry Shawn.
Upon hearing this, Mandy's delicate brows furrowed sharply in annoyance.
She snapped, "You think some nobody's wedding could possibly outrank my employer's invitation? Do you even know who she is?"
The gatekeeper shook his head, though inwardly a bit annoyed.
'No matter who this little maid's employer is, that doesn't change the fact that she's just a servant,' he thought.
Of course, he would never dare say that out loud.
Instead, he simply promised Mandy that he would deliver the message to Julia once she returned.
Mandy was about to storm off, but remembering Jaylee's plan, she forced herself to stay.
Suppressing the urge to slap the clueless gatekeeper, she sneered and tossed the invitation down. "Don't you forget, if you dare offend my lady, your miserable life will be forfeit."
Julia was now, at least in name, the young lady of the Duke's estate.
While Jaylee might be able to do anything to her, killing a mere servant would be too easy.
Without a backward glance at the bowing gatekeeper, Mandy spun on her heel and boarded her carriage.
As soon as Mandy returned to the Grand Marshall's estate, she went to tell Jaylee what had happened.
Jaylee flew into a rage, wishing she could give Julia and that insolent servant a good beating.
Fuming, she ripped the bracelet from her wrist and hurled it to the ground with a crash.
Finally, she spat out a resentful curse. "Fine. That stupid wretch doesn't know what's good for her. Mandy, come shopping with me."
She had always loved shopping for jewelry or having clothes custom-made.
Whenever she was upset, she'd go on a shopping spree.
So today, in a foul mood, all she wanted was to shop.
"Yes, Miss," Mandy replied.
Meanwhile, Cecilia stepped out of Julia's courtyard, only to realize that her family was all preoccupied with the same matter.
She realized that she was left utterly alone in the vast estate.
The more Cecilia thought about her family's scheming against Raelynn, the deeper her unease grew.
She fretted inwardly, 'Even though I agreed to this, I just can't shake this sense of panic.'
She knew deep down that what they were doing was wrong and that it would only drive Raelynn further and further away from them.
Yet, on the other hand, she couldn't deny that Gabriel had a point.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 111. Continue reading Chapter 112 or return to The Slave Queen book page.