The Slave Queen - Chapter 114: Chapter 114
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Vania's eyes darted slyly as she deliberately ignored Eileen's warning.
She paid no heed to the warning glare Eileen shot her way.
Vania said to Cecilia, "Mrs. Lennox, if you were to contribute to Lady Raelynn's wedding gift, she would be over the moon."
Cecilia nodded thoughtfully.
She mused, 'If Raelynn sees what I've prepared for her, she might be touched.
'Maybe this could even help mend our strained bond.
'How long has it been since Raelynn last smiled at me? I can't even remember.'
Just the other day, seeing Raelynn care for Margot with such tenderness and watching that affectionate smile on her face, Cecilia's heart twisted with pain.
There was a time when Raelynn used to look at her with that very same gentle, loving gaze.
Raelynn once looked at Cecilia with that same dove-like, trusting expression in her eyes.
Cecilia knew Raelynn was always such a tender-hearted child. Cecilia thought, 'If she could just feel my motherly love, she would surely become that sweet, affectionate daughter who used to cling to me again.'
At this thought, a faint smile crept across Cecilia's lips.
However, while Cecilia wasn't entirely versed in the subtle machinations of the family, she was by no means a fool.
When she heard Vania's disguised remarks, she certainly didn't take them at face value as simple gratitude on Raelynn's behalf.
Cecilia cut to the chase and asked, "What exactly are you getting at?"
Seeing Cecilia get straight to the point, Vania felt a surge of excitement.
She lifted her face and said hesitantly, "But Lady Cecilia, I overheard that Lady Margot is planning to give all her possessions to Lady Raelynn as her wedding gift, not just the few deeds and shops sent over this time."
It meant that all the gold, silver, jewels, vast estates, bustling shops, and even fine silks Margot had accumulated over the decades would end up in Raelynn's hands.
That wedding gift would certainly be a staggering sum.
As expected, upon hearing this, Cecilia's complexion changed subtly.
Though she couldn't be certain of the exact extent of Margot's wealth, she knew that it far surpassed her belongings.
At this thought, her delicately arched brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"Did Margot truly say she would leave her entire fortune to Raelynn as wedding gift?" Cecilia asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Eileen sensed something was off the moment Vania began to speak.
But before she could intervene, Vania cut in, "Lady Raelynn is marrying Lord Shawn, after all. Her wedding gift must be substantial, or people will laugh at her," she declared.
This was pure fabrication on Vania's part.
She simply wanted to stop Cecilia from adding to Raelynn's wedding gift, never anticipating how her words would strike Cecilia like a thunderclap.
Cecilia thought, 'So Margot would really go to such lengths for Raelynn.
'But what about my Julia?'
Julia had never been in Margot's favor.
Ever since she was a child, aside from the obligatory presents during festivals and holidays, Margot had hardly given Julia anything.
Four years ago, when Raelynn returned, Margot decided to banish Julia from the Duke's estate.
After Raelynn entered the palace, whatever little grandmotherly affection Margot had for Julia vanished completely.
The others in the family used to think Margot simply preferred Gabriel over Julia.
But when Raelynn came back, they finally understood that Margot just didn't like Julia.
By now, the scales in Cecilia's heart had already tipped decisively.
She thought, 'Since Raelynn has Margot's favor and will receive such a lavish wedding gift, what difference would my contribution make? Besides, she's not even truly marrying Shawn.
'If she were, a grand wedding gift would be appropriate. But she's only marrying Ian. Why would she need such an exorbitant wedding gift? It would only overshadow Julia and breed resentment in the family."
Cecilia sat in silence, wringing her handkerchief, lost in thought.
She remained oblivious to the anxious, conflicted look in Eileen's eyes.
Eileen suddenly realized, 'This Vania is a wolf in sheep's clothing!
'She must be Lady Julia's spy, sneaking in just to keep tabs on Lady Raelynn.'
Yet Eileen remained silent, making no effort to defend Raelynn's interests.
She thought, 'Let's see if Lady Cecilia truly has even a shred of real motherly love for her own daughter. Otherwise, how could she always put that adopted daughter before her own?
'If only Lady Cecilia could see through Vania's scheming, then I could gladly tell Lady Raelynn about the motherly love her mother showed her today.'
Alas, Eileen couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment. Cecilia had let her down in the end. After a long, heavy silence, Cecilia finally snapped out of her thoughts.
She cleared her throat, her gaze lingering on both Vania and Eileen, then announced, "Since Margot has already decided to provide Raelynn's wedding gift, I won't be making any further preparations on my end."
She paid no heed to the warning glare Eileen shot her way.
Vania said to Cecilia, "Mrs. Lennox, if you were to contribute to Lady Raelynn's wedding gift, she would be over the moon."
Cecilia nodded thoughtfully.
She mused, 'If Raelynn sees what I've prepared for her, she might be touched.
'Maybe this could even help mend our strained bond.
'How long has it been since Raelynn last smiled at me? I can't even remember.'
Just the other day, seeing Raelynn care for Margot with such tenderness and watching that affectionate smile on her face, Cecilia's heart twisted with pain.
There was a time when Raelynn used to look at her with that very same gentle, loving gaze.
Raelynn once looked at Cecilia with that same dove-like, trusting expression in her eyes.
Cecilia knew Raelynn was always such a tender-hearted child. Cecilia thought, 'If she could just feel my motherly love, she would surely become that sweet, affectionate daughter who used to cling to me again.'
At this thought, a faint smile crept across Cecilia's lips.
However, while Cecilia wasn't entirely versed in the subtle machinations of the family, she was by no means a fool.
When she heard Vania's disguised remarks, she certainly didn't take them at face value as simple gratitude on Raelynn's behalf.
Cecilia cut to the chase and asked, "What exactly are you getting at?"
Seeing Cecilia get straight to the point, Vania felt a surge of excitement.
She lifted her face and said hesitantly, "But Lady Cecilia, I overheard that Lady Margot is planning to give all her possessions to Lady Raelynn as her wedding gift, not just the few deeds and shops sent over this time."
It meant that all the gold, silver, jewels, vast estates, bustling shops, and even fine silks Margot had accumulated over the decades would end up in Raelynn's hands.
That wedding gift would certainly be a staggering sum.
As expected, upon hearing this, Cecilia's complexion changed subtly.
Though she couldn't be certain of the exact extent of Margot's wealth, she knew that it far surpassed her belongings.
At this thought, her delicately arched brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"Did Margot truly say she would leave her entire fortune to Raelynn as wedding gift?" Cecilia asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Eileen sensed something was off the moment Vania began to speak.
But before she could intervene, Vania cut in, "Lady Raelynn is marrying Lord Shawn, after all. Her wedding gift must be substantial, or people will laugh at her," she declared.
This was pure fabrication on Vania's part.
She simply wanted to stop Cecilia from adding to Raelynn's wedding gift, never anticipating how her words would strike Cecilia like a thunderclap.
Cecilia thought, 'So Margot would really go to such lengths for Raelynn.
'But what about my Julia?'
Julia had never been in Margot's favor.
Ever since she was a child, aside from the obligatory presents during festivals and holidays, Margot had hardly given Julia anything.
Four years ago, when Raelynn returned, Margot decided to banish Julia from the Duke's estate.
After Raelynn entered the palace, whatever little grandmotherly affection Margot had for Julia vanished completely.
The others in the family used to think Margot simply preferred Gabriel over Julia.
But when Raelynn came back, they finally understood that Margot just didn't like Julia.
By now, the scales in Cecilia's heart had already tipped decisively.
She thought, 'Since Raelynn has Margot's favor and will receive such a lavish wedding gift, what difference would my contribution make? Besides, she's not even truly marrying Shawn.
'If she were, a grand wedding gift would be appropriate. But she's only marrying Ian. Why would she need such an exorbitant wedding gift? It would only overshadow Julia and breed resentment in the family."
Cecilia sat in silence, wringing her handkerchief, lost in thought.
She remained oblivious to the anxious, conflicted look in Eileen's eyes.
Eileen suddenly realized, 'This Vania is a wolf in sheep's clothing!
'She must be Lady Julia's spy, sneaking in just to keep tabs on Lady Raelynn.'
Yet Eileen remained silent, making no effort to defend Raelynn's interests.
She thought, 'Let's see if Lady Cecilia truly has even a shred of real motherly love for her own daughter. Otherwise, how could she always put that adopted daughter before her own?
'If only Lady Cecilia could see through Vania's scheming, then I could gladly tell Lady Raelynn about the motherly love her mother showed her today.'
Alas, Eileen couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment. Cecilia had let her down in the end. After a long, heavy silence, Cecilia finally snapped out of her thoughts.
She cleared her throat, her gaze lingering on both Vania and Eileen, then announced, "Since Margot has already decided to provide Raelynn's wedding gift, I won't be making any further preparations on my end."
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 114. Continue reading Chapter 115 or return to The Slave Queen book page.