The Slave Queen - Chapter 12: Chapter 12
You are reading The Slave Queen, Chapter 12: Chapter 12. Read more chapters of The Slave Queen.
Raelynn couldn't have cared less about Gabriel's anger. She didn't flinch. She didn't even offer an explanation.
The more she ignored him, the more suffocated Gabriel felt—and the more vicious his words became.
"You really are rotten to the core! Four years in Aether Sanctum, and you still haven't learned a thing. Honestly, they should've kept you locked up for another four—spare everyone the trouble!"
But the moment those words left his mouth, regret hit him like a punch to the gut.
Because in front of him, the last trace of light in her eyes—already so still and distant—vanished, visibly, like a flame snuffed out.
And in that moment, he suddenly remembered what he'd seen just the day before: her thin, frail body, covered in layers of old and new scars.
She'd never said a word about what she went through in those four years.
But he'd seen it.
Panicked, Gabriel stammered, "Raelynn, I didn't mean it like that..."
"You little brat! Do you even hear the filth coming out of your mouth?"
Before he could finish, Margot stormed into the courtyard, eyes blazing.
Gabriel's heart dropped.
She'd heard everything.
Sure enough, she raised her cane and came at him, ready to strike.
Raelynn rushed forward to steady her, afraid she might fall on the icy path.
But Gabriel didn't move.
He stood there and took it—every blow.
Raelynn tried to stop her, but Margot barked, "Raelynn, step aside! You'll get hurt!"
"Gabriel! Raelynn is your sister! You may have forgotten the truth of what happened back then—but don't pretend you don't know!
"All of you—just for the sake of that adopted girl—you let your own sister suffer for four full years!
"And now you still dare to speak such cruel, heartless things..."
With each word, her cane came down again, thudding heavily against his back.
But then, suddenly, her scolding stopped.
Margot's eyes went wide—and then she collapsed backward without warning.
Raelynn's face went pale. She darted forward and caught her just in time.
Margot, already weak and frail, slumped against her like a withered leaf in the wind.
Raelynn's hands were shaking, eyes already wet with tears.
Gabriel stood frozen, stunned into silence.
"Gabriel!"
"What are you standing there for? Come help!"
Snapped out of his daze, Gabriel rushed over.
He crouched down so Raelynn could help ease Margot onto his back.
Thankfully, although Margot had struck him with her cane, she hadn't had the strength to do real harm.
His skin stung, but it was nothing serious.
Together, the siblings carried her back to Embergrace House and immediately called for the family physician.
Raelynn sat by the bedside, watching the unconscious Margot with aching guilt.
She should never have let her go to Evermist Hall.
She knew the house offered her no real place—but she came back anyway, just to spend a little time with Margot.
Now, because of her, Margot had collapsed.
For four years, she'd worried herself sick on Raelynn's behalf. And even now, it still wasn't over.
Huxley Fane finished examining Margot and slowly shook his head.
Raelynn's heart skipped a beat.
Gabriel's voice was tight with worry. "Huxley, how is she?"
The doctor replied, "Lady Margot is advanced in age. Years of stress and worry have worsened her condition. She already had underlying health issues, and this sudden shock pushed her past her limit. I'll prescribe some medicine, but she'll need months of careful rest.
"If it were someone younger, it wouldn't be so serious. But for her..."
He let out a long sigh.
But Raelynn had already picked up on what he wasn't saying.
She bit down hard on her lip. "Huxley... how long does she have?"
The doctor glanced at her, hesitant.
He'd served this household for years and knew every member by face.
When he'd heard Raelynn was returning, he barely recognized her. The skinny, sunken girl before him was almost unrecognizable from the bright, spirited young lady she used to be.
The change was heartbreaking—but he said nothing of it.
He simply answered, "It doesn't look good. Her condition can only be managed, not cured. What she needs now is peace—no more emotional shocks, no more strain. If something like this happens again... not even the gods can save her.
"At best... she might have a year or two left."
He handed Raelynn the prescription and quietly took his leave.
Raelynn stood there, pale and trembling. She reached for the wall to steady herself, but even that didn't seem enough to hold her up.
The more she ignored him, the more suffocated Gabriel felt—and the more vicious his words became.
"You really are rotten to the core! Four years in Aether Sanctum, and you still haven't learned a thing. Honestly, they should've kept you locked up for another four—spare everyone the trouble!"
But the moment those words left his mouth, regret hit him like a punch to the gut.
Because in front of him, the last trace of light in her eyes—already so still and distant—vanished, visibly, like a flame snuffed out.
And in that moment, he suddenly remembered what he'd seen just the day before: her thin, frail body, covered in layers of old and new scars.
She'd never said a word about what she went through in those four years.
But he'd seen it.
Panicked, Gabriel stammered, "Raelynn, I didn't mean it like that..."
"You little brat! Do you even hear the filth coming out of your mouth?"
Before he could finish, Margot stormed into the courtyard, eyes blazing.
Gabriel's heart dropped.
She'd heard everything.
Sure enough, she raised her cane and came at him, ready to strike.
Raelynn rushed forward to steady her, afraid she might fall on the icy path.
But Gabriel didn't move.
He stood there and took it—every blow.
Raelynn tried to stop her, but Margot barked, "Raelynn, step aside! You'll get hurt!"
"Gabriel! Raelynn is your sister! You may have forgotten the truth of what happened back then—but don't pretend you don't know!
"All of you—just for the sake of that adopted girl—you let your own sister suffer for four full years!
"And now you still dare to speak such cruel, heartless things..."
With each word, her cane came down again, thudding heavily against his back.
But then, suddenly, her scolding stopped.
Margot's eyes went wide—and then she collapsed backward without warning.
Raelynn's face went pale. She darted forward and caught her just in time.
Margot, already weak and frail, slumped against her like a withered leaf in the wind.
Raelynn's hands were shaking, eyes already wet with tears.
Gabriel stood frozen, stunned into silence.
"Gabriel!"
"What are you standing there for? Come help!"
Snapped out of his daze, Gabriel rushed over.
He crouched down so Raelynn could help ease Margot onto his back.
Thankfully, although Margot had struck him with her cane, she hadn't had the strength to do real harm.
His skin stung, but it was nothing serious.
Together, the siblings carried her back to Embergrace House and immediately called for the family physician.
Raelynn sat by the bedside, watching the unconscious Margot with aching guilt.
She should never have let her go to Evermist Hall.
She knew the house offered her no real place—but she came back anyway, just to spend a little time with Margot.
Now, because of her, Margot had collapsed.
For four years, she'd worried herself sick on Raelynn's behalf. And even now, it still wasn't over.
Huxley Fane finished examining Margot and slowly shook his head.
Raelynn's heart skipped a beat.
Gabriel's voice was tight with worry. "Huxley, how is she?"
The doctor replied, "Lady Margot is advanced in age. Years of stress and worry have worsened her condition. She already had underlying health issues, and this sudden shock pushed her past her limit. I'll prescribe some medicine, but she'll need months of careful rest.
"If it were someone younger, it wouldn't be so serious. But for her..."
He let out a long sigh.
But Raelynn had already picked up on what he wasn't saying.
She bit down hard on her lip. "Huxley... how long does she have?"
The doctor glanced at her, hesitant.
He'd served this household for years and knew every member by face.
When he'd heard Raelynn was returning, he barely recognized her. The skinny, sunken girl before him was almost unrecognizable from the bright, spirited young lady she used to be.
The change was heartbreaking—but he said nothing of it.
He simply answered, "It doesn't look good. Her condition can only be managed, not cured. What she needs now is peace—no more emotional shocks, no more strain. If something like this happens again... not even the gods can save her.
"At best... she might have a year or two left."
He handed Raelynn the prescription and quietly took his leave.
Raelynn stood there, pale and trembling. She reached for the wall to steady herself, but even that didn't seem enough to hold her up.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 12. Continue reading Chapter 13 or return to The Slave Queen book page.