The Slave Queen - Chapter 14: Chapter 14
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Even Hugo fell silent.
Margot had never been the type to lash out or punish harshly. On the contrary, she'd always shown a little extra patience and kindness toward her children and grandchildren.
No matter how upset she got, it was almost unheard of for her to actually resort to physical discipline.
But now, she had personally raised her cane and struck Gabriel.
"What exactly did you say to her?" Hugo asked, barely holding back his anger.
Gabriel's lips pressed into a hard line. He didn't answer.
Because even as the words left his mouth earlier, he'd known he had gone too far.
No matter what, Raelynn was still his sister.
He never should've called her "born rotten."
Especially since the incident with the noble consort all those years ago... hadn't even been her fault.
Still getting no response, Hugo turned his sharp gaze on Raelynn instead.
"Then you tell me—what did Gabriel say that upset your grandmother so badly?"
Raelynn was still reeling from the shock that Gabriel had actually defended her.
But as the reality of it settled in, all she felt was bitter amusement.
He'd lashed out thoughtlessly, sent Margot into a rage, and now he wanted to play the part of the concerned, dutiful grandson?
So she said nothing. Just stood there in silence.
Gabriel had assumed she'd say something to defend him—just like she used to, over and over again, four years ago. Always speaking up for him, always covering for his mistakes.
But her silence now, mixed with the biting cold wind in the courtyard, felt like a slap of its own.
Just then, Julia spoke up again.
Her voice was soft and sweet, like the morning sun in early spring.
"Father, Gabriel has always been careful and respectful. He must've said a few words to Raelynn that Grandmother happened to overhear. That's probably what upset her. But we should really check on Grandmother first—that's what matters now."
With one delicate sentence, she gently shifted the blame back to Raelynn.
Hugo and Cecilia exchanged a look.
Gabriel was their pride and joy—personally raised, the heir of the household. He was meant to inherit the title one day.
He had always been well-mannered and principled. Never once had his character been questioned.
The more they thought about it, the more they saw Raelynn as the root of all the family's turmoil.
Stirring up conflict. Making a mess out of everything.
Hugo let out a long sigh. "Get up. Come with me to check on your grandmother."
But Gabriel didn't move. He stayed kneeling, unmoving.
Even though Julia had spoken on his behalf...
Something felt off.
Because that wasn't how it had happened.
Cecilia noticed Gabriel still on his knees and stepped forward to help him up herself, her voice full of motherly affection. "Gabriel, come now. This wasn't your fault. Just be more careful around your grandmother from now on, alright?"
And just like that, they swept it all under the rug.
But the more they tried to minimize it, the worse Gabriel felt.
He wanted to say it—No, it was my fault.
But the words wouldn't come out.
Because Julia was standing there, watching him with worried eyes, silently shaking her head.
He couldn't bring himself to let her down.
And yet... something inside him had started to shift.
Yes, maybe Raelynn had made mistakes. But Margot collapsing? That was clearly on him.
He wondered, 'So why are Father, Mother, and even Julia so quick to pin it on her?'
Raelynn looked back at the four of them—walking away, side by side—and her eyes turned colder than ever.
Good. No expectations meant no disappointment.
No disappointment meant no more pain.
She'd come back for one reason only: Margot.
Just as she turned to leave, a sharp coughing fit echoed from inside the house.
Then came a chorus of worried voices, overlapping in panic.
Raelynn froze in her tracks. Tears welled in her eyes before she even realized it, and she spun around and ran back inside.
As soon as she entered, she saw everyone gathered tightly around Margot's bed.
Margot had opened her eyes, her faded gaze slowly sweeping across the room, trying to recognize the faces in front of her.
Hugo held her hand. "Mother, thank goodness you're awake. How do you feel?"
But she didn't answer.
Her gaze continued searching—until it finally landed on the figure standing furthest from the bed: Raelynn.
Suddenly, her dull eyes lit up. And she reached out a trembling hand toward her.
Margot had never been the type to lash out or punish harshly. On the contrary, she'd always shown a little extra patience and kindness toward her children and grandchildren.
No matter how upset she got, it was almost unheard of for her to actually resort to physical discipline.
But now, she had personally raised her cane and struck Gabriel.
"What exactly did you say to her?" Hugo asked, barely holding back his anger.
Gabriel's lips pressed into a hard line. He didn't answer.
Because even as the words left his mouth earlier, he'd known he had gone too far.
No matter what, Raelynn was still his sister.
He never should've called her "born rotten."
Especially since the incident with the noble consort all those years ago... hadn't even been her fault.
Still getting no response, Hugo turned his sharp gaze on Raelynn instead.
"Then you tell me—what did Gabriel say that upset your grandmother so badly?"
Raelynn was still reeling from the shock that Gabriel had actually defended her.
But as the reality of it settled in, all she felt was bitter amusement.
He'd lashed out thoughtlessly, sent Margot into a rage, and now he wanted to play the part of the concerned, dutiful grandson?
So she said nothing. Just stood there in silence.
Gabriel had assumed she'd say something to defend him—just like she used to, over and over again, four years ago. Always speaking up for him, always covering for his mistakes.
But her silence now, mixed with the biting cold wind in the courtyard, felt like a slap of its own.
Just then, Julia spoke up again.
Her voice was soft and sweet, like the morning sun in early spring.
"Father, Gabriel has always been careful and respectful. He must've said a few words to Raelynn that Grandmother happened to overhear. That's probably what upset her. But we should really check on Grandmother first—that's what matters now."
With one delicate sentence, she gently shifted the blame back to Raelynn.
Hugo and Cecilia exchanged a look.
Gabriel was their pride and joy—personally raised, the heir of the household. He was meant to inherit the title one day.
He had always been well-mannered and principled. Never once had his character been questioned.
The more they thought about it, the more they saw Raelynn as the root of all the family's turmoil.
Stirring up conflict. Making a mess out of everything.
Hugo let out a long sigh. "Get up. Come with me to check on your grandmother."
But Gabriel didn't move. He stayed kneeling, unmoving.
Even though Julia had spoken on his behalf...
Something felt off.
Because that wasn't how it had happened.
Cecilia noticed Gabriel still on his knees and stepped forward to help him up herself, her voice full of motherly affection. "Gabriel, come now. This wasn't your fault. Just be more careful around your grandmother from now on, alright?"
And just like that, they swept it all under the rug.
But the more they tried to minimize it, the worse Gabriel felt.
He wanted to say it—No, it was my fault.
But the words wouldn't come out.
Because Julia was standing there, watching him with worried eyes, silently shaking her head.
He couldn't bring himself to let her down.
And yet... something inside him had started to shift.
Yes, maybe Raelynn had made mistakes. But Margot collapsing? That was clearly on him.
He wondered, 'So why are Father, Mother, and even Julia so quick to pin it on her?'
Raelynn looked back at the four of them—walking away, side by side—and her eyes turned colder than ever.
Good. No expectations meant no disappointment.
No disappointment meant no more pain.
She'd come back for one reason only: Margot.
Just as she turned to leave, a sharp coughing fit echoed from inside the house.
Then came a chorus of worried voices, overlapping in panic.
Raelynn froze in her tracks. Tears welled in her eyes before she even realized it, and she spun around and ran back inside.
As soon as she entered, she saw everyone gathered tightly around Margot's bed.
Margot had opened her eyes, her faded gaze slowly sweeping across the room, trying to recognize the faces in front of her.
Hugo held her hand. "Mother, thank goodness you're awake. How do you feel?"
But she didn't answer.
Her gaze continued searching—until it finally landed on the figure standing furthest from the bed: Raelynn.
Suddenly, her dull eyes lit up. And she reached out a trembling hand toward her.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 14. Continue reading Chapter 15 or return to The Slave Queen book page.