The Slave Queen - Chapter 18: Chapter 18
You are reading The Slave Queen, Chapter 18: Chapter 18. Read more chapters of The Slave Queen.
Three days from now, Shawn would be coming to formally propose marriage.
Raelynn had promised Margot that she would wait until after the betrothal before leaving.
But Margot's health clearly couldn't hold out that long.
After a moment's thought, Esther made her decision. "All right, Lady Raelynn. I'll help you."
She could see it now—this wasn't just Margot protecting Raelynn.
Raelynn truly cared about Margot too.
Raelynn probably didn't even want to marry. If she had, she wouldn't have agreed to end the engagement with Ian so easily.
Helping her was the least she could do.
Raelynn's smile lit up her face with genuine warmth, the first real smile in days.
She bowed deeply and respectfully. "Thank you, Esther. Truly."
Startled, Esther rushed to help her up. "Lady Raelynn, please—don't do that!"
But Raelynn just shook her head gently. "No, you're an elder—and you've done me a great kindness. You deserve this bow."
Esther looked flustered, caught between emotion and propriety. "Lady Raelynn..."
Raelynn cut her off softly. "I should go. You should return—Grandmother needs someone by her side."
"...Yes, of course."
Esther could only nod.
She watched as Raelynn turned and walked away, her slender figure slowly disappearing into the snowy distance.
She thought, 'Such a good girl... Why can't Lord Hugo and Lady Cecilia see her for who she truly is?
Raelynn made her way to Lunebloom Hollow, following the path carved into memory.
The moment she stepped through the gate, an angry voice pierced the quiet air.
"You worthless little wretches! How dare you throw me out!"
Raelynn's expression darkened. She quickened her pace and headed inside.
Just as she entered the courtyard, she saw Julia raising her hand, about to slap Sienna across the face.
"Stop!"
Raelynn's voice rang out, firm and sharp.
Sienna was from Margot's household—she had to be protected.
But instead of stopping, Julia swung even faster, her palm slicing toward Sienna.
The expected smack never came.
With a calm expression, Sienna caught her wrist mid-air.
"Lady Julia, you'd better think this through. I may be a servant, but I serve under Lady Margot herself."
Her tone was level, steady—neither servile nor arrogant.
Raelynn's heart settled.
No wonder Esther had chosen Sienna.
But humiliated in front of others, Julia immediately raised her other hand.
"How dare you talk back to me!"
This time, the slap landed hard across Sienna's face.
Smack!
A bright red welt bloomed almost instantly on her cheek.
Without other Lennox family members around to rein her in, Julia made no effort to hide her viciousness.
She took a step back and sneered, barking to her maids, "Isabel, Katherine—drag this insolent girl out and beat her to death!"
She was already seething and needed someone to take it out on.
She thought, 'That old hag in Embergrace House hasn't once warmed to me, no matter how hard I've tried to please her.
'Her heart has always been with that little wretch Raelynn.'
Not once had Margot shown Julia real kindness in all these years.
Now, she'd completely cast Julia aside—all for Raelynn!
She wanted to wring Margot's neck—and if she couldn't, then at least the servants could suffer in her place.
Isabel and Katherine had long grown used to Julia's arrogance, but even they hesitated now.
They knew Sienna came from Margot's household. Julia might have Hugo and Cecilia to shield her, but they... they were just servants.
"What? Do I need to say it again?"
Julia's voice turned cold and sharp.
Isabel and Katherine were just about to move when a voice like ice cut through the air.
"Julia. Aren't you full of yourself today." Raelynn's tone was glacial.
Years of suffering in Aether Sanctum had tempered her spirit.
But the dignity of the imperial court had also seeped into her bones.
And now, that calm authority surfaced in every word she spoke.
Isabel and Katherine froze.
For the first time, they sensed something different in Raelynn—a quiet strength that demanded respect.
Julia turned, eyes blazing, and glared at her.
She'd heard Raelynn's voice the moment she stepped in.
She'd slapped Sienna on purpose.
It was her way of slapping Raelynn in the face.
Raelynn had promised Margot that she would wait until after the betrothal before leaving.
But Margot's health clearly couldn't hold out that long.
After a moment's thought, Esther made her decision. "All right, Lady Raelynn. I'll help you."
She could see it now—this wasn't just Margot protecting Raelynn.
Raelynn truly cared about Margot too.
Raelynn probably didn't even want to marry. If she had, she wouldn't have agreed to end the engagement with Ian so easily.
Helping her was the least she could do.
Raelynn's smile lit up her face with genuine warmth, the first real smile in days.
She bowed deeply and respectfully. "Thank you, Esther. Truly."
Startled, Esther rushed to help her up. "Lady Raelynn, please—don't do that!"
But Raelynn just shook her head gently. "No, you're an elder—and you've done me a great kindness. You deserve this bow."
Esther looked flustered, caught between emotion and propriety. "Lady Raelynn..."
Raelynn cut her off softly. "I should go. You should return—Grandmother needs someone by her side."
"...Yes, of course."
Esther could only nod.
She watched as Raelynn turned and walked away, her slender figure slowly disappearing into the snowy distance.
She thought, 'Such a good girl... Why can't Lord Hugo and Lady Cecilia see her for who she truly is?
Raelynn made her way to Lunebloom Hollow, following the path carved into memory.
The moment she stepped through the gate, an angry voice pierced the quiet air.
"You worthless little wretches! How dare you throw me out!"
Raelynn's expression darkened. She quickened her pace and headed inside.
Just as she entered the courtyard, she saw Julia raising her hand, about to slap Sienna across the face.
"Stop!"
Raelynn's voice rang out, firm and sharp.
Sienna was from Margot's household—she had to be protected.
But instead of stopping, Julia swung even faster, her palm slicing toward Sienna.
The expected smack never came.
With a calm expression, Sienna caught her wrist mid-air.
"Lady Julia, you'd better think this through. I may be a servant, but I serve under Lady Margot herself."
Her tone was level, steady—neither servile nor arrogant.
Raelynn's heart settled.
No wonder Esther had chosen Sienna.
But humiliated in front of others, Julia immediately raised her other hand.
"How dare you talk back to me!"
This time, the slap landed hard across Sienna's face.
Smack!
A bright red welt bloomed almost instantly on her cheek.
Without other Lennox family members around to rein her in, Julia made no effort to hide her viciousness.
She took a step back and sneered, barking to her maids, "Isabel, Katherine—drag this insolent girl out and beat her to death!"
She was already seething and needed someone to take it out on.
She thought, 'That old hag in Embergrace House hasn't once warmed to me, no matter how hard I've tried to please her.
'Her heart has always been with that little wretch Raelynn.'
Not once had Margot shown Julia real kindness in all these years.
Now, she'd completely cast Julia aside—all for Raelynn!
She wanted to wring Margot's neck—and if she couldn't, then at least the servants could suffer in her place.
Isabel and Katherine had long grown used to Julia's arrogance, but even they hesitated now.
They knew Sienna came from Margot's household. Julia might have Hugo and Cecilia to shield her, but they... they were just servants.
"What? Do I need to say it again?"
Julia's voice turned cold and sharp.
Isabel and Katherine were just about to move when a voice like ice cut through the air.
"Julia. Aren't you full of yourself today." Raelynn's tone was glacial.
Years of suffering in Aether Sanctum had tempered her spirit.
But the dignity of the imperial court had also seeped into her bones.
And now, that calm authority surfaced in every word she spoke.
Isabel and Katherine froze.
For the first time, they sensed something different in Raelynn—a quiet strength that demanded respect.
Julia turned, eyes blazing, and glared at her.
She'd heard Raelynn's voice the moment she stepped in.
She'd slapped Sienna on purpose.
It was her way of slapping Raelynn in the face.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 18. Continue reading Chapter 19 or return to The Slave Queen book page.