The Slave Queen - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Tonight, with the fox-fur cloak and the bed warmer, Gabriel should be able to get through the night in the cemetery without too much suffering.
Cecilia's heart ached as she watched Gabriel being punished.
She reached out to brush a few strands of hair from his temple and said gently, "Your father was just speaking out of anger—he didn't mean to punish you so harshly. That cloak and warmer... he agreed to let me bring them. Don't hold it against him."
Gabriel nodded. "I understand, Mother."
From a young age, he had been groomed by Hugo to become the family's heir—strict discipline had always been part of that.
But he wasn't someone who couldn't tell right from wrong.
And besides, he had made a mistake today.
If he was angry at anyone, it was himself—not his parents.
Seeing that he harbored no resentment, Cecilia finally relaxed a little. She reminded him a few more times to take care, then, seeing the sky grow darker, got ready to leave.
Just as she turned to go, Gabriel suddenly called out.
"Mother."
She looked back. "Gabriel, is something wrong?"
Gabriel pressed his lips into a tight line.
"Mother, Raelynn just came back. You should go see her. Life in the palace... it was even worse than we imagined."
Cecilia's brows furrowed. "Gabriel, did something happen? What do you know?"
After a moment's hesitation, Gabriel briefly described the injuries he had seen on Raelynn the day before.
He hadn't even finished when Cecilia's face went pale, and she nearly lost her balance.
Thankfully, Tuesday and Gabriel caught her before she could fall.
"What—what did you say? My poor Raelynn!"
Her face was filled with anguish.
She hadn't seen the injuries herself, but just hearing about them made her heart clench in pain.
She thought, 'How could my sweet Raelynn endure something so cruel?'
Gabriel's voice was low, full of guilt. "No matter how you look at it, we failed her. She has every reason to resent us. But if you show her more love, I believe she'll come around. She won't keep pushing us away forever."
He really missed the Raelynn from four years ago—the one who used to cling to him and call him Gabriel again and again.
Cecilia thought of the cold, distant look in Raelynn's eyes earlier. Her chest felt tight, like it was stuffed with cotton.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nodded, choking back a sob. "Yes... I'll give her the very best of everything!"
With that, she turned and walked out of the cemetery.
But her steps were shaky.
The grief weighed so heavily on her that when Julia rushed over after hearing the news, Cecilia didn't even notice her.
A flicker of resentment crossed Julia's eyes.
Still, she stepped forward, unwilling to give up. "Mother, did Raelynn say something to you? Is that why you're upset with me now?"
That finally snapped Cecilia out of her daze, though she didn't really register what was said.
She blinked. "Julia? What are you doing here?"
Being completely brushed aside made Julia's heart sink. She pouted, full of hurt. "Mother! What's going on? Don't you love me anymore? Why won't you talk to me?"
For the first time, Cecilia looked at Julia's sweet, innocent face—and felt only exhaustion.
She didn't try to soothe her as she usually would.
She simply said, distractedly, "Julia, it's cold out here. Go back to your room and warm up before you catch a chill."
Then she walked away without looking back.
Julia felt something slipping out of her grasp.
Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed Tuesday's hand. "Tuesday, what's wrong with Mother?"
Tuesday had heard everything Gabriel said in the cemetery.
She sighed. "Lady Cecilia just found out what Lady Raelynn went through in the palace. She's heartbroken... and blaming herself."
With another sigh, she shook her head and followed after Cecilia.
No one noticed the way Julia's expression changed in an instant.
She thought, 'Raelynn again.
'It is always Raelynn.'