The Slave Queen - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Cecilia's expression suddenly changed. Her eyes widened as she pointed toward a pile of vases and jewel screens in the corner.
"Julia, what's all that?"
Julia looked at her in confusion, then looped her arm through Cecilia's with a soft smile.
"Mother, don't you remember? Those are all the gifts you and Father gave me over the years."
As she said it, a realization seemed to hit her. Her eyes turned even redder.
"Was I wrong to bring them back? Should I have left them for Raelynn instead...?
"It's my fault—I just thought, those were gifts from you, Father, and Gabriel. They mean so much to me... I didn't think Raelynn might care about them too.
"Mother... if Raelynn wants them, I'll send everything back right away..."
Tears began to fall freely down her cheeks, and her reddened eyes looked like those of a pitiful little rabbit.
She pulled Julia into a hug, gently comforting her. "I didn't say anything, did I? These things were yours to begin with. Of course you have the right to take them back. As for Raelynn, I'll take care of replacing everything for her."
In that moment, Cecilia had completely forgotten how just minutes ago, she'd nearly punished Sienna over a misunderstanding.
Still crying, Julia sniffled, "Mother, do you think Raelynn misunderstood me? Should I go explain things to her?"
"No need," Cecilia said, shaking her head lightly, though a hint of unease flickered in her expression. "Raelynn's not at home right now. Let's wait until she returns in a few days."
Not home?
Julia's brows furrowed. She tugged Cecilia down to sit beside her. "Mother, she just got back—and she's about to get engaged to Lord Shawn. Where would she go in the middle of the night?"
The implication in her voice was unmistakable—another veiled jab.
Normally, that would have been enough to stir doubt in Cecilia's heart.
But not this time. Now that she knew the truth, she didn't rise to the bait.
"She left for your grandmother," Cecilia said quietly. "Don't you remember? Years ago, when your brother was sick, she braved a snowstorm to find Edgar. She brought him back and saved your brother's life. Now, she's gone again—to Mount Darost—for your grandmother's sake."
Julia's hands curled into fists, crushing the hem of her dress in her grip.
She thought, 'That wretched girl... going to such lengths for that old crone?
'First the old witch, now the young one—they're both determined to ruin my life!'
She was about to say more, to twist the knife a little deeper, but Cecilia let out a long yawn, her eyes welling with the weariness of the day.
"Julia, it's getting late. Unless there's something urgent, go get some rest. I'll stay up and wait for your father."
Julia had no choice but to retreat.
Pushing any further would only raise suspicion.
She stood and curtsied gracefully. "Then I'll head back to my room, Mother."
But as she turned away, the sweetness on her face vanished—replaced by an icy, burning hatred that nearly radiated from her skin.
Cecilia, still lost in her thoughts about Raelynn, didn't notice a thing.
That night...
One person tossed and turned, cursing Raelynn's journey through the snow, praying she'd meet her end on the road.
Another lay sleepless, listening to the wind howl through the northern courtyards, full of worry that the daughter she'd failed might not make it to Mount Darost safely.
And the girl they were both thinking of—completely unaware of everything happening back at the estate—had traveled through the night and finally reached Mount Darost at dawn.
Thanks to her past visit, Edgar had shown her a shortcut up the mountain, one known only to a few within his clinic.
And so, as the sun began to rise, she approached the gates with a heart full of resolve and knocked gently.
A young boy she didn't recognize answered the door.
He blinked at the sight of her, snow-drenched and windblown. "You're here to see my master, right?"
It was obvious—only someone familiar with the clinic would know how to find the hidden path she'd taken.
Raelynn nodded. "Years ago, Edgar saved my brother's life. My grandmother is gravely ill now. I've come to ask for his help again."
At her words, the boy's eyes lit up—clearly recognizing her as someone important.
"Come in and rest a bit," he said, stepping aside. "You must be exhausted from traveling in this weather."
Not bad, Raelynn thought as she followed him inside. At least he was polite.
"Is Edgar in today?" she asked.
The apprentice replied, "A friend came by yesterday, and Master went with him."
Raelynn came to a sudden halt.
She thought, 'He's not here?'
The boy, seeing her stop, quickly added, "Don't worry—he'll be back in two, maybe three days. Since I recognized you, I'm letting you wait here. If it had been someone else, they'd have been turned away already."
'Sharp little one,' she thought.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have minded waiting.
In fact, she might've even found his straightforwardness a bit charming.
But time was against her.
Margot's condition was critical. She couldn't afford to wait.