The Slave Queen - Chapter 28: Chapter 28
You are reading The Slave Queen, Chapter 28: Chapter 28. Read more chapters of The Slave Queen.
"Excellent! Absolutely brilliant!" Edgar burst into laughter, beaming as he studied the chess board.
"What an imaginative move, young lady—sharp and quick-witted!"
Raelynn flushed slightly. "You flatter me, Edgar. I only managed because of Lord Shawn's guidance."
Shawn said nothing, lips pressed into a faint line. But inwardly, he was thoughtful.
She was sharp. He had only hinted at an idea, and she had understood immediately. Not just understood—she'd acted on it.
A girl like that was rare.
If he really did go through with marrying her, she wouldn't hold him back.
He had never intended to marry for love—or raise a family.
But having a wife like her, one without romantic entanglements, would silence his mother Rachel's endless nagging while leaving him free to focus on more important matters.
A practical solution. Convenient on every front.
Edgar, noticing Raelynn's humility, couldn't help shooting Shawn a teasing look.
"You don't know this, do you? My junior here—he's sharp as a blade, always out to win. Beating him at anything? Not easy."
Raelynn raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
She had heard that Shawn was competitive, but had assumed it came from privilege—from a life of smooth sailing.
She hadn't realized he fought for everything.
That changed how she saw him.
Geniuses often felt distant, like they lived in a world above everyone else.
But learning he worked for it—that he struggled and strove—somehow made him more... human.
"All right," said Edgar, bringing over a cup of fragrant coffee, "after such a long game, let's have a sip and refresh. Now, young lady, tell me—who have you come asking me to treat this time?"
At last, he was ready to talk about the real reason she had come.
Raelynn took the teacup respectfully, stood, and bowed deeply. "Edgar, please—I'm here to beg for your help. My grandmother is gravely ill."
As she spoke, she knelt without hesitation.
"Margot?"
Edgar's expression shifted slightly, the memory of a gentle, dignified woman flashing through his mind.
"Yes," Raelynn said earnestly, her eyes pleading.
He stepped forward to help her up. "I remember meeting her years ago, when I came to treat your brother. She was still healthy and strong then. What's happened in just four years? Has she fallen suddenly ill?"
Edgar wasn't one to follow court gossip.
He lived for medicine, not politics.
And though he dabbled in divination, he rarely used it.
The only reason he had predicted Raelynn's return was because he'd sensed her fate was closely tied to his.
But even then, he hadn't looked too closely.
Which made her plea now all the more surprising.
Raelynn shook her head, guilt clouding her expression. "No... It wasn't sudden. It's been years of worry and stress. Then recently, she suffered a severe stroke. The household physicians say she doesn't have much time. It's my fault—I let her worry too much, and now..."
"Child," Edgar interrupted gently, sighing, "each of us walks our own path. If her illness truly stems from worrying over you, then that too is part of her fate. But now you've climbed this mountain to find me—and that's fate, too."
"...You're right."
Raelynn managed a small smile through her tears.
Edgar always spoke with layers—like someone removed from worldly concerns—but his meaning was never lost on her.
She understood what he was really saying.
Her connection with Margot... ran deeper than she'd ever realized.
He smiled kindly. "When the snow stops, I'll go down the mountain with you."
"Thank you, Edgar!"
Raelynn's voice was filled with joy as she stood and bowed again, gratitude shining in her eyes.
He chuckled and helped her up, then turned toward Shawn, who had remained quiet this whole time. "Well then, Shawn—since we're stuck here with the snow still coming down, why not have some coffee and snacks? Keep our guest entertained a bit."
Shawn responded without inflection. "So now I'm here to amuse her?"
Raelynn froze, her posture stiffening.
She stole a glance at his face, worried he might be upset.
But there was no irritation in his expression—just the same calm, unreadable composure as always.
She breathed out, quietly relieved.
Then Edgar let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh, come now.
"Didn't you just play a full round of chess with her? Wasn't that to keep her company?"
"You were the one who asked her to take your place," Shawn countered smoothly.
"Fine, fine," Edgar said, raising both hands in surrender, suddenly looking far more like a mischievous younger brother than a revered master. "I wasn't at my best today. Next time, I'll crush you completely!"
"When have you ever beaten me?" Shawn replied with a soft scoff.
There was a quiet arrogance in his voice—the confidence of someone who had always won, and expected to keep winning.
Not even his teacher was spared his razor-sharp tongue.
"What an imaginative move, young lady—sharp and quick-witted!"
Raelynn flushed slightly. "You flatter me, Edgar. I only managed because of Lord Shawn's guidance."
Shawn said nothing, lips pressed into a faint line. But inwardly, he was thoughtful.
She was sharp. He had only hinted at an idea, and she had understood immediately. Not just understood—she'd acted on it.
A girl like that was rare.
If he really did go through with marrying her, she wouldn't hold him back.
He had never intended to marry for love—or raise a family.
But having a wife like her, one without romantic entanglements, would silence his mother Rachel's endless nagging while leaving him free to focus on more important matters.
A practical solution. Convenient on every front.
Edgar, noticing Raelynn's humility, couldn't help shooting Shawn a teasing look.
"You don't know this, do you? My junior here—he's sharp as a blade, always out to win. Beating him at anything? Not easy."
Raelynn raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
She had heard that Shawn was competitive, but had assumed it came from privilege—from a life of smooth sailing.
She hadn't realized he fought for everything.
That changed how she saw him.
Geniuses often felt distant, like they lived in a world above everyone else.
But learning he worked for it—that he struggled and strove—somehow made him more... human.
"All right," said Edgar, bringing over a cup of fragrant coffee, "after such a long game, let's have a sip and refresh. Now, young lady, tell me—who have you come asking me to treat this time?"
At last, he was ready to talk about the real reason she had come.
Raelynn took the teacup respectfully, stood, and bowed deeply. "Edgar, please—I'm here to beg for your help. My grandmother is gravely ill."
As she spoke, she knelt without hesitation.
"Margot?"
Edgar's expression shifted slightly, the memory of a gentle, dignified woman flashing through his mind.
"Yes," Raelynn said earnestly, her eyes pleading.
He stepped forward to help her up. "I remember meeting her years ago, when I came to treat your brother. She was still healthy and strong then. What's happened in just four years? Has she fallen suddenly ill?"
Edgar wasn't one to follow court gossip.
He lived for medicine, not politics.
And though he dabbled in divination, he rarely used it.
The only reason he had predicted Raelynn's return was because he'd sensed her fate was closely tied to his.
But even then, he hadn't looked too closely.
Which made her plea now all the more surprising.
Raelynn shook her head, guilt clouding her expression. "No... It wasn't sudden. It's been years of worry and stress. Then recently, she suffered a severe stroke. The household physicians say she doesn't have much time. It's my fault—I let her worry too much, and now..."
"Child," Edgar interrupted gently, sighing, "each of us walks our own path. If her illness truly stems from worrying over you, then that too is part of her fate. But now you've climbed this mountain to find me—and that's fate, too."
"...You're right."
Raelynn managed a small smile through her tears.
Edgar always spoke with layers—like someone removed from worldly concerns—but his meaning was never lost on her.
She understood what he was really saying.
Her connection with Margot... ran deeper than she'd ever realized.
He smiled kindly. "When the snow stops, I'll go down the mountain with you."
"Thank you, Edgar!"
Raelynn's voice was filled with joy as she stood and bowed again, gratitude shining in her eyes.
He chuckled and helped her up, then turned toward Shawn, who had remained quiet this whole time. "Well then, Shawn—since we're stuck here with the snow still coming down, why not have some coffee and snacks? Keep our guest entertained a bit."
Shawn responded without inflection. "So now I'm here to amuse her?"
Raelynn froze, her posture stiffening.
She stole a glance at his face, worried he might be upset.
But there was no irritation in his expression—just the same calm, unreadable composure as always.
She breathed out, quietly relieved.
Then Edgar let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh, come now.
"Didn't you just play a full round of chess with her? Wasn't that to keep her company?"
"You were the one who asked her to take your place," Shawn countered smoothly.
"Fine, fine," Edgar said, raising both hands in surrender, suddenly looking far more like a mischievous younger brother than a revered master. "I wasn't at my best today. Next time, I'll crush you completely!"
"When have you ever beaten me?" Shawn replied with a soft scoff.
There was a quiet arrogance in his voice—the confidence of someone who had always won, and expected to keep winning.
Not even his teacher was spared his razor-sharp tongue.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 28. Continue reading Chapter 29 or return to The Slave Queen book page.