The Slave Queen - Chapter 29: Chapter 29
You are reading The Slave Queen, Chapter 29: Chapter 29. Read more chapters of The Slave Queen.
Raelynn quickly lowered her head, feeling more than a little awkward at the exchange.
Edgar clicked his tongue. "Shawn, at least spare me some dignity—we've got an outsider."
At that, Shawn shot a quick glance at Raelynn.
To his surprise, she bowed her head even lower.
And then—perhaps on impulse, or for reasons he couldn't fully explain—he said casually, "She's not an outsider."
The room fell still. Both Edgar and Raelynn were momentarily stunned.
Raelynn's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.
Edgar turned toward her with a raised brow, his expression suddenly gossipy, like he'd just caught wind of something juicy.
"Shawn...?"
His eyes darted between them, clearly intrigued.
Behind him, Raelynn silently pressed her palms together in a pleading gesture toward Shawn, her expression like that of a startled, helpless little creature begging him not to say anything reckless.
Even the usually reserved and aloof Shawn almost smiled at her flustered reaction.
Clearing his throat, he shifted his gaze and offered a more composed explanation.
"Lady Raelynn has long known you and even stepped in to play a match in your place. You clearly hasn't thought of her as an outsider for quite some time."
A reasonable statement—one that quickly dissolved the tension.
Edgar nodded. "That's true. This girl and I do seem to be fated."
Both Shawn and Raelynn chuckled politely.
With the awkwardness behind them, the three gathered around the brazier once again.
Edgar brewed a pot of coffee and poured each of them a cup.
Then he took a relaxed sip and nibbled on a piece of cake, looking thoroughly at ease.
Raelynn, chilled to the bone after traveling through the snowy mountains all night, finally began to feel the warmth seep back into her body.
As she lifted her coffee cup, she noticed some medicine tucked at the bottom.
For warding off the cold.
Edgar hadn't said anything, but the gesture spoke volumes.
Raelynn's eyes stung slightly. She cradled the cup in both hands and took small sips, quietly letting the warmth settle in her heart.
Meanwhile, back at the Duke's estate...
News of Raelynn sneaking out to Mount Darost to find Edgar had somehow reached Margot.
Already frail and weak, she nearly collapsed upon hearing that her most beloved Raelynn had ventured into the mountains alone in the dead of winter.
She coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.
By the time Hugo and Cecilia rushed to her chambers, the sight that greeted them was harrowing: Margot slumped against her pillows, a bloodstained handkerchief clenched in one hand.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Grandmother!"
Julia, who had been waiting nearby, cried out and rushed forward to help—only to be abruptly pushed away.
Despite her condition, Margot still had the strength to shove her aside.
Caught off guard, Julia cried out and fell heavily to the floor.
Hugo and Cecilia froze mid-step.
Hugo frowned, clearly disapproving.
Cecilia immediately rushed over to help Julia. "Julia, are you hurt?"
Sniffling, Julia shook her head, though the look on her face was pitiful.
"Mother, I'm fine... I must have slipped. Don't blame Grandmother."
"Julia," Cecilia murmured, holding her close, her heart aching.
Even though she'd felt some doubt about Julia yesterday, she was still the daughter she had spoiled for over a decade.
Now, as she saw her shoved aside so harshly, her maternal instincts flared anew.
"Mother, Julia is your granddaughter too. She came here out of concern for you—why would you push her away? After all these years, have you still not accepted her? What on earth did that ungrateful girl Raelynn say to you to make you turn so cold?"
Hugo chimed in, his voice full of frustration.
"It's the end of the year, and court matters are already piling up.
"Must you pick this time to stir up trouble?"
But Margot had no strength left to argue. She lay in bed, gasping for breath.
It took everything Esther had to help her steady her breathing again.
Then Esther turned and fixed a sharp look on Hugo.
"Lord Hugo, this is your mother. Should you really be scolding her like this without knowing the full story? That's not what filial piety looks like."
Hugo's face darkened. "Esther! Just because you've been with her for years doesn't give you the right to speak to me that way!"
He'd always treated Esther with respect—but only because of Margot. He thought, 'Now she is challenging me directly?'
Esther shook her head, her voice weary. "Lord Hugo, I don't mean to overstep. But if you lash out before understanding what happened, you're only breaking her heart."
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she added softly, "Lady Margot... doesn't have much time left."
Edgar clicked his tongue. "Shawn, at least spare me some dignity—we've got an outsider."
At that, Shawn shot a quick glance at Raelynn.
To his surprise, she bowed her head even lower.
And then—perhaps on impulse, or for reasons he couldn't fully explain—he said casually, "She's not an outsider."
The room fell still. Both Edgar and Raelynn were momentarily stunned.
Raelynn's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.
Edgar turned toward her with a raised brow, his expression suddenly gossipy, like he'd just caught wind of something juicy.
"Shawn...?"
His eyes darted between them, clearly intrigued.
Behind him, Raelynn silently pressed her palms together in a pleading gesture toward Shawn, her expression like that of a startled, helpless little creature begging him not to say anything reckless.
Even the usually reserved and aloof Shawn almost smiled at her flustered reaction.
Clearing his throat, he shifted his gaze and offered a more composed explanation.
"Lady Raelynn has long known you and even stepped in to play a match in your place. You clearly hasn't thought of her as an outsider for quite some time."
A reasonable statement—one that quickly dissolved the tension.
Edgar nodded. "That's true. This girl and I do seem to be fated."
Both Shawn and Raelynn chuckled politely.
With the awkwardness behind them, the three gathered around the brazier once again.
Edgar brewed a pot of coffee and poured each of them a cup.
Then he took a relaxed sip and nibbled on a piece of cake, looking thoroughly at ease.
Raelynn, chilled to the bone after traveling through the snowy mountains all night, finally began to feel the warmth seep back into her body.
As she lifted her coffee cup, she noticed some medicine tucked at the bottom.
For warding off the cold.
Edgar hadn't said anything, but the gesture spoke volumes.
Raelynn's eyes stung slightly. She cradled the cup in both hands and took small sips, quietly letting the warmth settle in her heart.
Meanwhile, back at the Duke's estate...
News of Raelynn sneaking out to Mount Darost to find Edgar had somehow reached Margot.
Already frail and weak, she nearly collapsed upon hearing that her most beloved Raelynn had ventured into the mountains alone in the dead of winter.
She coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.
By the time Hugo and Cecilia rushed to her chambers, the sight that greeted them was harrowing: Margot slumped against her pillows, a bloodstained handkerchief clenched in one hand.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Grandmother!"
Julia, who had been waiting nearby, cried out and rushed forward to help—only to be abruptly pushed away.
Despite her condition, Margot still had the strength to shove her aside.
Caught off guard, Julia cried out and fell heavily to the floor.
Hugo and Cecilia froze mid-step.
Hugo frowned, clearly disapproving.
Cecilia immediately rushed over to help Julia. "Julia, are you hurt?"
Sniffling, Julia shook her head, though the look on her face was pitiful.
"Mother, I'm fine... I must have slipped. Don't blame Grandmother."
"Julia," Cecilia murmured, holding her close, her heart aching.
Even though she'd felt some doubt about Julia yesterday, she was still the daughter she had spoiled for over a decade.
Now, as she saw her shoved aside so harshly, her maternal instincts flared anew.
"Mother, Julia is your granddaughter too. She came here out of concern for you—why would you push her away? After all these years, have you still not accepted her? What on earth did that ungrateful girl Raelynn say to you to make you turn so cold?"
Hugo chimed in, his voice full of frustration.
"It's the end of the year, and court matters are already piling up.
"Must you pick this time to stir up trouble?"
But Margot had no strength left to argue. She lay in bed, gasping for breath.
It took everything Esther had to help her steady her breathing again.
Then Esther turned and fixed a sharp look on Hugo.
"Lord Hugo, this is your mother. Should you really be scolding her like this without knowing the full story? That's not what filial piety looks like."
Hugo's face darkened. "Esther! Just because you've been with her for years doesn't give you the right to speak to me that way!"
He'd always treated Esther with respect—but only because of Margot. He thought, 'Now she is challenging me directly?'
Esther shook her head, her voice weary. "Lord Hugo, I don't mean to overstep. But if you lash out before understanding what happened, you're only breaking her heart."
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she added softly, "Lady Margot... doesn't have much time left."
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 29. Continue reading Chapter 30 or return to The Slave Queen book page.