The Slave Queen - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Edgar smiled and nodded, his eyes just as gentle and kind as they settled on Raelynn.
A heart so pure and good was rare in this world.
It was exactly because of that purity that, upon meeting her years ago, he had gifted her two rare chances of fate.
But Raelynn, lost in the joy of Margot's miraculous recovery, failed to notice a pair of venomous eyes watching from the shadows — Julia's gaze was filled with poison.
Julia thought, 'That old crone actually survives?
'No. I can't let that happen.
'The Lennox family is mine. My parents, my brother — all of it belongs to me.
'There is no way I would sit back and let Raelynn steal everything that is rightfully mine!
'And the root of it all? The old woman has chosen to favor Raelynn instead of me.
'A special medicine? What a joke.
'As if she deserved something so mystical!'
Julia clenched her handkerchief so tightly she nearly tore it apart.
Only then could she manage to keep up the illusion of composure under everyone's gaze.
Edgar quickly finished writing the prescription, and Raelynn sent a trusted servant to the pharmacy to have the medicine prepared.
She also invited Edgar to stay for a few days.
He happened to be heading down the mountain anyway and saw no reason to refuse, so he followed a servant to his guest room.
Soon, only the family was left in the Embergrace House.
After settling Margot into bed, Raelynn stepped outside, having just learned everything that had happened earlier from Esther.
Seeing Hugo and the others still waiting in the courtyard, she let out a cold laugh, walked forward, and without a word, slapped Julia hard across the face.
She moved so quickly that no one had time to react.
The sharp crack echoed through the courtyard before anyone even registered what had happened. Hugo and Cecilia stood there, stunned.
"You... you hit me?"
Julia was the first to snap out of it.
She screamed, itching to strike back, but all she could do was clutch her swollen cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief, putting on the poor, innocent act in front of her parents.
Cecilia rushed over, voice trembling as she checked her daughter's face. "Julia, let me take a look..."
"Mother, am I going to be disfigured?"
Their crying grated on Hugo's nerves, and his veins bulged with anger.
"You ungrateful brat! You dare hit Julia right in front of me!"
Hugo thought, 'No wonder Julia always looks like she's been bullied.
'If this little wretch dares hit her in my presence, who knows what she is doing in private?'
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He raised his hand, ready to strike Raelynn.
But she stood her ground, unflinching — the look in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. It was filled with a chilling resolve.
"You— You little wretch! What's that look supposed to mean?"
"Lord Hugo," she said coldly, "are you really going to risk your own mother's life... for the sake of a foster daughter who isn't even related to you?"
Her words hit like a hammer.
Hugo's face changed instantly.
Even Cecilia whipped around to face Raelynn. "Raelynn! What are you saying?"
Raelynn gave a cold laugh. "Do you really think Grandmother's collapse today had nothing to do with your beloved foster daughter?
"Just yesterday, she fainted from being upset by your precious eldest son. Huxley said she couldn't take another shock. And yet today, your foster daughter shows up and upsets her again — and you still want to protect her? Do you want your colleagues in court to say you let your own mother die to save your foster daughter's pride?"
"You—!"
Hugo was livid, his face red with rage.
"This is outrageous! All of you have turned against me!"
He thought, 'First it was Esther, a servant, daring to speak out against me. Now my own daughter is defying me — and saying the exact same things!
'Where is my authority supposed to go?'
"Who taught you to speak to your father like this? Do you even still see me as your parent?"
He finally lost control, throwing all dignity aside and shouting obscenities.
In contrast, Raelynn was calm — unnervingly so, like a doll that had no emotions left.
"I'm just a wild weed, born of heaven and earth. I've never really had a father or mother."
She glanced mockingly at Cecilia. "After all, what real parent would let their own daughter take the fall for a foster child? Isn't that right?"
"Raelynn, you're still blaming me!"
Julia's voice trembled with manufactured hurt as she spat out her signature line, practically grinding her teeth.
Cecilia clutched her chest, looking at Raelynn in disbelief, her face filled with sorrow.
"Raelynn... you're my own flesh and blood. How could you say you don't have a mother? It's just that Julia, she—"
Before she could finish, Raelynn raised her hand to stop her.
She already knew what Cecilia was going to say: that Julia was too delicate to handle the palace punishment, so she — the one with the "thicker skin" — had to take her place.
And because she carried their blood, she wasn't allowed to complain.
But why should she?
That game of chess with Shawn earlier today had finally opened her eyes.
Why was it always her who had to endure? Why was she the one expected to sacrifice?
This time, Margot's life was on the line — and she would not give an inch.