The Slave Queen - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

An image flashed through Shawn's mind—A girl, her face drawn tight with defiance, back straight as a board, refusing to flinch.
"Shawn! Are you even listening to me?"
As he noticed Shawn had drifted off, Ian's irritation flared.
Shawn turned his cool, detached gaze back to him. "If I hear you say one more bad word about her, you'd better watch yourself."
With that, he snapped shut the ancient book and tossed it aside.
Seeing that it was late, he stood up, ready to call it a night.
Ian stood frozen for a moment—then realization hit.
His eyes went wide as he rushed after Shawn. "Shawn! Don't tell me you've actually fallen for that woman!
"She's not who you think she is—she was engaged to me first! And now she's with you—"
Before he could finish, Shawn stopped in his tracks.
His eyes turned cold as ice as he looked back at Ian.
The sharpness in that gaze made Ian's blood run cold. He shrank back instinctively. "S-Shawn..."
"Ian," Shawn said, voice low and razor-sharp, "Let me make myself clear—she is my future wife. That's not up for debate."
"But—"
"If you think marrying Julia into the family as your wife is going to be too awkward, then don't. No one's forcing you to take her."
One look was all it took for Shawn to see through him.
The moment he decided to marry Raelynn, he'd had her background investigated again—and naturally, that included her past with Ian.
Four years ago, Ian had been genuinely in love with her.
But once Raelynn was forced into the palace as a servant, he was quick to turn his affections elsewhere—lured in by the careful scheming of Julia, the adopted daughter of the Lennox family.
Now the woman who used to be his fiancée was becoming Shawn's wife. Of course he couldn't handle it.
As for Julia—after all that stealing and plotting—she was now watching the woman she'd looked down on step right over her.
No wonder she was falling apart.
Not that she dared make a scene herself. No—she sent this fool to do it for her.
Shawn looked at Ian's stunned face and felt nothing but disdain.
"Truly an idiot," he muttered.
Without another glance, he turned and walked off, ignoring whatever tantrum Ian might throw next.
The next day, a bitter northern wind had howled through the night.
But by morning, the skies had cleared—A rare stroke of good weather, on a most important day.
Today, Shawn was coming to the Duke's estate to propose marriage.
And what a grand affair it was.
Though it was only an engagement, the Lindsay family arrived with twelve full chests of gifts, accompanied by a full procession of band, drawing everyone's attention as they made their way into the estate.
Hugo stood stiffly, his face like iron, but with Shawn's reputation on the line, he couldn't afford to refuse them.
Cecilia, meanwhile, managed a faint, genuine smile.
All things considered, having Raelynn marry Shawn was a far better outcome than marrying her off to Ian, who lacked talent and standing.
Still, whatever joy she felt dimmed the moment she saw Julia's pale, disappointed face.
Now that Raelynn was engaged to Shawn, if Julia were to marry into the same household, her position would be awkward at best.
But the happiest person in the room—by far—was Margot.
She had risen early, dressed and groomed, eagerly waiting for the Lindsay family's formal visit.
She had assumed she was asking too much of Shawn. She expected him to do the bare minimum, just enough to get by.
Still, she'd accepted it. Shawn was the best possible match she could secure for Raelynn.
What she didn't expect... was that he would go above and beyond.
Even the engagement was handled with such pomp and formality.
Oddly enough, the only one missing from the celebration was the bride-to-be herself. Raelynn hadn't appeared.
At that very moment, Raelynn was just being woken up by Sienna.
She'd slept deeply—more soundly than she had in years.
It was as if her body had been trying to make up for four years of lost rest.
Thankfully, she'd gone to bed early. The room, the bedding—everything was warm and cozy.
She slept through the night without a single dream.
Though she'd been woken gently, she felt completely refreshed.
The dark circles beneath her eyes had faded noticeably.
Nina, quick and skillful, helped her wash up and dress. She changed into the pink gown embroidered with silver butterflies—one of the many fine pieces Margot had sent over the day before. The fabric shimmered softly, glowing with elegance and life.
Her hair was styled in a lily bun and adorned with red coral hairpins, rich and striking. By the time they finished, she looked like a completely different person.
Her once-thin, tired face now appeared smooth and radiant—skin like porcelain, pale and luminous.
"Lady Raelynn... you're absolutely stunning."
Nina stared, breath caught, at the girl in the mirror.
She had suspected it yesterday—Raelynn was a natural beauty.
Even in old, faded clothes, she had carried herself with quiet nobility.
Before she was sold into servitude, Nina had spent some time with a fortune teller back in her village, learning a bit about fortune reading.
Some people were born with fortune written in their bones.
Even if they were dressed in rags, the aura of nobility clung to them.
Just like Raelynn.
Raelynn also looked into the mirror—but her brows furrowed slightly.