The Slave Queen - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Even those bone-chilling devils could now become nothing more than playthings for Raelynn's amusement.
"Is it beautiful?" Margot asked.
"Yeah," Raelynn murmured softly, her eyes never leaving those lifelike ice blossoms for even a second.
Seeing how enchanted she was, Margot let out a tender sigh. "Hazond City holds an Ice Party every year. If you enjoy it this much, I'll bring you again next year."
Raelynn's eyes lit up with delight.
She finally tore her gaze away from the ice blossoms and looked at Margot before extending her pinky finger.
"Grandma," she chirped, "it's a pinky promise then. You mustn't go back on your word!"
Raelynn thought to herself, 'This isn't just Grandma's love for me. It also shows she's regained confidence in her own health!
'After all, not long ago, Grandma was still lamenting that she didn't have much time left.
'For me, this realization means far more than seeing any ice blossoms ever could.'
Margot also extended her pinky, linking it with Raelynn's. "When have I ever broken a promise to you, child?"
As the words left her lips, they both burst into laughter.
Margot said, "If you already find these beautiful, just wait. Word has it that this year's grand centerpiece is a sculpture of an angel, created over half a month by dozens of ice artisans working together.
"That's why the Ice Party is so bustling. Everyone's come to seek the angel's blessings."
"Really?" Raelynn exclaimed happily while clasping her hand.
She added, "Then I'll be sure to pray for God to bless you, Grandma. May you live a long life and may everything go your way!"
"Good! May everything go well," Margot replied warmly.
Everyone loved to hear well-wishes, especially someone like Margot at her age. She wished for nothing more than robust health and boundless good fortune.
All she wanted was to spend a little more time with Raelynn and shield her from misery.
As they were deep in conversation, they suddenly overheard fawning voices behind them.
Someone said, "Julia, I've heard your recent charity work for the poor has even earned praise from the king. Now everyone's saying you're not just beautiful, but truly kind-hearted. You are a real angel in this mortal world."
Raelynn turned toward the voices and saw a group of lavishly dressed women clustered around Julia.
Their words were dripping with flattery.
Julia, who had been walking with Verda, was suddenly stopped and showered with compliments by a group of notoriously snobbish noble ladies. Her initial unease instantly vanished as she lifted her chin with pride.
Seizing the opportunity, she promptly slipped her arm free from Verda's grasp.
Though Verda felt resentful, she knew that she was beneathe these noble young ladies.
She had learned how low her status was just because she was an illegitimate daughter from her years navigating life within the Carlson family.
She wouldn't even dare to try and worm her way into the circles of the legitimate daughters.
So when Julia effortlessly left her behind, she strangely found herself understanding.
She merely retreated to the side, quietly listening to the noble ladies fawning over Julia.
Julia gloated inwardly.
She knew exactly what these noble ladies were hinting at.
Raelynn had recently won the commoners' praise for her charity work by distributing food and offering free medical aid.
However, Raelynn did it under the Duke's estate's name and never claimed the credit.
So, Julia went crying to Hugo and claimed all the credit.
With both Hugo and Gabriel backing her up, she felt that no one would believe that Raelynn was the one who did it.
As it turned out, her move was a masterstroke.
The very same noble ladies who once shunned her were now crawling back to her side because of it.
'Just one more push, and I'll finally grind Raelynn into the dirt,' Julia thought smugly.
Outwardly, she waved off the noble ladies' praise with feigned modesty. "It was nothing. I am just giving back to the people." At the same time, she cast a provocative, challenging glance at Raelynn.
Raelynn remained composed, but Margot could no longer sit still.
'How dare someone steal the credit for my granddaughter's good deeds?' she fumed.
"Grandmother!" Raelynn, sensing Margot's intention to intervene, quickly pulled her back.
Margot, however, mistook this for Raelynn's usual unwillingness to stand up for herself and started pacing anxiously.
"Raelynn, don't tell me you're going to just let this go again?" Margot blurted out.
Raelynn said firmly, "Grandma, the heavens see all. With the angel present today, how could she possibly get away with stealing my credit?"
"Raelynn, what do you mean by that?" Margot asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Hearing this, she composed herself slightly.
Deep down, she had an inkling that Raelynn must have anticipated this scenario all along.
Just as Raelynn was about to respond, a noble lady's gaze landed on her.
Lark Bond, who was the daughter of a minister, tugged at Julia's sleeve and asked, "Julia, is that your sister from the countryside?"
Julia hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes, that's her."
She immediately put on an act of flustered hesitation.
Lark scoffed disdainfully. "Wasn't she sent to the palace by your parents to appease the noble consort after hurting her? How is she out already?"
Hearing this, Julia pursed her lips while casting a feigned hesitant glance at Verda.
Reading the signal, Verda immediately stepped forward and announced loudly, "Mrs. Lennox used the Royal Pardon—the one that could save their entire family from a disaster—to bail her out. Of course, she's free now, just in time for a happy family reunion before Christmas arrives. How perfectly convenient!"
Her words dripped with biting sarcasm, and at once the noble ladies turned to cast scornful glances at Raelynn.