The Slave Queen - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

At this thought, Julia discreetly pinched her own thigh, instantly making her eyes well up with tears.
Verda was standing next to Julia. She had always followed Julia's every whim. She immediately felt a pang of heartache at the sight.
Instantly, her heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of righteous indignation.
Verda stepped forward without hesitation, shielding Julia with her own body.
Verda fixed Margot with a stern look. "Mrs. Lennox, we respect you since you are an elder, that's why we've held our tongues until now. But even if you favor Lady Raelynn, this level of blatant partiality is unacceptable!"
With that, Verda thrust an accusing finger at Raelynn.
Raelynn was about to step forward when she heard these noble ladies slander Margot.
To Raelynn's surprise, Margot beat her to it and came forward to demand justice for her.
Warmth blossomed in Raelynn's heart.
Raelynn thought, ''This is even better.
'I'd originally planned to let Julia reap what she sowed, but for Grandmother, I won't hesitate to take more drastic measures.'
Verda's baseless accusations didn't even ruffle Raelynn.
It was simply because Verda was a complete idiot.
Everyone in Hazond City knew that Daphne Robbins, who used to be a prostitute, schemed her way into Rowan Carlson's bed. After finally conceiving a child, she believed it would elevate her status.
In the end, she delivered a girl.
Seeing that Daphne and her daughter posed no threat, Chelsea Carlson, who was Rowan's wife, coldly forced Daphne to consume poison soon after Daphne delivered her child.
Daphne passed away that very night, and Chelsea kept Verda to raise her.
However, Verda's life was no different than a pet.
Not only did Verda barely go to school, she didn't learn any skills. To top it off, she was as dense as a brick.
She always parroted whatever others said and always ended up being used as a pawn.
Due to her lowly origins, very few in Hazond City's high society were willing to associate with her.
So now that Julia was willing to befriend her, Verda gave Julia her sincerity and devotion.
Verda blindly followed Julia's every command, never questioning a single word.
Every word Verda spat out now was completely unfiltered.
Even when facing Margot, whose rank and power far exceeded her father's, Verda showed not a shred of the courtesy and manners/
She was practically wagging a finger in Margot's face and yelling at her.
Sure enough, the instant the words left Verda's lips, all the noble ladies' expressions visibly darkened.
Verda stood righteous and unshaken, utterly convinced of her brilliant delivery.
Verda jabbed her finger at Raelynn and snapped, "This Lady doesn't deserve to be Julia's sister at all. We all know how she made the noble consort lose her unborn royal heir back then!"
A harsh cough escaped Margot.
She was so enraged that she doubled over, wracked by violent coughing fits.
Raelynn hurried to Margot's side, gently rubbing her back to help her breathe easier.
"Grandmother, are you all right?" she asked anxiously.
Before Margot could respond, Verda's mindless tirade continued as she jabbed a finger at Raelynn. "You claim to be some long-lost noble lady, but who knows what gutter you crawled out from, you little bastard.
"The Duke of Seymore and his wife are paragons of virtue. How could they possibly have spawned such a vicious wretch like you! If..."
At those words, Margot's coughing fit worsened.
Her sharp eyes blazed with barely contained fury as they locked onto Verda.
Seeing this, the noble ladies instinctively edged away and put some distance between themselves and the scene.
They dreaded that Verda's idiotic blunders would implicate them as well.
They were only here on their families' orders to court Julia's favor. They never wanted to incur Margot's displeasure.
If word of this got out, they felt that their reputations would be ruined.
Yet, Verda was blissfully unaware of the tension she was causing.
Even Julia sensed the situation was spiraling out of control. She discreetly tugged at Verda's sleeve and silently warned her to stop talking.
However, Verda grew more and more impassioned as she spoke. She seized Julia's hand in return.
Verda exclaimed, "Julia, I know you're the kindest soul, but nice people always get taken advantage of. Ever since Raelynn came back, she's done nothing but make your life miserable. Why do you still want to defend her? You're just too damn kind!
"This venomous wretch even dares dream of marrying Lord Shawn. She is simply delusional.
"Julia, you fell for Lord Shawn first. But the moment she showed up, she snatched your intended right from under your nose—"
Before her final words could even escape, Raelynn delivered a sharp, resounding slap.
Verda's head jerked violently to the side, an angry red welt blooming across her cheek for all to see.
All the noble ladies gasped.
Even Julia, who was standing closest to Verda, went deathly pale from shock.
"You..." Julia stammered, her lips quivering. She was utterly speechless for a moment.
All Verda could hear was a violent ringing in her ears. It took her several long moments to snap out of her daze.
Verda clutched her reddened, swollen cheek as she stared at Raelynn in utter disbelief. "How dare you hit me?"
Raelynn sneered while shaking out her wrist.
That slap had been so forceful. Her hand still stung from it.
Verda shrieked, "How dare you hit me? My father will make you pay for this!"