The Slave Queen - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Jaylee thought, "If only Shawn would come to his senses and call off the engagement with Raelynn, then I have the confidence to become Shawn's wife instead!
If even Raelynn can do it, how could I not be qualified? I am noble consort's niece and the daughter of the Grand Marshall!'
At this thought, a hint of maidenly bashfulness blossomed on Jaylee's cheeks.
Jaylee said, "Moreover, my dear Shawn, with your exceptional talents, your future is limitless. You ought to be with a woman who can truly aid your rise. But if you get entangled with someone like that, what would His Majesty think of you?"
She thought her words made perfect sense.
Jaylee thought confidently, 'Anyone who truly cares about their future would surely heed my words.
'As long as Shawn turns back before it's too late, I can overlook his past mistakes.
'After all, back at the Aether Sanctum, I'd already noticed that even though Raelynn deliberately made herself look ugly, her features and complexion were exceptionally beautiful.
'Even someone like me, who's been praised and adored since childhood, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.'
Therefore, Jaylee felt that Shawn was just momentarily bewitched by Raelynn's looks.
However, Jaylee was in for a rude awakening.
After hearing Jaylee call him "my dear Shawn" for the second time, Shawn's handsome face finally darkened.
He said, "Miss Ramos, you may address me as Lord Shawn. Calling me 'dear Shawn' is entirely inappropriate, given our positions."
His tone was mild, yet to Jaylee, it struck like a muffled thunderclap.
All color drained from her face instantly.
Jaylee stammered in disbelief, "What did you just say?"
Jaylee couldn't believe that Shawn had actually rejected her outright.
To make it worse, he did it right in front of Raelynn.
Jaylee felt like Raelynn had just stomped all over her pride.
Jaylee asked, "You mean you're really willing to throw away your entire political career for a woman like her?"
She made a point of reminding him.
She was not just the Grand Marshall's daughter. She was also the noble consort's niece.
All she'd need to do was go to the palace and shed a few tears in front of her aunt. Then she could just have a little pillow talk with His Majesty.
That way, Jaylee could dictate someone's entire future, even their very life.
Shawn's pretty and cold eyes merely flicked a sideways glance at Raelynn.
Then his gaze shifted back to Jaylee.
Meeting her eager and expectant gaze, Shawn parted his thin lips slightly. "Miss Ramos, are you threatening me?"
The moment Shawn finished speaking, Jaylee's face instantly paled, just as expected. She stammered in panic, "Dear Shawn, that's not what I meant..."
He cut her off. "Moreover, as Raelynn's fiancé, that term is reserved for her alone. Miss Ramos, you are still unmarried. Do you not find it improper to keep addressing an engaged man with such familiarity? Are you not concerned that such behavior might reach His Majesty's ears?"
Shawn thought, 'If you exposed that the Grand Marshall's family is lack of proper upbringing, wouldn't it risk sowing discord between His Majesty and the noble consort?'
Though he didn't explicitly say the last part, the implication was crystal clear.
Jaylee never imagined Shawn would go this far for Raelynn. Her lips quivered with barely contained fury.
Abandoning all pretense of a noble lady, Jaylee snapped viciously, "Lord Shawn, are you truly willing to oppose my family for that lowly wench?"
In response, Shawn let out a cold, derisive scoff.
Shawn scoffed, "Miss Ramos, so a single word from you can decide the fate of a Prime Minister. What truly immense power, indeed."
His tone dripped with mockery.
In this country, the women of the king were strictly forbidden from interfering in state affairs, much less their family.
Even the noble consort, Alice Mason, wouldn't dare utter such words.
Shawn thought, 'How dare Miss Ramos threaten me with my political career?
'She must have a death wish.'
Looking at Shawn's eyes, Jaylee shivered.
A sudden pang of regret struck her.
She thought, 'I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.
'After all, he's a man. Men do care about their pride.
'Of course, he cares about his pride as well.'
But the words were already out. No matter how terrified she was inside, Jaylee had to maintain a facade of fearless composure, forcing herself to meet Shawn's gaze without flinching.
Little did she know, from this very moment, Shawn was already questioning whether the Ramos family, which was a family with centuries of history, deserved to continue existing at all.
After all, though the Grand Marshall was relatively upright, his daughter was so utterly lacking in proper upbringing.
As for Alice, she was clearly no better in character.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have so brazenly tortured Raelynn to this extent.
At this thought, Shawn couldn't help but cast another glance at Raelynn.
From the moment Shawn appeared, Raelynn had remained conspicuously silent.
With Shawn standing up for her, Raelynn was more than happy to let him take the lead.
After all, once she married Shawn, her reputation would reflect on him as well.
'Defending me means defending Shawn, too,' Raelynn thought.
Jaylee's gaze fell upon Raelynn, who stood off to the side, completely unfazed. Instantly, her eyes blazed with fury.
Jaylee thought bitterly, 'It was supposed to be just another feud between me and Raelynn. I planned to trample Raelynn's dignity underfoot, like I always did.
'How did it come to this? Why am I now pitted against the man I've secretly loved for years?
'What a cunning fox this woman is!
'She actually seduced the always aloof Shawn into turning against me.'