The Slave Queen - Chapter 91: Chapter 91
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From that point on, Raelynn gradually ceased competing with Julia.
Yet, even after all that, Raelynn was still cast aside like garbage by the very people she once cherished.
As memories flooded back, Raelynn blinked.
To her surprise, those once unbearable grievances no longer stirred a ripple in her heart.
Not even a hint of stinging moisture welled up in her eyes.
It seemed she had truly severed all emotional ties with her family.
Not even hatred remained.
This realization filled her with immense satisfaction.
Raelynn thought to herself, 'Well, that's fine. After all, I only came back to be with Grandmother.
'As for everyone and everything else, they no longer concern me in the slightest.
'From now on, I'll only look ahead.
'I'll only care about those truly worthy of my attention.'
No one spoke for the rest of the journey.
Shawn noticed Raelynn's distinct shift in mood, but seeing her lost in her own thoughts, he chose not to interrupt.
As a maid, Sienna dared not speak.
An odd, heavy silence settled over the carriage.
It was so quiet that the three of them could even hear the wheels crunching over the snow.
Fortunately, the Ice Party venue wasn't too far from the Duke's estate.
In less than fifteen minutes, the carriage pulled up at the gates of the estate.
The snow lay thick on the ground.
With Sienna's support, Raelynn alighted from the carriage. The moment her feet touched the ground, an icy gust hit her, and she shivered involuntarily.
Sienna immediately pulled her fur cloak tighter around her.
Raelynn turned to Shawn and said, "Thank you, Lord Shawn."
Shawn's expression remained impassive. In response to her thanks, he merely gave a slight tilt of his chin.
Then, without another word, he let the curtain fall and ordered the driver to depart.
With Sienna supporting her, Raelynn trudged step by step through the snow to the estate gate and pulled the brass knocker.
After what seemed like ages, a sluggish, disheveled doorman finally shuffled over to open it.
He glanced at Raelynn and Sienna, not bothering to show the slightest respect.
Stifling a yawn, he muttered half-heartedly, "Evening, Lady Raelynn."
Seeing his blatant disrespect, Sienna bristled with anger and was about to step forward to confront him.
But Raelynn immediately restrained her and shot her a warning glance not to act impulsively.
Sienna let out an indignant huff but held her tongue.
Seeing that Raelynn was still as timid as ever and unwilling to offend any of the servants, the doorman smirked dismissively.
When she first returned, the Duke and Duchess showered her with affection, and he'd thought she was truly favored. He even treated her with some respect.
But it wasn't long before Julia regained their favor.
Raelynn always seemed unsophisticated with her timid disposition.
As a result, any servant in the Duke's estate could easily undermine her behind her back.
After all, she would never complain to anyone, much less confront the servants.
Over time, their contempt for her only grew.
Not only the doorman, even Raelynn was reminded of those humiliating incidents from the past.
As Raelynn turned back, she caught the lingering sneer still on the doorman's face.
When he realized he'd been caught by Raelynn, the doorman's face froze for a split second.
But then, as if struck by a thought, that same contemptuous sneer returned.
If his earlier sneer was a mere mockery, this time, his smile at Raelynn was an outright provocation.
Of course, the doorman never thought Raelynn would actually be angered by this.
After all, just moments ago, Raelynn had even stopped her maid from scolding him.
At the thought, he tutted impatiently.
He urged with feigned concern, "Lady Raelynn, come inside. It's freezing out here, and for an unmarried young lady to return so late, if word got out, just imagine what people would say about it!"
Sienna was livid.
She thought, 'This insolent doorman not only disrespected Lady Raelynn, but even dared to imply she had loose morals!'
Before Sienna could voice her rebuke, Raelynn's right hand shot up and landed a sharp, resounding slap squarely across his cheek while the doorman's sneer was still frozen on his face,
Before he could react, she snapped her hand back and delivered another stinging slap to the other side of his face.
The crisp cracks of her slaps, mingled with the howling wind, echoed startlingly loud through the snowy night.
Sienna stared in shock at Raelynn, who had stepped protectively in front of her.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
'Lady Raelynn actually struck that insolent servant herself!' Sienna thought, utterly stunned.
Normally, a noble lady would never dirty her own hands. She'd simply order her servants to handle such matters.
After all, no one would dirty their own hands dealing with a lowly servant.
That was why Sienna couldn't understand why Raelynn had stopped her and insisted on delivering the slap herself.
The slap likewise left the doorman utterly stunned.
He stared dumbfounded at Raelynn, clutching his burning, swollen cheek, unable to utter a single word.
Yet, even after all that, Raelynn was still cast aside like garbage by the very people she once cherished.
As memories flooded back, Raelynn blinked.
To her surprise, those once unbearable grievances no longer stirred a ripple in her heart.
Not even a hint of stinging moisture welled up in her eyes.
It seemed she had truly severed all emotional ties with her family.
Not even hatred remained.
This realization filled her with immense satisfaction.
Raelynn thought to herself, 'Well, that's fine. After all, I only came back to be with Grandmother.
'As for everyone and everything else, they no longer concern me in the slightest.
'From now on, I'll only look ahead.
'I'll only care about those truly worthy of my attention.'
No one spoke for the rest of the journey.
Shawn noticed Raelynn's distinct shift in mood, but seeing her lost in her own thoughts, he chose not to interrupt.
As a maid, Sienna dared not speak.
An odd, heavy silence settled over the carriage.
It was so quiet that the three of them could even hear the wheels crunching over the snow.
Fortunately, the Ice Party venue wasn't too far from the Duke's estate.
In less than fifteen minutes, the carriage pulled up at the gates of the estate.
The snow lay thick on the ground.
With Sienna's support, Raelynn alighted from the carriage. The moment her feet touched the ground, an icy gust hit her, and she shivered involuntarily.
Sienna immediately pulled her fur cloak tighter around her.
Raelynn turned to Shawn and said, "Thank you, Lord Shawn."
Shawn's expression remained impassive. In response to her thanks, he merely gave a slight tilt of his chin.
Then, without another word, he let the curtain fall and ordered the driver to depart.
With Sienna supporting her, Raelynn trudged step by step through the snow to the estate gate and pulled the brass knocker.
After what seemed like ages, a sluggish, disheveled doorman finally shuffled over to open it.
He glanced at Raelynn and Sienna, not bothering to show the slightest respect.
Stifling a yawn, he muttered half-heartedly, "Evening, Lady Raelynn."
Seeing his blatant disrespect, Sienna bristled with anger and was about to step forward to confront him.
But Raelynn immediately restrained her and shot her a warning glance not to act impulsively.
Sienna let out an indignant huff but held her tongue.
Seeing that Raelynn was still as timid as ever and unwilling to offend any of the servants, the doorman smirked dismissively.
When she first returned, the Duke and Duchess showered her with affection, and he'd thought she was truly favored. He even treated her with some respect.
But it wasn't long before Julia regained their favor.
Raelynn always seemed unsophisticated with her timid disposition.
As a result, any servant in the Duke's estate could easily undermine her behind her back.
After all, she would never complain to anyone, much less confront the servants.
Over time, their contempt for her only grew.
Not only the doorman, even Raelynn was reminded of those humiliating incidents from the past.
As Raelynn turned back, she caught the lingering sneer still on the doorman's face.
When he realized he'd been caught by Raelynn, the doorman's face froze for a split second.
But then, as if struck by a thought, that same contemptuous sneer returned.
If his earlier sneer was a mere mockery, this time, his smile at Raelynn was an outright provocation.
Of course, the doorman never thought Raelynn would actually be angered by this.
After all, just moments ago, Raelynn had even stopped her maid from scolding him.
At the thought, he tutted impatiently.
He urged with feigned concern, "Lady Raelynn, come inside. It's freezing out here, and for an unmarried young lady to return so late, if word got out, just imagine what people would say about it!"
Sienna was livid.
She thought, 'This insolent doorman not only disrespected Lady Raelynn, but even dared to imply she had loose morals!'
Before Sienna could voice her rebuke, Raelynn's right hand shot up and landed a sharp, resounding slap squarely across his cheek while the doorman's sneer was still frozen on his face,
Before he could react, she snapped her hand back and delivered another stinging slap to the other side of his face.
The crisp cracks of her slaps, mingled with the howling wind, echoed startlingly loud through the snowy night.
Sienna stared in shock at Raelynn, who had stepped protectively in front of her.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
'Lady Raelynn actually struck that insolent servant herself!' Sienna thought, utterly stunned.
Normally, a noble lady would never dirty her own hands. She'd simply order her servants to handle such matters.
After all, no one would dirty their own hands dealing with a lowly servant.
That was why Sienna couldn't understand why Raelynn had stopped her and insisted on delivering the slap herself.
The slap likewise left the doorman utterly stunned.
He stared dumbfounded at Raelynn, clutching his burning, swollen cheek, unable to utter a single word.
End of The Slave Queen Chapter 91. Continue reading Chapter 92 or return to The Slave Queen book page.