The Slave Queen - Chapter 93: Chapter 93

Raelynn sneered. "If word got out that even the servants of the Duke's estate dared to bully me, imagine what people would say about the Duke of Seymore and Lord Gabriel. They will only say that you are utterly incompetent in managing your staff."
Raelynn deliberately stressed those last words, her tone sharp and unmistakable.
Gabriel's expression hardened. He said sternly, "Since when did you become so sharp-tongued?"
'Oh, so now I'm sharp-tongued?' Raelynn thought, a hint of disdain in her mind.
Raelynn smirked inwardly, 'He only tries to put me down because he knows I'm right and can't out-argue me. He just can't stand that I've got the upper hand.'
Raelynn met Gabriel's gaze, her expression darkening as she delivered each word with deliberate weight. "Or, could it be that because I spent years as a servant in the Aether Sanctum, even the servants of the Duke's estate now see me as nothing more than a true servant as well?"
Her words hit Gabriel right where it hurt most.
But Raelynn couldn't care less.
She made sure to constantly remind Gabriel how, for the sake of an impostor, they had pushed their own flesh and blood out to take the fall.
In the past, Raelynn had simply wanted to keep her distance from the Lennox family, with neither side interfering in the other's affairs.
But since they'd been bullying her over and over again, she wouldn't hesitate to publicly fall out with them.
From now on, she would never allow herself to be wronged again.
Sure enough, Gabriel's face darkened almost instantly upon hearing Raelynn's words.
He said, "Raelynn, I'm your brother! Must you talk to me this way?"
Raelynn's voice sharpened. "Really? Was anything I said untrue? Or are you truly so oblivious that you don't even know whether the servants in this estate respect me or not?"
Her question left Gabriel utterly speechless.
Deep down, he knew the truth.
But Gabriel had always assumed it was just because of the lingering servant habits from her years in the Aether Sanctum.
But little did he know that the truth turned out to be otherwise.
After a long pause, Gabriel's lips trembled as he stammered, "But, you can't just..."
Raelynn cut him off. "Lord Gabriel, tell the servants of the Duke's estate that from now on, they have to show proper respect to me, the future wife of Lord Shawn. Otherwise, they'll end up just like that gatekeeper."
Raelynn locked eyes with Gabriel, enunciating each word with cold precision, "I will show no mercy to any servant who dares disrespect me. Should a few end up beaten to death one day, they'll have only themselves to blame."
"You..." Gabriel's voice trailed off, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Raelynn suddenly let out a strange and chilling smile. "Over these years at the noble consort's side, I've mastered quite a few methods of torment. Lord Gabriel, I know you're here to pick on me on behalf of Julia. Please let her know I have absolutely no interest in competing for the affection of you, the Duke of Seymore, or the Duchess."
Raelynn said coldly, "If she dares to provoke me or my future husband again, I won't hesitate to give her a couple of slaps and let her get a taste of the tormenting methods I mastered in the Aether Sanctum.
"After all, she had it coming, didn't she?"
The last trace of color drained from Gabriel's face.
Utterly overwhelmed by sheer terror, Gabriel's eyes widened and his lips quivered.
Gabriel stammered, "Raelynn, are you truly still holding a grudge against me and our parents for that?"
He was heartbroken by Raelynn's suffering in the Aether Sanctum, but what truly horrified him was realizing she might actually use those very tormenting methods on them.
What devastated him most was Raelynn's open disdain. She actually said she couldn't care less about his affection.
Gabriel's heart ached as he thought, 'Could it be that, in Raelynn's heart, I truly mean so little to her now?'
The realization hit Gabriel like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily breathless.
After a long moment, Gabriel finally sucked in two shaky breaths, as if Raelynn's words had knocked the air out of him.
As Raelynn watched Gabriel's ashen face, she felt nothing but cold indifference.
Without so much as a backward glance, Raelynn turned on her heel to leave.
But just as Raelynn turned to leave, Gabriel seized her wrist from behind.
Despite the overwhelming fear gripping his heart, Gabriel's voice only grew even colder and more unyielding.
Gabriel demanded, "Raelynn, just how much longer are you going to keep up with this act?
"I've told you countless times. Our parents and I will make it up to you. Why must you be so petty as to insist on antagonizing your sister..."
Before Gabriel could finish, Raelynn's sharp slap cracked across his face.
The sharp slap cut Gabriel off mid-sentence, forcing every word back down his throat.
Raelynn flexed her stinging fingers, her gaze locking onto Gabriel with glacial indifference.
"Lord Gabriel, are you stupid?" Raelynn snapped, her voice dripping with contempt.
Gabriel's eyes widened in utter disbelief as he stared at Raelynn.
Gabriel stared at her in disbelief. He never imagined Raelynn would actually hit him and speak to him with such utter contempt.
Seeing Gabriel standing there dumbfounded, Raelynn simply rolled her eyes.
She snapped, "Don't you ever come yapping at me like some stray mutt again."
With that, Raelynn turned and strode off, Sienna in tow.
Gabriel shouted, "Wait. Stop right there!"
He suddenly snapped out of his daze and strode forward, cutting Raelynn off.
Raelynn's brow furrowed again.
She fixed him with a look of utter disdain.
Gabriel couldn't stand the way she looked at him. It was like he was nothing but trash.