The Slave Queen - Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Raelynn was kind-hearted to the core.
She never made things difficult for the maids in Lunebloom Hollow and was always highly considerate of them.
She rarely required anyone to keep night watch.
So the maids only needed to report matters briefly. As long as they weren't deliberately neglecting their duties, Raelynn would never punish them.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Raelynn just nodded.
She said, "Eileen is getting on in years and has always been reliable. Even if she's awake now, there's really nothing that needs her attention."
In truth, Eileen Alexander was only about a decade older than Cecilia.
It was only because she'd been tormented by her in-laws during childbirth in her youth, leaving her with chronic ailments, that she appeared older than her years.
Having once served as a maid, Raelynn naturally empathized with the servants.
Yet this very kindness led many snobbish wretches in the Duke's estate to mistake her compassion for weakness, thinking she was easy to push around.
Though Raelynn was determined to reform the servants throughout the Duke's estate, she made an exception for those in Lunebloom Hollow.
It was because the servants there had always been diligent and never once presumed upon her good nature or acted above their station.
As they spoke, Elaine finished preparing a bowl of warm drink and brought it in for Raelynn.
Elaine said, "Lady Raelynn, have some drink to ward off the chill. You cannot get a cold."
Raelynn took a spoonful and found it far tastier than the usual soup.
"Elaine, your cooking is truly impressive," Raelynn praised.
She never hesitated to compliment her maids when they excelled.
Elaine beamed and said, "If you like it, Lady Raelynn, I'll make it for you again tomorrow."
With a hint of envy, Nina asked, "Lady Raelynn, was the Ice Party fun today?"
She had actually been looking forward to attending and seeing a bit of the world herself.
But just as she was about to leave this morning, she ran into a nasty hiccup.
She was quite angry.
All day long, as she worked, she'd cursed Julia repeatedly in her mind.
Seeing Nina's cautious expression, Raelynn finished the last spoonful of the drink.
She was just about to speak when Lane suddenly frowned and asked, "By the way, my lady, where is Sienna?"
"I'm right here!" Sienna called out.
The next moment, the door swung open to reveal her beaming as she entered, cradling a rosewood jewelry box in her hands.
"Sienna!" The three maids rushed forward to greet her.
"My lady," Sienna said as she approached and offered a respectful curtsy to Raelynn.
Raelynn simply nodded, casually dismissing the formality.
Though Raelynn had repeatedly said her maids needn't curtsy in private, these discreet girls wouldn't dream of neglecting the proper manners the society required of them.
Not one of them ever failed to observe the rules of etiquette.
So, in the end, Raelynn stopped insisting and simply let them have their way.
"Has Grandmother gone to sleep? And what's that in your hands?" Raelynn's gaze fell upon the rosewood box Sienna was holding as she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Sienna placed the box on the table before Raelynn and replied casually, "My lady, when I went just now, your grandmother was already in bed but couldn't sleep, worrying about your safe return. Only after I reassured her did she let Esther and the others help her settle in for the night."
Upon hearing this, Raelynn's eyes suddenly welled up.
'Grandmother cares so much about me,' she thought, her heart swelling with emotion.
She looked gratefully at Sienna. "Sienna, thank you for making this trip for me. Otherwise, I'd have made Grandmother worry all night again."
Sienna replied respectfully, "It was my duty, my lady."
She then took several property deeds from the box and added, "Before I left, Her Ladyship instructed me to give these to you, Lady Raelynn"
"What's this..." Raelynn murmured.
As she recognized what it was, her confusion only deepened.
Sienna smiled and said, "Her Ladyship said that now you've grown up, and with your marriage in half a year, she's entrusting these shops and estates to your personal care. If there's anything you're unsure about, you can always consult Her Ladyship at Embergrace House.
"Once you've proven yourself with these, Her Ladyship will gladly entrust the rest of her properties to you as well."
Hearing this, Raelynn was almost speechless.
Yet she could truly feel Margot's thoughtful care.
Worried that Raelynn had never managed family affairs, Margot had handed over her properties for her to practice on, not even fearing she might make mistakes.
Even Cecilia had never shown Raelynn this level of trust.
Raelynn's eyes brimmed with tears, and she felt a lump form in her throat.
Sienna said softly, "Lady Raelynn, please don't cry. Her Ladyship said that you are, after all, the cherished heiress of the Duke's estate, and you deserve to wed the finest gentleman in the world.
"She also said you won't have to wait until after she's gone. On your wedding day, she'll give you all her possessions as your wedding gifts to bless your new life."
Raelynn couldn't hold back her tears any longer. They streamed silently down her cheeks.
Sniffling, she said with a shaky voice, "Grandmother, you trust me too much. I've never managed anything like this before. Aren't you afraid that I might end up running your businesses into the ground?"
Sienna said gently, "Her Ladyship said you're her own flesh and blood, and she has every faith in you."