Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 105

“Fa-Fa-Father. What kind of non-nonsense are you saying?” Gale tried to stay composed. But his body kept trembling, as if he had really been struck by an arrow.

 

Hubert stared at his son with a terrifying gaze. “You were also the one behind the order to attack Leonoe, weren’t you?”

 

“Father, why are you doing this? It wasn’t me!”

 

“Marie Lotus confessed everything. She said you were the one who ordered the attack on Leonoe.”

 

“!”

 

“Ah, and before that. That fellow Wise tried to kill Marie Lotus. Fortunately, I anticipated it and stopped him. Wise also admitted he was acting under your orders.”

 

Damn Wise! Stella recommended him as someone useful, so I put him to work, but he failed! Gale bit his lip. His whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind. “T-That’s not true. Wise is Stella’s confidant, not someone I have any dealings with.”

 

Hubert let out a heavy sigh. To sell out even your own daughter just to survive. He found it not merely pathetic but disgusting. “Are you still going to claim innocence even with a witness?”

 

“Wi-Witnesses can fabricate testimonies as much as they want. Isn’t evidence what’s truly important?”

 

Yes, evidence was what mattered. If there had been evidence, they would have brought that up before any witness testimony. Feeling more confident, Gale raised his voice. “Father, do you have any evidence?”

 

Hubert glared at his son’s shameless face. “I gave you one last chance.”

 

“Father, I told you, I am innocent!”

 

“For the time being, go down to Hepas territory.”

 

At the mention of Hepas territory, Gale’s body stiffened like stone. It was one of the many territories owned by the Blanche family. However, it was a place with little presence. Because it was a small land located in the barren north. It wasn’t even near the border, so there was no chance to gain merit by hunting down demonic beasts. It was just a place where one would suffer from the cold all year round, trapped in a shabby castle.

 

Being sent to Hepas territory is no different from being exiled! In other words, it meant being eliminated as a candidate for succession.

 

“Father!” Gale shouted as if having a seizure. But Hubert spoke as if he couldn’t hear his son’s outburst.

 

“There will be plenty for you to do in Hepas.”

 

“This can’t be happening!” Gale collapsed to his knees, wailing. “Do you still not trust me? The matter with Leonoe is based on a witness alone! And the incident with Epirosa has neither a witness nor evidence!”

 

“If there had been clear evidence regarding the Epirosa incident, I would have dealt with you right here and now.”

 

“!”

 

Hubert spoke coldly. Gale looked up at him with a face full of shock.

 

“B-But… if I’m stuck in a place like Hepas, I’ll wither away and die! Either way, it’s the same as dying!” He might as well die quickly. Once the eldest son of a ducal family, being exiled to such a remote place would surely lead to a miserable, slow death. “Father, please let me face Marie Lotus!”

 

“Are you talking about the witness you tried to silence by killing?” Hubert sneered. He had no mercy left to spare for Gale. “Go. To Hepas.”

 

“Father! Father, please believe me! Please!”

 

“You’ll be ready to leave within a month. Depart immediately.”

 

It was clear Hubert didn’t care whether Gale lived or died. Realizing this, Gale’s vision went dark.

 

“Fa-Father…! Keugh…!” Gale screamed before losing consciousness.

 

Hubert frowned and turned his head away. Instead, Benjamin ordered someone to drag Gale out. It was a disgraceful exit.

 

* * *

The shocking news reached Stella as well.

 

“What? Father is being exiled to the Hepas territory?”

 

“Yes, Milady! You must plead to the grand duke to stop this!” As soon as he heard the news, Paterson rushed over and spoke.

 

Stella’s face turned pale. The Hepas territory was a treacherous land where even the fiercest beasts struggled to survive.

 

“If Father goes to Hepas, what about me? Am I supposed to go too?”

 

“That’s not the case. His Excellency didn’t mention anything about Lord Nicholas or Lady Stella.”

 

Only then did Stella let out a sigh of relief.

 

“That’s why you, who are still in His Grace’s good graces, must appeal to the Grand Duke!” Paterson pleaded earnestly. But for some reason, Stella just avoided the topic. “Milady…?”

 

“Tell my brother to do that. He’s the eldest son, isn’t he?”

 

“What? But His Excellency favors you more than Lord Nicholas.”

 

“Which is exactly why I can’t go! What if I lose his favor too!” Stella was already aware that Hubert’s gaze toward her had grown colder because of Epirosa.

 

Paterson looked utterly shocked. But Stella remained calm. If Grandfather intends to send Father to Hepas, then Father is as good as done. Nothing will change even if I step in. On the contrary, it might only expose the fact that she was the one who had instigated the attacks on Epirosa and Leonoe.

 

Hubert was the type to give his children opportunities, but he was merciless if they crossed the line. I have to protect myself, at least. Moreover, unlike Diane, Gale didn’t actively protect Stella.

 

For a noble lady, having parents is usually better than not. But Gale’s was an exception. He was trying to sell me off to an old man like Marquis Mateng! The plan to attack Leonoe and force Epirosa to step down on her own had failed. So if Gale didn’t go to Hepas, he would likely try to sell Stella off to Marquis Mateng to rebuild his position.

 

It’s better if Father goes to Hepas alone! Even if she lost both parents, Stella still had Duke Claude Clementi. If she became the duchess or even the future crown princess, having no parents wouldn’t be a problem. Besides, I’m a Blanche. Even if Gale fell, Stella was confident she herself would survive.

 

Seeing Stella’s cold and unfeeling demeanor, Paterson spoke with a fearful expression. “T-Then, why don’t you at least visit Count Gale to check on him? He fainted in shock after hearing he had to go to Hepas.”

 

“What if Grandfather suspects I’m siding with Father if I do that?”

 

“Mi-Milady…”

 

“Paterson, stop saying useless things and get out. I’m busy.” Stella coldly drove out the pale-faced Paterson.

 

* * *

“Uh, uugh…!” Gale shot up from the bed. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and his head throbbed as if it were about to split open. It felt like he had just woken up from a terrible nightmare.

 

“Milord! Are you alright!” The attending doctor, who had been standing by his side, shouted in alarm.

 

“I feel like I had a horrible nightmare. But why are you here?”

 

“Well, that’s…” The doctor felt a pang of pity for Gale, who was dismissing reality as just a nightmare. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke. “Milord, you collapsed in His Excellency’s office, and—”

 

“What… did you just say?”

 

Wasn’t that the exact scenario from the nightmare he had just been dreaming about? But it wasn’t a dream?

 

“Are you telling me I really have to go to Hepas?”

 

“Milord…”

 

“Lies! Don’t lie to me!”

 

“Please calm down! This will only worsen your condition—”

 

“Get out! Get out of here! You b*stard! Who says I’m being exiled to Hepas!”

 

Gale began throwing anything he could get his hands on in a fit of rage. The attending doctor, along with the hired staff guarding the area, fled the room in a panic.

 

It was only after he had completely exhausted himself that Gale stopped throwing things. But his head felt like it was going to split open even more. The nightmare wasn’t just a nightmare. It was reality. He felt like he was going insane.

 

Sending me to Hepas is basically telling me to wither away to death! But this was Gale Blanche. He couldn’t let it end like this. He had spent his entire life struggling to become Grand Duke Blanche. There was no way he was going to rot away in some place like Hepas and let his life end there.

 

I’ll have Stella calm Father down. He’ll listen to her. First, I need to put out this fire. Gale tried to come up with a plan in his own way, unaware that Stella had already abandoned him.

 

At that moment, Gale realized there was something under his left palm. Huh? What is this? Without thinking, he pulled his left hand out from under the blanket. His left hand was clenched into a fist. It felt awkward, as if someone had forcibly made him clench it.

 

A sense of foreboding washed over him. Trembling, Gale slowly opened his hand. There was a small note in the palm of his hand. The note was written in crooked handwriting, as if a child had written it.

 

“What kind of joke is t—” Gale couldn’t finish his sentence. His eyes widened as if they were about to pop out after reading the note.

 

The note read: [Have you perhaps lost a precious button?]