Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 111

* * *

Blanche Theater suited Gale’s grave better than Hepas. Becoming a clown before everyone’s eyes and confessing his own crimes. He won’t even dare dream of making a comeback. Once he crawls across the cold prison floor, he’ll probably start wishing he had been sent to Hepas instead.

 

It was then that a sweet scent wafted through the air. A smell that didn’t belong in the merciless hall of vengeance. The moment I turned my head toward the source of the fragrance, fresh flowers swayed right in front of me.

 

“Congratulations on the new opera performance.”

 

There stood Ludwig, holding the flowers or rather a bouquet. On his chest was the silver brooch I had gifted him.

 

I hesitated for a moment before looking up at Ludwig. Ludwig, whose eyes met mine, smiled. No matter when I saw it, it was truly a splendid smile. But there was one thing different. His crimson eyes were unlike usual. His eyes aren’t smiling. They held a subtly cold light.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.” I accepted the bouquet, carefully observing his eyes.

 

Just then, the sound of the opera starting echoed from outside. However, Ludwig didn’t leave my side. Instead, he murmured softly. “You’re playing a dangerous play.” His voice was both tender and chilling, sending shivers down my spine. “Next time, let me join as an actor too. I’m good at dangerous things.”

 

Ludwig was still smiling. His face carried a playful expression, making his cold red eyes seem all the more out of place.

 

“Your Highness has no need to perform dangerous acts.”

 

“Seems like you don’t trust my acting skills.” Ludwig spoke self-deprecatingly, his gaze fixed somewhere. It was to my neck. The very neck that Gale had gripped. “Then don’t get hurt.”

 

“…”

 

“If you get hurt again, I might just storm the stage next time.” He chuckled like a mischievous boy and turned away.

 

But instinctively, I knew. He meant every word.

 

* * *

After the opera ended, Stella hurriedly left the theater. She had wanted to leave midway, but standing up alone would have drawn even more attention, so she gave up on the idea. It would have been better to hide in the crowd and escape.

 

Even as she fled the theater, Stella didn’t forget to blame someone else. Damn Epirosa! She knew I was coming to see the opera and deliberately caused all this today, didn’t she?

 

Today was the premiere of the new opera Epirosa had heavily promoted. It was an event where all the prominent figures of the capital gathered. Missing such an important social occasion was out of the question.

 

Stella had been maintaining her image by spreading lies about helping with the opera Epirosa had been preparing. Epirosa, perhaps still unaware of it, had said nothing. So Stella had intended to ride Epirosa’s coattails and recover her damaged reputation. But then… Who would’ve thought Father would cause such a scene before the opera even started?

 

A confession of attempted murder in front of a gathering of prominent figures from all walks of life! And as if that wasn’t enough, he even went as far as to strangle Epirosa!

 

Has he gone insane? If he was going to do it, he should have done it secretly without getting caught!

 

Not long ago, her father had seemed enormous and dependable as a mountain. The prospective heir of the Blanche family. What a sweet and prestigious title that was. There had been days when she felt so fortunate to be Gale’s daughter. But now, Gale looked nothing more than a pathetic and incompetent fool.

 

Stella hurried out of the theater, but the area was already crowded. She could see them whispering while looking at her. However, they didn’t seem to have the courage to approach her and say anything outright. Let’s just quickly get on the carriage and go home!

 

But Epirosa had no intention of allowing Stella to return home safely.

 

“Look, it’s Gale Blanche!” Someone shouted.

 

The crowd pushed Stella aside and rushed off somewhere. Instinctively, Stella turned her gaze to where the people were heading. Gale was being dragged away by public security soldiers, bound tightly.

 

“Let me go! Let go! I’m innocent! Did you get Father’s permission? Do you even know who I am!” Perhaps because he had trashed around so much, Gale was barefoot, and even his clothes were torn. The sight of him being dragged along in such a state, tightly bound, was truly miserable. But that wasn’t the end of it.

 

“You shameless b*stard!”

 

“So the rumors were true that you harassed Lady Epirosa recently too!”

 

“A devil like you, trying to kill your own niece when she shares a bloodline with you too.”

 

Some people began throwing stones and splattering mud at him.

 

“Uh, aack! Save me!” Gale screamed and tried to hide behind the soldiers.

 

Stella turned her head away in embarrassment. Why drag him away now of all times? Moreover, in front of everyone! They could have taken him during the opera!

 

Stella had no idea. She didn’t know that Epirosa had deliberately chosen this particular time. The more eyes watching he was taken away, the more thoroughly he would be trampled.

 

I need to get out of here quickly. But the heavens weren’t on Stella’s side this time either.

 

“Stella! My daughter, there you are! Help me, your father!” Gale had spotted Stella.

 

Is that man insane? Stella cursed him inwardly.

 

The gazes of the people around her turned toward Stella, who was now scowling.

 

“Oh my, it’s Stella Blanche.”

 

“Walking around with her head held high like nothing happened…”

 

“Could she really not know what her father did?”

 

People openly glared at Stella and whispered among themselves. It felt like the fragile honor she had barely managed to hold onto was crumbling to pieces. Overwhelmed by despair and humiliation, tears welled up in Stella’s eyes.

 

“Hic!” In the end, she bit her lip and ran away.

 

“Running away and abandoning your father just because the situation turned against you!”

 

“Even after all the benefits you’ve received thanks to your father, how cruel!”

 

People spat at Stella’s back as she fled. But soon, Stella faded from their attention. It was because Gale, who was being dragged away while struggling desperately, was right in front of them.

 

Only one person continued to watch Stella’s carriage as it hurriedly disappeared into the distance. A sigh, heavy with regret, escaped his lips. “…How did my proud older brother and my niece end up in such a state?”

 

He removed the black hat he was wearing. Beneath the cascading brown hair, ominous red eyes were revealed.

 

“I suppose I must help them.”

 

His name was Kobel Banche. Gale’s younger brother and Hubert’s seconds on. And the very one who had placed the curse on Leonoe.

 

* * *

The opera’s premiere couldn’t exactly be called a success. Even after the curtain fell, people talked only about Gale, not the opera.  At least the surprise play was a success.

 

Gale’s honor had been torn to shreds, scattered on the ground, and there was no chance for him to recover now. He would be locked up in a prison run by the public security department. There he’ll wait for the judgment of the law. Two counts of attempted murder, perhaps he would be sent to the Tower of Condemned. That punishment is far too light.

 

In my previous life, Gale had been the mastermind who had killed my mother and me. He needed to know what it felt like to have his insides twisted and to cough up blood in agony.

 

“Epirosa, you must have been terribly frightened.” Hubert, sitting across from me in the carriage on our way home, spoke.

 

Snapping out of my thoughts, I touched my neck, which was covered with a handkerchief. My swollen neck burned even with the slightest touch.

 

“Gale said it himself. That he was the one who drove Leonoe mad.” Hubert spoke in a deeply sunken voice. “I didn’t even know that. The very Grand Duke Blanche.” On his youthful face, which didn’t match someone who had several grandchildren, lingered a guilt that had been buried for over a decade.

 

“Did you know?” Hubert asked, his gaze filled with regret. “Is that why you brought Gale down with your own hands?” His tone wasn’t accusatory. Rather, it felt like he was apologizing for only realizing it now. “Even Diane… You were behind all of that too, weren’t you?” He asked.

 

What’s the point of hiding it now? Since Hubert had suspected it for a while, I slowly nodded.

 

Hubert shut his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, the veins in his eyes stood out, making them look slightly red.

 

I opened my mouth to speak. “I’m sorry for disgracing the family.”

 

“Letting the b*stard who tried to kill his niece walk around openly is what truly disgraces the family!” Hubert raised his voice. “What if this foolish old man had sent him to Hepas just because there was no evidence? He would have schemed endlessly to rise again.” He spoke with a tone of regret. Then, he took my hand.

 

“From now on, Gale won’t be able to touch you or your mother. You have done what you needed to do. Now I will protect you and Leonoe.” With reddened eyes, Hubert looked at me gently. “I will also do everything in my power to help Leonoe recover.” He spoke as if making a vow. “Until now, I believed she could never recover. But if Gale interfered and made her this way, then there must be a method. Whatever it is, I will find it.”