Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 117

* * *

It was strangely easy for the emperor’s imperial guards to cross Blache’s threshold. The guards assumed it was because Blanche had loosened its vigilance, trusting in the ‘pact’. Even if Blanche had private soldiers, the training grounds were far from the main mansion, so they could not come rushing over immediately.

 

Hector Reed, the captain of imperial guards, had been ordered to finish everything inside.

 

“What is the meaning of this?”

 

Only after the few private guards stationed at the entrance were helplessly cut down and the imperial guards had already reached the front of the mansion, did the butler come running out.

 

“I am Hector Reed, captain of His Majesty’s imperial guards! We know all about Blanche plotting a rebellion!”

 

“Re-Rebellion? What are you talking about?”

 

“Move aside!”

 

Hector kicked the butler and entered the mansion. Gale followed closely behind him. The armed guards caused the servants to scream in terror.

 

Ignoring them, Hector asked Gale, “Count, where is Epirosa Blanche?”

 

“She should be in the office! This way.”

 

Hector pushed Gale to lead the way. The servant’s eyes widened in shock.

 

“Could it be that Count Gale brought those soldiers here?”

 

“My god, how could he do such a thing?!”

 

Though trembling in fear, the servants glared at Gale with contempt.

 

“I’ll handle Epirosa Blanche. The rest of you, capture every member of the Blanche family.”

 

“Yes, Sir!”

 

At Hector’s command, several soldiers scattered throughout the mansion.

 

“Over here.” Gale stood in front of the office where the household affairs were managed and spoke.

 

Hector shoved Gale aside and flung the door open. Inside the office, Epirosa and Benjamin turned their heads simultaneously. Both of them were startled to see Hector armed to the teeth.

 

“Who allowed armed soldiers to enter Blanche?” Despite the situation, Epirosa asked calmly, without a hint of trembling. Far from being afraid, her sharp eyes betrayed a simmering anger.

 

“I am Hector Reed, captain of His Majesty’s imperial guard! I’ve come to execute you, traitors!”

 

At that moment, Gale suddenly burst forward from behind. His eyes caught sight of the report in Benjamin’s hand. “There it is! That’s the evidence of their treason!” He shouted, pointing at the report.

 

Epirosa frowned deeply. “Was it you, Uncle, who brought these armed soldiers into Blanche?”

 

Benjamin spoke, looking utterly baffled. “This isn’t evidence of treason. It’s a sales report.”

 

“They must have been pretending to report sales while secretly planning treason! Hiding their treasonous plans within the report… Uaah!” Gale couldn’t finish his sentence. It was because Hector had drawn his sword with a furious intensity.

 

Unlike Gale, who was trembling in fear despite being on the same side, Epirosa and Benjamin remained calm.

 

“Seize that report immediately and drag these two traitors out of here!”

 

The soldiers behind Hector stormed into the office.

 

“Can you take responsibility for that!” Epirosa’s voice rang out. It was a sharp, icy warning, almost unbelievable coming from her small frame.

 

The soldiers flinched, unnerved by the chilling aura of someone who had returned from the brink of death.

 

Hector, who had stained his sword with blood many times before, knew the scent of death well. But how could the scent of death be coming from such a young lady? What was even stranger was that the moment Epirosa’s blue eyes met Hector’s, even he instinctively took a step back.

 

“I asked if you could take responsibility for that.” Epirosa repeated, her voice cold and unyielding.

 

Hector noticed that his soldiers were all visibly intimidated. We can’t back down here. Not against some young girl! Pointing his sword at Epirosa, he spoke. “A traitor dares to speak of responsibility! I’ll take responsibility for everything! So surrender quietly and come along! Grab them already!”

 

Even though Hector barked the order, the soldiers hesitated.

 

At that moment, Epirosa took the report from Benjamin.

 

“What are you trying to pull?!” Hector shouted as he pointed his sword at her throat.

 

Epirosa glanced at the tip of the blade before holding the report out toward him. “Go ahead and inspect all you want.”

 

Hector’s eyes widened at that. Epirosa gestured as if telling him to hurry up and take it. Only then did he accept the report. “Search for the evidence of treason.” He handed the report to Gale.

 

Gale eagerly opened the report, his face lighting up with excitement. He recalled what Kobel had told him.

 

“Brother, I’ll secretly slip the evidence of treason among the documents Benjamin reports to Epirosa every Monday at 7 PM.”

 

He said he’d have Paterson insert it near the back of the report. That way, they could raid the place before Epirosa, who reviewed the report from the front pages onward, discovered it. It’s over for you now, Epirosa!

 

Smirking, Gale flipped through the back pages of the report. But no matter how much he searched, the rebellion plans Kobel mentioned were nowhere to be found. W-What’s going on here?

 

“Count, why is this taking so long?” Hector, still holding his sword to Epirosa, urged impatiently.

 

“Ju-Just wait a moment! It’s because the report is so massive, and it was hidden somewhere inside it.”

 

But even after searching through everything again from the front pages onward, no evidence of treason appeared. Cold sweat began to drip down Gale’s face.

 

Epirosa, who had been watching him with a cold gaze, finally spoke. “Looks like there’s nothing to find.”

 

At those words, Hector glared at Gale. “Don’t tell me there’s nothing.”

 

“T-That’s not it…”

 

Hector’s eyes twisted in frustration. “Count, are you playing games with me right now?”

 

“E-Even if it’s not this, there’s plenty of other evidence. Search the entire mansion. You’ll find records of treason meetings and receipts for weapons smuggling.”

 

Hector shot Gale a fiery glare before barking orders at the soldiers. “Spread out through this mansion and find evidence of treason!” Half of the soldiers began tearing apart the office, while the rest scattered throughout the mansion. He then reached out his hand to drag Epirosa away.

 

“I’ll walk out on my own.”

 

Hector’s hand froze in midair.

 

“The same goes for Benjamin.”

 

Epirosa walked past him as if the sword didn’t scare her at all.

 

* * *

Crash! A loud noise and shouting came from downstairs.

 

“What’s going on?” Stella asked the maid with an annoyed expression.

 

“I’ll go check it out.”

 

“Milady!” At that moment, another maid burst into the room. “Milady, something terrible has happened! The emperor’s imperial guards have invaded the mansion!”

 

“What?” Stella shot up from her seat. “What are you talking about? There’s a pact between our family and the imperial family. Even the imperial guards can’t just barge in.”

 

“Count Gale himself led the imperial guards here!”

 

“My father, who should be in the Tower of Condemned? Have you lost your mind?”

 

“It’s true! They’re accusing us of treason, and the one who seems to be their leader has gone to Lady Epirosa’s office. They’re also ordering the arrest of all the other members of the Blanche family.” The maid’s explanation was detailed.

 

Stella’s face hardened.

 

“You must escape at once, Milady.”

 

Stella quickly left the room with the maids. But the downstairs area was already in complete chaos. She saw Kobel, Juliet, and crying Nicholas being dragged away by the imperial guards. It’s real!

 

She abandoned the maids and ran upstairs alone. Where should I hide? The attic? The study? As Stella panicked, her eyes caught sight of two people heading toward the attic. It was Leonoe and Britlyn.

 

“Madam Leonoe, you have to hurry and hide.”

 

“Mmm…”

 

It seemed moving around wasn’t easy because of Leonoe.

 

Just as Stella was about to pass them, a cunning thought crossed her mind. If the leader of this raid went to Epirosa’s office, it means their target is Epirosa. Whether the accusation was treason or something else, her father was trying to frame Epirosa. But with Epirosa’s personality, there’s no way she’ll obediently do what they want unless they have leverage on her.

 

Stella quietly stared at Leonoe. The sound of soldiers approaching from downstairs was growing louder. No matter where I hide, I’m just a rat trapped in a cage. In that case, she had to offer them a sacrifice and survive alone if she could.

 

Stella strode straight toward Leonoe.