Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 120

Hector shouted as he charged forward, slashing one of the soldiers with his sword. The sound of the blade cutting through the air was followed by a spray of blood. As the captain swung his sword, the imperial guards found their courage and launched a coordinated attack. But it was a futile resistance.

 

Before long, the imperial guards fell one after another before Blanche’s soldiers. No matter how elite the emperor’s imperial guards were, they were only ever used for eliminating political enemies. They stood no chance against Blanche’s soldiers, who had honed their skills through real combat for many years.

 

“…!”

 

The elite troops the emperor had invested so heavily in had become nothing more than crimson flowers. One of Ignasio’s pillars of power, the weapon he had used to keep his political opponents in check, collapsed helplessly.

 

Hector felt as though he could barely breathe, his chest tightening. It can’t, it can’t end like this! Losing the Imperial Guard and returning empty-handed would mean the end for him. No, he might not even make it back to the emperor. His end could really be in this place.

 

Hector lifted his head. He then saw Epirosa staring at him coldly, her eyes filled with contempt. That’s it! Losing his reason, he grabbed Epirosa and pulled her toward him. As if she had been waiting for it, she was drawn into his grasp. “Stop at once! If you don’t stop, I’ll kill Epirosa Blanche!”

 

* * *

A cold metallic sensation touched my neck.

 

“Drop your weapons! Right now!”

 

The owner of the sword, cornered and desperate, trembled slightly in madness. Each time he shook, the sharp edge grazed my skin, leaving a stinging sensation. I might even have started bleeding a little.

 

But this isn’t enough. I need to be in greater danger. Only then will the aftermath be so catastrophic that they won’t be able to survive it. Then the emperor’s justification will shatter into pieces.

 

“Confess, now! Confess to the treason you committed!”

 

“…”

 

“If you don’t confess, I’ll kill you right here!” Hector, now utterly desperate, screamed in frustration. With all evidence and testimonies rendered useless, the only thing he needed now was a false confession.

 

I let out a small, mocking laugh, loud enough for him to hear.

 

“Do you really want to die?!”

 

Just as intended, Hector became even more frantic. Now, all I needed was for him to mess things up. I clenched my fist, bracing myself for the pain that was sure to come.

 

“Aunt, please convince Epirosa! At this rate, Epirosa is really going to die!” Stella shouted as she pushed Mom forward.

 

“!”

 

She knew better than anyone that Mom was in no condition to persuade me. Which meant the purpose of that sudden action was obvious. She wanted to let Hector know. That Mom is my weakness.

 

Stella must have realized it. Even if the Blanche family cleared its name today, she would gain nothing from it. It would be far better for Hubert to fall and for Gale to become the family head.

 

Keeping his sword at my throat, Hector reached toward Mom. At that moment, Mom muttered blankly, “Epirosa is going to die…?” Her red eyes turned to me.

 

In that instant, I grabbed Hector’s hand, the one holding the sword against me. Slice— A chilling sound of flesh being cut echoed. Pain surged through me, and something hot gushed out from my throat. Then, all the strength drained from my body.

 

“Kyaaa!”

 

“Mi-Milady!”

 

Screams erupted from the gathered servants.

 

“W-What in the…” The strength left Hector’s grip in his shock.

 

My body slid down, collapsing to the ground.

 

“Milady!” Benjamin rushed over and supported me. Even though he was aware of my plan, his face showed no small amount of panic. He urgently pressed his hand against my neck and whispered so only I could hear. “Milady, you’ve cut yourself far more than planned.”

 

“…I’m fine, just follow the plan…”

 

“Don’t speak. It’ll make you bleed more. And you mustn’t lose consciousness. Milady, Milady…!”

 

My mind was clear, but I couldn’t understand why Benjamin was shouting so desperately.

 

“I-I didn’t cut her! This b*tch forced it herself…!” Hector’s flustered voice sounded faint and distant.

 

“…”

 

Or maybe my mind wasn’t clear after all?

 

I watched as Mom picked up the sword of the dead imperial guard. She dashed forward lightly, like a butterfly, and struck at Hector with the sword. Hector managed to block her attack, but he looked utterly flustered. It wasn’t just because of the unexpected assault.

 

“T-The sword…!” Hector’s thick forearm trembled as he clashed swords with Mom.

 

Mom smirked and swung her sword at Hector again. He barely managed to block it, but this time, his legs wobbled. Still, Mom continued her relentless assault on Hector. Her sword danced through the air, as if painting a picture.

 

“Stop, stop…!” Hector shouted desperately, deflecting her sword. It was the moment he staggered, unable to withstand the onslaught. Mom’s sword slashed across his torso. Hector, who had been fighting her off with all his might, crumbled like water spilling out of a broken vessel. Thud!

 

The impact of his body hitting the ground reverberated vividly through me. That vibration snapped me back to my senses. Pushing Benjamin’s hand away, I pressed my own hand against my neck and stood.

 

The captain of the emperor’s imperial guard, Hector, lay collapsed like a felled tree with its base severed. The first thought that came to my mind wasn’t that we had defeated him. Mom saved me again. That made me feel a mix of relief and sadness.

 

I looked at Mom. Now, as always, she’ll go blank again. I stared at her as she stood holding the sword, quietly studying the opponent she had just brought down. It was then.

 

“Gasp, gasp!” Gale, who had witnessed the entire situation, bolted toward the mansion’s gate. He was trying to escape. But this time, the enraged employees blocked his path.

 

“Where do you think you’re running off to!”

 

“Do you think you can get away with this after what you’ve done!”

 

“Mo-Move! Ugh! Let go of me! Let go! Please let go!”

 

Dragged by the employees, Gale was thrown down in front of me. He glared at them with a furious expression, panting heavily.

 

“Do you think you’ll get away with this!”

 

“…”

 

“How dare you treat Gale Blanche like this…”

 

Cold, piercing eyes looked down at him. Gale’s voice grew quieter and quieter. He was no longer their superior. No longer a proud member of the Blanche family. He was nothing more than a disgrace, a traitor who had betrayed his father and his family.

 

It seemed Gale had finally come to terms with that cold reality. Avoiding the piercing glares of the servants, his eyes fell on the countless corpses strewn across the ground. The once confident expression on his face gradually turned pale, and in the end, he looked utterly pathetic.

 

Mizulin stepped forward toward Gale, who was in such a state. She picked up a sword that had fallen to the ground and pointed it at his neck.

 

“Uh, uwaaah!” Gale screamed and stumbled backward, falling to the ground.

 

Trembling, Gale scrambled to his feet and looked around. His children, Nicholas and Stella, had already disappeared, hiding themselves. Paterson was also nowhere to be seen, having left the scene. In the end, all he could do was look at me with a pitiful expression.

 

“E-Epirosa! P-Please help me!”

 

“…”

 

“T-This uncle… This uncle was wrong!”

 

Without answering, I stared at him coldly. Mizulin continued to glare at him, her sword still raised.

 

Growing desperate, Gale fell to his knees and began to beg. “Forgive me! I’m sorry for all the terrible things I’ve done to you. I regret what I did to Leonoe too! So please, s-spare my life…!”

 

With his head bowed and his rear raised in the air, he was the very picture of misery. Who would ever believe that this groveling man, rubbing his hands together like a fly, was once the eldest son of the Blanche family, who could bring even birds down from the sky? Now, Gale was a criminal who had abandoned his family and was bound to be forsaken by the emperor as well.

 

“Sob, sob! I’ll do everything you say! Please, spare me! Save me, I beg you…!”

 

The servants watched Gale grovel through tears and snot, eyes full of contempt. Finally, unable to bear the sight any longer, Mizulin kicked Gale’s raised backside with all her strength.

 

“Uugh…!” Gale crashed to the ground disgracefully, yet even then he didn’t stop holding up his hands and begging for mercy.