Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 121

* * *

Not long after, Hubert returned. He didn’t even bat an eye at the blood-soaked mansion.

 

“Send all the corpses back to His Majesty. Tell him it’s a gift from Hubert Blanche, offered with utmost loyalty.”

 

But even Hubert couldn’t hide his shock when he saw my neck. Though I had covered the wound by pressing on it with my hand, I couldn’t stop the blood from flowing down beneath it.

 

“Epirosa, what happened? Who dared do this to you!”

 

Although I had informed Hubert of our plan, I hadn’t told him that I intended to throw myself into danger. Because I knew he would oppose it.

 

Benjamin answered Hubert’s question in my stead. “it was the work of the captain of the imperial guards, Hector Reed.”

 

“Don’t send Hector Reed’s corpse back to His Majesty! Burn it so thoroughly that not even a trace remains!” Hubert roared in fury and gave his command.

 

At the sight, Gale trembled and curled up in fear. It was then that Hubert noticed his son clinging to the floor like a fly.

 

“Gale Blanche…” Hubert looked at his son with eyes full of disgust.

 

“Fa-Father, I was wrong! Please forgive me just this once…”

 

“From this moment on, you’re no longer a Blanche.”

 

“…!”

 

“Throw this vermin into the underground prison.”

 

“Fa-Father! Father…!” Gale wailed as he was dragged away, leaving a trail behind him.

 

Hubert bent down to examine my injuries.

 

“It’s just a scratch on the skin.”

 

“With this much blood, you call it a scratch? Go see a doctor and get treatment immediately.”

 

“I will, Grandpa. But please don’t worry too much. I’m really fine.”

 

Hubert bit his lip. “Don’t say you’re fine so carelessly! If anything had happened to you, this old man wouldn’t have…!” He trailed off, closing his eyes tightly as if he couldn’t bear the thought. Then, with a deep sigh, he continued. “…This old man wouldn’t have been able to endure it.”

 

His low voice echoed through the room, and my eyes widened. I could hardly believe that Hubert, a man who looked as if not a drop of blood would come out even if he got stabbed, would say such a thing.

 

I knew Hubert had opened his heart to me, but I never expected him to become this shaken just because I was hurt. Although he considered me a useful granddaughter, I had thought that even if I disappeared, he would simply search for another solution without wavering. Yet now, he looked as though he couldn’t bear to lose me.

 

“Grandpa…” I called out to him with a trembling voice.

 

“Be more careful from now on. Though I doubt you’ll listen to this grandfather.” Hubert bit his lip and turned his head away. “By the way, where are Nicholas and Stella? Did something happen to them?”

 

“No.” Benjamin replied. “They have already taken shelter.”

 

“So they ran off on their own.” Hubert’s eyes sharpened. The concern he had shown for his grandchild turned into disdain.

 

At that moment, Mizulin stepped forward. “Though the two of them fled, Lady Epirosa courageously stayed to protect the family.”

 

Following her, other servants began to speak up.

 

“That’s right! The lady stood her ground and boldly faced the captain of the imperial guards for the sake of Blanche!”

 

“Thanks to the young lady risking her life, we were able to save ours too!”

 

The servants all chimed in, praising me.

 

Hubert nodded as if he were proud. It was then that his red eyes froze, as if nailed to a spot. “Leonoe.”

 

Mom was staring intently at Hubert, holding a sword.

 

“It’s dangerous. Take the sword away from Leonoe.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Britlyn approached Mom. “Madam Leonoe, please hand over the sword. You might get hurt like this.”

 

Then it happened. Mom brushed off Britlyn’s hand and walked straight toward Hubert. I noticed her expression was unusually cold.

 

“Father.” A clear and firm voice flowed from her lips. “What is the meaning of all this? And…” Mom’s sharp red eyes turned to me. “Who is that child?”

 

* * *

“T-That… Hubert Blanche!!!” Ignasio let out a furious roar as he stared at the neatly laid-out but gruesome corpses.

 

The elite imperial guards he had painstakingly raised had all returned as cold bodies. Even worse, in the case of Hector Reed, the captain of the imperial guards, only bloodstained clothes had been returned.

 

These ‘gifts’ sent to him were an unmistakable mockery. Yet all Ignasio could do was rage and shout. He was the one who had broken the pact, and despite that, he was also the one who had lost. With the forces currently at his disposal, he had no confidence that he could defeat Blanche.

 

And so, just like that late emperor before him, Ignasio could do nothing but seethe with anger.

 

* * *

With the annihilation of the imperial guards, the surveillance around Ludwig was naturally lifted as well. The remaining soldiers now had to protect the emperor.

 

Even while under surveillance, Ludwig hadn’t been idle. He exchanged messages with Count Dominic Argent through carrier pigeons to assess the situation and secretly stationed an elite force near Blanche. It was all in preparation for a worst-case scenario. Fortunately, Ludwig never had to intervene.

 

Once again, it’s Blanche’s victory. Or should I say Epirosa’s victory?

 

Ludwig confidently left the crown prince’s palace now that the surveillance had disappeared. Now it was time to go see Epirosa.

 

* * *

A heavy silence filled Hubert Blanche’s office. Hubert sat deep in thought with a serious expression. I sat beside him, my face pale as I tightly clasped my hands together. And Mom leaned against the wall, watching the two of us with an expressionless face. The one to break the silence was Hubert.

 

“Leonoe, do you really not remember anything?”

 

“I remember Father. And the rest of the family too. But I don’t understand. You’re saying I left home. And then…” Those piercing red eyes, so clear they felt almost sharp, fixed on me. “You’re telling me that child is my daughter?”

 

Mom’s face felt unfamiliar. Every muscle in her face moved with deliberate intent, her lips never parting unless she spoke. Her gaze was sharp, her expression cold. Her voice was lower than I remembered, her pronunciation precise. This was Mom before the curse.

 

She’s stuck in memories from before she left the Grand Duchy Blanche, before she even met Father.

 

Though confused, Mom maintained her composure while repeatedly driving daggers into my heart.

 

“Her name is Epirosa Blanche. Since I don’t know who her father is, I gave her my surname. Even if we find her father, this child will remain a Blanche.” Hubert spoke firmly.

 

Mom, with her arms crossed, looked at him with a surprised expression. “That child must have really won your heart.”

 

“Not ‘that child,’ she’s ‘your’ child.”

 

“I know. But still… It’s not easy to accept.”

 

It felt like my heart dropped to the floor. Not easy to accept? Of course, from Mom’s perspective, having lost her memories, that’s only natural. But still… My chest was pounding so hard I felt like I might collapse at any moment.

 

As my expression grew darker, Hubert spoke urgently. “Leonoe, look closely at Epirosa. Anyone can see she’s your daughter. Doesn’t she look just like you?”

 

Mom, with her red eyes and crimson hair, stared at me intently. “Pink hair, blue eyes…”

 

“…”

 

“A gentle, delicate face…”

 

Honestly, we didn’t look alike at all. Hubert’s attempt at persuasion had backfired. Mom’s expression only grew more confused.

 

I forced myself to look calm and spoke to the two of them. “Mom’s been unwell for a long time, so maybe her memories are just returning slowly.”

 

Mom looked at me. It wasn’t with the eyes of maternal affection, but rather as if she were observing me. That gaze pricked at my chest, but I forced myself to pretend I didn’t notice.

 

“Still, I’m just happy that your consciousness has become clearer, Mom. Thank you.”

 

Mom looked at me with a peculiar expression as I spoke maturely.

 

“Mom, you must be tired. Go rest in your room. Maybe your memories will come back faster that way.”

 

“…”

 

“Britlyn, please escort Mom to her room.”

 

“…”

 

“If you need anything, you can just tell Britlyn. She’s kind and very capable.”

 

Mom obediently followed my words. But as she left, she kept glancing back at me, as if something was bothering her.