Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 123

* * *

The security around Blanche was tighter than usual. Ludwig had barely managed to slip past the ironclad defenses and enter the grand duke’s mansion. If even one more shadow had followed him, no matter how skilled he was, he would have undoubtedly been caught.

 

For a fortress as impregnable as Blanche to open its gates to the father’s imperial guards, it means they were entirely intent on luring him into a trap from the very beginning. Ludwig recalled his father, who lay bedridden, unable to contain his fury. He had a foreboding feeling that his father’s end wouldn’t be much different from that of the late emperor.

 

As always, the knight in a silver helmet stood beneath Epirosa’s room. Is that guy a ghost? Why is he always standing there, and why does no one ever stop him? If he was maintaining his post so seamlessly that no one could detect anything amiss, he had to be an individual of chilling capabilities.

 

Ludwig, who was about to pass by him, suddenly stopped. There was someone next to the knight. A small figure crouched down, with sweet pink hair cascading over her back. It was Epirosa.

 

Why isn’t she going into her room? Why is she sitting there?

 

As Ludwig was about to approach, he flinched. Epirosa, who had been staring blankly at the window, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

“!”

 

Ludwig felt as if a sharp dagger had pierced through his chest. Unable to bring himself to approach, he heard Epirosa’s faint voice reach his ears.

 

“The doctor came by, but he said he doesn’t know the cause. Of course he wouldn’t. Mother isn’t suffering from an illness. She’s under a curse.”

 

Epirosa was speaking in a sorrowful tone to Ibe, who stood silently beside her. Ibe didn’t respond, but occasionally nodded his head.

 

“Grandpa said he would search for a mage. But even so, if Mom’s memories fail to return…”

 

“…”

 

“It’s okay. Mom is back to being her old self again. Even if she doesn’t remember me, it’s alright. We can just create new memories together.”

 

Epirosa spoke in a deliberately cheerful voice. Ludwig, who had been eavesdropping, felt his crimson eyes glimmer.

 

Does this mean Leonoe has come back to her senses? But she’s lost her memory to the point where she can’t even recognize her own daughter?

 

Epirosa claimed she was fine, but there was absolutely no way she could be. That had to be why she couldn’t bring herself to enter her own room, choosing instead to stay out here, staring up at where her mother would be. Furthermore, she was rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand once again.

 

Ludwig felt as though his heart were breaking into pieces. As he instinctively took quite steps forward, Epirosa flinched.

 

“Lady.”

 

“…I wasn’t crying.”

 

“I didn’t say anything.”

 

“…”

 

“But your voice is completely hoarse.”

 

Epirosa shot up from her seat. She turned back to face Ludwig, deliberately adopting a prouder, more confident expression. However, it had the exact opposite effect.

 

Her face is thoroughly swollen. Ludwig furrowed his brows.

 

Realizing she had utterly failed to deceive him, Epirosa lowered her head. “Please go back for today. Mom isn’t in a state to meet Your Highness.”

 

“Is she very unwell? Because of ‘that incident’?” Ludwig asked as if he hadn’t just heard the explanation moments ago.

 

“Did Your Highness know about it as well?”

 

“Yeah. I knew Father was going to attack Blanche. But I couldn’t stop him.” Ludwig spoke with a voice tinged with self-reproach. However, Epirosa showed no signs of blame.

 

“You did well. Your Highness must not get involved in this play.”

 

That talk again. Ludwig gazed at Epirosa with a sense of regret. But Epirosa simply bowed her head with a faint smile.

 

“I shall take my leave now. I’m sorry for making Your Highness come all this way for nothing.”

 

“No, I’m the one who came unannounced.”

 

Ludwig had so many questions he wanted to ask Epirosa. But he knew now wasn’t the time to press her. After Epirosa walked away, he murmured quietly to himself. “Still, it doesn’t feel like it was a completely pointless trip.”

 

Ludwig glanced at Ibe, who was staring at him intently.

 

“…”

 

Ibe just watched, not seeming like he would do anything. Taking it as silent permission, he climbed up the wall to the second-floor room.

 

When Ludwig opened the window he always used to sneak in, a cold breeze seeped in, making the curtains flutter. He leaped inside without hesitation. And— Thunk. A cold poker pressed against his neck.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Ludwig stared tensely at the owner of the fire poker. A familiar woman with red hair was glaring at him with striking crimson eyes he had never seen before. It was Leonoe Blanche. Just as Epirosa had said, she looked different from before. Her expression was sharp, and the way she aimed the poker at his neck was precise. Ludwig smirked.

 

“What’s so funny, thief?” Leonoe snapped, bringing the poker closer with a sharp tone.

 

Ludwig shrugged. “You should know that anyone who can sneak into the heavily guarded Blanche Mansion isn’t just an ordinary thief.”

 

“Then an assassin?”

 

“Something even more impressive than that.”

 

“The leader of an assassin’s guild?”

 

“I am Ludwig Leopold, the crown prince of this empire.”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Leonoe shot back, as if she could no longer tolerate his words. “What kind of crown prince sneaks in and out of Blanche like a rat?”

 

“Because it’s Blanche, I can’t openly come and go. So I have to sneak in like a rat.”

 

After all, the Blanche family and the imperial family weren’t in a position to easily interact with each other right now. Even so, Leonoe still seemed unconvinced. Ludwig quietly took out the crown prince’s seal from his pocket.

 

“That’s… So you truly are the crown prince.” The strength drained from Leonoe’s arms. “It would have been nice if you’d shown me that from the start,” she said as she set the fire poker down on the floor. “When did the infant crown prince grow up to be this large?”

 

“When you were away from home.”

 

At Ludwig’s words, Leonoe flinched. It was a fact she had no memory of.

 

“But what brings Your Highness here? Did you come under the emperor’s orders?” Leonoe was still wary. Given the emperor’s track record, it was hard to let her guard down so easily.

 

“I came to see Epirosa.”

 

“!”

 

At the mention of Epirosa’s name, the wariness in Leonoe’s eyes lessened.

 

“She was crying. So, I came to see you instead. I thought there was something I must do on her stage.” After putting his seal away, Ludwig took out something else. “Do you remember this?”

 

Leonoe tilted her head in confusion, then her eyes widened as if something had come to mind. “Could it be a divine beast’s egg?”

 

Ludwig nodded. “That’s right. It’s the unicorn’s egg. You used to play with it quite often.”

 

“I played with this thing?”

 

“Every time you did, your condition showed improvement. So…” Ludwig placed the unicorn’s egg firmly into Leonoe’s hands. “You keep it.”

 

“Your Highness, but this is meant to be given to the heir!” Leonoe jumped in shock.

 

Handing an avatar for the imperial heir over to a member of a different family was utterly preposterous. Yet Ludwig remained unyielding.

 

“If you keep this, your memories might return faster.”

 

“No. I can’t accept this.”

 

Ludwig clasped his hands behind his back and took a step away. “It’s an imperial order. Guard the divine beast’s egg.”

 

“Your Highness…”

 

“And recover your memories quickly. That is your mission.” Ludwig was unyielding.

 

Leonoe instinctively realized there was no stopping this young crown prince. How did that adorable baby grow to be so stubborn? “Why are you going this far for me?”

 

“Well…” Ludwig stared out the window, lost in thought. He seemed to be searching for someone under the moonlight. “…I just don’t want to see Epirosa cry.”

 

“What?”

 

Leonoe’s voice rose in surprise. But Ludwig didn’t explain further. Instead, he leaped out the window and disappeared.

 

Leonoe stared at the open window with a serious expression. “What kind of relationship do those two have?” She crossed her arms, determined to ask Epirosa when she returned.

 

And he said she was crying… even though she kept insisting she was perfectly fine in front of Father and me. Her chest felt tight. Suddenly, she recalled the meal they had shared earlier today.

 

“Mom, try this. This used to be your absolute favorite.”

 

Epirosa had clung to her, smiling brightly like a little puppy. Yet Leonoe finds it all feels awkward.

 

“I’ll eat on my own. You should focus on your meal.”

 

When she had gently refused, how had Epirosa’s eyes looked? Those blue eyes had wavered as if hurt. Yet, the girl hadn’t given up. Even when Leonoe left most of her food untouched due to a lack of appetite, Epirosa had continued to strike up warm conversations with her.