Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 125

* * *

I woke up to the feeling of the morning sunlight breaking over my eyelids. It was an unusually warm morning. As I stretched and got up, I noticed something tightly gripping my hand. A large, yet beautiful and firm hand.

 

“…Mom?”

 

Mom was clutching my hand tightly, asleep while leaning against the side of the bed.

 

Why is she sleeping in such an uncomfortable position?

 

I gently shook her to wake her up. “Mom, you should sleep on the bed. If you sleep like that, you’ll hurt your back. Are you going to cry about it again?”

 

Mom’s eyelids slowly fluttered open. Her red eyes glimmered like rubies in the sunlight. Still heavy with sleep, her gaze paused for a moment before looking up at me. Her expression then twisted in a strange, overwhelming way, as if she were about to cry.

 

And then it hit me. Mom had regained her senses. But she had forgotten me. As that reality sank in, Mom opened her mouth to speak.

 

“I’m sorry for not acting like a proper mother.”

 

“…?”

 

“For crying to you, whining, clinging… for running away from home and causing trouble, making things hard for you. I’m sorry, Epirosa.”

 

Mom gently caressed my cheek with her hand. Her touch was so tender, it felt like I might melt away.

 

“And after all that, I’m sorry for not remembering anything.”

 

“Mom…?”

 

“I remember everything now.”

 

Mom suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. I was so taken aback that I couldn’t say a word. But the moment I took a deep breath, the moment I let her scent fill me completely, I realized it. Mom remembered me!

 

“I’m sorry, Epirosa. I’m sorry for just giving birth to you and not being able to do anything for you.” Her voice was filled with regret. It seemed like she remembered everything, even the years she spent under the curse.

 

If she knew all that, how much pain must she have felt? I buried my face deep into her embrace and shook my head.

 

“What does it mean to act like a mother? Just being you is enough for me. Just stay like this. That’s all I need.” I hugged her even tighter as I spoke. And I meant it. For someone like me, who had lost her once, just having her here was enough to be grateful for. Tears welled up in my eyes and began to stream down my face.

 

“Are you crying, Epirosa?”

 

Mom pulled me away slightly and wiped the tears from my eyes with her hand. Even though she was crying too.

 

“Now it’s my turn to comfort you. So cry as much as you want, my daughter.” She patted my back as she spoke.

 

Overwhelmed, I buried my face in her arms and sobbed uncontrollably. It was only after crying for a long time that I was finally able to calm down.

 

“Your face is all puffed up, and your cheeks are so red. You look just like a peach.”

 

“Mom, isn’t that a bit too flattering? I look kind of awful right now.”

 

“If you think you look awful, then flowers would hang their heads in shame.”

 

Was my mom always like this? Thanks to her, my tears dried up instantly.

 

“This isn’t the time for this. We need to go see your grandfather.”

 

“Right! Let’s share this happy news with Grandpa too.”

 

“No, I need to file a complaint.” With a determined look on her face, Mom suddenly stood up. And then she picked me up in her arms.

 

“Mom! I can walk! And what do you mean you’re going to complain to Grandpa as soon as you get your memory back? What are you talking about?”

 

“Epirosa, this mother will take care of everything.”

 

What exactly was she planning to take care of? I was flustered, but I couldn’t stop her.

 

Mom didn’t seem to be struggling at all as she carried me and marched straight to Hubert’s office. Bang! Even Hubert, who had been frowning at the sudden commotion, widened his eyes in surprise at Mom’s dramatic entrance.

 

“What is… going on here?”

 

Mom had burst in with such confidence while holding me in her arms. And me, squirming awkwardly in her embrace. Hubert’s strong gaze faltered for a moment.

 

“Father, I’ve regained all my memories.”

 

At those words, Hubert shot up from his seat, his face filled with emotion. “Leonoe, finally—!”

 

“Isn’t this too much for the kid?”

 

Hubert, who was on the verge of shedding tears of joy, froze in place. “What are you talking about?”

 

“Why are you making her handle so much? I’ve heard everything. The household management, the business, even the theater! Isn’t it too much to put all that on someone so small and light, like a feather?”

 

Hubert’s eyes narrowed. “Is that all you have to say to your father after regaining all your memories?”

 

“Yes.” Leonoe answered confidently.

 

“Indeed, that’s my daughter. I couldn’t be prouder…” Hubert muttered to himself in lament. “And Epirosa may still be young, but she’s not as light as a feather. You’re just too strong.” Even in the midst of it all, he didn’t forget to throw a jab at Mom. “Now, put Epirosa down.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Epirosa looks uncomfortable.”

 

Mom then looked at me. I nodded timidly. She had no choice but to sit me down on the sofa. Then she plopped down next to me and looked up at Hubert.

 

“I’ll try to learn how to manage the household. Please let the child rest.”

 

“Epirosa, what do you think?” Hubert looked at me.

 

Mom wouldn’t be able to handle the household perfectly right away. If anything, teaching her would probably add more to my workload. But if she starts taking on tasks like this, one by one, it’ll help her get back into society.

 

There was a gap of over a decade in Mom’s life. I wanted to help her fill that gap as quickly as possible.

 

“I think it would be great if Mom took over the household.”

 

Hubert looked back and forth between Mom and me before bursting into laughter. “Alright, let’s do that. Then this old man will have to start moving for the sake of our family too.”

 

* * *

“Is the emperor out of his mind? To break the pact with the Blache family.”

 

“And even after breaking it, he was utterly defeated, wasn’t he? I heard the imperial guards were wiped out.”

 

“He recklessly tried to do what the late emperor already failed at, and now he’s paying the price. With the imperial guards gone, isn’t he just a toothless tiger now?”

 

“If he broke the pact, do you think he’ll keep any promises he made with us? He even tried to frame people for treason. Who’s going to trust the emperor’s words now?”

 

The emperor’s attack on Blanche had stirred unrest among the people. Many nobles sided with Blanche, unsure of when the emperor might betray them. Even the nobles loyal to the emperor were beginning to cast doubtful glances at his judgment. However, Emperor Ignasio had no intention of appeasing public sentiment. Hubert and Epirosa left him no room to do so.

 

“Your Majesty, please place your seal on the imperial decree.” Hubert spoke, looking up at Ignasio.

 

Ignasio held the paper referred to as the imperial decree. The decree contained only a single line: I hereby command as follows. The space below was blank. If the emperor placed his seal on this paper, it would become an official command, the imperial decree. But the blank space would undoubtedly be filled with whatever Blanche desired, whenever they desired. In other words, Blanche intended to strip away one of the emperor’s untouchable powers.

 

“Are you trying to put a leash on me?” Ignasio’s voice trembled as he spoke. His face, gaunt from the stress he’d endured, was marked by bloodshot eyes that gleamed with intensity.

 

“Your Majesty, I merely wish to offer you an opportunity. You staked your claim to the throne and broke the pact. You sought to crush Blanche, even going so far as to frame us for treason.”

 

“…”

 

“You attempted to destroy one of the pillars of the empire, one blessed by the divine beast. Is that not, in itself, an act of treason against the empire?”

 

“Hubert Blanche!” Ignasio shouted, veins bulging in his neck.

 

Hubert simply looked at the enraged emperor with a calm expression. “Your Majesty, please place your seal.”

 

“…”

 

“This is the last mercy Blanche can offer you.”

 

The emperor knew it too. With public sentiment already leaning against him, Blanche could topple the imperial family if they so desired. The only reason they hadn’t done so was to maintain the balance of the empire. For Blanche, it was the best choice. They could avoid causing chaos in the empire while perfectly keeping the emperor in check by acquiring the imperial decree.

 

That cunning Blanche b*stard. Grinding his teeth, Ignasio had no choice but to place his seal on the imperial decree. But he didn’t know. That this entire plan had originated from the mind of Hubert’s fifteen-year-old granddaughter, Epirosa.