Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 128

It was small in size, but it was undoubtedly a majestic horse resembling a unicorn. The horn that sprouted in a brilliant blue was nothing short of sacred. Anyone could see it was clearly the avatar of a divine beast.

 

Ignasio completely forgot about scolding his son and stood there, mouth agape, utterly mesmerized. On the other hand, Claude clenched his fists tightly, hearing the sound of his dream to become emperor shattering into pieces.

 

“The divine beast’s egg had been acting unusually for a while, so I kept it protected in a secret place. But today, it hatched like this and grew to the size of a foal in an instant.”

 

“…”

 

“I wanted to show it to you first, Father. Since you called for me, I brought it along.” Ludwig spoke calmly as he recalled the events from a few hours ago.

 

“Ppi! Ppiit!”

 

Tap, tap. The familiar chirping of a bird came from the window early in the morning. When he looked toward the window, Ppinix was pecking at the glass with its beak.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

It was sent by Epirosa.

 

Feeling a surge of excitement, Ludwig opened the window. Hanging securely from Ppinix’s leg was an egg, carefully wrapped. It was the unicorn egg. And there was also a letter attached.

 

[Thank you for the kindness you showed my mother. Thanks to you, she has recovered significantly. I will make sure to repay your kindness. So if you ever need my help, please let me know.

-Epirosa Blanche.]

 

Ludwig didn’t even realize that the corners of his lips had curled up into a smile as he read the letter. Without thinking, he pressed his lips to the letter. It felt as if Epirosa’s sweet scent lingered on it. Finally, I’ve become someone useful to Epirosa. He was completely engrossed in the letter when it happened.

 

“Ppippit!”

 

Ppinix, who had just left the window, let out a loud cry before disappearing.

 

When Ludwig turned his head, he saw that a crack had formed on the unicorn egg. The moment he touched the unicorn’s egg, it shattered with a crisp crack. And a tiny foal appeared, curled up, with an adorable little horn on its forehead.

 

Just as Ppinix had hatched after being with Leonoe, the unicorn’s avatar also hatched after being with her. Ludwig, unaware of this fact, was flustered. Something he had longed for so desperately had suddenly happened. Of course, he vaguely sensed that this fortunate event was somehow related to Epirosa and Leonoe.

 

Soon, the unicorn’s avatar, which had been no larger than his palm, grew rapidly to the size of a foal, snapping him back to his senses.

 

I’ve finally obtained the avatar of a divine beast. He had become the successor acknowledged by the divine beast. Now, there was nothing to hold him back. With Violet stripped of her power and the emperor’s imperial guards disbanded, he had Marchioness Gent, his maternal family, and even the unicorn’s avatar by his side.

 

“All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.” Ludwig smiled as he bowed his head toward Ignasio.

 

It was now time for Ludwig to spread his wings.

 

* * *

A grand procession passed through the heart of the capital. At the very front of the procession was Ludwig, riding atop the avatar of the divine beast. This event was held to commemorate the hatching of the unicorn’s avatar and to announce that Ludwig had become the rightful successor of the divine beast.

 

The once small foal had grown into a majestic white horse, now the size of a fully mature adult. It was only slightly smaller than a unicorn. Even that was because unicorns were naturally enormous, so compared to other horses, the foal-turned-horse was still quite large.

 

[Lady Epirosa, it was thanks to the egg you sent when I needed it most that I was able to escape the crisis. Not only that, but the unicorn’s avatar has also hatched. I believe all of this is thanks to you and your mother.

-Ludwig Leopold.]

 

This was what Ludwig’s secret message had said.

 

If Ppinix hatched under Mom’s care and the unicorn’s avatar also hatched thanks to her, then Mom must possess extraordinary abilities as the master of the divine beast. But then, why does the phoenix alone reject her?

 

The answer must lie in the curse placed by Kobel. I have to confront Kobel directly. With that thought, I watched Ludwig’s procession.

 

On the white horse, Ludwig looked incredibly striking. His handsome face, his strong physique, and the noble aura he exuded under the sunlight. Who would ever believe that this man, not long ago, was a frivolous crown prince? Judging by the enthusiastic cheers directed at the crown prince chosen by the divine beast, it seemed everyone shared my thoughts.

 

* * *

“Your Majesty, isn’t the crown prince being incredibly arrogant? While Your Majesty is so deeply troubled, he dares to hold such a grand event for his own pleasure.” Violet clung closely to Emperor Ignasio as she spoke, her voice dripping with sweetness and charm.

 

The ceremony of parading through the main street on the back of a unicorn’s incarnation was a customary tradition after its birth. Thus, the emperor couldn’t openly criticize it, but he couldn’t hide his displeasure either. Violet had skillfully struck that delicate nerve.

 

Claude was clever. He knew how to exploit the rift between the emperor and the crown prince. Thanks to that, Violet had managed to worm her way back to the emperor’s side through that very gap.

 

“The entire populace is singing praises of the crown prince. His maternal relatives are strutting around arrogantly, and the nobles are busy fawning over him. Considering that Your Majesty has lost the imperial guards, seeing the crown prince act this way… could it be that he has his eyes on Your Majesty’s throne?”

 

Ignasio’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage at Violet’s insidious whisper. She gently stroked his wrinkled hand.

 

“But don’t worry too much. You have me and our son, Claude. Claude is a son filled with nothing but filial piety, without a shred of greed.”

 

“Yes, Claude. It’s a relief that I have Claude.”

 

“Claude is leading a gathering of young nobles. They will all become Your Majesty’s strength.”

 

In truth, Claude’s gathering was nothing more than a private faction he had formed to consolidate his own power. However, Violet skillfully framed it as if it were all for the emperor’s benefit.

 

“Your Majesty, so please keep Claude and me closer to you. It’s for Your Majesty’s sake.” Violet whispered seductively.

 

Emotionally devastated by his crushing defeat and clouded by inferiority, Ignasio nodded as if entranced.

 

* * *

Leonoe often wandered around the mansion whenever she had the chance. It was to piece together fragments of her scattered memories and adapt quickly to her new life. There was one memory she needed to recall more than anything else.

 

I can’t remember how I ended up cursed. Epirosa had said it was the work of Gale and Kobel. But she couldn’t recall anything about the situation back then.

 

The severe headaches that struck her from time to time. The severed bond with the phoenix. These were likely remnants of the curse still lingering within her.

 

I need to break free from this curse quickly. Only then can I protect my daughter. Thinking about how that little one had struggled so hard to protect her made her heart feel like it was being torn apart. Now, it was her turn to protect Epirosa.

 

It was then that she felt a presence behind her. Who is it? The presence was faint. That meant whoever it was had the skill to conceal their movements. But even before losing her memories, Leonoe had been no pushover. Whoever sent someone to tail me is going to regret it.

 

Leonoe lured the figure to the end of a dead-end hallway, then swiftly turned and grabbed their neck in her grasp. But when she faced her opponent, Leonoe froze in shock instead. “You are…?”

 

* * *

“You’re visiting me quite often these days,” Hubert said in a subtle tone. The tea on his table was growing cold.

 

Meanwhile, Kobel, who was leisurely sipping his tea, looked at his father with a faint smile. “I want to fulfill my filial duties as much as I’ve been absent. Now that my brother is out of the picture, it’s time for me to take on the role of the eldest son.”

 

“There’s no need for you to take on the role of the eldest son. I have both Leonoe and Epirosa. So, just focus on what you’re good at.” Hubert said firmly.

 

Kobel’s gaze turned cold. It was then that the office door opened.

 

“Father, I have something to tell you.” The one who opened the door was Leonoe.

 

Hubert stood up from his seat. “Is it something urgent?”

 

“Yes.” Leonoe answered decisively and pulled someone who had followed him into the room. “I want to make this person my personal guard.”

 

A man clad in silver armor from head to toe stood there, looking slightly flustered. Hubert stared at the scene with a blank expression.