Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 132

From that moment on, Kobel had committed countless atrocities while keeping a secret all to himself.

 

You will never uncover this secret! They would never find the forbidden tome. Even the scroll he had shown to Epirosa, he had swallowed it himself. As long as the secret was kept, the opportunity would always come. Kobel gritted his teeth.

 

It was then.

 

“Press it deeper.” Cardinal Lenon Gianni, who had brought the sacred relic from the temple, commanded.

 

Lost in thought, Kobel snapped back to reality. But as the priest pressed harder with the branding iron, Kobel couldn’t endure the pain and passed out.

 

* * *

“Kobel will no longer be able to use magic now.” Lenon Gianni, who had just left the prison, spoke to Hubert.

 

“Thank you. I will make the announcement myself, so please keep this a secret until then.”

 

“Of course. If you need help again, feel free to call me anytime.”

 

I followed Lenon Gianni as he was leaving. Sensing my presence, he turned his head.

 

“Cardinal, I have a favor to ask.”

 

“Speak freely.” Lenon responded readily.

 

I handed him a piece of paper. It was something I had written down from memory, copying the strange characters that had been on the paper Kobel had shown me before. “Can you interpret these characters?”

 

“This…” Lenon’s expression grew serious as he looked at the paper. “It seems to be an ancient dead language. Where did you get this?”

 

“I memorized it from a paper Kobel showed me. The original seems to have disappeared, probably destroyed by Kobel in the meantime.”

 

“Fortunately, there are priests in the temple who study ancient dead languages. I’ll ask them to interpret it for you.” Lenon said as he took the paper from me.

 

* * *

Not long after, it was publicly announced that Kobel Blanche, the second son of Grand Duke Blanche, had attempted to murder his father and had been punished by the temple for using dark magic. The official statement ended there, but the rumors spreading beneath the surface were far more intriguing.

 

“They say Kobel Blanche tried to frame his own father for treason.”

 

“Gale Blanche was charged with the same crime. So does that mean both brothers were in league with His Majesty?”

 

“The youngest daughter, who was once so clever, causes trouble the moment she regains her senses. How greedy.”

 

“Even His Majesty has gone too far. No matter how much he wants to keep the Blanche family in check, how could he plot something like that?”

 

Emperor Ignasio was furious. It was already infuriating that the punishment of Kobel Blanche had bypassed his authority, but now these rumors are spreading!

 

“Didn’t Hubert Blanche agree to keep his mouth shut about the false accusation incident in exchange for receiving my imperial decree?”

 

“Did you really believe the words of that cunning man?” Violet spoke as she leaned in close to the emperor. “Do you think that’s the only rumor going around?”

 

“Then what else is there?”

 

“They’re saying that when Your Majesty sent the imperial guards to the Blanche family, Crown Prince Ludwig tried to stop you.”

 

“What?” Ignasio’s eyes wavered at Violet’s words.

 

Violet continued, feigning sympathy. “Right now, the public is criticizing Your Majesty and praising the crown prince. Who do you think is spreading those rumors?”

 

“Right now, the public is criticizing Your Majesty and praising the Crown Prince. Who do you think is spreading these rumors?”

 

“That brat Ludwig!” Ignasio’s cheeks trembled with rage.

 

Watching him, Violet secretly smiled to herself. In truth, those rumors had been spread by Violet, Claude, and their allies. All to provoke Emperor Ignasio.

 

“Crown Prince Ludwig could threaten your position at any moment. Especially now that he’s become so arrogant after obtaining the divine beast’s avatar.”

 

“But how am I supposed to suppress that brat right now?”

 

“It’s not about suppressing the crown prince. It’s about elevating someone else.” Violet closed her eyes and smiled as she whispered to the emperor.

 

Ignasio’s eyes widened in surprise. “Right, so that’s how it can be done!”

 

* * *

It was a few days later. An invitation from the imperial palace was sent out to the esteemed nobles in the capital. It was an announcement of a winter hunting festival to be held at the imperial hunting grounds.

 

“A winter hunting festival? Aren’t hunting festivals usually held in spring?” Mom said, holding the invitation as she tried to recall.

 

In my previous life, the imperial hunting festivals were typically held in autumn or spring. Of course, it was nearing the end of winter now, but the ground was still likely frozen.

 

“Mom, a winter hunting festival could be dangerous, so—”

 

“It’s been a while since I last drew a bowstring.”

 

Before I could even finish my sentence, Mom stood up with determination. I stared at her, mouth agape.

 

“You have no idea how good your mother is at hunting, do you? I’ll make sure to win this hunting festival.” Mom winked at me as she spoke.

 

Winning won’t be that easy.

 

I trusted her, but the purpose of this hunting festival seemed clear. They sent invitations to every member of the capital’s prominent noble families. Even Nicholas was invited. This meant the emperor had something to show all the nobles. It’s probably to solidify his position as the first priority. The problem was the method.

 

I focused on the rumors circulating lately. There’s a rumor that the crown prince stopped the emperor from framing the Blanche family. The rumor had grown out of proportion, to the point where people were saying the crown prince stopped it with tears in his eyes, or even that the emperor hit the crown prince for it. Thanks to this, public opinion about Ludwig had improved. But looking deeper, this was by no means a good thing for him. Because it puts him under the emperor’s scrutiny.

 

On top of that, the emperor had recently been keeping Violet by his side again. Claude was also frequently visiting the imperial palace. Maybe the emperor plans to use Claude to suppress Ludwig during this hunting festival. That way, the emperor could gain benefits without doing anything himself. It wouldn’t just end with simply making Claude the winner. What is he planning to do to Ludwig? Is it just to humiliate him, or is there something more?

 

I should send Ludwig a letter to warn him to be careful. As I thought that and absentmindedly glanced at the letter again, I noticed something.

 

[The Winter Hunting Festival will be held at the imperial hunting ground.]

 

Grand Garden. Among the hunting grounds, it’s a particularly rugged place. The place where the archmage’s tomb is! A sudden memory flashed through my mind like a burst of light. In my previous life, they rarely held hunting festivals in the Grand Garden, so I had a hard time sneaking in. But this time, they’re opening the gates willingly.

 

I jumped up from my seat, following Mom. “Alright, Mom! You have to become the winner of the hunting festival.”

 

“Sure, I’ll give you the winner’s trophy as a gift. My daughter can sit under the tent, enjoy some desserts, and relax—”

 

“And I’m going to participate in the hunting festival too! Teach me how to hunt.”

 

Mom looked at me with wide, astonished eyes.

 

* * *

“Did Brother get an invitation to the hunting festival too?” Stella, who had been ready to boast with her invitation in hand, asked with a disappointed look.

 

Nicholas waved his invitation with a triumphant expression. “This Nicholas isn’t dead yet!”

 

Even someone like him got an invitation just because he’s a Blanche. Stella muttered to herself. Of course, if the guest list had been chosen strictly, Stella herself wouldn’t have received an invitation.

 

Stella pondered deeply. Who will be the star of this hunting festival? In the past, she would have thought it was obviously Claude. But this time was different. Crown Prince Ludwig had obtained the divine beast’s avatar.

 

Stella had watched Ludwig parade down the main street, riding a white horse adorned with a sacred horn. Ah, how magnificent he looked! He seemed completely different from the Ludwig of before. The image of the handsome man, one step closer to the throne, was nothing short of majestic.

 

I have to give my handkerchief to the one who will be the star.

 

It was customary for a lady to give a handkerchief to a hunter as a gesture of wishing for their safety. And the hunter, upon returning, would dedicate their catch to the owner of the handkerchief. Of course, neither Claude nor Ludwig would receive just one or two handkerchiefs.

 

Crown Prince Ludwig, who has already been chosen by the divine beast, is more likely to be the star. Even if Claude were to win, she thought the star would still be the crown prince. After all, he was the future emperor. I must receive Crown Prince Ludwig’s hunting prize.

 

Stella had to admit it now. Within the Blanche Mansion, she no longer had a place to stand. So, she had no choice but to rely on external forces. Fortunately, she still had weapons at her disposal. Namely, her beauty and her talent for captivating people.