Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 14

Viscount Molon shot up from his seat. “I-Is that, t-true, Lady?!”

 

Stella only smiled as if to tease him further.

 

The desperate Viscount Molon rushed over to her. “Lady, if you give me that ointment, I’ll open the way to Peto Port for you!”

 

Hubert, who had been carefully observing Stella’s smile, turned his gaze to Diane. Diane’s face had turned pale.

 

Hubert spoke with an unreadable expression. “Stella, did you really make the miraculous ointment that Viscount Molon has been searching for?”

 

“Yes, Grandfather.” Stella answered as if she had been waiting for the question. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation.

 

This time, Hubert’s gaze shifted to Gale. “Has Stella ever shown interest in pharmacology?”

 

“Uh, well…” Gale stammered.

 

He doesn’t know. Hubert frowned.

 

Stella quickly opened her mouth to speak. “Lately, I’ve taken an interest in pharmacology books!”

 

“Pharmacology books?”

 

“Yes. Based on what I learned from the books, I started making small ointments.” Stella spoke cautiously, gauging his reaction. When Hubert deliberately softened his expression, color returned to her face. Seizing the moment, she proudly continued. “I only shared a little ointment to help the employees, but I never expected Viscount Molon would be looking for it.”

 

Hubert’s gaze now turned to Diane. “Diane, you said there was no such ointment, didn’t you? That’s different from what Stella said. Are you telling me you didn’t know about your own daughter’s affairs?”

 

“Ah, t-that’s…”

 

Diane’s face, already looking anxious, turned pale. However, Stella was brimming with confidence. Even if her mother was cornered, gaining Hubert’s favor was her priority.

 

If I take credit for this, all the problems will be solved. Stella justified her selfishness. Fortunately, Viscount Molon was on her side.

 

“Why are you pressing the matter so much? The important thing is that this precious ointment exists. Lady, please give me some of that ointment right away.”

 

Viscount Molon pleaded with a servility that bordered on groveling. But Stella took a step back.

 

“Not yet.”

 

“W-What you mean not yet?”

 

“I don’t have any made right now. I’ll make some for you.”

 

At least she promised to provide it, and Viscount Molon’s lips curled into a wide grin.

 

“T-Thank you! A young lady like you is more valuable than all the doctors combined!”

 

Viscount Molon looked ready to bow to Stella. He was the same arrogant man before. At this rate, the path to Peto Port would be opened without issue.

 

“To think you made such an excellent ointment, how admirable.”

 

She had even managed to earn Hubert’s approval! Stella felt like her shoulders were soaring into the sky.

 

* * *

Diane hurriedly shut the door as she returned to the room. After sending all the servants away, she grabbed Stella’s arm, who had followed her in. “What were you thinking, saying something like that? Offering to give him the ointment! We discarded all of it!”

 

Stella snorted as if it was no big deal. “Oh, Mother. We can just take the new ointment from Epirosa.”

 

“And what if she stubbornly refuses? Even if she agrees, it’s not like the ointment can be made overnight.”

 

“There’s always a way,” Stella said with a sly expression. “So stop worrying, and let’s go find Epirosa. We need to get ‘my ointment’ back.”

 

* * *

Thud! The sound of the door being flung open echoed harshly.

 

Who could it be? I was organizing my drawers when I instinctively turned around, only to be startled.

 

“Epirosa, how have you been? I’m here!”

 

“…Stella?”

 

It was Stella who had opened the door. She was wearing a bright smile as vivid as her red hair, like a mouse that had just found a delicious piece of prey. What shocked me even more was the fact that Stella wasn’t alone. Diane, Madam Mona, and even some burly maids were with her.

 

Why are those maids here…?

 

Perhaps it was due to the intimidating presence of the maids; even Karen, who was beside me, looked visibly uneasy.

 

Diane gave an order to the maids. “Close the door. The rest of you, stand outside and make sure no one comes in.”

 

As the door shut, a suffocating sense of being completely trapped in the room washed over me. This isn’t a friendly visit.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

With a smile far too bright for the situation, Stella replied, “What else? I came because I wanted to see you, Epirosa.”

 

“You wanted to see me?”

 

“Of course, Ask Karen. She can tell you just how much I think about you.”

 

So, Karen knows how much Stella thinks about me, huh. That meant Stella had been talking about me with Karen. In other words, she had Karen keep an eye on me. It was a clear warning not to even think about hiding anything.

 

I looked at Karen with a deliberately shocked expression. “Is that true, Karen?”

 

Karen avoided my gaze, looking guilty. That was as good as a confession.

 

No matter how much she benefits from me or suffers because of Stella, she’s not the type to betray Stella overnight. I knew better than anyone what kind of person Karen was. But the real issue was elsewhere.

 

“But why did Aunt and Madam Mona come along too?”

 

“It’s nothing big. Mother just has a favor to ask.” Stella said, glancing at Diane.

 

Diane reluctantly opened her mouth as if she had no choice. “You remember the ointment you shared with the staff? I’d like you to give it to me.”

 

“What? But you personally disposed of it, Aunt. You even told us never to make it again.”

 

Diane, looking embarrassed, glared at me irritably. ““I’m trying to find out exactly how dangerous it is! So just hand it over quietly. And keep this matter strictly confidential!”

 

Diane signaled to Madam Mona with her eyes. Madam Mona approached me and held out her hand. “Hand it over.”

 

How shameless. Both master and her servant.

 

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. “I can’t do that.”

 

“What?” Diane raised her voice.

 

I looked into Diane’s eyes with a face that tried hard to suppress my fear. “I already got scolded by Aunt and reflected on my actions a lot. I regretted making something that could cause problems.”

 

“This time, there’s a reason, so just hand it ov—”

 

“No matter the reason, I won’t bring that ointment into the world again.” I said firmly. My refu” al brought visible anxiety to Diane’s face.

 

Looks like they really need my ointment.

 

It was clear that Viscount Molon must have come and demanded the ointment. I know from my past life’s memories that he suffered from a severe skin disease. That’s why I deliberately made sure the ointment reached Viscount Molon. Though I wasn’t certain it would work on a skin disease.

 

It was a gamble, a shot in the dark. Luckily, it seems to have worked.

 

So, their reason for demanding the ointment was clear. They’re trying to steal my achievement. I couldn’t let that happen.

 

Stella seemed to sense something from my resolute expression. She spoke urgently. “Mother just wants to investigate the ointment. It won’t cause any trouble. You can hand it over without worry.”

 

“My answer is still no. What if something goes wrong during the investigation?”

 

“Epirosa, even if I’m the one asking, you won’t give it to me?” Stella asked sweetly as if trying to charm me.

 

What the hell is she doing? Did she really think this kind of trick would work on me?

 

“I said no, Stella.”

 

I deliberately let my disbelief show. At that, Stella’s expression changed drastically.

 

I guess this kind of sweet talk usually worked on others. But now that I was treating her differently, it seemed her pride was deeply hurt.

 

“You little—!” Stella suddenly shoved one of my shoulders.

 

“S-Stella?” I asked, pretending to be surprised, and Stella shouted venomously.

 

“You must have hidden at least one somewhere! Search the room!”

 

As soon as Stella gave the order, the large maids began ransacking my room without mercy.

 

“No! What are you doing!” I hurriedly tried to stop the maids. But Stella blocked my way.

 

“Stay still!” She then whispered coldly to me. “Karen told me. She said she was worried that you might be making the ointment again.”

 

“!”

 

“So don’t even think about deceiving me.”

 

“Found it here!” One of the maids shouted, holding the ointment jar from the drawer.