Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 143

“Ppippit!”

 

At that moment, I heard Ppinix’s voice from Mom’s shoulder.

 

When I looked over in surprise, Mom spoke. “Ppinix suddenly appeared to let me know that you were here.” Then she wiped away the tears that kept streaming down my cheeks. “You didn’t listen to me and even obtained something this precious, so why do you keep crying?”

 

“But His Highness…” With tears in my eyes, I looked to the side.

 

Only then did Mom seem to notice Ludwig, who was shrouded in darkness. She was horrified when she saw him covered in blood. “Your Highness!”

 

“No matter how much I shake him, he won’t wake up. His internal injuries are severe… He might die.”

 

Mom looked at me with a stiff expression.

 

I spoke through my sobs. “This orb, is really powerful… It can even save people… His Highness and I fell from that cliff together. Sob, but I was the only one who was fine because I had the orb. If I give this orb to His Highness, he’ll be able to live too, but then Mom…” I rambled incoherently, swallowing my sobs.

 

Mom slowly lowered her head and looked down at the archmage’s heart in her hand. “Is the reason you’re crying like this because…”

 

“I want to heal Mom, and save His Highness too. But I can’t do both…”

 

Mom looked at me quietly. Her expression was a complicated mix of pity, worry, and sorrow. Soon, as if she had made up her mind, she approached Ludwig. Without hesitation, she pushed the orb into Ludwig’s mouth. The orb glowed red and then seeped into Ludwig’s body.

 

“M-Mom?” I rushed to her in shock.

 

Mom turned to me with a calm expression. “At least I won’t die without this orb. But His Highness will if he doesn’t have it.”

 

“Mom…”

 

She pulled me into a tight hug. “My daughter, you must have had so much on your mind. It must have been terribly painful.”

 

“Sob, Mom…”

 

“It’s okay now. I’ve taken care of everything. You don’t need to feel guilty. This was entirely my choice.” Mom patted my back gently.

 

At that, the sadness and confusion in my heart began to fade. So this was how safe and comfortable a mother’s embrace was. Wanting to stay in Mom’s arms forever, I burrowed deeper into her embrace.

 

“Mmm…”

 

At that moment, we heard Ludwig groaning behind us. We hurriedly rushed to his side.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

“Crown Prince?”

 

At our call, Ludwig slowly opened his eyes. As if he had never coughed up blood, his eyes gleamed with vitality. His face was brimming with life.

 

“Why are you calling me so desperately? Did I almost die or something?” Ludwig sat up with his usual mischievous smile.

 

Both Mom and I let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

 

Perhaps sensing something was off in our reactions, Ludwig spoke with slight surprise. “I really must have almost died.” He absentmindedly lowered his head, then frowned as he noticed the blood covering his body. “Don’t tell me all of this is my blood?”

 

I nodded. At that, Ludwig’s face turned pale as a sheet. Is he shocked because it’s his first time losing so much blood? That was what I thought. But then, Ludwig suddenly leaned in close to my face.

 

“Did you cry?” Ludwig asked in a trembling voice.

 

Caught off guard, I nodded.

 

“Why? Why did you cry so much? Who made you cry?” Ludwig asked urgently, as if something serious had happened. I was so startled that I was at a loss for words.

 

At that moment, Mom, who had been watching us with a dissatisfied look, spoke up. “Your Highness made her cry.”

 

“What?” Ludwig turned to my mom with a stiff expression.

 

Mom pulled Ludwig away from me. “My daughter cried because she was afraid Your Highness would die.”

 

“Mom, that’s—”

 

“Is that true?”

 

While Mom’s words were partially correct, it wasn’t the only reason I had cried. I hurried to explain, but Ludwig responded faster.

 

“So you were worried about me that you cried this much.” Ludwig looked at me with a face that seemed to brighten.

 

Mom spoke as if she found him pathetic. “Are you more pleased about that than the fact that you almost died, Your Highness?”

 

“Not exactly pleased, but I find the sentiment of the people endearing…”

 

I calmly addressed Ludwig, whose lips were twitching as if to suppress a smile. “Your Highness suffered several internal injuries when you fell from the cliff and lost an enormous amount of blood. You’re fine now, but when you return, please make sure to receive medical attention from a doctor.”

 

“Thank you for worrying about me. Since I owe you my life yet again, I don’t know how I should repay you.”

 

At that, Mom looked at me in shock. “When did you save His Highness’s life again? What on earth happened?”

 

“Mom, later…”

 

Under my mom’s relentless questioning, I tightly shut my eyes. While the situation between my mom and me was serious, Ludwig looked annoyingly cheerful. But then, Ludwig suddenly looked at me with a puzzled expression.

 

“But how did I recover this much when my internal injuries were so severe? I lost an enormous amount of blood too.”

 

Mom then replied to Ludwig. “I made Your Highness consume the archmage’s heart. The effect was quite good, wasn’t it?”

 

Ludwig’s face stiffened at her response. “Shouldn’t that… have been used for Leonoe instead?”

 

Mom shook her head as if it was no big deal. “Does it matter who it was used for as long as it saved a life? It was my choice, so don’t worry about it.”

 

“But—”

 

It was at that moment.

 

“Ppippit?”

 

Ppinix, who had been watching us from behind, suddenly let out a sharp cry. The three of us simultaneously turned to look at Ppinix. At that instant, a huge blaze suddenly burst from Ppinix’s body. It was a powerful flame strong enough to engulf the entire cave. Yet rather than pain, all I felt was a gentle, cozy warmth. And a moment later…

 

“Piit.”

 

In the place where the flames had subsided, a large crimson bird stood gracefully. Its body was still engulfed in flames, and its eyes shone as if embedded with red gemstones.

 

“Could that be…”

 

The moment I muttered unconsciously, the bird suddenly flew over and obediently landed in front of Mom. Then it lowered its head as if pledging its allegiance to Mom.

 

Watching this, Ludwig muttered in a low, almost groaning voice. “It’s the phoenix’s avatar.”

 

Ppinix had evolved into the avatar form.

 

* * *

Our return shocked many people. It was because the three of us came back together and that Ludwig and I were unharmed. Blood that covered Ludwig’s clothes startled them even more.

 

“W-What is that crimson bird?”

 

“Could it be the phoenix’s avatar?”

 

“Is it Madam Leonoe’s? Or Lady Epirosa’s?”

 

Hubert stepped out from the crowd, looking at my mother and me.

 

I looked up at Mom and smiled proudly. “Mom obtained the phoenix’s avatar.”

 

“How…?”

 

“Because she made a wise choice,” I replied.

 

We couldn’t know exactly why Ppinix had evolved. But all three of us suspected that this change was related to Mom’s choice. The choice she had made to sacrifice herself and save Ludwig.

 

At that moment, Ludwig extended his hand toward my mom. “As the master of the avatar, let us cooperate well for the sake of the empire.”

 

Mom stared sharply at Ludwig but still took his hand. “I look forward to working with you, Your Highness.”

 

The nobles cheered and applauded the harmony between the imperial family and the Blanche family. I, too, looked at the scene proudly and applauded.

 

* * *

Claude watched Ludwig and Epirosa with mixed feelings. He was relieved that Epirosa had returned safely, but he hadn’t wanted Ludwig to be this perfectly fine as well. And on top of that, the two of them had returned together. What could have happened?

 

Claude’s father seemed just as displeased as he was.

 

“…”

 

Emperor Ignasio glared at Ludwig, who was shaking hands with Leonoe.

 

After finishing the handshake, Ludwig spoke. “Everyone must have been surprised by all the blood on me, but thanks to Madam Leonoe and Lady Epirosa, I was able to return without suffering any major injuries!” Then walked over to Ignasio. “Father, I apologize for causing you worry. Please forgive this unfilial son.”

 

“It’s a relief that you’re safe.”

 

“It’s all thanks to Leonoe Blanche and Epirosa Blanche. May I reward them?”

 

Ignasio’s eyes flashed. But no matter how much he disliked the Blanches, he couldn’t simply fail to reward those who had saved the crown prince’s life.

 

“I’ll grant a reward after the investigation into exactly what happened is complete.”

 

“Thank you, Father.”

 

At that moment, Claude stepped in between the two. “Crown Prince, it is unfortunate that you were unable to enjoy the hunt because you were involved in an accident with the beasts.”

 

It was a remark meant to provoke Ludwig. However, Ludwig simply smirked and looked at Claude.

 

“It’s true that I bled, but I don’t think I ever said it was because of the beasts, did I?”