Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 144

Ludwig’s crimson eyes gleamed sharply, as if they could pierce through Claude. Because of that, Claude felt a chill run down his spine. But the next moment…

 

“Could it not be that I bled because of a chronic illness I have been secretly hiding?” Ludwig grinned mischievously, as if he had never worn that cruel expression. The way he swung between hot and cold left Claude feeling parched.

 

“N-No way. I wouldn’t even want to assume that Your Highness has a chronic illness.”

 

“Oh, is that so?” Ludwig asked, as if testing him. At that moment, he resembled Ignasio back when he had been at his prime.

 

Claude instinctively bowed his head, speaking in a flattering tone. “Are you not in peak health, Your Highness? Naturally, I assumed it was an accident caused by a wild beast.”

 

A quiet chuckle sounded from above Claude’s head. Only then did he realize that he had bowed before Ludwig just as he always did before the emperor. How utterly disgraceful. His face flushed with intense shame.

 

“Duke’s loyalty is so burning hot it practically scorches,” Ludwig taunted, picking at Claude’s pride until the very end.

 

Claude clenched his teeth tightly. But when he raised his head again, his expression was calm. The reason he could endure it was because there was still a chance to return this humiliation to Ludwig.

 

“Now that all the missing persons have been found, we shall announce the winner of the hunting competition!” Emperor Ignasio declared.

 

At Ignasio’s command, the soldiers began calculating each participant’s catch. The game left behind in the hunting grounds due to rain was also verified using the individual markers each hunter left.

 

Receiving an interim report, Ignasio curled one side of his mouth into a smirk and looked at Ludwig. “It seems Crown Prince didn’t hunt much, perhaps due to the accident.”

 

Even if Ludwig had hunted extensively, Claude was bound to win thanks to the game Ignasio had secretly arranged for him. With things turning out this way, Ludwig would hardly escape taking last place in today’s competition. Yet, Ludwig’s expression remained bright.

 

“Father, you don’t need to worry.” He looked toward the hunting grounds. “The soldiers have gone to retrieve my game left behind in the forest.”

 

“You have more game?”

 

“Yes.” Ludwig replied, glancing briefly at Claude’s reaction. “I left markers shaped like animal claws on their foreheads.”

 

* * *

A pile of games was stacked high in front of the platform. The game was divided and stacked according to each hunter’s share, and the heights varied greatly. But there were two mounds, pressed close together, that stood out as being taller than the rest. They were Ludwig’s and Claude’s game.

 

“It’s almost neck and neck, isn’t it?”

 

“Who do you think will win?”

 

“It looks like it’ll be a close call.”

 

The nobles murmured among themselves. I watched with curious eyes as well.

 

The soldiers, who had counted each piece of game and calculated the scores, whispered among themselves. Finally, one of them, who seemed to be the leader, was handed the final results. The soldier’s expression subtly changed.

 

“What are the results?” Emperor Ignasio asked the soldier.

 

So far, the highest score recorded had been 30 points.

 

The soldier spoke in a trembling voice. “After summing up the scores for each beast, Duke Claude Clementi’s score is 57 points.”

 

“Woow!”

 

The members of Claude’s group erupted in cheers at the incredible score. A smile spread across Ignasio’s lips as well. The crown prince is about to lose to Claude, and yet he’s happy about it.

 

If he were an ordinary father, he wouldn’t find it strange to be happy no matter who won, since both were his sons. However, Ignasio was the emperor, and at the same time, he had been keeping Ludwig in check quite harshly lately.

 

A sigh escaped me at the emperor’s nasty disposition. Even a score of 30 was far above average. But 57 points? He must think Ludwig can’t beat him no matter what he does. But I had seen it. The countless wolves that had poured into Ludwig’s trap. You never know the outcome until you measure it.

 

The soldier opened his mouth again. “And the score of Crown Prince Ludwig is…”

 

Everyone seemed to think the result was already decided and paid little attention. However, the soldier’s expression was unusual.

 

“…also 57 points.”

 

The moment the announcement was made, people were stunned into silence. Some even looked as if they doubted their own ears. I was just as shocked. A tie score?

 

Ignasio asked the soldier. “Are you sure the calculations are correct?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. Even we soldiers found the tie surprising and double-checked multiple times. Both of them have the same score.”

 

An undeniable look of frustration spread across Ignasio’s face. On the other hand, Claude approached Ludwig with a delighted expression.

 

“It is an honor to compete against Your Highness, the successor of the divine beast!” It was a clever choice of words. Claude and Ludwig were tied, meaning he had subtly implied that he possessed abilities on par with the ‘successor of the divine beast.’

 

“Congratulations on your victory in the hunting festival, Your Highness.” Claude said to Ludwig. Now it was Ludwig’s turn to return the same congratulatory remark to Claude, his co-winner.

 

“I think it’s a bit too early to say that.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Look over there.”

 

Ludwig pointed his finger behind the pile of games. A towering mountain of games came into view. The soldiers there were still busy counting the number of catches.

 

Ludwig smirked and glanced back at Claude. “It seems the real winner is over there.”

 

* * *

After all the hunting results were tallied, it was no surprise that I ended up in last place, having caught absolutely nothing. I’m not ashamed! I’m really not! I had something I needed to do, and I accomplished it! But maybe I should’ve hunted for at least one thing.

 

My wavering thoughts quickly disappeared as the winner’s award ceremony began. The emperor stepped onto the podium, followed by a servant carrying a massive golden trophy.

 

“Whoaa…”

 

“Isn’t it even bigger than last year’s trophy?”

 

The trophy was so impressive that it captured everyone’s attention. Not only was it large, but the intricate designs and the huge white gemstone embedded in it made it even more stunning. Did they make it with Claude in mind? It seemed like they had deliberately made it more extravagant. But that magnificent trophy ended up in the hands of someone completely unexpected, contrary to the emperor’s expectations.

 

“The winner of this year’s hunting festival is…!” Ignasio shouted, accepting the trophy with a dark expression. “Leonoe Blanche!”

 

“Woooaah!” I clapped enthusiastically, beaming brightly.

 

Mom confidently ascended the podium.

 

My mom is number one! She’s the best!

 

I knew Mom was good with a bow and that she used to enjoy hunting with Hubert back in the day, but I didn’t expect this level of skill. Mom scored an impressive 65 points. Even though she hasn’t completely broken free from the curse yet, she still managed to achieve this. I was really proud of her today.

 

Ignasio handed Mom the trophy with a reluctant expression. The flashy, large trophy suited my tall and beautiful mom perfectly. It was then that someone quietly approached me from behind as I couldn’t hide my smile.

 

“Aunt Leonoe is truly amazing.”

 

It was Stella.

 

I turned to look at her, unable to wipe the smile off my face at this moment. “Yes, my mom is really amazing, right?”

 

Stella seemed a bit flustered seeing me smiling like that. “You really don’t resemble Aunt at all. I already knew you didn’t look like her, but even your hunting skills…” She was blatantly mocking the fact that I came in last place in the hunting competition.

 

So what if I came in last? Mom won, didn’t she?

 

I nodded with a smile. “Yes, I came in last! It can’t be helped, right?”

 

My positive reaction seemed to fluster Stella even more. Her eyes wavered uncontrollably.

 

“B-But don’t you think it’s embarrassing? You even dressed up in hunting gear and made such a fuss, only to come in last! It’s really humiliating…”

 

At that moment, Mom spoke from the podium. “There is someone I want to dedicate this victory trophy to.”

 

Stella and I looked toward the podium at the same time. Everyone else also held their breath, focusing on my mom.

 

“And… who might that be?”

 

Mom turned her head toward the crowd. Her gaze landed squarely on me. “I wish to dedicate this trophy to my beloved daughter.”