Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 155

But things wouldn’t go the way Stella wanted. Didn’t Epirosa already say it? The one who would constantly interfere with Stella and Kobel’s actions. That was undoubtedly Nicholas. Besides, knowing Epirosa’s personality, she wouldn’t have made such a statement without taking some kind of measure. If Nicholas went along, Stella and Kobel wouldn’t be able to pull any tricks on the family.

 

“Alright, fine. Go to the temple with Stella.”

 

That’s why Hubert sent Nicholas away. He trusted Epirosa’s judgment.

 

With the door closing behind him, Hubert turned around. He saw Epirosa and Leonoe. Though the family had grown smaller than before, he felt even more reassured. He made a decision to make this family even more perfect.

 

“Leonoe, follow me to my office right now.”

 

* * *

“Saintess, you’ve worked hard. Please get plenty of rest today.” A priest said as he guided Stella to her room. When he tried to open the door for her, Stella stopped him with a kind smile.

 

“I can open the door myself.”

 

“No. Please grant me the honor of serving you, Saintess.” The priest spoke earnestly, believing Stella was the saintess.

 

Stella inwardly mocked his naivety, but outwardly, she responded kindly. “Both you and I are people who serve God. The only difference is that God directly conveys his words to me. So rather than serving me, serve God.”

 

“How can you be so humble, Saintess?” The priest spoke with emotion. The apprentice priests following him all looked at Stella with eyes full of admiration.

 

It’s just false modesty I polished in high society. Fooling a priest is a piece of cake. Stella smirked as she opened the door herself. With just a little coaxing, people would wag their tails at her like obedient dogs. Until Epirosa showed up. Her hand clenched into a fist. Now it’s time to take it all back. To take everything Epirosa had destroyed.

 

Stella stepped into the room. The saintess’s room was incomparably larger than the other priests’ rooms. Even the cardinal’s room was smaller than this, and it was about the same size as the pope’s. Everything in it was brand new. But to Stella, who had been born and raised her entire life in the wealthy Blanche family, everything looked shabby. No matter how much of an act I put on, I can’t live in a room like this.

 

Stella began coughing dramatically. Alarmed, the priests rushed to her side. “Is something wrong, Saintess?”

 

“Who decorated this room?”

 

“It was Cardinal Lenon Gianni. He even bought all new furniture and put a lot of thought into it.”

 

Stella pretended to scan the room with a grave expression. “I sense something ominous.”

 

“What? Something ominous?”

 

“I don’t think I can use this room. Even a cramped attic would be better. So please, assign me another room.”

 

“That can’t be! We can’t let Saintess use such a place!”

 

Stella let out a sigh. “Alright. Then I’ll use this room. However, I will redecorate it according to God’s will.”

 

“Then I will inform Cardinal Lenon Gianni.”

 

“No.” Stella shook her head as she spoke. “I must inform His Holiness myself.”

 

* * *

The news from the Blanche family made Emperor Ignasio frown. “What? Hubert Blanche granted the title of count to Leonoe Blanche?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The title of count originally belonged to Gale within the Blanche family. However, after Gale was effectively expelled, Hubert reclaimed that title. And now, it has been passed to Leonoe. The title of count, which was meant for the eldest son. He gave it to his only remaining child? This was an act of empowering the successor already chosen by the divine beast.

 

Ignasio felt a headache coming on. If only Blanche’s successor had been Gale or Kobel, they would have been easier to manipulate! Leonoe, whom he had seen at the hunting festival, looked so sharp and intelligent that it was hard to believe she had been sick for so long. She was polite to the emperor but didn’t grovel in a servile manner. It was a stark contrast to Gale.

 

Leonoe is just like Hubert! Dealing with Blanche was going to become even more troublesome from now on. Ignasio frowned deeply. At that moment, a strong scent of perfume wafted over from beside him.

 

“Your Majesty, what’s troubling you so much?”

 

“Ah, Violet.”

 

Violet sat snugly beside Ignasio with a seductive smile. “Are you displeased that Grand Duke Blanche appointed a new count? But we have the saintess on our side, don’t we?”

 

At her words, a spark returned to Ignasio’s eyes. He had exerted pressure so that Stella could take Kobel to the temple. Then Hubert would naturally become estranged from Stella. Not only would Hubert fail to benefit from his granddaughter, who had become the saintess, but he would also drift further away from the temple. If they played their cards right and supported the saintess well, they could sit back and watch the Blanche destroy themselves.

 

“Your Majesty, let’s visit the saintess soon. No matter how divine she may be, she’s still a young lady and could use your guidance.”

 

“Indeed. You were acquainted with the saintess, weren’t you?”

 

Violet spoke shyly. “We had a brief acquaintance.”

 

“Then you should come along as well.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. And while we’re at it, how about bringing Duke Clementi with us too?” Violet asked subtly.

 

Ignasio nodded. “Let’s do that. He served me well during the hunting festival.”

 

Having gotten the answer she wanted from the emperor, Violet lifted the corners of her lips.

 

Stella, just what kind of trick did you use to become a saintess? Had God gone mad? How could he choose something like that as a saintess? Well, it doesn’t matter. All I need to do is use Stella.

 

Violet planned to have Stella support Claude. The emperor’s son, chosen by the saintess! With this, he should be able to stand against Ludwig, who was chosen by the divine beast. Her eyes gleamed with desire.

 

* * *

It was in Blanche’s private training grounds. Without telling anyone, I secretly made my way to the training grounds and carefully looked inside. Where’s Mom?

 

After becoming a count, Mom had been given several tasks by Hubert. One of them was managing the private soldiers. Today, Mom was visiting the training grounds for the first time as their overseer. I had come to surprise her and cheer her on.

 

The private soldiers have as much pride as they have skill. In my past life, even Gale had a hard time managing them properly. It was because the soldiers never truly followed Gale, whose swordsmanship was mediocre to begin with. But Mom didn’t even bring Ppinix with her. If she just showed them a glimpse of the phoenix’s avatar, the private soldiers would bow their heads in an instant, no matter how prideful they were.

 

Ah, there’s Mom! I smiled as I looked at her.

 

Mom was receiving greetings from the soldiers, with her escort, Ibe, by her side. But the atmosphere felt a bit strange. One soldier, who seemed to be their representative, stepped forward and started saying something to Mom.

 

“…So, there’s no need for you to concern yourself too much with these matters, Count.”

 

“I don’t need to concern myself?”

 

“Yes. In the past, Lord Gale also entrusted everything here entirely to me.” He had an attitude as though he himself was the one in charge of this place. “Please take it easy. You won’t have the time to inspect how the subordinates train either.”

 

The soldier spoke politely, but it wasn’t hard to read the true meaning behind his words. It was essentially telling her to stay out of it because she wouldn’t know anything about the soldiers’ professional training and was less skilled than them.

 

In reality, Gale didn’t know anything and lacked the skills, so he couldn’t interfere with the soldiers’ affairs. It seemed the soldiers thought Mom would be the same. They had even witnessed Mom back when the emperor’s imperial guard attacked the Blanche Mansion, during a time when she hadn’t fully regained her senses. It seems they’re mistaken and think Mom is still similar to how she was back then.

 

Mom seemed to share my thoughts, as she let out a small, incredulous laugh. “I know very well that your skills are excellent. You’ve probably done well so far using this method.”

 

“Not at all. How could I compare myself to Count, who won the hunting festival?” The soldier spoke, pretending to compliment her.

 

“Even so, since I’ve come all the way here, I’d like to learn a thing or two from you. What do you say?”

 

At Mom’s words, the soldier’s expression turned flustered. “Are you saying you want to receive training?”

 

“Of course not.” Mom chuckled, then added, “I want to spar with you.”

 

The soldier’s face stiffened.