Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 16

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Watching everything unfold from the top of the stairs, I didn’t hesitate when the moment I needed arrived. I rushed in and poured the ointment onto Viscount Molon’s arm as he was about to lose consciousness. His ruined arm was instantly covered in the ointment. Thankfully, I had prepared the ointment in liquid form, just in case something like this happened. That was a good performance.

 

I could feel the people around me, who had been staring blankly, gradually becoming horrified.

 

“Epirosa, what do you think you’re doing?!”

 

Diane roughly shoved me aside. I didn’t resist and let myself fall to the ground.

 

“Are you trying to kill someone?!” That’s what Diane said, but one corner of her mouth was curled upward.

 

She’s trying to use me as a scapegoat to get out of this, huh. Claiming that this whole mess happened because of the ointment I made, not because of Stella, and blowing it out of proportion to make it seem like my fault. It was a pointless scheme, though, since Hubert was already furious at those who had deceived him. But right now, Diane wasn’t in a state to make rational judgments. Because everything’s falling apart for her.

 

“Because of you, Viscount Molon is—!”

 

“Wait!”

 

Diane was about to yell at me again when it happened. Hubert’s shout silenced everyone. And soon, that silence turned into shock.

 

“!”

 

Viscount Molon’s arm—once red and swollen like molten lava—was starting to return to normal.

 

“Uh, uugh…” Viscount Molon, who had been on the verge of passing out, slowly opened his eyes. Then, seeing his arm healing, his eyes widened in disbelief. “M-My arm…!”

 

“You should be feeling a bit better now.”

 

Even the symptoms of his skin condition were improving—better than before.

 

As Viscount Molon stammered in disbelief, he looked at me. I dusted myself off and tried to approach him. But Diane blocked my way.

 

“Where do you think you’re—”

 

“Where do you think you’re going… !”

 

“Let her go, Diane.” Hubert stepped in.

 

“What? But Father-in-law, Epirosa used the ointment without permission—”

 

“Not only did you deceive me, but now you’re disobeying my words too!” Hubert shouted. It was such a fierce and intimidating roar that even Viscount Molon snapped to attention.

 

Taking advantage of the moment when Diane’s grip loosened, I approached Viscount Molon. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

 

“I-I’m not in pain anymore, but who are you…?” Viscount Molon frowned at my modest, almost shabby appearance. But then his eyes suddenly gleamed. “Don’t tell me you used the real ointment on me?”

 

Just as I was about to nod, Hubert’s cold voice cut through. “Viscount Molon, mind your manners.” His icy tone struck Viscount Molon. “This child is my granddaughter, Epirosa.”

 

At those words, Viscount Molon’s eyes widened in shock. “M-My apologies, Lady!”

 

Hubert approached me. “Epirosa, what is going on here?”

 

I almost opened my mouth to answer but quickly looked around. Diane was glaring at me with eyes that screamed, ‘If you say anything, you’re dead.’ I deliberately hesitated to respond. I must have looked like I was scared out of my wits.

 

Hubert stared straight at me. “It’s fine, just tell me the truth.” He forced an awkward smile.

 

“!”

 

Everyone present was utterly shocked. The grand duke, who was always as cold as ice, was smiling!

 

He must have been trying to calm me down, but it was such an unexpected move. I was just as flustered. This time, it wasn’t an act—I was genuinely taken aback.

 

Sensing the mood, Hubert cleared his throat. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m the most powerful person here. So you can speak freely.” He reassured me again in a way that even a young girl could understand.

 

Steadying myself, I spoke. “I heard Viscount Molon’s scream and came out of my room. When I saw what was happening, I thought I might be able to help.” I spoke in a trembling but clear voice.

 

“T-Then, what was the ointment you gave me?” Viscount Molon, whose complexion had now returned, asked.

 

I looked at the empty jar. “It was a healing ointment I made some time ago and distributed to the staff.”

 

“Healing ointment?”

 

Hubert grew curious and held out his hand. I handed him the jar.

 

“So this was the real ointment, and Stella brought the fake one, claiming it was the real thing.”

 

“T-That’s not true!” Stella shouted urgently. “I was told this was the real ointment!” She pointed to the fake ointment jar rolling on the floor. “I only gave it to Viscount because I thought it was real! Epirosa lied to trap me, and that’s why Viscount suffered—”

 

“Stella, that failed ointment was the one you forcibly took.”

 

“Fa-Failed ointment?”

 

I looked at Stella with a puzzled expression. “I clearly told you not to take it. That you’d regret it if you did.”

 

“You never—!”

 

“But you and Aunt Diane still took it, didn’t you? Even bringing along the maids.”

 

The implication was clear—there were witnesses, so don’t even think about denying it. Stella seemed to understand the meaning behind those words, as she was left speechless. All she could do was gape like a fish, her face pale as a sheet. Diane was no different, her complexion drained of color.

 

Do you get it now? You two fell right into the trap I set.

 

I had predicted Viscount Molon would come looking for the ointment after seeing its effect. Then Diane and Stella would come to me, asking for that ointment. If I refused to hand it over, they would try to take it by force. That’s why I deliberately made sure Karen saw me making the ointment and told her to inform Stella. That way, they’d come to take it.

 

Of course, the one I prepared was a fake, meant to be taken. Thanks to Stella, I learned a lot about deadly poisons in my past life. They were concoctions she had received from Kobel to use against her rivals.

 

“Karen told me. She said she was worried that you might be making the ointment again.”

 

I recalled Stella’s smug face as she said that, thinking she had it all figured out. I almost laughed at that time. But I held it in, placing my hands on my chest as if I was too shocked to bear it.

 

“The ointment that Stella and Aunt took wasn’t the ‘real ointment.’ It was a ‘failed ointment’ that I was working on while trying to make something else. I told them not to take it because it could cause severe side effects if applied…”

 

Upon hearing my words, Viscount Molon’s face twisted in anger. “You gave me a failed, fake ointment just to open the path to the Peto Port!” His whole body trembled as if recalling the excruciating pain he had just endured. But he couldn’t lash out any further. After all, he was still someone who desperately needed my ointment.

 

“I need the ointment you made, Lady. Could you give it to me?”

 

“My ointment?”

 

“When I applied it, the skin disease I’ve suffered from for years finally started to improve. And it just saved me from almost dying a moment ago!”

 

I hesitated before speaking. “But Aunt said this ointment is dangerous and should be completely disposed of…”

 

“What? Damn it!” Viscount Molon glared at Diane as if he was ready to kill her.

 

“We’ll investigate that matter later,” Hubert spoke coldly.

 

Diane, Gale, and Stella turned pale. It was because Hubert himself would be conducting the investigation.

 

Then everything Stella and Diane did to me will be revealed in full detail. I smirked inwardly, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

 

“I can give you the ointment, Viscount. But first, you’ll need to get my grandfather’s permission.” I looked up at Hubert as I spoke. My achievement is essentially his achievement too.

 

Hubert seemed pleased with my response. It was as if the tension in his jaw, clenched tightly because of the Stella family, had finally eased.

 

“Your Excellency, could you show mercy to this humble Molon?” Viscount Molon bowed deeply to Hubert, politely making his request. His demeanor carried an unspoken promise: ‘I won’t raise any further issues with the grand ducal family regarding Stella’s actions.’

 

Hubert stared coldly at Viscount Molon’s back for a moment before suddenly bursting into hearty laughter. “I’ll gladly extend my goodwill. Let’s head to my office first. We’ll start by drafting the contract.”

 

“Thank you, Your Excellency!”

 

Perhaps it was because the ointment had already proven effective, thanks to me. Viscount Molon didn’t demand further testing of the ointment and obediently followed Hubert.

 

As Hubert ascended to the second-floor office with Viscount Molon, Gale shamelessly trailed after them. But Hubert wasn’t one to let that slide. “Gale, you stay here.”

 

“What? Are you saying the eldest son should be excluded from such an important contract?”

 

Hubert’s eyebrow twitched. “What right do you have to be involved when you couldn’t even manage your own family?”

 

At Hubert’s outburst, Gale shrank back like a scolded puppy.

 

“Instead,” Hubert’s gaze swept over the gathered family members. Diane, who managed the household. Stella, who had always attended important business meetings to gain experience. And then, me, who had only recently entered the mansion. But his gaze stopped on me. “Epirosa will accompany me.”