Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 22

My provocation left them speechless. They probably never expected me to respond like this.

 

“Go ahead, give it your best shot!”

 

In the end, the two scurried away as if fleeing.

 

“Will Lady really donate such a large amount?”

 

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll make it so no one ever remembers those two were ever on the donor list.”

 

Hearing my confident reply, the priest seemed reassured.

 

I wasn’t lying. I’ll have the money soon enough. And not just any money, but an enormous amount.

 

“Anyway, I apologize for causing a commotion.”

 

“No. Those people were a headache to deal with! Honestly, thank you for driving them away!”

 

With a beaming smile, the priest led me to the sanctuary.

 

“Here it is!”

 

As I stepped into the room, I flinched. It was a familiar sight to see Mom sitting blankly on the bed. But the man in silver armor pressed against the wall was a bit of a shock.

 

“Who is that…?”

 

“Oh, he’s a paladin from the temple,” the priest said. “He protects the sanctuary and takes care of the patients.”

 

“Does he always… wear armor like that?”

 

“Ah, this man sustained full-body injuries during battle, so he always wears armor to cover them.”

 

“Oh… I see. My apologies.”

 

Flustered, I apologized to the paladin. But the paladin didn’t respond. He just stood there like a rock, staring only at Mom. It was awkward.

 

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

 

“Uh, w-wait—”

 

“Enjoy your time together!” The priest, seemingly just as uncomfortable and awkward, disappeared in a flash.

 

“…”

 

I glanced at the paladin, who stood there like a sentinel, and then approached Mom.

 

“Mom, I’m here.”

 

“…”

 

“Have you been doing well?”

 

Mom, who had been sitting there blankly, looked at me. Then, she smiled like an innocent child. Only then did I feel relieved. It was a more relaxed smile than when it was just the two of us living together. On top of that, her cheeks looked plumper. They’re taking good care of her here.

 

I pulled out a small medicine bottle from my pocket. It was an antidote for the curses that I had made after studying a magic book in Hubert’s study.

 

Hubert had two studies, but one of them was open to all family members. I had used that one.

 

Since I don’t know exactly what kind of curse Mom has, I made something that works on a wide range of curses. I decided to trust in the healing power of the divine beast’s egg and gave it a try.

 

“Mom, do you want to try this?” As I opened the lid, a terrible smell wafted out.

 

“No!” Mom scrunched up her face and turned her head away.

 

“Mom, come on, just one sip…”

 

“No, no!” Mom shook her head wildly, like a child.

 

It was when I was flustered and at a loss. Swish— The paladin snatched the medicine bottle from my hand. Then, after patting Mom’s back to calm her down, he held out the medicine. Mom looked up at the paladin blankly for a moment before slowly opening her mouth. Gulp!

 

“!”

 

What the? She flatly refused to take it from me, but she drank it from him? I felt a deep sense of betrayal.

 

Mom grimaced at the bitter taste of the medicine. Seeing this, the paladin quickly took a candy from the jar on the table and fed it to her. His movements were skillful.

 

Mom hasn’t been here long, but he already takes such good care of her.

 

I looked at the paladin again. “Thank you for taking good care of my mother.”

 

The paladin didn’t even glance at me, as if he hadn’t heard a word I said. His attention was solely on Mom.

 

That paladin seems a bit strange… Still, he was a temple-certified paladin, and Mom was being well cared for, so that was enough for now. Deciding not to concern myself with the paladin any further, I pulled out the pouch I had brought with me.

 

“Mom, this is a gift for you.”

 

At the word ‘gift,’ Mom quickly snatched the pouch from my hands. Inside was a phoenix egg. I decided to give this egg, which had healing powers, to Mom. Because its healing ability might cure her. Of course, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be able to make more Pasa Blanche.

 

After making countless medicines, I developed a new ability. That ability was being able to use healing powers myself. Did it transfer to me because I used it so often? Or maybe it was an innate ability that had awakened. Either way, I decided to give this egg to Mom.

 

“If you keep this, it might help you get better.”

 

Mom examined the egg curiously, turning it over in her hands.

 

“Mom, you can’t break that or—”

 

It was when I grabbed her wrist, worried she might squeeze it too hard. Zap! A black spot appeared on Mom’s hand, and I felt a searing pain that seemed to tear through me.

 

This is just like with Benjamin Paulton…! But the pain was far worse. When I grabbed Benjamin’s arm, it was just a slight jolt, but this time, it really hurt. I quickly pulled my hand away.

 

Mom looked at me innocently, as if nothing had happened. “Does it hurt? Why does it hurt?” Then, seeing me in pain, she gently stroked my cheek with a concerned expression.

 

“No. I’m fine, Mom.” Even as I said that, I was confused. Why is she showing the same symptoms as Benjamin?

 

Suddenly, the image of Benjamin freezing up like a stone came to mind. Could it be that Benjamin is also cursed like Mom?

 

* * *

Even after leaving the sanctuary, I couldn’t stop thinking about Benjamin.

 

In my previous life, Benjamin was executed for being involved in a rebellion plot. The person identified as the main culprit of the incident was none other than my grandfather, Hubert. And the one who reported him to the royal family was none other than Gale.

 

“No matter how close the blood ties, I couldn’t stand by and watch him betray His Majesty!”

 

But the opponent was none other than the Grand Duke Blanche, who held a status rivaling that of the imperial family. There needed to be solid evidence to justify the enforcement of punishment. Of course, Hubert denied everything, and the only evidence was testimonies that could be overturned at any time.

 

Then, at that moment, written evidence emerged. It was a document detailing a rebellion conspiracy, written by none other than Hubert’s closest confidant, Benjamin. Benjamin denied having written it.

 

“I’ve never written such a document!”

“But the handwriting is yours, and so is the seal stamped on it, isn’t it?”

“Someone must have forged it!”

“Then explain what you were doing at the dates and times the witnesses claim you were absent for the rebellion conspiracy!”

“That’s…”

 

Benjamin couldn’t prove his innocence. In the end, he was executed for conspiring to rebel, and Hubert, while protesting his injustice, collapsed. He passed away not long after.

 

Since it was Gale who reported the rebellion conspiracy, Blanche was spared. But with the loss of the great pillar that was Hubert, the family began to falter. The emperor seized the opportunity to intervene in and disrupt the Blanche family. Even though Hubert had died, Phoenix still hadn’t chosen Gale, so the justification was clear. Growing desperate, Gale eventually resorted to sacrificing me and my mother.

 

The butterfly effect started with Benjamin.

 

But what if Benjamin was truly innocent? What if the rebellion documents were forged, and the reason he couldn’t recall his actions was because of a ‘curse’ that turned him to stone and erased his memories…?

 

“Did the investigation go well?”

 

It was then that a familiar voice reached me, pulling me out of my thoughts. My heart sank instinctively. Every nerve in my body tensed up. And then, like frost creeping in, the blood-soaked memories of my past life surfaced. It’s the crown prince—Ludwig’s voice!

 

I quickly looked around. But there was no one.

 

Did I just imagine it? I was about to let out a sigh of relief when, thud! Someone jumped down right in front of me.

 

“Not there, here.”

 

A massive shadow that completely engulfed me. Silver hair gleaming sharply, like the edge of a merciless blade. Eyes as red as flames frozen in time. A relaxed smile etched onto a handsome face, like a painting comes to life. And the sharp atmosphere hidden behind it, known only to me. It was none other than Crown Prince Ludwig. He had climbed up a nearby tree and jumped down.

 

“Why do you look like you’ve just seen a ghost?” Ludwig asked with a genuinely curious expression.

 

Wouldn’t anyone, in my shoes?!

 

Even putting aside the memories of my past life, the very person who had me investigated suddenly fell from the sky. And not just anyone, but the infamous playboy crown prince whose overwhelming handsomeness overshadowed his reputation.

 

“Judging by your expression, you really must think I’m a ghost.” He extended his large, well-kept hand toward me. “Touch me. I’m human.”

 

Snapping out of my daze, I took a step back and bowed deeply. “I apologize for not recognizing you, Your Highness. Please have mercy on me.”

 

“I told you to touch me, not to apologize.”

 

While I still didn’t raise my head, he lowered his voice and said, “Raise your head.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The way he said it carried an unexpected sense of authority. My head lifted almost instinctively.

 

Ludwig then stared at me intently.