Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 25

Stella thought of me as an innocent child and was saying all sorts of nonsense.

 

Suppressing my laughter, I said, “Really? I’m so jealous!”

 

“There’s no need to be jealous. You and I are family too.” Stella then took something out from her arms—a small box. “My mother will give me a dress to wear to the palace, but you don’t have any accessories, do you? This is something I cherish, but I want you to wear it.”

 

When I opened the box, light spilled out. It was a yellow flower-shaped necklace. The petals were carved from yellow sapphire, with thorns depicted beneath them. It was something so beautiful that you wanted to wear it right away.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay to give me something so precious?”

 

“Of course. It’s also my way of apologizing, so please accept it.” Stella added hurriedly as I hesitated.

 

I nodded as if I had no choice.

 

“You have to wear this necklace to the palace, okay? I’m letting you have it for your sake.”

 

“I will. Don’t worry.”

 

She then looked at me with satisfaction. “I’ll keep looking after you from now on, Epirosa.”

 

* * *

Diane sent me a normal dress. After examining it thoroughly, there was nothing strange or likely to tear. But of course, it’s quite plain. It would probably be compared to Stella’s luxurious and beautiful dress. Since this wasn’t a ball, I didn’t care. If it’s going to be plain anyway, let’s make sure to go looking as neat as possible.

 

I said to Karen, “Tell the seamstress to fix the bulky collar and sleeves to make them neat and simple. Also, take off the ribbon on the chest.”

 

“That’s the only fancy part, though! Without it, it’ll look too boring.”

 

“Better boring than looking ridiculous.”

 

At my words, Karen seemed to realize something. “Then what about the necklace Lady Stella gave you? The necklace might look too fancy and not match.”

 

“I have another use for it,” I said, stroking the luxurious box with the necklace. “How could I not use something so precious?”

 

* * *

It was on the morning of the day I went to the palace. Madam Mona came to see me early.

 

“The six-seater carriage is broken, so there are only two four-seater carriages available. Lady Epirosa, you’ll have to ride separately.”

 

Even with a four-seater, Diane, Stella, and I could all fit just fine. This was just their way of telling me they’d rather bring their maids than me.

 

By the time Karen and I went downstairs, Diane and Stella’s carriage had already left. I got into the rickety, old carriage.

 

“I’ve never ridden such an old-fashioned carriage before, ugh…!” Karen grumbled.

 

Karen had been polite the past few days, but now that Diane and Stella were acting triumphant, it seemed her intentions had changed again. It didn’t surprise me at all. Her attitude was even worse in my previous life.

 

“I’m suffering because of you, Milady!”

 

And that’s not all—

 

“Milady, please go down to the basement. Master said there’s a gift prepared for you down there.”

 

It was Karen who sent me down to the basement where I died.

 

The carriage deliberately took a roundabout route before arriving at the palace. By the time I arrived, Violet’s tea time was already in full swing.

 

“Is that rumor true? They say it was none other than Nicholas and Stella who made Royal Blue.”

 

“Please don’t ask. It feels embarrassing, like I’m bragging about my children.”

 

As I entered the outer palace, I heard noble ladies chatting away. Among them was Diane’s laughter. She was currently working on public opinion to take credit for Royal Blue. Since Hubert had ordered ‘Don’t reveal the creator,’ she firmly believed there was no way my identity as the creator would be exposed.

 

Do they think it’s okay to reveal a fake creator? In any case, if Hubert knew, he’d be furious. Still, they were greedy as always.

 

Thanks for that. I’d expected them to try to steal my achievements. They always did in my previous life. That’s why I’d hidden the creator of Royal Blue until now on purpose. Everything is going as expected.

 

Let them keep digging their own trap. When the time comes, I’ll push them in with all my strength. For now, I just waited and observed the atmosphere.

 

“My cousin is too modest. Why not brag a little about your wonderful children?” Diane’s cousin, Violet, chimed in. “Isn’t that right, my lovely niece, Stella?”

 

“Thank you, Duchess. It’s a shame my brother Nicholas, who contributed with me, couldn’t join us since this is a ladies’ gathering.”

 

“Such a close sibling bond.”

 

“Her heart is as beautiful as her looks.”

 

The noble ladies close to Violet praised them.

 

“And you even created such a wonderful medicine as Royal Blue. With children this accomplished, shouldn’t your husband be named heir?”

 

“Especially Lady Stella is truly exceptional. She must be the best young lady in the empire.”

 

Diane shook her head with a sad face. “Please don’t forget our Epirosa, who made Pasa Blanche.”

 

“What’s so special about a girl who made such cheap medicine?” Violet said, as if pitying her kind relative.

 

“Exactly. Pasa Blanche is inferior in effectiveness and quality compared to Royal Blue.”

 

“She’s nothing compared to Stella’s talents.”

 

The noblewomen comforted Diane.

 

“Don’t be too harsh. Epirosa is my precious niece too.”

 

“She’s just a girl raised in the slums!”

 

“I heard her personality is quite impertinent, too?”

 

I smiled. The time had finally come. I slowly entered the parlor where the conversation was in full swing.

 

Violet was the first to spot me. Her beautiful eyes sharpened. “You’re late.”

 

“I’m sorry. The carriage took a wrong turn…”

 

“Don’t make excuses! I heard you left with Lady Diane’s carriage—how could only your carriage take a wrong turn? You must have been up to something on the way!” Violet scolded me harshly.

 

It had been set up this way from the start. Violet called me here to humiliate me.

 

“Don’t be too angry, Duchess.” At that moment, Stella stopped Violet. “She probably finds everything fascinating after so many years on the streets. It’s her first time at a place like this.”

 

With that, the room began to buzz.

 

“My goodness, how vulgar…”

 

“I heard she even begged for food to survive…”

 

Maybe because of that buzzing, no one noticed someone else entering the parlor.

 

“How strange.”

 

The room fell instantly silent.

 

“Isn’t it the responsibility of the highest-ranking woman in the household to handle matters concerning a young lady who hasn’t yet come of age?”

 

Someone strode in, cutting through the chilly air. Red eyes smiled lazily beneath cool silver hair, with features so delicately sculpted, you could only admire them. Even though he walked with a relaxed air, his muscular frame was impossible to hide.

 

“C-Crown Prince Ludwig!”

 

Everyone present stood up and bowed deeply.

 

Ludwig plopped down in Violet’s seat, crossing his legs. Violet’s gaze became sharp.

 

“In that case, isn’t the fault of that lady ultimately the fault of Madam Diane for failing to look after her? Duchess Clementi, instead of scolding the inexperienced lady, shouldn’t you be reprimanding Madam Diane, who should have handled things better?” Ludwig pointed sharply at Diane as he spoke. Diane’s face turned red.

 

At that moment, Stella cried out, “Mother did her best. Since Epirosa came in a separate carriage, Mother couldn’t stop her from doing as she pleased.”

 

“Why did you come separately? You should have ridden together in the first place.” Ludwig asked coldly.

 

Stella glanced nervously around. Carefree as he seemed, the crown prince was still the crown prince. Of course she wanted to stay on his good side.

 

Diane was on the side of Violet’s son, Claude, but Stella was different. In my past life, Stella had tried to play both men against each other.

 

Doing her best to look innocent and aggrieved, Stella said, “The carriage broke down. My mother and I gave up the better carriage for Epirosa, so that’s why we came separately.”

 

Now was the time. I spoke up with a sympathetic look, “That’s right. Aunt isn’t at fault. The six-person carriage broke down, so only two four-person carriages were left.”

 

Ludwig looked at me, smiling in disbelief. “Then the three of you could have just taken one of the four-person carriages. Why did you come separately?”

 

Ludwig questioned sharply, glancing at the servants standing behind. His look made the meaning clear: Did you put the servants in the carriage and make Epirosa ride separately?

 

Other noblewomen seemed to realize and began to murmur.

 

“Did she really treat her niece as less than a servant?”

 

“Even if she’s new to the family, this is too much. She’s still a noble, not a servant.”

 

Those who had called me vulgar now suddenly changed their tone.

 

Diane and Stella’s faces twisted in displeasure. It was Violet who saved them.

 

“Your Highness, with all due respect, this is a ladies’ gathering. It’s not a place for men.”

 

“Oh really? I thought it was fine since Duke Claude Clementi keeps hanging around nearby.”

 

Violet’s face turned cold as well.

 

Duke Claude Clementi? I hadn’t known he was nearby either. Why was Claude here when he didn’t live in the imperial palace and wasn’t invited?

 

“Claude is here to see His Majesty,” Violet replied sharply.

 

“Is that so? Then why was he loitering around the outer palace instead of the main palace?”

 

At that, Violet bit her lip. Judging by her silence, she didn’t seem to know the reason either. But Ludwig, with a knowing smile, looked at me as if he had the answer.