Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 30

Paterson waved his hand several times in front of Benjamin’s face, which had gone stiff like stone, and smirked. He tampered with Benjamin’s report.

 

The thick report was bound together with a string. After untying it all, he swapped out several pages in the middle. Having finished his task, Paterson even slapped Benjamin’s cheeks a few times. “The day you’re finished is coming soon, you b*stard!”

 

“Uuum…”

 

“Benjamin! Benjamin, are you alright?” When Benjamin regained consciousness, Paterson pretended to be concerned, as if nothing had happened.

 

“Did I freeze up again?”

 

“Yes. Do you know how worried I was?”

 

“Sorry. Please don’t tell anyone else.”

 

“Of course. You’ve asked me so many times. I’ve made sure to warn your colleagues and subordinates as well. Just make sure the grand duke doesn’t find out.” Paterson patted Benjamin on the shoulder and left the room.

 

I quickly hid behind a statue nearby. Only after Paterson, humming to himself, disappeared, did I enter Benjamin’s office.

 

Benjamin’s eyes widened when he saw me. “You’ve come in person again. Even though I said I would come to you.”

 

Unlike before, his attitude toward me had improved greatly. It was because the sales of the medicine had shown results. Benjamin had come to acknowledge my abilities.

 

Of course for now it’s still just a business relationship. I had to get closer to him, one of Hubert’s closest aides. But right now, more than that fact, what caught my eye was Benjamin’s cheek, reddened from Paterson’s slaps.

 

“My room is too small to summon Sir Benjamin over. Besides, since you’re the one doing the work, the least I can do is come to you.”

 

“You’re the only one who shows me such consideration, Lady Epirosa. Then I’ll give my report right away. I also have to report directly to the grand duke afterward, so I don’t have much time.”

 

Benjamin sought my understanding and began his report. He also provided a report that was easy to comprehend.

 

“Thank you for explaining everything so neatly every time.”

 

“Not at all. Thanks to Milady, I’ve remembered how enjoyable work can be.”

 

I handed the humble Benjamin a small bottle of medicine. It was the same curse antidote I had given to my mother. Though it wasn’t sure if it was effective for her yet, it seemed like it would work for Benjamin, whose curse appeared to be less severe.

 

“What is this? It doesn’t look like Pasa Blanche or Royal Blue. Is this perhaps a new medicine you’re planning to sell?” Benjamin asked excitedly.

 

I shook my head. “This is a gift for you, Sir Benjamin.”

 

“A gift for me?” He looked puzzled, then soon gave a wry smile, as if he had realized my intention. “Milady must have made it because of my condition, where I suddenly froze up. But it’s useless. I’ve tried countless medicines, and none of them worked. Not even Pasa Blanche or Royal Blue.”

 

“That’s because it’s not an illness.”

 

At my words, Benjamin flinched. “Not an illness…?”

 

“You’re under a curse right now.”

 

Benjamin’s face turned pale. He clearly had never imagined such a thing. “But who would curse me?”

 

“Don’t you know that Uncle Kobel has been secretly studying black magic?”

 

“But I’ve kept my distance from him. Besides, he left on a research trip a long time ago.”

 

“What if he planted an agent next to you?”

 

“An agent? Who?”

 

“Paterson.”

 

When I spoke bluntly, Benjamin looked at me as if it were absurd.

 

“He’s my close colleague. Even though he has no chance of promotion because of me, he has never shown any resentment.”

 

“Are you sure about that?” I pointed to the wall. “Take a look in the mirror.”

 

“A mirror? Why all of a sudden…”

 

When he glanced in the mirror without thinking, he jumped. His cheek was swollen as if he’d been slapped several times. If he had gone to Hubert looking like that, Hubert would have demanded to know what had happened. Not being able to answer properly would have led to public humiliation.

 

“Is this another symptom of my illness—no, my curse?”

 

“No. Paterson slapped you while you were here just now.”

 

“What?” Benjamin turned to me in shock, but then he smiled faintly and shook his head. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of all people, how could Paterson…”

 

“Then why don’t you take another look at your report?”

 

“My report? Why all of a sudden?”

 

“Because if you had taken it as it is, it would have caused a huge problem.”

 

“What?”

 

Though confused, Benjamin began to go through his report. When he reached the middle pages, his face froze in horror. It contained absurd information. The figures were wrong, and the conclusions were a mess.

 

“How did this…!”

 

“How do you think I knew someone swapped out some of your pages?”

 

Benjamin looked at me.

 

“I saw it. I secretly watched Paterson slap you and switch out a few pages from your report.”

 

“I can’t believe Paterson would do such a thing… But why…” He looked deeply shaken. No matter how proud and prickly he was, he couldn’t easily cast aside someone he had trusted.

 

I understood Benjamin because I had once foolishly trusted Stella too. However,

 

“Get a grip. Paterson is someone who could become the chief aide if you were out of the picture. People can stoop low for the sake of their goals.”

 

If I wanted to help him, I had to speak harshly.

 

Benjamin looked at me with eyes that had gained clarity.

 

* * *

Paterson was in a good mood. Today was the day he would see that insufferable Benjamin humiliated.

 

If it were up to me, I’d use a curse to get him demoted right now. But Gale and Kobel had ordered him not to go that far, saying they still needed Benjamin. It was disappointing, but just tricking him like this now and then was satisfying enough. In any case, the position of chief aide will be mine soon!

 

Humming cheerfully, Paterson headed for Hubert’s office. It seemed he had arrived before Benjamin. He handed over not only his own report but another one as well.

 

“Why is there an extra report?” Hubert asked.

 

“Please read that after you’ve received Benjamin’s report.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Just in case, I also prepared the report you assigned to Benjamin.”

 

“Benjamin would have done it perfectly already. What a waste of effort.”

 

Paterson was offended, but he hid it and replied with a pleasant smile. “I just thought it might be useful for reference.”

 

Soon, Benjamin arrived. Since he was rarely late, Hubert asked, “Why are you late?”

 

“I was reporting to Lady Epirosa, and I was delayed answering her questions.”

 

“Epirosa understands your report well enough to ask questions?” Hubert asked with surprise.

 

Benjamin, looking proud as if his own daughter had been praised, nodded. “Though it’s an easy-to-read report, she understands everything. I think from now on I could show her reports in the same format I present to you, Your Excellency.”

 

“Epirosa has the talent to lead a business. She takes after me,” Hubert said with satisfaction. His mood was much warmer, a stark contrast to when he spoke with Paterson.

 

Paterson felt irritated by it. But when he saw Benjamin handing over the report he had swapped out, a sly smile crept onto his lips. A scolding is definitely coming soon!

 

However, no matter how long Paterson waited, nothing happened. As Hubert read the report, Benjamin reported fluently, without missing a beat. Hubert asked questions as usual, and Benjamin answered flawlessly. Until the very last page was turned, Hubert showed only satisfaction.

 

“As expected, there’s nothing to criticize in Benjamin’s report.”

 

Paterson was stunned.

 

Hubert’s sharp gaze then turned on him. “Then let’s hear Paterson’s report.”

 

Flustered, Paterson began to speak. Already less competent than Benjamin, and now shaken, his report was a mess.

 

Hubert’s expression darkened. “What on earth did you prepare? You should have focused on your own work instead of wasting time writing Benjamin’s report just to compete with him.”

 

Under Hubert’s cutting criticism, Paterson began to sweat profusely. To make matters worse, even Benjamin, who usually looked at him with some leniency, had a piercing gaze today.

 

“I’m curious to see this report you worked so hard on.”

 

Hubert opened Paterson’s final report. He had prepared it to showcase his own ability in case Benjamin failed—but since Benjamin had succeeded, it only invited comparison.

 

“You ruined your own report to produce something this pathetic?!” Hubert’s wrath fell not on Benjamin, but on Paterson.