Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 32

* * *

After finishing my studies and returning to my room, I noticed Karen’s back as she appeared to be deep in thought.

 

“Ah, Milady, you’re here.”

 

Karen, who noticed me belatedly, jumped up in surprise. I had told her to rest and not to follow me, but it didn’t seem like she had been taking a break at all.

 

I approached her with a soft smile.

 

“Milady?”

 

Instead of answering, I reached out and touched her face. Karen flinched and tightly shut her eyes. That made me burst into laughter.

 

“Why are you so startled? I was just teasing you.”

 

Only then did Karen open her eyes. She blinked a few times and looked at me.

 

“Are you hiding something from me?”

 

“What could I possibly have to hide from Milady?” spoke Karen calmly, having already calmed down. But her eyes kept avoiding mine.

 

I pretended not to notice and sat down on a chair. “Karen, have I told you this before?”

 

“Told me what?”

 

“You’re the first maid I’ve ever kept by my side. That’s why I’m fond of you.”

 

Karen flinched again. To that, I smiled at her with a kind expression.

 

“It’s to the extent that I could walk the path of death for you.”

 

Well, it really happened.

 

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

 

That day, Karen sent me down to the basement, and I followed her words without any suspicion.

 

“…” Karen looked at me with a strange expression.

 

A lady who grew up even lower than a servant, despite her status. The same lady who grew up without receiving anyone’s love, starving for it. Karen seemed to pity me, or maybe thought I was pathetic. Perhaps it’s both.

 

I gently held onto Karen’s sleeve. “So, I’ll ask you one last time. Are you hiding anything from me?”

 

Karen’s eyes wavered. “Milady, I…”

 

I already knew her answer.

 

“…have nothing to hide from you.”

 

She was always deceiving me. Nothing has changed. Somehow, it made me feel more at ease.

 

With a bright smile, I tugged on Karen’s sleeve that I was holding. Riiip!

 

“!” Karen flinched and shook me off in shock. But her sleeve was already torn. “Mi-Milady…” Her shocked gaze landed on the piece of her sleeve in my hand.

 

Feigning surprise, I dropped the torn fabric. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry! I did it by mistake!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Karen looked at me as if she couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. It was something that could never be done by accident. But now, without anything to hold me back, I spoke even more shamelessly than she.

 

“Sorry, Karen. I’ll buy you a new outfit next time in Minster.”

 

“A-A new outfit in Minster?”

 

Minster was a place lined with shops so expensive it was called the ‘Nobles’ Street.’ Even the tailoring shops there only sold the finest, most luxurious clothes. For Karen, the daughter of the head maid, it was a place she could never even dream of stepping into.

 

“I’ll buy it for you as an apology, so pick one. It can be as expensive as you like.”

 

“Mi-Milady! Thank you so much!” Greed overtook Karen, and her suspicion melted away.

 

“Give me the torn clothes. I’ll take care of them for you.”

 

“I can throw them away myself, Milady.”

 

“I’m insisting because I feel bad.”

 

“Alright then. I’ll go change and bring them to you!” Karen hurriedly dashed off to her room.

 

Left alone, I picked up the sleeve of Karen’s dress that was lying on the floor. Then, I took out the red liquid I had prepared in advance and poured it onto the sleeve. Splat! The fabric turned horrifyingly crimson, as if soaked in blood. Then I tucked it away in the innermost part of the drawer.

 

* * *

A few days later, Hubert summoned Stella and me to his office.

 

“Karen, come with me.”

 

Karen, who had been expecting another break, couldn’t hide her disappointment.

 

“I’m scared because Grandpa called for me. I think I’ll be braver if you come with me.”

 

“Ah, then let’s go together.”

 

Karen readily got up from her seat. She had become quite compliant, probably thinking about the clothes she was going to receive from me.

 

Stella was already in the office when we arrived.

 

“Epirosa, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you!” greeted Stella with a bright smile. For the past few days, she had been cold as ice, but now her demeanor had suddenly changed.

 

Soon, Hubert appeared. He got straight to the point. “How are things between the two of you these days?”

 

It was an unexpected question. Hubert must have been briefed about what had happened between Stella and me.

 

“We’re getting along really well!” Stella answered cheerfully in a bright voice.

 

Hubert then turned his gaze to me. I nodded as well. “Yes, we’re on good terms. I like Stella.”

 

“Then this old man has nothing to worry about,” said Hubert with satisfaction at my response.

 

Stella quickly interjected. “Grandfather, are you worried about what happened between the two of us a while ago?”

 

“As expected, Stella knows this grandfather’s heart well.”

 

“Of course! Who am I? I’m Stella, your most cherished grandchild!” Stella said, playfully showing affection.

 

“I hope you two continue to get along like this. Just as Stella said, Epirosa and Stella, you two are my most beloved grandchildren,” said Hubert.

 

For a moment, Stella’s hand visibly clenched the hem of her dress tightly.

 

Up until now, she was the most loved grandchild. But now that Hubert says ‘you two,’ it must upset her.

 

“Grandfather, do you know what the tutor said to me yesterday?” Stella acted immediately. She began to list off all the compliments she had received from the tutor, trying to stand out. “The tutor said I seemed to be the smartest among your grandchildren. So I told her not to say that; otherwise, what would that make my brother or my cousins?”

 

“Such a kind heart you have, Stella.” Hubert praised her.

 

Seeing her plan work, Stella couldn’t hide her smile.

 

Hubert’s gaze then turned to me. “Did the tutor say anything special to you, Epirosa?”

 

“I haven’t been able to focus on my studies as much as Stella, so I’ve never received such high praise.”

 

“You don’t focus on your studies? Why? Is your business work keeping you busy these days?” Hubert furrowed his brow and asked.

 

I handed over the ledger I had prepared in advance. “I was trying to draft a sales ledger on my own based on the report Sir Benjamin gave me.”

 

Hubert took the ledger with a surprised look. After reading it, he was even more astonished. Though I had intentionally pretended to be clumsy, the quality was fundamentally quite high.

 

“Did you really write this yourself?”

 

“Yes. I got a lot of help from books.”

 

“Surely, you must have a hard time writing something like this. But it’s a hundred times better to try practical work yourself than to just impress your tutor!” Hubert laughed heartily. “You’ll do an excellent job managing the household in the future!”

 

I could see the muscles in Stella’s jaw tighten. For Hubert to say something like that meant that it would be hard for Diane to regain his trust. If I show more of my abilities here, I might even take over the internal affairs Diane is handling for the family. I swallowed a triumphant smile.

 

After Hubert left first due to work, Stella and I also exited the office.

 

“When did you write a ledger like that?” Stella clung to me, pretending to be friendly, but she couldn’t hide her jealousy.

 

“I wrote it bit by bit in my spare time. Want me to teach you how to do it?”

 

Stella’s eyes widened. She seemed intrigued.

 

“Yeah! Teach me!”

 

“Where should I teach you? Your room would be best, right?”

 

“Of course. Let’s go to my room.”

 

Stella eagerly led me to her room. She was clearly planning to learn my skills and earn praise from Hubert. She even went as far as to meticulously kick out all the maids, probably to make sure they wouldn’t learn anything by watching.

 

“If you do it like this…”

 

“Wait! Then what about that?”

 

I generously taught Stella everything. She grinned from ear to ear, bombarding me with all sorts of questions.

 

“Why don’t you try writing it yourself with what I’ve taught you so far?”

 

“Of course! I’m so good at this, you’ll be shocked!”

 

“I’m sure I will be.”

 

While Stella was focused on the task I gave her, I quietly got up from my seat. She’s so absorbed in her assignment, she doesn’t even care what I’m doing. Go ahead and learn all the ledger-writing skills you want. Not like that’ll ever be enough to bring me down.

 

I stealthily hid the red sleeve I had taken from Karen deep within Stella’s room in a spot so secretive that it wouldn’t be easily found, no matter how hard someone searched.