Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 35

So much for thinking she was just a loyal dog!

 

But how do I keep Karen’s mouth shut? Though Stella denied it, Diane could sense it instinctively. Stella had gone against her words and tried to take revenge on Epirosa, only to make things worse. Diane sighed and sank into her seat.

 

Madam Mona came from a family that had been head maids for generations. She was competent, managing even the lowest servants well. She was also tight-lipped—never letting slip a word, even when Diane embezzled the household budget. Having Madam Mona as a close confidante naturally made it easier for Diane to control the inner household.

 

Casting out someone like Mona is a huge loss. But then, how could Karen be saved in this situation? Her head throbbed. Why did Stella have to do this!

 

Diane felt her anger rising, almost feverish. Her daughter, who used to do only lovely things, had been causing one problem after another lately.

 

* * *

Stella returned to her room as if fleeing. Has Karen gone mad? Why is she blaming me? Nervously, she bit her nails.

 

What if Grandfather really starts to suspect me? She couldn’t shake off the memory of Hubert’s cold gaze. Until now, Stella had always been the subject of Hubert’s attention for good reasons. It was the first time she’d received such a look from him.

 

What if Karen keeps insisting that I made her do it? What if it comes out that I really did steal the bust…!

 

Her heart pounded. If that happened, Hubert’s wrath would turn toward her. The image of a lovable, capable granddaughter she’d built up would be shattered.

 

I need to win Karen over. Money or whatever she wanted—anything to buy her silence.

 

Stella jumped up from her seat. But as soon as she stepped out of her room, she was startled.

 

“E-Epirosa?”

 

Epirosa was standing right outside her door. Stella turned pale, as if her scheme had been discovered, but forced herself to act calm.

 

“What brings you here? Are you here to confront me, suspecting something?”

 

“No, I came to apologize to you.”

 

“Apologize?”

 

Stella looked at Epirosa skeptically, thinking she might try to confuse her again. But Epirosa whispered sincerely, “I remembered that Karen would sometimes insult you when she was with me.”

 

“Karen insulted me?” Stella’s eyes widened in surprise. That little mouse who cowered in front of me dared to badmouth me in front of Epirosa? Her face tightened with anger.

 

Epirosa frowned sadly and nodded deeply. “She said you kept making her do things she shouldn’t, and it was troublesome and unpleasant.” She then glanced around as if checking the surroundings before whispering, “Remember how my leg got badly hurt not long ago? She said you purposely gave me medicine that made the wound worse. She even said you sometimes use that kind of stuff on your rivals in society.”

 

“W-What?”

 

“Karen even told me who else you used it on, but it sounded so far-fetched that I didn’t pay attention.”

 

Did she really say that much? Stella’s eyes shook violently. Epirosa must be making this up, right? But there was no way she could have known about Stella using medicine on her rivals.

 

Epirosa poured more oil onto the flames of Stella’s confusion. “Karen said something about Lady Trozen. That the lady apparently lost her eyesight because of you.”

 

“!”

 

That incident was something only two people knew about. Karen, who got the medicine. And Stella, who had secretly added it to Lady Trozen’s face lotion. Unless those two spoke up, there was no way anyone else could know. Of course, in a previous life, Karen had told Epirosa the story to threaten her.

 

“Are you really not going to steal the unicorn horn? Then, I’ll make you go blind like Lady Trozen!”

 

What Karen had once blurted out as a threat to her mistress had become a useful tool. For Epirosa, it was a fortunate turn.

 

“You could never do something so cruel,” Epirosa said with an innocent face, as if she trusted her completely.

 

Hearing Lady Trozen’s name from Epirosa’s lips, Stella’s doubt became certainty. That wretched Karen! Did she really spill everything? If so, Karen might even confess to the other tasks Stella had made her do.

 

Lady Trozen’s case was only the tip of the iceberg.

 

If Karen tells everything else… A cold anxiety crept into Stella’s chest.

 

“What if Karen keeps accusing you? You’ll be in real trouble.”

 

Epirosa’s quiet remark fell like a drop of water on that anxiety, causing big ripples in Stella’s heart.

 

A sinister expression briefly crossed Stella’s face. There’s no point in trying to win Karen over. Now that she knew Karen’s true feelings, she needed a more certain method. Even if Karen changes her mind and tries to help me, Grandfather will still be suspicious. On the other hand, Karen might have a change of heart and drag me down again. So there was only one way. Karen has to take all the blame and disappear.

 

A cold smile formed on Stella’s lips. Watching Karen’s smile spread across her face, Epirosa spoke, “Looking back at Karen’s actions, I think you’ve been framed. I came to apologize. If Karen tries to accuse you again, I’ll take your side.”

 

“Yeah. Thanks for letting me know.” Stella replied absentmindedly and quickly walked away.

 

Epirosa watched her go with a cold expression.

 

* * *

It was late at night, in the mansion’s garden. Stella stood under a tree, in a place untouched by light, waiting for someone. Just then, someone emerged from the thick bushes.

 

“La-Lady Stella! Thank you for calling me!”

 

“Shh! Keep your voice down!”

 

A large man immediately fell silent at Stella’s command. He was a footman employed by the Blanche family.

 

“Come here, Wise.”

 

Seeing the man shrank back, Stella extended her hand. The man then approached her as if reaching for salvation.

 

“It’s been a while,” Stella said with a seductive smile.

 

The man, known as Wise, looked as if he were lost in a blissful dream. He was infatuated with Stella. Knowing that, Stella often took advantage of him.

 

“It’s been a long time since you called for me. I thought I was going to die from missing you, Milady.”

 

“You can see me from afar while working, can’t you?”

 

“But I wanted to see you up close like this.”

 

Inwardly, Stella sneered. Such greed for a commoner. But outwardly, she smiled sweetly, like a princess from a fantasy.

 

“You know what happened in the mansion today, right?”

 

“Of course. That wicked Karen tried to frame you, didn’t she?”

 

“Yes, it was so upsetting…” Stella pretended to cry, as if heartbroken.

 

Wise became flustered. “Milady, please don’t cry. Even if the other servants doubt you, I believe in your innocence.”

 

So the others are doubting me, huh? Behind the hand covering Stella’s eyes, a cold light flashed. This gave her even more reason to get rid of Karen quickly.

 

“It seems Karen is going to keep accusing me until the end,” Stella spoke sorrowfully.

 

“Really? Is that true?”

 

“She thinks if she claims I ordered her to do it, her own guilt will lessen. But if that happens, I’ll be… sob!” Stella covered her face and sobbed.

 

Rage toward Karen flickered across Wise’s face. “Milady, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to shut Karen’s mouth.”

 

“How…?”

 

“I’ll give her a scare…”

 

“That’s not enough!” Stella whispered ominously, “Get rid of Karen. Make sure no one can ever find her body.”

 

* * *

It was a few hours later, before dawn. Karen had been awake all night. This place was so filthy, damp, and horrible. She’d never slept in such poor conditions before. If this place is this ad, how much worse must the Tower of the Condemned be?

 

Epirosa’s words wouldn’t leave her mind.

 

“Do you think someone as pampered as you can survive in the Tower of the Condemned?”

 

“So for your own sake, tell the truth.”

 

Yes! I’ll tell the whole truth! If Karen could just clear up this incident, maybe Stella could still manage to cover things up. So she’d expose all the bad things she was ordered to do. Then Stella wouldn’t be able to withstand it and would confess herself.

 

I’ll never, ever go to the Tower of the Condemned!

 

The image of Stella, shamelessly lying and cornering her, came to mind. Stella trembled with rage and betrayal. If I’d known it would end up like this, I would’ve been loyal to Lady Epirosa instead. Karen regretted it too late.

 

The lady said she’d even buy me new clothes in Minster… Karen thought wistfully of the new clothes she’d never received. Once I clear my name, I’ll beg the lady to buy me those clothes. How pretty they’ll be.

 

Karen pictured herself in a luxurious dress and smiled. Lost in that impossible dream, she didn’t notice someone approaching from behind. It was Wise. He strangled Karen’s neck with a thick rope.

 

“Ack!” Karen could only let out a short scream.

 

Wise pulled the rope tight with brute force. She struggled desperately, but it was useless.

 

After a moment, Karen’s movements stopped. Wise stuffed her limp body into a sack and left the underground room. Some time later, someone appeared in the now-empty underground room.