Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 39

* * *

Did Diane and Stella’s passionate false promotion actually work? An invitation arrived from the temple.

 

[At the feast day of Saint Pabello, we will bless the creators of Pasa Blanche and Royal Blue. We hope that all members of the Blanche family will attend.

-Cardinal Lenon Gianni.]

 

“This is an invitation personally sent by the cardinal. Make sure everyone attends the feast.” Hubert gathered the whole family and gave his order.

 

Even Kobel’s only daughter, Juliet, who rarely showed herself, didn’t refuse. She had golden hair and cold green eyes. What stood out even more was her tall stature and slender frame.

 

I watched her closely. In my previous life, Juliet would eventually become a saintess. Of course, a fake saintess though.

 

“You may all leave now.”

 

As soon as Hubert finished speaking, Juliet disappeared as if fleeing.

 

I returned to my room, mulling over the letter. Cardinal Lenon did well with my request. On the day I went to see my mother again, I had deliberately asked him for a favor. I asked him not to include the name of the person to be blessed, which is my own name, when he sends the invitation.

 

“Why shouldn’t I write Lady Epirosa’s name on the invitation?”

 

“Because the whole family will see the invitation, and I don’t want to seem like the main character, especially in front of my grandfather.”

 

“Does that make you uncomfortable?”

 

“Yes. My position in the family isn’t strong yet, so I want to appear modest. Please make sure the news about me receiving the blessing doesn’t spread either.”

 

“Your position in the family is that delicate… No wonder there’s a rumor that the creator of Royal Blue is Lord Nicholas and Lady Stella.”

 

“The grand ceremony is a sacred event where God bestows their blessings, so I will humbly accept it rather than avoid it.”

 

“Understood. I’ll do as you wish. But please don’t shy away from the grand feast blessing, no matter how extravagant it is. That day will mark a turning point for Lady Epirosa’s status.”

 

I remembered Lenon’s face, looking at me with pity as I pretended to lack confidence. How grand is this blessing going to be for him to say something like that? I felt bad for taking advantage of his goodwill, but it couldn’t be helped. If my name were boldly written on the invitation, the trap I’d prepared would be pointless.

 

I needed the Gale family to flounder in the swamp of misunderstanding. Until the swamp completely swallowed them.

 

* * *

“Father, Mother! The temple is going to bless Stella and me! Isn’t this a great honor for our family?”

 

Nicholas, having followed after Gale’s room, burst out excitedly as soon as the door closed. Diane, who had come with him, couldn’t hide her delight either.

 

“Since it says the creators of Pasa Blanche and Royal Blue, they must think the two medicines have different creators, right?” Diane said. “That’s why the invitation didn’t say ‘Epirosa Blanche,’ but rather blessing each of the creators individually.”

 

Gale replied confidently. “Hahaha! If my children are blessed, more investment money will pour in, and my chances of becoming the heir will increase!”

 

But Stella didn’t seem pleased. “Isn’t it enough just to bless my brother and me? Why is Epirosa being blessed? Pasa Blanche is something only low-class people use!”

 

Diane looked at her sulking daughter lovingly and said, “Don’t worry, Stella. On that day, you and your brother will be the stars. I’ll make sure of it.”

 

On the day of the blessing, Diane planned to restore her daughter’s honor, which had been sullied at Violet’s tea time. And she resolved to take cruel revenge on Epirosa, who had humiliated them.

 

* * *

The Saint Pabello feast was just a day away. Diane, who hadn’t given any word until then, finally came to see me that night.

 

“These are the clothes and shoes you’ll wear to the grand feast.”

 

Madam Mona, who came with Diane, handed me boxes containing clothes and shoes.

 

“It’s not proper to wear flashy accessories on a saint’s feast day, so there won’t be any jewelry.”

 

Britlyn, my new maid, opened the dress and clothes boxes for me. The shoes were plain. The real problem was the clothes. Even among pinks, this is the kind of childish shade little kids wear. It’s overly flashy, and up close, you can tell the fabric is cheap, making it look like something a vulgar nouveau riche would wear. Above all, it was completely inappropriate for a religious holiday.

 

“I picked it out with great care. Since you’ll be representing our family at the blessing, you can’t just wear anything, can you?” Diane said, acting as if she were a considerate aunt who deeply cared about her niece.

 

How hypocritical. I hid my true feelings and thanked her. “Thank you for personally picking out the clothes. I’ll wear them happily.”

 

One of Diane’s eyebrows shot up. She read the implication in my words.

 

She’s not stupid.

 

A few days ago, Diane had called the dressmaker to the mansion. She only let her own family get measured in person, and picked out clothes for Juliet and me herself. I had just indirectly pointed that out.

 

“The designer didn’t have time for everyone to be fitted in person. And since you don’t have parents, I picked the clothes with a mother’s heart. Don’t complain.” Diane spoke, unable to hide the sharp edge in her voice.

 

Don’t have parents? Has she always considered my mother as good as dead?

 

A small but hot flame flared inside me. But outwardly, I smiled sweetly. “Thank you for choosing my outfit with such care. I’m sure ‘my mother’ at the temple sanctuary will also appreciate her sister-in-law’s thoughtfulness.”

 

Diane glared at me. But it seemed she couldn’t retort further on this point. Instead, she changed the subject. “Stella and Nicholas worked hard pretending to be the creators of Royal Blue for your sake. Don’t forget their favor.”

 

No, they worked hard hiding the truth and collecting fake investment money.

 

I just smiled faintly and didn’t answer. It wasn’t like I didn’t understand Diane’s intention to instill a sense of debt in me. But if you think about it, didn’t they just take credit for my achievements?

 

“Thanks to using Stella and Nicholas’s image, Royal Blue succeeded even more. So…” Diane’s gaze sharpened. “If Stella and Nicholas are blessed as the creators of Royal Blue, it’s only right that you have no complaints. Understood?”

 

“Stella and Brother Nicholas will be blessed too?” I asked as if hearing this for the first time.

 

“Did you really think you’d be blessed as the creator of Royal Blue?” A self-satisfied smile appeared on Diane’s lips. “Don’t ever go around claiming you’re the creator of Royal Blue. If you’re ungrateful enough to do that, you’ll be banished from society.”

 

As if that would happen. The ones who’ll be criticized are your children. I scoffed internally.

 

“So, when will you give me the Royal Blue profits? You should entrust them to this aunt of yours.”

 

“I’m still thinking about it.”

 

“How long will you keep thinking? Decide quickly. I’m busy, but I’m doing this to help you. You should be grateful.”

 

Diane made sure to emphasize her supposed generosity. However, she didn’t nag me like before. Thanks to the investment funds Nicholas had gathered, there was some breathing room.

 

“Anyway, you must never reveal that you’re the creator of Royal Blue. Remember what this aunt said.”

 

After Diane left, Britlyn spoke to me. “Milady, Madam Mona said to be careful with the clothes and shoes Madam Diane gave you.” She often relayed information to me from Madam Mona.

 

Britlyn was a maid I’d requested to bring in through Madam Mona. Thanks to memories from my previous life, I knew about her. Britlyn didn’t have much experience, but I liked her because she was smart and capable. Her background was clean, and she was sincere and loyal enough to be trustworthy. And although it wasn’t a big deal, she had a weakness that, if I helped her, would make her utterly devoted to me.

 

It’s really convenient having Madam Mona on my side in so many ways.

 

Of course, Diane thought Madam Mona had given me an inexperienced, reckless girl as a maid.

 

I fiddled with the tacky, cheap dress. “If I wear this, I’ll definitely look like a clown.”

 

“More than that…”

 

“Yeah. The real problem is probably these shoes.”