Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 41

Diane looked at Epirosa with simmering resentment. Even to her own eyes, Epirosa was as beautiful as a goddess descended from the heavens. But Diane’s frustration didn’t end there.

 

“Lady Epirosa, we’ve been waiting for you. Please, come in.”

 

No less than Cardinal Lenon Gianni himself had come out to greet Epirosa personally. Even Hubert wasn’t greeted by anyone, but he did it for her.

 

The temple didn’t hold real political power, but its symbolic meaning was enormous, and public support for it was immense. High-ranking priests of the temple were the envy of all nobles, people everyone wanted to get close to. And at the very top was Cardinal Lenon Gianni.

 

Unlike the pope, who remained in the background, Lenon often took the lead. Young, capable, and handsome, he was wildly popular in social circles. Yet he was proud and picky, never allowing just anyone close.

 

“It’s been a while, Your Eminence.”

 

But he and Epirosa seemed to know each other.

 

It was unbelievable that a young lady, who had recently joined a noble family after living on the streets, was already acquainted with the esteemed cardinal. And she was this beautiful on top of it all. The nobles’ gaze toward Epirosa changed in an instant.

 

“Thanks to the medicine Lady donated, the temple is overflowing with blessings,” said Lenon.

 

The nobles, sensing the cardinal’s favor, began to praise Pasa Blanche as well.

 

“Because of Pasa Blanche, the poor are able to live much better lives now.”

 

“I hear far fewer people are dying from minor illnesses. What a relief.”

 

Watching this, Stella’s insides burned just as much as Diane’s. Even though I’m known as the creator of Royal Blue, why does Cardinal Lenon only praise Epirosa?! Unable to endure it anymore, Stella darted out in front of Lenon.

 

“Greetings, Your Eminence,”

 

Stella’s extravagant dress fluttered before Lenon. Standing next to Epirosa in her pure white dress, her outfit was even more ostentatious.

 

Lenon forced a smile. “Greetings, Lady Stella. Your dress is very… beautiful.” He was pointing out that her dress was too flashy for the occasion. But Stella, not understanding, beamed.

 

“Thank you! Today is a day for receiving blessings, so I made an effort to look beautiful to God.”

 

Lenon barely managed not to frown. Epirosa is the one being blessed, but she used this as an opportunity to dress up. How selfish.

 

Others whispered from behind.

 

“Isn’t Lady Stella’s dress too flashy for a blessing ceremony?”

 

“She should have worn something reverent, like Lady Epirosa.”

 

“Too greedy.”

 

Things unnoticed when Stella was alone stood out all the more next to the pure white Epirosa. But Stella mistook those whispers as compliments for herself and grinned widely.

 

Only Diane, who heard everything from behind, had a headache. Because of Epirosa, my Stella is being compared! Where did that wretched girl even find such a dress…!

 

But it was fine. What really matters is the shoes. Thankfully, she was wearing the shoes Diane had given her. Diane’s lips curled up slyly. Let’s see how long those shoddy shoes last.

 

When Epirosa walks up the platform to receive the blessing, her heels will give out and break. Everything I hid inside will come spilling out. If that happens, she’ll never be able to show her face in society again. Or maybe she’ll become a criminal and end up in prison for a while.

 

No matter how brazen Epirosa is, she’ll lose her nerve in prison. If I pretend to rescue her, then she’ll finally listen to me.

 

Just as Kobel planned, Epirosa would become an obedient dog. And if Epirosa is dragged down from the platform, Stella and Nicholas would become the true stars of the blessing.

 

* * *

It was a corridor on the second floor of the main hall.

 

“I should have spent more time on the first floor before coming up,” Claude muttered, looking down.

 

At all times, Epirosa arrived after he’d come up to the second floor. The pride of sitting in the exclusive seats only available on the second floor now felt like a missed opportunity. It was a shame he couldn’t get a closer look at Stella, clinging to Epirosa like a moth to a swan.

 

“Duke Claude Clementi, thank you for gracing us with your presence.”

 

Just then, the pope greeted him from behind.

 

Claude turned with a courteous smile. “Did you come out to greet me?”

 

“Ah, not exactly…”

 

The pope looked awkward. Someone then appeared behind him.

 

“I came out to greet you, Duke.”

 

It was Crown Prince Ludwig, who rarely attended such assemblies, but was here today. The pope had come to greet Ludwig, not Claude. Realizing his foolish mistake, Claude’s face turned red.

 

“May the grace of God be with you, Your Highness.” Claude held back his humiliation and bowed to Ludwig, then hurried toward the exclusive seats.

 

“Duke, not that way. This way, please.” But the pope stopped Claude.

 

“What do you mean? I was heading for the exclusive seats.” To be blocked in front of Ludwig stung Claude’s pride, but he managed to hide his displeasure.

 

“The seats you were heading for are first-class exclusive seats. Only the imperial family or high-ranking priests may sit there. Your seat is in the second-class section.”

 

“!” Claude ground his teeth. Once again, he was humiliated in front of Ludwig.

 

We were born under the same father, yet our status is so different! I’m better than that wastrel!

 

Barely restraining his anger, Claude spoke in a kindly tone. “Oh my, I have committed a grave discourtesy before Your Highness. Please be generous and forgive me.”

 

“It’s fine. There’s no one else on the second floor today anyway. I’d like to sit in first class with you, Duke. Is that alright, Your Holiness?”

 

“Ah, of course!” The pope, who’d been so strict with Claude, readily nodded at Ludwig’s request. As long as permission was granted by an imperial family member, you could sit in the exclusive area.

 

Claude’s pride was bruised.

 

“It’s alright, Your Highness. I’ll sit in the second-class section.”

 

“Don’t be like that. Come with me, Brother.” Ludwig put his arm around Claude’s shoulders and led him to the first-class seats.

 

How humiliating for him to call me brother like this!

 

The two sat side by side in the first-class exclusive seats overlooking the first floor.

 

“Is the Duchess Clementi not coming today?” Ludwig asked, peering intently at the lower floor.

 

“No. She went boating with His Majesty today.” Claude deliberately mentioned the Emperor to provoke Ludwig.

 

“So Father sent me here as his proxy, then.”

 

“!”

 

But it was Claude himself who felt a fire burning inside.

 

So Ludwig is here as the emperor’s proxy? That made Ludwig practically the ‘emperor’ himself.

 

Claude’s hand trembled with envy as he clenched his fist. Even as a storm of emotions raged within Claude, Ludwig kept his gaze fixed somewhere below.

 

What is he looking at? Claude followed Ludwig’s gaze. He was staring at Epirosa and Stella.

 

“Are you interested in those cousins as well, Your Highness?”

 

“They’re amusing to watch, aren’t they?”

 

“They’re the stars of today’s blessing.”

 

“Really?” Ludwig sounded as if he hadn’t known. It was typical of Ludwig, who cared little for the affairs of the world and focused solely on entertainment.

 

Claude, mocking Ludwig inwardly, explained as if teaching him. “The young lady in the white dress created Pasa Blanche, and the one in yellow made Royal Blue.”

 

Heh. Ludwig let out an unmistakable snicker.

 

Claude glanced at him, startled. “Your Highness?”

 

“You don’t know anything, Duke.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Claude glared at Ludwig. For a moment, Ludwig turned his head to look at Claude. Startled by that, Claude quickly lowered his head.

 

“You’ve been watching those ladies for a while now. Are you interested in them?”

 

“It’s not like that…”

 

“Which one, then?”

 

“Your Highness, you misunderstand.”

 

“Then that’s a relief.”

 

Ludwig stared straight at Claude. Claude’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously as he met Ludwig’s burning red eyes.

 

“Truly a relief. That young lady doesn’t suit my brother.”

 

It was impossible to tell which lady Ludwig was talking about as he smirked.

 

* * *

The feast day of Saint Pabello prayer service was led directly by Cardinal Lenon. There was a reason why Lenon’s prayer services were more popular than the pope’s, whose voice was soft and services were often dull.

 

After the service ended, it was finally time for the blessings to be bestowed. Only then did the pope, who had been seated behind the stage, slowly walk out.

 

“I am glad to bless the gracious people who follow Saint Pabello here today.” The pope signaled to Lenon, who unfurled a small scroll with the names of those to be blessed.

 

“Oh, it’s finally starting.”

 

“Lady Stella, Lord Nicholas, please get ready.”

 

“Count Gale and Countess Diane must be so proud of their remarkable children.”

 

Whispers rose around them. They were mostly people who had invested in Nicholas.

 

They’re sucking up to him because they want to get on his good side.

 

Suppressing a smile, I watched Stella and Nicholas prepare to stand.

 

“Ah, I’m so nervous since this is my first time experiencing something like this.” Stella whispered, pretending to be delicate.