Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 43

As I begged for forgiveness, people’s gazes turned peculiar.

 

“Would shoes really break just from falling over a little?”

 

“Did Countess Diane deliberately give her shoes that break easily?”

 

What solidified people’s suspicions was the arrival of Cardinal Lenon, who had rushed over, unable to hold back any longer.

 

“I heard someone in the family was harassing Lady Epirosa. Is it you, Countess?”

 

“What? Y-Your Eminence, what are you saying?!”

 

“To push her in front of so many people and make her wear shoes that break easily to humiliate her! This is too much!”

 

“P-Pushing Epirosa was an accident!”

 

But no one believed Diane’s excuses.

 

Diane looked around, hoping someone would come to her aid. However, while all eyes were on Diane, her family had already fled the scene. She was in despair.

 

I whispered to Lenon with tearful eyes, though loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’m sure Aunt didn’t do it on purpose. More than anything, on such a joyous day, I don’t want to see my relatives suffer.”

 

“Lady Epirosa…”

 

Lenon looked at me with a hint of pity. However, he also knew that if the commotion continued, I would end up in trouble as well.

 

“Please, return now. The ceremony is over.”

 

Lenon stepped in to handle the situation for me. The people still seemed to have much to say to Diane, but for now, they left the prayer hall. Diane, too, staggered away weakly and disappeared.

 

I went to look for Hubert. He was in the middle of a conversation with the pope. Judging by their serious expressions, they were likely discussing today’s commotion.

 

“Lady.” Lenon called out to me. “I’ll get you a new pair of shoes. Until then, please rest in the inner parlor.”

 

“Thank you for your kindness.”

 

With Lenon’s support, I made my way to the temple’s inner parlor. A moment later, the door to the parlor opened again. Did he already bring the new shoes?

 

But the person who appeared was someone I hadn’t expected at all.

 

“Duke Claude Clementi?”

 

He smiled as he closed the door behind him. Startled, I shot up from my seat, only to stumble slightly. Claude quickly approached and steadied me. When our eyes met, he smiled warmly.

 

“This time, you remember my name.”

 

Instead of answering, I gently pushed him away. He didn’t panic and took a step back from me. Then, he held something out instead. It was a pair of shoes encrusted with jewels.

 

“I thought there might be a young lady in need of new shoes, so I brought these.”

 

“I’m fine. Cardinal Lenon will get me new shoes.”

 

I declined, but Claude just smiled and continued to hold out the shoes.

 

“There probably aren’t any shoes in the temple that would match that dress.”

 

“As long as I can wear them, that’s enough. Worst case, I can go barefoot.”

 

As I refused firmly, Claude’s brows slightly furrowed.

 

“Going barefoot is even more unacceptable.”

 

“Really, it’s fine.”

 

Claude neatly placed the shoes in front of me. “I was going to help you put them on, but I suppose that’s too much. I’ll leave them here, so please wear them.” With that, he left the parlor.

 

“Why on earth is he doing this…?” I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to understand what had just happened.

 

Is he trying to get closer to me because I created both Pasa Blanche and Royal Blue?

 

Claude was a man who appeared gentle on the surface but was filled with ambition underneath. He was someone who would use anything to achieve his goals.

 

Does he think I have some value he can use? But I was sick and tired of being used by someone.

 

Just as I was about to kick the shoes away, the door opened again. Thinking it must finally be Lenon, I looked up, only to freeze in place.

 

“I warned you, didn’t I?”

 

A strikingly handsome man with red eyes slowly entered the parlor.

 

“It seems my younger brother has been quite rude.”

 

With a languid smile, he walked right up to the shoes. And then—Crack! He stepped on them. Startled, I gasped sharply. At the sound, his crimson eyes turned toward me.

 

“Be careful of Claude.”

 

You’re the one I should be careful of, Your Highness. I swallowed the words I couldn’t dare to say.

 

“You weren’t planning to wear these shoes, were you?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Wise choice.”

 

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, a relaxed smile spread across Ludwig’s lips.

 

“Claude is the kind of man who always carries shoes to give to women.” He said it as if offering advice.

 

Why is he telling me this? I was puzzled.

 

“Are you saying Duke Clementi is a womanizer?”

 

“You catch on quickly.” Ludwig smiled meaningfully.

 

“But what brings Your Highness here?” Mustering my courage, I asked him cautiously.

 

Claude probably approached me with the intention of using me. But what about the crown prince? I couldn’t figure out his intentions. Is he trying to use me too?

 

Suddenly, a memory of my past life flashed through my mind. It was the day I went to steal the Unicorn’s horn. The way he looked at me with those blood-red eyes, holding a sword, like a devil. He wasn’t the frivolous playboy everyone believed him to be, but more like a god of the battlefield.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ludwig asked.

 

I flinched and quickly lowered my head.

 

“You’re looking at me with fear in your eyes. Most people just find me pathetic. What about me scares you so much?”

 

“I was simply overwhelmed by Your Highness’s presence…”

 

“Ha, what nonsense.” Ludwig burst into laughter. It was a self-deprecating laugh. “Lift your head.”

 

I must have made a mistake. Regretting it, I raised my head. “!”

 

Before I knew it, Ludwig had come closer. Seeing him up close, he looked devilishly handsome. My heart started racing.

 

“Even though you’re blatantly mocking me, I don’t feel bad. How strange.” His low voice seeped into my ears like honey. “So, why don’t you look at me a little more kindly too?” Then he smiled.

 

Thump. Was it because I was scared? My heart pounded loudly again.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

It was then. A cautious voice came from the doorway. It was Hubert.

 

“Ah, Grand Duke. It’s been a while.” Ludwig, still looking at me, greeted Hubert.

 

I looked at Hubert with pleading eyes, silently begging for help.

 

Hubert walked toward us with steady steps. “I didn’t know you had something important to discuss with my granddaughter.”

 

“Right? I didn’t expect such a thing to happen either.”

 

Perhaps thinking that they couldn’t communicate, Hubert shielded me behind his back. Only then did Ludwig’s gaze shift to Hubert.

 

“Epirosa is still a young lady who hasn’t even made her debutante in society. If you have something to say, say it to me.”

 

“Oh my.” The corners of Ludwig’s lips curled up. He was pretending to be calm, but a hint of dissatisfaction was evident on his face. “I didn’t know Grand Duke cherished your granddaughter so dearly. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

 

Ludwig’s eyes landed on me, hiding behind Hubert. “So, young lady, be careful of ‘that guy’ as well.”

 

With those words, he left the parlor. Only then did I let out the breath I had been holding.

 

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you? Did His Highness do anything disrespectful to you?”

 

But Hubert’s fussing quickly snapped me back to reality.

 

“You must always be cautious of strangers. Especially men. And men like him, even more so!” Hubert spoke to me as if soothing a child, his deep concern for me evident. “How could His Highness say such things to someone so young…”

 

But his next words made me chuckle a little. And yet, you’re constantly testing such a young child, aren’t you?

 

* * *

As Epirosa predicted, the ceremony was just the beginning. After the ceremony ended, the Gale family was utterly devastated. The one who found himself in the most dire situation was Nicholas, who had gathered the investment funds. He couldn’t even walk the streets. Since people who had lost their investments couldn’t bring themselves to storm the Blanche mansion, they waited for Nicholas to step outside.

 

When Nicholas went into hiding, he was eventually sued for fraud. Newspapers were filled with articles condemning Nicholas day after day. Because of Nicholas, Stella’s lies were almost completely overshadowed.

 

In the end, Hubert issued a stern warning. “Within a month, return all the money to the victims and clean up this mess. If you fail to do so, I will expel you from the family for tarnishing our name!”