Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 47

If Marchioness Gent returned to society, it was inevitable that she would become Violet’s rival. She might even drive Violet out of society, or even from the emperor’s side, as she was the thorn in her side.

 

And on top of that, she’s the Crown Prince Ludwig’s aunt! She’ll definitely become his supporter!

 

After the empress’s death and the seclusion of Marchioness Gent, the influence of Ludwig’s maternal family gradually waned. By now, they didn’t even bother stepping up for the good-for-nothing Ludwig. But if Marchioness Gent were to take action, the situation would change.

 

What if she whispers something to His Majesty and blocks my Claude’s future? At that thought, Violet’s anxiety reached its peak. “My Claude is destined to become emperor! Unable to hold back, Violet finally revealed her true feelings.

 

She would become the empress, and her son would ascend to the throne as emperor. That was Violet’s ultimate goal.

 

Growing restless, Violet began to gnaw at her perfectly manicured nails. “What should I do? How should I kill her?”

 

Marchioness Gent must be eliminated before she can fully begin her activities. That’s when a good idea popped into Violet’s head.

 

“Ah, that’s right. I have Diane!” A sly smile crept across Violet’s lips. Her hunting dog, one she could easily discard as an excuse if things went awry. It was time to send Diane a new letter.

 

* * *

“T-That… insane woman!” Diane fumed as she read Violet’s letter. “Of all things, now she wants me to mess with Marchioness Cadence Gent?”

 

Violet was clearly determined to get Diane killed. There was no other explanation for being tasked with something this dangerous.

 

“Mona, what am I supposed to do about this?”

 

Madam Mona glared coldly at Diane, who was groaning in frustration. “Duchess Violet is truly too much. Neither Madam nor Lady Stella have even been invited to Marchioness Gent’s tea party.” Madam Mona feigned sympathy while slyly provoking Diane.

 

“Exactly! That wretched woman is obviously hosting that tea party or whatever just to boost Epirosa’s standing!” Diane vented her anger, just as Madam Mona had hoped. “But still, how could she be so rude as to invite only Epirosa? I’m already furious, and now Violet is stirring up trouble too! How am I supposed to kill her when I can’t even get close?”

 

Madam Mona leaned in close to Diane’s ear, her voice low and secretive. “Madam, it’s not as if there’s no way at all.”

 

“There’s a way?”

 

Diane turned her head to look at Madam Mona. For a moment, she flinched. It was because Madam Mona’s eyes were brimming with malice. Did Mona hate Epirosa this much too? Well, Epirosa could be quite detestable. She interpreted Madam Mona’s malice in a way that suited her. Still, there was something unsettling about meeting her gaze, so she turned her eyes forward again.

 

“Tell me about your plan.”

 

“Lady Epirosa hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet. So, just say Madam can’t send her to the tea party without a guardian.”

 

At Madam Mona’s words, Diane’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

 

“Then Marchioness Gent will have no choice but to invite me as Epirosa’s guardian.”

 

“Yes. Madam can use the tea party to get rid of Marchioness Gent and pin the blame on Lady Epirosa.”

 

“On Epirosa…?” Diane’s lips curled into a smile, as if the thought alone delighted her.

 

“How about doing it this way?”

 

“That’s good too, but this might be even better…”

 

Late into the night, the two schemed.

 

“Perfect! With this, I can get rid of Marchioness Gent and give Epirosa a horrifying nightmare!” Diane burst into laughter as she finalized the plan. “How dare she humiliate my family and corner us? You’ll pay dearly for it, Epirosa!”

 

Gale and Kobel had told her to recruit Epirosa, but that no longer mattered to Diane. Clearing the mountain of debt came first, and she needed a scapegoat to take the fall. And Epirosa was the perfect candidate for the role.

 

It’s my husband who’s more desperate than anyone because of the lack of money. If I solve this, even if I send Epirosa to the Tower of Condemned, he won’t be able to say a word to me.

 

Diane, delighted by her scheme, finally spoke to Madam Mona. “Mona, keep doing as you have been. If this goes well, you might even get to meet Karen.”

 

Madam Mona’s eyes glinted coldly. “Yes, Madam.”

 

* * *

In the end, Marchioness Gent sent an invitation to the imperial tea party to Diane as well. It was a cheap invitation made of low-quality paper, unlike the beautiful one sent to Epirosa.

 

“That wretched woman!” Diane was annoyed but endured it. She’ll be dead in a few days anyway, so no need to get worked up.

 

If she could just finish this task properly, Violet would take care of the mountain of debt for her. Then she could finally breathe a little easier.

 

Buoyed by the hope that things were going well, Diane even began to entertain bold thoughts. If I handle other matters well, I might even be able to squeeze some wealth out of Violet. Then she could resume her efforts to make Gale the heir, something that is currently on hold due to a lack of funds.

 

I will become the Grand Duchess Blanche, no matter what.

 

If she became the grand duchess with power rivaling the imperial family, she could take revenge on Violet, who was nothing more than a mere concubine. Once the emperor dies, Violet will be nothing! When that time comes, she would crush her completely.

 

Come to think of it, the things Violet asks for aren’t that hard. It was because Madam Moan was just too good at her job.

 

Diane climbed into the carriage with Epirosa to carry out the scheme she had conspired on with Madam Mona.

 

“Aunt, thank you so much for accompanying me on this outing.”

 

Epirosa, sitting across from her, spoke shyly. With her beautiful pink hair, skin as pure as milk, eyes sparkling, and cheeks slightly flushed, her face was so lovely that she was almost like a fairy or goddess.

 

Epirosa was undeniably lovely, but to Diane, she was nothing but irritating. No matter how pretty you are, once you’re locked up in the Tower of Condemned, you’ll look like trash. Diane smirked wickedly to herself. But outwardly, she spoke kindly. “We’ve grown distant, haven’t we? From now on, I want to take better care of you.”

 

“Is that why you’ve volunteered to be my chaperone for the tea party?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I’m truly touched. Even Stella can’t go, but you’re stepping up for me.”

 

Epirosa spoke innocently, but the word that ‘Even Stella can’t go’ struck Diane’s nerve. That should be Stella’s place!

 

Stella had frequently visited the outer palace, but she had only attended a few inner palace parties. It pained Diane to see her daughter boast, ‘I’ve often been to the imperial palace,’ when it was only the outer palace. And yet this low-born girl is going to the imperial palace tea party instead of my daughter!

 

She wanted to slap that pretty smiling face as hard as she could. Little did she know how many times she had slapped Epirosa’s cheeks in the past life.

 

“Today, we’re going to buy a dress for the tea party and a gift for Marchioness Gent.”

 

“I don’t have much of an eye for these things, so please help me a lot, Aunt.”

 

“Of course. We can’t have you buying strange clothes from a cheap tailor shop again, like last time.” Diane referred to the pure white dress Epirosa had worn for her blessing ceremony.

 

That dress received so much praise, and yet she pretends not to know. Epirosa sneered inwardly but maintained a gentle expression outwardly.

 

The first place they visited was a dress shop. It was on Minster Street, but it wasn’t a high-end shop, just a mid-tier one.

 

For a great noble family like the Blanche family, they would usually summon a designer directly to their mansion rather than coming all the way here. It was clear Diane was up to something again.

 

“Madam, thank you for visiting us.”

 

The designer and staff, who were receiving a customer from the Blanche family for the first time, rushed out in a hurry.

 

“I’m here to get a tea party dress for my niece. Do you have anything suitable?”

 

“Yes, we do. Right this way.”

 

The designer brought out a pile of pre-prepared dresses. Every single one of them was adorned with excessive lace, frills, and decorations.

 

“What do you think? Aren’t they just beautiful?”

 

“They’re not really my style. I think they’re too flashy.”