Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 48

As Epirosa said that, Diane frowned.

 

“The imperial palace tea party is different from the temple’s grand prayer ceremony. You need to dress up a little flashy to avoid drawing criticism.” Diane picked out the most extravagant dress among them. “How about this one?”

 

“I like the one next to it better.”

 

Epirosa picked the least gaudy dress available. At that, Diane furrowed her brows but soon nodded.

 

“That’s not bad either. Want to try it on?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The dress was a bit loose on Epirosa, being larger than her measurements. Additionally, it was heavy due to all the decorations.

 

“Do you like it?” Diane asked, almost as if pressuring her. It was clear she was determined to make her wear this dress.

 

In that case, avoiding it isn’t the best option. Epirosa spoke with a reluctant expression. “It’s pretty, but it’s a bit heavy.”

 

“A good dress should have some weight to it.”

 

“And it feels really awkward since this is my first time wearing something so extravagant. So…” Epirosa looked Diane straight in the eyes. “Aunt, would you like to wear a dress with a similar design to mine?”

 

“What?” Diane’s expression twisted for a moment. She didn’t want to wear something like this, even if it was fine for Epirosa.

 

“If you wear it with me, Aunt, I think I’ll have the courage to wear this too.”

 

“Haah…” Diane let out a sigh, as if trying to hold back her irritation. “If I wear a similar dress, you’ll definitely wear yours too, right?”

 

“Yes! Of course.”

 

“Then I guess I have to wear it. What wouldn’t I do for my niece?”

 

Diane stepped forward and began picking out a dress. Does she really want me to wear this dress that badly? It didn’t seem like Epirosa was just trying to humiliate her by making her wear something ridiculous.

 

Epirosa carefully observed Diane and picked out a dress for her that was as garish and clownish as possible. It was a dress that didn’t suit her age at all, bright yellow like a toddler’s outfit, with childish frills everywhere. “This looks absolutely perfect on you, Aunt.”

 

“But this is a bit…”

 

“If you don’t wear this, then I won’t wear mine either!”

 

At that, Diane bit her lip. “Fine. I got it.” In the end, she chose the ridiculous dress Epirosa had picked out for her.

 

“Have these dresses altered to our sizes and sent over by the day before the tea party.”

 

“Understood, Madam.”

 

The two, having chosen a dress, turned the carriage toward the gift shop.

 

“Pick out a gift for Marchioness Gent. I think tea would be a good choice.”

 

“Tea?”

 

“Yes. I heard a rumor that Marchioness Gent developed a hobby of drinking tea while in seclusion.”

 

Hmm. Marchioness Gent, whom I met personally, didn’t have such a hobby, though.

 

Unaware of Epirosa’s internal scoffing, Diane continued speaking enthusiastically. “Choose whichever kind of tea you like. Since you’re the one giving the gift.” She said it in a tone that made it sound like she was being generous to Epirosa, even though she had already decided everything herself.

 

* * *

It was late at night, when everyone was asleep. Madam Mona cautiously entered my room.

 

“What did Aunt ask you to hide in my room this time?”

 

“She instructed me to poison the tea Milady would be gifting to Marchioness Gent.” Madam Mona pulled out a packet of poison to show me.

 

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh in disbelief. She’s so predictable.

 

Does Diane know? That the confidant she secretly sent to me late at night is spilling everything to me.

 

“Hide the poison in Aunt’s room.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“And the dress for today’s tea party has arrived. Any comments about the dress?”

 

“No. She hasn’t said anything about the dress.”

 

I couldn’t hide my confusion. She went to all the trouble of putting herself in an embarrassing situation just to get me to wear this dress, but then does nothing?

 

“Alright, thank you.” I expressed my gratitude to Madam Mona. But Madam Mona didn’t leave and just stood there. When I tilted my head and looked at her, she spoke resolutely.

 

“Milady, this time, I will definitely bring Diane down.” Her eyes were bloodshot as she spoke.

 

“If you bring Aunt down, I’ll take care of Stella. Without Aunt as her shield, Stella will be much weaker.”

 

“But will I be able to see that with my own eyes?” Madam Mona spoke hesitantly.

 

I firmly held her cold hands. “Of course. Madam Mona, you’ll live a long life. You’ll live long enough to see good things happen too.” You’ll even meet the person you miss so dearly. Epirosa swallowed the next words.

 

Madam Mona, unable to understand what Epirosa meant, shook her head sadly. “What good could there be for a mother who has lost her child?” She gritted her teeth. “All I have left is revenge, Milady.”

 

After Madam Mona left the room, I took a dress out of the wardrobe. It was a dress adorned with all sorts of decorations. Not my style, but it is pretty. Especially compared to Diane’s. I had chosen the least gaudy one among them.

 

But why did Diane give me this dress? I examined the dress closely.

 

It was then.

 

“Ppii! Ppikppik!”

 

Ppinix began making a loud noise in the drawer.

 

I quickly opened the drawer, and found Ppinix was lying on a small cushion.

 

“You must have been frustrated. Sorry about that. Everyone’s gone now, so you can come out.”

 

Just as I was about to take Ppinix out, it suddenly bounced and plopped onto the dress.

 

“Ppiik! Ppippi-!”

 

And then it kept rolling around on my waist.

 

“You can move on your own?” I asked in shock.

 

“Ppii– Ppi!”

 

“Alright, so there’s something on my waist, huh?”

 

Catching on to Ppinix’s intention, I carefully examined the waistline of the dress. Suddenly, I felt something. At first, I thought it was just part of the decoration, but upon closer inspection, it was different. As I hastily ripped the stitching on the waistline, a tiny pouch fell out. It was the same poison pouch that Madam Mona had brought.

 

“Ha!” A cold sneer escaped my lips. “So she deliberately made me wear a heavy dress to hide this secretly.” With a dress like this, even if there was a poison pouch inside, one would just assume it was the weight of the decorations and let it slide. And then, if I were accused of plotting poison at the tea party and subjected to a body search, I’d be caught in the trap without a way out.

 

For once, this wasn’t handled by Madam Mona but placed directly. Maybe it was an idea Stella came up with on her own.

 

I carefully lifted Ppinix. “Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to avoid a crisis.”

 

“Ppi- Ppi!” Ppinix chirped triumphantly.

 

Now I know why Mom gave Ppinix to me. This little one really helped me out. I stroked Ppinix and thought about my mom, who was probably at the sanctuary. My chest ached with the longing that surged up.

 

I want to bring Mom to the grand duchy as soon as possible. To do that, first, I need to weaken the influence of the Gale family within the household. Much more than it is now.

 

I glared coldly at the poison pouch. “I should return this to Diane.”

 

* * *

“Stella, my darling daughter! How can you be so clever?”

 

In Diane’s bedroom, she was sitting with her daughter, smiling endlessly.

 

“It’s nothing, really.”

 

“Nothing? Thanks to your plan, Epirosa won’t be able to escape our trap this time.”

 

“Epirosa went too far last time. She had the audacity to change into a different dress after Mom worked so hard to prepare one for her. And then she dared to tamper with the hell of the shoes we gifted her, ruining everything.”

 

Just like Epirosa expected, the idea of hiding a poison pouch in the dress was Stella’s.

 

“This time, even if she spills vomit on that dress, it won’t matter. I’ve already prepared another dress with a poison pouch sewn into it!”

 

“Hohoho, right. If we tell her to change into that, what choice will Epirosa have?”

 

The two of them laughed, clearly pleased. Just imagining Epirosa in trouble made the mother and daughter delighted.

 

“How dare she humiliate me at the temple! This time, I’ll make sure to get my revenge on Epirosa.”

 

“That’s right. I won’t hold back anymore.”

 

“Good decision, Mom!”

 

“Once the tea party is over, Epirosa will be locked up in the Tower of Condemned and never see the light of day again.”

 

“Just imagining Epirosa reduced to a beggar, sleeping with rats, is so hilarious.” Stella burst into laughter. “By the way, Mom, what gift are you planning to give to Marchioness Gent? She’s such a petty woman for not inviting me, so don’t give her anything too nice.”

 

“I’ve prepared this.”

 

Diane pulled out a small bust sculpture, about the size of her palm. It was modeled after the deceased empress’s face.

 

“You’re planning to give her such a nice gift?”

 

“I have to show some sincerity. The emperor might visit as well, so I have to make a good impression, right?”

 

Stella pursed her lips tightly, clearly displeased. Then, as if a brilliant idea had struck her, she beamed. “Mom, why don’t we repaint the bust before giving it to her? Marchioness Gent will be so thrilled that she’ll faint from the joy!”