Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 54

* * *

The moment I stepped out of Hubert’s office, the heavy breath I had been holding back burst out. My hands were slick with cold sweat. I was more nervous than I thought. But my conversation with Hubert had been a success. I could tell Hubert was satisfied with my answers.

 

Of course, there were things I’d said deliberately, not reflecting my true feelings. Like suggesting Diane should be released right away. Diane must not be released. The place she belonged was the Tower of Condemned. But if I’d openly suggested sacrificing Diane, Hubert would have suspected my ulterior motives. That would be an attitude unfitting for a young and naive grandchild.

 

More than anything, I know this. Even if I begged him to save Diane, Hubert wouldn’t do it. He valued the family above all else. There was no way he’d leave something that could become a source of trouble later on. It would be the same even if it were his own child, not his daughter-in-law.

 

* * *

Several days passed. As expected, Diane couldn’t escape. The trap that Madam Mona and I had set up was not something she could wriggle out of. On top of that, Madam Mona had meticulously gathered evidence of Diane’s misdeeds over time. Thanks to that, every excuse Diane tried to make was blocked by evidence.

 

The only thing Diane could do was take the blame for her beloved daughter’s wrongdoings. And one more thing.

 

“It was all done under the orders of Duchess Violet!”

 

She tried to drag Violet into it. Just as I had predicted. She must have thought that if she involved the emperor’s cherished concubine, she might save herself as well. But that was a naive hope.

 

When the time came, Hubert made his move.

 

* * *

Gale hurriedly went to find Hubert. He had heard that Hubert had requested an audience with the emperor and was about to depart. He spotted Hubert about to board the carriage and hurriedly ran over.

 

“Father!”

 

Hubert, who was stepping into the carriage, turned to look at Gale with a cold gaze. Still, he showed enough consideration to pause in front of the carriage for a moment for his son.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Father, you’re not planning to save Diane, are you?”

 

Hubert frowned. “That sounds like you don’t want me to save your wife.”

 

Gale flinched, struck right where it hurt. “No, that’s not it… I’m just worried that in trying to save my wife, you might get into trouble! After all, she’s done so many terrible things.”

 

“You don’t even consider the possibility that your wife might be innocent? Do you know something I don’t?” Hubert’s cold question left Gale visibly flustered.

 

“N-No, it’s not like that…”

 

“Then that’s enough. I’ll handle the family matters myself. You go back inside.”

 

“But, Father…!”

 

Hubert didn’t leave any room for further argument and climbed into the carriage. Pathetic fool. His son neither tried to save his wife nor made any effort to protect the family.

 

Hubert found his eldest son’s obsession with safeguarding only his own safety utterly pitiful. If you’re so worried, why don’t you do something about it yourself! But to think Gale wouldn’t even do that.

 

It was pathetic that the eldest son turned out like that. Not that his second son was any better. Kobel had a gloomy disposition and completely neglected family affairs.

 

That’s why I placed my hopes on Stella, the only somewhat clever of my grandchildren… But Stella, while a bit clever for her age, still didn’t fully satisfy Hubert. The only solace to his heart was Epirosa.

 

As he thought of Epirosa, the heavy weight on Hubert’s heart, like a stone pressing down, seemed to lighten. A smile even crept onto his lips.

 

“Your Excellency?”

 

At the puzzled voice calling him, Hubert snapped back to his senses. Opposite him, Chief Aide Benjamin was looking at him in surprise. Feeling embarrassed, Hubert cleared his throat awkwardly, then spoke with a resolute look.

 

“Send someone to the sanctuary and find out how much Leonoe’s condition has improved.”

 

* * *

“Grand Duke, it’s been a while since we’ve had a private meeting like this.” Emperor Ignasio Leopold spoke with an arrogant expression. He wore the face of someone who clearly believed himself to be in a position of advantage.

 

Hubert swallowed a scoff and bowed his head politely.

 

“Let’s not beat around the bush and get to the point. You came to see me because of your daughter-in-law, right?”

 

“As expected, Your Majesty is most perceptive.”

 

“I was worried that your concerns over your daughter-in-law would harm your health. But looking at you, you seem fine, so that’s a relief.” The emperor spoke with a mocking tone.

 

Without changing his expression, Hubert replied respectfully. “Your Majesty must have great concerns as well, yet you worry about me. I am deeply grateful.”

 

“Concerns, you say?” The emperor sneered as he asked. “Ah, do you mean my concern that I’ll have to punish your family because of crimes committed by your daughter-in-law?”

 

“I was referring to Duchess Violet, Your Majesty.”

 

At Hubert’s words, the emperor’s face turned cold.

 

“Don’t involve Violet in this! That’s just meaningless testimony! Are you trying to use that to wriggle out of this situation?”

 

“Not at all. I am genuinely concerned. Your Majesty’s concubine is already a position that draws the attention of all the people. And yet, my foolish daughter-in-law has gone so far as to involve Duchess Violet… “Hubert’s crimson eyes turned icy for a moment. “…Duke Claude Clementi wouldn’t be happy.”

 

The emperor flinched. It was because Hubert was warning him. If the emperor touches his family, Hubert will use his influence to drag both Violet and Claude into this. This would turn the conflict into a messy, no-win situation for everyone involved.

 

Reading the emperor’s expression, Hubert suppressed a smile and spoke. “Your Majesty, I will persuade my daughter-in-law to nullify her testimony regarding Duchess Violet.” After speaking, he quietly observed the emperor. If I let go of Violet and Claude, what will you give me in return?

 

The emperor clenched his teeth tightly. This was the moment his plan to use this incident as leverage to keep the Blanche family in check crumbled.

 

“You have it tough, Grand Duke. Dealing with such headaches over something that has nothing to do with your family…”

 

In the end, the emperor surrendered. He effectively declared he wouldn’t hold the Blanche family responsible. It was a blow, but he had no choice. He couldn’t abandon his concubine, who had borne him a child. And even if it was an illegitimate son, he didn’t want to trouble his cherished son.

 

The emperor had no choice but to give the grand duke what he wanted. Of course, among Hubert’s ‘wants,’ ‘saving Diane’ was not included.

 

* * *

Step, step. The underground prison operated by the imperial family was nothing short of abysmal. It was filled with mold, and the stench was overwhelming.

 

I stopped in front of one of the cells. Inside, Diane sat blankly, her face gaunt, her clothes torn, and her hair disheveled. Ever since the Blanche family abandoned her, she’d apparently been tortured. Her arms and legs were scabbed with blood.

 

Memories of my past life came flooding back. The benevolent daughter-in-law of the grand ducal family, Diane, was anything but kind to me. She would secretly vent her anger on me, finding every little excuse to beat me.

 

“Aunt, it hurts very, very much! Please, spare me! Aack!”

 

All I could do was cry and beg. But the more I cried and showed my pain, the more Diane’s face lit up with twisted joy as she raised her whip. My arms and legs, hidden beneath my clothes, never had a chance to heal.

 

Even in this life, as soon as I arrived at the ducal house, Diane picked up the whip again. Did she ever imagine then that her own arms and legs would become bloodied like this?

 

“Aunt.”

 

At my call, Diane’s eyes flashed with hatred.

 

“You… wretched thing!” Her mangled limbs dragged her as she pathetically crawled and clung to the iron bars.

 

I let out a small chuckle and gracefully stepped back. “Have you already lost all your manners just because you’ve hit rock bottom?”

 

“So this is your true nature! You think you’ll get away with what you’ve done to me?!”

 

“Wouldn’t I be safer than Aunt, who’s about to be sent to the Tower of Condemned?”

 

At my words, Diane’s face was painted with despair. She had been sentenced to be imprisoned in the ‘Tower of Condemned’ for the rest of her life. Compared to this underground prison, the Tower of Condemned was even more wretched and horrific.

 

“Don’t worry too much. Aunt’s friend will be going with you.”

 

“What?”

 

“Madam Mona is also going to be sent to the Tower of Condemned.”