Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 6

* * *

It was a few hours after returning home. A carriage from the temple arrived promptly. When the priests and paladins who came to take my mother stepped out, I felt a lump in my throat. This is goodbye to mom. We hadn’t even spent much time together since reuniting.

 

Sensing something, mom started whining too. “No. I don’t want to go.”

 

“Mom, you have to go. They’ll make you feel better.”

 

My mom hadn’t just lost her reason. She was also constantly having seizures and in pain. The holy power of the temple would at least lessen her suffering.

 

“It’s time to go now.” The priest dressed in white robes and hats spoke.

 

At that, mom clung to me desperately. “No. Epirosa, don’t go. Don’t leave me.” Tears welled up in her red eyes.

 

Seeing her so desperate made my own tears threaten to fall.

 

“Mom, I’ll come back to get you soon.”

 

Mom shook her head vigorously.

 

I hugged her tightly. And then, I whispered with all my heart. “Mom, I love you.”

 

“…”

 

“I really, really love you.”

 

At those words, my mom, who had been resisting, grew quiet.

 

“Just wait a little. I will definitely come to get you. You can do that, right?”

 

Mom slowly nodded her head. Like a miracle, she had calmed down. Under the protection of the priests and paladins, she got into the white carriage.

 

“Goodbye, Mom.” I softly said my farewell as I watched the carriage grow distant. A single tear rolled down my cheek.

 

Why am I crying like an idiot? It’s not like we’re parting forever.

 

I would definitely bring my mom back to Grand Duchy Blanche. And I will return the position of duke’s heir to her.

 

Mom, wait for me. I promise I’ll set everything right. Until then, have sweet dreams and stay well.

 

* * *

The walls soared high as if they would touch the sky. Beyond them, the grandeur of the mansion loomed even higher.

 

Once again, I have returned. To this mansion, like the maw of hell.

 

“My name is Epirosa Blanche.”

 

“I’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”

 

I stepped into the mansion that resembled a castle. The garden was less of a garden and more like a vast plaza. The servants’ quarters tucked in the corner looked like a small village had been relocated there. Passing through one more door, I arrived at the ‘real garden’ enjoyed by the owners of the mansion. It was nothing short of extravagant. Rare and hard-to-find trees stretched their branches, and expensive sculptures were placed here and there. Inside the grand entrance, Hubert and a woman dressed in luxurious purple stood waiting.

 

Did the grand duke come out to greet me personally? I widened my eyes in surprise.

 

Hubert spoke to me, noticing my reaction. “No need for formalities. However, there will be a family dinner this evening where everyone will gather. You’ll be introduced then, so make sure to attend.” With that, he disappeared, leaving the rest to the woman in purple.

 

“I’ve been waiting for you. Was the journey here difficult?” The woman asked kindly.

 

I recognized her immediately. It was Diane, Gale’s wife. Her neatly tied-up hair and gentle demeanor made her look incredibly compassionate. But it’s all just a façade.

 

She was the one hiding behind Gale, oppressing and isolating me. Back then, I thought everything she did was for my sake. Thinking about it now, I was so naive.

 

I’ll return it all.

 

Clenching my grudge tightly in my fist, I greeted her politely. “No. It’s an honor to meet you, Aunt.”

 

Diane let out a small chuckle. It was because my manners were a mess. A fitting image for a child who had lived in the slums.

 

How is it? I put on this show just for you.

 

Diane smiled in satisfaction. She seemed to relax at my clumsy demeanor.

 

Just as planned. The more my opponent lets their guard down, the better.

 

“Oh my, Aunt, you say? Thank you for calling me that. Now, let me show you to the room you’ll be staying in. Follow me.”

 

Diane led me to a room on the very top floor of the mansion, the fifth floor. It was no different from an attic.

 

“If your living environment changes too drastically, it might be hard to adjust. Stay here for now. I’ll move you to a bigger room soon.”

 

“No, this room is more than I deserve.”

 

“How can you be so sweet?” Diane stroked my hair. Her touch was as cold as a snake’s tongue. “I’ll send a maid to you soon.” She then left the room.

 

As soon as the door closed, I let out a bitter laugh. She gave me the exact room as in my past life. Not a single thing had changed.

 

In my past life, I used this room until the day I died. A cramped space with creaky floors, and no matter how much I cleaned, spiders always built webs in the corners of the ceiling. It was an attic room with a tiny window that barely offered a view of the garden.

 

Hubert had entrusted all minor household matters to Diane and the head maid, Madam Mona. Maybe that’s why he didn’t even know I was staying in a room like this. Not that he would care if he knew.

 

Just then, without even knocking, someone barged into the room.

 

“I’m Karen Mona, the maid assigned to take care of Milady starting today.”

 

Her attitude and tone were far too insolent for a mere maid. She was all too familiar. This person was none other than Madam Mona’s daughter. Among the servants, she was one who wielded considerable influence.

 

How much she tormented me in my past life. I smiled inwardly. But now, I’ll use that to my advantage.

 

Thud! At that moment, Karen roughly shoved a tray of food in front of me. It was all terrible food made from old, rotten ingredients. The bread was so hard it had even changed color, and the soup had only dried vegetable scraps floating in it.

 

“What is this? The grand duke said there would be dinner tonight.”

 

“There’s no seat for you at tonight’s banquet, Milady.”

 

“Why not?” I deliberately tilted my head and asked.

 

“I heard it from Madam Diane. She said you haven’t learned a single thing about noble etiquette.” Karen sneered as she spoke. “Table manners are basic. How could someone who hasn’t even learned proper table manners attend a gathering where the grand duke will be present? You’ll only end up upsetting His Excellency.”

 

“Then what am I supposed to do?” I asked.

 

Karen whispered with a wicked expression. “First, learn table manners here with me. Once you’ve learned them, you can present yourself before His Excellency. That way, His Excellency will be pleased.”

 

I let out a small laugh. Pleased, after disobeying the grand duke’s orders?

 

In my past life, I believed those words and didn’t attend the dinner. Huber didn’t get angry. But after that, he never once dined with me again.

 

It had all been Diane’s scheme. From the start, she wanted to make me fall out of the grand duke’s favor. Even the table manners Karen taught me were a mess. Thanks to that, I ended up being humiliated in social circles as a bonus.

 

I shot up from my seat. Karen’s face twisted in frustration.

 

“Milady, didn’t you understand what I’m saying? I told you can’t go to… Kyaak!”

 

I poured the glass of water, filled with floating specks of dirt, right onto Karen’s face.

 

“W-What are you doing right now?” Karen screamed as if she was about to grab me by the collar.

 

“How insolent of you.”

 

“W-What did you just say?” Karen flared up.

 

“You’re telling me not to attend the dinner where the grand duke will be present?”

 

“So you’re really going to attend the dinner looking like that?”

 

“And you’re really going to block your master’s path, looking like a drowned rat?”

 

At that, Karen let out a loud, mocking laugh. “Master? My masters are His Excellency and Madam Diane. Not some lady who can’t even shed her commoner roots!”

 

“Really?” I tilted my head slightly, my face showing no sign of being affected.

 

The one who seemed flustered was Karen. She must have heard something like ‘Epirosa is overly submissive, to the point of looking timid,’ from Diane. But I was just pretending to be like that. Karen would think it strange that I wasn’t being submissive after all this.

 

Then suddenly, Karen started huffing and puffing. She must think that my behavior, which is so different from how I acted in front of Diane, is because I look down on her, who is only a mere maid. Her personality was so predictable.

 

Seeing Karen fuming, I let out a small chuckle, deliberately trying to provoke her further. As expected, Karen shouted.

 

“How could you cause such trouble as soon as you arrived at the mansion! I’ll tell Madam Diane everything! If you get punished, it’s not my fault!”

 

“No. You should report this to the grand duke.” I crossed my arms, feigning pity. “It seems you’re mistaken about something. The master of Blanche

 

“It seems you’re mistaken about something. The master of the Grand Duchy Blanche is the grand duke. But it looks like you follow Madam Diane more than His Excellency.”

 

Karen froze, realizing her mistake. If word got out the wrong way, she might end up being the one to face severe punishment.

 

“T-That’s not…!”

 

“Besides, His Excellency personally instructed me to attend the banquet, and yet you’re trying to stop me. Aren’t you disobeying the grand duke’s order?” I leaned in close to Karen and whispered coldly. “Or Madam Diane, your ‘true master,’ order you to do this?”

 

Karen’s face turned pale. It was obvious she was thinking, ‘How did she find out?’

 

If this reached the grand duke’s ears, Diane would be in trouble, but Karen might even be kicked out. Even if she was the head maid’s daughter.

 

“T-That’s not true! I said it before I was thinking of you, Milady!”

 

“You told me to disobey the grand duke’s orders because you were thinking of me?”

 

“Y-Yes! This foolish servant acted thoughtlessly. It was a mistake!” Karen stammered, desperately trying to explain.

 

I continued to look down at her with a stiff, unyielding expression, showing no intention of letting her off the hook. “So, you’ve finally admitted your mistake. Then I’ll report this to the grand duke and leave your punishment to him.”

 

Karen’s body trembled violently.

 

The grand duke was generally merciful to his employees, but he was strict when it came to punishing wrongdoings. If this reached his ears, it wouldn’t end with just a scolding. She’ll either be kicked out or, if she’s lucky, she’ll just be whipped.

 

Shaking uncontrollably, Karen eventually fell to her knees in front of me. “Mi-Milady. I was wrong.”

 

I looked down at the now groveling Karen with a cold gaze. In my past life, no matter how much she tormented me, she never once admitted her wrongs, let alone knelt before me. And yet, here she’s doing it so easily. How foolish I was in my past life.

 

“Are you begging for mercy?”

 

Karen quickly lifted her head. An undeniable sense of relief spread across her face. Since I’m from a commoner background, she must think I didn’t know how to properly punish her. She probably believes that groveling pathetically will get her out of this situation.

 

“Yes! Yes! It was all my fault! Please forgive me! I promise I won’t do anything like this again!”

 

“I’ll forgive you. But you still have to take responsibility for your actions, don’t you?”

 

“Respon…sibility?”

 

I leaned in and whispered gently to the kneeling Karen. “Bring me the switch.”

 

Karen hesitated, groaning, but then her face suddenly lit up. It seemed she thought of some clever idea.

 

“Here it is.”

 

A moment later, Karen returned. She held a switch that looked so old it might snap at any moment. It probably wouldn’t even withstand ten strikes.

 

She’s trying to be clever. But it was actually a good thing for me.

 

“Lift up your skirt.”

 

Karen willingly lifted her skirt. She must be thinking, ‘How hard could a girl who was practically a commoner until recently hit me?’

 

If I broke the switch by hitting her too hard, I’d just end up being the wicked young lady who beat a maid until the switch snapped. I could see Karen’s smug smile of confidence.

 

Swish—Smack!

 

“Ack!” Karen staggered, blinking rapidly as if her vision had gone black.

 

I knew exactly how to hit properly. I’ve learned it from personal experience in my past life. Though to be fair, it was more about being on the receiving end than the giving.

 

She brought a switch that breaks easily on purpose, huh? Fine, I’ll make sure to hit her skillfully without breaking it.

 

Smack!

 

Smack!

 

“Aaah! Mi-Milady! Please!”

 

Karen collapsed to the floor, unable to bear the searing pain that felt like her legs were on fire. And yet, there were only three bright red welts on her pale calves. They do look a bit too red, though.

 

Karen might be a maid, but she was also the head maid’s daughter. She had been raised delicately, never having been struck with a switch before. The burning pain was too much for her to handle.

 

“I was wrong! Please, just this once, forgive me, Milady!”

 

Karen begged pathetically. But I asked her with a blank expression.

 

“Would you rather take the whip instead?”

 

“T-That’s…”

 

In the end, Karen, with tears streaming down her face, lifted her skirt again.

 

Smack!

 

“Uugh! Ack!”

 

Smack!

 

“Aargh! I was wrong! I was wrong, huhuhu…!”

 

Karen’s legs, marked with bright red stripes, trembled like aspen leaves.

 

If I hit her with the switch a few more times, it might break. I put the switch down.

 

“That’s enough. Get out.”

 

“Uuheuk, heuk…” Karen crawled out of the room as if dragging herself. She didn’t even apologize, as if she was too consumed by her resentment.

 

She’ll probably try to get revenge on me right away. That’s why I let her go. To take the bait.

 

A moment later, Karen returned to the room with a triumphant look.

 

“Epirosa! I’m disappointed in you.”

 

It was Diane. She had brought along a group of maids as well.

 

Diane looked visibly upset. Behind the ever-pretentious Diane stood Karen, her face smug with satisfaction. She was being supported by the other maids, of course. She must have run off to tattle right away.

 

“Bullying a maid on your very first day at the mansion?”

 

“I wasn’t bullying her. I was disciplining her.”

 

“Disciplining her, you say.” Diane couldn’t hold back a scoff. “A child who hasn’t even properly learned etiquette comes into a noble household and resorts to violence first? Your manners are completely out of line.”

 

“Aren’t you going to ask why I disciplined Karen?”

 

“I already heard it from Karen. But it doesn’t justify such cruelty.”

 

Of course, no matter what I said, Diane had already made up her mind to punish me. She picked up the switch that I had placed down.

 

“You struck innocent Karen’s calves, didn’t you? You should feel the pain she must have endured.”

 

“Are you saying that because I struck my maid’s calves, I should be punished the same way?”

 

“I don’t want to do this either. But if you’re going to become a member of the Blanche family, there’s no other choice.”

 

She’s trying to make sure I can’t become a member of the Blanche family, though. I swallowed a scoff.

 

“You need strict etiquette training. Now, lift your skirt.” Diane said, gripping the switch so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand stood out. Her intentions were obvious.

 

She wants to ruin my legs, so I can’t attend the dinner. If that happens, I’ll be cast out of Grand Duke Hubert’s favor in this life too. Go ahead and try.

 

I lifted my skirt.

 

Smack!

 

“Uugh!” I let out an exaggerated scream.

 

She’s really hitting me with all her strength! She was clearly planning to render my legs useless for quite some time.

 

Smaaaack!

 

This time, the switch struck even harder.

 

“Aaack!”

 

My legs trembled, and my fists clenched tightly around the fabric of my skirt. It really hurt. Tears welled up in my eyes. But I could endure it. I’ve been through worse in my past life. And now, it is almost over.

 

Smack! Crack!

 

The moment Diane swung the switch for the third time with all her might, the old switch shattered into pieces. With that, I collapsed to the ground.

 

“Aaaah…!” I let out a scream as if I were on the verge of death.

 

The maids gasped and covered their mouths in shock. Diane was just as flustered. It was understandable—she had only struck me three times, and yet the switch had broken.

 

Karen’s expression was also unusual. It seemed she had only just realized her mistake. She must have momentarily forgotten in the heat of the moment. Thank you for bringing an old switch, Karen. Much appreciated.

 

Karen hurriedly spoke up. “Madam, should I fetch a new switch?”

 

“Do tha—” Diane, who was about to agree, noticed the maids’ gazes fixed on her and quickly shut her mouth.

 

‘How hard did Madam hit for the switch to break after just three strikes?’

 

‘She’s pretending to be kind, but I guess she really hates that girl.’

 

‘Look at the girl. She can’t even get up. How cruel.’

 

It felt like everyone was saying things like that.

 

If Diane hit me again with a new switch in this situation, rumors would spread through the mansion in no time. No matter how much you try to keep things quiet, words always find a way to get out.

 

Diane had maintained the image of a kind and compassionate hostess until now. She couldn’t let that image be ruined because of me. Besides, she had already hit me hard enough to break the switch. Hard enough that I couldn’t even get up. She probably thought I wouldn’t be able to attend the dinner in this condition.

 

I exaggerated my reaction on purpose, but they likely didn’t catch on to that. Her goal was achieved, so it would be better for her to end things here.

 

“This will be enough. Reflect on your actions.” Diane hurriedly left the room with the maids. Karen kept glancing back, looking as if she felt wronged.

 

As soon as the door closed, I lifted the corners of my mouth and stood up.