Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 65

A spark of life flickered in Claude’s previously darkened eyes. And—

 

“Was that decided without even telling me, your cousin who lives with you? Congratulations, Stella.”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Violet’s face twisted coldly. She had been maintaining her composure in front of the emperor, but the moment her son’s name came up, even she failed to keep her expression in check.

 

Of course. While the young lady of the Blanche family might be welcomed as a one-time partner, when it comes to something as significant as marriage, her stance would change.

 

Violet would be extremely meticulous in choosing Claude’s marriage partner. She’d choose someone who could help make her son the emperor. Stella probably hadn’t proven she had that kind of ability in front of Violet yet.

 

“Marrying your escort partner? Who in this day and age still thinks in such outdated ways? Lady Epirosa, you’re so narrow-minded for someone so young!”

 

“Duchess, please calm down.”

 

Violet was relentlessly attacking me. When I put on a frightened expression, the emperor himself had to step in to stop her.

 

“I-I just thought it was true because Stella said so…”

 

At my words, Violet’s sharp gaze turned to Stella. Her venomous eyes scanned Stella from head to toe.

 

Violet must be suspicious. She’ll think Stella deliberately told me that an escort partner is the same as a fiancé to target her son.

 

Violet’s lips slowly curled into a fierce, menacing smile. “Lady Stella must have been joking. Surely, she didn’t actually think an escort partner is a future fiancé, did she? Isn’t that right, Lady Stella?”

 

Stella’s face turned pale. The trap she had set for me had backfired, and now she was the one caught in it. She looked around desperately. But it seemed there was no one willing to help her. Gale and Nicholas didn’t dare intervene in this tense atmosphere. Hubert was silently observing Stella’s reaction.

 

In a situation like this, the only person who would have stood up for her with everything they had was Diane. Stella must be realizing that painfully now.

 

That’s why I made sure to get rid of Diane first. So, Stella, you’d better answer quickly. There was only one way for her to survive this.

 

“Y-Yes, that’s right. It was a joke. An escort partner as a future fiancé? I would never think that way!”

 

In the end, Stella outright rejected tradition in front of everyone. Some people agreed with her, but there were also those who clicked their tongues and turned away.

 

“I didn’t think she’d be like that, tsk tsk.”

 

“That young lady’s gotten too bold for her own good.”

 

Violet, who had managed to force an answer out of Stella, turned to us with a fake smile. “See, Lady Epirosa? An escort partner isn’t necessarily your future fiancé. Keep that in mind.”

 

At that moment, Marchioness Gent stepped forward as if to shield me. “You don’t need to worry, Duchess. In any case, Lord Maddux isn’t Epirosa’s escort partner anyway.”

 

“Then are you saying Stella was mistaken?”

 

“Yes. I’m Epirosa’s chaperone, after all. There’s no need for unnecessary concern.”

 

The gazes of Marchioness Gent and Violet clashed in the air, tension crackling between them. Everyone watched the scene with unease.

 

“N-No way…!”

 

“Is that…!”

 

Startled gasps echoed from somewhere in the crowd. People’s attention shifted from the two women to the source of the sound. In an instant, the tense standoff between them was forgotten by everyone.

 

“Crown Prince Ludwig!”

 

The very Ludwig who had said he wouldn’t come was now entering the banquet hall. He rarely attended official banquets, not just this one. The reason was simple: he found them boring. On the other hand, he was known for frequently showing up at unofficial gatherings and causing a ruckus.

 

Those who saw the crown prince for the first time at such events were often shocked for various reasons. First, because of the completely unexpected situation. Second, because of his surprisingly neat appearance. And third, because of his captivating looks that drew attention despite his infamous reputation.

 

Beneath his cool silver hair, his red eyes, which were lazily smiling, scanned the astonished crowd. Though his gaze carried the sharpness of a blade, the usual nonchalant smile he wore in public softened his otherwise intense impression. Ludwig walked lightly through the crowd, which seemed to part like magic before him.

 

“Your Highness!” Marchioness Gent stepped forward to greet him and lead Ludwig to the emperor.

 

Violet’s face twisted in displeasure, and even Claude couldn’t hide the tension spreading across his expression.

 

“Ludwig, I don’t recall hearing that you would attend the imperial banquet,” the emperor spoke, his tone warm with surprise.

 

Ludwig gave the emperor a light bow before responding. “Father, how could the crown prince not attend an imperial banquet? That would be unthinkable.”

 

“Haha, you rascal. Then why haven’t you attended until now?” The emperor laughed heartily, patting Ludwig on the shoulder.

 

Marchioness Gent looked at Ludwig with pride. Though Violet and Claude glared coldly at Ludwig, he seemed entirely unconcerned with them.

 

“To be honest, I thought this banquet might be fun, so I decided to come.”

 

The awkward part was the fact that Ludwig’s gaze was fixed on me.

 

“This banquet might be fun? Why is that?”

 

“For various reasons.”

 

“Haha, you rascal! If you’ve matured, just admit it!” The emperor burst into laughter as he shared his wishful thinking.

 

I could see Claude clenching his fists tightly. No matter how properly he behaved, the emperor never seemed this pleased with him. Though the emperor cherished Claude, an illegitimate child could never compare to a legitimate heir.

 

“The two young ladies of the Blanche family are here as well.”

 

Ludwig’s gaze shifted from the emperor back to me. I felt my shoulders tense up.

 

“Lady Epirosa, this is your first fall banquet, isn’t it?”

 

Though it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as when I first met him at Gale’s salon, I still felt uneasy whenever we crossed paths. It was because of the memories of avoiding him and running away in my past life; the memory of him swinging his sword at me; and the vivid memory of falling off a cliff after being struck by that sword.

 

“Epirosa!”

 

Even the memory of those red eyes, reaching out and grabbing my hand as I dangled from the edge of the cliff. If only it had all ended there. As I unconsciously thought that and loosened the strength in my arm, the hand gripping me tightened even more.

 

“I’ll never let you. So don’t even think about running away!”

 

The person who once tried to kill me, but then saved me. The same person who had the power to control my entire life.

 

The instinctive fear of him surged back again. Even when we were alone in the temple, it wasn’t like this. Was it because I had recalled memories of the past? My mind was hazy so much to the point that I didn’t even notice the music seeping into my ears.

 

“Epirosa? What are you thinking about?”

 

It was only when Marchioness Gent called out to me that I came to my senses.

 

“Go on, you should be dancing by now.”

 

At some point, men and women had paired up and started dancing. Claude had escorted Stella and joined the group. And Ludwig, he was still standing there, not yet part of the group, staring at me.

 

“!” I quickly averted my gaze.

 

“Epirosa? Why are you like that?” Marchioness Gent asked with concern.

 

“Marchioness, I’m feeling a bit dizzy. I’ll just step out for some fresh air.”

 

“Oh dear, you must be really nervous. It’s your first time at an event like this, isn’t it? Go on, take your time.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

I hurriedly ran out of the banquet hall. Outside the imperial palace’s banquet hall was a garden. There, I finally managed to catch my breath. As I inhaled the fresh air, my chaotic thoughts began to clear.

 

Get a grip. You’re going to run into the crown prince again sooner or later. Are you going to tremble like this every time?

 

In this life, I have no intention of stealing something like a unicorn horn. So there’s no reason to be afraid of the crown prince either. I reassured myself and took a deep breath.

 

Just then—Rustle! I felt a presence behind me. Quickly, I turned around and saw someone hiding behind the bushes.

 

It’s Maddux, isn’t it? It seemed like he had followed me with some kind of scheme in mind. Well, that’s perfect for me.

 

I steadied myself and pulled a bracelet out of my pocket. Then, I deliberately dropped it on the ground and walked away.

 

A moment later, looking back, I saw Maddux picking up the bracelet I’d dropped. Seizing the chance, I slipped deeper within the garden.

 

“Damn it, where did she go?”

 

From a distance, I could hear Maddux’s frustrated voice after losing track of me. Just as I was thinking about how to shake off Maddux and return to the banquet hall, the pouch I had carefully tucked away in my arms began to vibrate. It was the pouch containing the Phoenix’s egg—I mean, Ppinix.