Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 66

Ever since I received the Ppinix from my mother, I have carried it with me everywhere. Ppinix would occasionally let out a chirp or two, but it rarely vibrated after I got it back.

 

Why is Ppinix acting like this? Feeling puzzled, I opened the pouch. As if it had been waiting for this moment, Ppinix rolled out of the pouch.

 

“Ah!”

 

Ppinix hit the ground and, as if it had legs, started rolling off somewhere. I hurriedly chased after it, but the tiny thing was surprisingly fast, making it hard to catch up.

 

“Ppinix! Ppinix! Where are you going?” I called out to it in a hushed voice.

 

The uncooperative Ppinix kept rolling for quite a while. It finally stopped when it bumped into a rock.

 

“Ppinix, what are you doing, suddenly rolling off like that? You scared me!” I let out a sigh and picked up Ppinix.

 

Ppinix was quiet, as if it had never rolled away in the first place. It was truly infuriating.

 

“Ppinix, we’re heading back to the banquet hall now, so behave yourse—”

 

“What are you doing?”

 

It was then that a voice I shouldn’t have heard came from above my head as I was putting Ppinix into my pocket.

 

“I came out thinking I might as well watch a unicorn since the only ‘interesting’ thing at this banquet disappeared.”

 

In front of me, frozen like a stone, a man with elegant features leaned in close to my face.

 

“You avoided me before, and now you roll right to my feet on your own.”

 

“…!”

 

His crimson eyes were filled with me.

 

“Do you like me, or do you hate me? I can’t figure out your heart, Lady Epirosa.” Ludwig smiled at me.

 

W-Why is this man here? I trembled and looked down. What I thought was a rock turned out to be Ludwig’s shoe.

 

Did Ppinix bring me to Ludwig? Why on earth? I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

* * *

It was a few days ago, in the parlor of Count Dominic Agent.

 

“Duke Claude Clementi is said to be attending the banquet as the escort partner of Lady Blanche.”

 

Ludwig, who had been idly fiddling with a deck of playing cards with a bored expression, suddenly sharpened his crimson eyes.

 

“It’s probably to expand his influence in the social circles. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he’s fully aligned with the Grand Duke yet…”

 

“Which lady?”

 

“Pardon?” Count Argent, who had been speaking, asked back in surprise.

 

Count Argent regularly reported to Ludwig about the information exchanged at gatherings hosted by Claude. No matter what schemes unfolded at those gatherings, Ludwig never lost his composure. He always seemed languid, as if he were watching children play. This was the first time he had interrupted and asked a question so sharply.

 

“There are three ladies in the Blanche family. Which one of them is Claude partnering with?”

 

Count Argent was flustered. But Ludwig’s face was so utterly serious that he answered faithfully. “Lady Stella Blanche.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Count Argent flinched. The ‘Is that so?’ coming from Ludwig sounded oddly excited when he answered. Puzzled by that, Count Argent continued speaking. “Lady Juliette Blanche is not attending the banquet this time either, and Lady Epirosa Blanche already has another escort partner, so—”

 

“Another escort partner?” Ludwig’s voice turned serious again.

 

This time, Count Argent couldn’t hide his astonishment as he looked at Ludwig. “…Yes, I heard the lord is a friend of Lord Nicholas Blanche.” He finished speaking and stared at Ludwig intently.

 

Ludwig hastily cleared his throat. “Lady Epirosa Blanche became famous for creating Pasa Blanche and Royal Blue, and she’s also well respected due to receiving the temple’s blessing. That’s why I had to know.” His explanation dragged on.

 

“Yes, I see…”

 

“Di you find out exactly who her partner is?”

 

“Should I… find out?”

 

Ludwig, who was about to nod, hesitated. Count Argent’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

 

“No, there’s no need for that.”

 

Ludwig quickly turned his attention to the game cards. Even he himself found his reaction puzzling.

 

If Epirosa Blanche and Claude joined forces, it would definitely have a significant impact. So, it’s only natural to be concerned. Fortunately, Epirosa hadn’t joined hands with Claude. Instead, she ended up with an escort so insignificant that Claude hadn’t even bothered to mention his name. That should have been the end of his interest. But then why—Why does that insignificant lord bother me so much? Ludwig wanted to get rid of him somehow.

 

Ludwig left Count Argent’s estate and headed straight to the Marquisate of Gent. Despite the sudden visit, the marquis and marchioness welcomed him warmly.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“Do I need a reason to visit my aunt?”

 

“Haha, of course not. Then I’ll leave you two to have some quality time together with my wife.”

 

As Marquis Gent tactfully excused himself, Ludwig got straight to the point.

 

“Aunt, you’re planning to attend the imperial palace banquet this fall, right?”

 

“Of course. I plan to spread my wings in society again.”

 

“Then, could you act as the chaperone for Lady Epirosa Blanche at the banquet?”

 

“I was already considering it… But why are you the one making this request?” The unexpected request made Marchioness Gent’s eyes widen.

 

“Since Lady Stella Blanche has joined hands with Claude, it would be wise for us to secure at least one lady from the Blanche family on our side.”

 

“Who knew our prince had such foresight?”

 

Fortunately, Marchioness Gent’s reaction was different from that of Count Argent. She had thought Ludwig had no interest in power. But to think he had been considering the dynamics behind the scenes all along, it was a pleasant surprise.

 

“Please don’t tell Lady Epirosa Blanche that I was the one who made this request.”

 

“Why is that…?” Marchioness Gent trailed off, staring intently at Ludwig. Then, she gave a knowing smile. “Since this is the first favor you’ve asked of me since my return, I’ll grant it without question.”

 

Though something felt off, Ludwig had achieved his goal and left the marquisate with a light step.

 

Today, Marchioness Gent kept her promise and left Maddux behind, becoming Epirosa’s chaperone. But the brief moment of satisfaction from seeing Epirosa with the marchioness quickly faded. Epirosa turned pale at the sight of Ludwig and disappeared as if fleeing. There were many people who avoided him. But Epirosa’s behavior had always, always bothered him.

 

Feeling down, Ludwig left the banquet hall and headed to a quiet place. The quietest place in the imperial palace. That place was none other than the Divine Beast Garden, where the unicorn resided. It was a place only accessible to the imperial family. Though today, that wasn’t the case.

 

“Ppinix! Ppinix! Where are you going?”

 

A familiar voice pierced Ludwig’s ears as he walked through the Divine Beast Garden. Epirosa? It was a tone of urgency he had never heard from her before. Ludwig turned to look in the direction of the voice. Epirosa was chasing after a small white stone.

 

It was curious enough that a white stone rolled by itself, but it was even more curious to see the always composed girl, who built walls around herself, looking flustered and calling ‘Ppinix!’

 

Ludwig stood still, watching Epirosa play a game of tag with the white stone. The way she stomped her feet in frustration was both amusing and endearing. The white stone, which had been teasing Epirosa for quite some time, eventually rolled to a stop right in front of Ludwig’s feet.

 

“Ppinix, what are you doing, suddenly rolling off like that? You scared me!”

 

He couldn’t help but chuckle. The girl, her pale cheeks flushed red from running, didn’t even realize that the crown prince she had been so desperate to avoid was standing right in front of her.

 

“Ppinix, we’re heading back to the banquet hall now, so behave yourse—”

 

“What are you doing?” Ludwig, unable to hold back any longer, spoke in a voice that failed to hide his amusement.

 

The delicate, pale hand that had been slipping a white stone into her pocket froze mid-motion.

 

“I came out thinking I might as well watch a unicorn since the only ‘interesting’ thing at this banquet disappeared.”

 

Curious about the expression on Epirosa’s face, which had stiffened with her head bowed, Ludwig leaned in close, bringing his face near hers.

 

“You avoided me before, and now you roll right to my feet on your own.”

 

“…!”

 

Her blue eyes widened as they met his, filled entirely with the sight of him. A thrill bloomed in his chest like a flower.

 

“Do you like me, or do you hate me? I can’t figure out your heart, Lady Epirosa.” Ludwig smiled at her.