Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 7

* * *

It was dinner time at the Blanche Grand Ducal Mansion. Many family members gathered around the large, long dining table, except for one person.

 

Grand Duke Blanche, Hubert, furrowed his brows. “What’s with that empty seat?”

 

“It’s Epirosa’s seat,” Stella said as if she’d been waiting for the question.

 

Hubert scowled. He didn’t say anything further, but it was clear he was displeased. To disobey an order on the very first day in the family…

 

Stella, noticing her grandfather’s mood, began to chatter. “I think she was too scared and nervous to attend the dinner on her first day. I saw Epirosa’s maid taking her dinner separately.”

 

“If she’s scared and nervous over something as trivial as this, she can’t become a Blanche,” Hubert said curtly.

 

Stella secretly smiled to herself. Thanks to mother, that girl is already out of Grandpa’s favor. I’ll have to sweet-talk her and make good use of her!

 

It was then.

 

“I’m sorry for being late.”

 

Someone appeared at the entrance of the dining hall, limping as they walked. It was Epirosa.

 

* * *

Diane looked flustered. Beneath the short skirt she had deliberately changed into, her legs, faintly reddened, were visible for a moment. Her face turned pale.

 

“Why are you late?”

 

Diane quickly interjected, “I guess she was tired from moving and ended up resting too long. Hohoho.”

 

“…”

 

I stared at Diane with a gaze cold enough to freeze a heart.

 

Diane blurted out whatever came to her mind without thinking. “Y-You must’ve had a hard time coming here. That’s why I told you to rest.”

 

“My body is fine. And I believe His Excellency’s command to attend dinner takes priority.” I deliberately spoke in a strained voice and looked at Hubert politely. “More than anything, I really wanted to have a meal with His Excellency. Even if it’s just once.” Those words were like a young granddaughter saying, ‘I missed you,’ to her grandpa.

 

Hubert’s gaze softened. “We’ll be eating together often from now on, so don’t worry about it.”

 

“Thank you, Your Excellency,” I said and walked toward the empty seat, noticeably limping. Red welts were visible beneath my fluttering skirt.

 

Hubert’s eyes gleamed sharply. “Why are you limping? And those wounds?”

 

I deliberately made an ‘oops’ expression and lowered my head. “I fell and got hurt.”

 

“You expect me to believe falling leaves marks like that on your calves?”

 

“That’s…” I prostrated myself flat on the floor. “Your Excellency, it’s all my fault!”

 

I had to appear like an innocent and clueless girl as possible, punished without reason. That way, Diane wouldn’t dare torment me openly again.

 

I could feel the grand duke’s sharp gaze on me. My mouth went dry.

 

“Who is it? The one who struck this child.” Hubert glared at the people sitting at the dining table.

 

I swallowed a sigh of relief. He didn’t just let it slide. The reason was obvious. Because it was he who brought me here today, and someone laid hands on me without his permission.

 

Hubert would never tolerate challenges to his authority. It was because he took immense pride in being the master of the Phoenix.

 

Hubert’s gaze stopped in front of Diane. She was fidgeting with her sweat-drenched hands under the table. “Diane.”

 

At Hubert’s voice, Diane flinched and raised her head. “Y-Yes, Father.”

 

“You are in charge of the household, so you must know what happened.”

 

Diane turned pale and stammered. She still didn’t seem to understand that the longer she delayed her answer, the angrier Hubert would become.

 

“Speak. Why was Epirosa struck on the calves?”

 

“T-That’s…” Diane spoke in a trembling voice. “E-Epirosa caused a commotion as soon as she arrived, so I disciplined her. I only hit her three times, fearing she’d be too startled.”

 

“A commotion? What kind of commotion?”

 

“She picked a fight with a maid and struck her.”

 

I glanced upward. Hubert alternated his gaze between me and Diane. Diane looked anxious. And me, kneeling on the floor, trembling. Even though I had only been hit three times, I looked utterly defeated, especially for the same girl who had been bold in the salon. Something must seem off.

 

Hubert soon came to a conclusion. “So, you’re saying that your beating of Epirosa was just discipline, but when Epirosa disciplines a maid, it’s picking fights?”

 

Diane was at a loss for words.

 

Hubert’s gaze shifted to me. I clenched my fists tightly, nervous. This was practically my first time presenting myself to Hubert since entering the mansion. It might be too much to leave a good impression, but at the very least, I shouldn’t leave a foolish or bad one.

 

“This time, I’ll ask Epirosa. Why did you punish the maid?”

 

I needed to answer well. But at that moment—

 

“Father, that’s…”

 

Diane unintentionally interrupted. Hubert’s eyes gleamed sharply.

 

“Diane! I asked Epirosa!”

 

Diane flinched in surprise, shrinking back. Her husband, Gale, nudged her with his shoulder, signaling her to be cautious.

 

I observed the atmosphere and, at the right moment, opened my mouth. “It was because my maid, Karen Mona, disobeyed Your Excellency’s order and tried to prevent me from attending the dinner.”

 

I carefully chose each word I spoke. I didn’t forget to mention her name to make it clear that the maid was Madam Mona’s daughter. And I used the phrase ‘disobeyed order’ to emphasize that she had done something Hubert despised the most—overstepping boundaries. However, I was still hesitant to use the term’ grandpa.’ There was a sense of distance between us. That title was reserved for a specific time and place. Hubert, too, seemed indifferent to the use of titles.

 

“What? Is that true?”

 

“Yes. She said since I lacked proper manners, showing such behavior at the dinner would only upset Your Excellency.”

 

“So, you punished the maid?”

 

“Yes. I believed that above all following Your Excellency’s orders was the priority.”

 

Hubert let out a sigh as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “A maid dared to go against my order?”

 

“Yes. I thought it was unacceptable, so I punished her. However… “I lifted my head and looked at Diane, who was trembling. Then, I put on the most pitiful expression I could muster. “Aunt Diane is right too. Since I caused a commotion on my very first day at the grand duchy, I suppose I should accept being punished until the switch breaks.”

 

“What? Punished until the switch breaks?” Hubert, rarely surprised, asked again in shock.

 

Gale was just as taken aback. “My wife wouldn’t do such a thing. You know how virtuous she is. She even said earlier she only struck her three times, didn’t you, Honey?”

 

“T-That’s…” Diane couldn’t bring herself to answer.

 

Hubert’s expression turned cold. “You truly stuck a child who just arrived at the grand duchy today until the switch broke?”

 

“I-I really only hit three times! But the switch broke!”

 

“How hard and with how much emotion must you have struck for that to happen!”

 

At Hubert’s scolding, Diane was so startled that she could only open and close her mouth like a fish.

 

“You were trying to crush the child’s spirit from the very first day!”

 

“Fa-Father, I… I swear I’m innocent. I really only hit three times!”

 

Diane protested, biting her lip. Normally, she’d submit quietly, but this time, she truly felt wronged. Still, Hubert remained stern.

 

“Diane, refrain from joining family meals for the time being and reflect on your actions.”

 

“Fa-Father!”

 

“There will be no reversal. Reflect deeply on your actions!”

 

Diane hung her head low in silence. I also bowed my head at the same time, but only to hide the smirk creeping up on my lips.

 

Hubert stood up from his seat, looking as though he’d lost his appetite. As he walked past me, his steps paused. “Epirosa.” He called my name. It was an unexpected summons.

 

Startled, I lifted my head. When my innocent-looking blue eyes met him, something flickered in Hubert’s crimson gaze.

 

“Stand up.”

 

I staggered as I tried to rise. Having knelt for so long on my injured leg, I couldn’t muster any strength. In the end, my legs wobbled, and I nearly fell.

 

It was then. Hubert caught me. My blue eyes widened in surprise. I thought he might just let me fall, but he caught me. Suddenly, my heart thudded.

 

It was now. The perfect time to use ‘that title.’

 

“T-Thank you for helping me, Grandpa.”