Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 72

Is it possible to communicate with Unicorn even if one is not the familiar of a divine beast? Moreover, Unicorn didn’t attack Epirosa, as if it had even been persuaded by that tiny creature.

 

“You must be worried because your egg hasn’t hatched yet. But since Unicorn gave you the egg, it has chosen you as its successor. Don’t worry about it.”

 

“Yes, Father. Thanks to you, I feel a burden has been lifted from my heart.”

 

As Ludwig left the imperial palace, his mind was filled with thoughts of Epirosa. Then, suddenly, a thought occurred to him. A woman who hasn’t even been designated as a successor, yet possesses something similar to a familiar of the divine beast. If he were to get help from someone like her, wouldn’t he be able to find a way to hatch the egg?

 

Even though the imperial family and the Blanche family were in a relationship of mutual restraint, this concerned the hatching of a divine beast. There’s more than enough justification to seek Epirosa Blanche’s help. Of course, given their respective positions, it would have to be done in secret.

 

The corner of Ludwig’s lips curved upward into a grin. For some reason, it seemed that finding an excuse to get involved with Epirosa pleased him more than discovering a clue to hating the egg.

 

* * *

“You don’t need to worry about this too much, but it’s good to know. What’s important is this.” Benjamin said as he handed me the documents. He was explaining household matters to me. It was a kind of handover.

 

This is all stuff I already know. I listened attentively, treating it as a review.

 

Benjamin occasionally asked questions to check whether I understood. Before answering, I pretended to think for a moment.

 

“You catch on quickly,” Benjamin said, sounding genuinely impressed.

 

If Benjamin went through regression, he’d probably do even better too. I just smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

 

That was when it happened. Bang!

 

“Epirosa!”

 

The door to the room we were in burst open. The intruder, without any permission, was none other than Gale. He frowned as soon as he saw Benjamin.

 

“Sir Benjamin, please leave.”

 

“I was in the middle of teaching Lady Epirosa about household affairs under the order of the grand duke.”

 

“I can teach her that much myself! I’ll explain it to Father later.”

 

“If you explain it to him right now and get his permission, I’ll leave.”

 

Benjamin stood his ground firmly. Gale knew well that Benjamin’s character was as unyielding as steel. That’s probably why he tried to push him away with such schemes.

 

Gale glared at Benjamin for a moment before reluctantly approaching me, as if he had no other choice. “Epirosa, the most urgent matter right now is the vacant head maid position.” He spoke kindly, as if he were a concerned uncle. Then, he pulled out a few documents from his coat and handed them to me.

 

“What is this?”

 

“These are documents about the person who will become the new head maid. This person is the most suitable candidate, so you should appoint her as the head maid.”

 

I looked over the documents. Under the name ‘Mari Lotus,’ brief personal details were written. Mari Lotus was one of Madam Mona’s close aides. She had also been Diane’s right-hand as the deputy head maid.

 

The personal details were filled with nothing but praise. So he’s trying to fill the head maid position with one of his own people. A scoff escaped me. The documents didn’t end there.

 

“If you look back, I’ve written out exactly how the budget should be allocated. You just need to do it exactly like that.”

 

So he was basically telling me just to be his puppet. Like father, like daughter. Both thought exactly the same way.

 

Unable to watch any longer, Benjamin stepped in. “The authority over household affairs belongs to Lady Epirosa. She will handle it as she sees fit.”

 

“Stay out of this, Sir! This is a family matter!”

 

“Then shouldn’t you first discuss it with the grand duke, who is also your family? Why are you pressuring Lady Epirosa instead?”

 

“When did I ever pressure her? I’m just helping my young niece! And why should I report every little thing like this to Father? You’re so inflexible, so inflexible!”

 

Watching the two argue, I placed the documents down on the table. “Uncle, I’ll take these documents into consideration.”

 

Gale frowned, looking frustrated. “Don’t take it as consideration, just do it exactly as it says. What do you even know about making decisions on your own?”

 

I spoke with a shy expression. “Still, this is the first authority Grandpa has entrusted to me. I want to do my best with it.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

I replied with a face full of determination. It was such a pure expression that it made it even harder to argue against. Gale seemed to realize this too, letting out a sigh of disbelief.

 

“Thank you for the documents,” I said politely. It was also my way of telling him to leave now.

 

“Epirosa, just wait and see!” Gale shouted a threat and stormed out of the room.

 

I immediately threw the documents into the trash can. Benjamin raised his eyebrows, seemingly surprised by my resolute action. Then he spoke. “Well done.” His voice carried a sense of relief.

 

* * *

“What on earth is going on here!”

 

It was in the servant quarters of the Blanche family. Gale’s furious shout echoed through the space. In front of him stood five maids lined up. They were all close aides of Madam Mona and loyal followers of Diane.

 

“All the servants said they would side with Epirosa? Ungrateful fools!”

 

Having failed in his plan to manipulate Epirosa, Gale had come to confront the servants in a fit of rage. If I can’t set Epirosa up as a puppet, then I’ll have to change the servants’ opinions to bring her down!

 

“You! Did you also recommend Epirosa?” Gale pressed Mari Lotus, who was the highest-ranking among the five.

 

Mari frantically shook her head. “N-No! How could I do such a thing?”

 

“And you? What about the rest of you!” Gale barked at the others as well.

 

Everyone shook their heads. But in truth, they had recommended Epirosa to Benjamin as well. Because there wasn’t a single person who hadn’t received help from Epirosa, whether big or small.

 

Gratitude? What gratitude! Who was it that worked us to the bone while tossing us nothing but crumbs!

 

Diane pretended to be a benevolent madam, but she was stingy with her subordinates. She didn’t even have enough money to fund Gale’s rise as the successor. To make up for it, she had secretly embezzled internal funds. But even with loyalty, there was little to gain in return. What they wanted was simply to curry favor with Diane, work in a comfortable position, and eventually get promoted.

 

But Epirosa was different. She took care of their dire situations and generously handed out money. To Epirosa, who had made a fortune through business and investments, it was pocket change. But to the servants, it was like rain on parched land. So, it was only natural that Diane’s loyal followers began to turn away from her.

 

“Find every single one who recommended Epirosa! I’ll replace every single one of them!” Gale shouted. It was a short-sighted plan to replace the servants with those who supported Stella.

 

Mari was flustered. “That would mean all the servants except for us would be affected.”

 

“Then replace them all!”

 

“But for that, we’d need Lady Epirosa’s permission first…”

 

“What did you just say?!” Gale couldn’t hold back his anger and shouted.

 

The maids, terrified, squeezed their eyes shut.

 

After letting out his rage, Gale came to his senses. Right, I can’t just replace the servants in this situation. He then looked at Mari. “I’ll make you the head maid.”

 

“…Pardon?” The flustered Mari asked back. How could Gale, who had no authority over household affairs, possibly make her the head maid?

 

Gale spoke ominously to the disbelieving Mari. “Wasn’t it supposed to be you, Mari, who naturally became the next head maid after Madam Mona?”

 

“Well, that may be, but…”

 

“Do you think Epirosa will make you the head maid?”

 

“…”

 

Mari couldn’t answer. It was true that Epirosa had paid off her gambling debts. But there hadn’t been a single word about the head maid position. There was no way someone who gambled would be entrusted with such a role.

 

I promised Lady Epirosa that I wouldn’t gamble again, but honestly, I don’t trust myself. In fact, she had even gone to the gambling den last night. I can’t always rely on Lady Epirosa’s help every time I get into debt. But if she became the head maid, things would be different. Wouldn’t there be a budget I could secretly siphon off?

 

Madam Mona had lived quite comfortably compared to other servants. There was probably money she had been skimming in secret.

 

“Mari, I’ll make you the head maid. So change the servants’ opinion. Even if you have to manipulate it, make it seem like it’s changed! Make the support Stella!” After finishing his business, Gale left the servant quarters.

 

Stella, who had been waiting for him, rushed over. “Father, how did it go?”

 

“What else could those lowly wretches do? They said they’d do as I told them.”

 

“That’s a relief!” Stella said, her voice filled with joy.

 

However, Gale looked down at his daughter with a displeased expression.