Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 77

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The carriage came to a stop. But Ludwig just kept staring at me, waiting for an answer. Unable to give him a clear promise to help, I avoided his gaze. I’m not sure if helping Ludwig is the right thing to do. More than anything, I didn’t even know if I could actually help him. What if I step in and make things worse? Worry consumed me. That was why, even though he was baring his soul to me and pleading earnestly, I couldn’t bring myself to agree so easily.

 

“Your Highness,” I called Ludwig quietly. It was my way of saying I wanted to get off the carriage.

 

A low chuckle escaped from Ludwig. “I want to spend more time with you, but it seems you’re eager to leave as soon as possible.” He held the carriage door and looked at me. “But it seems I might have to be a little rude to you.”

 

“What?”

 

“You can get mad if you want.”

 

Ludwig opened the carriage door. The chill of the evening seeped in. My body shivered. Is it because of the cold? But it wasn’t that cold.

 

As I tilted my head in confusion, I soon realized the true reason for my instinctive trembling. What lay before me wasn’t the Blanche mansion. It was the Divine Beast Garden. I looked at Ludwig in surprise. It was shocking enough that he had brought me here without a word, but it was even more astonishing that we had arrived at the imperial palace so quickly. After all, the Blanche mansion and the imperial palace weren’t exactly close to each other.

 

Could it be that the magic stone embedded in the ceiling wasn’t just for lighting? Using a high-purity mana stone could significantly increase the speed of a vehicle. Realizing the situation, I looked at Ludwig with an incredulous expression.

 

Ludwig spoke calmly. “I had to confirm.”

 

“Confirm what?” I asked, my tone slightly irritated. Even though I dared to show my emotions in front of Ludwig, he didn’t seem to mind.

 

“Whether the Unicorn still sees you as an enemy.”

 

“Is it because you need to confirm that so you can be sure if I can help you?”

 

“No,” Ludwig spoke, his usual composure gone from his face. “I saw it before the Unicorn left. How it suddenly became docile around you.”

 

I held my breath. Ludwig had actually witnessed everything that happened that day but had chosen not to show it.

 

“I needed to see how the Unicorn treated you. Whether it still saw you as an enemy or if it regarded you as someone chosen by a divine beast.”

 

“Why?”

 

“So I can protect you.”

 

I didn’t understand Ludwig’s words and stayed silent for a moment. Noticing my subtle reaction, Ludwig gave an awkward smile.

 

“We can’t let something dangerous like last time happen again, can we?”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“If the Unicorn continues to be hostile toward you, I plan to take action.”

 

“Against me?”

 

“No, against the Unicorn,” Ludwig spoke firmly.

 

Everything he said today left me flustered.

 

“How could you even think of going against the Unicorn because of me…”

 

“Don’t worry about that. You’re important to me too.” Ludwig said that as he stepped down from the carriage.

 

To say outright that I’m important to him… He must be truly desperate to hatch the Unicorn’s egg. It was probably for the same reason that he was trying to protect me from the unicorn.

 

Ludwig, now off the carriage, extended his hand toward me. “If anything dangerous happens, I’ll protect you. So don’t worry and come down. I’ve taken all the necessary precautions.” He spoke as if to reassure me.

 

Nodding my head, I took his hand.

 

The Divine Beast Garden at night was serene. There were a few lights scattered here and there, but even those weren’t very bright. I quickly realized why the lights weren’t bright. Prrr— With the sound of hooves, the Unicorn slowly emerged from the distance. Its sharp horn gleamed brilliantly, like moonlight.

 

So beautiful. It’s like Ludwig’s silver hair.

 

While I was lost in admiration, Ludwig stepped in front of me protectively. The Unicorn, undeterred, continued to approach us.

 

I could feel it. This is different from the last time. Its steps were calm. There was no trace of hostility in its movements. And then, it happened.

 

“Ppippit!”

 

The tiny Ppinix perched on my shoulder flapped its small wings and flew toward the Unicorn.

 

“Ppiit!” Ppinix, now sitting atop the Unicorn’s horn, chirped as if greeting it warmly.

 

The Unicorn purred in response.

 

“Well, the initial reaction seems friendly enough,” Ludwig whispered, sounding relieved.

 

“Ppippit ppippit ppippit!”

 

The Unicorn, with the ever-chatty Ppinix clinging to it, slowly approached us. Ludwig cautiously extended his hand. The Unicorn briefly pressed its cheek against his hand, as if to say hello.

 

Maybe I should try too. Gathering my courage, I reached out my hand.

 

The Unicorn’s dark eyes stared directly at me. “Prrrng!” It blatantly snorted in mockery and turned its head away.

 

I froze in place, my hand still outstretched. Watching me, Ludwig stifled a laugh. “Still, it’s more friendly than last time.”

 

“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?” I asked, pouting as I looked up at him.

 

“That can’t be true.” Ludwig shrugged his shoulders.

 

While we were talking, Ppinix and the Unicorn were chattering nonstop. Though it was mostly Ppinix chirping away, and the Unicorn just listening. At least they seemed to be getting along, which was a relief.

 

Ludwig seemed to think the same. “That’s a relief.”

 

“Right? Ppinix and the Unicorn seem close. Maybe it’s because they’re both divine beasts.”

 

“And the Unicorn doesn’t seem to be hostile toward you anymore.”

 

“That’s probably thanks to Ppinix.”

 

“And one more thing.” Ludwig’s voice suddenly dropped in a peculiar way.

 

When I looked up at him curiously, the corners of his lips curved into a graceful arc.

 

“It seems like you’re not afraid of me anymore either.”

 

“!”

 

I felt my ears heat up in an instant. W-Why are my ears burning? Was it because he had seen right through me? At least my face wasn’t burning up too, thank goodness.

 

“Carrying you down from that tall tree was worth it after all,” Ludwig said, and pulled something out of the carriage trunk. It was a carrot. “Try giving this to the Unicorn.”

 

“What?”

 

“Since you’re here anyway, you should try to get along too.”

 

I ended up taking the carrot without thinking. The Unicorn, catching the scent of the carrot, sniffed the air. But as soon as it realized the carrot was in my hand, it narrowed its eyes.

 

“Prng?” Its voice was full of suspicion.

 

“It’s not poisoned. Just try it.”

 

“Prrng?”

 

I spoke cautiously. But it seemed my words only made it more suspicious. The Unicorn was just about to turn its head away with a mocking snort.

 

“Ppiik!” Ppinix, bouncing on the Unicorn’s head, let out a sharp cry. It was as if it was saying, ‘Just eat it already!

 

The Unicorn, as if it had no choice, extended its muzzle toward me.

 

I was so happy that I stomped my feet without realizing it. “You’re going to eat it? Thank you!”

 

“Prrng!” The Unicorn snorted as it took the carrot into its mouth. It felt like it was eating it just to humor Ppinix.

 

I looked at Ppinix and beamed. Ppinix, too, opened its beak as if it were smiling.

 

At that moment, Ludwig quietly approached me. “Are you that happy? Enough to be bouncing on your feet?”

 

“Of course! The Unicorn accepted my gesture of goodwill!”

 

I looked up at Ludwig with a bright smile. For a moment, I saw his crimson eyes waver. As I tilted my head in curiosity, Ludwig quickly turned his head away.

 

“Seeing you happy… makes me happy too.” Then, deliberately sounding casual, he added. “If you’re in a good mood, you’ll be more inclined to grant my requests, won’t you?”

 

I shot Ludwig a sidelong glance. He pretended not to notice and burst into loud laughter.

 

* * *

“You want to visit the sanctuary?”

 

“Yes, please grant me permission to go out.”

 

Hubert stared at me silently. All outings of his young grandchildren were immediately reported to Hubert. But whenever I went to see Mom, I made sure to tell him directly. It’s to remind him of Mom. If Hubert still had bad feelings toward Mom, he might end up resenting me too.

 

I was prepared to take that risk. But every time I told Hubert I was going to the sanctuary, he never showed much of a reaction. At least, not until this very moment.

 

“Take this.” Hubert pulled something out of a drawer.