Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 81

If Mom were here, this wouldn’t have happened. Stella swallowed her irritation.

 

Meanwhile, Gale stormed off on his own, striding into his room. Stella and Nicholas followed after him.

 

“Father ordered us to keep quiet about the Phoenix attacking Epirosa!” Gale said, struggling to contain his anger.

 

“Then what if we spread the rumor secretly…”

 

“He said that if even a single word leaks outside, he’ll punish our entire family, no matter who the culprit is!” Gale snapped, his voice rising.

 

Stella’s face hardened. Why is Grandfather like that? Epirosa was attacked by the Phoenix, of all things! And he’s still trying to protect her? Even to the point of punishing our family? She couldn’t understand it.

 

“This plan is ruined too!” Nicholas shouted, glaring at Stella in frustration.

 

Stella shot a glare right back at him. “Did you forget? This was just to confirm something. To see whether the divine beast truly regards Epirosa as an enemy!”

 

“So what are you suggesting we do?” Gale furrowed his brows and asked.

 

Stella spoke confidently. “Now that we know the divine beast truly opposes Epirosa, we just have to reveal that fact to everyone.”

 

“To everyone? How?”

 

“The highlight of the fall social gathering, the opera, will be held in the outer palace garden soon.” Stella whispered slyly. “We’ll show all the nobles gathered there the scenes of the Unicorn attacking Epirosa.”

 

“You’re saying we should use the Unicorn instead of the Phoenix?” Gale asked, as if finding it hard to understand. “But how do you plan to lure out the Unicorn? Isn’t it in the Divine Beast Garden?” He questioned.

 

Stella smiled as if to reassure him. “That’s what Violet is for. That woman has plenty of spies in the imperial palace. We just need to use them to lure the Unicorn out.”

 

“Do you think that wicked woman will do us a favor?”

 

“Violet is already troubled by the scandal involving Maddux. If we suggest using Epirosa as a scapegoat to cover up that scandal, she’ll side with us.”

 

Gale nodded. “If the Phoenix attacks Epirosa, Father will just bury the matter like he did today. But if it’s the Unicorn, that’s a different story.”

 

“Exactly, Father! Then it becomes an issue that even involves the imperial family.” Stella’s eyes gleamed with malice. “If it comes to that, Grandfather will have no choice but to abandon Epirosa. Just like he abandoned my mother.”

 

* * *

I was standing inside a golden birdcage. Wait, isn’t this the Phoenix’s cage? Startled, I looked around frantically. It was then that I felt the heat coming from outside the cage.

 

The Phoenix stood outside, a massive figure of flames. I grabbed the door of the cage and tried to shake it open. But it wouldn’t budge, not even a little.

 

—You are bound by the contract. You cannot leave as you please.

 

A majestic voice resonated from the Phoenix. It wasn’t a sound I heard with my ears, but resonated directly in my mind.

 

Startled, I let go of the door and looked up at the Phoenix. It was so enormous that it nearly touched the greenhouse ceiling.

 

—It is time to fulfill the contract. Bring the successor.

 

I flinched. That’s exactly what it said back in the underground. I had been pushed into the flames of the Phoenix by Stella. And then I passed out. In that moment, a realization flashed through my mind. Ah, so this is a dream. The Phoenix had entered my dream.

 

—The time has come. The egg of the successor has hatched.

 

At the Phoenix’s words, my eyes widened in shock. “The egg of the successor has hatched? Then does that mean Ppinix is your avatar that helps the successor?”

 

The moment I said the word ‘Ppinix,’ the Phoenix’s flames flared up intensely. Looks like it doesn’t like that name…

 

As expected, an angry voice came from the Phoenix.

 

—Immediately revoke that disgraceful name you gave my avatar!

 

It was a bit scary. But I had no intention of changing the name. Ppinix suited the Phoenix perfectly.

 

“Ppinix likes this name though…”

 

At my response, the Phoenix flinched. It seemed like it was shocked by its avatar’s preferences. I pretended not to notice and changed the subject.

 

“Why did you give me your avatar? Normally, that’s something you give to your successor.”

 

—The avatar belongs to the successor. It won’t grow properly if it stays by your side.

 

The Phoenix said it matter-of-factly.

 

Ah, so that’s why Ppinix was as small as a baby sparrow. Still, I had a question. “Then why did you entrust Ppinix to me, knowing it wouldn’t grow properly? Is it because you want me to use Ppinix’s help to bring the successor back?”

 

The Phoenix nodded.

 

—I only entrusted the avatar to you temporarily. To return the rightful successor to their proper place.

 

So Ppinix was indeed the true avatar of the Phoenix. It was tiny just because it was beside me, someone who wasn’t the successor.

 

I asked one more question. “But I still need more time to bring Mom back. I need to gain more control over the Blanche family, and change Grandpa’s mind…”

 

—The time has come!

 

The Phoenix shouted, ignoring my words.

 

—You will create the time!

 

“I will…?” I asked, filled with doubt.

 

According to my plan, it was still far too early to bring Mom back. But the Phoenix was insisting I bring her back immediately.

 

Phoenix’s eyes narrowed as it looked at me. They looked like they were smiling. At the same time, its flames flared up with a roar. The fire engulfed me completely.

 

Gasp! I opened my eyes wide. My whole body was drenched in cold sweat. Fortunately, the Phoenix’s flames and the golden cage that trapped me were nowhere to be seen anymore. All I could see was the high ceiling and the bed.

 

This is… my room. The last thing I remember was passing out in the underground. Looks like they moved me to my room. I felt a little guilty as I imagined the servant who must have carried my limp body here.

 

“Milady, you’re awake.” Britlyn, who had been wringing out a wet towel, ran over with a bright expression. As I tried to sit up, she quickly supported me.

 

“How much time has passed?”

 

“You’ve been unconscious for two whole days. The doctor said it was just a shock, but you wouldn’t wake up, and I was so worried.”

 

“Really? I’m sorry for making you worry.”

 

When I spoke kindly, tears welled up in Britlyn’s eyes. It seemed like she was overwhelmed now that the tension had eased.

 

“Are you really going to cry? You’re breaking my heart.” I asked playfully.

 

“No! Who said I was crying? Do you know how old I am?” Britlyn roughly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

 

“Did anything happen while I was out?”

 

“Nothing out of the ordinary.”

 

“That’s a relief.” I let out a sigh of relief.

 

Then Britlyn’s brows furrowed.

 

“You even collapsed. For now, just focus on taking care of yourself, miss.”

 

Her scolding tone caught me off guard.

 

“Did something happen?”

 

“You don’t know, do you? Do you have any idea how much you were calling for your mother while you were unconscious?”

 

“…Me?” I was calling for my mom while I was out cold? That was unexpected.

 

Britlyn looked at me with a pitying expression. “You kept saying, ‘Mom, Mom, I miss you. Mom, I was wrong. I’m sorry,’ and sobbing.”

 

I couldn’t believe it. But what was even harder to believe was Britlyn’s next words.

 

“Even His Excellency felt sorry for you that he stayed by your side the entire time, taking care of you. He was just here a moment ago, nursing you, before leaving.”

 

“Grandpa personally took care of me?”

 

“Yes! And he was so devoted to it!”

 

Hubert cared deeply for his descendants. But at the same time, he had a cold, strict side and always adhered firmly to the boundaries he set for himself. Someone like that personally took care of me? Even after I was knocked out from being attacked by the Phoenix?

 

I was confused. Did he have a change of heart? Or was it because he wanted to keep an eye on me because I was attacked by the Phoenix? Perhaps Hubert felt it too. The Phoenix’s feelings.

 

Hubert, as the master of the divine beast, resonates with Phoenix. So, he might have sensed Phoenix’s true desire for Mom.

 

Did Phoenix have this in mind when it said it was the time?

 

I recalled the moment when Hubert handed the candy to my mother. If seeing me search for Mom moved his heart, this incident may have shaken him even more.

 

I got off the bed.

 

“Milady! You shouldn’t move yet!” Britlyn cried out in alarm.

 

I stubbornly put on my shoes. “I need to go thank Grandpa.”

 

Because there was something I absolutely had to confirm.