Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 82

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Whoosh!

 

“Mom, Mom… I miss you… I’m sorry, Mom… Hic…”

 

Hubert opened his eyes. But the image of the Phoenix’s flames embracing Epirosa and the pitiful voice of Epirosa calling out for her mother wouldn’t leave his mind.

 

“How scared must the child have been, how much must she have missed her mother…”

 

Thinking of Epirosa lying there with her pale face, he couldn’t help but feel a deep pang of sympathy.

 

“Ppit?”

 

He remembered the audacious little red bird tilting its head. What on earth is that thing? Whenever he tried to grab it, it would dart back into Epirosa’s arms. It was undoubtedly the avatar of the Phoenix. But it was too small.

 

Since when had Epirosa been carrying around that tiny avatar? Why had the Phoenix given Epirosa such a small avatar in the first place? Is Epirosa truly the successor?

 

Knock, knock. Just then, the sound of someone knocking on the office door broke his thoughts. “Who is it?”

 

“Grandpa, it’s Epirosa.”

 

At the calm voice, Hubert almost jumped out of his seat. It wasn’t because the child, whose status as the successor was uncertain, had walked in on her own. It was because his grandchild, who had been unconscious for two days, had finally woken up.

 

“Come in quickly, Epirosa!” Hubert spoke urgently. He wanted to see her fully recovered face as soon as possible.

 

Epirosa quietly opened the door and stepped inside. She looked a little gaunt. But the faint blush spreading across her pale cheeks showed that she was healthy. Hubert let out a sigh of relief.

 

“I heard that you personally cared for me, Grandpa. Thank you very much.” Epirosa bowed her head politely.

 

For some reason, Hubert felt a pang of sadness at her impeccable manners. He regretted clicking his tongue at those who used to boast about their grandchildren’s playful antics and charm. Lucky b*stards.

 

Hubert barely managed to suppress his inner thoughts. There was something he had resolved to ask her once she woke up. With a commanding tone, Hubert spoke. “Epirosa, come closer…” But he hastily shut his mouth.

 

Hubert Blanche! That’s not what you were supposed to say! Hubert scolded himself.

 

Epirosa stared at her grandfather with wide eyes.

 

Hubert cleared his throat unnecessarily. “Are you feeling alright?”

 

“Yes. Thanks to Grandpa, I think I’m even healthier than before.” Epirosa replied with a smile. The way the young girl spoke so cheekily was endearing.

 

“Don’t worry about what happened in the underground. I’ve told them to keep quiet about it. And…” Hubert paused for a moment before continuing. “There’s something I want to ask you.”

 

“Go ahead, Grandpa.”

 

“Did the Phoenix give you its avatar?”

 

Epirosa’s heart sank. Hubert found out about Ppinix. At the same time, she thought. The moment I’ve been dreading has finally come. At first, she had hidden the existence of Ppinix from Hubert. Her position in the family was unstable, and she wasn’t sure how much Hubert trusted her. Of course, Epirosa knew she couldn’t keep it a secret forever.

 

This is the ‘time’ the Phoenix was talking about. Epirosa’s expression grew calm. “Yes. The Phoenix gave me an egg, and it hatched recently.”

 

Hubert was the one surprised by the calm response. There was an air of composure about her, as if she had been waiting for this moment, and even the energy of the Phoenix seemed to emanate from her.

 

“When did the Phoenix give you its avatar?”

 

“I received it on the day I first entered the family.”

 

“The first day?” Hubert’s voice involuntarily rose.

 

Does that mean the Phoenix marked Epirosa as its successor the moment it saw her?

 

Epirosa spoke without a hint of surprise. “That evening, I heard the Phoenix calling me and went down the underground chamber. That’s when I received the egg from the Phoenix.”

 

“The underground iron door should only open when I’m present.”

 

“I thought so too, but the door opened on its own.”

 

Epirosa mixed in a small lie. If she were to tell the whole truth, she would have to reveal that she had regressed. However, her explanation about responding to the Phoenix’s call only solidified Hubert’s belief.

 

“Why do you think the Phoenix chose you as its successor?” Hubert’s red eyes were fixed entirely on Epirosa.

 

Epirosa met his gaze without flinching and answered. “The Phoenix didn’t choose me as its successor.”

 

“What? If you weren’t chosen as the successor, there’s no way it would give you its avatar.”

 

“This is an exceptional situation right now.” Epirosa spoke with a meaningful tone.

 

“An exceptional situation?”

 

“Yes. Currently, there is no ‘true successor’ in the Blanche duchy.”

 

“A true successor? Who are you talking about?”

 

“The one most closely bound by blood is the successor the Phoenix chose.”

 

Hubert’s red eyes widened. The person Epirosa meant by ‘most closely bound by blood’ was referring to none other than Leonoe.

 

“Are you saying your mother is my successor? This isn’t some story you’ve made up to bring your mother back into the family, is it?”

 

“Grandpa, the Phoenix entrusted its egg temporarily to someone who could bring the successor to it, instead of directly choosing its successor.” Epirosa pulled out Ppinix from her arms.

 

“Ppit.” That very small red bird popped up and fluttered into the air.

 

“As you’ve seen, Grandpa. I’ve heard that the Phoenix’s avatar is usually larger than this.”

 

“That’s true. Mine was the size of a hawk.”

 

“But this little one is only as big as a baby sparrow. That’s because I’m not the successor, so I can’t raise the avatar to its original size.”

 

Flapping its small wings, Ppinix naturally settled on Hubert’s desk.

 

“Ppi—”

 

Ppinix extended its small, round head toward Hubert. When Hubert only stared, Ppinix furrowed its round eyes and cried out “Ppi! Ppi!” as if protesting.

 

Epirosa spoke up. “I think it wants you to pet its head.”

 

“What… did you just say?”

 

“Ppinix likes being petted.”

 

Hubert’s red eyes shook violently. It was shocking enough that a dignified divine beast was acting cute and asking to be petted. And its name is Ppinix? It was absurd.

 

“That name, the Phoenix didn’t come up with it, right?”

 

“I named it.”

 

At least that was a relief.

 

“Ppiiii!”

 

With no other choice, Hubert gently rubbed its round head with his thick index finger.

 

“Ppiiit!” Ppinix leaned against Hubert’s hand and plopped down, as if thoroughly enjoying itself.

 

“Is this really a genuine avatar?” Hubert asked skeptically.

 

“It is. The egg never hatched when it stayed by my side, but when I entrusted it to Mom, it started crying after some time and eventually hatched.”

 

“So, what you’re saying is, this little one reacted to your mother, the successor, and that’s why it’s truly the avatar.”

 

Hubert looked down at Ppinix. Seeing it leaning back with its eyes completely closed made him sigh. This thing is supposed to be a divine beast’s avatar…? But the energy emanating from Ppinix was familiar. The energy of Phoenix. An immense, scorching power with no discernible end. Even if others couldn’t tell, Hubert, the master of the divine beast, could. This is definitely the Phoenix’s avatar.

 

Hubert closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “But still…” It was only after a long moment that he opened his eyes. “I cannot make your mother the successor of the Blanche family.” He then looked at Epirosa. He had expected his granddaughter to be in despair, but surprisingly, she was calm.

 

“I know. Someone who isn’t in their right mind can’t lead the family.”

 

Hubert was taken aback. Epirosa was only fifteen. Still a child. A girl who, when she fainted, cried out for her mother, needing her embrace. For such a child to accept such a harsh reality so quickly… She was his granddaughter, but she felt extraordinary.

 

“I could make you the successor instead,” said Hubert.

 

Epirosa immediately shook her head. “No.”

 

“Then are you going to give up on the family?”

 

“I’ll cure Mom.”

 

“Cure Leonoe?” Hubert’s eyes narrowed. “She’s only shown a slight improvement since the day you were born. How do you plan to do that?”

 

Epirosa spoke with determination. “I’ll find a way.”

 

* * *

Coming out of Hubert’s office, my mind was a mess. In front of him, I had confidently declared that I would cure Mom, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

 

If I bring her home and let her commune with the Phoenix, maybe the curse will be lifted. She showed improvement when she resonated with the Phoenix’s egg.

 

Bringing Mom to the Blanche mansion is the priority. But I need a reason to do that. A reason that would make Hubert want to keep Mom by his side.

 

The opera celebrating the social season will soon be held at the outer palace.

 

In my past life, Violet had overseen the opera. But in this life, I had no intention of letting that happen.

 

There’s one more thing. About Stella, who had pushed me into the flames of the Phoenix.

 

I’ll make sure she’s involved in this opera too.