Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 85

James Puti stared at me blankly, his mouth agape.

 

Actually, James Puti is right. Buying this historic theater for five hundred thousand Sobrang is practically getting it for free. But the other party wasn’t someone who deserved the proper price. He squandered the family legacy theater, has no ability to maintain it, and is riddled with gambling debts. For someone like that, five hundred Sobrang is more than enough.

 

As James Puti was left speechless, Marchioness Gent quickly interjected. “I hear creditors are camped in front of your house. Five hundred thousand Sobrang should cover everything, right? No one else would want to buy Puti Theater for such a huge sum.”

 

“B-But my Puti Theater is—!”

 

“You’ve already ruined its reputation. There’s nothing left!” Marchioness Gent said sharply.

 

Indeed, who would give such a large sum to a gambler like him to buy a washed-up theater?

 

In the end, James Puti lowered his head. “I’ll… s-sell the theater.”

 

* * *

A few days later, after signing the contract and making the payment, the Puti Theater became mine. The theater’s sign was taken down. In its place, a new sign reading ‘Blanche Theather’ was put up. It was a name I had chosen with Grandpa’s approval.

 

As the new sign was being installed, Marchioness Gent, who was watching with me, spoke. “Jaina Simmons agreed to take the opera stage. She accepted immediately the moment I made the offer.”

 

“Jaina Simmons must have been starving for acting as well.”

 

Marchioness Gent spoke. “I helped you because it was your business, but I still don’t understand why you went as far as buying the theater.”

 

“I didn’t plan to buy a theater from the start either. But when James Puti suddenly demanded 100,000 Sobrang, my mind changed.”

 

“So you thought that instead of spending that much on a single casting, you might as well buy the theater outright and even take care of its affiliated singers?”

 

“Once the imperial palace opera is over, Jaina Simmons will become the greatest soprano, and this theater she belongs to will become the theater that represents the empire. That’s why I changed Puti to Blanche.”

 

When the opera ended, everything would change. I was certain of it.

 

* * *

It was the day of the imperial palace opera. The outer palace was crowded with people. The wide garden is decorated with elegance yet tastefully restrained in its design. Rows upon rows of chairs were placed atop it. And a magnificent opera stage with its curtain drawn.

 

“It’s definitely different from when Duchess Violet Clementi hosted events. It’s so elegant.”

 

“I can’t even remember the last time we had an imperial event with this kind of atmosphere.”

 

“It’s such a relief that Marchioness Gent has returned. I’m really looking forward to the opera.”

 

Violet glared at the gossiping nobles. “What’s there to look forward to in an opera starring some washed-up actress?”

 

Feeling her sharp gaze, the nobles turned their heads and shut their mouths. Before Marchioness Gent returned, they had never openly criticized her. Who would dare to raise their head in the face of such overwhelming power?

 

But then Marchioness Gent returned. And after the last banquet, where Violet lost the emperor’s trust because of Stella and Maddux Luiji, people’s attitudes began to change.

 

Violet frequented the imperial palace tirelessly, trying to regain the emperor’s favor. However, the nights she spent with the emperor could be counted on one hand.

 

It’s fine. I already got what I needed. After today’s event, the emperor would have no choice but to only look at her!

 

Violet whispered to her son, Claude, who was walking beside her. “You still have the handkerchief I gave you, right?”

 

Unlike his mother, Claude was receiving admiring looks from the young ladies. He nodded. “Yes, Mother. I keep it safely with me.”

 

“It’s a handkerchief soaked with His Majesty’s scent. If you carry that, even a rampaging Unicorn will become docile before you.” Violet whispered wickedly.

 

Violet recalled the events from a few days ago. She had deliberately visited the emperor on the day he was having a boil treated. The emperor often suffered from boils on his back and regularly sought the help of his personal doctor.

 

“Your Majesty, seeing you in such pain tears my heart apart! Please, hand me the cloth. I will personally wipe the blood of you.”

 

The emperor was moved by the sight of Violet personally wiping away the filthy blood. Because of that, she was able to spend the night with him. The next day, as she left the palace, Violet took the blood-stained cloth and the handkerchief drenched in his scent.

 

“Claude, do you remember when you were little? The day His Majesty first showed you the Unicorn.”

 

“Yes, it was the first and the last time.” Claude clenched his teeth.

 

The emperor, thinking that young Claude might one day become his successor, had shown him the Unicorn. But the moment Claude saw the Unicorn, he was terrified. He clung to the emperor’s hand too tightly, and as a result, a small wound appeared on the emperor’s hand.

 

At that moment, the Unicorn caught the scent of the emperor’s blood and became agitated. It charged toward young Claude. If the emperor hadn’t wrapped him in a cloak carrying his own scent, Claude would have been attacked without a doubt.

 

After that incident, the emperor never brought Claude before the Unicorn again. Not long after, the Unicorn even laid an egg for Ludwig, making it even less likely for Claude to encounter a divine beast again. Claude’s face grew cold as he recalled the past.

 

Violet comforted her son. “Don’t worry, Claude. Today, everyone will see it. They’ll see the divine beast following you.”

 

The cloth stained with the emperor’s blood was handed to the imperial spy. He would use the emperor’s blood to provoke the Unicorn and lure it to the outer palace. When the Unicorn rampaged in that place, Claude, holding a handkerchief soaked in the emperor’s scent, would step forward. Then the Unicorn will calm down, just like it did in the past.

 

Violet planned to make sure the emperor left the scene before the Unicorn appeared. That way, the only one who could calm the Unicorn would be Claude.

 

Ludwig may have received the egg, but he hasn’t even managed to hatch it yet. He wouldn’t be able to calm the Unicorn.

 

* * *

It was backstage at the opera.

 

“Epirosa, go ahead and take your seat. I’ll handle the rest,” said Marchioness Gent.

 

I was helping with the opera preparations. “Understood, Marchioness. I’ll head out first and take my seat.”

 

“Good. You haven’t forgotten your seat, have you? The special seat in the very front. Right next to me. His Majesty will be sitting there as well. And…” Marchioness Gent spoke with a serious tone. “I won’t be able to go out immediately because of the preparations. So when His Majesty arrives, you must attend to him.”

 

“Me?” I was startled.

 

Attending the emperor wasn’t something just anyone could do. It was reserved for carefully selected nobles. Yet here I was, a young lady who hadn’t even debuted in high society, and from the Blanche family at that, being told to attend the emperor.

 

“Don’t feel burdened. It’s only for a short while until I come out. You can handle it. His Majesty has already given his consent.” She then added, “The crown prince will be seated there as well.” Then giving a playful wink at me.

 

Why is she giving me that look? I stepped outside, puzzled.

 

The outdoor opera venue was packed with people. As I made my way to my seat, greeting people along the way, someone suddenly grabbed my arm.

 

“Epirosa! Let’s sit together!” It was Stella. She was smiling brightly, clearly conscious of the people watching.

 

Nicholas also strode over with long steps. “That’s right, family should sit together! Don’t bother Grandfather, let’s just sit together.”

 

“Brother, Epirosa is going to sit next to me,” Stella said, putting on a face as if she adored me.

 

I replied with a feigned apologetic expression. “What to do? I want to sit with you too, but my seat is separate.” I pointed to the very front row, to the special seat with the most ornate chair. “My seat is over there.”

 

Seeing the special seats, Stella and Nicholas stiffened.

 

“Li-Liar! You’re sitting in the special seat? The seat only Grandfather can sit in among our family?” Nicholas shouted angrily. “Marchioness Gent must have shown you some favor! But this is exactly the time to show some humility!”

 

Stella raised her voice deliberately, as if wanting everyone around to hear. “Don’t sit in such an overwhelming seat. Sit somewhere more fitting for your place!”