Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 86

Stella spoke shamelessly.

 

Hearing the word ‘your place’ come out of her mouth was amusing. She’s trying to scheme something while keeping me close.

 

I had already expected Stella to hatch some sort of plot using the Unicorn. If that were the case, then her objective was probably… To throw me to the Unicorn while it’s rampaging. Just like what she did with the Phoenix last time.

 

I smiled awkwardly, as if I were troubled. “What to do? I have something I must do, so I really have to sit in the special seats.”

 

As I kept refusing, Nicholas’s expression twisted. “What kind of something could that be!”

 

“Brother, don’t get so worked up. Still, I’m disappointed, Epirosa. You’re not just making excuses because you want to sit in the special seats, are you?”

 

Stella was trying to accuse me of lying out of vanity. Thanks to Stella deliberately raising her voice, many eyes were now on us.

 

“That’s not it. I have to attend to the emperor.”

 

At my words, Stella’s face stiffened.

 

“That’s why I have to sit in the special seats. Of course, it’s only for a very short while before Marchioness Gent comes out.”

 

“…”

 

“I can’t neglect attending the emperor just for your sake, right?” What I really meant was, ‘Stella, do you think you’re more important than the emperor?’

 

“Of course, serving the emperor comes first.”

 

“It seems Lady Stella is quite good at subtly throwing tantrums.”

 

“Well, she’s always been self-centered.”

 

I could hear the murmurs around us. Stella’s face turned red with jealousy and shame.

 

“Oh dear, I’ll be late. I should head to the special seats now.” With a bright smile, I walked past Stella and Nicholas.

 

I could hear angry huffing behind me, but it was soon drowned out by the nobles’ murmurs.

 

* * *

“To think such a young lady would be tasked with serving the emperor, how impressive.”

 

“And she’s from the Blanche family, no less. His Majesty must think highly of her.”

 

“Well, she’s the one who created Pasa Blanche and Royal Blue. She even received the temple’s blessing.”

 

The voices around her made Stella’s insides boil with anger.

 

That things get to sit in the special seats? The special seats that only Grandfather in the family was allowed to sit in? And to serve His Majesty, of all things?

 

She thought Epirosa would be sitting in the middle seat of the first-class section like herself. Her heart felt like it would burst out from jealousy.

 

Epirosa. If it weren’t for her, that seat would have been mine! Stella ground her teeth, indulging in baseless thoughts. At that moment, a gentle voice reached Stella’s ears, interrupting her seething anger.

 

“Lady Stella, it’s been a while.”

 

“Who…?” Stella turned her head stiffly, her expression rigid. But soon, the tension in her face melted away. Standing before her was a strikingly handsome man. “Duke Claude Clementi!” She exclaimed, almost breathless.

 

Claude smiled softly. “Why are you standing there instead of taking a seat?”

 

“Well, um…”

 

“If you don’t mind, would you care to sit with me?”

 

“What?” Stella’s eyes widened.

 

“It seems Lady Epirosa is sitting in the special seats, so you couldn’t sit together. I, too, wished to sit with His Majesty, but alas, my heart aches that I cannot.” Claude subtly emphasized that he was the emperor’s son.

 

Thinking he was sympathizing with her, Stella broke into a bright smile.

 

Claude spoke. “Still, thanks to His Majesty’s mercy, I was able to get a seat in the back row.”

 

“Is Your Grace talking about the seat right behind the special seats?”

 

Even though it was first class, it was the seat closest to the special seats. Gale family was also assigned to first class, but they were in the middle section. Claude’s seat was far better.

 

“Coincidentally, there’s an empty seat because someone couldn’t make it. Why don’t you join me? My mother is sitting there as well.” Claude extended his arm to Stella.

 

“Yes!” Stella eagerly took his arm.

 

As expected, she doesn’t refuse. Claude sneered inwardly. He intended to use Stella as an excuse to strike up a conversation with Epirosa. No matter how their relationship stands, she’s still Epirosa’s family. That makes it easier to create a connection.

 

“Let’s go, Your Grace!” Unaware of his true intentions, Stella beamed brightly as she led Claude along.

 

“Hey, what about me! What am I supposed to do!” Nicholas, left behind, shouted after them.

 

“Sit next to Father. You can’t leave him alone, can you? It’s the role of the eldest son to stay by his side.” Stella spoke as if she were a thoughtful child, then walked off without looking back.

 

* * *

The special seats were limited to just five. Me, Marchioness Gent, Hubert, the emperor, and lastly…

 

“It’s been a while, Lady.”

 

Crown Prince Ludwig.

 

Hubert, sitting one seat away from me, cast a wary glance at Ludwig. The empty seat between us was reserved for the emperor. Originally, I was supposed to sit on the leftmost edge of the special seats, next to Hubert on the opposite side. However, since I had to attend to the emperor, I was now sitting in the Marchioness Gent’s seat instead. As a result, Ludwig was seated to my right.

 

Ludwig leaned in and whispered so only I could hear. “As you said, I’ve taken measures regarding the Unicorn. I’ve increased the security beyond usual.”

 

I had written a letter to Ludwig with a request.

 

[Please keep a close eye on the Unicorn during the opera. There may be a plot involving it.]

 

It would have been ideal to uncover evidence of the plot in advance and expose it, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything.

 

I had observed Stella’s movements for quite some time. She often visited Violet, but did nothing else of note.

 

The real problem was Violet. She visited the emperor almost daily, throwing herself at him. It didn’t seem like she was simply trying to regain his favor.

 

Stella is close to Violet. And they share a common enemy: Marchioness Gent and me. I reached a conclusion. Stella and Violet had joined hands. And in this plot, Violet would play a major role. Still, that alone wasn’t proof that they planned to use the Unicorn. In the end, I just have to be thoroughly prepared.

 

“What are you thinking so deeply about?” Ludwig asked.

 

Startled, I looked up at him. His relaxed smile was stunningly beautiful. No matter how many times I see him, he’s such a handsome man. I found myself admiring him all over again.

 

It was then.

 

“My granddaughter has always been a deep thinker, Your Highness. That’s why she’s so clever.” Hubert interjected, countering Ludwig’s words.

 

“So clever, you say? Then, rather than speaking with Grand Duke, I’d like to speak directly with Grand Duke’s clever granddaughter.”

 

“You could simply speak through me. Is there really a need for that?”

 

“Grand Duke said it yourself, didn’t you? That she’s clever because she thinks deeply. To gauge the depth of those thoughts, I must speak not with Grand Duke, but directly with Lady Epirosa.” Ludwig didn’t back down either.

 

The two locked eyes, their gazes clashing tensely in midair.

 

Why on earth are these two having a standoff here?

 

“Grandfather!” A bright, cheerful voice rang out. It was Stella. Beside her stood Claude. “Oh my, Your Highness is here too!” She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening dramatically. Then, with a shy smile, she looked at Ludwig. Her seemingly innocent, blinking gaze was filled with ambition she couldn’t hide.

 

Since it’s an outdoor opera, the boundary between the special seats and the first-class seats isn’t as distinct as in an indoor theater. There was only a small distance separating them. Stella had clearly taken advantage of that, choosing to sit in the first-class seats close to the special seats.

 

“Stella, what are you doing here? You should be sitting with Gale or Nicholas.” Hubert scolded her.

 

At that, Stella responded with a hurt expression. “Since I wanted to be near Grandfather, Duke Clementi was kind enough to offer me an empty seat. Isn’t that right, Your Grace?” Stella looked up at Claude and asked. Her voice, drawn out in a long tone, carried a hint of coyness.

 

Claude smiled kindly, but his eyes betrayed no emotion. “Yes, I asked her to sit here. Did I perhaps offend you?”

 

“Not at all.” Hubert gave a curt reply and said no more. His attitude was ambiguous, making it hard to tell if he was displeased or not.

 

“Um…” Stella was about to say something more.

 

“Why is Lady Stella here?” A sharp voice cut through the air. It was Violet. Perhaps she had just returned from trying to curry favor with the soon-to-arrive emperor, as she had been absent from her seat. Now, she had belatedly noticed Stella sitting beside her son.

 

Stella flinched and clamped her mouth shut.

 

“Mother, I asked her to sit here.”

 

“What?” Violet raised her voice. But she couldn’t bring herself to scold her son.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

 

A loud announcement came from the entrance. Everyone rose from their seats. Emperor Ignasio strode confidently down the red carpet prepared solely for him. The emperor glanced briefly at me, seated beside him, before taking his own seat.

 

“Everyone, be seated.”

 

As the emperor gave his permission, the others also took their seats. A servant quickly approached, carrying a tray. On the tray were glasses of wine, fruit juice, and water.

 

Since I was attending to the emperor in place of Marchioness Gent, I quickly moved to hand him a glass. Ludwig also signaled to me with his eyes. I nodded and was just about to stand and take a glass when—

 

“Your Majesty, please quench your thirst!” Stella came running over and snatched the wine glass, offering it to the emperor.