Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 89

The stage debris soon began to shake violently. And then—

 

Flash! The Unicorn emerged once again from between the wreckage. Ludwig, who had been running, came to an abrupt halt.

 

“Unicorn…!”

 

Hubert’s groan echoed from behind. It was because Epirosa was dangling lifelessly from the Unicorn’s mouth.

 

The Unicorn, soaring lightly through the air, gently placed Epirosa down in front of Hubert. Its movements were incredibly cautious.

 

“Epirosa!” Hubert shouted as he embraced his granddaughter.

 

Ludwig stared blankly at Epirosa, who was now cradled in her grandfather’s arms. The girl who always looked at him with sharp, clear eyes was now limp, like a broken doll.

 

“Epi-Epirosa…”

 

“Quick, prepare the carriage! We need to get to the doctor!”

 

With Epirosa in his arms, Hubert disappeared. But Ludwig couldn’t pull himself together. She couldn’t be dead… right? No, that couldn’t be. It mustn’t be. She couldn’t die yet. Because…

 

Countless reasons flickered through Ludwig’s mind, only to vanish like smoke. Not because she was a clever person worth keeping close. Not because she could help hatch his egg. It was simply— Because I don’t want that. He didn’t want Epirosa to disappear from this world.

 

A glimmer of realization flickered in Ludwig’s crimson eyes, which had been clouded with confusion. And then it happened.

 

“Unicorn!” The emperor came rushing in from somewhere in a hurry.

 

As soon as the Unicorn saw the emperor standing next to Ludwig, its eyes softened, becoming as gentle as a puppy’s.

 

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty is here!”

 

“It’s all over now!”

 

The people, who had been engulfed in chaos, let out sighs of relief. But unlike the others, there were those who looked even more anxious. Ludwig’s sharp eyes caught sight of them. It was none other than Violet and Claude. And the Stella and Gale family, who had been screaming excitedly just moments ago.

 

“…”

 

Ludwig’s expression turned ruthlessly cold.

 

* * *

Hubert couldn’t take his eyes off Epirosa, who lay there with a pale face. The faint sound of his granddaughter’s breathing echoed in the quiet room, breaking and mending his heart a dozen times over.

 

“Fortunately, the young lady didn’t sustain any direct injuries from the structure. It seems the structure collapsed while narrowly missing her.” The Blanche family’s personal doctor said this after examining Epirosa for a long while. It was meant to be reassuring, but Hubert felt a surge of emotion.

 

“Fortunate? Epirosa still hasn’t even opened her eyes!”

 

“T-That might be because she hit her head when she fell…”

 

“She hit her head?” Hubert asked, startled as if he might faint.

 

The doctor flinched. He had treated countless members of the Blanche family before, but this was the first time he had seen Hubert react like this. Even when it came to his own injuries, or those of his children or grandchildren, Hubert had never been this agitated. Just how much does he care for Lady Epirosa…?

 

“It’s not a serious injury, so she should wake up soon.”

 

But his words did little to ease Hubert’s anxiety.

 

“When is ‘soon’? If she’s fine, why can’t she wake up right now?”

 

Watching this scene from behind, Stella was displeased. Why is Grandfather acting so impatient? This isn’t like him at all. When she had fallen into a pond as a child, hadn’t he simply said, “Trust the doctor. You’ll recover from the fever soon.” Mom said I almost died back then!

 

And yet, normally cool-headed Hubert now was…

 

Why does he lose his composure only when it comes to Epirosa? Jealousy boiled in Stella’s chest. As if her mood wasn’t already sour from her plans going awry.

 

Stella decided to redirect Hubert’s attention toward herself. She summoned all her pent-up frustration, and soon tears welled up in her eyes. “Sniff, sob… Grandfather, what if something happens to Epirosa?”

 

Stella scurried over to Hubert, clutching Epirosa’s cold hand. “Epirosa, wake up quickly. I can’t live without you… sniff.”

 

At the sound of Stella’s sobbing, Hubert felt the heat that had risen to the top of his head just moments ago begin to dissipate. Was he comforted by Stella’s actions, which seemed to show concern for the family? No.

 

Hubert stared at Stella with eyes so cold they could chill the air. What on earth was she doing? He knew full well that the relationship between Epirosa and Stella was far from good. Moreover, Stella’s behavior at the opera hadn’t seemed like someone worried about Epirosa.

 

Gale added fuel to Hubert’s displeasure. “I’m really worried about Epirosa. She was attacked by the divine beast, so she probably won’t recover easily.”

 

“Sniff… Then what do we do, Father? Why would the Unicorn try to attack Epirosa of all people? Even the Phoenix acted like that toward her. It’s so strange.”

 

Hubert couldn’t hold back any longer. “What’s wrong with your eyes?! Attacked by the divine beast? When did the Unicorn ever attack Epirosa?!”

 

Gale flinched at Hubert’s outburst. Stella, too, was so startled that her tears dried up.

 

“The Unicorn clearly saved Epirosa! You’re spouting nonsense just to slander her!”

 

“G-Grandfather, Father was just worried about Epirosa…”

 

“You too, Stella!”

 

Stella’s pitiful act didn’t work on Hubert.

 

“Get out right now! You’re only getting in the way of Epirosa’s recovery!”

 

Hubert’s sharp command left Nicholas scurrying out immediately. Gale hurriedly dragged the frozen Stella out of the room as well.

 

Hubert placed a hand on his forehead and let out a deep sigh. “To think that those called family can’t even properly worry about an injured child…” He thought about how hard it must have been for Epirosa to endure with people like that around her. The only reason she managed to hold on is because she’s clever.

 

Hubert looked down at Epirosa with a pang of pity. A sudden thought crossed his mind. Was it really the right thing to keep testing this child? As the head of the family, he had done it to recognize her potential, but now, regret was creeping in.

 

This child entered the family all alone, without parents or siblings. He had been too harsh. And yet, Epirosa passed all his tests with a calm face, no, even smiling at him. But in truth, how hard must it have been for her?

 

Hubert’s heart ached as if it were being torn apart. He held Epirosa’s hand tightly. It was so small and soft. That fragile hand felt like it might break in his grasp. Tears welled up in his crimson eyes, which had always seemed so cold-blooded.

 

“Epirosa, you need to wake up soon. Grandpa is waiting.”

 

* * *

It was in the crown prince’s palace.

 

“She’s not seriously injured, but she’s still unconscious? Why?” Ludwig’s face hardened at the news delivered by his subordinate. He was being briefed on Epirosa’s current condition.

 

Ludwig’s tense reaction made the subordinate shift uncomfortably, his eyes darting around. She was just brought in and examined by the doctor. Of course, she wouldn’t wake up yet. He knows this, so why is His Highness acting like this?

 

The ever-calm Ludwig couldn’t possibly be unaware of this. And yet, his expression was one of genuine incomprehension. Epirosa, not yet waking up, was treated as a tragedy greater than the sky falling.

 

The subordinate could only respond to his master’s words like this. “I wouldn’t know since I’m not a doctor.”

 

“Haah…!” Hearing the obvious answer, Ludwig let out a heated sigh.

 

The subordinate tilted his head slightly while keeping it bowed.

 

“I’ll inform Father and have an imperial doctor sent.”

 

“What?” The subordinate immediately raised his head again. “There’s no need to go so far as sending an imperial doctor—”

 

“No. Lady Epirosa was injured during an imperial event, so I must show my sincerity.”

 

At first glance, it sounded reasonable. That is, until he said what came next.

 

“No, I’ll go see her myself right now.”

 

“Your Highness!” The subordinate hurriedly blocked him as he tried to leave the crown prince’s palace. “Your Highness, please calm down. This is not like you.”

 

Ludwig hesitated. He realized he was overly agitated. Even so, the anxiety welling up inside him refused to subside. But he had to endure it. If I show a side of myself that’s unlike me, it won’t be good for Epirosa either.

 

Ludwig reproached himself. But… He wanted to see her face. He wanted to confirm that she was breathing and unharmed. Still, I can’t. I’m not yet a crown prince who can stand tall and proud in front of others.

 

Yes, that was the problem. If I had known it would come to this, I should have gritted my teeth and risen earlier! He should have faced Violet confidently and solidified his position!

 

He let out a heavy sigh. Even though he knew it was an impossible task, Ludwig couldn’t help but feel regret.

 

It was at that moment. The faces of Violet, Claude, and the Gale family, who had been standing in the outer palace garden, came to his mind. Something sharp flashed through Ludwig’s mind.