Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 9

Eyes as red as blood stared straight at me. At the same time, a searing pain shot through my left wrist. The source of the pain was a crimson mark that had appeared there.

 

“This is…!”

 

It was the exact spot where the Phoenix had bitten me in my past life!

 

The words the Phoenix had spoken back then came rushing back to me.

 

-If you break your promise, only ruin awaits.

 

Could this be the mark of the contract? The moment I realized it, the crimson mark vanished. And the Phoenix closed its eyes again, falling back into slumber. I nodded to myself.

 

Alright. I understand your intention. I will fulfill the contract. Even if it costs me my life.

 

At that very moment, something flowed out of the Phoenix.

 

“!”

 

It was a very small, red egg. As if drawn by a spell, I stepped into the cage. The Phoenix didn’t threaten me as I took the egg out.

 

You’re giving this to me? Why?

 

Wasn’t the egg supposed to be given to the successor?

 

This egg is too small to belong to a successor, though.

 

Normally, a Phoenix’s egg is as large as an ostrich egg. But this one was barely the size of a chicken egg.

 

What could the Phoenix’s intention be? I stared intently at the Phoenix, but it gave no answer as if telling me to find the answer myself.

 

* * *

“Aaaargh!” Karen screamed as she unwrapped the bandages.

 

Madam Mona, the head maid who was preparing to leave for work, rushed over in a panic. “Karen, what’s wrong? What happened?”

 

“Mom, my leg! What’s happening to my leg?!”

 

When Madam Mona saw her daughter’s calf, she was horrified. Just yesterday, it had only been slightly bruised with traces of blood, but now it was a mess of oozing pus and infection.

 

“What happened to your calf? Huh?”

 

“You know, Mom! That wretched thing that came into the mansion yesterday hit me!”

 

Madam Mona was taken aback. She herself had often scolded and even hit the maids for various reasons, but never had something like this happen in just one day. Karen’s leg was in such a horrible state, it looked like it had been mutilated.

 

“She must’ve hit me so hard that even the ointment Lady Stella gave didn’t help!”

 

“Lady Stella gave you ointment?”

 

“Yeah! She said it was a rare one from the Frankish Kingdom and told me to share it with that thing.”

 

Madam Mona’s face turned pale. “She didn’t just give it to you, but to that thing as well?”

 

“Yeah! That’s what I said. Uugh, my leg…”

 

A chill ran down Madam Mona’s spine. She was well aware of the methods Stella used to deal with her rivals in high society. Slander and ostracism were just the beginning—she even disguised toxic substances as luxurious cosmetics or ointment to harm others.

 

No, it couldn’t be…! Madam Mona rushed up to the fifth floor of the mansion. It was an attic far less impressive than the rooms they usually stayed in. She flung the door open. Epirosa was just getting off the bed.

 

“Milady!”

 

But something was off about Epirosa’s legs, visible beneath her skirt. They looked exactly like her daughter’s legs.

 

“What’s going on? As you can see, it’s hard for me to move right now…”

 

Madam Mona was so flustered that she couldn’t say a word. Is it really because of the ointment Lady Stella gave? Did she deliberately give us something that would worsen the wounds? If that was the case, she could’ve just given it to her. Why did she give it to my daughter too? Could it be that she used my daughter as well, just to avoid suspicion?

 

Epirosa’s next words only solidified her doubts.

 

“I was actually planning to go see Karen.”

 

“My daughter?”

 

“Yeah. Yesterday, Stella gave ‘us’ that ointment, and I applied it to my legs before sleeping. But the wounds got worse.”

 

“…”

 

“Is Karen okay?”

 

Madam Mona felt like she was about to explode. It was clear that Stella was the one responsible for her daughter’s pretty legs ending up like that.

 

After all the effort I put in for madam and her, how could she do this to my own daughter! Madam Mona stormed out of the room, her face flushed red with anger.

 

* * *

She’s leaving without even saying goodbye.

 

I chuckled softly and got up from my seat. A sharp pain in my calf made me frown. Even though I knew it was poison, I applied Stella’s ointment to my leg. To make it look like I was caught off guard, just like Karen. Still, unlike the greedy Karen who slathered it on excessively, I used just enough to be able to walk.

 

Just a little sacrifice, and I can drive a wedge between Diane and Madam Mona. A smile spread across my face.

 

The one who held the reins of this household was Gale’s wife, Diane. And the one managing things below her was Madam Mona. In other words, Diane was the general, and Madam Mona was the field commander. It was the field commander’s job to directly deal with the subordinates. So, if Madam Mona and Diane’s relationship soured, it would inevitably cause Diane a headache. As a bonus, Diane losing Hubert’s trust for failing to manage the household properly would be the cherry on top.

 

Knowing Madam Mona’s personality, she won’t confront Diane or Stella right away just because of this incident. She had a submissive nature toward those stronger than her. But at the same time, she held grudges fiercely. She won’t show it openly, but she’ll express her discontent in subtle ways. I just had to wait for that moment.

 

I limped my way to the garden. Small herbs were growing there. Pasa Herb. Just like in my past life, Pasa Herbs were growing abundantly here in this life as well. If you grind it and apply it, it helps wounds heal faster.

 

Not very effective, but it’s better than nothing right now.

 

I picked some Pasa Herbs and went back to my room. As I was grinding them, something in my pocket started trembling.

 

“Huh? What is it?”

 

I rummaged through my pocket and found a red egg about the size of a fist. Ah, right. The egg the Phoenix laid yesterday.

 

The egg emitted a faint warmth as it trembled, then soon became still.

 

Why is this happening? What’s inside of it?

 

I wrapped the egg in two, no, three layers of cloth and carefully placed it in my pocket to prevent it from breaking. Then, I took the ground Pasa Herb and went to Karen.

 

“Karen, it’s me. Epirosa.”

 

“Milady.”

 

Karen lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen. There was no hostility directed at me. But she seemed angry.

 

Looks like Madam Mona told her the whole story. That her leg ended up like this because of Stella.

 

I limped toward her.

 

“Why are you here, Milady? You look like you’re in pain.”

 

“I was worried because you didn’t come today.”

 

“You were worried about me?”

 

“Yeah. I thought maybe you, like me… “I hesitated, pretending to be unsure, and glanced around cautiously. Then I whispered. “Your leg injury got worse, like mine?”

 

Karen bit her lip, then screamed as if she was about to explode with frustration. “Lady Stella…!”

 

“Shh! You can’t say things like that!” I quickly covered Karen’s mouth. “If word gets out that you bad-mouthed Stella, do you think she’ll let it slide?”

 

“…!”

 

“She’s already done this to our legs.”

 

Karen’s eyes widened with a mix of fear and anger. She seemed to feel betrayed as well.

 

“Don’t say anything in front of Stella. Just pretend you don’t know.”

 

I whispered ominously. Karen trembled and nodded her head.

 

She must have thought Stella was on her side all this time. In reality, Stella probably treated Karen well. Especially since she needed her to act as my spy this time, she must have put on an even more convincing facade. But Stella can abandon her anytime she wants.

 

I gave Karen a bitter lesson and handed her a pouch filled with Pasa herbs. “For the wound on your leg, use these herbs instead of the ointment Stella gave you. I used to use this often when I lived with my mom.”

 

Karen opened the pouch and grimaced. “Pasa herbs? Who even uses this kind of stuff nowadays? You use it yourself.”

 

“Still, just this once, use it for my sake.”

 

“For your sake, my ass… “Karen turned her head sharply but then flinched and looked back at me. “Wait, don’t tell me you went out and picked these herbs yourself with that leg of yours?”

 

“Yes.” I nodded. “I ground them up myself with a lot of effort. Please use them.”

 

Karen’s expression turned strange. “Fine, whatever. Just leave it there and go.” She spoke to me as if I were her superior. But her voice had softened a lot compared to our first meeting.

 

Back in my room, I applied Pasa herbs to my own calves. The effect might be weak, but it’s better than not applying anything at all. Still, the areas where I applied the Pasa herbs seemed to have their pain subside quickly.

 

* * *

“Mom, Mom! Look at my leg!”

 

Karen was being noisy again from the early morning. Madam Mona hurriedly ran to Karen.

 

“The apothecary said they’d get us a good ointment today, so just hold on for one more day.”

 

“No, that’s not it. Just look at my leg!”

 

“What? Did it get worse?”

 

Madam Mona, upon seeing Karen’s calf, was startled. Just yesterday, Karen’s calf had been covered in pus, but now most of it had healed.