Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 95

The button on his sleeve was missing. When Hubert pointed that out at the time, Gale was visibly shaken. Could it be that she’s pretending to clean just to find that button? It implied there was some story behind the torn sleeve and the missing button.

 

Of all times, the morning after Epirosa was attacked, a torn sleeve and a missing button. Hubert’s gaze grew sharper. The suspicion he wanted to ignore was now nearing certainty. No matter how much I try, I don’t want to believe my son could have done something so horrible.

 

But no matter how he thought about it, the culprit who attacked Epirosa that night seemed to be Gale. He had been quietly searching for the culprit without escalating the matter, worried about how Epirosa might react. Perhaps the worst possible outcome might unfold.

 

Hubert swallowed a sigh and returned to his office. Not long after, Benjamin knocked on the door.

 

“Your Excellency, Duke Claude Clementi has requested an audience.”

 

Hubert thought Benjamin was joking with him. But Benjamin was not the type to make jokes.

 

“Why him?”

 

Claude had no connection to the Blanche ducal family. His mother, who had been the emperor’s concubine, was even banned from entering the imperial palace, so he, too, had to be cautious about his actions. But suddenly coming to visit the Blanche Mansion?

 

Benjamin spoke to the puzzled Hubert. “He’s here to comfort Lady Stella, who must have been shocked by the opera, and also… to visit Lady Epirosa, who’s unwell.”

 

Hubert’s red eyes sharpened at that.

 

* * *

“I won’t wear earrings. Instead, bring me a pure and delicate necklace. And you, tighten my waist a bit more!” Stella nagged at the maids. She was in the middle of getting dolled up. “Make my makeup look innocent. I need to pretend I’m worried sick because of Epirosa.”

 

Today was the day Claude would visit the Blanche Mansion. Even Grandfather couldn’t have refused a request from Duke Clementi, who was once my partner. No matter how much Violet had fallen out of the emperor’s favor, Claude was still of imperial blood.

 

Anyway, it’s such a relief that Violet is under house arrest. Thanks to that, she can’t meet people freely, and she can’t call me over to vent her anger, right? Most of what happened at the opera had been Stella’s idea. It had been a dangerous plan, even involving a divine beast. If this plan had failed under normal circumstances, Violet would have called me in and beaten me down.

 

Of course, that didn’t mean Stella had nothing to lose. Because of that incident, Leonoe had returned to the Blanche Mansion.

 

“Stella! Are you ready?” The sound of knocking on the door was followed by Gale’s voice.

 

“Yes, come in, Father,” Stella replied.

 

Gale hurriedly entered the room. “What about my button? You still haven’t found it?”

 

Stella frowned. “I searched everywhere, but couldn’t find it. Why did you lose the button in the first place, Father?”

 

“How was I supposed to know someone would suddenly show up and grab me?”

 

“I questioned all the staff, but no one who was there that day saw anything.”

 

The mention of the button dampened Stella’s good mood. Who on earth took the button? If Grandfather catches wind of this, it’ll be a disaster! As if things weren’t already complicated enough with Leonoe entering the mansion. On top of that, Hubert’s favor toward Epirosa was growing stronger by the day. Stella needed a plan.

 

“Father, you know that Duke Claude Clementi is visiting today, right?”

 

It involved Claude.

 

“He’s using Epirosa as an excuse to come see me.” Stella spoke with arrogance. “I told you before, didn’t I? That Duke Clementi seems to have an interest in me.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but the button…”

 

“Father, can we stop talking about the button? This is a really great opportunity, you know.”

 

Gale frowned deeply. “A great opportunity? Haven’t you heard that Duchess Clementi has been placed under house arrest?”

 

“Just because Violet is under house arrest, does that mean Duke Clementi is no longer the emperor’s son?”

 

Stella smirked as she looked into the mirror. Her face was pale with makeup, but her lips were painted a striking red. It was a deliberate attempt to appear seductive.

 

“Even though Crown Prince Ludwig is in charge of investigating the opera incident, Duke Clementi is still a powerful candidate for the throne.”

 

“True. The crown prince still hasn’t managed to hatch the unicorn’s egg.”

 

“That’s why, if I can charm Claude while he’s feeling down, I might just become the future empress.” Stella burst into laughter. Just imagining it brought her joy. “Once I become the wife of Duke Clementi, things like button will be nothing but trivial matters.”

 

* * *

Claude licked his dry lips as he stepped into the Blanche Mansion. His heart, which had been cold and still, began to pound already. The day he heard the news that Epirosa had awakened, how overjoyed he had been. It felt as if his body, frozen for centuries, had melted all at once under the warm spring sunlight, releasing all the tension within him. Even he was surprised by his own reaction. That was why. The urgent request to visit the Blanche Mansion was made.

 

Claude knew he shouldn’t act recklessly while his mother was under house arrest. But I wanted to confirm it myself. That Epirosa was alive.

 

In the mansion lobby, Gale, Stella, and Nicholas were there to greet him. Hubert was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Welcome, Your Grace. My father is in Epirosa’s room.” Gale explained Hubert’s absence.

 

“Then, Lady Epirosa—”

 

“Your Grace, would you like to take a walk in the garden with me until Grandfather comes out of the room?” Suddenly, Stella stepped forward in front of Claude. Despite her enthusiastic approach, she spoke with a delicate expression.

 

“Thank you for coming to comfort Stella. The garden is this way…”

 

“No. I’ll see the sick person first. Where is Lady Epirosa’s room?” Claude asked politely.

 

“It’s on… the second floor.” Stella gritted her teeth as she answered. If it weren’t for Epirosa, I could have had a cozy moment with Duke Clementi! She was lost in her grand delusion.

 

As Claude reached Epirosa’s room, he left Stella behind and entered the room first. The first thing he encountered was a pleasant scent.

 

“You didn’t have to come, but you went through the trouble anyway, Duke.”

 

It was Hubert’s disapproving voice. Even though it was an outright jab, Claude’s expression didn’t change a bit as he smiled kindly.

 

“How could I not come?”

 

He turned his head toward Epirosa, who was sitting on the sofa in the Epirosa, looking at him. Her face, which seemed much more lively as if she had recovered significantly, was a welcome sight. The neatly dressed outfit she wore to greet her guest was adorable. On the other hand, the blanket draped over her knees, a reminder that she was still a patient, tugged at his heart. After seeing Stella, who always had a pale face with only her lips painted red, looking at the vibrant Epirosa felt like his eyes were being cleansed.

 

“If only I had calmed the unicorn a little faster, the lady wouldn’t have been hurt.” Claude said this deliberately, wanting to show off his abilities in front of Epirosa.

 

“You have the ability to calm a unicorn?” Hubert, having caught on to Claude’s intention, asked sharply.

 

Claude flinched.

 

“Well, one never knows!” At that moment, Stella suddenly popped out from behind and sided with Claude. She naturally tried to link arms with him. But Claude clasped his hands tightly behind his back, avoiding her.

 

Is he feeling shy in front of Grandfather? Stella misunderstood the situation on her own. Instead of linking arms with him, she led Claude to Hubert and Epirosa.

 

“Epirosa, you should greet him. Duke Claude Clementi came to comfort me, and he decided to visit you as well.”

 

Claude frowned slightly at Stella’s words, clearly annoyed. Fortunately, Epirosa didn’t seem particularly affected by what Stella said.

 

“Thank you for coming, Your Grace,” Epirosa greeted him calmly.

 

Looking at her, Claude responded. “I’m truly relieved that you are recovering well. When I saw you injured, I thought my heart would stop. I was so shocked. Still, I believed you would wake up again. I truly believed. Not even for a moment did I doubt that you would—” Claude, who had been rambling without realizing it, suddenly noticed the awkward atmosphere.