Now This Family Belongs to My Mother Chapter 97

Just hearing his half-brother’s name made him show such discomfort.

 

Though flustered, I explained calmly. “Grandfather checked it too. And it’s not anything strange.”

 

Ludwig looked at me with an unreadable expression. “You never know. There could be a hidden scheme inside that even Grand Duke Blanche failed to notice,” he said. His face carried an unpleasant look I hadn’t seen on him before. “More importantly, you don’t particularly need this talisman. Because you have me.”

 

“What?” My voice involuntarily rose. Then I quickly covered my mouth and looked around, worried someone outside might have heard.

 

Ludwig, unconcerned, continued speaking. “I can be your talisman.”

 

“T-Then why didn’t you save me when the opera stage collapsed?” I snapped at him, annoyed by how he acted so nonchalantly even after sneaking in.

 

Ludwig flinched. “You’re hitting where it hurts.” He then lowered his head.

 

Huh? I thought he’d respond with another snarky remark, but Ludwig genuinely looked wounded. It seemed like not being able to save me back then really weighed on him.

 

I quickly changed the subject. “If it’s an item hiding malicious intent, shouldn’t we just get rid of it?”

 

“That would be perfect.”

 

When I probed him lightly, Ludwig broke into a wild smile. Was he always someone who could show his emotions so openly? I had no idea why he was so purely happy about this.

 

For now, I put the talisman away. Not because I believed it was hiding any malicious intent. Mom said it was a nice thing, after all. I just didn’t want it to keep bothering Ludwig.

 

It was then. Mom, who had been quietly watching us with curiosity, suddenly extended her hand toward Ludwig. “You have that round toy, right? Give it to me.”

 

I was so shocked I almost fainted. No matter how much Ludwig understood my mom’s condition, this was way too rude. “Mom, I’ll give you the toy.”

 

“No, I want to play with the toy that has the little foal inside.”

 

Mom whined. But at her words, both Ludwig and I flinched. The round toy with the little foal inside. She was definitely talking about the egg the unicorn had given to Ludwig.

 

“Did you tell your mother about my egg?”

 

“No. But Mom has had the phoenix’s egg before.”

 

“She had an egg before? But that bird has already hatched, hasn’t it?” As Ludwig continued speaking, he suddenly seemed to realize something and hurriedly took out the egg.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

“It’s fine, Lady.”

 

Mom had hatched the phoenix’s egg. So maybe she could hatch the unicorn’s egg too. That seemed to be what Ludwig was guessing right now.

 

“Here, take it.” Ludwig handed the egg to Mom. He was unusually polite, quite unlike his usual self.

 

“Wow!” Mom jumped up in joy. Then, she gently stroked the egg with care.

 

“How did you know there was a foal inside?” Ludwig asked Mom in a friendly tone.

 

Mom blinked her eyes. “It’s right here. Can’t you see it?” She looked as if she couldn’t understand why he was asking.

 

At her words, a smile spread across Ludwig’s face. “I can see it. But it’s been asleep for a long time.”

 

“Well, it’s still tired. It’s just a baby.” Mom, who had been stroking the egg, suddenly turned to look at Ludwig. “Who are you?”

 

“I’m Ludwig Leopold.”

 

“And what are you to my Epirosa?” Mom suddenly asked, her tone cautious.

 

Ludwig chuckled softly. “Would you feel reassured if I said I’m her friend?”

 

“Hmm, a friend…” Mom tilted her head, as if pondering deeply.

 

“Shall we be friends too?”

 

“No, I don’t want to.” Mom flatly refused.

 

To think the crown prince would be treated so dismissively. Without meaning to, I snorted out a laugh.

 

Ludwig stared at me sharply. When I pretended not to notice, he turned back to Mom and asked softly again. “If you become friends with me, you can play with the egg that has a foal inside more often.”

 

“Really?” Mom’s eyes sparkled. Then she nodded. “Alright! Let’s be friends.”

 

“Mom, how can you give in so easily?” I whispered, feeling like I was watching a child left by the water’s edge. But it seemed like my words no longer reached her.

 

From then on, Ludwig handled Mom well. Even my picky mom burst into laughter several times. He’s really good at entertaining Mom. The crown prince, who could come off as arrogant at times, treated my mom with respect and kindness. I didn’t know he had a side like this. Ludwig seemed different to me.

 

Mom had fallen asleep after playing for a long time. Even though it must have been quite bothersome, Ludwig never lost his kindness until the end. After carefully handling the egg again, Ludwig stood up.

 

“I guess it’s time for me to head back now.”

 

“Thank you for playing with Mom.” I said.

 

He grinned. “Then, you’ll help me hatch the unicorn egg, right?”

 

“Mom already gave her permission for that, didn’t she?”

 

A genuine smile curved on Ludwig’s lips. He opened the window to leave. As I watched his broad back, I suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.

 

“Hey…”

 

Ludwig turned around.

 

“Are we really friends?”

 

“Friends?” Ludwig looked up at the dim sky and let out a small chuckle. “I don’t know. Would you like to be friends with me?”

 

“That’s…”

 

When I hesitated to answer, he spoke again. “I’ll come by from time to time.” He then placed his foot on the windowsill. “Don’t get hurt again.” And with that, he leapt out the window.

 

* * *

Ludwig quickly stepped into the alley. It was a different path than the one he took to visit Epirosa. Soon, I’ll reach a dead end. A cold smirk tugged at his lips.

 

Ludwig was about to meet someone at that dead end. The person who had been tailing him. Whoever it is, they’ll learn they made a mistake. This pursuer had been following Ludwig ever since he went to see Epirosa. He had shaken them off back then, but this time, he intended to uncover their identity. Who sent them? Was it Violet, after all?

 

Ludwig reached a dead end and leapt effortlessly onto the alley wall. Moments later, someone appeared at the entrance of the dead-end alley. The moonlight illuminated the cold figure of the pursuer. Ludwig’s eyes widened. That’s…!

 

The pursuer was clad entirely in silver armor.

 

To be able to hide their presence and move this quickly while wearing such heavy armor. If it weren’t for someone of Ludwig’s caliber, they wouldn’t have even noticed this person’s presence.

 

Ludwig’s curiosity about the identity of this pursuer grew even stronger. At that moment, the silver helmet tilted upward. As soon as Ludwig’s eyes met theirs, he swiftly jumped down. Without hesitation, he kicked the pursuer’s head, more precisely, the silver helmet.

 

Thunk! With a harsh scraping sound, the pursuer’s helmet rolled across the ground. As if waiting for this moment, the moonlight revealed the pursuer’s face.

 

“!” Ludwig, who rarely flinched even at the sight of something grotesque, had his pupils dilate in shock.

 

The man’s face was both horrifying and handsome. His skin, so pale it appeared almost blue from lack of exposure to light, was veined with dark crimson lines that stood out like a spider’s web. What was astonishing, however, was that despite all of this, he was strikingly handsome. Eyes as blue as a moonlit lake, glowing under the moonlight. A prominent nose and red lips. His harmonious features made him an incredibly handsome man. And, more than anything, he felt strangely familiar.

 

“Who are you?” Ludwig asked in a low voice.

 

The man, who had been standing there blankly, belatedly covered his face with his hand and turned his back. He was trying to run away.

 

Ludwig, now desperate, shouted. “I am the crown prince of this empire, Ludwig Leopold!”

 

After shouting, Ludwig hesitated. If this man were a spy sent by Violet, he would already know Ludwig’s identity. And yet, he had introduced himself. It was something he had instinctively realized. This man was not a spy sent by Violet.

 

“Now reveal your identity. Who are you, and why are you following me?”

 

“I… wasn’t following you.” The man muttered softly. His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time. After answering, he grabbed his helmet and quickly fled.

 

Ludwig couldn’t chase after the man. Because, all of a sudden, he realized why the man had seemed so familiar. That man, he looks like Epirosa…