Now This Family Belongs to My Mother

* * *

“It’s open!

!”

A familiar voice seeped into my ears.

I sprang up from my seat. A familiar house came into view.

Even the wardrobe that Mom had smashed before we entered the Blanche Grand Duchy was there.

I had returned to the past. The divine beast had granted my wish!

I turned to look at the bed next to mine. It was empty.

“Mom!”

I ran out of the room. The front door, which had been locked with a padlock, was now broken. This situation was all too familiar.

Mom, who was mentally unstable—or rather, cursed—had run away from home again. Back then, I had been exhausted and frustrated by this. But now, I felt nothing but joy.

Mother was here. Mother was alive!

I sprinted out to find her. “Mom! Mom! Where are you? Mom!”

The villagers clicked their tongues as they watched me run around like a madwoman.

“Looks like that house’s mom ran off again.”

“Poor kid. How long will she have to keep doing this?”

I paid no attention to their words.

I ran with all my might. Under the large tree, with disheveled red hair and eyes filled with madness, a woman who had lost her senses was staring intently at a red bird perched on the tree.

“Mom!”

She was Leonoe Blanche. My mother.

I rushed forward and threw my arms around her. “Mom…!”

The warmth of her scent overwhelmed me, and tears welled up in my eyes. Only then did she slowly turn her head to look at me.

“Mom, Mom! I missed you. I missed you so much!”

Mom pushed me away. “Go away.”

But I refused to let go. She twisted her entire body, trying to escape from my arms. It made my body swayed unsteadily.

Before, I would have been able to withstand this easily—but my body had gotten smaller.

In the end, I lost my grip and fell backward.

Mom crouched down on the ground. “What is this?” She was staring at my feet.

My bare feet were covered in blood. I had been running so frantically that I hadn’t even noticed my shoes had fallen off.

“Fool.” Mom frowned, then brought my foot close and blew on it. “

— it doesn’t hurt. I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt…” She kept muttering to herself as if she couldn’t even hear my voice. Even in her broken state, her daughter’s pain was the first thing she noticed.

Mom had always been like that.

When I was little and almost got run over by a carriage, she had done the same. The scar from that day was still clearly visible on her back. And it wasn’t just that. Whenever I was sad, she would cry like a baby too.

I sobbed and shouted, “Mom, this time, I’ll protect you!” Then I hugged her tightly.

I’ll restore her rightful place, and I’ll get revenge on the Blanche family.

* * *

I looked down at my mom, who was sound asleep, as I gently patted her. Her once vibrant cheeks had lost all color. Her lips were dry and cracked. She looked frail and pitiful. And yet, I had never loved her more.

“

, have you finally put her to sleep?’

I looked up. It was Marianne, our next-door neighbor. She had heard that Mom had wandered off again and decided to come over, worrying as if it were her own problem.

“Yes. She’s fine now.”

“You poor thing. You’re only fifteen years old.”

“It’s okay. I’m happy to go through this for her.”

Marianne’s eyes widened at my words.

In the past, I had often lamented how difficult taking care of mom was. But now, I said I was happy?

“Did something happen to you?” Marianne asked.

I simply smiled. “No, I just realized how precious this moment is.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, but… are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

“

, there is something wrong.”

“Oh gosh! What is it! Tell me. I’ll help with anything!” Marianne jumped in alarm.

I waved my hands dismissively. “I need to go find a job. Could you take care of Mom while I’m away?”

“

? You’re looking for a job again?”

“Yes, I have to. I need to cure Mom.”

She clicked her tongue. “A child shouldn’t have to go through this.”

I have done every kind of work since I was young. Mom had started losing her mind before I was born, and my dad, who had raised me alone, left home one day when I was seven. But I had nimble hands and years of experience. I was a highly sought-after worker in the village. That’s why no one ever imagined that mom and I were from the Grand Duke Blanche family.

“I’ll be sure to repay you when I get back.”

“Repay me? Nonsense! Neighbors should help each other!” said Marianne.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Even without sharing a drop of blood, this woman treated me like family. And yet, I had stupidly allowed the Blanche family to exploit me.

I had failed to protect my mother. But that would never happen again. I swore to myself.

“Auntie Marianne, I promise to repay you one day.”

Marianne smiled, unaware of my true intentions. “Sure, make sure you succeed. I’ll be waiting, okay?”

I went to Mister Dublin, the village’s job broker. But even someone like him, who had arranged all sorts of work, couldn’t hide his surprise at what I said today.

“Are you really going to do that job?” Mister Dublin scratched his head awkwardly, looking troubled. “

. Working at Gale Blanche’s salon is exhausting, and he barely pays anything. Someone with your skills doesn’t need to do this.”

Gale Blanche. Just hearing his name made my blood boil.

In just a few days, Gale would open a grand salon in the heart of the capital.

It had been a huge event—one that I still remember clearly.

The newspapers had boasted about it endlessly.

<The Prophet Recognizes Gale Blanche as the True Heir of the Blanche Family!>

<Now, Only the Official Succession Remains!>

A smirk spread across my lips.

I would expose his lies. But there was another reason I needed to infiltrate his scheme.

Grand Duke Hubert Blanche. My biological grandfather. I needed to catch his eye and enter the grand duchy.

If I wanted to cure Mom’s curse and reclaim her rightful place, I had to enter Grand Duchy Blanche.

That’s why I had to enter on my own terms—on my own merit.

I turned to Mister Dublin. “I want to gain experience. Besides, a lot of important people will be there, right?”

“That’s exactly the problem. If you mess up, it could be the end of you.”

“But if I do well, it could be a huge stepping stone for me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even get hired by Grand Duke Blanche.” I didn’t back down.

In the end, Mister Dublin sighed in defeat. “Alright, I’ll write you a recommendation. Take this to Saint Young Hall in the City of Rodon.”

* * *

There are two pillars of the Octavia Empire: the Leopold Imperial Family and the Grand Duke Blanche family.

Today, at Saint Young Hall, the eldest son of the Grand Duke Blanche hosted a salon. However, it was far too grand to be considered an ordinary salon. It was meant to assert Gale’s presence.

Gale’s eyes gleamed maliciously. Despite reaching the age of forty, he had not yet been designated as the heir.

The Leopold Imperial Family and the Grand Duke Blanche family had a unique method of succession. The successor had to be chosen by the divine beast of their respective house. However, Gale had not been chosen by the divine beast of Blanche, the Phoenix.

Gale gritted his teeth.

But the Grand Duke of Blanche, Hubert, was as cold as ever. Thus, Gale had no choice but to orchestrate such an event.

“Father, please come out. Grandfather has arrived.”

A sweet voice called him out. It was coming from Stella, Gale’s beloved daughter.

A flush of delight spread across Gale’s previously crumpled face. After all, it was Stella who had devised this ‘brilliant plan’ for today.