Now This Family Belongs to My Mother

It was in the secret underground of Grand Duchy Blanche. I was trapped within a black magic circle when I asked, “That’s a lie, right? That my mother has passed away!”

“No, it’s true, Epirosa.”

My eldest uncle, Gale Blanche, bared his teeth in a grin.

“We killed your real mother.”

I froze like a stone.

I had to have misheard. Mom was supposed to still be alive, lost in her own world, dreaming in the small house I left behind. She was supposed to be under the protection of the private doctor assigned by the Blanche family.

I had endured living like a dog in this house, all for my mother’s treatment!

“S-Strictly speaking, w-we didn’t kill her. S-she just happened to die while w-we were using her as a test subject for our older brother’s divine beast co-compatibility experiment…” My second uncle, Kobel Blanche, stammered.

I knew it instantly.

These people really did kill my mother.

“How could you?! How?!”

My uncles and cousins had always said they would help my mother and me with all their hearts. So, I had willingly taken on all the exhausting tasks they gave me.

But for my mother’s sake, I did as they asked—never realizing she was dying.

I trembled, staring down at my feet. My legs, forcibly planted on top of black magic circle, came into view. Beside them, a crimson bird lay motionless. It was the Phoenix—the divine beast that symbolized the Blanche family.

To claim the Grand Duchy Blanche, one had to become the Phoenix’s master and wield the power of fire. But the Phoenix had rejected Gale, the eldest son of the family.

Gale had tried everything to claim the Phoenix. But if word got out that the heir of the grand duchy couldn’t control its divine beast, it would be a disgrace. Especially if his father, the grand duke, found out. If the grand duke learned the truth, he would be furious and replace the heir.

So, I was the one forced to do all the dirty and dangerous work in secret. I carved a cursed magic circle into my own body to dig up the tomb of a great mage. I also risked my life to steal treasures from the Magic Tower. But even after the grand duke died recently, the Phoenix still didn’t choose Gale.

Desperate, I even ripped off a divine beast’s horn—one that belonged to the emperor himself. I nearly died in the process. And yet, in return, they trapped me in this black magic circle.

And mom… had been sacrificed before me. I couldn’t understand.

“I did everything you asked for the family. Why would you do something so cruel to me?”

“Family? You think you’re part of the family?

!”

Gale laughed as if he’d just heard the most ridiculous joke.

“How could someone as cursed as you be part of our family? You’re just a daughter of a lunatic woman who got thrown out!”

“W-What did you say?”

Every time they made me do something dangerous, they had reassured me.

And now they were saying I wasn’t family? I felt my blood turn cold.

“You were nothing more than a hunting dog for our family.” Gale sneered at my trembling, betrayed expression.

I bit my lip and glared at him.

“You brought me here with the intention of using me from the very beginning, didn’t you?”

“You’re finally understanding now.”

“But, but my mother was your real sister! Why did you have to use her as a sacrifice?”

“That’s because…” Gale, who had been so arrogant before, suddenly scowled.

At that moment—

“Father, no!”

Someone burst into the underground chamber. It was a woman with beautiful red hair flowing behind her—Stella Blanche. Gale’s beloved daughter. And a man followed close behind her.

“Stella! You mustn’t be here!”

It was my fiancé, Maddux Luigi.

“Maddux!”

Had he come to save me? I desperately called his name. But then—

“

, my precious Stella! You shouldn’t have to see something this ugly.”

Maddux held someone dearly in his arms. Not me— But Stella, who was weeping.

“Let me go! Epirosa is in danger!”

“Maddux! What are you doing? Take Stella out of here, now!” Gale snapped angrily.

Only one phrase echoed in my ears. ‘Precious Stella’?

“Father, please. I already know everything.”

“What?”

“I won’t stop you from doing this. Just let me say my final goodbye to Epirosa one last time. Please.”

Stella begged, tears streaming down her face. Her pitiful sobs seemed to soften Gale’s heart.

“Make it quick. We need to start the ritual soon.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Stella gently pushed Maddux aside and approached the black magic circle. Close enough that only I could hear her voice. And then— She smiled.

“For once, you actually look like you belong.”

She smirked as if she were a completely different person.

“When I suggested to my father that we take you in, do you know how much I hated it? It felt like I was tarnishing my family name.”

“…!”

She had always been the one who treated me kindly in this family. Even when the maids looked down on me, Stella was always on my side.

What here had ever been real?

Stella’s smirk widened. “Want me to tell you? Why did it have to be you and your mother?”

My blue eyes, which people always said were like jewels, widened. And reflected in them was Stella’s cruel smile.

“Your mother was the true heir of the Blanche Duchy. The Phoenix loved her.”

It felt like I had been struck hard on the back of my head.

“That’s why my father cursed her, drove her insane, and cast her out. That woman, the real heir? What a disgrace.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Who the real heir was didn’t matter.

And I had abandoned her without knowing.

I had spoken coldly to my pleading mother.

I remembered the sorrowful gaze my mother had given me as I left.

Tears streamed down my face.

Stella smiled, satisfied. “Even though we used her blood as an offering so that the Phoenix would mistake my father for your mother, it had no effect at all. Maybe because she was cursed?” She tilted her head in fake curiosity, showing no remorse.

“So this time, we’re using you instead. You’re her daughter, and you’re not cursed, right? Hopefully, it’ll work this time.”

Stella suddenly put on a pitiful face. “Goodbye, Epirosa.” She turned away and began sobbing again.

“Oh dear, you’re too softhearted, Stella. You don’t have to worry about that thing anymore.” Maddux led her away from the magic circle.

Overwhelmed by the truth, I felt like I had been struck by a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t hold back my rage.

“I won’t forgive you! I’ll never forgive you!”

Was it because of the overwhelming regret? Tears kept streaming down uncontrollably.

“This girl is crazy. Start the ritual now.” Gale scowled.

Kobel raised his hands and began chanting. The black magic circle ignited into a blinding crimson light. Along with it, a pain as if my entire body was being torn apart surged through me. It hurt so much that I couldn’t even move a single finger.

As I collapsed to the ground, I saw the mocking faces of the Blanche family.

It was all my fault. I had been foolish. If only I could have one chance to apologize to Mom. If only I could fix everything. I would even give up my life for it.

At that moment—Something bit my left wrist. It was the divine beast, Phoenix, who had been lying weakly.

-Are you serious about that?”

“!”

-If you were given one more chance, can you truly fix everything?

The Phoenix spoke to me. It had never spoken to even the late grand duke!

I tried to respond, but the pain was too great. Instead, I screamed in my heart.

-I mean it! If you give me another chance, I’ll set everything right. Please!

-Can you swear it on your heart?

-Yes. I’ll offer my heart! I swear on my life!

-Good. I’ll give you one last chance. If you break your promise, only ruin awaits.

And with that— Everything turned white.