One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 10

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 10

* * *

About a month later.

After much trouble, we found ourselves at the manor.

“…Mother.”

The child’s body was stiff with tension in the large and splendid drawing room.

In fact, I felt the same way.

The mere fact that I would soon meet the child’s father made me nervous, and the magnificent drawing room filled with expensive things naturally made me feel intimidated.

A large carpet with intricate patterns carved into it covering the black marble floor.

The chandelier on the ceiling sparkling with golden candlesticks, the antique sculptures positioned along the walls, and the pillars adorned with gold decorations.

Even the subtle scent of incense that filled this space made us realize exactly where we were sitting.

“Iban, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Though I was just as afraid as Iban, I deliberately comforted the child with apparent ease, as if it were nothing.

Then I picked up the teacup placed in front of me and took a sip.

It was to show off my composure to the servant who was quietly observing us.

It seemed like the servant had guided us to the finest drawing room in the estate to dampen our spirits.

To make us realize how ill-suited we were for Count Roderich and leave on our own.

This might be my own inferiority complex, but the fact that we’d been waiting three hours for a master who wouldn’t come made me think various thoughts.

“…”

Iban had told me his father was a nobleman, but who would have thought he’d be a duke.

Iban, who was excited about meeting his father, had dropped his brooch in the river on the way.

It took a whole month to find it again, but in the end we were in the drawing room of Duke Roderich’s mansion.

House of Roderich.

From what I learned by asking around, people called this family another dynasty comparable to the imperial family.

A family that ruled the vast territory of the western empire and commanded the strongest knight order responsible for the border regions.

The military force they possessed was stronger than even the imperial guard, and it was said that without their loyalty, neither the borders nor the empire could be maintained.

That wasn’t all. Roderich’s mines and trade routes were the massive source of money that supported the empire’s weapons and finances.

There were various other stories, but the conclusion was one.

‘House of Roderich is a very remarkable family.’

And the head of that family, Count Roderich, was Iban’s father.

Iban and Duke Ludrio Rhart.

They were surely major characters in this world, yet unfortunately no novel came to mind even with those names.

However, the situation itself was very familiar.

The story of a child neglected by their mother discovering the secret of their birth and returning to their noble father was common.

Usually happiness followed after hardship.

So even though I tried to think that only happy days would unfold for Iban from now on, my heart couldn’t easily be at ease.

It wasn’t because I would be parting with Iban today.

If the child wanted it, if Iban desired life in a noble family, I had no intention of being greedy just because I felt regretful.

Even if I were to part with Iban forever like this, I had resolved many times that I should send the child away without crying.

However, what worried me was that I had heard rumors of the duke being a lecher along with House of Roderich’s status until I was sick of it.

He was not a person with a good reputation.

The scoundrel of the ducal family who couldn’t get enough of alcohol, hunting, and women.

Nevertheless, people said he was lucky because thanks to having a capable aide, the family prospered even though he lived carelessly.

‘Though he has a body that cannot continue his lineage. Haha, then isn’t that not being lucky?’

The voice of someone giggling in a tavern came to mind.

It was said that Ludrio Rhart, despite living with women by his side like that, had not yet had any descendants. So the family’s worry was great.

Then Iban would be the only bloodline of the duke’s mansion, so he would be able to live here as he desired.

Since both Ludrio Rhart and House of Roderich wanted a child who inherited the head’s blood.

Since it was a wealthy family with precious children, even if he couldn’t become the heir, he could grow up eating good food, wearing pretty clothes, and learning things others couldn’t easily know.

He wouldn’t have to tear apart old bread in a cold, smelly house, and wouldn’t be unfairly scolded by passing adults.

The life of being hated like in the slums was over.

However…

I worried about how much they would acknowledge a prostitute’s child.

Whether he might be hated while eating good food and wearing pretty clothes.

Whether the targets hurting the child would just change from slum residents to people of House of Roderich.

If I had only recalled the original work, I would have acted decisively, either entrusting the child without worry or not even setting foot in this place.

No matter how much I thought about it, the original work still didn’t come to mind, and this was the result.

I had come to meet his father as the child wanted, but I still couldn’t be certain whether Iban would be happy.

‘Iban, even if Iban goes to see him, the duke might not like it. Then you’ll live with Mother like you have until now. Do you understand?’

Before coming here, I had once brought up the topic, worried that something might happen to hurt the child.

However, Iban nodded without any hesitation.

Whether he was confident his father would welcome him, or whether it didn’t matter as long as he could leave that house that seemed ready to collapse even if he wasn’t welcomed.

In any case, there seemed to be no change in his desire to meet his father.

My neck and shoulders stiffened from continued worries and tension. As I moved my neck little by little to relax my muscles, the child grabbed my hand.

“…Mother, let’s just leave. Okay?”

“Iban, what’s wrong.”

The child’s face was pale white and his body was trembling.

“You wanted to come.”

“No, no. I just want to leave. Let’s go, okay?”

At Iban’s face that looked ready to cry, I reluctantly nodded.

If only Iban said it was okay, I could stay by his side until the child grew up. Of course, full support like from the ducal family would be impossible.

But at least I felt I could raise him without hatred and unfairness.

“Excuse me, but…”

“The master is coming, so please wait.”

When I spoke to the servant while gripping our joined hands tightly, he lightly placed his hand on Iban’s shoulder and cut off my words.

It was a quiet but forceful tone, and Iban squeezed his eyes shut but no longer opened his mouth to say he wanted to leave.

I looked up at the servant again, but he had already turned his head away from us.

As if nothing would change.

At the servant’s firm attitude, I looked at Iban again.

…Having come this far, we couldn’t just leave again as we pleased.

“Don’t worry, Iban. Mother is here with you.”

“…”

“If the duke is a scary person different from what Iban thought, let’s go back and live with Mother again. That’ll work.”

Still, feeling sorry for the child who was so frightened.

As I held his hand saying there was nothing to shrink from and whispered various words, someone knocked on the drawing room door, entered, and quietly whispered to the servant.

They glanced at us.

They seemed to be talking about us, but apparently had no intention of explaining as they quickly looked away.

It was when Iban, perhaps anxious, gripped our joined hands even tighter. Suddenly the drawing room door burst open.

The master of the estate entered the drawing room without the slightest hesitation.

It was Duke Ludrio Rhart.

“I hear there’s a woman who brought my child.”

A large man who appeared to be about 190cm looked at me and stretched his lips as if amused.

Eyes that sparkled like embedded jewels and densely embroidered long eyelashes, a prominent nose bridge and clear jawline. Red lips.

Was it because of his perfect face as if carved by a god?

I seemed to have been staring blankly at him approaching.

“Ahem, please stand up.”

The servant standing beside gave a small warning while clearing his throat. I hurriedly got up from my seat and bowed my head to that man who looked exactly like Iban.

From the man who had come close, there was a faint smell of charcoal.

No, the smell of gunpowder.

As soon as I smelled that scent, the vicious rumors about him liking women, alcohol, and hunting came to mind again.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————