One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 19

This time I got up from my seat on time without spacing out, but when Iban saw me and came running to hug me, I ended up falling back onto the couch again.

“…Mother.”

The child whispered in a crawling voice, so quietly that only I could hear.

The child’s face was all swollen, as if the day spent in this place hadn’t been happy at all.

His voice was completely hoarse too.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, right? Hm?”

The child asked with his face buried in my arms.

I glanced up at Ludrio, who had somehow approached the couch.

I naturally expected him to be angry or show displeasure, but even seeing me not greet him at all, he sat down as if it didn’t matter.

“Yes, of course. I’m not hurt anywhere. Mother is fine.”

Reading Count’s mood, I whispered very quietly to the child.

“What about Iban? Were you okay?”

The child, whose eyes were swollen and voice completely hoarse – clearly not having been okay – nodded his head in my arms.

Right at that moment.

“Iban. Sit down.”

Iban’s body stiffened at the man’s voice, and after looking up at me briefly, he slowly got up.

However, he still didn’t let go of my hand that he was holding tightly.

Iban’s body, sitting next to me, became rigid with tension.

I carefully wrapped the child’s hand and gently patted it to reassure him.

Emotions welled up as the child’s small hand came back into mine.

I really hadn’t thought that Iban wanted to be with me.

So I thought he would definitely want to leave his mother.

‘I want to go, Mother. I want to live with Dad.’

What Iban had said back then too…

‘I won’t sleep in the bed.’

And how he absolutely refused to lie down in bed.

At first, I just thought Iban disliked beds.

I thought he slept on the floor with blankets because the bed was uncomfortable.

But Iban slept without a single complaint in the inn’s bed. The first few times, he seemed to like the soft texture and even jumped on it.

In the end, what Iban disliked wasn’t beds, but that bed in our house.

I couldn’t know the exact reason why Iban disliked that house’s bed.

He didn’t have memories from before the possession, and I couldn’t ask the child about it either.

I could only guess that the reason was because of me.

The child’s small hand was very soft.

Even though he had clearly suffered neglect close to abuse, it hurt my heart that he forgave so easily, unable to be harsh like my own hands.

‘If I asked to let me see Iban even just occasionally…’

So even knowing that touching Count’s nerves wouldn’t be good, reckless courage kept rising up, urging me to speak quickly.

Right. No matter how much Ludrio disliked me and the child being connected, he might grant that much of a request.

Besides, he seemed to be in a somewhat better mood than yesterday.

If I could just finish the words I’d prepared, promising never to harm the family or child…

“Your eyes are quite swollen.”

Unexpected words flowed calmly from Ludrio’s mouth as he stared at me intently.

“Ah…”

Not knowing what he meant by those words, I unconsciously rubbed around my eyes when he mentioned them.

“Because I took the child from you?”

At his direct question, I hurriedly shook my head.

“No. It’s not that, it’s because I think I moved too hastily without properly checking what the child wanted.”

And I quickly changed my words to avoid being criticized.

“I was sorry about that…”

But the moment I met Ludrio’s sharp blue eyes, my mind went blank again and I couldn’t finish my sentence.

“I’m really sorry for changing my words and troubling you, Count…”

“Iban had a very hard time being left alone at the estate.”

Cutting off my words, he said with a light sigh.

“He’s still at an age where he needs his mother.”

At Ludrio’s reaction, which seemed like he would readily accept my proposal, I raised my head and looked at him.

“…So if you want, you may stay here for the time being.”

“What?”

“…What?”

I wasn’t the only one who questioned Ludrio’s proposal. Iban, sitting beside me, also asked back in surprise.

Ludrio glanced at Iban and continued speaking slowly again.

“I’ll make sure you’re comfortable during your stay.”

He was offering what I wanted before I had even made my request.

‘Does he usually act this whimsically?’

I didn’t know what had happened overnight, but now that I looked, his attitude toward me seemed to have softened a bit.

“…Mother.”

Iban called me while gently shaking my hand.

The child was looking up at me, nodding his head as if saying we should do that.

“Yes. I’d like to do that.”

Seeing the child like that, my worries about why Ludrio was suddenly acting this way didn’t last long.

I didn’t know if this was simple whim or if he had some ulterior motive I didn’t know about.

But whatever the reason, wouldn’t it be better than leaving Iban alone at this estate?

If I was by his side, I could take care of him.

Although due to our difference in status, there wasn’t much I could do against Count, still.

“We’ll keep it secret that you and the child are staying here for now.”

Count nodded lightly as if he knew I would accept the proposal, then continued.

“It would only become troublesome if it got out.”

At his warning not to spread rumors and cause trouble, I hurriedly nodded.

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“Do you have anything to bring from the inn?”

“I have a little luggage.”

“I’ll tell an employee, so tell them what you need brought.”

As if he had finished what he needed to say, he got up from his seat.

Not long after he left the drawing room, a servant came in.

“If you tell me what luggage you need, I’ll bring it for you.”

“Ah, I…”

Just as I was about to say that all I had was a small bag on the desk and a money pouch under the bed.

“Mother, I’ll be right back.”

“Iban?”

Iban, who had been holding my hand tightly until then, suddenly got up and ran out of the drawing room.

* * *

Thud thud thud.

Iban’s short legs moved quickly, creating loud footsteps.

So Ludrio must have heard that sound too, but he didn’t stop for even a moment until the child blocked his path.

“What is it?”

Having his words stolen, Iban momentarily forgot his question due to that shamelessness and stared blankly up at Count.

Iban, who came to his senses belatedly, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“…Why did you let Luna stay here?”

Even knowing that she wasn’t his real mother, Count hadn’t told Luna the truth.

Things like this child isn’t your child, or what your real name is.

Instead, he simply suggested that the child still needed a mother, so wouldn’t they stay here for a while.

‘Could it be he’s keeping us here to capture and hand over Luna?’

He clearly said yesterday evening that he wouldn’t hand over Luna, but was that another lie?

“Your eyes are sharp.”

Ludrio raised his hand and lightly ran it through Iban’s hair.

When Iban shook his head to brush away that hand, he continued speaking.

“Still, there’s no need to be so wary. I haven’t forgotten yesterday’s promise. I promised not to hand over that woman.”

Then why on earth…

The Count couldn’t have made this decision for his or Luna’s sake.

From the very moment they first came to this place until now, the Count hadn’t shown them the slightest consideration.

Whether it was speaking formally to Luna at first, patting his head or smiling at him, and even today’s suggestion for Luna to stay here.

None of it was because it was for their sake.

At least that’s how it felt to Iban.

“Then what’s the reason for asking us to stay?”

“…Let’s just say I need a family too.”

The Count tilted his head sideways as if the persistent questioning was bothersome, but soon gave his answer.

“Because living alone is quite painful.”

Shoulders shrugging lightly and a powerless voice.

Iban was certain the Count was lying.

That he was hiding his intentions and giving a half-hearted answer with foolish talk.

“I want the same thing as you.”

So he never once thought that the Count’s sincerity might be buried in that foolish answer.

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