One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 23

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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 23

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From the morning, having breakfast with Ludrio somehow made my stomach feel heavy.

What happened with Ludrio yesterday was also bothering me, but more than that, the thought that Iban might have overheard our conversation kept nagging at me.

I was just swallowing the grass I had been chewing for a long time.

“Iban. Starting today, your teacher will come.”

Ludrio, who was sitting diagonally across from me having his meal, suddenly spoke up.

“…A teacher?”

When I looked up, I saw Iban tilting his head with his fork stopped midway to his mouth.

“You’ll start by learning to read and write.”

At those words, Iban looked at me.

His furrowed eyebrows showed he didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic, but Ludrio’s words made me quite happy.

“…Reading and writing?”

“Our Iban, then you’ll soon be able to read signs and books too. How wonderful.”

Learning to read and write would give him many more opportunities when he grows up.

“Huh? You’re happy that I’m learning to read and write?”

“Of course, just thinking about Iban being able to read is so cool.”

Even if Ludrio later has another child and Iban doesn’t become the heir, just learning to read and write would give him much more diverse options.

He could continue his studies further, and even if not, he would have at least some freedom of choice.

“Then Mother…”

“Don’t you know how to read?”

Just as Iban seemed interested and was about to speak while leaning forward.

When I was nodding and waiting for the child’s next words, Ludrio interrupted the child and asked.

His indifferent eyes seemed to urge my answer.

“…”

In Marhana Brunheim, even in the capital, although letters were written on every sign, people usually remembered stores by their pictures.

Looking at that, it seemed there weren’t many people in this world who could read and write.

So Luna probably couldn’t read either.

Even though I have no memories from before the possession, it must have been that way.

“Yes.”

I answered briefly and lowered my gaze.

The house I lived in that looked like it would collapse at any moment. The job I had.

It wasn’t an environment where I could learn to read and write in the first place.

But after answering that I didn’t know how to read, I somehow felt embarrassed.

‘Is he really asking because he doesn’t know?’

Ludrio had lived his entire life in the Empire.

Even though he’s a noble, he should know that there aren’t many commoners who can read and write.

‘He said I was a prostitute, isn’t he acting too surprised every time he touches on it.’

The intention behind asking if I could read somehow seemed like he was pointing out once again that I was someone who worked in prostitution.

And Iban was listening right there too.

When my thoughts reached that point, my face instantly became hot and my heart started beating rapidly.

This is really too much.

Just as shame and anger were building up and I was gripping my fork tightly.

“…Then I’ll arrange a teacher for you as well.”

At Ludrio’s unexpected words, I looked up blankly.

“For Mother too?”

My eyes met directly with Ludrio’s.

“…You’re saying you’ll arrange a teacher for me too?”

“Learn while you have the opportunity.”

When I asked back in surprise at the proposal I hadn’t expected at all, he answered briefly and slowly turned his head.

“Ah…”

While you have the opportunity…

I knew how important it was to be able to read and write. That this was a rare opportunity too.

However, I couldn’t figure out why Ludrio was showing me such kindness.

“…Thank you.”

I had been quietly sighing while pondering what the man’s intentions might be, but then hurriedly expressed my gratitude belatedly.

He didn’t react at all to my thanks.

“I’ll get up first.”

Instead, he lightly wiped his mouth and got up from his seat.

Not long after Ludrio left the dining room, Iban put down his utensils.

“…Mother, I’m done eating too. I’ll go first.”

And Iban also hurriedly left the dining room following after Ludrio.

Left alone like that, I looked at the two people’s dishes.

Both Ludrio and Iban had left most of their food.

Iban aside, was it okay for Ludrio to eat only that much?

Half a piece of meat was left just like that.

Considering his build, it seemed like it would definitely be insufficient…

I turned my gaze away from their dishes.

Then I cut my portion of meat and put it in my mouth.

Now that Ludrio was gone, the food finally started going down little by little.

The meat had gotten cold, but it was still delicious.

‘It doesn’t seem like he asked if I could read to humiliate me.’

I suddenly had that thought.

If he wanted to humiliate me, he would have spoken more blatantly.

He wouldn’t have said he’d arrange a teacher for me either.

So just now, I must have become sensitive due to my inferiority complex.

‘But why would he do this for someone who’s leaving soon anyway…’

For someone as wealthy as Ludrio, arranging one teacher for me probably isn’t that big a deal.

I couldn’t even guess what he was thinking, what intention he had in showing me such kindness.

…Ludrio was still difficult to understand.

Sometimes he seemed exactly like the rumors, and sometimes the rumors seemed a bit exaggerated.

Tap tap tap.

Then the dining room door opened again and Iban came running in.

“Iban?”

“Mother, if reading and writing is too difficult, you don’t have to learn it.”

The child who ran right up to me whispered worriedly.

“Huh?”

“I can study hard and read everything Mother can’t read for you.”

The child said while holding my hand as if telling me not to worry about anything.

“So if you don’t want to do it, tell me anytime. Okay?”

Before I could even understand what those words meant, Iban urged me to answer once more.

“If you say it’s hard, I’ll tell Count Roderich for you. Then you won’t have to do things like studying reading and writing. Got it?”

“…Yes, okay. …I will.”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

When I nodded toward Iban who looked extremely anxious, the child gently patted my hand.

“…Iban? But why all of a sudden.”

“No. There’s nothing to worry about, Mother.”

Instead of answering, Iban hugged me tightly, so the conversation ended like that without me understanding what was going on.

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“Bring Hark.”

Before closing the bedroom door, Ludrio spoke to the employee.

‘Don’t torment Luna.’

As Ludrio changed into his outdoor clothes, he recalled Iban who had boldly chased after him and confronted him just moments ago.

‘I told you, she’s stupid.’

‘What?’

‘How could someone like Luna learn to read and write? It would just be torture for her.’

Was it from that dawn when the woman suddenly collapsed after eating seafood?

The child’s way of speaking and behavior had become noticeably bolder.

At first, he couldn’t even make proper eye contact.

It seemed he had realized that even while crying frantically when the woman collapsed, his actions weren’t being questioned.

After reflecting on Iban’s rude behavior and manner of speaking, Ludrio ultimately decided to just leave the child be.

It was better for him to be defiant and accidentally spill secrets he was hiding than to be terrified and keep his mouth shut.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

With Ludrio’s permission as he buttoned his shirt, the door opened and his aide, Hark, entered.

“You called for me.”

“Teach the woman how to read and write.”

“…Pardon?”

Ludrio glanced at his aide as he put on his vest.

“She says she’s never learned to read.”

Iban had called that woman stupid, but Ludrio didn’t think so.

He might have been jumping to conclusions, but that woman seemed to not even know that he couldn’t eat seafood.

Her wavering eyes, her mumbling mouth, and even her flustered attitude of hiding her face.

But then she quickly came up with a plausible excuse.

What could it be?

“Observe whether she’s really never learned to read and write, and how well she follows along with learning.”

“Yes, understood.”

With Hark’s response behind him, Ludrio picked up his coat.

“I’ll receive your report in a week.”

Would that woman’s true intentions become clearer after a week passed?

This time he wasn’t certain, but ultimately he had no choice but to wait and see.

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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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