One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 29

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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 29

 

Ludrio, who had been silently patting Iban’s back, suddenly looked down at me while climbing the stairs leading to the bedroom.

 

He lightly tapped the railing as if telling me to grab it and asked.

 

“Should I put the child down in the room too?”

 

When I placed my hand on the railing, he asked as if wondering what I wanted to do.

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

I hurriedly nodded at Iban who was staring intently at me.

 

When I opened the door for Ludrio who had stopped in front of my room, he strode inside and set the child down on the couch.

 

However, seeing Iban immediately get up and run to me, he let out a faint smile.

 

“Well then.”

 

“Thank you, Count.”

 

I bowed my head toward Ludrio as he left the room, and soon the door closed softly.

 

And immediately Iban pulled my hand.

 

“Did you ride the horse?”

 

“Ah, yes. I didn’t know Iban had requested it, but thanks to that I had a good ride.”

 

“…Was it fun?”

 

Somehow Iban’s face was filled with worry.

 

“Hmm…”

 

To tell the truth, it wasn’t fun at all. Still, I was planning to gladly tell him it was enjoyable for Iban’s sake, but why was he making such a face?

 

“Iban cried.”

 

I brushed past the answer with an awkward smile and wiped around Iban’s eyes.

 

“No.”

 

“Did Iban think Mother got kicked out? That’s what you were trying to say earlier, right?”

 

Iban silently hugged my neck tightly.

 

“Next time I’ll definitely tell you before I go. Mother naturally thought Iban would come along too and was waiting, but suddenly the carriage departed. Mother was surprised too.”

 

The back of the child coming into my arms was so small that my heart ached for a moment.

 

Anyway, we’ll have to part soon, but Iban is still so small.

 

“Were you okay alone at the estate?”

 

I asked while leaning my face against the small, warm body temperature.

 

“Everyone was good to Iban, right?”

 

Iban nodded.

 

Yes, everyone in this place was kind to Iban.

 

So now it seems like he doesn’t need something like his own mother anymore.

 

‘What is a mother anyway.’

 

Iban couldn’t break away from his mother.

 

I stroked the child’s small back and thought I should ask Ludrio how long we could stay in this place.

 

Otherwise, Iban might continue to be anxious until the day I leave.

 

“What did Mother do with the Count?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“He didn’t scare you or say strange things, did he?”

 

Iban asked while gently cupping my cheek. The child’s blue eyes were full of worry.

 

“If something happened, tell me. You have to. Okay?”

 

“Nothing happened though…”

 

Is Iban’s behavior like this also because he’s afraid of the separation that might come someday?

 

“Then what did you do there?”

 

“Hm?”

 

The child’s voice became light again. There were no longer emotions like worry or anxiety in Iban’s eyes.

 

“Tell me in detail too.”

 

The child’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

 

“Hmm, the Count showed me horses too.”

 

I was confused by Iban’s emotions jumping around, but I tried to put aside my doubts and opened my mouth for the child who was waiting for an answer.

 

“He served tea too. And showed me a pretty forest.”

 

I decided not to mention things like the red fox or the horse that suddenly went wild. I didn’t want to make Iban anxious again for no reason.

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course. It was incredibly… fun.”

 

I carefully stroked the child’s swollen eyes and smiled as if it were sincere.

 

“Even though you were alone with the Count?”

 

“That’s right. It would have been perfect if only Iban had been there.”

 

Iban shook his head as if that wasn’t it and opened his mouth again.

 

“But Mother is uncomfortable with the Count.”

 

I was momentarily startled by those words.

 

He’s only seven years old, so how did he notice my feelings that I’ve never spoken aloud?

 

“How did you know, Iban?”

 

“…I can see everything. Especially Mother.”

 

“Is that really so?”

 

I lightly ruffled the hair of Iban who was pouting and continued speaking.

 

“As Iban said, it was a bit awkward until now, but seeing him today, he seemed like a good person.”

 

I sincerely thought so.

 

“Huh?”

 

Even though people usually become stingy with apologies the more they have, Ludrio wasn’t like that.

 

Even for what was just a simple accident, he said it was his responsibility and apologized.

 

“He took very good care of Mother.”

 

Most of all, I hoped Iban wouldn’t develop prejudices about his future parents because of me.

 

Knock knock.

 

“Luna, Dr. Kraban has arrived.”

 

At the employee’s voice that came with the knocking sound, I got up from my seat.

 

“Yes, please come… in.”

 

For a moment Iban’s expression that caught my eye didn’t look good, so I looked down at the child again, but because I had stood up, I could only see the top of his head.

 

When I carefully touched his shoulder, Iban raised his head.

 

His large eyes blinked several times, reflecting my face.

 

Iban looked up at me with a calm face, as if asking what was wrong.

 

‘Did I see wrong?’

 

However, before I could say anything, the door soon opened and Dr. Kraban entered.

 

* * *

 

“It seems word has reached the Previous Duke.”

 

“Haah…”

 

As if he had been waiting for his return from the hunting grounds, aide Hark rushed into the office urgently.

 

Ludrio let out a deep sigh.

 

Yes, he had expected the news to leak out someday, but the faster progress than expected made him feel unpleasant.

 

“Was there still someone loyal to His Excellency remaining in this estate?”

 

“I’ll look into where the news leaked from once more.”

 

Ludrio closed his documents and leaned back deeply into the sofa.

 

“Have they already departed?”

 

“I received a report that they’re preparing to depart around noon tomorrow.”

 

Since they would be coming by carriage, they would need at least seven days to reach the capital.

 

One week.

 

“…I understand.”

 

“Then. I’ll take my leave now.”

 

Fortunately, that seemed to be the end of the news to report, as Hark bowed his head.

 

“Call Kairon.”

 

Ludrio gave his instructions and rose from his seat before Hark could turn away.

 

Iban and Luna.

 

If he were to let them meet the Previous Duke and Duchess who would soon come barging in…

 

Ludrio loosened the necktie around his neck and let out a sigh.

 

Still, they’re quite clever, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Though there’s nothing I can do about the wounds their sharp words will leave.

 

Knock knock.

 

With a light knock, the door opened and Kairon entered.

 

“You called for me?”

 

“The Previous Duke and Duchess will be visiting this place soon.”

 

Ludrio said, slowly tapping his desk.

 

“It will take roughly a week for them to arrive.”

 

Kairon, who had approached near the desk, quietly nodded his head.

 

“How is the new identity for the woman we discussed before coming along?”

 

“It’s being prepared without any issues. The paperwork will be finished by tomorrow, and you just need to make the final decision. Shall we proceed as planned?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Ludrio nodded his head.

 

Then, noticing Kairon’s subtly stiff expression, he stopped what he was about to say and asked.

 

“What is it?”

 

“So… you’ve determined that she’s not someone sent by the Regent?”

 

At Kairon’s question, Ludrio’s head tilted slightly.

 

“Why, did she seem like someone sent by the Regent to you?”

 

However, he too seemed uncertain, only blinking slowly.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Luna’s behavior resembled the cases recorded in the medical journals in many ways.

 

Just like the description of reconstructing one’s identity according to others’ words, Luna was already showing such signs.

 

From believing Iban’s words calling her Mother and acting as the child’s guardian, to eating all the seafood and making excuses afterward.

 

However, he still wanted to be certain.

 

Whether she was truly a memory loss patient, or a spy sent by Uncle.

 

So he decided to test her with horseback riding.

 

If it was really amnesia, she would mount the horse believing only her own words that she could ride. Whether she could actually ride or not.

 

On the other hand, if she was someone sent by the Regent, if she was indeed a spy, she would surely possess skilled horsemanship.

 

But since her cover couldn’t be blown, she would try to hide her abilities somehow.

 

There would be gaps visible in that act.

 

The moment when a long-trained body reacts faster than thought.

 

That single instant of movement would be enough.

 

To catch the subtle traces where ingrained habits clash with a spy’s sense of duty, he even brought along a Servant.

 

Ludrio was confident.

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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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