One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 30

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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 30

 

“She couldn’t even ride a horse properly.”

 

However, nothing unnatural was visible in Luna.

 

Her frail body without a single muscle to speak of was like that from the beginning…

 

“Is there no possibility that she noticed the woman was being suspected and acted even that part?”

 

Kairon still seemed suspicious of Luna, but Ludrio firmly shook his head.

 

“That’s not it. It was far too dangerous a situation to be acting.”

 

Yes, it was a dangerous situation.

 

Ludrio had noticed from the start that the woman’s horseback riding was clumsy, but still wanting to be certain, he took her deep into the forest.

 

With the intention of seeing how she would respond to the emergency situation he had prepared.

 

He had chosen a well-trained, docile horse as a precaution, thinking there wouldn’t be any major problems.

 

However, in reality, a situation far more dangerous than what he had prepared unfolded.

 

Ludrio himself hadn’t anticipated that the horse, startled by suddenly charging prey, would lose control and rampage so wildly.

 

It was such a heart-stopping moment that even Ludrio himself was quite startled.

 

However, the woman didn’t instinctively take any action to try to control the horse.

 

Everything was clumsy, and not for a single moment could she take appropriate measures for her own safety.

 

On the horse that had started running at full speed, the woman swayed as if she would fall at any moment. Even in that situation, she didn’t even think to pull her feet out of the stirrups she had pushed deep into.

 

If she fell with her feet caught like that, she might even die, yet she only cowered in fear.

 

“Hark thinks the same as I do.”

 

“If Hark thinks the same as Your Grace…”

 

Only then did Kairon slowly nod his head.

 

Even if it was a split-second reaction, he seemed to think there was no way both Ludrio and Hark would miss it.

 

“So it really is memory loss.”

 

Even Ludrio himself didn’t find all the circumstances easy to believe yet.

 

But there was no longer any reason to suspect Luna.

 

Suddenly, he recalled her body trembling in terror and the nail marks and rein marks left on her palms from gripping so tightly.

 

Traces of instinctive fear.

 

Ludrio quickly dismissed his thoughts and changed the subject.

 

“We need to know her identity, so don’t stop the investigation.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“…Report the new identity immediately as soon as it’s prepared.”

 

“Yes, I’ll proceed with haste.”

 

“Good.”

 

Now that he had confirmed Luna wasn’t someone sent by his uncle, there was no reason anywhere to cast her out.

 

No, rather, if he used her well, she seemed like she would benefit him in many ways.

 

‘The closer I keep her, the closer.’

 

He could deceive the Regent’s eyes again, who had begun to suspect him for having no children despite rumors of debauchery.

 

And with Iban’s existence, he could instantly cut off the interference of those who pressured him to marry and continue the lineage.

 

“What about Iban’s birth mother?”

 

Ludrio nodded lightly and moved on to the next matter.

 

“As for Cheryna, I’ve placed her far from the capital as you ordered. She’s probably searching for Iban at the southern outskirts now.”

 

Cheryna. According to what he had learned, she was a woman addicted to alcohol, men, and money.

 

She would leave home for months at a time chasing after men, neglecting her own child.

 

That’s why Iban was so attached to Luna.

 

Having met the first adult who would care for and protect him by his side, it was natural for the child to struggle not to let that presence slip from his hands.

 

“And I also found out how the brooch came to be in Cheryna’s possession.”

 

Ludrio’s gaze reached Kairon again.

 

He had once thought Iban might be his brother’s child.

 

Those blue eyes resembled too closely those of the dear person he had seen for so long.

 

However, the full account of events he came to confirm through Kairon’s words felt strangely unfamiliar once again.

 

Even though he might have already suspected it.

 

* * *

 

“Mother.”

 

It was before dinner, when I was sitting at the desk with Iban studying writing.

 

Iban, who had been repeatedly writing words on paper, spoke in a quiet voice.

 

The child’s brow was furrowed, as if something wasn’t going well.

 

“Mother, you only have me as family.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Living alone without family is a very dangerous thing.”

 

It was a story that didn’t connect at all with the word “puppy” written crookedly all over the paper.

 

Though I didn’t quite understand the context, I nodded while waiting for what he would say next, and Iban spoke again.

 

“In our village too, a grandfather who lived alone died, and because no one was beside him, bugs were crawling all over that grandfather’s body.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

Was he talking about a lonely death where the corpse was left to decay?

 

How on earth does a child who’s only seven years old know all sorts of stories from murder to lonely deaths?

 

“Bugs. Aren’t you scared?”

 

“…They’re scary.”

 

Iban, who had been looking me over for a moment, narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.

 

“But it’s more dangerous for a woman to live alone. At the inn too, some man tried to enter our room. Even though Mother was with me.”

 

I let out a small sigh and stroked Iban’s head.

 

So Iban knew exactly what kind of situation that was.

 

When we were staying at the inn, even though we had locked the door, someone was turning the doorknob of our room. I didn’t see their face.

 

Iban suddenly screamed loudly, and people gathered due to the commotion. The person who had tried to open the door either ran away or was mixed in among the people who had gathered.

 

“Scary, right?”

 

It was when I was about to tell Iban, who was gripping my hand tightly, that it was a past incident so it was okay now.

 

“So Mother, if you get kicked out of this estate later, go wait at the capital’s coach station.”

 

“What do you mean by that…”

 

“Then I’ll come to you, Mother.”

 

Iban shook my hand that he was gripping tightly up and down slightly.

 

“Then you won’t have to live alone. Mother wants to live with me too, right?”

 

“…Iban.”

 

The child’s face was very serious.

 

As if he could abandon the cozy bed and the warm meals given daily, all for my sake alone.

 

“…If Mother has to leave the Duke’s mansion, Iban wants to follow Mother?”

 

The child nodded. Without a moment’s hesitation.

 

I thought he was adapting well to this place.

 

The child laughed a lot and liked the estate’s wide garden. He liked the delicious meals that came out regularly and the sweet snacks too.

 

‘But he still doesn’t want to be without me?’

 

I raised my other free hand and touched the child’s face several times.

 

‘Could his own mother really be this precious to him?’

 

When I first met him, Iban was truly skin and bones. His home was a mess too.

 

Yet how could his forgiveness be so quick? So foolishly.

 

Now Iban didn’t need me.

 

A better protector than his own mother had appeared, so he no longer needed to struggle for my sake.

 

He could just not care about a mother who had only caused him pain and make choices that would benefit him.

 

“If you follow Mother, there won’t be meat like what you eat here. There won’t be the wide garden Iban likes either. You won’t be able to learn to read and write.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

In contrast, the Duke’s mansion could give Iban everything he wanted.

 

The Count would take good care of Iban even without me.

 

Just like how he sometimes shared breakfast and asked about the child’s life, he would do the same even if I left.

 

Then the family’s employees will also tactfully treat Iban well.

 

“You can’t wear nice clothes or sleep in a nice place. Iban is also scared of bugs.”

 

“I’m not scared. I caught the bug for you last time, didn’t I?”

 

“…Count Roderich really likes Iban a lot.”

 

“That’s fine.”

 

The child patted my hand as if it wouldn’t be a problem.

 

“We can secretly sneak out of the estate.”

 

And then he said something very strange. It was a very odd conclusion.

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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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