One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

As if even Ludrio’s affection and attention couldn’t be a reason to stay at this estate.

 

It seemed like he regarded even the father he had so desperately longed for as an obstacle.

 

“I’m small, so if I sneak out, no one will notice. Then we can take a carriage and run far away again.”

 

Iban seemed so unwilling to part with me that he felt Ludrio was a hindrance.

 

He had even made plans to secretly follow me if I were driven out.

 

I thought he knew nothing…

 

How anxious must Iban have been alone before saying such things.

 

Only now did I seem to understand how much he had worried alone during the time I hadn’t noticed.

 

This small child knew everything after all. Yet he had been hiding his anxiety.

 

“Iban…”

 

“So if you have to leave here, you need to wait at the coach station. You understand, right?”

 

In truth, no matter how small Iban was, there was no way for him to escape the estate without being caught by the employees.

 

Just looking at the present situation, soldiers were strictly guarding the main gate.

 

And more than anything…

 

“No. You can’t do that.”

 

I firmly shook my head at Iban’s words.

 

Now I could know for certain.

 

Even if the child wanted to live with me, staying at this Duke’s Manor was the best thing for Iban.

 

Even if I left this place today, though I would miss the child terribly, I wouldn’t have to worry about the child’s future anymore.

 

Ludrio was a good person. He would be even better to Iban.

 

“Iban has to stay here. That’s what’s better for Iban.”

 

To be honest, a corner of my heart also hoped things would go as Iban said.

 

As the child said, living alone as a woman with no connections seemed very harsh and dangerous.

 

If Iban stayed by my side, it might be better than being alone.

 

After all, he was the only person in this place who knew me and cared for me.

 

But even so, Iban following me was something that couldn’t happen.

 

That would be a selfish wish for my sake alone, not for the child’s.

 

Even if Iban wanted to live with me, I, as an adult, had to make the decision for the child.

 

Iban was still too young to judge what would be a better choice for him.

 

“But… you only have me as family anyway. What will you do if you’re driven out of here alone?”

 

“You don’t need to worry about me, Iban.”

 

“…You’re saying you can live alone without me?”

 

The child’s words came very slowly.

 

“I’ll ask the Count if I can come visit you sometimes.”

 

Iban’s eyes trembled finely with anxiety. I hurriedly opened my mouth to comfort the child.

 

Though Ludrio had said before that coming to visit was absolutely not allowed.

 

Still, he might permit it now.

 

“Last time we decided to live together. You said you’d talk to the Count about it.”

 

However, even at my carefully offered solution, the child’s breathing only grew more rapid.

 

His voice became wet as if he would cry at any moment.

 

“Iban, that’s because the Count said it wasn’t allowed…”

 

“You said if I called you Mother, you’d stay by my side forever.”

 

“Ah…”

 

A small sigh escaped at the child’s words.

 

That dark evening. When the child lay on the floor and asked with anxiety how long I would stay by his side, I had answered like that.

 

“I’m calling you Mother!”

 

Iban pushed away his chair and jumped up from his seat as if avoiding my hand reaching toward him.

 

Crash.

 

The chair fell over.

 

“Iban!”

 

Iban ran out of the room. I got up from my seat to catch the child, but.

 

Slam-.

 

The door the child had gone through closed roughly.

 

“Hah…”

 

Over the chair rolling on the floor, papers densely filled with letters scattered messily.

 

I had never been anything but earnest for Iban’s sake, so why had it turned out like this.

 

…Everything seemed like a mess.

 

* * *

 

Knock knock.

 

“Count, this is Luna.”

 

This was the first time I had come to find Ludrio so personally.

 

‘It doesn’t seem proper, but…’

 

Since today was a dinner that Ludrio would also join, I had planned to ask for a conversation after the meal ended.

 

However, Iban had run out.

 

So I couldn’t just sit still any longer.

 

“Could you spare me some time?”

 

Even if I wanted to say a word to reassure the child, consultation with Ludrio had to come first.

 

How long could I stay, and whether I could come visit Iban occasionally later. Things like that.

 

As I waited for permission in front of the Count’s bedroom.

 

Click.

 

The door opened without a word. Perhaps he had changed clothes, as he was wearing a dark navy black shirt with a subtle glow.

 

Three or four top buttons were undone, fully revealing his white neckline and firmly built chest…

 

“What is it.”

 

“Ah…”

 

I hastily raised my head as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have.

 

“I have something I’d like to ask you.”

 

Ludrio tilted his head to the side and lightly looked me over.

 

“So, how long can I stay in this place? I want to know exactly.”

 

“…Come in.”

 

Perhaps thinking the conversation would be long, Ludrio opened the door wider and spoke. Following Ludrio who went ahead, I also entered his bedroom.

 

It was a large bedroom that seemed about three times the size of my room.

 

Various decorations hanging in a row on the wall, fluffy carpets, a long couch, and Ludrio’s scent subtly spreading throughout the room…

 

At Ludrio’s gesture indicating I should sit, I stopped thinking and took a seat across from him.

 

“You asked how long you could stay. Is that all you want to hear?”

 

“No.”

 

At Ludrio raising his eyebrow as if telling me to say more, I opened my mouth again.

 

“I’d like to be able to meet Iban occasionally even after I leave.”

 

That short sentence scraped my throat like rough sand as it came out.

 

“…Until the child wants it, that is.”

 

Perhaps because I knew this was a topic Ludrio wouldn’t like. I became afraid he might get angry again.

 

“I’m not trying to get involved with the family or play the role of Iban’s mother, I just want to check that the child is doing well.”

 

I hurriedly added more words.

 

Hoping this wouldn’t sound like a petty excuse or lie to Ludrio.

 

‘You said if I called you Mother, you’d stay by my side forever.’

 

If only I could come see the child regularly, Iban would also give up his childish idea of running away from this place.

 

“If I said you could continue staying in this place.”

 

Ludrio’s blue eyes that met mine moved slowly. Then his upper body leaned slightly toward me.

 

“Would you continue staying at this estate?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

That I could continue staying at the estate.

 

“You’re saying I can continue staying at the estate?”

 

My brow furrowed involuntarily at this completely unexpected statement.

 

‘Was he just asking casually?’

 

But the Ludrio I had observed didn’t seem like the type to enjoy jokes.

 

‘Then… were those words just now sincere?’

 

It was certainly something Iban would be very happy about.

 

Just as I was about to nod reflexively in my bewilderment, a question crossed my mind.

 

What whim had struck him this time to make such a proposal?

 

My anxious expression must have been clearly reflected on my face.

 

“I want to marry you.”

 

Ludrio calmly revealed the reason for his proposal.

 

Marriage.

 

Whether it was because I was so tense, or because of his slow way of speaking, the meaning of his words didn’t register immediately.

 

“…Marriage. Marriage?”

 

Only after I voiced Ludrio’s words aloud could I finally understand what he wanted to do with me.

 

“Marriage, he says.”

 

A calm voice, an unwavering gaze.

 

He wore an expression where not a trace of playfulness could be found.

 

As if he had firmly decided to thoroughly mess with me.

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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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