One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

“I see. So what period do you want?”

 

Ludrio, who had suppressed his curiosity once, continued speaking again.

 

“…How about until Iban becomes an adult?”

 

“Thirteen years.”

 

Ludrio, who had been thinking for a moment, added a condition to make things clear.

 

“After the divorce, you won’t be able to use the family’s money in any way.”

 

However, Luna nodded without any hesitation. It seemed she hadn’t intended to receive money through Iban after he became an adult.

 

“Anything else.”

 

“There’s nothing more I need to ask for.”

 

So it seemed Luna’s reason for accepting the marriage was solely because of Iban.

 

She probably thought of marriage as her duty as a mother.

 

The man who was the child’s father was completely unreliable, and the child was still too young to grow up alone under him, so she thought she was needed by his side.

 

“If you want, I’ll write up an agreement today as well.”

 

Ludrio looked at Luna for a while, or rather, this woman whose real name he didn’t even know.

 

This woman about whom nothing was properly understood, and eventually nodded his head.

 

Even if there were more hidden things, the fact that she wasn’t someone sent by the regent was enough reason to keep her by his side.

 

With this woman and Iban, he would be able to escape his uncle’s interference, who had recently started sending people again.

 

Rather, it was beneficial to him in many ways.

 

“In six days, the previous Duke and Duchess will arrive here.”

 

With the roughly concluded discussion, Ludrio changed the subject.

 

“Even though I kept the story about you and Iban secret, it seems news leaked out from somewhere.”

 

Luna frowned, looking quite surprised by the sudden announcement.

 

“Then, do they know everything about me and Iban?”

 

Ludrio shook his head at Luna’s worried voice.

 

“For now, they probably only know that there’s a woman who brought my child, roughly to that extent. The new identity I mentioned yesterday will also be prepared today.”

 

“Then should we deceive the previous Duke and Duchess, or rather, should we keep it secret from them too?”

 

The woman fidgeted with her hands as if getting nervous again.

 

“Yes. I’ll tell you again in detail, but your identity will be arranged as being from a lower noble family.”

 

“Do I look like that? I mean, there must be basic etiquette and protocols to follow, but I…”

 

“If it’s about that, you’ll learn from Hark starting today, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“But you said six days.”

 

Luna, who quickly looked tearful, hung her head low.

 

“Six days is enough.”

 

Looking at the woman’s learning speed, it didn’t seem like there would be insufficient time.

 

His words were sincere without any lies, but once her face was furrowed, it didn’t easily relax.

 

“Even if there are lacking parts, I’ll continue to be with you, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

 

Luna opened her mouth as if wanting to argue again, but soon nodded and remained silent.

 

Like someone who understood that no matter what she said, she couldn’t change the situation.

 

“For now, I’ll try my best to learn.”

 

Instead, she answered weakly with a voice that seemed about to cry.

 

“And about the agreement you said you’d write, I’d like only the two of us to know about it. So, I’d prefer if Iban didn’t know – is that possible?”

 

At the following request, Ludrio nodded lightly.

 

It was when Ludrio was about to get up from his seat after the roughly concluded topic.

 

Knock knock.

 

With urgent knocking, his aide Hark entered.

 

“Count, a telegram has arrived.”

 

After entering the office, he checked on Luna and omitted the sender’s location.

 

Ludrio, who checked the paper that Hark quickly approached and handed over, suddenly frowned deeply.

 

“What the…”

 

A sigh naturally escaped at the brief news that the previous Duke and Duchess were coming to the capital by train.

 

“Looking into the train schedule, they should arrive in the capital around 9 PM.”

 

“Huh?”

 

A cold laugh escaped from Ludrio’s mouth.

 

“They must have been very urgent about their great-grandson’s news. For them to even take a train.”

 

“For now, I’ve instructed them to clean the rooms they’ll use when they arrive.”

 

Ludrio nodded roughly while looking at Luna.

 

They were people who insisted on private carriages, saying it was undignified to travel with various social classes.

 

Such an elderly couple was boarding a train for the first time in their lives to see Iban and Luna.

 

They wouldn’t go back down until they met them in person.

 

Even if he somehow hid Luna and Iban…

 

“…”

 

Looking at Luna, who had turned pale as if she sensed how the situation was unfolding, he briefly pondered how to handle this situation.

 

If they arrived in the capital at 9 PM, he could postpone the meeting by one day using the excuse that it was late.

 

Until then, he would just inform her of important things like her new identity and family background.

 

Anyway, even if they were together, it wouldn’t be for meals or tea, so it should be fine.

 

“Count…”

 

It was when Luna opened her mouth with a very anxious voice.

 

Knock knock.

 

“Your Highness… Please wait just a moment…”

 

After a perfunctory knock followed by commotion, the door opened.

 

An unexpected person entered.

 

An uninvited guest with short blonde hair and shining golden eyes crossed the study as he pleased.

 

Gaien Markelbroc.

 

“Brother.”

 

The third prince and his younger brother, the only one among the princes who survived.

 

He, who had come without notice, complained.

 

“Why didn’t you come to Domus yesterday? I kept waiting…”

 

Then he suddenly stopped speaking.

 

As if he had discovered Luna, who had been hidden behind Hark.

 

Soon his eyebrows furrowed slightly upon confirming the woman.

 

“…I didn’t know you had a guest.”

 

Gaien’s gaze turned back to Ludrio.

 

“Haah…”

 

With the continued appearance of uninvited guests, a deep sigh finally escaped from Ludrio’s mouth.

 

* * *

 

“Sorry for interrupting your conversation.”

 

The short blonde-haired man stopped right there and offered an apology.

 

Golden eyes shining beneath thick eyebrows half-covered by his bangs scanned me once more.

 

His straight nose bridge and long, clear eyes resembled Ludrio greatly.

 

However, perhaps because he was still young, his features were thinner and softer, giving him a more refined atmosphere than Ludrio.

 

‘Most importantly, he called Ludrio brother…’

 

When my thoughts reached that point, I hurriedly got up from my seat.

 

“Oh, no. It’s fine.”

 

I even waved my hands hastily.

 

Before coming here, I had done quite a bit of research on Ludrio Rharhart.

 

Of course, the research was nothing more than picking up rumors floating around the marketplace.

 

According to those words, Ludrio was the third of the four sons of the emperor who had died ten years ago.

 

So originally he should have been called the Third Prince, but the reason such a person became the Duke of House of Roderich was due to a contract made between the imperial family and the duchy.

 

A deal between the duchy, which faced the crisis of losing its heir when the family’s only daughter was crowned empress, and the imperial family.

 

According to that agreement, Ludrio, who was the third son, became the heir to the duchy immediately upon birth without being granted succession rights to the throne.

 

Then this man before me who called Ludrio “brother” must be the current first in line for imperial succession, the Crown Prince…

 

The youngest brother of the second prince, who is the current emperor that has gone missing and hidden himself.

 

“…I don’t believe we’ve met before. I am Gaien Markelbroc.”

 

The man who had been contemplating briefly revealed his name.

 

And he looked at me quietly. As if telling me to introduce myself now.

 

However, I had not yet heard from Ludrio how I should introduce myself.

 

“Ah, I am…”

 

“Luciana Oren.”

 

When I let out a small sigh and trailed off, Ludrio spoke up in my place.

 

“Soon to be Luciana Rharhart.”

 

As he rose from his seat, Gaien’s figure became completely obscured from view.

 

Though I had no way to confirm it again, I seemed to catch a glimpse of strong hostility across Gaien’s hardened expression.

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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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