One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 40

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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 40

 

* * *

 

I repeated the etiquette I had learned all day several times in my head.

 

Hark had reported to Ludrio that there shouldn’t be any major problems, so it would be fine, but still.

 

Could things really go smoothly without any issues?

 

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might jump out of my mouth at any moment.

 

Keep your back straight, don’t make eye contact unless specifically mentioned. Emphasize consonants over vowels when speaking.

 

Would following just these rules really be enough?

 

Hark’s voice, seemingly gentle but dry, still seemed to linger in my ears.

 

‘I can’t make any mistakes.’

 

My fingertips trembled slightly under the heavy sense of responsibility.

 

“There’s no need to be so nervous.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I quickly responded to Ludrio’s comfort and looked out the window once more.

 

Even though I knew there was still about an hour left.

 

When would a carriage with dim lanterns appear beyond the dark window, and would I be able to do well then?

 

If my identity as a fraud were discovered due to a small mistake, things would become very serious.

 

He would naturally be very angry, and perhaps might even deny Iban’s existence entirely.

 

“Luna.”

 

“Yes, I know. I can do well.”

 

As I hurriedly nodded, he gently grasped my shoulder.

 

“Look at me.”

 

Only then did I turn my gaze from the window to look at Ludrio.

 

“It’s just a formal introduction. There’s no need or reason to make a good impression.”

 

“But still…”

 

“Even if you make a few mistakes, it won’t be a big deal.”

 

A lie.

 

Even if this fraud were exposed, Ludrio wouldn’t have any particular problems.

 

He could just find another puppet-like woman who would move according to his will and marry her.

 

But I was different.

 

And so was Iban.

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

Nevertheless, I expressed gratitude for Ludrio’s consideration in trying to reassure me.

 

However, perhaps realizing that my greeting was empty words, his eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“…I’m also meeting them for the first time in four years.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“After meeting them just a few times, you probably won’t have to face them again after that.”

 

Ludrio said as he removed his hand from my shoulder.

 

Ludrio speaking like this felt very businesslike.

 

“This isn’t even a place to get approval for you anyway. I told you, it’s just a formal introduction.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Only then did I begin to understand a little.

 

Regardless of my efforts, the Previous Count and Countess would never like me anyway.

 

Ludrio already knew this too.

 

A formal introduction.

 

Ludrio was telling me that neither his grandparents’ welcome nor opposition would mean anything to me.

 

“…”

 

Perhaps they weren’t very close.

 

Although they were Ludrio’s grandparents, even though he had been adopted long ago and lived like parent and child.

 

“Even if you act somewhat against etiquette, you’re from a branch family of the Oren Baronial House. Your identity has been perfectly arranged.”

 

Ludrio’s continued explanation, seemingly to reassure me, relieved my worries just a little.

 

When I nodded as if I understood, he carefully observed my expression and raised his hand to point at the couch.

 

“Sit down, Luna. There’s still plenty of time left.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

At my thanks, Ludrio frowned slightly.

 

“Don’t say thank you meaninglessly for trivial things. It looks foolish.”

 

This time too, my words seemed to feel like meaningless verbal habits.

 

“But I meant it sincerely.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m still a bit nervous, but thanks to you, my worries have lessened.”

 

Ludrio could be unexpectedly kind at times.

 

Like telling me several times that it was okay to make mistakes.

 

‘I hope you and Iban can dine comfortably.’

 

This morning too, I thought he meant for me to skip the breakfast table, but that wasn’t it.

 

Perhaps because I had almost no expectations of him to begin with, each small consideration felt much more significant.

 

Teaching me to read willingly, apologizing to me before – thinking about it, there were so many things to be grateful for.

 

“That’s why I said thank you.”

 

“…Ahem.”

 

After a brief silence, he let out a short cough. Then he turned his head as if embarrassed.

 

“Haha, no, this is the first time I’ve seen you look awkward…”

 

Suddenly his gaze turned cold. I hurriedly covered my mouth.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“You seem to have gotten comfortable with me.”

 

“…”

 

When I quietly shook my head, he moved as if that was enough.

 

Then he sat at his desk and began looking through the documents he had covered earlier.

 

I looked at the couch he had told me to sit on and opened my mouth.

 

“May I go see Iban?”

 

The pulse in my wrist that I carefully grasped began pounding again.

 

If I stayed here any longer, I felt like what I ate this morning might come back up.

 

“Do as you please.”

 

As soon as his permission was given, I hurriedly left the study and headed to Iban.

 

* * *

 

Around nine forty.

 

The entrance opened and they entered with the cold outside air.

 

Nearly white gray hair and deeply furrowed brows, a straight back and broad shoulders that made it hard to believe he was nearly eighty.

 

The Previous Count was as tall as Ludrio and looked even sharper than Ludrio.

 

And the Countess beside him was surprisingly beautiful.

 

Her neatly pinned up, brilliantly shining silver hair, even the wrinkles around her eyes looked wonderfully elegant.

 

Ludrio, who had been standing nearby, slowly approached them.

 

“Without any notice, this late.”

 

And he spoke stiff words.

 

There was no warmth, no courtesy, not even a greeting.

 

“Don’t you think this is quite against proper etiquette.”

 

At the sharp, reproachful words, my head went blank and I forgot my prepared greeting, just opening my mouth dumbly.

 

“Tsk, I’m coming to my own estate, what etiquette are you talking about.”

 

The Previous Count clicked his tongue in displeasure and glared fiercely at Ludrio.

 

“It’s my estate now.”

 

“Ludrio, we wouldn’t have come like this unless we had good reason.”

 

The Countess standing beside him let out a light sigh as if tired and firmly grasped Ludrio’s arm.

 

“After meeting for the first time in so long, must you act so coldly without even a greeting?”

 

It was a low, refined voice, but it wasn’t gentle.

 

“Just how long do you plan to keep acting so rebelliously? Don’t you feel the least bit sorry? At your age, still unmarried and creating illegitimate children first, causing such a commotion and still being so shameless.”

 

With a sharp sound, Ludrio shook off the Countess’s hand that had grabbed his arm and spat out more barbed words.

 

Hark had told me it wasn’t proper etiquette for him to greet the Previous Count and Countess while holding Iban’s hand, but I gripped Iban’s hand tightly and pulled the child behind me.

 

‘He said even small mistakes wouldn’t be a big deal.’

 

Only now could I fully understand the meaning of what Ludrio had said.

 

“Shameless, your greed remains the same as ever.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

With them causing such a scene, any mistakes I made wouldn’t even be noticeable.

 

“Even after meeting for the first time in years, nothing about you has changed, so I forgot my manners.”

 

He had said it was just a formal introduction. That there was no need or reason to make a good impression.

 

Even while feeling like I might faint from their sharp atmosphere, irritation welled up inside me.

 

Where exactly was the formality in all this?

 

No, if it was going to be like this, why did I even bother learning etiquette?

 

“Ludrio!”

 

Finally, a thunderous roar erupted.

 

“Just providing rooms for you who came without notice is more than enough courtesy. So don’t test how far you’ll be allowed to go.”

 

Even at the roar that made my body instinctively shrink, Ludrio continued speaking without batting an eye.

 

“If we’re driven out like this, it would be quite embarrassing, wouldn’t it?”

 

Instead, he made what sounded like a mocking threat.

 

This truly was the most dysfunctional family I had ever seen.

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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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