One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

“Insolent brat.”

 

The Previous Count’s voice flowed out roughly, scraping his throat as his face turned completely red.

 

However, as if already exhausted from getting angrier, he let out a short snort and turned his head away from Ludrio.

 

“Such a capable man, yet you still can’t handle a single bastard child and are floundering around like this.”

 

A blade-like gaze slowly swept over me and Iban hiding behind me.

 

“Tsk, I didn’t care that you played around dissolute with women. But in the end, you can’t even handle such things and create this mess.”

 

Under the contemptuous gazes of the Previous Count and Countess, I finally realized why these two people had come to the estate.

 

Because Ludrio had accepted us, made an unexpected proposal for marriage, and even provided us with status.

 

So I, we had mistakenly thought we were being welcomed.

 

“You should have thrown money at them or threatened them so they could never come near again.”

 

Ridiculously enough, I had been thinking of the Previous Count and Countess as grandparents who had traveled a long way to see their grandson.

 

“You’re still letting those things step foot in this estate?”

 

“How softly must you have acted for them to dare lift their faces straight up and meet your eyes.”

 

They had set out early in the morning wanting to get rid of me and Iban.

 

Even using a train they had never ridden in their entire lives.

 

“It seems you haven’t heard the news that I cherish them greatly.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I’m thinking of holding the ceremony in about two months.”

 

At Ludrio’s monotone voice, the two people’s faces gradually became distorted.

 

Especially the Previous Count turned his face bright red as if blood had rushed to the top of his head.

 

The shock must have been so great that even his lips trembled.

 

“You, you really…”

 

“So please be careful with your words and actions from now on. As you can see, they are delicate people.”

 

Ludrio said while glancing at me and Iban.

 

That wasn’t particularly an action for our sake. He just wanted to use me and Iban to provoke the Previous Count and Countess.

 

“Aah-.”

 

“Honey!”

 

The Previous Count grabbed his own neck and staggered.

 

Even at that moment, Ludrio remained indifferent.

 

Whether he didn’t know how dangerous this kind of shock was for elderly people, or whether he simply didn’t care.

 

“It’s getting late, and you’re getting tired from even this brief conversation, so we should end our greetings here.”

 

In the end, Ludrio didn’t extend a single hand to help the staggering man.

 

“Show them to their rooms.”

 

Ludrio briefly commanded the servant standing beside him and turned his body completely toward me.

 

“Go upstairs now.”

 

“…”

 

In the end, he grabbed my wrist and led me.

 

Ludrio holding my hand, and I holding Iban’s hand tightly.

 

We climbed the stairs in silence.

 

Thinking that even this sight might anger them, I bowed my head even deeper, worried they might really collapse if I kept my neck stiff.

 

He crossed the corridor and silently opened my room door.

 

And only then did he let go of the wrist he had been holding.

 

“…Go in. It would be better not to come out of your room today.”

 

“Um, Count. Today I’d like to stay with Iban…”

 

“Yes. Do that.”

 

Before my request was even finished, permission fell from Ludrio’s lips.

 

I hesitated and then gave a small bow.

 

“…Are you okay?”

 

The moment I entered the room and closed the door, Iban carefully tugged at my hand.

 

“You were startled. Were you very scared?”

 

Iban’s face was full of worry as he took away the words I should have said.

 

“No. Mother is fine.”

 

I stroked Iban’s head several times and then lifted the child into my arms with strength.

 

“What about Iban? Were you startled by the sudden shouting?”

 

“If Mother is okay, then I’m okay.”

 

Iban said while patting my back.

 

“I’m here. It’s okay.”

 

“No, Iban. Mother will protect Iban.”

 

At Iban’s words, I hurriedly spoke up.

 

“That’s what mothers do.”

 

Why should Iban protect me?

 

I should be the one protecting the child.

 

“…”

 

After moving my lips several times trying to say something, I eventually closed my mouth.

 

I had no idea how to explain this situation to Iban.

 

The child would be even more bewildered than me by those outrageous harsh words from earlier.

 

So I wanted to explain something for the child’s sake, but there was no way to make him understand their sharp contempt without hurting him.

 

I couldn’t even offer comfort like saying they don’t hate you even though you were startled.

 

Even if the perceptive child had noticed all their hostility directed at him, I couldn’t find appropriate words to put over that wound.

 

* * *

 

Whether today had been tiring, I got up from the bed leaving behind Iban who had fallen asleep.

 

Various thoughts filled my head so much that I couldn’t stay still.

 

‘Ah, Ludrio told me not to come out of the room.’

 

Remembering Ludrio’s warning, I stopped walking toward the door and turned around.

 

In that state, I stared blankly at the room where darkness had settled and muttered as if comforting myself.

 

“…It might not matter.”

 

Even though the Previous Count and Countess didn’t approve of us, when I thought about it, it might not be something to worry about.

 

Ludrio said he had almost no contact with them. He also added that once we held the ceremony, there would be no reason to get involved with them again.

 

So if I just endured a few nights, it would be over, but why did I feel so uncomfortable?

 

‘Am I worried that this marriage might fall through?’

 

In the end, I opened the door connected to the terrace slightly. Cold air swept past my cheeks and hair.

 

Ludrio must have already made up his mind about the marriage.

 

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered to create a fake identity for me or educate me and Iban.

 

So even if the Previous Count and Countess opposed it, wouldn’t Ludrio plan to push through with the marriage anyway?

 

“…Sigh.”

 

Yes, then there really was no reason to feel uncomfortable.

 

Both the marriage and becoming his family to stay at the estate would all happen as promised.

 

Even though Ludrio had used us to deliberately get on the Previous Count and Countess’s nerves, it wasn’t anything new.

 

Even if he had chosen us to spite them, as he said, I knew from the beginning that this was a marriage of necessity.

 

“This is so annoying, really.”

 

But still, I felt hurt and angry.

 

At that moment, I heard the sound of wheels scraping the ground and steady hoofbeats.

 

Following the sound of a carriage approaching the entrance, I also heard the heavy metallic sound of the gate opening from afar.

 

Checking the wall clock, I instinctively moved to the edge of the terrace.

 

Eleven o’clock.

 

Although I hadn’t stayed at this estate for long, there had never been a carriage preparing to leave at such a late hour. There had also never been a time when the gate opened again once it was closed.

 

“Master…”

 

“Don’t say much…”

 

Looking down below, I could see the servant and the Previous Count and Countess.

 

Due to the distance, I couldn’t hear the detailed conversation, but I could still roughly guess the situation.

 

They were trying to leave the estate.

 

Of course, unlike me who had nothing and knew no one, they would have many places to go even if they left this place late at night.

 

Besides, if they who disliked me and Iban were to leave, it would actually be a good thing.

 

At least I would be able to move around outside my room freely again.

 

Yet in the end, I slipped out of my room and ran straight down the stairs.

 

‘If they get kicked out like this, it won’t look good at all.’

 

Was it because I felt sorry for them being humiliated by Ludrio? Was I worried about the previous Duke who couldn’t contain his anger and staggered helplessly?

 

That wasn’t it.

 

Who was I to dare. What right did I have.

 

Slam.

 

I threw open the entrance door.

 

So this was purely out of irritation.

 

Ludrio who dragged me around as he pleased as if I didn’t need any explanation, and the Duke and his wife who poured out words of contempt without hesitation in front of people.

 

Most of all, I hated myself for accepting such situations as natural and trying to endure them.

 

No matter how much this place was a class-based society, I hated myself for being pushed around as they pressed down on me.

 

“Sir.”

 

So this was both rebellion and resolution.

 

Even if this place was a class-based society, I would not conform to the standards of those who ignored and despised 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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