One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 42

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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 42

 

“Are you leaving?”

 

The air in front of the entrance was momentarily disturbed.

 

The Countess, who was stepping into the carriage, climbed in without even glancing at me.

 

Only after taking her seat did she glance at me dismissively, as if I were laughable.

 

Count Roderich kept his back to me and never even turned his head.

 

As if I wasn’t even worth a single glance.

 

“You must be tired from the long journey…”

 

“Enough.”

 

The Countess waved her hand dismissively with an irritated voice.

 

“Where do you get the audacity to act like the mistress? You think you can really become part of House of Rharhart just by riding on Ludrio’s coattails. How foolish.”

 

That wasn’t it.

 

Coming down here was entirely my own will.

 

Not as a collateral member of the Oren Baronial House who would become the family’s mistress, not as Luna the tavern woman, but solely as myself.

 

“That’s not it. I wanted to give you a proper farewell greeting. I didn’t have the chance earlier, but when I heard you two were coming by train, I even practiced separately, though it may be inadequate.”

 

“…Let’s see it.”

 

Count Roderich spoke with a stern face.

 

It took a few seconds for me to realize that was permission to give my greeting.

 

It was the same unfriendly manner of speaking as Ludrio Rharhart, but thanks to being trained through Ludrio all this time, I could understand it a bit faster.

 

“I am Luciana Oren of the collateral line of the Oren Baronial House. I formally present my first greetings to Count Roderich and the Countess.”

 

I slowly bent my knees as Hark had taught me.

 

If Hark had seen it, he surely would have praised me for doing well.

 

From the moment I opened the entrance door, my pronunciation was short and clear at every moment, and not a single gesture was out of place.

 

“Oren.”

 

However, faced with their cold reaction that wouldn’t even acknowledge my greeting, I had no choice but to stand up awkwardly.

 

The ceremonial small talk that Hark and I had prepared didn’t even get a chance to be brought up.

 

When I raised my head to look at their faces, deep contempt still lingered there.

 

“Not even direct lineage, but from a collateral branch. Is that why you know no shame?”

 

One of his eyebrows slowly twitched.

 

“Carelessly giving your body to conceive a child, then using that as leverage to dream of rising in status. Acting like a whore would! Did you think that if you fawned over us like you did with Ludrio, this would be easily resolved too?”

 

Harsh criticism struck down as if it had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

 

I stepped back from the sharp words and slowly shook my head.

 

“…I know that you two don’t like me.”

 

The reason I came out despite knowing I wouldn’t hear kind words.

 

It was for my sake. And it was for Iban’s sake.

 

“I’d prefer to be loved rather than hated, but I didn’t come out asking to be cherished. I’m not that foolish.”

 

“What?”

 

“As I said, I came out because I wanted to see you off. I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but I felt I needed to greet you today to be able to visit you again next time.”

 

Once I brazenly opened my mouth, it wasn’t so difficult. I was no longer intimidated by their rudeness.

 

Emotions could become attitudes, but sometimes attitudes could also create emotions.

 

Thud.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

At the same time as the cold, heavy scent of wood brushed my nose, firm hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back.

 

“I thought I told you not to come outside.”

 

Ludrio spoke in an irritated voice while gripping my arm.

 

“…”

 

He frowned and glanced at the Previous Count and Countess for a moment, then immediately dragged me away.

 

He turned his back on them without even greeting them.

 

“Ah, please travel safely, travel safely.”

 

Bang.

 

The sound of the heavy door closing came from behind.

 

Thud, thud.

 

I don’t know how much force he was using, but the arm Ludrio was gripping gradually began to ache.

 

As if showing his complete irritation, his large strides were taken at his own pace.

 

It became difficult to keep up, so I tried shaking my arm, but he only gripped it tighter without a word.

 

“…Count.”

 

Suddenly I became afraid.

 

The helplessness that came from physical differences.

 

Thinking that I wouldn’t be able to break free unless he let go, I twisted my arm once more and tried to stop in place by putting strength into resisting.

 

“It hurts.”

 

Only then did Ludrio release his grip. Then he turned his head with an angry face.

 

“I clearly told you. Not to wander around. Don’t you know what that means? Didn’t you understand?”

 

He stepped closer and pressed me accusingly.

 

“…I didn’t know it was an order.”

 

“What?”

 

“I didn’t say anything special. I just greeted them, just greeted them.”

 

Seeing Ludrio already furious, I hurriedly made excuses.

 

“Are you really an idiot?”

 

Does he think things went wrong because of me?

 

Even with my explanation, Ludrio’s voice grew even more irritated.

 

“Crawling out there expecting to hear something nice.”

 

His voice grew increasingly rough.

 

“I’m sorry, but I really only did the greeting I practiced with Hark.”

 

“What if you had gotten hit!”

 

That’s when I, who had been looking down, raised my gaze.

 

“Do you know what kind of treatment you could have received by going out there?”

 

“…”

 

“Hah…”

 

Ludrio sighed as if realizing his mistake and rubbed his face.

 

“…Why do you worry so frighteningly?”

 

Looking at his feet as he stepped back, the words suddenly burst out.

 

“I thought I had done something wrong. I thought things had gone seriously wrong because of my mistake!”

 

I couldn’t help but raise my voice without realizing it.

 

“Without properly explaining anything…”

 

Actually, if we’re talking about who was angry first, it was me.

 

“Then at least give me proper orders.”

 

He might want me to follow his lead without making any judgments or thoughts of my own…

 

But I was the same kind of person as him.

 

“The anxiety, the frustration, the fear. I feel all of it more than you do, Count. So if anyone should be angry, it should be me.”

 

I was angry about being dragged into the middle of their fight without any explanation, and about him using us to provoke people who already disliked us.

 

Even more so about the inconsistent words that came out even in the midst of all this.

 

“But why…”

 

“…Hey.”

 

“Why do you make a person feel so worthless?”

 

In the end, I hated myself for crying without even being able to properly say why I felt bad.

 

“Luna.”

 

It was when Ludrio called my name once more.

 

The sound of murmuring came from the bottom of the stairs.

 

“…You have something you want to say, don’t you?”

 

Ludrio asked quietly. When I nodded silently, he seemed to contemplate for a moment, then extended his hand.

 

“Come, let’s go into the room. You don’t want to be seen crying either.”

 

As he said, people were coming up.

 

I didn’t want to stop crying and take his hand, but I even less wanted to stand here dazed and encounter others.

 

In the end, I took Ludrio’s hand.

 

* * *

 

Ludrio, who had told them to bring tea, quietly closed the study door and sat in front of me.

 

After silently rubbing his fingers for a moment, he spoke.

 

“Why were you crying?”

 

At his brief question, I quietly bit the inside of my mouth.

 

Right, why did I cry…

 

“You said you had something you wanted to talk about.”

 

The reason I cried was very clear.

 

I was uncomfortable with him not giving any explanations, with the atmosphere he created, and I hated this situation where I had to quietly read the room even when I had questions to ask, I hated my status.

 

It was also unfair that while I was enduring this much, he himself casually blurted out whatever he wanted to say without a care.

 

But how could I tell Ludrio about such things?

 

I didn’t even know where to start.

 

Even though I’m a tavern woman and you’re a count, I hope we can treat each other regardless of status…

 

How could I make such a demand?

 

Originally, I was someone who couldn’t even reach his feet.

 

Even if I demanded it, he wouldn’t listen, but it was something I couldn’t even say.

 

“Luna.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He, who had been waiting for a moment, urged me again.

 

Just as I was about to answer first and then think of something to mumble next, he spoke again.

 

“You can organize your thoughts until the tea comes out and talk a little later. Whatever’s comfortable for you.”

 

When I slightly raised my head to look, Ludrio was quietly watching me.

 

As if he would wait however long it took for me to speak.

 

In the end, I hesitated a little before opening my mouth.

 

I felt I shouldn’t miss this opportunity that wouldn’t come easily.

 

“I find you intimidating, Count.”

 

After thinking as much as possible to avoid hurting his feelings, I uttered my first sentence.

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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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