One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 47

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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 47

I’m sorry.

During the brief silence that followed, Ludrio Rharhart’s apology had already repeated thirty-two times in Iban’s head.

What?

What was this?

“I won’t bring up your lies anymore.”

“Ah…”

Iban could read his sincerity in Ludrio’s voice, in the way he looked at him, in his expression.

And instantly, he became much more uncomfortable.

All this time, Iban had thought Ludrio was definitely using him and Luna.

The Count’s single statement instantly stripped away the emotions Iban had harbored for so long, dropping him into a desolate wasteland.

“I won’t put you or Luna in danger.”

There was no longer a Ludrio that Iban could curse and resent.

“Don’t worry and stay by my side.”

So Ludrio became very difficult for Iban.

Now he had no idea what he should do or how.

“…Is it because of Luna?”

Then suddenly, those words slipped out of Iban’s mouth.

It was because he caught a glimpse of the Gruff Man from the bakery in Ludrio, who was apologizing to him.

That moment when an adult five times bigger than him had apologized while looking embarrassed.

“Well, you could say that.”

Ludrio didn’t look particularly embarrassed, but that wasn’t what mattered.

“…Luna didn’t find out about my lies, did she? Right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then how is it because of Luna?”

Ludrio shrugged lightly as if he didn’t want to answer that far.

Why had Ludrio apologized to him?

What exactly had Luna said to get him to apologize?

“More importantly, Iban. You keep eavesdropping on my conversations.”

His words brought Iban, who had been wandering through such thoughts, back to reality.

“What do you…”

“I’m sure I told you to wait.”

He tried to hastily deny it, but Ludrio’s expression was already filled with certainty.

It wasn’t like he was testing him or anything.

“…”

“I’ll let it slide this time, thinking you did it out of anxiety.”

In the end, Iban just nodded silently.

“But next time, you’ll have to take responsibility for your actions too.”

While feeling intimidated by his warning.

“And from now on, call me Father.”

“…Yes.”

Father.

Iban rolled his eyes slightly to look up at Ludrio.

When their eyes met, his shoulders naturally hunched.

“That’s all I wanted to say. If you have nothing more to say, you may go now.”

“…Yes.”

Iban almost fled from his study.

Then he hurriedly scratched his chest over his clothes, then his nape and head for a while.

If he didn’t, his body kept feeling twisted.

The moments when he had cursed Ludrio came flooding back like a tide, making him embarrassed, and the fact that he now had to call him Father felt awkward.

Even though it was just a change in how he addressed him.

Iban couldn’t stand it and scratched his body again. Even then, unable to overcome the tickling sensation, he was shaking his head to shake it off when.

He ran right into Grandmother, that is, the Countess Roderich, who was just coming up the stairs.

“Ah…”

Only then did Iban stop fidgeting and let out a small sigh.

Bow.

Iban, who had bowed his head, quickly changed his destination to his own room instead of Luna’s room.

Because that was closer than Luna’s room.

Was it because Ludrio had become uncomfortable?

Even when they looked at him with displeasure, got angry, or said insulting things, it hadn’t bothered him, but now everything just felt awkward.

“…Come here, child.”

Just as Iban was reaching for the door handle.

She stopped Iban with a quiet voice.

“Yes?”

“Over here.”

Iban blinked quietly, then slowly approached her as she gestured to him.

The Countess Roderich had hair as white as Hank’s grandmother.

But many things were different from that grandmother.

Instead of a bent back, she had an upright posture, sharp and clear eyes that weren’t dim, and perfectly still and proper bearing.

“Iban, is it.”

“…Yes.”

Iban looked back at the old woman who was looking at him.

How should he put it.

Yesterday, Luna had blocked his view so he couldn’t see her properly, but her voice had been very cold.

But today, neither her voice nor her gaze was as sharp as what he had felt yesterday.

Rather, she seemed somewhat sad, and when he got that feeling, she spoke again.

“Your mother says you love her. Is that true?”

“…You’re asking if I love Mother?”

The old woman silently blinked slowly instead of answering.

Whether he loved Luna.

Iban had never thought about that before.

Love.

Once, when En had grown a little distant from the other children, she had whispered in his ear.

‘But I love Iban more than even my dad.’

When he asked what that word meant, hearing it for the first time, En said love was sharing delicious things.

Iban could share his food for Luna.

Whatever else he had, he could give it all for Luna.

“Yes.”

If that was really love.

If giving what you have is love, then Iban loved Luna.

“…Your mother. Does your mother love you too?”

“Of course.”

Luna had given him bread from the very beginning.

Even when she was hungry too.

And she gave him soup and meat too.

Even though she had been deceived by him, Luna loved him.

She loved him much more than En did.

As Iban dutifully answered the old woman’s questions, he observed her once more.

And unlike before, Iban noticed her wavering gaze and trembling lower lip.

‘Luna loves me, so why is she sad?’

Just as she pressed her lips together with determination and was about to reach out her hand toward Iban’s head.

Iban lowered his head to avoid her hand and stepped back.

“Why?”

Iban frowned slightly and looked at her once more as he asked.

“Why are you asking something like this?”

Actually, more than that, he wanted to ask why she looked like she was about to cry.

Still, he couldn’t ask because the woman had turned her face away as if she didn’t want to show it.

Iban thought she seemed strange.

In some ways, much more so than Luna.

What answer was she going to give to his question? Did she even intend to answer?

In the end, Iban couldn’t tell.

“Iban.”

He heard Ludrio’s voice calling him from in front of the study.

“Come here.”

Glancing back, when Iban looked at the old man again, another urging followed.

“Hurry.”

At Count Roderich’s firm voice, Iban had no choice but to retrace his steps down the corridor he had been walking.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue quietly as if something thoroughly displeased him.

Soon, with a swift motion, Iban’s feet lifted off the ground.

“Ugh.”

Iban let out a small sigh as he grabbed onto his collar to maintain balance at the suddenly elevated view.

It was because his chest area felt ticklish again.

It wasn’t even the first time being held like this.

It was already the nth time.

Today was particularly difficult. Iban bent his neck as if hiding it and turned his head slightly.

Grandmother now had her back turned the other way.

“Don’t go near her. You don’t need to go even if she calls, Iban.”

Strong arms supported Iban securely.

Despite the large strides as he walked briskly, Iban’s body didn’t sway at all.

And only then did Iban take his eyes off Grandmother’s retreating figure going her own way and look at Ludrio, who was holding him.

Blue eyes that looked exactly like his own, and black hair unlike his own. Black eyebrows.

“…What did she say to you?”

Iban, who had been secretly stealing glances at his profile, quickly turned his head away when their eyes met.

“Iban?”

“Just. She asked if I love Luna, and if Luna loves me.”

“What?”

Ludrio furrowed his brows as if he couldn’t understand.

Iban glanced at him and moved his lips.

“…She looked sad.”

And he said something to him that he normally wouldn’t have said.

Well.

It wasn’t to help his understanding.

“What…”

“Like she was going to cry.”

He just felt like he should say such things at moments like this.

So if he were Hank or En, he felt like he would have whispered such words while being held like this.

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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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