One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 48

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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 48

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Knock knock.

When I opened the door at the awaited knocking sound, I saw Ludrio and Iban nestled in his arms.

“Come down now.”

Just as I was about to nod at Ludrio’s words, Iban waved his hand at me as if greeting.

His stiff posture like a wooden doll, his uncomfortable expression, and above all, such an awkward greeting.

“Count, I’ll hold Iban.”

I didn’t know why he was carrying the child again, but I reached out toward Iban, who still looked uncomfortable in Ludrio’s arms.

However, Ludrio took a step back and firmly shook his head.

“The child is too heavy for you to carry.”

“But…”

“More importantly, Hark will teach you various things today too.”

Ludrio, who changed the subject, took the first step. As I hurriedly closed the door and walked to match his pace, his next words followed.

“Once you master all of that, starting next week or so, you’ll be free to go outside this estate.”

“What?”

“You can go see opera or ballet, go shopping at department stores, or take walks in the park. Whatever it may be.”

Until now, Ludrio had kept Iban and me hidden only within the estate.

Since neither his illegitimate child nor the child’s mother were in a situation to be openly revealed.

The estate was quite spacious, and I was so focused on learning to read that I didn’t feel confined by life inside.

But with this new freedom granted to us, with life outside the estate, my marriage to him felt real once again.

Ludrio, who had been quietly looking down at me, continued speaking softly.

“And after the meal, the servant will hand you a catalog. Look through it with Iban.”

“…Catalog.”

“It has everything from children’s toys to things that women your age might enjoy spending time with, so if there’s anything you want or need among them, let me know. I thought you must have been bored staying only within the estate all this time.”

I was bewildered by the continuous kindness he showed, as if he had truly decided to treat Iban and me well.

Ludrio trailed off slightly and turned his head toward Iban.

“You too. If there’s anything you want in there, feel free to say so, Iban.”

“…Yes.”

Iban answered briefly while still keeping his body stiff, then abruptly turned his head away.

With Iban clearly showing his discomfort with Ludrio, my words of gratitude for his consideration fled far away.

Throughout breakfast, I had to quietly observe the atmosphere between the two.

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After breakfast, just as Ludrio had said, the servant handed me a thin catalog of about fifty pages.

When I turned the pages, starting with leather balls, there were rocking horses that swayed back and forth, bird-shaped wind-up toys that flapped their wings, all listed with colored illustrations.

“Wow.”

A small exclamation escaped from Iban’s mouth as his gaze was immediately captivated by the brilliant colors and pictures.

“Wow, the Count said he’d buy everything Iban wants. How lucky for you, Iban.”

As I pushed the chair a bit closer to the desk so he could see more comfortably and exclaimed along with Iban, the child glanced at me and asked.

“Um, can I turn to the next page?”

“Of course.”

Iban’s gaze moved busily again as he turned the page.

Iban, who was quickly examining the toys, kept letting out small sighs.

Seven years old.

Seeing Iban’s excited appearance like other children his age made me feel good too.

“Do they really give you everything exactly like this?”

Iban, who had brought his face close to the catalog and was examining the pictures, asked in a quiet voice.

The child’s finger was pointing at small soldiers lined up behind a large soldier.

“Yes, it includes infantry, cavalry, and riders. They give you all of this.”

I nodded as I stumbled through reading the text written next to the picture.

“This many?”

“So Iban likes this one?”

“A little.”

The child gave an indifferent answer while still unable to take his eyes off the soldiers in the picture.

“But Iban, what did you talk about with the Count earlier?”

I lightly stroked Iban’s head and brought up the question I had been wanting to ask.

Though I wanted to just leave the seemingly delighted Iban alone without disturbing him, I felt I’d miss the chance to ask again once Hark arrived.

“Huh?”

“The Count came looking for you, so you went to see him right after waking up. At that time.”

Iban blinked rapidly as if flustered.

Iban, who had turned his head as if avoiding my gaze, eventually looked at me hesitantly.

“…He told me to call him Father now.”

“Not Count, but to call him Father?”

I was slightly surprised by the unexpected words, but soon nodded in understanding.

Since he would now be registered in his family record, the way Iban addressed Ludrio needed to change.

He couldn’t keep calling him Count forever.

But then why was he creaking like something broken while being held in Ludrio’s arms?

From the atmosphere alone, he looked completely frozen as if he’d been severely scolded.

“And he asked me…”

“Yes.”

Iban, who had rolled his eyes around, shook his head.

“What did Mother say to the Count?”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

Iban fiddled with the edge of the catalog paper and shook his head.

Finishing his words by saying it was nothing.

With Iban closing his mouth, I pondered for a moment and continued questioning.

“So what did Iban say? After he told you to call him Father.”

“I said okay. I said okay.”

Iban hung his head low and shrugged his shoulders. However, his ears, which he couldn’t hide, were bright red.

“What’s wrong?”

“…What do you mean what’s wrong.”

“Are you embarrassed?”

I tilted my head to try to make eye contact with Iban, who was hiding his face.

But Iban was busy pushing his chair back and hurriedly getting up from his seat to avoid my gaze.

“What is it, Iban. Are you embarrassed to call him Father?”

“Kyaak-!”

When I playfully poked his sides, a high-pitched scream and laughter burst from the child’s mouth.

“Is that why you were like that earlier too?”

“Stop it. Stop it, Mother!”

Iban, who burst into scream-like laughter, quickly ran away.

Then he looked back, and seeing his eyes folded into half-moons, I felt like I should chase after him.

“Ugh, Iban. Are you really not going to tell me, you cheater?”

When I got up from my seat with exaggerated movements and swayed left and right as if chasing him, Iban burst into that characteristic childish laughter again.

Iban, who had been running around the room, suddenly dove into the blankets on the bed.

“Iban, what secrets could there be between us?”

“Hehe, okay. I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you.”

When I gently pressed down on the blanket where Iban had hidden, the child who had been struggling inside opened his mouth as if surrendering.

“But only Mother should know. Got it?”

“Of course, naturally.”

Iban, who poked only half his face out from under the blanket, began speaking in a very quiet voice.

“Count Roderich apologized to me. He said he was sorry and that he would treat me well from now on.”

An apology.

So that was why he had called Iban so early in the morning.

Perhaps thinking that Iban had also suffered just as I had been struggling, he apologized to the child as well.

Because he wanted to ensure that Iban wouldn’t feel anxious anymore.

“….”

As I found myself thinking more deeply about Ludrio due to his unexpected actions,

Iban opened his mouth again.

“And he told me to call him father from now on. It feels strange.”

“…How is it strange?”

“I don’t know. My body feels tingly and I just don’t like it.”

“Hmm, it’s not that you don’t like it, but rather you’re embarrassed, aren’t you?”

This was the first time I had seen Iban this excited.

So perhaps Iban wasn’t feeling bad about Ludrio’s suggestion, but rather felt awkward about it?

“Or maybe it’s awkward to call him father when it’s different from how things have been until now.”

“…I don’t know.”

At my words, Iban poked his face out from under the blanket a little more.

“But Mother. …Is Count Roderich really a good person? Do you still think so?”

“Of course he is.”

I quickly nodded in response to Iban’s question.

“Why? Do you think Count Roderich isn’t a good person, Iban?”

“No. I don’t know.”

When I stroked the child’s face, Iban disappeared back under the blanket.

“Hmm, that sounds like a lie? Hm? It seems like you do know something?”

Just as I was shaking the blanket a few times,

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the room door.

“Oh? Is that Count Roderich?”

“Mother, you absolutely can’t tell him, okay?”

“Of course, naturally. This is a secret between just the two of us.”

It was thirty minutes earlier than Hark’s scheduled time, so thinking it might be Ludrio, I hurriedly opened the room door to find the Dowager Countess standing there with a cold 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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