One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 51

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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 51

Ludrio frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

His gaze, which had been scrutinizing my intentions with clear displeasure, seemed to soften slightly before he opened his mouth.

“Fine, then I’ll also…”

“There’s no place for you here, Ludrio.”

Just as Ludrio clicked his tongue softly and was about to step back, the Countess cut him off decisively.

She still had her back turned to hide her face, but there was no trace of tears left in her firm voice.

“You should go now.”

At her unchangingly cold and resolute voice, Ludrio’s face turned fierce again.

“Count.”

Seeing him look as if he was about to confront the Countess immediately, I hurriedly grabbed his hand to fix his gaze on me.

Ludrio still had an expression as if he couldn’t understand me, but even so, I could feel the strength gradually leaving his body.

“I’ll wait outside. Come out when you’re done.”

He gave me the space I wanted while still speaking as if he was worried.

He said he’d wait outside for me.

“Yes, thank you.”

Ludrio left the room with the servant who had been standing there awkwardly, still looking at the Countess with displeasure.

Click.

Not long after the door closed, the Countess raised her hand to wipe her face.

“You did something pointless.”

And those were the words that came back to me.

“Not knowing your place, how dare you.”

With her still cold voice, she belittled my good intentions.

Even so, perhaps because my surprised heart hadn’t calmed down, or because she was still turned away wiping away tears, I didn’t feel as heated as before.

“Don’t think you did this for me.”

“…Yes.”

“Even if you go out right now and gossip about me…”

The Countess’s words were cut off abruptly, as if she hadn’t expected me to answer so obediently.

“I don’t go around talking about you.”

“…”

“Even though you treat me harshly, I don’t dislike you that much yet.”

I muttered while looking at the Countess’s back as she stood blankly in the large drawing room, then closed my mouth.

I immediately realized I had said something unnecessary because I couldn’t bear the awkwardness.

I fidgeted with my fingertips for no reason, then turned around.

“Count Roderich, the servant… no one noticed.”

Looking toward the drawing room door, I talked about things she might be concerned about.

“The servant was far away, and Count Roderich… you didn’t show any signs at all.”

“Of course.”

“…Yes.”

At her cold voice that still felt arrogant, I slowly nodded my head.

“What kind of child are you that you don’t carry a handkerchief?”

“Ah… you’re right. I forgot to bring one.”

It was when I was pointlessly rummaging around even though I knew I didn’t have a handkerchief.

“It shows.”

I briefly wondered whether that meant I should go get one right now or if she was just being sarcastic, then decided to let it go.

Wiping roughly with my hand would be sufficient enough, and Ludrio was waiting outside the door.

During the prolonged silence, I turned my gaze from the door frame to the ceiling.

“How long are you planning to stand there like that?”

When I was examining the ivory-colored plaster molding one by one, her cold voice broke the silence once again.

“Ah…”

When I finally turned to look, the Countess was somehow sitting again, leaning back against the couch and looking at me.

Her face and eyes were dry and parched as if nothing had happened.

“…Then I’ll…”

“Go ahead.”

Just as I was about to say I would leave, she let out a big breath like a sigh and spoke, having returned to her composed state.

“Send Ludrio in.”

“Pardon?”

At the unexpected request, I reflexively asked back.

However, she seemed to have no intention of giving any further explanation, just closing her eyes tightly and pressing around her eyes a few times.

Despite her still sharp voice, she looked quite tired.

“…”

At the Countess’s attitude that seemed to declare there was nothing more to discuss, I quietly left the room.

As soon as I opened the door, my eyes met with Ludrio’s, who had been leaning against the opposite end of the corridor.

He moved away from the wall and approached me.

“What did she want to talk about so badly?”

“I’m fine.”

“Fortunately, you look it.”

His gaze, which had been looking me over, met my eyes again.

When I smiled at his look that was similar to when I worried about Iban, he frowned.

“The Countess seems to have something to say to Count Roderich.”

I hurriedly changed the subject before he could ask about the meaning of my smile.

“She asked you to come in.”

“No.”

Ludrio glanced at the tightly closed drawing room door and turned away.

His steps moved away from the drawing room without hesitation.

“No…”

“Escort her out.”

Ludrio commanded the servant who had been standing at the corner of the corridor.

It seemed he intended to have the Countess leave as is.

The servant who nodded approached the drawing room, and Ludrio looked at me as if telling me to come.

“Ah, Servant. Just a moment. Please wait just a moment.”

I couldn’t know exactly what the Countess wanted to say to Ludrio, but it seemed like something important.

It seemed my heart had softened because of her tears.

I knew I was being unnecessarily meddlesome, but still.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better if you went in once?”

“Hah… Luna, I think I’ve told you several times already. Don’t make pointless efforts.”

He spoke as if he was frustrated that I was having useless dreams.

“Now I really know too. How much the Countess dislikes me.”

“No. If you knew, you wouldn’t be doing this.”

Ludrio, who firmly denied it, frowned as if he realized I still hadn’t given up my intentions.

“I clearly said I didn’t want to. Any more than this…”

“I’ll wait in front until you finish your conversation and come out. Okay?”

Looking at Ludrio who seemed annoyed, I grabbed his hand in my urgency.

Even as I reflexively grabbed his hand, I thought he would shake it off.

But Ludrio only let out a soundless laugh, as if the breath was leaving him.

It wasn’t a hostile expression filled with mockery or ridicule.

Rather, he looked bewildered.

“…Fine.”

He looked down at my hand, then raised his head.

“I’ll do as you say.”

A smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

“But you should return to your room with the servant. Hark and Iban will be waiting.”

“Ah, yes.”

I hurriedly nodded before he could change his mind.

“I’ll do that.”

* * *

“You said you had something to tell me.”

Suppressing the irritation that kept surging up just from being in the same place, Ludrio sat across from the Countess.

In contrast to the Countess’s half-empty teacup, Luna’s cup—who had said she wanted to drink tea—was still full, as if untouched.

‘I knew this would happen.’

She must have stayed because she thought his treatment of the Countess was too harsh.

Just like her…

Ludrio slightly frowned and cut off his wandering thoughts.

“Unlike you, Countess, I don’t have much time.”

“That child must have made you sit here.”

“Yes, so now that I’m alone with you, my patience isn’t very long. Stop with the nonsense and get to the point.”

Ludrio spoke with an irritated sigh at the conversation that wouldn’t begin easily.

Was there even a main point to this?

“You told that child that petitions and social gossip were nothing to worry about. That once she becomes a duchess, she could easily ignore such things.”

Ludrio’s gaze instantly turned toward the Countess.

What exactly had Luna said?

Even if the Countess knew, it wouldn’t be a problem, but these were personal matters that didn’t need to be shared.

“But would that really be the case? You may find us who have retired from the front lines quite amusing, but nobles value tradition very highly, unlike you. If they set their minds to it, turning that child into a puppet would be easy.”

She wasn’t a stupid woman.

As he wondered why she had blabbed about even private matters, the Countess continued speaking.

“Even if, after you inherit the title, the Rharhart Family experiences its most prosperous period ever.”

“Hah, I don’t know what kind of reaction you expect from me after hearing this.”

Just as Ludrio’s patience reached its limit with the meaningless threats that continued,

“However, I have no intention of doing so.”

Something quite strange came from her mouth.

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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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