One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 52

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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 52

“The child lacks the status to marry you. I plan to escort her myself and introduce her directly to the social circle so there won’t be any gossip.”

“What…?”

Ludrio’s head tilted at the Countess’s incomprehensible proposal.

What kind of scheme was this now?

“Does Count Roderich think the same?”

“This is the first time I’m telling you, so I haven’t discussed it with him, but probably not.”

Did this mean she had suddenly changed her mind?

“…I don’t know what you’re hoping for, but I refuse. You seem to be under some misunderstanding, but authority comes from substance, not from petty justifications.”

However, Ludrio had no reason to accept the proposal while cautiously trying to figure out the Countess’s intentions.

“As you said, House of Rharhart enjoys prosperity that no one can deny. Whether you submit a petition or not, nothing will change.”

Many of the capital’s nobles were economically tied to House of Rharhart.

So regardless of his reputation, they needed House of Rharhart, and as long as that was the trend, nothing would change.

“You might think so. But the case is different for that woman and child.”

He understood what the Countess wanted to say, but that was already a matter he had considered.

There might be some resistance at first, but well, that much was…

“You seem to want to say that people pursue profit, but nobles are people who pursue honor before profit. The reason everyone treats you as a duke despite your poor reputation is because you have no flaws.”

“…”

“You might not feel hurt in your pride even if you bend a little, but would that really be the same for those children?”

Since they had decided to become members of the ducal family, he thought Luna and Iban should endure that much.

Of course, he planned to help them adapt to noble society.

Ludrio said nothing for a while.

But eventually he let out an irritated breath and changed his mind.

“…Tell me what you want.”

If he bent once, and could thereby prevent the Countess’s interference.

If he received her help, Luna and Iban would certainly be able to blend well into the social circle.

“I don’t particularly want anything.”

“Countess.”

Ludrio urged her once more as if telling her not to play games, but the Countess still spoke without the slightest waver.

“I simply made a choice for the family.”

A choice for the family.

The Countess’s words seemed to make sense at first glance, yet were completely unlike her.

When had she ever moved for the family’s sake?

Just as she had declared that honor was more important than profit to those noble fellows, the same was true for her.

They were always people who put pride first.

As if conscious of Ludrio’s still unwavering gaze, the Countess added another reason.

“If you find it hard to accept my words about doing this for the family, let’s say it’s because I’m bored.”

“…”

“The choice is yours. What do you want me to do?”

Being in a situation where he had to receive some kind of help from her was quite unpleasant.

It felt like becoming a ten-year-old boy again.

The Countess’s behavior, acting as if she held the upper hand in their relationship, was also enough to drag his mood to the bottom.

“I hope you’re not scheming to manipulate them for no reason.”

Ludrio spoke after much deliberation.

“…I plan to take that child to Heroz tomorrow, so know that.”

The Countess, who met Ludrio’s eyes, let out a light sigh.

It was because she noticed the wariness in his gaze once again.

“You’re going to attach people to her anyway, so why do you have so many worries? I’ll bring her back in exactly the same state as when I take her out, so stop glaring at me.”

“I’ll also go together…”

“Do you think I’m going out to enjoy shopping with that child? This is all groundwork for entering the social circle, so don’t interfere unnecessarily. When the moment comes that you’re useful, I’ll call for you then.”

With those words, the Countess rose from her seat.

“If you want to greet him before he goes down to the duchy, you’ll need to move quickly, so I’ll get up first.”

Ludrio quietly watched the Countess’s retreating figure as she left the drawing room with narrow, slow steps, then turned his head toward the window.

‘Why suddenly…’

The situation was beginning to flow in a slightly different direction than expected.

Actually, the previous duke’s petition and the chaos that would arise in the social circle would have been more useful to Ludrio, but he decided to just let the Countess’s change of heart be for Luna and Iban’s sake.

The thoughts filling his head now weren’t such calculations.

Rather, the tea time between Luna and the Countess, which he didn’t know about, kept bothering him.

The fact that the Countess hadn’t had time to consult with her husband meant her mind had definitely changed during the tea time with Luna.

‘What on earth did they talk about?’

With such thoughts, Ludrio picked up Luna’s cup, which she hadn’t taken a single sip from and had already gone cold, and moistened his throat.

* * *

“…The Countess did?”

I had left my room during a lesson with Hark at Ludrio’s summons.

Since he had urgently called for me, I had guessed he would say something important, but the news from his mouth was so unexpected that my eyebrows rose involuntarily.

“She said she would personally help me adapt to the social circle?”

Even after delivering such surprising news, he only nodded his head.

As if I was the only one flustered by this situation, Ludrio was utterly calm.

“…And she said she would stay here a bit longer and go out alone with me tomorrow?”

In contrast, the more I repeated the words, the more confused I became.

‘Why suddenly…’

More strange than the fact that the Countess who had been threatening me had changed her mind to help me was Ludrio himself.

Rather than the Countess truly having a change of heart, it would be more accurate to see this as her changing tactics to separate me and Iban from the ducal family.

So what was really strange was Ludrio.

He was the one who had told me so much not to get involved with the previous generation, who had even prevented me from having tea time.

What on earth had been discussed between the two of them that the Countess who had been pouring out curses and threats changed her words, and Ludrio came to take her side?

“Yes. More than that, what conversation did you have with the Countess?”

“Are you okay with me going out alone with the Countess tomorrow?”

I understood his question a bit late due to the simultaneously thrown questions.

“What?”

“What…”

He was the one who had the conversation, so why was he asking me about its contents?

When Ludrio was about to speak again, someone knocked on the study door.

When Ludrio’s permission was given after he turned his gaze from me, the servant entered the room and closed the door.

“Count, Count Roderich’s carriage has just been prepared.”

The servant glanced at me once and then reported the situation.

“I see.”

It seemed like he was telling him to come out and see him off, but Ludrio only nodded without showing any sign of getting up from his seat.

The servant’s gaze turned to me, sitting in front of him.

“Go and just greet…”

“If you’re done talking, just leave.”

Ludrio gestured for me to sit back down as I awkwardly stood up, then issued an order for the servant to leave.

Only after the servant left the study and closed the door did he speak again.

“You don’t need to worry about it. If you go greet him now, it will only cause unnecessary trouble.”

As he said this, he seemed to have already forgotten about seeing off the previous duke and immediately changed the subject.

“More than that, what do you mean by asking if it’s okay?”

“Ah, you originally dislike me being with the Countess.”

Ludrio didn’t tell me exactly what words had been exchanged with the Countess to reach that conclusion.

Did he not want to tell me?

“What conversation did you two have that made you both… change your minds?”

When I cautiously asked while reading the mood, he tilted his head to the side.

“That was exactly the question I wanted to ask.”

“Pardon?”

“…That the Countess’s change of heart wasn’t because of me.”

So Ludrio thought the Countess’s change of heart was because of me.

‘As I thought, does he find me detestable and want to keep me close to torment me?’

However, before I could say anything, he changed the subject.

“I don’t know what her reasons are yet, but it would be better to accept her help. If you and Iban want to adapt well to the Social Circle.”

And I was able to realize one thing from Ludrio’s reaction.

That he believed the Countess’s words about helping me.

“I don’t know her intentions, but it’s probably not a lie. She’s not the type to scheme because of pride.”

Had my thoughts shown on my face again this time? Once more, he provided an answer to a question I hadn’t even voiced aloud.

Ludrio was certain.

But I was still skeptical.

“…This time might be different.”

Because he didn’t know how harshly I had lashed out at the Countess.

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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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