One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 54

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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 54

“Ah, no…”

As I hurriedly stepped back, he raised his hand and slowly rubbed my ear and nape as if wiping away my breath.

“I was trying to speak quietly, I’m sorry.”

At my apology, Ludrio finally removed his hand from my nape.

“You two are always excessively close whenever I see you. Even pushing the child aside.”

Then the Dowager Countess’s disapproving voice broke the silence.

She seemed to have just returned from the garden, looking up at us from the bottom of the stairs while shaking her head disapprovingly.

Ludrio’s hand stopped awkwardly in mid-air before slowly lowering.

“Please be more careful.”

Despite the Countess’s continued scolding, her atmosphere seemed strangely softened.

Was it because her conversation with Ludrio had gone well?

‘Now we’re going to eat together too. Does this mean the Countess has really changed her mind and decided to accept Iban and me?’

Watching the Countess’s back as she headed to the dining room, I tried to answer for myself the question I hadn’t been able to ask due to discussing Iban’s studies.

“Are you planning to dine together as well?”

It didn’t seem to be a pre-arranged situation, as Ludrio frowned with obvious displeasure.

His voice was much sharper than usual.

“Then should I eat alone when he’s not even here?”

However, the Countess didn’t bat an eye at Ludrio’s rude question.

I was the only one who seemed surprised.

“Wouldn’t it be better than having several people uncomfortable because of one Countess?”

She would accept help, but that didn’t mean she intended to change their relationship.

Ludrio showed no intention of backing down, and the Countess didn’t even frown at his insulting words, simply entering the dining room.

‘…This is strange indeed.’

For the Countess who had agreed to help to instead endure such rudeness.

She had disapproved of me.

Moreover, considering her usual attitude of never backing down from Ludrio, her current reaction was excessively meek.

So, as if she was enduring and waiting for what comes next.

“Luna?”

Ludrio, who had been walking down the stairs ahead, looked up strangely when my footsteps didn’t follow.

Even as I moved my stopped steps at his urging, a sigh naturally escaped.

* * *

It was strange.

The air inside the carriage was cooler than outside where the wind was blowing fiercely.

I glanced up to look at the Countess sitting across from me. She was gazing out the window with perfect posture.

‘Is this really goodwill?’

I kept fidgeting with my hands placed on my knees, repeatedly trying to guess the Countess’s intentions.

If I could, I wanted to directly ask why she had said she would help me.

So I looked for opportunities several times. During mealtime or right after.

But I failed every time.

After long deliberation, when I tried to speak, a maid would clear the plates, or the Countess would point out the napkin placement and scold me about dining etiquette.

Then an argument between Ludrio and the Countess would begin.

This time she seemed truly angry, as the Countess coldly left the dining room. So I couldn’t bring myself to seek her out separately afterward.

“…”

Ludrio said he would assign me a trustworthy employee, so there was no need to worry at all. He also added that if I was really uncomfortable, I should cancel the outing.

‘How can he say it so easily…’

What was he thinking?

Did he think the Countess’s help didn’t matter either way?

‘Or maybe he could see I was uncomfortable and was being considerate…’

That couldn’t be it.

I closed and opened my eyes, quickly cutting off my thoughts.

‘I don’t know the reason yet, but it’s better to accept her help. For you and Iban to adapt well to social circles.’

Yes, Ludrio probably gave me the choice for that reason.

Because to him, it was a favor that didn’t matter either way.

His suggestion was too dry to be called consideration. As if it had nothing to do with him from the start.

So…

No matter how positively I tried to interpret it, I couldn’t understand what either Ludrio or the Countess were thinking.

But.

What if the two of them were conspiring together?

A moment of ominous suspicion flashed through my mind.

‘Why have I been trusting Ludrio so much?’

If they had concluded that while the child was needed, a lowly mother was not, and the two had secretly joined hands.

“Stop.”

At the cold voice that broke the silence, I came to my senses and looked up.

The Previous Count’s wife was looking at me.

“How restless.”

Her gaze moved from my eyes to my hands placed on my knees. As if my fidgeting fingers were bothersome.

“…Why did you say you would help me?”

When she took a deep breath as if to continue her scolding, the question I couldn’t hold back suddenly popped out.

The Countess, who hadn’t finished what she was going to say, silently closed her mouth.

“Both you and Ludrio are quite persistent in asking about that reason.”

Then she leaned back against the chair and frowned.

“But I have no reason to answer you.”

“…”

“At least don’t misunderstand – I’m not helping you because I find you endearing.”

Just as I was at a loss for words at the Countess’s firm rejection, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Soon the door opened. The Countess glanced at me and got out of the carriage first.

“Don’t act foolishly and follow without falling behind.”

As I followed her out, the Countess spoke curtly.

“Lady Luciana, I’m here.”

As if noticing I was looking for her, Jane, the family employee Ludrio had assigned me, whispered quietly behind me.

“I’ll stay with you without missing anything, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

At Jane’s presence naturally following behind me, I nodded in response.

Then I walked one step behind the Countess, maintaining a constant distance.

While there weren’t too many people on the street, the gazes of those who recognized the Previous Count’s wife and moved aside passed by her and landed directly on me.

Even in that brief moment of bowing, I could see their attention shifting to me.

Passing through the crowd that parted like the Red Sea, the Countess headed to a massive clothing store located in the center of the street.

“Duchess, I’ve been waiting.”

Before we could even step on the stairs leading up to the clothing store, the ornate glass doors that had been tightly closed swung open and a man burst out.

“Thank you so much for gracing us with your precious visit.”

Was this the owner of the clothing store?

The man’s face was full of respectful smiles as he bowed so deeply his back might break while greeting the Countess.

I could clearly feel how much he revered the Countess.

From people who stepped aside just from her passing by, to the clothing store owner who bowed his head deeply before the Countess.

‘I had grown dull from staying only within the estate…’

I was greatly reminded once again of what kind of status the Rharhart family held within the Empire.

“Was your journey here comfortable?”

The Countess finished both greeting and response simultaneously with a nod and entered the clothing store.

Not long after following her inside, the staff closed the glass doors again.

“We’ve cleared the store so you can browse comfortably.”

“Yes.”

“And this person who came with you today is….”

The shop owner carefully shifted the topic to me while gauging the Countess’s mood.

“Luciana Oren. A child staying at the Count’s Residence.”

The Countess turned her head to look at me.

“A child who will stay by my son’s side from now on.”

Someone who would stay by Ludrio’s side. That would mean she was introducing me as someone who would become the Duchess.

As I wondered if I understood correctly, the Countess’s hand gently wrapped around my back.

I flinched, and for a brief moment, surprise flickered across the man’s face.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Luciana Oren.”

However, he soon composed his expression and bowed deeply to me.

“To think the Duchy would have such good fortune. To be the first to hear such joyful news is truly an honor.”

When I gave a slight nod as I had been taught, the man smiled once more and expressed refined surprise.

And even until then, the Countess was still holding me around my back.

As if treating a cherished daughter-in-law, her touch was incredibly caring and gentle.

Feeling her warmth against me, I thought to myself.

Ludrio’s words that the Countess wasn’t someone who would scheme even for the sake of pride were surely wrong.

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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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