One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 58
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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 58
“Mother….”
Only after calling her in a quiet voice did her gaze, which seemed to have been wandering quite far away, return to me.
Focus gradually formed in her empty eyes, then she frowned as if flustered.
“…So soft. You have many worries.”
The voice flowing from her lips was still cold, but its content seemed full of warmth.
Rather than a stern mother-in-law’s scolding, it was like the worry of someone who had to expose something fragile to the world.
Then she removed her hand from my cheek. And took my hand.
So everyone could see who the Countess was protecting.
The Countess looked at Rosemond while holding my hand.
“Rosemond Bain.”
When the low voice and sharp gaze turned toward her, Rosemond’s shoulders visibly jumped.
Her eyes shook finely, unable to find their bearings.
“The wound on my child’s wrist is deep.”
At the Countess’s words, she hurriedly bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, I mistook someone else. I should have acted more carefully, but I was hasty and committed great rudeness. I’m truly sorry.”
It was a completely different attitude from when she apologized to me before. She was terrified.
The Countess glanced at me after Rosemond’s apology and released my hand. She wiped my face with a handkerchief taken from her bosom.
Then she wiped her own hands as well. Jane’s blood stained her handkerchief.
The Countess’s lips twisted as she looked at the red bloodstains that colored the white cloth with indifferent eyes.
“A mistake. Who did you dare mistake this child for.”
The Countess handed the used handkerchief to Jane standing beside her.
“Tell me.”
Jane, who received the handkerchief, stood still as if she couldn’t even think of wiping the blood from her cheek.
“Who did you dare mistake this child for, when she’s wearing clothes prepared by the family.”
“Countess…!”
Rosemond’s voice became urgent.
“I need to know whether the mistress of the Bain family has already become senile enough to not distinguish faces, or if this happened because the Rharhart family’s standards have fallen.”
Rosemond’s complexion had already become very pale.
“It’s because I acted foolishly. I’m truly sorry, Countess.”
She bowed her head even deeper, which couldn’t be lowered any further, begging for forgiveness.
“Tsk, the mistress has already become senile. The Bain family is pitiful too.”
The Dowager Countess clicked her tongue coldly.
The moment the Countess closed her mouth, silence heavily pressed down on the gallery.
None of those gathered here to watch could easily open their mouths.
Then the Countess took my hand again.
‘…At least it’s over.’
The moment I thought from the hand that embraced me that we could now leave the gallery, that we would return to the estate.
“Tomorrow at noon, come to the Rharhart Estate with Count Bain. Prepare an apology that this child can accept.”
The Dowager Countess spoke.
Rosemond’s lips trembled as she raised her head.
“What use is it for someone whose mind isn’t sound to mumble apologies all day? Above all, Count Bain must bear great responsibility for letting such a person wander outside and lay hands on someone else’s precious child.”
She spat out insulting words toward Rosemond without reservation.
Then she turned around before she could give any answer.
“Let’s go now.”
The Dowager Countess pulled my hand.
As I left the gallery following the Countess’s lead, I glanced back at the two people behind us.
Jane, who helped me and got slapped while confronting Rosemond, who was much larger than her.
And Rosemond, who suffered humiliating insults for the reason of recognizing Luna….
Before my uncomfortable feelings of guilt could even be sorted out, the Dowager Countess’s sharp notification pierced my mind.
‘Tomorrow at noon, come to the Rharhart Estate with Count Bain.’
Ah.
Count Bain would be coming to the Duke’s Manor.
If my guess was correct, Count Bain would be the one who had an inappropriate relationship with Luna.
It felt like all the blood drained from my body in an instant.
How should I bring this up to Ludrio. Just imagining it briefly made my hands and feet turn cold.
“Get in.”
When I thought that Ludrio would also learn about this fact.
When I thought that I would have to face Count Bain and his wife tomorrow together with him, I felt so ashamed that my stomach churned.
‘He already knows me as a prostitute….’
It was already a mud pit. I knew that adding more mud to that muddy water wouldn’t change anything, yet I felt so ashamed.
This time I would surely be kicked out.
Click. The carriage door closed and the carriage departed.
“I sent you out to get into the sight of a few more people, and you cause such a commotion?”
I came to my senses after the Countess’s angry voice fell.
“Really, you…!”
“….”
“Hah.”
The Countess rubbed her eyebrows and let out a deep sigh.
“You really do all sorts of things.”
Her eyes gradually became calm as if regaining reason.
“Tell me.”
“What….”
“How exactly are you connected to Rosemond Bain, when you’re from the Orenge branch family who couldn’t even get close to the Capital’s social circles?”
Since she harshly scolded Rosemond, I thought the Countess was angry that someone had mistaken a person.
Now I see she had hurriedly placed responsibility on Rosemond, worried that the family’s reputation might be damaged regardless of the truth of the situation.
I hurriedly shook my head.
Right, what could the Dowager Countess, who knows me as from the Orenge branch family, be certain of?
“Was it really Rosemond’s misunderstanding?”
I just nodded silently without speaking.
My heart was pounding anxiously, but outwardly I composed my face to look as if I knew nothing.
“I’ve watched Rosemond for a long time. From when she was young, holding her parents’ hands, to when she debuted in society at eighteen, and often even after she became the mistress of the Bain family.”
However, the Countess continued speaking at a steady pace in a flat voice.
“She wasn’t a woman who would do incomprehensible things to stand out. She never caused a scene by showing her momentary anger either.”
She seemed to think I was lying. The Countess finished speaking and raised her hand to lightly brush my lips.
“She’s a quiet woman.”
Saying there must be a clear reason why Rosemond caused a scene.
Her gaze was sharp, going beyond observing me to trying to see through my inner thoughts.
She lightly tapped her knee with her finger as if urging an answer.
During the time that finger tapped the Countess’s knee about three times, countless thoughts swept through my mind.
Should I tell the truth? If she already suspects me.
From the first time I met Iban, it had never been easy even once, but today was really….
“I thought she was someone you sent, Countess.”
In the end, I chose to lie.
“So you deliberately sent me to the gallery alone. Did you bring me out for this purpose, does His Grace no longer need me either.”
I tried to hold back but eventually wiped away the tears that fell.
If I tell Ludrio about today’s events, I’ll be kicked out.
But now I could read and write. So even if I’m kicked out right away, I should be able to make a living somehow.
I don’t know what I’m so afraid of.
I was more scared than before when I couldn’t even read.
“While being dragged away, that’s all I could think about.”
My voice shook pathetically.
As if I were pleading.
…I didn’t want to be kicked out.
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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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