One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 64

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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 64

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Upon entering the room, I saw three or four neatly arranged boxes on the table.

It was what Ludrio had mentioned.

Beautifully wrapped boxes.

“….”

I gently touched the deep blue wrapping paper and the pressed red wax seal, then untied the ribbon of the largest box.

As the thick paper opened, a subtle scent of cedar wood wafted out along with a small booklet that caught my eye.

An eight-page booklet containing instructions on how to adjust the pressure of a press and methods to preserve flower colors.

Below it, something wrapped in layers of white cotton fabric appeared to be a pressed flower press.

When I carefully unwrapped it, a pressed flower press made of dark rosewood revealed itself.

I fingered the glossy smooth wooden surface and brass screws, then sat down in the chair.

Ludrio had said it would be fine.

That tomorrow and any other day would be without any problems.

There wasn’t a trace of worry to be found in him. So it really must be okay.

Unlike how I had been restlessly anxious.

“…It’s okay.”

When I thought about it, that was true. Proving one’s identity would be very difficult in this place.

There were no photographs, and there would be no way to compare fingerprints.

So tomorrow I would just need to sit beside Ludrio as usual.

Since I didn’t have any of Luna’s memories to begin with, pretending not to know wasn’t that difficult.

“….”

I wouldn’t be driven away, and I wouldn’t be a burden to the family.

Ludrio had told me to just continue as I had been doing until now.

‘Why don’t I feel happy about it.’

Was it because I had to face Count Bain tomorrow?

I had no memories, but still….

Creak.

It was then that the door opened without even a small knock.

“Iban?”

Startled, I turned around to see Iban holding something cylindrical in his arms.

“Mother!”

The child smiled brightly. At that moment, long paper strips came streaming down from around his armpit.

“Iban, what is that?”

“This is a toy Father gave me as a gift! It’s incredibly amazing!”

I got up from my seat and hurriedly approached with my hands extended, but Iban shook his head and refused my help.

The child looked a bit flustered seeing the boxes filling the table, then placed it on the small tea table in front of the couch.

“Come quickly!”

As I approached Iban who was urgently gesturing, the child tapped on a narrow slit on the side of the cylinder.

“Here, look inside this. You have to watch carefully without blinking, okay?”

At the urging of the excited Iban, I bent down and brought my eye to the slit.

As the cylinder rotated, the pictures on the paper strip fixed inside began to move as if merged into one.

“How is it?”

A horse’s mane fluttered as it leaped into the air and vigorously jumped over a fence.

Then it continued repeating.

Jumping, jumping, and jumping again.

“Wow.”

Still, I let out an exclamation to match the child’s enthusiasm.

“It’s really amazing, right? Wait, there’s more. Hold on!”

Iban spoke as if delighted.

The child ran to the door and hurriedly picked up the fallen paper strips.

“Were you playing with your toy?”

Iban, who was bent over picking up the scattered papers on the carpet, looked up at me and shook his head.

“No, I was studying with Hark. But Mother.”

The child who had finished collecting everything came running back with a beaming smile.

“Father reduced my study time.”

Then he came close as if sharing a secret and whispered quietly.

“Hm?”

“Now I only have to study for two hours and three hours. And he said he’d teach me swordsmanship too.”

The child suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around my neck.

It seemed he had spent a very pleasant time today.

“Count Roderich reduced it for you.”

“Yes. He asked if it was too hard for me. I said it was okay, but he still reduced it.”

When I hugged Iban’s back as he was in my arms, the child hugged me even tighter.

“Iban, today must have been good. You got a gift too.”

“Hehe.”

The child who smiled playfully squirmed as if asking to be let go.

“There are really many other amazing things besides this. I haven’t seen them all yet either.”

When I released my arms, Iban naturally changed the paper strip and said.

“Look at this.”

At Iban’s urging as he tapped, I focused on the toy again. The child giggled and said.

“Funny, right? Eating a fly.”

“…Yes, it is.”

I could continue staying at the Duke’s mansion without being separated from Iban.

House of Rharhart could embrace me as much as they wanted, and Ludrio had told me it was okay, that there would be no problems because of me.

“This time I’ll show you this. I think Mother will like this one the most.”

I was grateful for those words and happy about being able to stay here.

But strangely, I didn’t feel quite right about it.

The past I had confessed to Ludrio still felt shameful.

Even though he seemed not to care much about it.

* * *

“Lady Luciana?”

Jane’s face approaching quickly showed clear signs of confusion.

Dark red traces of medicine remained blotchily on her cheek where the swelling hadn’t fully subsided.

“Were you waiting for me?”

When I quietly nodded, she frowned slightly.

“I brought some ointment and cloth. Dr. Kraban said Jane was fine and refused it.”

As the doctor had said, it seemed Jane had indeed declined, as she just nodded quietly.

“Why didn’t you accept it? What if it leaves a scar? You need to apply the medicine properly.”

“…Thank you.”

I placed what I had brought into her hands as she bowed her head.

“Thank you for helping today. And I’m sorry.”

At my apology, Jane raised her head. Then her eyebrows furrowed even more.

As if she didn’t understand my apology well or found it uncomfortable.

“You were in so much pain today because of me.”

“…This is not something for Lady Luciana to apologize for. I was reprimanded for my own mistake. There’s no reason for you to worry about it.”

She shook her head with a very firm voice, as if she wasn’t wronged at all.

“But Jane…. Jane did her best for me.”

It was Jane who had restrained Rosemond Bain’s sudden actions.

It was also she who explained the situation to Rosemond and obtained an apology on behalf of my confused self.

What more could Jane have done in that situation?

Yet she was slapped in front of many people watching.

It must have been painful, bewildering, and embarrassing, but Jane didn’t show any sign of it and remained very calm. That made me feel even more sorry.

This was a class-based society, so she wasn’t in a position to dare protest against the previous Duchess.

Still, it wasn’t Jane’s fault.

“I’ll be more careful next time so you won’t have to go through something like this.”

“….”

“I’m sorry.”

As Jane silently bowed her head deeply, I took a step back.

A strange sight where the person receiving the apology bowed deeper than the one giving it.

It seemed she found both my apology and this situation burdensome.

“I’ll go now.”

Just as I was about to hurry away, thinking it would be better for her if I left quickly.

“Thank you for your concern.”

She quietly spoke up.

Perhaps because she was still bewildered, her cheek was flushed when she raised her head.

She was tightly gripping the ointment and cloth I had given her.

“I’m truly sorry about today.”

Then an unexpected apology followed.

Even though it was a corridor with no one to see or hear, my apology seemed to make her very uncomfortable.

In this rigid class society, it seemed my actions were actually pressuring her instead.

“…And Lady Luciana, I would appreciate it if you could speak down to me from now on.”

“Ah….”

“I am an employee of the family.”

Jane bowed even deeper as she said those words.

“Okay.”

I quickly nodded, hoping she wouldn’t bow her head any lower.

“…I’ll go.”

Then I quickly walked away.

As soon as I left the building, my shoulders naturally hunched from the cool night breeze.

‘I’m truly sorry about today.’

I think I finally understood what social status meant.

Discriminatory rights granted regardless of individual will, based on social position determined by birth.

In this world where inequality was natural, why had Ludrio Rharhart apologized to me?

What feelings did he have when he apologized to me?

Why did he act as if you and I were the same….

“How foolish.”

From the beginning until now, I must have been just a prostitute to Ludrio. What was I trying to hide, and what was I ashamed of now?

…It seemed he had been too kind to me.

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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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