One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 68

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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 68

“Please!”

At the child’s desperate plea, Ludrio slightly frowned and turned his head.

It was a deafening cry, but he couldn’t bring himself to put down the child who clung to him like a lifeline.

Could that woman really be so precious to him?

Ludrio couldn’t quite understand it.

Nothing would change even if the woman left. Why was he going to such lengths?

Ludrio gently patted Iban’s back as he sobbed breathlessly.

‘I thought he only temporarily forgave me because he’s still young and needs a guardian. Now that you’ve said you’ll be his guardian, I’m no longer needed, so he can hate me freely…’

In the end, Luna had been right.

Iban truly needed Luna, not anything else.

He hadn’t wanted an adult to rescue him from his unfortunate circumstances, but Luna…

“Please, Father!”

Ludrio slightly frowned at Iban calling him father.

Iban had been awkward and uncomfortable calling him father, often omitting the title altogether.

“Father, please.”

He seemed desperate enough to grasp at anything if it meant not losing Luna.

“Alright.”

Ludrio’s low voice fell over the child’s head.

“She cannot leave this estate without my permission. Even if she eventually recovers her memories.”

Ludrio gently stroked the nape of Iban’s neck, who had soaked his shirt collar with tears.

“I have no intention of letting her go, so stop crying.”

At those words, Iban’s convulsive sobbing began to subside.

Ludrio felt the trembling beneath his palm gradually calm down and glanced aside.

He could see his and Iban’s reflection in the window.

“Really, really no chance?”

“That’s right.”

“…Even if her original family comes looking?”

“That’s right.”

The child who had been crying loudly and pitifully lifted his face. Only then did Ludrio realize that what had soaked his shirt wasn’t just tears.

“You’re not lying, right? You’re promising?”

“…I promise.”

Ludrio hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Before Iban could start wailing again.

Anyway, life here would be better for that woman too. Even if it was all just a strange family charade built on lies.

* * *

Through the slightly opened carriage window came the bone-dry winter air without a trace of moisture.

The black carriage without any emblems, carrying Gaien Markelbroc, entered a quiet alley.

Gaien, who had been listening to the sound of hoofbeats on the pavement with his eyes closed, let out a soft sigh.

‘Did he not come?’

When he had promised to contact him.

He had clearly promised to arrange a meeting with his nephew, but his brother hadn’t sent a single telegram.

How hard could it be to just send a servant with a message?

In the week since the Previous Count and Countess had arrived, the entire social circle had been buzzing with talk about that woman.

Which family was she from, what was her relationship with Duke Ludrio Rhart.

Why the Countess Roderich personally selected her clothes and took such caring attention of her.

Everyone who had been at Heroz that day chattered about what they had witnessed.

How the Dowager Countess had held her hand, caressed her cheek. How furious she had been at Rosemond Bain’s rudeness.

How affectionate she had been toward the woman she introduced as her daughter-in-law.

For nearly a week, he had heard enough stories about the Rharharts to be thoroughly sick of them.

The news that House of Rharhart had ordered items for a young child and woman had already swept through the social circle.

The Bain couple’s visit to the Duke’s Mansion to apologize, and two days later, Rosemond Bain being banished to the countryside.

He had already heard enough about how the situation was unfolding to be sick of it.

But his frustrated feelings hadn’t been resolved in the slightest.

“…”

The carriage entered the corridor and stopped.

As soon as the door opened, the winter cold rushed in, making his shoulders instinctively hunch.

“Have you arrived, Your Highness?”

As Gaien passed through the thick oak door of the stone building and entered the hall, the steward approached like a shadow and whispered while bowing his head.

Gaien looked at the massive fireplace illuminating the hall and silently removed his coat and handed it over.

Though they had never made an appointment, it had always been this way. Thursday was his day.

Seeing that the steward said nothing, today too he hadn’t come to Domus…

“Count Roderich is in the smoking room inside. If you go to the red room, I’ll call for him.”

At those words, Gaien’s head immediately turned.

Of course. There was no way his brother wouldn’t show up.

“No need. I’ll go directly.”

Gaien waved his hand dismissively and headed past the steward toward the inner rooms.

When he opened the smoking room door, thick unventilated cigar smoke and strong brandy scent hit him.

“Ahem.”

Gaien frowned at the harsh smell and quickly surveyed the room.

Under the light of dozens of gas lamps, men gathered around green tables. At their center was Ludrio, immediately catching the eye.

The game seemed to be going well for him, as checks and gold coins were piled like mountains in front of him.

“Brother.”

Ludrio, who had been looking down at his cards, raised his eyes.

“I’m done here.”

As Gaien approached, Ludrio threw his cards face down on the table.

“No, Count Roderich. Don’t you feel sorry? Do you know how much is riding on this hand!”

“Haha, since Your Highness has arrived, it’s only natural. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I too was praying for Your Highness to come. Let’s continue among ourselves. It seems like we finally have a chance now.”

Ludrio picked up the coat he had hung behind his chair, roughly pushed his share of the pot toward the center of the table, and stood up.

“Brother, just continue. I can wait.”

Ludrio, who had walked over with long strides, stared directly at Gaien. Then he gave a short look as if to say don’t talk nonsense and follow him, and left the room.

“What a waste of money. Besides, you were winning.”

“…”

“This round seemed really big too.”

The corner of Gaien’s mouth quietly twitched.

“I’m fine with cigar smoke now.”

“How is getting used to it something good?”

Ludrio slightly frowned. He entered the room the steward had guided them to and spoke with displeasure.

“Don’t make a fuss about consideration and such, just don’t let them light up in front of you.”

“…I don’t cough like when I was little anymore.”

“Enough.”

At Ludrio’s short wave of his hand, the corner of Gaien’s mouth twitched again.

The reason Ludrio Rharhart didn’t put cigars to his lips.

It was because of him.

Not regretting stopping the game no matter how much money was at stake was also because of him.

“Why didn’t you contact me?”

Gaien sat across from Ludrio and spoke again.

“About my nephew. You said you’d introduce us. I even prepared a gift.”

“The Dowager Countess said she would stay until the New Year.”

“Ah….”

At those words, Gaien let out a small sigh.

If the Dowager Countess was holding her ground at Count Roderich’s Estate, it would be a bit awkward for him to visit there as well.

He had no desire to hear another round of scolding for no reason.

“But what exactly is going on with this situation?”

The fact that the Dowager Countess was taking such good care of Luciana Oren, whom he had thought would be fortunate just to avoid physical assault, was very strange indeed.

Of course, there might have been some kind of deal between the previous Count and Ludrio….

“Just as you’ve already heard.”

“But why would the Dowager Countess.”

Only then did Ludrio set down the glass in his hand and slowly blink his eyes.

“She said she wants to help Luna gain recognition as the Countess.”

“…What?”

Ludrio’s fingers slowly rubbed the glass.

As if lost in thought.

“They’ve started having tea time around three o’clock every afternoon.”

Once again, Gaien couldn’t understand his words.

Who exactly was having tea time with whom?

“Well, it doesn’t seem like they’re discussing anything particularly significant….”

“Are you talking about Luciana and the Dowager Countess right now?”

Nod. Ludrio simply nodded without saying a word.

“I don’t know the reason, but.”

“….”

“The Countess seems to like her as well.”

The Countess as well.

As well, he said.

Gaien quietly observed Ludrio.

“The two of them have grown quite…. closer.”

Gaien quietly observed Ludrio.

He frowned as if something didn’t sit well with him.

“What’s wrong?”

However, Ludrio merely shrugged his shoulders without giving a proper answer.

…What exactly was so special about Luciana Oren.

“Nephew. I’d like to meet her tomorrow.”

Eventually, those words burst out of Gaien’s mouth.

Quite impulsively.

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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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