One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 70

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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 70

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The drawing room of the Duke’s Manor.

My head tilted unconsciously at Ludrio’s words.

“You said the Countess is feeling unwell?”

“That’s right.”

Still, this was a meeting with the person who would become the next emperor, yet the Dowager Countess wasn’t attending.

‘Even during tea time, her condition didn’t seem that bad…’

She was someone who considered etiquette and formality extremely important.

Especially since the Countess was so wary of becoming the subject of others’ gossip for the sake of the family’s prestige, to be absent on the very day the Crown Prince was visiting.

This was no ordinary matter. She must truly be quite seriously ill somewhere.

“What did the doctor say?”

“Well. I wouldn’t know.”

Ludrio’s answer was excessively indifferent.

As if the welfare of the Dowager Countess wasn’t his concern.

“…I see.”

At her advanced age, even small things could make her quite ill.

Still, I wonder if she went to see the doctor properly?

…She must be getting medicine and resting well.

‘The social circle, Luciana, is not the kind drawing room you think it is. Especially not for you and your son.’

Or perhaps she came out for tea time with me despite feeling unwell.

‘But remember this. Especially in social circles, weaknesses don’t become fatal when they’re revealed, but when you become ashamed of them. Don’t do anything so vulgar as to blush at whatever you might hear.’

During the several days of tea time, the Countess had rattled off all the kinds of stories I would likely hear when I entered society.

‘A shameless woman who had a child before even getting married.’

‘A stain from a humble family that tainted the noble bloodline of Rharhart.’

‘A pitiful illegitimate child who couldn’t even inherit his father’s surname in time.’

Those were closer to curses than advice.

Sometimes I suspected she might be speaking her true feelings while pretending to give counsel…

In any case, the Countess tried to teach me many things.

She told me in great detail who to be careful of in society, what their temperaments were like, and what their weaknesses were.

‘The Lowell County, which boasts of being a prestigious family, suffers from hereditary diseases due to inbreeding. In that family, the youngest, Silber Lowell, is the most dim-witted. If he ever discusses your son Iban’s bloodline, ask him why the Count’s third son is confined deep within the estate, never seeing sunlight.’

‘Don’t let them describe taking in Iban as charity. Correct them firmly. Try it.’

The practice was repeated many times until I could produce an answer that pleased the Countess, but ultimately it was time spent for Iban and me.

When I came back to my senses, Ludrio was staring intently at me.

‘…Did I miss what he said?’

Though his gaze was emotionless, the rather persistent look made me tense up involuntarily.

Then he suddenly reached out his hand.

Was it a signal that I didn’t need to worry about the Countess?

I reflexively flinched my shoulders and immediately stood up from my seat, worried that brief moment of agitation might be noticed.

“…May I go check on the Countess briefly?”

After a moment of silence, he murmured quietly.

“It’s not a situation worth worrying about.”

He seemed somewhat displeased.

“Well, suit yourself.”

In the end, he nodded and withdrew his gaze from me.

Since Gaien hadn’t arrived yet, if I went to check on her condition and returned, I should be back in time.

I hurriedly left the drawing room.

The estate was very quiet today. Perhaps because the Crown Prince was visiting, not a single servant who would normally be bustling about was to be seen.

Just as I was turning a corner, the Dowager Countess was standing there.

“Mother?”

Almost leaning into Gaien’s embrace.

‘Did she collapse?’

I hurriedly ran toward the two of them.

Only after both of them turned their heads toward me did I realize that the two were simply standing a little, no, very closely together.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell for a moment.

It seemed I had interrupted their conversation at an inopportune moment.

“I greet His Majesty the Crown Prince.”

The Countess’s eyes looking at me became very cold, and only then did I come to my senses and greet Gaien.

“I had no intention of interrupting your conversation. I apologize.”

I saw the Countess take a step back.

“…Please raise your head, Lady.”

Gaien’s voice fell from above my head.

It was a polite and gentle tone, but the end was slightly cracked.

His hand gripping the box was tense with strength.

“I heard you were waiting in the drawing room, so I must be quite late.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. It’s because I presumptuously left the drawing room out of concern for the Countess’s health.”

Gaien slightly hid the box in his hand behind his coat and met my gaze.

“…I see.”

His eyes moved briefly toward the Countess.

“Thank you for being so considerate, Luciana.”

The Countess naturally took my hand and pulled me toward her.

“I’d like to go up to my room and rest. Will you help me?”

“Yes, Mother.”

She naturally placed her hand on my arm.

“Your Majesty has been very busy lately.”

Then she looked at the Crown Prince with a gently smiling face.

“Then wouldn’t it be better if you returned now? You must be tired from all your public and private affairs.”

“…”

Gaien’s gaze touched the Countess’s hand that embraced my arm.

“I am busy, but he’s my nephew. I have to make time even when I don’t have any.”

“…”

“It would be better for the Countess to go up and rest now. I didn’t realize you were unwell and kept you too long.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I hope you’ll be well when we meet next time. Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Gaien gave a light nod and lifted the corners of his mouth.

Then he headed toward the drawing room with the servant.

It was the moment he just turned the corner. The Countess, who had been holding my arm, threw out her words.

“You did something unnecessary, Luciana.”

“Pardon?”

At the sudden change in attitude, I could only make a dumbfounded sound.

I mean, I already knew that her acting affectionately toward me was because she was conscious of the Crown Prince.

The appearance of the elderly lady who had been leaning on my arm just moments ago was nowhere to be found.

“To interrupt the Crown Prince’s conversation with me. Did this seem like a place for you to interfere?”

She took a step closer to me and clicked her tongue briefly.

“I thought His Majesty the Crown Prince was supporting you because you had collapsed.”

“You can’t even grasp the situation and your eyesight is poor too. What a real problem.”

At the Countess’s skillful mockery, I quietly closed my mouth.

‘Then wouldn’t it be better if you returned now?’

Did she want to send the Crown Prince away? And I had interfered with that.

“So nothing was bothering you after all.”

“Now that you know, stop trying to provoke me further and go see to your business.”

The Countess waved her hand lightly as if shooing me away.

It was an indifferent gesture, as if I wasn’t even worth talking to anymore.

And yet I had come out here on purpose because I was worried about her.

She really was consistently disagreeable.

“Ha, your eyes are quite insolent.”

“…I apologize.”

I hurriedly bowed my head before she could scold me again.

Then I quickly walked down the path Gaien had disappeared along.

‘Still, he’s her grandson. Is it because he’s a member of the Imperial Family?’

Those two didn’t seem like family at all.

If I hadn’t known about their relationship beforehand, she would have looked like nothing more than a noble facing the Crown Prince.

I thought she only had a bad relationship with Ludrio, but it seemed she had poor relationships with all her family members.

‘So that’s why she deliberately left her seat.’

Not knowing this, I had been fooled by her flimsy excuse and worried for nothing, only to get thoroughly scolded.

When I stopped in front of the tightly closed drawing room door, an employee soon opened it for me.

“Where is the Countess?”

Ludrio turned his head to look at me.

“I met her on the way and escorted her to her room.”

He must have known the Dowager Countess’s words were just an excuse, so I wished he had told me too.

I bowed once more toward Gaien, who was sitting across from Ludrio, then took my seat.

Gaien and Iban seemed to have already finished their introductions. Iban was sitting very quietly in one corner of the large sofa next to Ludrio.

Iban was quite nervous about meeting the Crown Prince today.

Even for Iban, who had met great nobles from Count Roderich to the Previous Count and Countess, the Imperial Family felt different, and Iban cautiously observed the man before him with curiosity.

Gaien seemed to sense the child’s gaze and turned his head toward the child once more.

Iban hurriedly bowed his head.

As the child fidgeted with his small hands placed on his knees in embarrassment, Gaien carefully reached out and stroked the back of the child’s hand.

“Your eyes are so blue. Just like ours.”

He smiled as he met the child’s eyes.

It was a gentle smile, but somehow his face looked a little sad.

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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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