One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 71

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

One Day I Picked Up a Mother – Episode 71

After that, the Crown Prince stayed for quite a long time.

He filled the silence by asking us if life at the Duke’s mansion was comfortable, if Ludrio was treating us well, and so on.

These were kind questions checking if we had any inconveniences.

‘When you come to the capital later, I’ll show you the greenhouse and library. There are many wonderful flowers you’ve never seen and interesting books there.’

Along with a promise to give us gifts when we next meet, he made plans for future time together.

Thus ended the brief yet long meeting with Gaien.

Ludrio suggested they share a meal together, but he seemed truly busy as he promised to meet again next time.

After his carriage left the estate’s main gate, I took Iban’s hand.

It was truly winter now.

The bitter winter wind and the frozen ground. In that brief moment, Iban’s hand had grown cold.

So it would be good to go inside the estate now, but Ludrio just stared at me intently.

“Your Grace?”

“Iban, go inside first and rest.”

When I carefully called to him wondering if he had something to say, he looked down at Iban and spoke.

Iban glanced at me once, then let go of my hand and walked into the estate.

When the estate door closed, Ludrio gestured for me to come a little closer.

As I approached a couple steps closer.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

He said those words. With such a confident attitude, as if I had requested the conversation first.

He was the one who sent the child inside first, so why is he asking me…

‘So right now, this is a situation where I should have something to say?’

I hurriedly retraced the time with the Crown Prince, wondering if I had done something wrong.

But no matter how much I thought about it, I had only answered Gaien’s questions and had no memory of making any major mistakes.

I had never spoken badly about the ducal family or Ludrio, and I don’t think I acted against etiquette.

Though my thoughts spiraled endlessly, no matter how I considered it, I had no memory of making such a big mistake that I deserved to be questioned here in this cold weather.

“If you tell me, I’ll fix it.”

“What?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Ludrio’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Let me change the question.”

Ludrio muttered quietly with displeasure.

“What’s the reason you’re keeping your distance from me?”

“…Pardon?”

An unexpected question flew at me sharply.

“What do you mean by that…”

“It’s not my imagination.”

At his voice that sounded like he was making a definitive statement, I was flustered and had no choice but to close my mouth.

As Ludrio said, my keeping distance wasn’t just his imagination.

It was just very bewildering that he had accurately pinpointed my attitude.

I could guarantee that I had never openly avoided Ludrio Rharhart. I had always answered his questions faithfully.

How on earth did he figure it out?

“I have no intention of getting angry. I’m thinking of accommodating you as much as possible.”

“…”

“So tell me.”

He spoke as if he would gladly fix whatever was making me uncomfortable, if only he knew what it was.

Ludrio was trying to be excessively kind to me again this time.

‘What if I really end up liking you because of this?’

I stepped back and shook my head.

“I don’t really understand what you’re talking about. I’ve never tried to keep distance from Your Grace, but if you felt that way, it’s my oversight.”

“…”

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Ludrio’s brow furrowed noticeably.

As if he clearly saw through that my words were lies.

However, if I intended to hide my true feelings, he couldn’t make an issue of it anymore.

I don’t know how he noticed, but these would be very subtle things to make an issue of.

“…Let’s go inside.”

When I hid my cold hands and bowed my head, he exhaled lightly and spoke.

Then he led the way into the estate. I quietly followed behind him.

“…”

Ludrio Rharhart was a good person.

Someone who made me accept his apology without even knowing the reason, and shamelessly made me demand what I wanted.

When I was by his side, the Duke’s mansion was so safe that I often forgot our difference in status, and he let me be myself.

Whether in front of him or in front of others.

He listened to my words and generously gave me what I needed.

I liked that gentle attitude and unpretentious kindness with which Ludrio treated me.

And he was so excessively handsome that I couldn’t ignore him even if I stayed still.

“Then I’ll go in first.”

I hurriedly entered my room and closed the door.

‘Why is he so perceptive?’

Leaning my back against the closed door, I quietly rubbed my face.

So I had to constantly strive not to like Ludrio Rharhart.

I would imagine him, who often left the estate, embracing women and indulging in gambling as the rumors said, trying to chip away at my feelings.

I would remind myself of the insurmountable gap in our social status, or immerse myself more deeply in Hark’s lessons so that distracting thoughts couldn’t creep in.

The reason I tried so hard to draw that line was ultimately one thing.

‘He’s Iban’s father.’

I didn’t want to take anything away from Iban.

It wasn’t such a great emotion that I wanted to reveal it even if it meant breaking our current relationship and peace.

* * *

It had been a month.

A whole month.

At meal times, when passing in the corridors, even in moments when the child wasn’t around.

It was very subtle but also very precise.

She acted like someone who had set some kind of boundary.

She would make eye contact but not gaze for long, she would speak but tried to keep conversations short. She always stopped at a certain distance.

‘I’ve never tried to keep distance from Your Grace, but if you felt that way, it’s my oversight. I’ll be more careful from now on.’

But she said she wasn’t drawing lines.

If it had been a day or two, he would have dismissed it as a temporary whim.

Around a week, he wondered if he had made some mistake and spent long hours reviewing his actions.

And like that, a whole month.

Was it because of lingering distrust?

She had been greatly ashamed by the incident with Count and Countess Bain, so was it because of that?

Or was she still angry with him after all?

Ludrio still hadn’t figured out why Luna was keeping her distance from him.

Strength naturally entered the back of his hand as he put down his pen.

That polite rejection, which made it impossible to know what more he should consider and restrain, had long since pushed his patience beyond its limits.

When that irritation like a thorn stuck in his throat wouldn’t easily disappear.

“…Tomorrow, please stay by Luciana and Iban’s side as much as possible.”

At the request from the former Duchess beside him, Ludrio’s gaze finally shifted to her.

He had missed much of the content, but it was probably just talk about tomorrow’s ball preparations proceeding without error.

Something about the color of the ceremonial dress.

Or it was talk about how far the wedding preparations had progressed.

“The wedding is in two weeks. This ball will be the first official occasion where Luciana and Iban appear as members of our family.”

Ludrio’s gaze turned to Luna again.

“Conduct yourself so as not to be looked down upon by others. I’m telling you not to giggle frivolously with other young ladies.”

At those words, Luna, who had been keeping her place with downcast eyes, looked up.

But as soon as their eyes met, she turned her head away again.

…Why is she acting like that, really.

“Tsk, let’s go now, Luciana.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Then Luna stood up from her seat, following the Dowager Countess.

Ludrio gave up trying to stop Luna and closed his eyes. It was obvious she would brush him off again if he asked anyway.

“…”

When did she call me a good person.

She said there must be the predecessor’s fault in my harsh behavior.

How long had it been since she said that, yet now Luna seemed to feel more comfortable with the Dowager Countess than with me.

‘What’s so enjoyable?’

‘Oh, Mother. Did you see this? Isn’t it cute?’

She even pushed the book she was reading in front of the Countess and kept grinning.

He was curious about what could have been so interesting, but Ludrio couldn’t find anything cute in the magazine she had been looking at.

Thud.

At the sound of the study door closing, Ludrio let out the breath he had been holding.

“I should have just sent her away.”

It seemed the Dowager Countess’s influence was behind Luna’s strange behavior.

Even if that wasn’t the case.

He couldn’t stand to watch those two sticking together as if they were some great relationship any longer.

Two weeks. Once the wedding was over, he would drive out the Dowager Countess immediately.

Ludrio steadied his breathing once more with such thoughts.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————