One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 74

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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 74

After that, several more greetings were exchanged.

Perhaps because the Dowager Countess was by my side, contrary to my worries, no one showed any hostility toward me.

There were also no particularly noticeable people trying to belittle or ignore me with subtle words.

The Countess personally introduced me to those she had told me to get close to. That was probably a silent pressure sent to the others.

A message to not treat me carelessly and to take good care of me, as I was someone the Countess had accepted as her own.

It was a warning delivered with such courtesy. It seemed that through those harsh tea times, I had developed an eye for reading situations myself.

I was in the middle of exchanging greetings with those who had come to see me.

“Is my turn still far off?”

A low, firm voice came from behind me. When I turned around, Ludrio had approached at some point and was looking down at me.

“The dance music has already changed three times.”

“Oh my, His Grace must have been waiting for quite a while. Hoho, I’d like to talk more with Lady Luciana, but I’ll step back.”

The young lady I had been greeting with stepped aside playfully.

Ludrio, who gave her a slight nod, was alone.

‘Where’s Iban?’

If the Dowager Countess was next to me and Ludrio, who should be with Iban, was here, then who was Iban with?

He took another step closer and bowed deeply.

I hurriedly placed my hand over his large outstretched hand. I could feel countless gazes in the hall focusing on us.

“Your Grace, what about Iban?”

I approached him closely and whispered quietly.

“Gaien took him, saying he wanted to keep his promise.”

“A promise?”

Ludrio just nodded without any further explanation. As if there was nothing to worry about.

‘Ah, is he trying to show him the greenhouse he mentioned last time?’

Just as I was recalling the promise he and Iban had made recently, Ludrio gripped my hand a bit tighter.

“Focus on me for now. This is a hand I caught after quite a wait.”

“Ah…”

He led me and naturally glided toward the center of the hall.

As if telling those watching us to engrave this clearly in their minds.

The music started again and his large hand steadily supported my waist.

Under Ludrio’s steady gaze, I lowered my eyes to his tie.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No, the Dowager Countess has been taking very good care of me.”

His movements as he stepped to the beat were elegant without a single disruption.

“Stay with me after this.”

I looked up at those words.

‘Is Iban going to spend more time with His Majesty the Crown Prince?’

The Dowager Countess had told me not to be alone or stick together with just Iban at this ball.

Saying there was nothing more ridiculous than two nobodies sticking together.

“…Yes.”

“Your coat?”

“I took it off because the hall was hot.”

He pulled me closer to him as if drawing me into closer contact.

“You seem to have learned to dance diligently.”

His blue eyes, red lips, and light breath. Everything was too close.

“Yes. Hark taught me well.”

“…I thought it would be fine today, but my mind has changed again.”

“Pardon?”

Through the rustling of dress hems as we turned, I heard Ludrio’s low, grinding murmur.

“Even with all this, you’re still not drawing lines with me.”

“Your Grace?”

“I still don’t know what I did wrong.”

His gaze became a bit sharper.

“You told the Dowager Countess that you were afraid I might conspire with her to abandon you. Is it still because of that distrust toward me, like that day?”

“…”

“What about me made you uncomfortable again without my knowing?”

I wondered what he meant, but it was the story he had brought up that day when the Crown Prince visited the Duke’s manor.

Asking what the reason was for drawing lines with him.

“This time too, you must have your own valid reasons, so I was planning to be careful if you told me.”

Since there were no particular words after that, I thought he had believed my excuse and moved on, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

“But you chose to keep your mouth shut, and I waited, thinking it might be something that needed time.”

He seemed quite angry. His jaw muscles stood out as if he was clenching his teeth.

“But this is your answer, isn’t it.”

His rough voice, spat out as if grinding, was very bewildering.

What lines had I drawn that made him this angry?

I had never ignored him even once. I had just kept a little distance.

…Though I had occasionally made appropriate excuses and avoided situations.

‘Ludrio Rharhart was aware of all that.’

I thought he wouldn’t think much of it, but no, he had been waiting. Until I would honestly open up.

“Just as you find convenient.”

“No. It’s not like that…”

I hurriedly shook my head. But before I could say anything, the song ended.

Ludrio Rharhart withdrew his gaze from me as if without regret.

“I’ve heard enough of an answer, so there’s no need to make excuses.”

“Your Grace.”

“Let’s go. There are still many eyes watching us.”

He extended his arm as if for me to take it.

As Ludrio said, even those who had danced together were glancing at us as they passed by.

I placed my hand on his arm and followed him.

“…”

I hadn’t thought that Ludrio Rharhart would get angry.

So, I had thought he would be indifferent. Since I thought we were nothing to each other in the first place.

But that was a very rude assumption about Ludrio.

‘Let me get some tea first.’

Ludrio had willingly left his seat for me when I was crying not long ago.

‘Contrary to your worries, it means there’s no connection between you and the Count at all. …So there’s nothing to worry about.’

He was also the one who deliberately sent people to investigate Count and Countess Bain for my worried sake.

Even going so far as to relay the report contents in advance and reassure me so I wouldn’t worry.

Even though Ludrio Rharhart had no reason to care for me in such ways.

In the end, all of that was his consideration.

He had always taken care of me very attentively.

I had arbitrarily ignored his kindness and consideration.

Absorbed only in my own emotions and situation, I failed to consider his position.

I thought it was right to keep an appropriate distance since we were simply bound by contract, a relationship of necessity.

However, if it had been a relationship of nothing, he wouldn’t have treated me that way.

“I’m sorry, that I did such a thing…”

“Enough.”

He cut off my words immediately.

“I told you. I’m no longer interested.”

He didn’t give me even a glance.

“There’s no reason to explain now.”

Even as he said that, Ludrio’s steps were very slow.

At just the right pace for me to follow comfortably.

“The reason I kept my distance from you, Count, was because of me.”

Even though he was angry with me, it seemed he had no intention of ruining this ball.

Whether it was for Iban’s sake or for mine.

He had been considerate of us until the very end.

“It was because I liked you.”

So I had no other choice either.

“…What?”

“I mean, it was because I had come to like you, Count.”

Even if it was a feeling I never wanted to be caught having. A feeling I never wanted to reveal even once.

“…”

Ludrio stopped in his tracks.

Staring directly at me, he finally seemed to understand what I meant and frowned.

“Count.”

The people following behind us looked our way. As he had said, there were still many eyes watching us.

He just stood there blankly, still seemingly unable to recover from the shock.

“What do you mean by that…”

“Let’s move somewhere else first. If you have questions, I’ll explain everything.”

Ludrio finally started walking again.

His face showed he hadn’t expected this at all. His furrowed brow and wavering gaze.

He seemed quite shocked and troubled by my confession.

Even though it was the response I had expected, his reaction was quite painful.

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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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