One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 78

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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 78

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The train that had left the capital was racing toward the Western Rharhart Territory.

Adelaide, who had been watching the trees endlessly sweeping past outside the window, soon closed her eyes.

Even the plush velvet seats of the first-class cabin were quite unsatisfactory for soothing her sensitive nerves.

“….”

A sudden vibration caused nausea to surge up from deep in her chest.

To think she would have to ride this wretched thing again.

She truly could not understand how anyone could say this pile of scrap metal was the Empire’s future.

Whether it was due to the train’s characteristic irregular swaying, her fingertips now began to tremble slightly.

It was when she clenched her fists tightly to drive away the discomfort.

“My lady, would you care to try this? It’s mint-flavored candy.”

The servant who had been keeping watch beside her carefully pulled out a small silver case from her bosom.

A vivid yellow band clearly outlined against the cold silver background.

She remembered seeing this tacky case before.

Was it a month ago? The day she had taken Luciana to Heroz.

They had changed clothes for fittings, and this stupid silver case had been placed on top of Luciana’s neatly folded garments by a servant.

When she saw that sight, Adelaide felt an indescribable sense of shame.

A woman who had aged as much as she could age, carrying candy in her pocket like a child.

The case she happened to carry was so lacking in aesthetic sense that you couldn’t find any even if you washed your eyes and looked.

To think that a woman who would set foot in House of Rharhart, the Empire’s greatest family, was only at this level. And she didn’t even know to be ashamed of it.

Adelaide at that time had been quite troubled.

Perhaps because of that, even though quite some time had passed, she clearly remembered this vulgar-looking case.

“I heard it’s good for motion sickness.”

When the servant opened the lid, neatly arranged mint-flavored candies and sugar-preserved lemon pieces came into view.

“….”

As if such mere candy could make the nausea go away.

Adelaide hesitated for a moment, then put one candy in her mouth.

Well.

The sharp mint fragrance spreading wasn’t too bad.

“Did you prepare this?”

“…No. Lady Luciana gave it to me just before departure. Lady Luciana seemed quite deeply worried about the Dowager Countess.”

Adelaide quietly extended her hand.

She gazed silently at the case placed in her palm.

“Since you are advanced in years, you might suddenly feel dizzy, and even if not, the journey to the Duke’s Manor is arduous, so my lady might lose strength from motion sickness. She told me to give it to you then.”

At the continued explanation, Adelaide raised her gaze to look at the servant.

“…So you’re that child from that day.”

Adelaide finally realized that the child sitting beside her was the one who had been slapped by her that day.

The servant affirmed by silently bowing her head.

Because of that, it wasn’t clearly visible, but at least there seemed to be no scars left on her face.

“Hah….”

It was strange.

Her queasy stomach seemed to settle down a little.

Adelaide closed her eyes and exhaled deeply several times. It was to shake off foolish thoughts, but eventually she opened her mouth again before long.

“That day. Did Luciana eat candy?”

“Pardon?”

“The day I slapped your cheek. Luciana was carrying this case that day too.”

Whether reflecting on the events of that day, there was no answer from the servant sitting beside her for a while.

“No. Lady Luciana did not eat any candy. I didn’t even know she was carrying this case that day.”

Even if the servant hadn’t seen Luciana eating candy, nothing would change.

It was only the third day since they had met. She had been very wary of me too.

So this should just be seen as her giving me the candy case she had been carrying.

But strangely, the aftertaste kept being bitter.

Perhaps that day too, she had been carrying it for my sake.

Adelaide quietly traced the bright yellow band of the case in her palm with her fingertip.

“I really hate it.”

Soon, a murmur like a soliloquy flowed weakly from her mouth.

Adelaide truly hated Luciana, that child.

Really.

‘But if you’re particularly harsh only to the Previous Count and Countess, surely the fault must lie with them.’

Despite having lived a long life, she had never seen such a child.

She was truly a very strange child indeed.

* * *

One o’clock in the morning.

Adelaide, who had gotten off the carriage, let out a deep sigh.

Despite dozing off occasionally, it had been a difficult time.

“….”

The duchy she had returned to after a month strangely seemed to have many things changed.

Perhaps it was because of the darkness that was much colder and more desolate than the capital.

“I apologize, my lady. Since you arrived later than the time you notified us, the master has already retired to his chambers.”

As Adelaide quietly took in the sight of her old castle, the butler who had taken the luggage spoke with an awkward expression.

It had been a month.

The time she had remained alone in the capital after parting with him following a moment’s notice had been a full month. Perhaps he was quite angry.

It seemed he intended not even to show his face.

“The night is cold. Please go inside.”

“Yes.”

Adelaide, who had let out a light sigh, entered the entrance.

With the familiar scent of the Count’s Castle, Adelaide finally felt the reality that she had returned. When she had finished climbing the stairs.

At the end of the corridor, a small candle flickered weakly in the pitch-black darkness.

“…What a commotion in the middle of the night.”

It was Northbrant.

Northbrant, who had roughly thrown on a thick robe over his nightclothes, approached with very slow and composed steps, holding a candlestick in one hand.

“You were still awake.”

“I woke up. …The capital must have been so enjoyable that you couldn’t spare the mental energy to send even one message. I was quite surprised when you suddenly said you were coming down.”

His voice was very cold.

“At this hour, no less. Don’t tell me you were driven out by that fellow?”

The words he spat out curtly and the gaze looking down with his back straight were particularly chilly, but.

“That’s impossible.”

Adelaide soon noticed his robe buttons that were fastened one space off from each other. As if he had hastily thrown it on and come out.

“I’m tired, so I’ll go to my room now. Since it’s late today, let’s postpone reunion greetings and accumulated conversations until morning.”

“….”

“Northbrant, you must be tired too.”

Adelaide took Northbrant’s hand. The hand that had been following weakly as she led suddenly stopped.

“What. I was awakened by the commotion and came out briefly because I was thirsty.”

There’s no way there wouldn’t be a glass of water prepared in the bedroom.

“…Wine, I mean. I just craved something strong so I wouldn’t be disturbed in my sleep again.”

Under her gaze, Northbrant cleared his throat and added to his words.

Adelaide didn’t bother to expose his crude excuse.

Instead, she put strength into the hand she held and led him again.

“Then, let’s have the butler bring it. I’ll personally pour it for you.”

“…My limbs are perfectly fine, so there’s no need to go that far.”

Northbrant grumbled but didn’t shake off Adelaide’s hand that was pulling him along.

He did furrow his brow and examine himself as if finding it strange.

Even so, he simply matched her pace without saying much else.

“Have you been well this past month?”

Perhaps because he found the question itself presumptuous, no answer came back.

The massive Count’s castle, the quiet employees.

With even myself, who had been his conversation partner, gone, the old man’s days must have been even more boring and long.

“…Anything special happen?”

Only after a long while did Northbrant finally speak.

“Aside from the occasional news about the Countess.”

His voice had become blunt and rough once again.

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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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