One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 84

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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 84

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A morning where the clinking sounds of tableware filled the silence.

“The Previous Count and Countess say they’ll come up the day before the ceremony.”

It was Ludrio who spoke first.

Luna raised her gaze.

Whether she was surprised, her eyes widened and sparkled particularly brightly.

“I received a telegram last evening.”

Ludrio, avoiding her crystal-clear gaze, cut the asparagus in front of him into bite-sized pieces and added.

“Ah…”

Luna’s fingertips hesitated for just a brief moment as she let out a small sigh.

“They’re coming up later than expected, but there’s nothing to worry about. The ceremony will proceed without any issues.”

Ludrio continued while observing her reaction.

“Regarding the wedding, Luna, there won’t be anything you need to worry about.”

Since he was someone who kept his promises, the previous couple would arrive the day before as the telegram stated.

As for the wedding preparations, they were proceeding smoothly as the Dowager Countess had instructed beforehand, so there was nothing to worry about.

“…The Countess already decided everything down to the smallest details before leaving. If there’s anything lacking, I’ll take care of it.”

Ludrio’s gaze examined Luna’s face once more.

“Even so, if there’s anything that concerns you, tell Hark anytime.”

This should be enough explanation.

“…Yes. I understand.”

When Ludrio was wondering if he had missed anything while looking at her thoughtful face, she nodded.

“More than that, I’m glad Count Roderich is coming too.”

“…Yes.”

Ludrio blinked slowly and quietly agreed.

Given Count Roderich’s personality, he thought he would absolutely never come up, so how did the Countess manage to persuade him?

As long as he didn’t plan to come to the ceremony and cause a scene, our marriage would appear even more perfect in the eyes of others.

If that happened, Luna and Iban’s positions would become more solid.

“And… From today, I’ll be attending Parliament directly.”

Ludrio added after thinking for a moment.

“I need to attend the final deliberation of the budget bill before the end-of-year session closes.”

“I see.”

“I plan to return home late in the evening, so don’t bother waiting and have dinner with Iban first. There’s no need for unnecessary greetings either, so don’t worry about it.”

That’s when it happened.

“Will you be very late?”

Iban, who had stopped eating and was quietly listening to the conversation, interjected.

“Possibly.”

Ludrio looked at Iban.

“Why.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you have something to say? Like you shouldn’t be late?”

The child seemed flustered and hurriedly shook his head.

“…It’s not that. I was just curious, so I asked.”

Then, as if he had nothing more to say, he began moving his utensils again.

“If I’m very late, go to bed first. As I said, there’s no need for greetings or anything.”

Iban slowly nodded at Ludrio’s words.

Having received the same answer, Ludrio turned his head toward Luna, and it was just as she was moving her lips as if to say something.

Creak.

The dining room door opened without warning. The one who opened the door without permission was Ludrio’s chief aide, Edmond Barnet.

Why was he here?

Ludrio’s expression hardened coldly.

“Count, I apologize for the intrusion, but I must report to you.”

Edmond seemed to have no time to mind Luna or Iban, approaching urgently and bowing.

The middle-aged man’s breathless breathing scattered heavily over the quiet dining table.

Ludrio pushed back his chair and nodded as if to say speak.

“The Regent Count has submitted a ‘Renunciation of Imperial Succession Rights.'”

Once permission was granted, Edmond uttered a short sentence near Ludrio’s ear.

“What?”

Ludrio’s eyebrows became completely distorted in an instant.

The bewilderment that he would never normally show was clearly evident in his brief voice and face.

“He signed it in his own hand last night, and just now completed all legal notarization procedures in the presence of an Imperial legal advisor. Currently, only Parliamentary approval remains.”

The answer that came back to his question, uttered as if doubting his own ears, remained the same.

Thud.

Ludrio stood up from his seat.

“Let’s go up.”

He left behind those who seemed greatly surprised by the sudden situation and hurriedly exited the dining room.

‘Stop. What exactly are you worried about? Before God’s will, who would truly doubt their end?’

On the day of the funeral for the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince.

He heard Uncle’s words.

The terribly low voice that flowed from Uncle’s lips as he wore black mourning clothes and put on a grief-stricken expression.

When the Imperial family turned to ash in the villa struck by lightning, the Imperial House covered up their deaths as a carriage accident to protect the Imperial honor.

The journey to a remote villa, following the advice of the Imperial court astrologer that they must cleanse themselves of impurity and perform purification rituals to avoid calamity.

The lightning that happened to strike the Emperor’s villa.

The flames that instantly consumed the villa.

The eerie blue flames that wouldn’t extinguish despite the torrential rain that fell as if the sky had burst open.

Even so, their deaths could not become the Emperor’s end for incurring God’s wrath.

If their deaths were truly divine punishment, the Imperial House would lose legitimacy and have to surrender much to the Temple.

Thus their deaths became the unfortunate accidental deaths of those who had gone out on official business.

For the Empire’s honor. For those who remained.

‘Before God’s will, who would truly doubt their end?’

So Uncle’s words were very strange.

The Imperial House hastily fabricated the crude lie of a carriage accident to hide God’s wrath.

What those who remained should fear was the facade of the carriage accident being stripped away and the truth of that day being revealed.

But why was Uncle so confident, putting forward God’s will that everyone denied?

Uncle’s words lingered in his ears for a long time.

Each time, the suspicion that had once sprouted grew larger on its own, but he couldn’t be certain whether Uncle was really that kind of person.

The Uncle he had observed was someone who cherished the princes more than anyone and was kind enough to earn everyone’s praise.

Most importantly, it was the 2nd Prince who became Emperor.

There seemed to be nothing Uncle could gain from their deaths.

However, even so.

That single sentence he heard at the funeral stuck like a thorn and remained uncomfortable for a long time.

‘Uncle said such a thing?’

‘Yes. I definitely heard it.’

Eventually, Ludrio went to find the 2nd Prince who had become Emperor and confessed his doubts.

‘That’s a strange thing to say.’

‘…Right. Why would he say such a thing?’

His brother was silent for a moment before adding.

‘I’ll look into it.’

After that conversation ended, the next news of his brother came as a single telegram saying the Emperor had gone missing.

His brother’s vacant position became Uncle’s possession all too naturally.

Regent. That was, in fact, another name meaning the actual ruler of the Empire.

All of this couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

In the end, Uncle, who had wanted to become Emperor, had eliminated them one by one.

The sound of Ludrio’s footsteps crossing the corridor was harsh.

But now, at this point.

He’s saying he’ll give up his right to the throne?

“That can’t be.”

Ten years.

For a full ten years, I had pursued Uncle, but I could never find decisive evidence to expose his crimes.

The suspicion about why the Emperor, who suffered from insomnia, never woke up on that night when lightning struck.

The unease about why no one could escape from a three-story villa, even though the fire supposedly spread in an instant.

The fact that the hinges of the Crown Prince’s bedroom door were crushed inward, and the assumption that this was evidence of murderous intent from wedges driven outside the door.

What I could discover were only such things.

Too insignificant fragments to uncover deaths that had been covered up, perhaps out of fear of divine judgment.

“My lord. After contacting the chairman’s office, they say that before the final review of the budget bill scheduled for today, they will prioritize the Regent’s declaration of renouncing succession rights.”

Rough curses spilled through Ludrio’s teeth.

This was a sophisticated scheme to solidify his position.

“Parliament will reject this renunciation proposal.”

Uncle knows this.

The fact that the Empire, which had been in chaos after losing two Emperors in succession, would not easily let him go.

By declaring he would renounce his succession rights, he establishes the justification that he doesn’t covet the throne.

Then, without losing anything, he would only solidify his legitimacy with Parliament’s support.

Only two days left now.

The day I had waited for so long was now only two days away…

And it had all come to nothing like this.

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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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