One Day, I Picked Up a Mom - Chapter 89

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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 89

I opened the door halfway and looked back at Ludrio.

However, he only gestured for me to hurry out instead of trying to greet me.

“Ah…”

Seeing him follow me out, it seemed he intended to escort me all the way to my room.

That excessive courtesy suddenly reminded me of that day.

The day when Rosemond Bain shed tears saying she recognized me and returned to my room.

That day too, Ludrio had escorted me to my room like this.

During the walk across the distance that was both long and short for a corridor, there wasn’t much conversation.

That must have been Ludrio’s consideration.

I glanced up at Ludrio.

Ludrio seemed to have become somewhat more taciturn since my confession that I liked him.

While he consistently brought up topics about the Dowager Countess or the wedding, casual greetings and everyday topics had disappeared.

He too seemed to be keeping his distance from me.

Perhaps that was why he looked more tired from keeping his mouth shut.

The loosened necktie, the disheveled hair.

The way he chewed his food unusually long during breakfast and still left most of it uneaten.

It might all be nothing significant.

Click.

Ludrio opened my door as if telling me to go in now.

“Ah…”

So it might just be unnecessary worry.

“Would you like to take a walk for a moment?”

I finally spoke those words to his deeply sunken blue eyes.

“What?”

“A walk. I tend to walk when I’m having a hard time.”

At the sudden suggestion, Ludrio’s brow furrowed. Because of that, his eyes narrowed.

“If you keep walking, your thoughts might get organized. And the cold air might make you feel a bit better.”

He finally let out a deep sigh and slowly rubbed his face.

“Others must have noticed too.”

“Pardon?”

“…Thank you for letting me know.”

Did he want to hide his mood?

But Ludrio was always honest about his emotions.

When he was angry at me, and when he was angry at the previous Count and Countess.

I had no idea he cared about others’ eyes.

Ludrio pushed the door a little more.

Was it a refusal?

“I’ll come back with an overcoat.”

“…Ah, yes.”

I let out a small sigh a beat late and quickly nodded.

“It’s cold, so bundle up well before coming out.”

“Yes, I will.”

I gave a nod and hurriedly went into my room to get my clothes.

* * *

Click.

After waiting for a while leaning against the wall, I saw Ludrio just coming out of his bedroom.

He approached with long strides and handed me the muffler he held in his hand.

“You should wear one too, Count.”

“I’m fine.”

Ludrio replied briefly and stiffly raised the collar of the coat he was wearing, as if that was sufficient.

“Well then, thank you.”

Though I didn’t particularly like the suffocating feeling of something around my neck, seeing that Ludrio showed no sign of taking it back, I obediently wrapped it around my neck.

A cool yet heavy scent reached my nose.

It was Ludrio’s muffler, thoroughly permeated with his smell.

Soon he took the first step.

Going down the stairs and opening the door connected to the back garden, the sharp night air rushed in.

“…”

We strolled quietly through the garden without any conversation.

In the heavily settled silence, only the regular rustling sound of footsteps crushing the stiff grass drained of moisture echoed.

I glanced up. Would this really make him feel somewhat better?

When I was trying to gauge his mood, our eyes met directly.

“…Tell me if you’re cold.”

“Yes.”

Looking at his profile visible above the stiffly raised coat collar, I added.

“You can tell me anytime you want too, Count.”

“…”

“Whatever it may be.”

My voice became white breath and scattered into the air.

Ludrio’s gaze turned toward me again.

Though I meant I was ready to listen anytime, Ludrio wouldn’t confide in me about whatever it was.

I could tell just from his unwavering gaze and the way he turned his head as if avoiding me.

“Whatever it may be…”

“…”

“There is one thing I’d like to ask though.”

He slowly repeated my words then changed the subject.

When I nodded at Ludrio who waited as if asking permission, he slowly blinked and opened his mouth.

“Don’t you resent me?”

“Pardon?”

Resent him? Me?

It was a very absurd and strange question.

“I forced you to reveal your inner feelings.”

Ludrio added before I could even open my mouth.

“I didn’t take you to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet either. There are sufficient reasons.”

“…”

“I’m not trying to reproach you, but it’s strange that you’re still worried about me despite all that.”

So Ludrio had already concluded that I must be resenting him.

The Dowager Countess had said that from now on, Ludrio and I should attend all major banquets together.

‘I won’t have the capacity to look after you at the banquet. So stay at the estate today.’

However, there was a reason for urging me not to attend that day.

“When did you ever force me to reveal my inner feelings?”

“…What?”

Ludrio suddenly stopped walking.

Looking at him frowning as if he couldn’t understand, I quickly retraced my memories but couldn’t think of anything particular.

“…At the Imperial Palace banquet.”

“Ah…”

So it was about the day I confessed that I liked him.

“I pressured you and forced you to say it.”

I quietly pondered Ludrio’s words.

Certainly at that time, I had no intention of revealing my feelings to him.

“It wasn’t a coercive situation. You didn’t threaten me or anything.”

Suddenly, I recalled Ludrio looking particularly apologetic when he rejected my confession.

“The reason I opened up about that wasn’t because I was afraid of you, Count.”

“….”

“You said that day that you thought we had become quite close.”

I had come out with him because he seemed troubled, and though I wasn’t sure how we ended up having this conversation, I decided to tie up loose ends.

“That’s exactly why I said it. I thought you wouldn’t care whether I kept my distance or not, Count, but I realized you did care.”

“….”

“I realized I was being rude by thinking it would be fine to unilaterally distance myself from what I thought was a one-sided relationship.”

Ludrio seemed to think my confession was unavoidable submission due to pressure from differences in status and position.

“Both then and now, my actions are gratitude for the consideration you’ve shown me, Count. It’s the kindness I also want to return to you.”

I always tried, but it seemed I couldn’t help him as a Count.

…This conversation and time didn’t seem like they would resolve his troubles either.

“Anyway, there’s no way I could resent you.”

Ludrio’s eyes trembled finely.

Then he hung his head low, burying his face almost completely in his coat collar, yet he looked utterly bewildered.

“…I see.”

It was a brief conclusion.

He seemed about to say something more, then gave up and started walking again.

I hurried to follow behind him and asked cautiously.

“Count, I don’t seem to be much help. Would you perhaps be more comfortable being alone right now?”

At my question, Ludrio’s footsteps noticeably slowed.

“Let’s walk just a little more before going in.”

When Ludrio gestured for me to come beside him and I stood next to him, he reduced his stride even more.

“…There was something I had been preparing for a long time, but it went wrong in an instant.”

And slowly, the story began.

“I don’t know what the problem is, or where it started going wrong.”

Ludrio just stared quietly ahead.

“I don’t even know if it can be fixed, so I’ve been on edge all this time.”

“Ah….”

“Actually, constantly worrying about it doesn’t change anything, so I’m trying to stop worrying now.”

These vague, generalized words gave no clue as to what they meant or what matter they concerned.

It felt less like genuine feelings he wanted to confess and more like fragments he was forcing himself to reveal because I wanted them.

“Then?”

“I should do what I can do now. A little more thoroughly.”

Ludrio nodded quietly.

“You won’t need to worry tomorrow.”

He added as if there was nothing to worry about.

In the end, this seemed to be what he wanted to tell me.

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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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