The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103
‘What should I do?’
Sone looked down at Goren.
She already knew he was garbage—the kind of man who exploited the weaknesses of a child like Jena.
But the moment she saw him gaze at Clover with that greedy gleam in his eyes, she couldn’t contain herself.
Still watching Goren intently, Sone’s gaze shifted between him and Jena.
Startled by the sudden appearance of Authority Bearers, Jena stood frozen, looking helplessly in Sone’s direction.
Rather than approach Jena, Sone kept her eyes fixed on the sprawled figure of Goren below her.
“What’s your relationship to that girl?”
“I—yes?”
“I asked what your relationship is.”
“I’ve raised her like a daughter since childhood! She has no parents, so in exchange for my care, she works and helps me.”
At Goren’s words, Jena’s complexion shifted noticeably.
Both Sone and Clover, nestled safely in her arms, could see plainly enough that he was lying.
“Really? Under Empire law, it’s forbidden to take in orphans without parents and force them to work as laborers.”
“Yes—yes, it’s true!”
As Goren spun out his lies without hesitation, Jena’s face flushed with rage.
Yet she said nothing.
The reason was simple: the woman before her was a great noble.
From the beginning, Jena had lived as his slave without mounting any real resistance because she was an Authority Bearer. If the truth of her power came to light, there would be terrible consequences.
But to refute Goren’s lies, she would have to reveal that she herself was an Authority Bearer.
The words wouldn’t come.
‘I can’t say it.’
After so many years of being threatened by Goren, her throat simply refused to obey.
Then.
“You.”
Clover, nestled in Sone’s arms, made a small sound.
“You help Jena when she’s in trouble, okay?”
“…….”
“Help her find the courage to tell my sister, yes?”
As Clover murmured these words, Jena’s grip loosened, and the Summoned Creature she had been hiding materialized in the empty air.
“!”
The creature she had expressly instructed never to show itself when others were present.
So the girl’s Summoned Creature had obeyed absolutely—it never revealed itself when there were other people around.
‘But why now……?’
As the startled Jena moved to withdraw her power and hide the Summoned Creature again,
the creature’s heart flowed into Jena’s mind.
Speak now. Tell her now, Jena.
Tell her what Goren has done to you.
An Authority Bearer and their Summoned Creature cannot speak in words, but they can communicate through the bond between their hearts.
Jena’s Summoned Creature wriggled and nestled into her arms, pouring its thoughts into her mind.
Ask for help.
This is your chance.
The heart of the Summoned Creature thinking of Jena.
The heart of the creature that had called an Authority Bearer to this place for its master’s sake, that had dried her tears and brought her to a beautiful place to watch the sunset—that heart flowed into Jena like water.
Jena lifted her head slowly, her gaze drifting across her surroundings.
Countless flowerpots with sprouting seedlings stood around them like a high, sturdy fortress wall.
If they left like this, Jena would distribute these flowerpots at tomorrow’s event.
And when she returned, Goren would devise another ridiculous contract and throw it at her, threatening to expose her as an Authority Bearer to everyone if she failed to meet its impossible terms.
By next year’s Foundation Festival, Jena might find herself standing before even more flowerpots.
But this time, there would be no sprite-like child appearing to help her, and then she would become Goren’s outlet for rage.
Letting this pass was merely avoiding the situation, postponing it.
It was simply allowing a problem destined to return to grow larger in the waiting.
Then Sone spoke.
“Tell me. Whatever it is.”
“…….”
“You protected my sister. I’ll pay the proper price for that.”
The moment those words reached her ears, Jena’s eyes grew clear.
The great noble Sone Claudian was looking down at her with eyes that saw everything, saying she would help.
Jena understood now that this was truly her chance. Her chance to break free from the hands of the villain who had twisted her so cruelly for ten long years.
The girl choked back her tears and looked up at Sone Claudian.
“No. That’s not it.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Jena threw herself flat on the ground.
“He didn’t raise me like a daughter from childhood—he’s been using me as a slave and threatening me this whole time!”
“Jena!”
“And that wasn’t enough—when he found the little lady, he tried to make her a slave too!”
Jena pointed at Clover.
“Huh?”
Clover’s mouth fell open slightly.
In truth, Goren had never voiced that desire aloud. Both Clover and Sone knew this well.
But if Jena testified to it like this, even Claudian could not overlook it. Goren, caught off guard by her words, sputtered with his face flushed crimson.
“You, you! What—what are you saying!”
“I have proof that this man has treated me as a slave since I was small. So……”
Jena looked up at Sone.
“Please report him, miss.”
“Jena! You fool! Then everyone will find out you’re an Authority Bearer! Is that what you want? Do you think you won’t just disappear one day without a sound?”
Goren’s voice rose to a roar, and Jena trembled, pressing herself harder into the ground.
But she didn’t take back what she’d said. The girl set her jaw stubbornly.
“Is that so?”
Sone, who had been watching quietly all this while, slowly turned her gaze toward Goren.
“You tried to abduct my sister?”
“N-no……!”
Goren was shaking his head to protest when—
“Then it’s decided.”
Harna bound the man’s limbs with formidable force.
Goren’s face went ghastly pale as he stared at Jena, screaming.
“No, no! It’s not true, miss! That girl is lying! Jena!! After all I’ve done for you!”
“Child exploitation constitutes a grave offense. I’ll hand you over to the proper authorities for investigation. If you’re truly innocent, you’ll be released; if not, you’ll face punishment.”
Sone Claudian’s voice settled over the warehouse filled with flowerpots, dark and final.
Goren’s entire body began to shake at the sound of it.
***
The moment Sone filed her report, officials from the department handling such matters came and took Goren away temporarily.
They tried to take Jena with him as well.
“Not yet.”
Sone blocked their way.
After sending them all out, Sone remained in the warehouse where Goren had been dragged away, standing with the children as she studied Jena.
“You.”
“Y-yes, yes.”
“A Commoner Authority Bearer?”
Jena lowered her head deeply.
Jena was indeed a Commoner.
But perhaps there was aristocratic blood mixed in her veins somewhere. Having an Authority suggested as much.
She had hidden it because it was uncertain, and it was a weakness precisely because it was uncertain.
Jena knew that life ahead would not be smooth.
She would have to testify about how Goren had exploited her for so long, and in that process, her nature as an Authority Bearer would be revealed.
After that, there might very well be those who sought to kill or harm the girl—just as she had feared and Goren had threatened.
But still.
It was better than living like this forever.
Anything was better than now.
With that thought, a small spark of courage kindled in Jena’s heart.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Jena answered in a voice that trembled slightly.
“Earth Authority?”
“Yes.”
After hearing her answer, Sone fell silent for a moment, considering, then asked once more.
“If that man is taken away and faces punishment, do you have somewhere to stay in the meantime?”
At Sone’s words, Jena shook her head. The girl had been living with Goren, so if he were not released, she would naturally lose her home.
“Then why don’t you stay with Claudian until a decision is made about his punishment?”
“I……?”
“Whether you did it with good intentions or bad, the fact remains that my sister and I destroyed your home.”
Sone’s words made Clover’s eyes light up.
“Oh!”
“If you’re willing, Claudian can shelter you for the time being. After that, if you have nowhere else to go, you can work at the estate and earn a living wage.”
“I’m grateful for the offer, but I’m not sure if I’ll have work to do…….”
“The Earth Authority, you said?”
Sone, who had been studying Jena for a long moment, turned her gaze to Clover.
“As it happens, we have a girl at our house who loves tending to plants.”
Sparkle.
In Clover’s pupils, the reflection of a bewildered Jena flickered.

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