The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 105

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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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Episode 105
“……Really? You mean it?”
“Yes. Do as you wish. I’ll help make it possible.”
“……Thank you, sir. Thank you so much!”
Jena sprang to her feet with a brilliant smile and bowed deeply in gratitude.
Her Summoned Creature followed suit, folding its soft body and bowing its head to Kalid.
“Jena, how old are you?”
“I’ll be sixteen soon.”
“How many months until then?”
“One month.”
“Then you’ll begin work a month from now. Until then, I can’t legally employ you under Empire law.”
“Yes, yes!”
“And if I ever ask you to do something difficult or taxing, tell me at once.”
“Yes, thank you……!”
Jena thanked him five more times before she finally stopped.
Kalid sent the girl away, already turning over in his mind what to do about her former exploitative employer.
Not long after.
Word came that Goren had been systematically engaging in child exploitation, and he’d been sentenced to life imprisonment.
With its owner gone, the Greenhouse was put up for auction, and Kalid, who participated in the bidding, won it — making it the property of Claudian.
Later, the Greenhouse would change hands one more time, but that is a story for another day.
***
Before returning to his Claudian lands.
Kalid visited Duke Eibe’s Mansion in the Capital, bringing Clover along.
Clover had wanted to see Nenia.
Eibe and Claudian lay far apart, and once they parted this time, they might not meet again for a long while.
So Kalid stopped at the Duke’s Mansion to ease the child’s longing.
“Clover!”
The moment Clover arrived, Nenia came running out with a radiant smile and threw her arms around her.
The child didn’t spare a glance for Kalid — only embraced Clover.
“Nenia, you should greet the Duke.”
“Hello.”
Nenia finally greeted Kalid — but still kept her arms tightly around Clover.
“Let her be. She’s at an age when friends matter most.”
“Don’t even mention it. She’s talked of nothing but Clover every single day since then.”
Giteya laughed heartily. Nenia, whether embarrassed that her obsession had been exposed or displeased with her mother’s betrayal, stuck out her lower lip.
“Nenia, you’re making a duck face!”
Clover threw her arms around Nenia and burst into giggles. At that, Nenia’s defensive expression melted away entirely.
“Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“To my room. You stay at my place.”
“That won’t do, Nenia.”
“Nenia, you have to send her home.”
Both Giteya and Kalid spoke at once as Nenia dragged Clover away.
But Nenia paid them no mind and led Clover upstairs.
Nenia’s room was simpler than Clover’s. True to her nature — she wasn’t fond of toys — there weren’t many playthings, and the bedding was plain for a child’s room.
Yet somehow, that made it feel all the more wonderful.
“Nenia’s room……!”
Clover’s eyes grew wide as saucers as she looked around.
Nenia walked behind her with her hands clasped behind her back, speaking as she followed.
“If you want, you can live with me in my room.”
“Huh?”
“My room — I’ll give it to you, Clover.”
“Ha, you’re joking.”
“I’m not joking.”
Nenia blinked.
Clover began to sweat profusely.
‘Nenia, are you really not joking?’
Nenia was wonderful, but Clover couldn’t live at her house.
Because Clover’s family was in Claudian! Clover looked away awkwardly as she spoke.
“Clover really likes Nenia, but…….”
“But you do like her?”
“Well, that would be difficult…….”
“Why?”
“Because my family is at home, and a person should live in their own house.”
“…….”
Nenia fixed Clover with a steady gaze before speaking.
“You can’t live in someone else’s house……?”
“It’s just…….”
Clover continued hesitantly.
“Your father is waiting for you, Clover.”
Nenia looked genuinely disappointed. She flung herself onto the bed and buried her face in the quilt, her voice muffled.
“But I want to live with you, Clover. I want to play only with you…….”
“You like me that much?”
“Of course…… Nia doesn’t like other friends.”
Nenia lifted her head to look at Clover.
“When we go back to Eibe, Mother brings around boring children for me to play with again. I don’t like them…….”
“Brings around?”
“Yes, Mother holds a birthday party every year and invites children my age, so children around the same age as me…….”
Nenia’s eyes suddenly lit up as she spoke.
“Clover, will you come to the party?”
“Huh?”
“Come to the party. Visit Eibe! Come and play with me.”
Nenia’s eyes sparkled like stars. Her bright gaze flickered repeatedly as she stared at Clover.
“If you come to Eibe, Nia will show you the sea, and give you lots of delicious things. There are so many amazing things there!”
Nenia’s eyes gleamed. Clover listened with her mouth hanging open before asking carefully.
“When is the party?”
“It’s Nia’s birthday party, so it’s in a month. Not much time left. Mother probably already sent out all the invitations, but you can come without one.”
Nenia hopped down and rushed to a calendar, pointing to her birthday.
In a month!
‘Clover wants to go!’
In truth, Clover had never seen the sea before.
All she knew of it came from stories Lucky and Belze occasionally told her, and from fairy tales in picture books.
But to actually see the sea—how wonderful that would be!
And moreover.
“There will be lots of other children. Nia doesn’t like them…… but if they like you, Clover, we could all play together.”
“All together!”
At the mention of having many friends, Clover’s eyes brightened—she who had always played alone before.
In the past, even hide-and-seek and tag had to be played with just Lucky and herself.
But to play with everyone!
Thump-thump.
Clover’s heart raced. She pressed her small hand to her chest as she gazed at Nenia.
“I r-really want to go…….”
“You’ll come, won’t you?”
“If Father says I can.”
“I’ll send a carriage for you, and let you sleep in Nia’s bed.”
Nenia grabbed Clover’s hand with barely contained excitement. Behind the child, her Summoned Creature—a sea lion—danced joyfully.
“Clover, you’re coming. You have to ask Father.”
The sea, friends.
Enchanted by thoughts of the sea and her new companions and everything else wonderful awaiting her, Clover answered with a radiant smile.
“Yes, I’ll definitely ask Father.”
***
On the journey back to the mansion.
After everything in the Capital was finished and the day came to depart for the North, Clover looked up at Kalid and asked.
“Father, is it okay if Clover visits Nia’s house?”
“We visited Nenia’s house just recently, didn’t we, Clover?”
“Not that—Nia said she’s having a party at her place.”
A party? Was she already old enough for such things?
Kalid’s expression grew uncertain as he tried to gauge Nenia’s age.
“A birthday party…… with a really big cake and lots of fun things, and many friends…….”
Ah, a birthday party, then.
It wasn’t a formal party, but I’d heard before that Giteya invited peers from among the children of her retainers or neighboring nobles to throw a birthday party for Nenia.
I’d been thinking I should do the same for Clover’s birthday next year.
“Oh, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Clover waved her hands frantically. The child stole a glance at Kalid.
“I was just throwing it out there…”
“Why not? You can go.”
“Really? For real…?”
“Do whatever you want, Clover. As long as it’s not dangerous.”
At the news that she could visit Duke Eibe’s territory, Clover’s face broke into a wide smile.
Then, in that moment.
…….
My eyes met Pluto’s, who had been staring at me blankly.
Clover broke out in a cold sweat again.
‘…What?’
Why was Pluto looking at me with that expression?
“Pluto…?”
Since we were still traveling, Clover cautiously used his false name and slipped over to sit beside him.
But Pluto only glanced at Clover and said nothing.
He looked exactly like he was sulking.

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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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