The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 107

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

Episode 107
“Making cookies is fun, isn’t it?”
Clover smiled softly as she recalled what had happened in the kitchen.
Everything was a first for Clover—touching the flour dough, watching cookies bake with wisps of steam rising from them—and it all felt wonderfully new and delightful.
Especially licking the sticky cookie dough that clung to her fingers had been so joyful and happy that she imagined she’d be thinking about it for days to come.
…
“Isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
And Pluto felt the same way.
When had Pluto ever had the chance to touch flour dough? He’d never even set foot in a place like a kitchen before.
Born into a station so exalted it couldn’t be looked down upon, yet cursed with an Authority so despicably base, the boy had never belonged anywhere and had been given no opportunity to do so.
So it made perfect sense that he’d never entered a kitchen. If Clover hadn’t wanted to go, he probably would never have set foot in one at all.
“Lucky that Pluto liked it too.”
“You should say ‘That’s fortunate,’ not just ‘lucky.'”
“Talking long is so hard…….”
Clover mumbled as she popped one of the cookies she’d made earlier into her mouth, wishing that everyone could understand her even when she spoke roughly.
In truth, for a four-year-old, she spoke quite fluently, but to Pluto—who was two years her senior—it still seemed lacking.
But it would improve with time. When she was at Demper’s house, she could only sprout two sprouts, but now she could make so many—just like that, her speech would grow too.
Neither Clover nor Lucky saw it as a real problem.
Crunch.
‘Delicious!’
The moment Clover popped the cookie packed full of sweet chocolate chips into her mouth, the crispy, sweet flavor bloomed across her palate.
Clover, who had settled by the window seat with Pluto, rustled through the cookie bag and slipped a cookie into Pluto’s mouth.
It was a rabbit cookie that Clover had made herself—one ear missing. It wasn’t something she gave to just anyone.
“This is really tasty.”
“Yeah, but it’s missing an ear.”
“Lucky said that incompleteness itself carries meaning in a certain way.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know either.”
Clover and Pluto sat by the window where warm sunlight streamed in, sharing cookies and talking.
The gentle sound of cookie-crunching filled the quiet air. After eating for some time, Clover noticed when her cookie bag was nearly empty that there were three more bags sitting beside her.
Those were the ones she’d wrapped to give to Sone, Demian, and Arwin. Since she hadn’t baked in abundance, after sharing with everyone, there weren’t many cookies left for the children.
But Clover didn’t touch those bags. Those were for her older sister and brothers!
Instead, after eating every last crumb of cookie, Clover lifted her face—dusted with cookie crumbs—and looked at Pluto with bright eyes.
“We could bake cookies to bring when we visit Nia’s place!”
“They probably have a cook there too, don’t they?”
“Claudian has a cook, but we’re the ones who baked these cookies.”
“Now that you mention it, I suppose that’s true…….”
“If we give her cookies we made ourselves, Nia will love them.”
Besides, the cookies that Clover and Pluto had baked—having only kneaded the dough slightly while the cooks handled the rest—tasted excellent. Anyone would love cookies like these. Perhaps even Duke Aeb would. Even Peson, as particular as he was.
Clover spoke with hopeful excitement in her voice.
“Then it’ll be easier for Pluto to get close to Nia too.”
“Clover, I know you’re looking forward to this, but I might not be able to go.”
Pluto said flatly. But his Summoned Creature’s ears and tail drooped low.
Clover caught sight of Pluto’s Summoned Creature lying with its ears and tail sagging, and grabbed Pluto’s hand—dusted with cookie crumbs.
“But Daddy’s asking the Emperor for permission.”
At Clover’s words, the Summoned Creature’s left ear pricked up slightly. The creature’s response meant Pluto’s heart was responding to her words too.
“So don’t give up now. We’ll be able to go together.”
…!
“Good luck, Pluto. When you think good thoughts, good fortune comes. So let’s not think bad thoughts—let’s think about what cookies we’ll bake to bring.”
At Clover’s words, the Summoned Creature’s drooping ears perked up on both sides.
When Clover smiled brightly, Pluto—who had been watching her quietly—lowered his gaze and murmured.
“Then… maybe I will…….”
Now Pluto’s Summoned Creature was even wagging its tail gently. The creature couldn’t eat cookies, but there was no understanding why it seemed so happy.
***
Kalid sent a letter to the Imperial Palace at once. Its contents were simple: a request asking whether Pluto could go on a brief outing.
Though Kalid found it slightly concerning that the destination was Duke Aeb’s Mansion, children of that age going to a friend’s birthday party wasn’t particularly unusual, so he expected the Emperor wouldn’t object strongly.
And true to Kalid’s expectation, the Emperor replied that as long as Pluto’s Authority didn’t rampage, Pluto could go out under Kalid’s protection and guidance.
That meant, in other words, that if even the slightest problem arose because of Pluto’s Authority, Kalid would bear the responsibility. He understood perfectly what that implied.
“Are you truly certain about this?”
Kalid had to take full responsibility for Pluto’s outings. Teniron, his loyal adjutant who understood the weight and gravity those words carried, asked with a note of concern.
“Yes.”
“But if problems arise because of His Highness’s Authority…”
“The Crown Prince’s Authority ordinarily does little more than wilt plants.”
Kalid spoke calmly.
“Of course, I’ve seen greater power manifest in moments when his emotions are disturbed, but that’s something that can happen to any Authority Bearer. Powerful ones sometimes sweep their surroundings with even greater force when their feelings are deeply shaken.”
Indeed, Sone had once gotten into a quarrel with a friend at the Academy and used her Authority—resulting in the Academy’s student conduct guidelines being flung straight at Kalid.
No matter how much Pluto raged and used his Authority, he wouldn’t cause nearly as much damage as Sone had that day.
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. Really, that sort of thing can happen to anyone…”
“Right. And the stronger an Authority Bearer is, the more they need to spend time with other children their age when young. They have to use their Authority often, and that’s the only way they learn to control how much to use.”
It was like setting a large dog loose among chicks—it learns to lift its paws and walk carefully.
“It’s a necessary process. Besides, we can’t confine and raise that child because of an Authority that hasn’t even fully Manifested yet. If she’s a child, she naturally ought to learn socialization under the care of adults.”
Being invited to Duke Aeb’s place would be the foundation for that. Kalid believed it firmly. And if Elisia had been present, she likely would have shared his view.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then we’ll need to prepare for the visit to Duke Aeb’s Mansion. I should buy the girl some new clothes…”
“…Doesn’t the young lady already have more than enough?”
“The child is growing by the day. She needs new clothes.”
Kalid spoke with finality. Unlike his measured tone moments before, this was resolute—stripped of any inclination to persuade.
‘Still hardly bigger than a bean soaked in water for three days…’
Where exactly was she growing? Teniron found it rather puzzling, but he didn’t press further against Kalid’s words.
***
The Emperor’s letter arrived at Claudian, settling that Clover and Pluto would attend Nia’s birthday party, and as Jena settled into the mansion and Clover’s seedlings flourished—
“Mm?”
A small change occurred in Clover’s Authority and body.

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