The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 108

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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 108
Every time Clover took a step, seedlings sprang up in her wake—dozens of them bursting from that tiny footprint alone. The small child’s prints left behind a trail of green shoots.
Of course, this only happened outdoors on the grass; seedlings didn’t sprout in the house. Clover crouched down with a puzzled expression, studying the path she’d walked.
‘Footprints…!’
Seedlings were growing up through her footprints. She hadn’t even consciously used her Authority—what on earth was happening?
As Clover sat there, bewildered and fidgeting, Lucky perched on her shoulder cleared his throat with a knowing sound and spoke up.
“See, Clover, remember how you were sleeping a lot recently?”
“Mm-hmm, I remember. I was so sleepy. Even after sleeping and sleeping, I’d still be drowsy….”
“Your Authority grew suddenly all at once, which is why you were sleeping so much. Now it’s settling back into your body, and some of it is leaking out to the surface.”
Lucky’s explanation was too complicated for a four-year-old to fully grasp. Still, Clover listened intently, her mouth hanging slightly open.
“Ooh, so that’s how it is.”
Growing was good, no matter what!
Growing meant something good. Clover thought quietly to herself, remembering the time she’d spent with Demper.
Back then, she’d wanted to grow every single day. She’d wished to turn ten quickly so she could meet her family.
She’d thought that yearning might fade once she found them.
‘But that wasn’t how it was. It didn’t fade at all.’
Even after meeting them, she kept wanting to grow, kept wanting it still. Clover wanted to become an adult quickly—a wonderful, powerful adult with a formidable Authority, so she could protect her mother and father and her older siblings once they awakened from sleep.
Imagining herself as that impressive figure, hands planted confidently at her sides, standing guard over her family, a small smile leaked out.
And as if in response to Clover’s smile, the seedlings born from her Authority began to shimmer and tremble with laughter of their own.
“Ooh!”
Clover was startled by the sight.
The seedlings were delighted with this Garden, and their joy was flowing back to her!
This Garden was one she and Spirit had painstakingly tended and restored. The conditions were perfect for plants to thrive—truly a paradise for freshly sprouted seedlings.
But being able to hear the seedlings’ laughter was something else entirely. Clover felt anew that her Authority had indeed grown tremendously, just as Lucky had said.
As Clover continued watching the seedlings and the ants bustling about, Jena approached carrying a basket. With Belze’s tacit approval, she crouched down gently beside the child.
“Miss, what are you doing here?”
“Jena!”
“We’re going to tend to the flower beds. Would you like to come along?”
As Jena asked warmly, the earthen Summoned Creature beside her swayed its body in a joyful dance. It seemed delighted to see Clover.
Tending to the flower beds, she said?
‘Has Jena regained the ability to use her Authority?’
As Clover wondered about this, Jena continued carefully, as though she’d read the child’s thoughts.
“The truth is… since coming to this residence with you, I’ve gradually been able to use my Authority again. So I thought I’d help tend the flower beds little by little. The Duke said there’s no rush, but I wanted to be of use as soon as I could….”
The brown-haired girl smiled shyly, a delicate blush coloring her cheeks with a peachy hue. With her hair tied in two braids, Jena looked far more vibrant than when they’d first met.
To Clover, her brightened face shone like a precious jewel. This radiant Jena! Clover’s attention shifted instantly from the seedlings to her.
“Jena, are you feeling better now?”
“Yes, truly. It’s all thanks to you, Miss. Meeting you that day feels like the greatest fortune of my life.”
Jena reached out toward Clover without thinking, then hesitated and pulled back. Clover was the young lady of this household. There had been a time when Jena hadn’t known better and would embrace and pet the child freely, but those days were past. There was a clear difference in station.
But Clover was confused when Jena started to reach out and then stopped, not petting her as usual. Why had she stopped?
Was something wrong?
“Here.”
In the end, Clover moved forward herself and tucked her small body under Jena’s palm. Jena flinched in surprise.
“Oh, Miss!”
“Pat-pat.”
As Clover murmured contentedly with her eyes closed, Jena—glancing around cautiously—gently stroked the child’s round head.
The hair was soft, round and small and thin. The crown of her head, warmed nicely by the afternoon sun, had a warmth that made each touch more pleasant than the last.
Clover and Jena stayed that way for quite some time. They remained there until the confused gardeners came looking for Jena, wondering why she hadn’t returned with the seedling spade and watering can.
The gardeners who belatedly discovered the scene broke into soft, affectionate laughter—seeing the tiny young lady curled up in a ball and the flustered prospective gardener Jena beside her, utterly charmed.
It looked like a painting come to life.
***
Tending to the flower bed where Clover’s seedlings had sprouted thickly became the gardeners’ job. Though it was ‘Clover’s flower bed,’ a four-year-old child with a body smaller than a watering can couldn’t do much of practical value.
Instead, Clover came each day and watched expectantly from beside it, wondering what would grow. She had no way of knowing what the seedlings would become.
Only after they grew could she discover what kind of plants they were. That’s why Clover felt as though her sprouted seedlings were gifts—presents still wrapped, waiting to be opened.
But then.
“Oh….”
Sadly, before Clover could unwrap her present box, the day came for the children to depart for House of Aive Duke.
Visiting Nia’s home was wonderful. But not being able to watch the seedlings grow while she was away—that was terribly sad.
“You can look at them when you come back. The gardeners will take good care of them.”
“Mm, yes….”
Clover nodded with a slightly glum expression. Glum, yes—but it couldn’t be helped. After all, her promise with Nia was far more important than watching a flower bed grow.
Besides, this was Clover’s first time venturing to a place where children her own age had gathered. The thought eased her disappointment a little.
Kalid gave Clover’s soft cheek a gentle pinch before releasing it, then adjusted the child’s clothing once more. Though the servants had already dressed her carefully, he wasn’t satisfied until he’d made his own adjustments.
But then.
“Clover.”
“Yes?”
“Your Summoned Creature—doesn’t it seem to shine a bit brighter than before?”
Hmm?
At Kalid’s words, Clover turned to look at Lucky. The golden-gleaming Lucky spun in place upon hearing him speak.
Was it so?
‘Lucky’s always been golden.’
Now that Father had mentioned it, it did seem to shine more brightly. Clover habitually poked Lucky.
When she touched Lucky, golden sparkling dust cascaded down. This was a ‘game’ Clover had been playing with Lucky since she was born—or more precisely, something Lucky had devised to soothe an infant Clover.
“Lucky, you’re shinier?”
[Hmm, well, well indeed. Your father has eyes sharper than a blade. As your Authority has grown, I’ve received a little more of it myself. I’ve recovered quite a bit of strength. Now, when a bad fellow appears, I won’t quite be able to drive him off… but I can buy us time.]
As Lucky chatted away with unbridled delight, brilliant golden dust rained down even more abundantly over Clover’s head. Soon she would be nearly buried in it.
“Ugh, Lucky too much.”
Clover slipped quietly out from beneath Lucky’s golden radiance. Kalid, too, withdrew his hand from the child.
“Your Authority continues to grow with each passing day. When an Authority develops, the Summoned Creature is always the first to respond.”
Kalid gently took Clover’s small hand. It was time to board the carriage. Pluto was already waiting inside.
“Come now, let’s go.”
It was just as Kalid began to walk, leading Clover by the hand, when she suddenly went wide-eyed as if she’d forgotten something, and let go of his hand.
“Oh, wait!”
“Clover?”
Patter-patter-patter-patter.
Clover hurried toward Cherenio and Teniron, extending both hands wide.
As the child channeled her Authority, two small seedlings sprouted forth from her palms. They were larger than the seedlings Clover had conjured before, and far more resilient.
“A parting gift for you both.”
The child pressed one seedling into each of their hands, then turned back and laughed merrily, burying her face against Kalid’s leg.
“Young lady, I shall plant these in a flowerpot at once….”
“While you’re away, what am I to do? Might I not accompany you?”
Cherenio and Teniron followed behind, calling to Clover with imploring voices, but Kalid did not break his stride. Clover merely trailed after her father, glancing back now and then with a bright smile.
The carriage bearing Kalid, Clover, and Pluto departed Claudian for Aive in this way.
Leaving Claudian—spring there, yet colder than other lands—they traveled toward the House of Aive Duke, which guarded the azure sea of South Waves.

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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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