The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 11

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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 11
Clover murmured quietly to herself, then suddenly sprang from her chair and bounded after Belze, positioning herself behind him. She grasped the hem of his garment and peeked out from behind it.
Demian and Arwin, startled, quickly stepped back five paces.
They hadn’t come without knowing that Clover’s body was far too frail to withstand the Storm Authority.
They’d known, but had assumed it would be manageable with opponents of their caliber.
Because they weren’t the true Claudian—those who possessed the Complete Authority—but rather incomplete Claudian, each wielding only half of the Storm Authority.
The power of their Authority that leaked out unconsciously would likely be similar to Kalid’s summon. So they’d thought that Clover, who got along well with the Lion of North Wind, should be able to endure it without difficulty.
Yet they had no idea what might happen if she came too close. Demian, who had retreated swiftly, raised a hand with a smile.
“Hello, so happy to see your big brother?”
“Big brother?”
“Yes, I’m your big brother. My name is Demian Claudian—your eldest brother, Clover.”
Arwin, standing beside him, immediately responded.
“I’m Arwin, your second brother.”
“Demian, Arwin?”
Just as Clover softly called out each of their names and took another step forward—
—
—
Demian and Arwin started in alarm, simultaneously retreating another pace. They were now nearly pressed against the hallway’s window edge.
If Clover drew any nearer, they would be forced out the window entirely. Equally startled, Clover herself retreated two steps.
A soft exhale.
Then Demian and Arwin, relief flooding their features, took two steps forward.
Clover, puzzled by this strange dance, looked up at both brothers.
“If you’re my brothers… are you Clover’s family?”
At that question, Demian and Arwin smiled gently and answered.
“Yes, I’m your family.”
“You’ve never seen us before, but we’ve seen you—when you were very small.”
So they’d seen her when she was young.
Then they truly must be family.
‘Family… I really love this…!’
Clover had been waiting for four years straight to meet her family.
And yet.
“But… why won’t you come closer…?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you afraid I might get sick? Like Father?”
Clover added softly.
“You’re worried about me?”
Her clear voice rang out. Demian paused to consider, then nodded.
“Yes, we’re worried about you, Clover.”
Demian’s smile widened.
“That’s why we’re greeting you from here. If our little sister got hurt, our hearts would ache too.”
His voice was as warm and gentle as morning sunlight. For reasons she couldn’t quite name, Clover felt a tingling sensation in her chest as she nodded in response.
“Yes.”
She opened and closed her fists.
‘They said they were worried about me…!’
No one in Demfer had ever said such a thing.
Of course, when Clover fell ill, the servants of the Demfer household would come and tend to her out of duty.
But no one had ever said they were “worried” or told her to “get better soon.” Only Lucky had ever spoken those words to her.
Yet here, without her doing anything at all, someone cared about her.
‘My brothers… they’re so kind.’
They seemed like truly good people.
Then perhaps, just as she’d imagined all this time, they would cherish and love her?
Clover slipped back behind Belze, watching Demian and Arwin intently, gauging them.
“By the way, Clover, is this your summon?”
At that moment, Arwin pointed to the Golden Four-Leaf Clover hovering above Clover’s head—Lucky.
Following Arwin’s gesture, Clover looked up and spotted Lucky, then nodded.
“Yes. Lucky is Clover’s summon.”
As Clover reached out her hand, Lucky descended softly onto her small palm, radiating golden light.
“Say hello—his name is Lucky.”
“How wonderful… you’re absolutely adorable.”
“Isn’t she? This summon is just like Clover too. Since summons spring from Authority, I suppose it’s only natural.”
Arwin and Demian exchanged glances, each offering a word in turn.
“Born……?”
[It means she was born there.]
When Clover, unable to grasp the difficult word, tilted her head in confusion, Lucky wobbled on her palm and spoke.
Since Lucky was Clover’s summoned creature, his voice fortunately did not carry to Arwin’s ears.
Clover smiled softly at the voice that only she could hear and nodded.
“Aha…… so it’s where Clover was born.”
“Born?”
When Demian repeated the word uncertainly, Arwin nudged him with his elbow in understanding.
“I think he meant ‘born.'”
“Wow, that’s absolutely adorable.”
“Right?”
The brothers could not tear their eyes from Clover, whom they were seeing for the first time. And it was just the same for her.
A sister seen for the first time in four years.
Older brothers seen for the first time since birth.
How could any of it fail to be wondrous? Demian and Arwin, along with Clover, somehow maintained that careful distance as they gazed at one another.
And had they been left alone, the three siblings would have spent the entire morning until the next day simply observing each other, with an increasingly bewildered Belze between them.
But that was not to be.
“Young masters!”
The Duke of Claudian, having heard of that brief meeting, summoned his two sons with haste.
“The Duke wishes to see you — come at once.”
***
The Lion of North Wind was born from Kalid’s Authority. His summoned creature.
So everything the summoned creature saw and heard, Kalid could also see and hear.
Yet when the Lion of North Wind met Clover just moments ago, he received no such information at all.
As if she had unilaterally severed all sensation from that end.
‘Why?’
If the summoned creature could have spoken, he would have asked the specific reason.
But he could not ask. A summoned creature could not speak.
The only way an Authority wielder and summoned creature could communicate was through the bond they shared, by feeling alone. So of course he could not possibly hear a specific reason.
What was fortunate, at least, was that the Lion of North Wind had shown himself to be quite favorable toward Clover.
‘I’ve never seen the Lion of North Wind behave so gently before!’
‘It was just like watching a tiny kitten……?’
Those who had observed the meeting between the summoned creature and Clover from a distance spoke in unison.
So there was no particular cause for concern.
‘Still, I’m curious.’
It was while Kalid sat dazed at his desk, unable to focus on his work because of thoughts of Clover.
“The young masters have gone to meet Miss Clover, sir.”
A maid brought word that Demian and Arwin had gone to see Clover.
Kalid, startled, questioned her.
“Clover?”
Clover had not yet fully recovered from her injuries. And they went to see her?
“Since she’s already strong enough to meet the Lion of North Wind, the young masters should be fine, or so they said…….”
The maid who had delivered the message watched Kalid’s expression carefully. After a moment’s deliberation, he replied.
“No, it’s still too soon. Bring them back.”
“Yes, sir.”
The maid answered immediately and hurried from the study. Before long——
“Father, you called for us?”
“Wait! I was still greeting Clover!”
Demian and Arwin entered the study in turn. The brothers plunked themselves down on the study sofa before Kalid even had a chance to tell them to sit.
“But seriously, she was really cute…….”
And before Kalid could say anything, Arwin spoke with an exaggerated expression of solemnity.
His hands were clasped beneath his chin.
Demian readily agreed with the sentiment.
“Right, wasn’t she cute?”
“Are all babies that cute?”
“Well, she’s my sister — that’s why she’s cute.”
“Hmm?”
Kalid, listening quietly to Arwin and Demian’s conversation, tapped his knuckles against the oak desk. If he kept listening to this exchange, he was going to forget why he’d summoned them in the first place.
“That’s enough, enough.”
When Kalid opened his mouth, both brothers’ attention snapped toward him.
“I told you Clover is unwell and mustn’t be seen just yet, didn’t I? Did my words go in one ear and out the other, you two?”
At Kalid’s measured tone, Arwin bolted upright as if to protest.
“But, Father!”
“Ask for the floor first.”
Demian raised his hand sharply.
“Father.”
“Speak.”
Demian cleared his throat, his palm still raised and visible as he continued.
“But he was playing quite happily with the Lion of North Wind just now. If Clover is well enough to play with him, surely meeting us wouldn’t cause any harm.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Arwin chimed in agreement.
Demian paused for a moment, then spoke with deliberate care.
“Our Authorities are… incomplete, after all.”
Kalid’s eyebrows rose as he listened to Demian’s words.

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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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