The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 17

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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 17
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Clover, the youngest daughter of Claudian, had found the family treasure.
The blessing that dwelt within that treasure had descended once more upon the small youngest daughter’s body after a long passage of time.
The rumor spread swiftly through the mouths of those who had witnessed ‘that incident’ that day and place.
And not long after.
“Miss, is it true that you found the Claudian treasure?”
“How could such a small miss manage it……! You’re truly amazing!!”
Wherever Clover went, the maids and servants who learned of her great ‘achievement’ began to shower her with praise without restraint.
Overwhelmed by countless requests for handshakes and cascading compliments, Clover felt a little embarrassed at first, but soon began to stroll through the Claudian Mansion with a new air of confidence.
And each time she encountered the maids, she leaned against the wall with a stylish pose.
Hehe.
“Behold, Clover has found it. The Claudian treasure!”
Kalid held the ring—which he’d strung on a chain and hung around her neck—high in the air to show it off.
Lucky flew about near the maids, echoing Kalid’s words.
[Come on, react again! React! Shout! Clover is the greatest!]
“Wow! That’s the Claudian ring!”
“Miss, it’s so splendid!!”
The maids squealed and bounced in place, their enthusiasm uncontained. At their fervent response, Clover laughed like a grown-up and swept her bangs aside with a toss of her head.
‘……This might actually feel pretty good.’
Surprised to receive treatment she had never known even once during her time in Demper, after hearing praise about a hundred times over, Clover’s shoulders climbed skyward with no intention of coming back down.
This is really the best. I feel absolutely amazing.
The child, in her short four years of life, could say without question that she was living the greatest period of her entire existence as she murmured to herself.
She could stay at Claudian, didn’t have to go to Demper, had heard that her mother was alive, and had found the treasure.
‘I can stay here.’
Of course there had been a rather small incident, but since her father didn’t seem to mind it much, Clover saw no reason to worry about it either.
Moreover, her father had promised to bring her to her mother before the year was out. So how could Clover’s mood be anything but wonderful!
Clover had come to love the people of Claudian who bounced and praised her each time they saw her, so she deliberately rummaged through every corner of the mansion.
And each time the servants encountered this small little pea of a miss, they showed her the ‘reaction’ she expected, as if by promise.
“Thank you for the praise, I’m going now.”
Bye-bye, maids.
Clover waved her small hand in farewell and walked off proudly, holding the ring prominently. The maids, who watched her go with bright smiles on their faces, exchanged quiet words among themselves.
“She’s really adorable, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she seems to want to show it off as she wanders around.”
“She’s so cute. I hope she’ll make another round and come back…….”
“This is already her second lap though.”
“Yes, but still, I want to see her again! If only she’d make a third round…….”
But the maids’ voices were so soft that Clover, who had moved on ahead, didn’t hear them.
Where should I go show it off next?
Now able to roam freely through Claudian without fear of illness or collapse, Clover came to a halt before the garden.
She could see the groundskeepers busily clearing away the remains of the broken fountain since morning. Upon discovering this, Clover flinched in alarm and quietly turned her head away.
‘I won’t go there.’
Every time she saw the broken fountain, her heart still ached with pangs of guilt.
Sigh, I wish I could fix it.
Unfortunately, Clover had no such power. She sidled away from that place with measured steps.
Then, at that moment.
“Clover.”
A familiar voice called from somewhere. Before Clover could even respond, her small body was suddenly lifted up.
“Huh?”
“What are you doing wandering about like that?”
Kalid scooped Clover up easily and settled her snugly in his arms. With the practiced ease of a father who had already raised three children, Clover nestled comfortably against him and beamed.
“Oh, Father!”
“You’ve been running around all day long.”
“Um, well…….”
Clover fidgeted with her fingers and buried her face in Kalid’s chest.
“I love it here so much, and thinking that I can stay and keep staying makes me so excited. And the maids praise me so much, and they congratulated me on finding the treasure, and…….”
Clover counted off on her fingers one by one as she explained the reasons she had been wandering through the mansion all this time.
While Clover rattled off her reasons without interruption, Kalid listened intently and stroked her hair.
“Is that so? You must have been very happy, Clover.”
“Yes, I’ve been so, so happy.”
Clover giggled brightly, and Kalid, breaking into a smile, gently pinched her plump cheek before letting go.
Then Kalid asked her something.
“Want to keep playing?”
“Hmm?”
“Or would you give your father some time? There’s something I’d like to do with you.”
“Something you’d like to do?”
“Yes, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
Clover rolled her round eyes, studying her father’s face intently. His expression was peculiar—impossibly so.
He looked happy and yet sad all at once. One shouldn’t be able to feel both joy and sorrow simultaneously, and yet there her father was, wearing that very contradiction. Why?
Without thinking, Clover reached up and wrapped her arms around Kalid’s neck, then nodded.
“Yeah, I like it. Clover’s not busy at all. I wanna spend time with you, Father.”
At that, Kalid smiled softly and patted her back.
“Not busy?”
“Nope, totally free.”
“Good. Then my timing is perfect.”
The truth was, Kalid had been watching over Clover since the moment she’d started her first lap around the garden, but he said nothing of this and spoke as though he’d only just arrived.
Clover beamed and shot her thumb upward.
“Yep, totally the best timing ever!”
Hearing this, Kalid pressed his cheek gently against hers and laughed.
***
The place Kalid carried Clover to was the dining hall.
‘The dining hall?’
Now that she thought about it, it was indeed time for a meal. Clover tentatively touched her stomach.
“Sit here.”
Kalid settled Clover into a child-sized chair that had been prepared. Seated right beside him, Clover nodded and answered.
“Okay.”
[So the little one’s hungry after all that play. Time for a meal.]
Lucky fluttered down and perched on Clover’s shoulder. Looking up from her seat, Clover gazed at the vast dining table of the Claudian Mansion.
‘I’ve never been here before.’
Until now, Belze had always brought her meals to her room. She couldn’t see her father, so naturally they couldn’t eat together.
But now she could eat with him! Clover held a child-sized fork in her mouth, her eyes darting about the dining hall, taking everything in, and a small smile played across her lips.
‘This feels like a dream.’
Back in Demper, while writing in her diary, she’d often dreamed like this.
Eating a hundred servings of meat in a grand, elegant dining hall with Father, Mother, and all her older siblings—a warm, happy meal together.
‘Dreams really do come true……!’
Clover swung her legs and her eyes sparkled.
Then.
“Oh? Clover! You’re already here.”
“Father, we’ve arrived.”
Arwin and Demian entered the dining hall. The moment Arwin stepped inside, he ignored Kalid entirely and reached over to pinch Clover’s cheek, rubbing it affectionately.
“Pea, I heard all about it. You’ve been bragging about your ring all day long, haven’t you?”
Caught.
She’d thought she’d been subtle about her boasting, but now that her every move had been exposed, Clover stared at Arwin.
“What a cute thing you are…… Eating with you feels like a dream. Will you sit next to me? Want me to feed you?”
“I like this seat just fine, but—why do you keep calling me Pea……!”
“Because you’re round and plump, just like a pea.”
After pinching Clover’s cheek once more, Arwin returned to his seat without complaint.
And then came Demian.
A maid was approaching to place a napkin on Clover’s dress, but Demian took the napkin from her hands and carefully tied it to Clover’s clothing himself, making sure no food would soil her garments.
“The ring necklace looks beautiful on you, Clover.”
He stroked her hair gently, then returned to his seat.
Two chairs sat empty, but the other four were now occupied. Clover glanced at the empty seats before looking from Kalid to Demian to Arwin in turn.
It was no different from any other harmonious household.
It was precisely the image of ‘family’ that Clover had yearned for so much back in Demper.

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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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