The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 19

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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 19
What on earth had that been?
Even as she slipped on her shoes and found herself cradled in Belze’s arms on the way out, it churned through Clover’s mind—that thing she couldn’t quite name.
What she’d glimpsed in Kalid’s eyes, in her brothers’ eyes, kept fluttering across her vision like petals before dissolving.
***
Kalid had brought Clover, Demian, and Arwin to the Low Hill near the Claudian Duke’s Residence.
A stream babbled along one side, and ahead stretched an open view overlooking the whole of the Claudian Territory.
It was the place where Elisia and Kalid often came for picnics.
While Demian and Arwin descended from the carriage and spread out a space to sit with the servants, Kalid gently lifted the vacant-eyed Clover down.
“Papa, where are we going……?”
Clover’s question carried a note of anxiety. Only then did Kalid realize the child wasn’t accustomed to this sort of thing.
He’d assumed her fixed gaze out the carriage window all the way here was mere curiosity.
Kalid pressed a light kiss to Clover’s forehead.
“We’re not going anywhere—we’ve already arrived. This is our destination.”
“This is where we arrive at?”
“Yes. Have you ever been on a picnic before?”
“A picnic……?”
Clover blinked, thinking for a moment, then shook her head slowly.
“No, I’ve never been on one before.”
She had lived the past four years confined within the walls of Demper House. There was no way she could have experienced a picnic.
What even was a picnic? Would it be something good?
Something like all the other things Papa had given her?
Lucky shimmered with gleaming light as the thought bloomed: ‘So Papa is different after all—he really does seem to be trying his best to give her good things.’
Lucky’s sentiment reached her ears as warmth.
Thanks to Lucky’s affirmation and Kalid’s gentle words, Clover’s body—tensed like a cat with fur bristling—gradually unwound.
“If you’re frightened, I’ll hold you.”
“Then yes, Papa, please hold me.”
Clover quickly nestled into Kalid’s embrace. He held her close and moved toward where Demian and Arwin were sitting.
The Claudian kitchens had spent all morning carefully packing foods, which now lay spread before them in abundance. Kalid sat down still cradling Clover.
“Clover.”
Clover stared blankly at the array of food before lifting her head to ask.
“Is this something Papa wanted to do?”
“Yes, something I wanted to do.”
Clover whispered the words softly to herself: something I wanted to do.
Kalid brushed back the hair that had fallen across Clover’s forehead with his ring finger. She squinted slightly at the touch.
“You’ll come to like this place.”
“Mm?”
“Because your mother loves it here. When Elisia wakes from her rest, we’ll come again together.”
“What? Mama……?”
Mama’s favorite place!
At the mention of her mother, Clover’s eyes widened with light. Now that her tension had fully melted away, she finally lifted her gaze to take in the sprawling landscape before her.
Below the hillside, small houses clustered together like figures in a painting.
From far off came the sound of birds singing, mingled with the gentle gurgling of the stream.
“How lovely.”
It truly was a beautiful place. Was that why Mama loved it?
‘When Papa brings Mama here, I absolutely must tell her that I’ve been here too.’
After quietly making this future promise to herself, Clover’s ears perked up ceaselessly at the endless bird calls around her.
Noticing that the child’s anxiety had eased, Kalid gently stroked her back.
“You can go and play around if you like, as long as you don’t go far.”
“Mm……?”
Clover gripped Kalid’s forearm tightly with both hands and, after deliberating for a moment, looked up at him with careful hesitation to ask.
“Papa, if I go over there to play, you won’t leave me behind, will you……?”
Clover searched his face.
Being alone frightened her.
Just as she had feared at Demper House, Clover worried she might be left alone again.
And because she was so very, very happy right now, what if this were only a dream……?
She had dreamed dreams like this before, back in Demper House, more than once.
So the thought of being apart from Papa troubled her, even if it was only three or five steps away.
This wasn’t inside the mansion—Clover was afraid she might lose Papa and be unable to find him again.
Had Kalid also sensed what lay in Clover’s heart?
“Where would I go, leaving you here? Never. I’ll stay right here and keep watch.”
Kalid spoke with firm certainty, and only then did Clover break into a bright smile, bobbing her head.
“Okay, then I’ll play here.”
She rose quietly from Kalid’s arms, pressing her palms against the ground—hop—and the moment she stood, the North Wind Cat naturally wound around Clover’s legs.
“Clover, where are you going to play?”
“Come with me! It’s dangerous to wander alone.”
Demian and Arwin sprang to their feet and took their places beside Clover. But she shook her head.
“Um, Clover won’t go far.”
A small child shouldn’t stray too far from her guardian, after all.
Even Clover understood that much.
Released from Kalid’s arms, Clover pattered forward six small steps.
Then she dropped onto the soft grass—not the soft cloth that usually covered it—and dissolved into delighted giggles.
“This is nice. The grass tickles.”
The spot where Clover sat was clearly visible to Kalid.
It was only six paces away by a four-year-old’s stride from where Kalid, Demian, and Arwin stood.
And it was the perfect place—with a beautiful view of the landscape and a great tree’s shadow spreading overhead to shield her from the sun.
At least to Clover, it was.
With both legs tucked around her, Clover gazed back at Kalid and giggled.
“Papa, can you still see me well from here?”
Clover’s hair, just like a tender seedling, was a pale green that blended into the grass when she sat among it.
Indeed, when they’d been at Demper House, the servants had once failed to find Clover in the garden and wandered about searching.
It was this small worry that made Clover hesitate, wondering if she should move closer to her father’s six-pace distance away.
“I can see you fine, Clover. Don’t worry.”
Kalid, perceiving the child’s concern perfectly, drew out some cut fruit from the Food Basket.
Then he summoned a strand of Thread Wind through his Authority, and sent it drifting gently to her.
Watching the prettily cut fruit pieces drift slowly and gently from her father’s hands to her, Clover burst into fresh laughter.
And that was the moment.
Pop, pop, pop, pop!
On the grass where Clover sat.
Four tiny, pale seedlings sprouted in rapid succession around the child.
[Oh, oh! Clover!]
Lucky, startled, shot up from her shoulder and fluttered her wings frantically.
Clover, bewildered by her own power that had bloomed without her knowing, looked around in confusion.
“Huh?”
Looking carefully, she could see four tiny seedlings had grown there. They hadn’t been there before.
They were born from Clover’s Authority. Even if no one else could tell, Clover could sense it.
And.
Kalid, Demian, and Arwin, though far away to see the seedlings, could still feel Clover’s power.
Demian and Arwin, noticing that the child had used some Authority, quickly approached Clover.
“Clover, what was that just now?”
Arwin crouched down and asked. Clover shifted position, kneeling as she gazed at the seedlings she had conjured.
‘Four of them……?’
She’d never bloomed more than two before. Clover’s Authority was so faint and trivial.
But four?
“It’s so… amazing…….”
In a flash, Clover’s face brightened like sunlight itself.

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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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