The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 22

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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 22
***
Rustle.
Clover lifted her head from where she’d been sleeping face-down in the blanket.
Her eyes were puffy from sleeping so long, and her hair was a complete mess.
But Clover didn’t even wait to rub the sleep from her eyes before she started patting around frantically at the space around her.
Where is it?
“The Seed……”
As Clover murmured half-awake, Lucky bounced excitedly beside the pillow.
[Here it is!]
When she turned her head toward Lucky’s voice, she spotted the Seed sitting on the nightstand.
It was the Seed of Heart she’d created from Kalid’s heart yesterday.
“Ehehehe……”
Even thinking about it again made her happy. A Seed made from Father’s heart, no less.
What wonderful thing would grow from it?
For some reason, she had a feeling this one wouldn’t wither in three seconds like the others—that it would grow beautifully this time.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
At that moment, Belze approached and lifted Clover gently into her arms.
She cradled the still-drowsy girl carefully, making sure her head didn’t tilt back, and patted her soothingly.
“Mm-hmm, like this.”
Clover nodded and held up the Seed to show Belze.
“There……”
React for me, Clover. Praise me.
Clover opened her eyes hopefully and looked up at Belze’s face.
“Is this the Seed you made yesterday? It’s wonderful, Miss!”
Belze had already heard from the servants who’d accompanied Clover on her picnic that “the young miss had created a Seed,” and she responded with a bright smile.
“Our young miss is so clever with Divine Power despite your tender years—when you grow up, you’re absolutely going to become someone truly amazing.”
At Belze’s praise, Clover buried her face in her chest and burst into delighted giggles.
Exactly the reaction she wanted!
Belze is completely the best!
Her mood lifted even higher, Clover leaned close and whispered to Belze conspiratorially.
“Belze, it’s a secret.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“I made it from Daddy’s heart.”
“From Kalid?”
“Yeah, from Daddy’s heart……”
Her pronunciation was slurred because she wasn’t fully awake yet, but Clover pressed on determinedly.
“So next time I’ll make one for you too.”
“Oh my……”
“A really big one, and a really pretty one.”
Clover murmured with a smile, and with that, she settled back down and drifted off to sleep again.
Belze wasn’t entirely sure what “made from the heart” meant, precisely.
‘Our little miss……”
How could she not be moved when such a tiny child wanted to do something for her?
Soft rustle.
She gently stroked Clover’s thin, silky hair.
Clover in her arms was small—like delicate down. Or perhaps like a sprout that had just broken through the soil.
She was a young miss who resembled every small, soft thing in the world: a pea pod, a sprout, down……
Belze moved carefully so as not to disturb the child’s light sleep. She knew well how sweet this extra bit of morning rest was, and she had no intention of waking her young lady.
***
Clover’s room was known as the “Sprout Room.”
It was a nursery that Kalid Claudian had prepared shortly after sending the newborn Clover to the Demper Family.
The room, which reflected Elisia’s tastes considerably, was packed with small, charming furnishings and was quite adorable.
But.
“We’ll redesign it.”
Clover’s room was going to be redone.
At Kalid’s command, Cherenio, the mansion’s head steward, looked at him with confusion and asked.
“But the young miss seems quite content with it as is—why would you want to redecorate it?”
“Because I designed it, not the child. No matter how young and small she is, she must have her own tastes.”
Kalid pictured Clover smiling brightly, and his lips involuntarily curved upward.
“Hmm, well.”
He barely managed to compose his expression before turning his attention back to Clover’s room.
Truth be told, the notion of redesigning it to reflect the child’s taste was merely an excuse.
He simply wanted to buy everything she desired and see her beam with joy once more. Clover’s room had become little more than a vessel for his own indulgence.
When Demian and Arwin heard Kalid’s plan, they both lingered in the doorway, peering at Clover’s space.
“I think it’s adorable as it is.”
“Right, I like this wallpaper, and that pink quilt is perfect too.”
“Clover seems happy with it now, Father.”
“So you’re going to just rearrange the little one’s room however you like? Isn’t that a bit selfish, Dad?”
Arwin kept needling him until Kalid finally gave him a flick on the forehead.
Thump.
“Ow!”
And yet.
“Hmm…….”
Kalid found himself gazing thoughtfully at the room, conceding that his sons weren’t entirely wrong.
According to Demian and Arwin, Clover might well be satisfied with things as they stood.
Small children took time adjusting to new surroundings, and if he rearranged the room too drastically, she might become unsettled and shy away from it altogether.
‘Still, I want to buy her something…….’
A larger new bed, perhaps, or an adorable little tea set designed just for children. He wanted to give her things suited to her tastes and witness that joy bloom across her face.
After mulling it over for a moment, Kalid nodded slowly to himself and murmured.
“I should ask Clover instead—whether anything is uncomfortable, or if there’s anything new she’d like to have.”
Having reached this conclusion, Kalid pivoted to face Cherenio.
“Where is Clover right now?”
The small mistress of this room, who should have been sleeping soundly within, was nowhere to be found.
Where had she gone this time?
At his question, Cherenio gestured politely toward the Garden and replied.
“I heard a short while ago that she was near the Garden, sir.”
“Near the Garden?”
What was she doing over there?
“Shall I bring her back?”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
“However, Kalid, Count Sidue is scheduled to visit this afternoon…….”
“I’m aware.”
Count Sidue was a retainer whose involvement in illegal enterprises alongside the Demper Family had recently come to light; preparations for his purge were already underway.
His visit’s purpose was obvious—he’d come to beg for mercy.
Clover mattered far more than any such obligation.
Kalid rose and began to walk.
“Dad! Can we come too?”
“Father, me as well.”
The two brothers hurried after him. Kalid paused briefly to let Demian and Arwin catch up, then resumed his pace.
***
‘Plant the seeds, plant them!’
Round and round, round and round seeds.
Humming a little tune, Clover seized a Seedling Shovel and marched determinedly into the Garden, plopping herself down in the dirt.
“I wonder what will grow if I plant these seeds~”
Of course, she could recall only one time when she’d actually planted something and watched it grow.
But this time, something felt different. It felt as though wonderful things were about to spring forth.
‘I can hardly wait.’
Thrust.
Just then, as Clover plunged her Seedling Shovel deep into the Garden’s soil, she paused.
Wait.
She ran her fingers through the earth, and sure enough.
‘I don’t feel any strength here.’
The land held no pulse of life. Just as she’d sensed upon first arriving at Claudian, this earth held no Crystal Seed.
Nothing would grow properly in such ground. It seemed the gardener alone maintained whatever vegetation existed here through constant, painstaking effort—plants that ought to have long since withered.
Clover lifted her head sharply and looked at Lucky.
“Lucky, there’s nothing here, right?”
[A Crystal? Yeah, there isn’t one.]
“Then we’ll have to make one.”
Clover declared this with characteristic determination.
You cannot plant a precious Seed in lifeless ground.
Clover’s plantings already died more often than not, and sowing them in soil with no vitality would be like throwing the Seeds away altogether.
There was no choice. Clover tucked the Seed firmly into her pocket, her expression grim.
“Lucky, help me.”
Before planting Father’s Seed, she pressed both palms flat against the earth.
[Such a hands-on little thing.]
Lucky fluttered down and hovered gently above Clover’s hands.
And lent her his strength.
Then.
Whoosh—!
Faint light seeped from beneath her small palms. Clover felt her Divine Power draining away.
But that was all right.
It wasn’t her first time doing this.
‘I’ve done it before, back at the Demper Family.’
Green light leaked through carefully. Clover pressed her lips together and channeled her Divine Power, and before long the light grew clearer and clearer until—
“It’s taking root…….”
Pop!
Something small burst upward from within the glow.
But what erupted from that spot was not only the small green thing.
“Huh?”

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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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