The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 27

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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 27
[Honestly, you don’t even need to bring a gift, I mean it!]
“But Father said he prepared something.”
[That’s different from what Father would do!]
Lucky tried hard to console her, but it was no use. Clover had already fallen into a Gloomy State. Finally, Lucky gave up.
[Fine, fine, just give him anything. He’ll be happy with whatever you bring. It’s coming from such a tiny thing after all.]
Pea, pea. Clover pressed her head into the sofa as she listened to Lucky’s quiet muttering.
‘What should I give?’
She’d been thinking hard about it since last night, but Clover hardly owned anything.
There was the toy Father bought her, the pretty dress Father bought her, the pretty hair ornaments and shoes Father gave her—that was about it.
But she couldn’t give any of those.
‘He’s called the biggest of the big, so he must have tons of things like that.’
Sigh, then what could she possibly give?
That won’t do. But if she ruled that out, what was left?
‘……Hmm, seeds?’
Clover, who had been pondering, suddenly perked up with a spark of inspiration.
Seeds planted with Father’s heart!
Just this morning, she’d heard that a tiny sprout had already begun to grow from it.
Harriet, the gardener who oversaw the entire care of the Claudian Mansion’s Garden, was tending to it carefully, eager to see how the sprout would develop.
But.
“……No, that won’t do.”
That was Father’s. She had to give it to Father.
Besides, it didn’t seem like it would be fully grown before meeting the Empress Dowager.
She couldn’t give someone else’s half-grown thing as a gift, so Clover erased “seeds” from her mental list of gift candidates.
So what else was left?
All that remained was really just a bear doll with a ribbon and a few cookies she’d gotten from the cook……
“Miss, why are you sitting there looking so troubled?”
Just then, Belze entered carrying a tray with cookies and juice, and asked.
‘Juice, huh.’
She’d been craving juice because she was in a bad mood, but how did Belze know?
A faint halo seemed to shimmer behind Belze. Clover, deeply moved, slowly rose and accepted the juice with both hands, taking a sip.
Seeing Clover gulp down the juice, Belze asked carefully.
“Is something the matter?”
“Belze.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Belze…… what makes you happiest when you receive a gift?”
“A gift? Well……”
Belze pondered. Clover sipped at her juice through the straw, glancing up at her.
What would she say?
“I suppose it’s when I receive a Gift with Heart?”
“A gift with…… heart?”
“Yes. It doesn’t have to be valuable or grand—it’s when you think, ‘Oh, this person prepared this for me. They must have put in quite a bit of effort.’ That sort of gift, you know? But why are you suddenly asking?”
“That’s……”
As Clover hesitated, Belze beat her to it.
“Oh! Are you preparing for Khalid’s birthday coming up soon?”
“……B-birthday?”
“There’s still a whole month left, yet you’re getting ready already? And how did you even know Khalid’s birthday isn’t far off…… our young miss really is clever!”
Clover, who had inadvertently stepped backward and stumbled on something, opened her mouth in shock.
Father had a birthday?!
Gulp-gulp.
Having received information she never wanted, Clover’s face grew dark as if she’d lost the whole world.
‘Clover, you’re done for.’
Clover, who had suddenly doubled her gift-giving burden, let the juice straw in her mouth slip out with a trail of liquid.
“My, Miss?”
“Sigh……”
Clover drooped again and buried her face between the cushions.
Lucky hopped gracefully onto that cushion and let out a sigh along with her.
[Oh my…… raising a child is exhausting.]
The sigh grew twice as heavy.
But Belze still had no idea what was going on as she watched Clover.
***
After Khalid Claudian sent word that he would visit the Imperial Palace with Clover,
time passed swiftly, and the day of Clover’s visit to the Imperial Palace arrived.
Having settled perfectly into the Claudian Mansion in the meantime, Clover had filled out with healthy weight, as if she’d never been half-starved.
Day after day, she ate three nutritious, delicious meals, and snacked on sweet treats between them—no wonder she’d blossomed so.
Her hair gleamed with lustre, her cheeks had grown plump as a doll’s, and her dark eyes sparkled brighter than before.
And yet.
“Ugh…….”
The guest of honor, Clover, who was supposed to visit the Imperial Palace today, remained in a gloomy state.
While Belze cleaned her thoroughly and dressed her in fresh clothes, Clover hung limp in her hands, a picture of melancholy.
‘I couldn’t find a gift.’
Lucky fluttered about desperately trying to cheer her up, but no amount of effort could shake off her dismay.
As Belze placed the bonnet on her head, Clover glanced at the small flower pot that the gardener Harriet had prepared for her.
‘You need a flower pot for a gift?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘Then trust Harriet! I’ll have something ready for you in no time!’
And true to his word, Harriet had prepared quite a presentable flower pot in half a day.
The small ceramic pot was worth a fair sum, and inside it lay rich, nourishing soil for plants to thrive in.
But there was nothing planted in it. Not a single seed had been sown.
[Clover, what are you planning to plant in here?]
Lucky settled directly into the center of the pot, and suddenly the whole arrangement looked like a complete gift set—including a golden four-leaf clover.
Clover, watching this sight, deliberately avoided Lucky’s gaze and muttered,
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll give it like that.”
[Huh?]
“Including you, Lucky…….”
[What? No way!]
Lucky shot up out of the pot with a buzz. Clover pouted and made a small “tsk” sound.
While Lucky and Clover were bickering, Belze placed an adorable lace-trimmed bonnet on Clover’s head.
The pretty lavender bonnet matched her pale-green hair beautifully. After tying the ribbon under her chin with practiced skill, Belze looked at Clover and smiled warmly.
“All done, Miss! How do you like it? Does it suit you?”
“……Ah!”
Clover gasped as another maid held a large mirror up to her face.
The Clover in that mirror was remarkably adorable. The memory of her in tattered clothes felt like a distant dream—she looked so cute and charming now.
“I look like a rich girl.”
[Because you are one.]
Lucky countered as Clover spoke to herself. Clover paid him no mind and stared into the mirror, momentarily forgetting about the empty flower pot.
She ran her fingers over the layers of luxurious lace and made a silent vow.
‘I won’t run today.’
No running, no tumbling into the dirt. She didn’t want to soil this beautiful dress either.
“Does it please you?”
“Yes, completely.”
“I’m so glad! Shall we head out now? I’ll carry the flower pot for you~”
Belze picked up Clover’s flower pot. Clover glanced at it once more with a slightly dejected expression, then shook her head vigorously to dismiss the thought.
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
She took hold of Belze’s hand and walked carefully forward, followed by excited maids trailing behind her.
“You look absolutely precious today!”
“Right. That bonnet is so adorable…… it suits you perfectly.”
“She looks so different from Miss Soné…….”
With each step Clover took, five words of praise followed in her wake.
As the compliments poured down, her drooping shoulders gradually, gradually began to lift.
And by the time she reached Khalid,
“Father!”
she ran to him as if she’d never been melancholy at all, throwing herself into his arms. Her quick shift from dejection to bright smiles was utterly childlike.
“Clover.”
Khalid lifted her high and twirled her around. Her delighted laughter rang out like a bell.
“We put it together in a rush, but it suits you well. I’ll need to buy you more bonnets.”
Khalid adjusted her bonnet carefully as he spoke. Clover burst into giggles again in his embrace.
Then.
“Have a good trip, Clover!”
Arwin popped up from nowhere.

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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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