The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 32

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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 32
The faces of the three people who saw the drawing that Clover had made went rigid at once.
‘Who is this woman?’
‘According to a book on child development I read recently, when infants draw pictures like this with dark colors and tangled threads, it means the child’s emotions aren’t stable at home—could it be that our Clover is in that state?’
‘Why is she so good at drawing? Isn’t Clover a genius?’
Yet each of the three harbored entirely different thoughts. When three minds gather, each thinks something separate.
They were all looking at the same drawing, but the thoughts running through their heads were all different.
“Hmm.”
After finishing the drawing, Clover lifted the paper with a snap and turned her gaze to Lucky.
“Good?”
[Good.]
Lucky’s approval came through.
The moment she received it, Clover handed the drawing straight to Kalid.
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Papa, a gift.”
Clover pronounced the word ‘gift’ slowly and carefully, emphasizing each syllable.
“What is this?”
“Something I saw at the Imperial Palace. Something Clover saw.”
Clover pointed directly at the ‘woman’ she had drawn. The woman held something that looked like a watering can.
“She has a bad heart.”
“…….”
Only then did Kalid accept the drawing from Clover and examine it more carefully.
It was a picture of a woman holding something resembling a watering can in her hand, smiling broadly.
And on the chest of the figure in the drawing, tangled threads like those in a spool had been sketched in black pen.
“Bad heart?”
“Yes, scary…….”
After confirming once more, Kalid recalled something that had happened not long before, right after his conversation with Clover.
‘Baby, bad heart.’
‘Bad he…… Ah.’
‘She was talking about malice, wasn’t she?’
‘Yes, baby!’
‘That’s right, baby.’
She had been speaking of that malice?
‘If that’s the case, I can’t simply overlook what a child says.’
If Clover had seen anything at all, it needed to be verified. Especially if it concerned an attendant who served the Empress Dowager in close quarters.
Kalid tucked the paper into his breast. If the maidservant Clover had mentioned was one the Empress Dowager employed urgently, he couldn’t investigate her directly.
‘I must speak to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.’
He could at least convey a subtle warning.
“Very well, I understand, Clover. Papa will look into this.”
“Yes, okay.”
“Rest now. You’re not feeling well.”
“Okay.”
Clover answered briskly, set the paper and pen aside, and flopped back onto her bed.
When she looked up at the ceiling, the ceiling truly seemed to spin, confirming that her body was not well.
‘Spinning, spinning.’
As the dizziness washed over her, Clover squeezed her eyes shut and gripped the blanket tightly.
“Sleep well, little one.”
Just then, Arwin patted Clover’s belly and whispered to her. Clover cracked open her right eye and looked at him.
“And next time, you should draw me too, not just the people from the Imperial Palace.”
“You too? Okay.”
“And me as well, Clover. When you’re all better.”
Demian didn’t miss his chance either.
Between Arwin and Demian, Clover felt as though her list of tasks had grown a little, but she didn’t mind it much.
“Okay.”
Clover nodded firmly, her eyes shut tight. Not long after, Kalid, Demian, Arwin, and Sina all left Clover’s room.
Silence descended on what had been a noisy space moments before.
Hmm.
Clover opened her eyes slightly and stroked her chin with her finger.
‘That’s strange. At Aunt’s house, I liked being alone.’
Back then, when Aunt Luina came near, I felt only dislike and pain, so why does my heart feel so hollow and lonely now that I’m by myself?
Whish.
A gust of wind swept through the empty room.
Her family had left to spare Clover the trouble of their bustling presence, but Clover had preferred it when they were all there, noise and all.
‘Lonely…….’
Clover murmured, burrowing her head beneath the quilt.
And not long after.
Thrum-thrum, thrum.
Thrum-thrum, thrum.
The blanket rose and fell with steady rhythm, her breathing deep and even.
In the room where Clover slept soundly.
A luminous spring-green light, bright as Clover’s own Divine Power, enveloped the small child’s body.
And.
[Sleep well, Clover.]
Some hand caressed the sleeping girl’s soft belly, whispering close.
It was a touch as warm as a mother’s, as tender as a father’s.
***
“Why are you heading back all of a sudden, Sone?”
“I have to see for myself.”
Sone Claudian watched the carrier pigeon from Claudian drink water, her words falling between glances.
“My youngest has come home. As the eldest sister, I can’t very well not show my face.”
“When did you ever care so much about your younger siblings?”
Tertia Hesoni, Sone’s closest friend from the Academy, folded her arms and asked. Tertia was the sole daughter of Marquis Hesoni, the only person Sone had ever truly confided in during her time at the Academy.
“Don’t talk nonsense, Tertia.”
“It’s true though—when have you ever shown the slightest interest in your brothers? Whether it was their birthday or anything else, you never once paid attention.”
“Demian and Arwin have always had everything they needed at Claudian.”
Sone answered matter-of-factly.
“But the youngest is different.”
“Ah, I see.”
Tertia smiled wickedly.
“But knowing your temperament, how long will that last? I’d bet my entire fortune you’ll be back within the week, sick of babysitting.”
“You’re about to acquire the whole of House Hesoni’s wealth without lifting a finger.”
“I didn’t say I’d stake the house fortune!”
Tertia changed her strategy.
“You’re really going? The group project is next week. Your teammates will…….”
“Already spoke to the professor about it. Changed it to an individual assignment and submitted it. Got the grade yesterday.”
“What?”
“Perfect score. Now let me pack. I need to get going.”
“Ugh, that’s unfair! If I’d known I could change it to individual work, I would’ve done it too!”
“Go ask to change it now then.”
“They won’t let you change it without a special reason, will they?”
“No.”
“Sone!”
Tertia shrieked. Sone packed her clothes into her bag regardless of whether Tertia protested or not.
‘I’ll only be gone a few days.’
This much clothing would be enough.
She didn’t need to bring anything else. She’d be back at the Dormitory soon anyway.
As Sone busied herself with packing, her hands suddenly stilled.
‘Clover.’
Clover Claudian—the youngest sibling she hadn’t seen in four years.
How much had she grown?
Who did she resemble—mother or father?
The thought of seeing that child again made her chest feel tight, constricted.
Tertia noticed Sone’s expression had darkened and sat on the edge of her bed. She reached over and touched Sone’s shoulder gently.
“Hey, Sone.”
“…….”
“Why do you look like that? If you don’t want to go, don’t. There’s no reason to force yourself, using up your leave hours just to go if you don’t want to. The Duke wouldn’t say anything even if you didn’t.”
“Move, Teri.”
“I’m worried right now. This isn’t a joke.”
Tertia gazed at Sone quietly. Her transparent sky-blue eyes held Sone Claudian in steady regard.
And Sone saw her own reflection gazing back from within them.
She looked frightened.
As if she were afraid of something.
‘…….’
Sone turned her head away sharply. She couldn’t bear to see herself reflected in Tertia’s eyes any longer.
“Sone.”
“I’m fine, Tertia.”
Sone answered calmly.
She was fine. Really, she was.
‘That’ happened four years ago, after all.
Too much time had passed to hold anyone accountable for it, and besides, she’d been just a child back then.
Clover hadn’t even died because of it.
So it was fine.
The tremor in her hands, small as it had been, stilled. Sone lifted her head and met Tertia’s worried gaze.
“I’m all right now. I’m trying not to think about what happened back then.”
“Mm…….”
“I’ll just say hello to my youngest sister and leave.”
The words seemed directed at herself as much as at Tertia.
Sone steadied herself, then gathered the remaining clothes and assignments into her bag.
Tertia watched her with evident unease, then helped her pack.
A few garments and five bundles of assignments fit neatly, layer upon layer, inside the bag.

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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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