The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 35

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Chapter 35
Whether she approved or disapproved, it was hard to tell.
‘So she saw Clover in the Garden?’
Kalid clicked his tongue. He was quite surprised—it was unlike Sone’s character.
Sone had suffered from Obsessive Cleanliness since childhood. When she was young, it was so severe that she wouldn’t even employ servants and did everything herself.
While it had improved somewhat by now, her condition remained serious enough that the household staff grew tense whenever she returned home.
Of course, Sone made an effort not to concern herself too much with things outside of her own possessions and spaces, but Obsessive Cleanliness was not something that bent to one’s will.
And yet there was Sone, watching Clover in the Garden.
Whenever Clover was let loose in the Garden, she returned a muddy little pea pod.
Whether a maid stood watching or not made no difference. Goodness knew what she found so entertaining—she’d come back covered head to toe in dirt.
‘Oh my, Miss….’
‘Huh, you’re being unfair.’
Because of this, the maids who had been delighted to dress the youngest Miss in a Pretty Dress gradually compromised to lighter shifts and shorts within the house.
It was unavoidable. No matter what they put her in, she’d go outside and come back filthy.
Of course, Kalid found Clover lovable and endearing even so. Children were meant to grow up rolling in the dirt a little.
But Kalid’s eldest daughter, Sone, was so excessively dignified that the servants joked she must have greeted the world with perfect composure the moment she was born—and she had never once played in the dirt as a child.
So it was only natural that she’d never gotten her hands soiled as she grew. Kalid’s gaze fell upon Sone’s white gloves.
“Is that all you have to say about it, Sone?”
“She was adorable. What more is needed?”
Sone answered flatly, like a girl devoid of all feeling.
Though when they were younger, it seemed she’d been quite fond of her little sister.
‘Is it because of that incident?’
Kalid watched Sone, whose gaze remained fixed downward.
After staring at her own feet for a moment, Sone lifted her head and spoke to her father.
“I intend to remain at the Mansion for a week. During that time, I’ll instruct Demian and Arwin in Horseback Riding and Swordsmanship. After the week is over, I plan to return to the Academy. Of course, I’ve already submitted an Overnight Leave Permit to the Academy, so you needn’t worry about attendance.”
“I’ve never worried. You always manage things well on your own.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll retire upstairs—I’m tired.”
Sone bowed her head slightly.
For what should have been a reunion between father and daughter after so long, it was remarkably dry and monotonous.
Kalid called out to Sone as she turned to leave, having offered only a brief greeting and report.
“Sone.”
“Yes, Father?”
“Teaching Swordsmanship is fine, and teaching Horseback Riding is fine, but don’t overexert yourself. You’re home now—you should rest a little.”
“Very well.”
“And try to be warmer toward your youngest sister.”
Kalid added this as an afterthought.
“She reads the room too much.”
Sone had learned through letters that the Demper House had not cared for the child as well as they ought to.
At those words—”she reads the room too much”—Sone faltered slightly.
And a beat too late, she replied.
“…Yes, I’ll be mindful.”
“Good. Off you go.”
“Yes.”
Sone took her leave with a spare farewell and turned to go.
Her hair, neatly bound, swayed gently with the breeze.
Kalid watched her departing figure for a moment, then picked up the Document he’d set aside earlier.
***
‘So soft and fluffy.’
And smelling sweet too.
So she wouldn’t hate her for being grimy anymore.
Clover’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at Belze.
“Belze, am I all clean now?”
“Yes, Miss. You’re the cleanest in the whole world. And you smell wonderfully fragrant.”
“Wonderfully fragrant too…!”
Clover bounced on the spot, absolutely thrilled.
‘Clover is clean.’
So that blue bird wouldn’t whip up wind to avoid her anymore, or look sad and hang its head.
A confident Clover clutched at Belze’s skirt.
“Belze, can I go play now?”
“What? But I just bathed you… Oh, where are you planning to play?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going far.”
Clover reassured Belze with a mature tone, then slipped out the door with a bright smile.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Miss…!”
Belze felt a moment of concern, but relaxed when she saw the Lion of the North Wind appear from nowhere and trail close behind Clover.
With the lion at her side, there was no way Clover could come to harm within the Mansion.
Clover raced along with Kalid’s summoned beast—a cat in form—before coming to an abrupt halt.
“Wait.”
[Why?]
“I don’t know where my sister’s room is.”
Where was her sister’s room, anyway?
Clover stood still, watching the servants pass by. Their footsteps naturally began to slow.
Did the youngest lady of the Mansion need help? One brave maid was about to approach Clover when—

The cat bounded ahead of Clover and began padding along the corridor, guiding her forward.
Clover let out a delighted “Oh!” and pattered along after the cat.
The Lion of the North Wind led Clover to Sone’s room.
Servants bustled about in front of it, unpacking what appeared to be the luggage Sone had brought with her.
“Hmm.”
Were they busy? Should she come back later?
Clover hovered at the entrance of Sone’s room, weighing whether to intrude.
“Miss, who are you looking for?”
A kind maid knelt down to meet Clover’s eyes and spoke gently.
Clover jumped in surprise, pressed her back against the wall, then carefully peeled herself away to answer.
“My… sister……”
“Are you looking for Lady Sone?”
“Yes, I am.”
Clover nodded, and the maid’s eyes rolled with uncertainty.
“Oh dear. Lady Sone isn’t in her room at the moment. Shall I let her know that Lady Clover came by when she returns? Or would you like me to pass along a message to her now?”
Clover paused to think.
But then she shook her head.
“No.”
She couldn’t call for her sister.
If she did, her sister might think she was being a nuisance.
“I’ll just wait here.”
Clover crouched down in front of the door.
The servants looked flustered and gathered around her.
“Then please wait inside the room, Lady Clover.”
“Or would you like us to prepare the room next door for you? You could wait there instead.”
“Miss, the floor is cold and dirty……”
The maids chattered worriedly, each adding their concern.
Clover’s resolve wavered slightly. The floor was dirty? Really?
“Then I’ll stand here.”
Clover sprang to her feet at once.
“I can play with the cat and Lucky, so don’t worry. Really.”
And she looked up at the maids with dignified composure.
The maids whispered among themselves for a moment, then smiled brightly at Clover.
“Very well then, miss. She should be back soon anyway!”
While one maid was soothing Clover, another hurried off to find Sone.
Clover, unaware of this, giggled and nodded.
“Okay.”
***
“Clover is waiting at my door? Why?”
Sone, who had been wielding her sword in the Training Ground, asked while wiping sweat from her brow. The maid shook her head, looking troubled.
“I’m not entirely sure why she’s waiting, but she seems to want to see you, Miss.”
“…Me?”
Sone checked the time.
It wasn’t yet time for dinner.
So she hadn’t come to invite her to the evening meal—then what was it?
‘Besides, I saw her just a moment ago.’
What could she possibly need to find in the meantime? Sone set aside her sword, puzzled though she was.
She couldn’t very well stay at her Swordsmanship practice when her four-year-old youngest sister was waiting for her at the door.
Sone’s Summoned Beast fluttered down and perched lightly on her shoulder. Resisting the urge to bathe first, she made her way toward the room where Clover was waiting.
And what she found there was.
“……?”
“Oh, sister, I was waiting for you.”
A small child with pale green hair, sitting pitifully in a crouch by the door.
“Sister.”
The child scrambled to her feet and brushed off her bottom, then padded softly toward Sone.
And.
“Look, look at me.”
Shyly, she tilted her round little head forward.