The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 38

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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 38
***
A week had passed since Kalid resolved not to bring Clover to the Imperial Palace so often.
He watched Clover, now fully prepared for the visit, and sighed quietly where no one could hear.
‘There’s nothing good about going so frequently.’
It wouldn’t benefit Clover if the Emperor took notice of her—and the Emperor was known to be volatile and deceitful.
And yet.
There was something the Empress Dowager wanted to give Clover. A letter had asked him to bring the child just one more time.
He couldn’t refuse to bring Clover after receiving such a request from Anernia.
What’s more, the Empress Dowager had even granted him permission to bring multiple Claudian guard knights to escort them within the Empress Dowager’s Palace itself, should he worry.
It was a remarkably generous concession.
Kalid turned this over in his mind.
‘She must have something important to give her.’
Anernia had treasured Elicia, and she treasured Elicia’s daughter Clover as well.
It was unthinkable that Anernia would do anything to harm Clover. If anything, Kalid hoped she would do something to help her.
So there was no need to worry.
Kalid stroked the child’s head—she seemed unusually cheerful today.
“You look ready.”
“Yes, I’m all ready!”
Clover beamed and spoke brightly. Kalid scooped her up into his arms.
“That’s my girl. And you seem especially happy today.”
“Well, it’s a secret, but……”
Clover fidgeted shyly in his arms before speaking.
“Today I talked to my sister four whole times.”
……
“But at the end she just went whoosh and left……”
Kalid knew that Sone avoided Clover.
But he hadn’t realized she spoke to her so little as to manage only four words in a day.
Yet Kalid understood why Sone kept her distance from Clover. Knowing the reason, he couldn’t simply demand that Sone approach the child.
‘At least there’s that.’
The child was grateful enough to be delighted by even four words exchanged.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Tomorrow I’ll try for five words.”
“You can do it, Clover.”
He planted a light kiss on her cheek and pulled away. Clover, in high spirits, burst into delighted laughter in his arms.
“Will we go to the Imperial Palace again?”
“Yes, to see Her Majesty.”
“The Empress Dowager.”
“That’s right.”
Clover grinned widely.
“Her Majesty showed me rabbits and gave me yummy cake.”
“Sounds lovely, my dear.”
“Yes, though there was something scary too.”
Clover’s expression dimmed as she thought of the ‘attendant sister.’
Noticing what was on the child’s mind, Kalid gently tapped her cheek.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of today.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Father told Her Majesty that someone was frightening you.”
For today’s visit, he had arranged to replace all the attendants who had served at Anernia’s side that day with different ones, so Clover would not encounter that attendant again.
“I like that.”
Clover’s face brightened at once. He gazed at her affectionately and stroked her hair gently.
***
“Clover.”
Anernia greeted Clover with a warm expression. Clover approached her with a bright smile.
“Your Majesty!”
“How have you been?”
She lifted Clover into her arms with practiced ease. Clover giggled in her embrace and then nuzzled her cheek affectionately against Anernia’s shoulder.
“I’ve been well, and how have you been, Your Majesty?”
“Quite well.”
The corners of the Empress Dowager’s mouth lifted naturally at the sight of Clover in her charming little dress, festooned with ribbons.
“Hmm… though I could have sworn you’d grown thinner somehow.”
She gave Clover’s plump cheeks a playful poke.
“Huh?”
“Has something happened? You’ve lost weight in just these past days.”
Clover’s eyes went wide at Anernia’s sharp observation.
‘How did she notice?’
For the past few days, Clover had been fretting over how to grow closer to Sone, and had skipped several snacks in her worry.
So perhaps there truly was a little weight loss.
Thinking of Sone and growing somewhat melancholy, Clover quietly averted her gaze from Anernia.
“Now then, what’s troubling you?”
Anernia would not let the matter slide so easily.
As Anernia pressed her, Clover hesitantly opened her mouth.
“Well… I have something worrying me.”
“A little thing like you has worries? Come now, tell me what it is.”
“I think… my sister dislikes me.”
She hadn’t told her family, but somehow it felt right to tell the Empress Dowager.
The Imperial Palace was far from the Claudian Duchy, and the Empress Dowager seemed unlikely to scold Sone over Clover.
Clover continued hesitantly.
“When she sees me, she avoids me and runs away.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, and my brother says it’s not that she dislikes me, but I don’t understand why she runs.”
She didn’t know why—taking a sip of juice, Clover let out a small sigh, “Ugh.”
Anernia pictured Sone Claudian in her mind for a moment.
The eldest daughter of the Claudian Family, known for being taciturn and emotionless.
Anernia had heard well enough what sort of reputation Sone held in society.
And yet.
‘Your Majesty, I have a sister now!’
Sone, standing beside Elicia when she came to the Imperial Palace to announce her pregnancy.
Remembering that girl beaming with joy, tilting her head to try to feel the baby’s movements—Anernia could not imagine her disliking Clover.
So there must surely be some misunderstanding between the two of them.
That was only natural at that age.
Anernia stroked Clover’s head as she sipped her juice.
“Then your brother is likely right.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Your sister is your family—why would she dislike you? Family love and cherish one another. It’s simply that it’s been so long since you’ve seen each other; she simply needs a little time. Give your sister just a bit of patience.”
At Anernia’s words, Clover’s face brightened.
The juice glass was more than half empty now. Clover nodded enthusiastically with a broad smile.
“All right. I’ll do that.”
At the endearing reply, Anernia’s lips curved upward naturally.
Having finished her role as a counselor to a young child’s troubles, Anernia turned Clover to face her and broached the real matter.
“I called you today because I have something for you.”
Now that the small counseling session had ended, it was time for her to explain why she had summoned Clover.
“Something for me?”
“Yes, a gift.”
“A present!”
Clover laughed with delight.
“Yes, I must give back to you.”
She gestured toward the potted plant a maidservant was holding.
It was something Clover had brought with her on her last visit. Upon it grew a flourishing and beautiful plant.
It seemed the Empress Dowager had ordered it planted separately after Clover left.
“Wow…”
“Isn’t it lovely? This is the gift you gave me.”
Clover’s eyes sparkled.
‘My gift!’
To think it had been reborn into something so beautiful?
‘How amazing.’
She had thought her gift was completely ruined, but Anernia had transformed it into something wonderful.
‘And she’s so kind.’
Clover found herself growing fonder of the Empress Dowager—this kind and gentle woman.
Just then.
“Bring it here.”
Anernia, still cradling the child in her arms, showed no sign of setting Clover down as she spoke.
At her word, one of the attendants disappeared, then returned bearing something that had been prepared in advance.
Lucky reacted at the sight of the book.
[Hm?]
“Oof?”
It was a very old book.
Thick and ancient, the size of Clover’s own body.
“You’re not yet at an age to read, certainly.”
She eased Clover from her tight embrace and settled the child onto her lap as she spoke.
“This was a gift your mother gave me long ago. That makes it yours now.”
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“A book that preserves ancient records.”
The Empress Dowager, Anernia, layered Clover’s small hands over the cover and ran her fingers lightly across it.
“It contains stories of spirits and trees that vanished long ago, and of the trees and flowers that once were.”
“Spirits and trees……”
“Tales of flowers now extinct are written here as well.”
Anernia’s voice was soft and gentle.
“Your mother gave it to me, and I gave it to my daughter, but it has no owner now. So it belongs to you, Clover.”
A faint tremor ran through her.
‘No owner?’
Why?
Before Clover could rejoice over the gift, she lifted her head slightly to study Anernia’s expression.
‘Given to her daughter.’
But now it has no owner.
What could that mean?
Had her daughter grown so much that she no longer needed this book?
‘Unless it means something else….’
“Mm……”
Clover’s fingers tensed ever so slightly.
***
In a secluded corner of the Imperial Palace.
An attendant of the Imperial Palace, holding the Sugar Container on a tray, recalled the conversation she’d overheard last night.
‘An Authority Holder doesn’t die easily.’
‘Their Authority protects that body desperately.’
‘To assassinate an Authority Holder like that….’
Can this really be done? Really?
Her conflicted hands trembled violently.
But in that moment.
“What are you doing, Hestia? Aren’t you leaving?”
A bright, cheerful voice called to her.
Hestia hastily set the Sugar Container back on the tray and forced a smile.
“What? Oh! Yes! I have to go! I’m going now!”

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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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