The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 43

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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 43
“My goodness.”
Clover’s mouth fell open as she watched the Brooch glint whenever it caught the light.
“Off you go now, child. I need a bit of rest.”
Anernia stroked Clover’s hair.
“You’ve worked hard, little one. I’ll tend to your flower well. Do come again next time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. See you next time.”
Clover grinned and waved toward Anernia.
Anernia leaned down to press a final kiss to Clover’s forehead, then departed with the help of her attendants.
“Let’s go now, Clover.”
Kalid lifted Clover into his arms.
They couldn’t linger in the Imperial Palace while the cause of the Empress Dowager’s Power Runaway remained unexplained.
‘No matter how frail she’s grown, a Power User with such strength doesn’t experience a Power Runaway without warning. There’s always a sign.’
This incident might not be a simple Power Runaway after all.
Kalid wanted to extract Clover from this situation as quickly as possible.
He led House Claudian’s guards out of the Empress Dowager’s Palace, still carrying Clover.
But then.
“Oof!”
Someone came rushing around a corner and collided with Kalid.
Kalid looked down at the small child who’d bumped into him.
“Ugh……!”
The boy lay sprawled for a moment, dazed, before suddenly scrambling to his feet and glaring at Kalid with sharp eyes.
Yet when the boy realized he’d collided with no mere attendant or knight, but a nobleman, his expression grew complicated.
And.
‘Ah.’
Kalid recognized the boy at once—the one whose forehead had struck the ground.
Hair as black as pitch, eyes of violet transparency like amethyst.
Only one person in this Imperial Palace bore such features.
Kalid extended his hand and helped the boy to his feet.
“Second Prince, are you not?”
The dangerous illegitimate son of Ouron Lothiferon.
Yet still a boy of only six years.
Pluto Lothiferon.
“Duke Claudian…….”
The boy grasped Kalid’s hand and rose to his feet.
“Were you heading to see the Empress Dowager?”
The boy nodded at Kalid’s words.
“Yes.”
“Go carefully. Until we meet again.”
“……You as well, Duke. Please return safely.”
As they exchanged courteous farewells, the boy’s gaze flickered for an instant toward Clover nestled in Kalid’s arms.
‘Oh, the Prince.’
Clover gazed blankly at Pluto from her perch in Kalid’s embrace.
But the two children had no chance to greet each other—Pluto brushed past both of them before Clover could even offer a salutation.
Whoosh.
A gust of wind trailed in Pluto’s wake. Clover’s bangs rustled and scattered in the breeze.
Lucky, who’d fluttered along with them, grumbled in Clover’s hand.
[What in the world was that little one doing?]
“Hm?”
[Why does that child have such a ferocious aura?]
***
“The Empress Dowager has collapsed?”
Ouron’s brow furrowed as he received word of what had transpired in the Empress Dowager’s Palace.
“A Power Runaway? Is it due to her age and weakness?”
“The physician who examined the Empress Dowager reports that the Power Runaway appears to have been triggered by an external factor.”
The Emperor’s aide spoke.
Ouron’s face darkened.
“An external factor?”
“Further investigation is needed, but based on current circumstances…….”
“In other words, someone poisoned her tea in an attempt on her life?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He replied.
“Imperial investigators are conducting a thorough examination of the Empress Dowager’s Palace servants. The truth will come to light shortly.”
A drug that forces a Power User’s abilities into Runaway.
If someone possessed such a thing, it would be dangerous enough to throw the entire empire into chaos.
And.
“Tell me more about the Ancient Flower.”
At Ouron’s command, his aide nodded and opened his mouth.
“When the Empress Dowager’s Power went into Runaway, Miss Clover of House Claudian was present at the scene. According to accounts, Miss Clover bloomed the Ancient Flower by drawing nourishment from the Empress Dowager’s Power and will.”
“Are there witnesses?”
“No direct witnesses. This conclusion comes from the Empress Dowager’s account and Miss Clover’s testimony combined.”
“To bloom a flower using runaway Power as nourishment…”
Not just any flower, but the Ancient Flower—now Extinction itself.
The implications of Clover’s ability to bloom the Ancient Flower were profound.
Long ago, the World Tree that had sustained the world died and vanished, and the flower lost its original form.
In the public mind, some called it Extinction, others called it cursed.
But if there was a power capable of reviving it in its true form…
Ouron smiled softly to himself.
‘I thought she was as worthless as Pluto.’
How wrong he had been.
It seemed necessary to investigate Clover Claudian’s abilities more thoroughly.
“Look into that girl more carefully.”
Ouron issued the order.
“You mean Miss Clover?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. I will see it done.”
He bowed his head respectfully.
***
Clover returned to House Claudian Estate nestled in Kalid’s arms.
‘Dad, who’s Pluto?’
‘The Empress Dowager’s grandson.’
‘How old?’
‘Six years old.’
During the journey, she’d heard a bit about the “boy” they’d bumped into moments before.
Something about how the young prince Pluto possessed a dangerous Power.
By the time she finished hearing such things, the carriage had already arrived at House Claudian.
Kalid descended from the carriage with Clover still in his arms. Servants from the estate had come out to greet them at the carriage.
“Father, welcome home?”
“Dad! Clover!”
Demian and Arwin came rushing out to greet them both, disheveled and eager.
Dirt covered them from head to toe—evidence of their time rolling about in the Training Ground.
“Clover, welcome back? Did you get your present?”
Arwin took Clover from Kalid and kissed her, speaking cheerfully.
Clover burst into delighted laughter.
“I’m back! But there was some business.”
“Business? What kind of business?”
“Something happened?”
Just then, a storm-bird with a long tail swept between Clover and Arwin, driving them apart.
“What—?”
As a startled Arwin pulled his head back, Sone’s voice rang out from behind the three of them.
“Don’t rub your filthy self on a clean child.”
Sone spoke in a deliberately stern tone.
“Sister!”
“Don’t bother calling me that.”
Ignoring Arwin, Sone walked forward, glanced once at Clover, then turned her gaze to Kalid.
“Father, welcome home?”
“Yes, Sone. But there was some business at the Imperial Palace. Clover must be exhausted.”
Kalid’s eyes settled on Clover.
Sone’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“What business was that?”
“The Empress Dowager’s Power has gone into Runaway.”
Power Runaway.
The three siblings all stared at Kalid in shock at the unexpected words that had left his lips.
“Power…… Runaway?”
“Did you say Power Runaway?”
“What? The Empress Dowager? She went into Runaway by herself? Just like that?”
Sone, Demian, and Arwin asked in quick succession.
Kalid deliberated over which of the three questions to answer first, then let out a deep sigh before speaking.
“I don’t yet know why it happened. But I heard the Imperial Palace is investigating, so we’ll know soon enough. In any case, that’s not what matters. Clover was caught up in that Power Runaway.”
As Kalid extended his hand, Clover tilted her head curiously and wrapped her small fingers around his thumb.
“Clover…….”
Sone faltered at the news. She turned to look at Clover, her face gone pale.
Kalid drew a breath and patted Sone’s shoulders gently.
“Don’t look at her like that. Clover is safe, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she’s safe.”
Kalid and Clover looked at each other. But Sone’s tight expression showed no sign of easing.
“So? The child wasn’t hurt?”
Arwin gasped and hoisted Clover up into the air, examining the child’s body thoroughly from every angle.
“Arwin! You’re scaring her!”
Demian pulled back his brother and quickly scanned Clover’s body, checking for any signs of injury.
Kalid patted both his brothers on the back much as he had done for Sone, and spoke.
“Don’t worry. I’ve checked countless times to be absolutely certain.”
“Yes, and listen to what I’m about to tell you.”
“What?”
“What Clover did!”
Sparkle-sparkle.
The child’s round eyes gleamed with anticipation.
[That’s right, tell them now, while everyone’s here!]
At the same moment, Lucky flew up and glimmered in gold beside Clover’s cheek. Thanks to this, Clover’s face, flushed with excitement, shone all the brighter.
“Ah, that.”
Kalid, understanding what Clover meant, gently stroked the child’s hair.
“Heh.”
“What is it? What?”
“What is it, Father?”
Arwin and Demian came rushing over eagerly.
Kalid opened his mouth slowly.
“Clover stopped the Empress Dowager’s Power Runaway with her own Power.”
“Huh?”
“And she saved the Empress Dowager.”
“So she gave me this.”
Clover tugged at the Brooch that Anernia had fastened for her and laughed delightedly.
“Clover so cool, got this. Saved Her Highness.”
“…….”
“…….”
“……!”
The three siblings’ gazes slowly turned to the Brooch hanging from Clover’s clothes.
And for a moment, silence reigned.
Shrug.
In that silence, Clover’s shoulders rose slightly.

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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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