The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 51

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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 51
Clover shared delicious food with her family and the members of the Claudian household, receiving countless congratulations.
In that single day, she received more congratulations than in her entire four years of life.
‘I’m happy.’
This must be what happiness is.
Eating delicious food until you’re stuffed, surrounded by the people you love.
When Clover returned to her room, she opened her gifts with her father’s help.
The gift from Sone was a Western-style notebook and pen that looked quite expensive at first glance.
Demian had given her a small bracelet, and Arwin had given her a large doll.
And the gift from Kalid was…….
“An acquisition deed to Deoposa, the famous children’s toy shop.”
“…….”
“It’s quite popular for its eye-catching, child-friendly designs and custom-made toys. Especially with the in-store preferential service for children…….”
“Father, isn’t that the exact phrasing the toy shop uses in their advertisements?”
She was right.
“…….”
“You were fretting over how to introduce the toy shop to Clover, and you’ve gone and memorized their entire promotional copy.”
That was also correct.
At Sone’s words, Kalid turned his gaze away from the deed he’d been holding uncertainly, looking embarrassed at having been caught.
Sone glanced quietly at the deed fluttering in Kalid’s hand, then smoothly withdrew it and handed it to Clover.
“Here, this is the gift your father is giving you.”
“A deed…….”
“Not just a deed—an acquisition deed. It means you now have the right to do whatever you like with that shop.”
‘What’s a right?’
Clover took the paper with a puzzled expression.
Anything from Father was precious to her, but it didn’t stand out as much as the gifts from her older siblings.
“Tha—thank you so much!”
A four-year-old child wouldn’t set aside her new doll, bracelet, and beautiful journal to play with paper.
But if it was from Father, she’d treasure even a single leaf if that’s what he gave her.
Clover loved her father, after all.
Lucky, perched on Clover’s shoulder, whispered into the child’s ear.
[That’s wonderful paper, so don’t lose it and keep it safe. As long as you hold that paper, every toy that comes out of that toy shop becomes yours.]
“Where’s the toys?”
[That’s for later…… hmm.]
Lucky had thought Kalid Claudian had chosen the wrong gift.
But.
“I really like it, thank you.”
Watching Clover clutch the incomprehensible paper and beam with joy.
[Maybe that wasn’t wrong after all.]
Lucky smiled softly.
Kalid, who had seemed discouraged the entire time thinking he’d chosen poorly, relaxed when he saw the smiling child—his face blooming with contentment.
Demian, witnessing this, leaned close to Kalid and whispered so quietly that Clover wouldn’t hear.
“But next time, please take her with you and buy it in person, Father. An acquisition deed for a small child? She’d prefer one more doll or rocking horse over a piece of paper like that.”
Demian’s words contained no falsehood, so Kalid decided to heed his son’s advice. Sometimes children’s words held wisdom.
Then.
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
It was Tenilron who entered upon Kalid’s command.
He glanced around the room with a somewhat troubled expression.
“Should I come back later?”
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace. It seemed urgent, so I thought I should deliver it right away…….”
He trailed off.
It was quite unusual, given how Tenilron normally spoke with precision and never mumbled or slurred his words.
Sensing immediately that the letter from the Imperial Palace contained something of consequence, Kalid rose from his seat.
“Little one, keep playing.”
“Mm, where are you going?”
“Tenilron and I have something to discuss for a moment.”
Kalid kissed Clover’s forehead as she played, then followed Tenilron out of the room.
Tenilron handed Kalid the Letter that had arrived from the Imperial Palace the moment the door to the children’s room closed.
“A letter from His Majesty.”
“From His Majesty?”
“Yes, it appears to be a Palace Summons, though…….”
How long had it been since he’d returned from the Imperial Palace? And now a Palace Summons?
Kalid tore open the letter Tenilron handed him. His fingers trembled as he did—not quite irreverent, but unmistakably irritable.
……
After reading the Emperor’s letter, Kalid exhaled slowly.
Oiron could not be called a good ruler even by flattery, yet Kalid made an effort not to harbor contempt for him.
For one thing, he’d ascended to the throne and performed the Emperor’s duties quite competently, which earned him high marks; and though he was hot-blooded by nature, his blade had rarely ever turned inward against the Empire itself, which earned him decent marks as well.
‘But at times like these, I truly wish I could take back all of it.’
The Emperor’s letter in Kalid’s hand contained a command: bring Clover to the Palace.
She was only four years old.
Had Elicia still been alive, she would never have approved of taking the child outside the Residence at all.
There was so much to watch for, so much to be careful about with such a young child.
Moreover, rumors of Clover’s Divine Power had already begun to spread. Even a seasoned man like Kalid Claudian could not predict what variables might arise if he took the child outside. The implications were too grave to ignore.
If he brought her into an unexpected situation and she suffered some wound to that soft, tender heart of hers—
Kalid could not bear the thought of allowing even the smallest injury to that delicate body and fragile spirit.
Yet here was the order: bring her.
And the letter also stated there was a ‘request’ he needed to hear.
What could an Emperor possibly request?
‘The fact that he won’t put it in writing, that he wants to speak it face-to-face—this is no ordinary request…….’
Then, a memory flickered through Kalid’s mind. Words that Oiron had once spoken.
‘Later, I’m thinking of having you tutor Pluto in the ways of authority. Then when he takes to the field, he’ll do his part. That damnable Divine Power—it’ll only shine true once it stands atop the corpses of countless men.’
It was something Oiron had said in jest, ages ago.
So why did those words choose to surface now, of all times?
‘……No. It can’t be.’
Kalid shook his head, pushing the dark thought away.
***
Pop!
Ten seedlings sprouted upward from where Clover stood.
They no longer wilted easily now, but stood upright and proud toward the sky.
However.
Achoo!
The North Wind Lion, who had been hovering nearby watching Clover’s mood, let out a sneeze.
Whoosh!
A great gust of wind swept up, and all ten of Clover’s seedlings were torn from the earth and carried away.
……!
Clover stared at the North Wind Lion with an expression of utter bewilderment.
“Why here of all places……?”
[Why here of all places…….]
The North Wind Lion, looking apologetic, carefully replanted the seedlings one by one.
But the seedlings that had already been uprooted withered and died almost immediately.
……
In truth, all the Summoned Creatures in this Residence had been watching the mood of the Residence’s true master—Clover.
The reason they’d been so cautious was because of the ‘surprise birthday party’ that had happened just recently.
‘Absolutely, absolutely don’t say a word.’
‘Not a peep to Clover about the secret party. This is an Authority Bearer’s command.’
Under Arwin’s orders, the Summoned Creatures were forbidden from revealing to Clover the very existence of the ‘secret party’.
That was why Clover had taken to sulking at them.
The North Wind Lion watched Clover’s expression carefully, then flopped onto its back and exposed its belly.
Come now, Kalid’s daughter—let your anger pass.
“Hmph, as if showing me your soft belly settles everything…….”
I’ve also got my tail.
“Hmph, your fluffy tail…….”
Clover glanced at the seedlings that had already withered, then gently began stroking the North Wind Lion’s fur.
As her fingers ran through the soft fur, her anger seemed to dissolve completely, melting away like morning frost.
Already forgetting that she’d been upset with the Summoned Creature at all, Clover gazed at the seedlings and reflected quietly.
‘In any case, I’ve grown so much.’
Before she came to this place, Clover had been exactly as her aunt described—utterly useless.
She could communicate with her Summoned Creatures, but that was all.
She couldn’t manifest an Ancient Flower, and all her Divine Power could do was coax forth two seedlings at most.
So sometimes Clover thought herself utterly worthless.
These pitiful little sprouts were good for nothing at all, she told herself.
But.
‘Aunt was wrong.’
Aunt was wrong, and Lucky was right.
Lucky had always whispered that Clover was special, and he’d been right all along—the girl had shown remarkable growth since coming to Claudian.
‘Next time, I hope for twenty.’
Clover was gazing quietly down at her own palm when it happened.
“Miss.”
Belze, having just received word from a maid who’d hurried in moments before, gently helped Clover to her feet.
“Kalid is calling for you.”

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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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