The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 53

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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 53
“Oh, yes, yes—my dear daughter.”
Wairon burst into hearty laughter.
“Your father is the Duke of Claudian who’s here, then?”
“Yes, yes he is.”
Clover nodded carefully, reading his expression. Had she misspoken somehow?
Why was His Imperial Majesty laughing like that?
As the child faltered, Wairon set aside his teasing and settled into his seat.
“What a delightful little thing—the Empress Mother will find her quite charming.”
“You are too kind. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Kalid extended his hand toward Clover.
“Clover, come here.”
Clover was already toddling toward him when—
“No, no. Clover has somewhere else to be, I’m afraid.”
Wairon shook his head, and a lady-in-waiting from the Imperial Palace stepped forward, placing herself before Clover.
“Eh?”
“Pardon?”
Both Clover and Kalid looked at Wairon in surprise.
Wairon regarded them both with a benevolent expression and spoke.
“I promise she won’t be taken anywhere dangerous. But there is someone Clover ought to meet.”
He gestured with his hand.
“If you’re truly worried, you may send a Summoned Creature with her. Through it, you’ll be able to receive updates on what happens in the room.”
……
Kalid’s eyes grew anxious, flickering between Clover and Wairon.
His true instinct was to refuse any separation, however brief. Especially now, with Anernia absent.
But one could not gainsay the Emperor. Kalid asked carefully.
“Your Majesty, may I ask who this person is that Clover must meet?”
“Ah, certainly not a dangerous person. I merely wish to introduce her to a friend her own age.”
Wairon smiled.
“My son is waiting in that room over there.”
Wairon pointed to the door adjacent to where they stood.
Kalid stiffened.
‘Which son could that be?’
Wairon had two sons—the First and Second Princes. Kalid could not determine which one was meant to meet Clover.
Both were said to possess gentle and kind dispositions, but……
As Kalid hesitated, Clover gently grasped the hand of the Imperial lady-in-waiting and spoke.
“I, I like it.”
The child glanced between Kalid and the Emperor.
“Your Highness is nice. A friend would be nice too……”
……
“And Papa’s right next door.”
Besides, Clover had Lucky with her. According to the Emperor’s word, the Lion of North Wind would accompany them as well.
There was nothing to fear. Clover looked at Kalid with confidence and gave a bright thumbs-up.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“……All right.”
“Bye, Papa.”
As Clover waved to Kalid, the lady-in-waiting led her toward the adjoining room.
When Kalid gestured, the Lion of North Wind appeared with a shimmer, shrinking its form to follow in their wake.
Wairon watched the child’s bright, cheerful footsteps as she followed the attendant, then spoke.
“A charming little one indeed—she bears a striking resemblance to your wife.”
“Yes, she takes very much after my wife.”
The gazes of Kalid and Wairon met.
Wairon gazed out the window for a moment, then broached the true purpose for which he had summoned Kalid here.
“In truth, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Please, speak freely.”
“I wonder if you might take my troublesome son under your wing.”
“Your Highness the Prince is still quite young. Do you intend to send him beyond the Imperial Palace so soon?”
“Keeping him cooped up in the palace only proves a nuisance.”
Wairon smiled thinly.
His voice, speaking of his own son, was cold and distant—inhuman in its indifference.
“Let Claudian raise him. When he comes of age, I intend to send him to the Battlefield.”
“Your Majesty…….”
“Become the Second Prince’s teacher. I’ll pay you generously.”
“But, Your Majesty.”
“When I said I would kill the Second Prince, you opposed me. Along with the Queen Mother.”
Wairon fixed Kalid with a sharp, penetrating gaze.
“If I keep that cursed thing in the Imperial Palace, what else can I do but want to kill it?”
“…….”
“Take him away and care for him. If his Authority proves useful, send him to war…….”
Wairon stared intently at the room Clover had just entered.
“If anything dangerous arises because of his Authority, dispose of it.”
“…….”
“Dispose of it and bring it to me. That’s why I called you here.”
Kalid gazed steadily at Wairon.
‘I thought I had served him long enough.’
From when he was a young boy, through his years as an unmarried man, and now, after marriage and fatherhood to two children.
He had stood by his side all these years, faithful in service.
Yet he could not fathom the Emperor’s true intentions.
***
Following the maidservant into the chamber, Clover found the Second Prince Pluto sitting rigid in his chair.
“…….”
Pluto remained motionless in his seat, frozen as stone.
He did not so much as glance at Clover entering the room. As if he had turned to rock itself.
“Your Highness, the lady Clover has arrived.”
The maidservant, introducing Clover gently, gestured for her to sit.
“Please, speak with each other.”
And then she withdrew.
‘Huh?’
The vast chamber now held only Clover and Pluto.
Bewildered, Clover glanced back toward where the maidservant had gone.
‘She’s just leaving like that……?’
Without a single word of introduction or explanation?
Clover stared blankly at Pluto.
Pluto showed no inclination to look at her or speak.
What am I supposed to do?
But she couldn’t just sit here awkwardly in silence with him.
“Ah, hello.”
Gathering her courage, Clover spoke, stealing a glance at Pluto.
“Clover, you’re four…….”
“…….”
Only then did Pluto lift his head and look at her.
Clover’s face reflected in his eyes—clear as amethyst, a vivid violet hue.
Gulp.
Clover swallowed nervously.
“Hey.”
“U-uh?”
“Don’t talk to me.”
“……!”
Clover flinched, her body recoiling in shock.
‘Why is he saying that?’
Does he dislike me?
[So just because he’s a prince, that’s the way of it?]
Lucky thrashed about indignantly, his golden four-leaf clover body shimmering as golden light scattered in all directions.
‘No, that won’t do!’
She’d promised Father to stay calm and behave.
Clover snatched Lucky and closed him tight in her fist.
“……?”
Then, seeing Pluto watching her quietly, she broke into a bashful smile.
“…….”
Pluto gazed at her for a moment longer, then turned his gaze toward the door.
‘What’s he looking at?’
There was nothing in the direction Pluto was gazing.
Then what was he listening to?
Clover fidgeted with her fingers, held her breath, and strained to hear.
Then, faintly beyond the wall, she caught the voices of the Emperor and Kalid.
‘So that’s what he’s doing.’
Was that why he’d told her not to speak?
Clover’s position was too far from the door for her to hear the voices clearly.
But Pluto sat closer to the door and wall, so perhaps sounds from outside the room reached his ears.
“You’re listening to something, aren’t you?”
When Clover whispered the question, Pluto shot her a sharp look.
Hic.
Startled by that glare, Clover swallowed wrong and a hiccup burst from her throat.
“You…….”
“Heh, hic, hic!”
He’d told her to be quiet!
But once started, the hiccups wouldn’t stop. It was just as a flustered Clover was flailing her hands about.
“I wish you would take care of my troublesome son.”
The voice from inside the room drifted faintly through.
‘What?’
“……If a cursed thing remains in the Imperial Palace, I’d want nothing more than to …….”
“If something happens because of the Authority, then handle it.”
Having overheard the conversation between the Emperor and Kalid, Clover’s eyes went wide, and she studied Pluto’s face.
All their words came through clearly. What’s more, the Emperor spoke in a loud voice as though he had no intention of concealing the conversation at all.
‘Why……?’
The “cursed thing” the Emperor spoke of seemed to be the Second Prince standing right before her eyes.
But why would he speak so that they could hear everything?
With her and Pluto placed in the next room?
“…….”
Crunch.
Pluto bit his lip, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Clover, desperate to suppress another hiccup, clamped her mouth shut while stealing glances at the young prince.

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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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