The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 54

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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 54
“……Hic!”
Clover hiccupped, watching Pluto’s expression carefully.
Yet Pluto neither gestured at her nor scolded her for it.
He seemed to have lost all will after their conversation moments before.
‘Your Majesty, I’m sorry…….’
They were close enough that their voices carried to each other—so why had they been left here together?
Clover’s mind drifted back to her time at the Demper House.
‘Don’t even speak of it. She’s nothing but trouble.’
‘I can’t fathom how Elisia ever gave birth to such a thing…….’
‘My aunt spoke poorly of me without caring whether I was listening…….’
Lucky had covered her ears each time, but Clover had never forgotten those days.
And now, overlaying Pluto’s hunched form, she saw herself as she had been then—in those years at the Demper House.
Always watching her aunt’s face, always trying not to hear the harsh words.
“Oof.”
Clover wriggled down from her chair and settled beside Pluto on the sofa.
Plop.
“Hey, what are you—”
Pluto stared at her with obvious irritation, but.
“Shh, shush! Hic!”
Clover paid him no mind.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she lifted both hands and covered his ears.
It was all right if Clover heard the Emperor’s harsh words.
They weren’t about her, after all. And besides, the Emperor wasn’t her father.
But Pluto shouldn’t hear them.
It would hurt too much if he learned his father was speaking ill of him.
“Hic!”
“……What are you doing?”
‘G-gaman…….'”
Clover held both his ears, biting her lip to stifle her hiccups as she looked up at the boy.
“Bad words.”
“…….”
“If you hear bad words, hic! It makes you sad…….”
I know because I’ve heard them.
I know because I’ve heard bad words through the walls before.
Pluto’s face reflected in Clover’s dark, round eyes.
The boy stared at her in surprise at the sudden touch, his expression blank, before he leaned back.
“G-go away!”
Clover’s hands slipped from his ears to his cheeks as Pluto recoiled in confusion, when.
Bang.
The door swung open, and Ouron and Kalid entered the room.
“……Huh?”
“……Eek.”
Pluto and Clover both turned to stare at the newcomers.
“F-father!”
Pluto immediately flustered, pushing Clover away as he looked toward Ouron.
Ouron regarded the pair with evident amusement.
“Seems you two have grown quite close already. Children do take to each other so easily, don’t they?”
Not really—we’re not close.
Pluto still disliked Clover, truth be told. Yet she saw no reason to contradict Ouron.
“A fortunate turn of events, wouldn’t you say, Duke?”
At Ouron’s question, Kalid’s gaze landed first on Clover, then briefly on Pluto beside her.
And he answered slowly.
“……Yes, indeed, most fortunate.”
Kalid stared intently at Pluto’s hand, which had been resting on Clover.
Feeling that gaze, Pluto hurriedly withdrew his black-gloved hand from Clover.
Only Clover looked between them in bewilderment.
Kalid held the two children in his steady regard before turning his head to Ouron.
“Then I shall return for them after some time has passed.”
“There’s no need for that. Simply arrange for them to be sent back.”
Ouron smiled brightly.
“I’m delighted you’ve agreed to my request.”
Kalid bowed silently in response.
Clover watched the Emperor intently.
Hmm.
‘From the way he speaks, he seems like a bad person.’
Yet the malice she had sensed from the Emperor before was nowhere to be found now.
It was so clean and transparent that it made Kalid’s earlier warnings seem unnecessary.
‘How strange…’
As Clover tilted her head in front of Pluto, Kalid approached and gently lifted her into his arms.
“Then we shall take our leave.”
“Yes, we’ll meet again. Take care on your way out, Miss Clover.”
Ouron waved to Clover, who exchanged a quick glance before dipping her head politely.
“Hiccup! Ah, farewell to you. Hiccup!”
“Yes, yes.”
After taking his leave of Ouron, Kalid carried Clover from the room.
Over Kalid’s shoulder, Clover gazed back at Pluto, whom she had been with moments before.
‘The prince doesn’t look happy…’
It must be because of the Emperor.
Clover waved gently toward Pluto with a melancholy expression.
But he did not wave back.
***
“Were you well while you were with His Highness the Prince?”
Kalid asked as he climbed into the carriage with Clover in his arms.
Why would he ask such a thing? Clover tilted her head in confusion but answered honestly.
“Yes.”
“You didn’t feel ill?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
The Lion of the North Wind signaled to Kalid that everything was normal and well.
Kalid nodded, his expression noticeably more at ease.
“But why do you ask?”
“There’s something I needed to check. His Highness the Prince’s Authority is rather unusual, you see.”
“I see.”
Clover nodded.
“It’s all right, though.”
“Yes, that’s good then.”
“But, Father…”
Clover, who had been hesitating, gently looked up at Kalid.
“Why does Your Majesty say such things when His Highness the Prince is right there…?”
……
“Father, he could hear it all…”
Speaking ill of a child is wrong.
And it’s doubly wrong to do so where he can hear.
As Clover’s legs swung in distress, Kalid stroked her head gently.
“So you were hurt by it.”
“Yes…”
“There are reasons behind what was said.”
“But His Highness the Prince looked upset too.”
If he stayed there, would he have to keep hearing such things?
Like Clover had when she was at Demper House?
‘I could endure it by waiting for Father.’
But the Emperor is the Prince’s father.
So he wouldn’t be able to endure it by waiting for anyone.
Clover felt a small regret that she hadn’t covered Pluto’s ears sooner.
As Clover fell silent in her distress, Kalid, who had been watching her steadily, spoke.
“Clover.”
“Mm?”
“Would you prefer it if His Highness the Prince never heard such words?”
“Of course.”
“Then His Highness the Prince would need to live outside the Imperial Palace.”
“Outside the Imperial Palace…….”
Clover gazed out the window.
The Imperial Palace was undoubtedly a magnificent place. Vast, impressive, filled with people.
‘But the Demper House was the same way.’
What good was any of it—no matter how grand, how spacious, how ornate, how perfect—if the walls within offered no peace?
All the while Clover spent in the Demper House, she had felt as though locked in prison.
And only after leaving did she understand: the world beyond held wonders she had never imagined.
“……Can’t we live outside?”
Clover looked up at Kalid.
“Your Highness, would it be all right if we lived outside……?”
Kalid reached down and ruffled Clover’s hair. The careful arrangement the attendants had labored over tumbled into disarray.
“Mm-hmm.”
“You can.”
He tapped her cheek lightly.
“At the Claudian Residence.”
“Our home?”
“Yes. Our home.”
Kalid smoothed her tousled hair again as he asked the question.
“Would you be happy if I stayed at our home, Clover?”
“Oh, oh! Ohhh……!”
Clover’s eyes sparkled.
In our home!
The Claudian Residence was so vast and sprawling that it could house thousands of children like Clover and Pluto.
So of course the Prince would like staying at the Claudian Residence too.
‘Then no more harsh words to hear.’
No more sorrow beyond a single wall.
And yet.
‘Don’t talk to me.’
‘Go away!’
‘Would His Highness really like it?’
Clover—she had looked as though she disliked the idea.
“Mm-hmm……”
“What, you don’t like it?”
“No…….”
Clover screwed up her face in concentration, her eyes half-closed.
“Clover would like it, but what if Your Highness doesn’t……?”
Watching her, Kalid poked her cheek gently.
“I do like it.”
“……Really?”
“Anyone who meets Clover couldn’t possibly dislike you. I’m certain of it.”
There was an unshakeable conviction in his voice. A certainty that no one could ever dislike Clover.
‘Mmm…….’
Warmed by those words, Clover rubbed her cheek against his finger.

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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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