The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 66

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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 66
The plan had been clear at first — Pluto would dine with Clover alone.
‘How did this happen?’
Pluto recalled the situation from moments before.
The instant Demian and Arwin heard that Clover and Pluto were eating together in the Annex, they came rushing over to find him without hesitation.
Pluto, who had built only a modest acquaintance with Clover since arriving at the Claudian estate, couldn’t help but be taken aback.
‘Your Highness.’
‘…….’
‘Would it be presumptuous of me to ask for an invitation to dinner?’
He couldn’t refuse. After all, they owned Claudian.
Even as a prince, he was only a guest here — he had no grounds to reject his hosts’ request. Pluto nodded.
Not long after, Sone Claudian came seeking him out.
‘I understand you’re having dinner with my siblings today.’
‘Yes.’
‘If my siblings have caused you any inconvenience, I apologize on their behalf.’
‘Not at all.’
‘But if you wouldn’t mind, might I also be invited to dinner?’
‘…….’
And so he had arrived at this situation.
Pluto wasn’t sure whether to welcome it or dread it.
‘His Majesty instructed me to avoid contact with others as much as possible.’
And Pluto himself harbored no eagerness for such contact.
It was for the same reason that Eulone kept him isolated — the reason he couldn’t meet people.
His Authority was terrible, degrading, dangerous.
Yet the servants of Claudian approached him without the slightest hesitation, stood beside him without restraint.
He had never encountered such people before, so Pluto had no idea how to respond. He had no answer because he’d never experienced it.
Though his Authority was still so feeble it could only harm a single wildflower or a tiny insect.
But what if one day his Authority grew stronger and injured those who drew close?
‘Then truly, there would be no one by my side…….’
Pluto had to prepare himself for that day, had to grow accustomed to it.
An Authority Bearer’s power strengthened steadily with age, then blossomed fully at twenty, when they reached maturity.
It would grow far stronger by then.
This accursed Authority.
Of course, that assumed Pluto would even live to see that day.
While Pluto was lost in thought, the servants of Claudian finished preparing dinner.
Once the dishes were laid out, the attendants guided the children to the table.
Pluto was shown to the place of honor, the head of the table.
“Your Highness, your seat is here!”
Finding the prominence troubling, he took a step back — but Clover, standing behind him, cheerfully ushered him into the seat and sat beside him instead.
Then Sone, Demian, and Arwin took their places in turn.
The children picked up their utensils one by one.
Clover stabbed a piece of meat before her and chewed happily.
Pluto placed a single leaf of lettuce into his mouth.
Because it was a meal among children, most of the food had been cut into convenient bite-sized pieces — the servants’ thoughtful care.
“Does the food suit your taste?”
Sone asked politely. Pluto nodded.
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“I’m glad. Clover hasn’t been troublesome, has she?”
“……No.”
At his reply, Clover grinned.
“Speaking of which, Your Highness.”
Demian, who had been cutting already small pieces of meat into even smaller morsels to feed to Clover, opened his mouth.
“I heard you have an appointment with our youngest after dinner?”
“Yes.”
“It’s hard to arrange time alone with her — I’m envious.”
He smiled warmly.
“Next time, let’s all play together.”
“……Yes.”
“Clover, how is it? Tasty?”
“Mm, totally the best.”
Clover nodded as Demian placed pieces of meat directly into her mouth.
Pluto watched the scene unfold without blinking.
Tap.
A piece of meat landed on Pluto’s plate. When he looked up, Sone stood gazing at him with that same steady expression.
“You should eat as well, Your Highness.”
Pluto nodded, feeling oddly uncertain.
The meal proceeded with just the right measure of calm and liveliness.
Sone, Demian, and Arwin seemed bent on sharing this meal together—once it ended, they departed from the Annex.
Arwin, of course, had wanted to stay longer, but Sone and Demian wouldn’t hear of it.
Pluto, experiencing an evening meal for the first time in his life, watched the servants tidy up while his bewilderment lingered long after his plate was empty.
Such things had been unimaginable in the Imperial Palace. Since coming to Claudian, Pluto’s life had grown easier, better.
Each time he dwelt on this, confusion seized him.
The Duke of Claudian was nothing like the Emperor—he was kind and gentle toward children.
Knowing that, Pluto should have expected to thrive here more than anywhere else. So why had the Emperor sent him to Claudian in the first place?
‘That I would flourish…….’
In front of the very person who despised him most.
As Pluto was murmuring to himself, a round, pale-green head suddenly filled his vision.
“Your Highness!”
“……Hmm?”
“I’m happy. I really like this.”
Very much so.
Clover loved eating with multiple people.
Since arriving at the Claudian estate, she had never once eaten alone, yet every shared meal filled her with fresh joy, as if for the first time.
“Do you like it too, Your Highness? If you do, let’s eat together again next time. Father says we can.”
At the mention of the Duke of Claudian, Pluto flinched slightly, but soon nodded obediently.
“……Yes.”
At his answer, Clover broke into another bright smile.
Pluto, wondering what could make her laugh so often, turned his gaze away.
Once everyone had left, Pluto’s Summoned Creature—Sword—materialized from thin air.
Pluto’s Summoned Creature rarely appeared when there were crowds.
But because it adored Clover, it had bounded out the moment the others departed.
“Good boy.”
As Clover petted him, Sword sprawled contentedly and wagged his tail with a gentle rustle.
A far cry from his master Pluto, who guarded everything around him with the wariness of a sharpened blade.
“Sword, shake.”
Sword obediently placed his paw in Clover’s hand.
Watching this, Pluto spoke up.
“……Don’t get too close to Sword.”
“Why?”
“Sword is a Summoned Creature of death. There’s nothing good about proximity to it.”
At Pluto’s words, Sword’s tail drooped. Clover, seeing the creature’s sudden gloom, gently tapped Sword’s head again.
“It’s all right, it’s all right. He won’t attack.”
“…….”
“Besides, I have Lucky with me.”
At Clover’s words, Lucky flew in a protective circle around the small child.
“Proximity to death brings no good.”
[Tell her that even a fledgling prince’s Authority poses no threat to her yet.]
“……Your Highness should be fine for now.”
At Lucky’s somewhat harsh words, a seedling suddenly sprouted beneath Clover’s feet—her Authority responding to her startled emotions. But—
Whoosh—
the moment Sword drew near, the seedling withered instantly.
“…….”
“……See?”
Pluto exhaled deeply. Yet Clover paid it no mind.
She brushed the dead seedling aside and sat down beside Pluto.
“I hope the moon rises soon.”
And she continued speaking with casual ease, her hand still resting on Sword’s head—clearly with no intention of parting from the creature.
At last, Pluto gave up trying to separate Clover from Sword and gazed up at the dimming sky, murmuring to himself.

“…Yeah, I suppose.”
I wished the sun would set faster.
***
“The moon!”
Clover’s eyes sparkled as she gazed up at the moon hanging high in the night sky.
The child had fallen asleep in the garden before the moon rose, and had slept deeply cradled in Belze’s arms before being brought here.
‘What should I do… would it be all right if I let the young lady rest a bit in the Annex?’
‘Do as you like.’
Belze had put Clover to sleep in the room next to Pluto’s.
After waking from her rest, Clover seemed even more lively than usual.
Pluto, who had sat in the same spot without sleeping a single wink while Clover slumbered peacefully, tilted his head in acknowledgment.
“Yeah, there it is.”

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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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