The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 75

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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 75
“Clover! Are you alright?”
“Clover!”
Demian and Arwin rushed in at the news that the youngest had a nosebleed, scooping her up into their arms.
“Oof.”
But in their haste, they’d grabbed her by the cheeks as they lifted, and Sone kicked them both in the backside for it.
“What are you doing? You can’t handle a child like that!”
“Ow!”
Arwin tumbled across the grass, still clutching his rear.
Sone ignored his dramatics and examined Clover with meticulous care.
“Clover, you’re okay, aren’t you?”
Sone asked in a voice tight with worry—so unlike her usual manner—as she checked over the girl.
Clover met her sister’s eyes and nodded.
“Yep, all good.”
“Any injuries?”
“Not a one.”
“Thank goodness.”
Sone drew Clover close for a moment, then let her go. Clover immediately burrowed back under the blankets.
“Sister, what about the bad man?”
“The bad man has gone to receive his punishment.”
“When will he come out?”
“……He won’t.”
Sone’s tone was absolute, brooking no question.
“Oh.”
So he won’t be coming out.
‘What a relief.’
When Clover thought of what that man had said to Pluto, her anger still burned hot.
‘But if he can’t come out, then it’s completely fine.’
Clover sprawled across the bed, burying herself in blankets with only her head peeking out.
She looked exactly like a little pea pod.
Sone, Demian, and Arwin gathered around her, reaching over to pet and fuss over her.
“Clover, I hear you restored the entire Garden?”
“Growing stronger by the day—such development at your age. She’s truly my sister.”
Demian and Arwin took turns offering their praise.
Arwin, unsatisfied, pinched Clover’s cheeks again despite the warning flash in Sone’s eyes.
“Take care of yourself, Clover. The Foundation Festival is coming soon, and you can’t spend it recovering in bed.”
“Arwin, let the child—”
“The Foundation Festival has so many wonderful things. You can eat street food, watch from the crowds, and at night there are plays and fireworks. If you stay in your room, you’ll regret it so much.”
“Ooh……!”
Though Clover had never attended a Foundation Festival before, the very word set her alight with excitement.
Perhaps it was simply that she’d heard so many stories about how truly marvelous the festival was.
Clover’s eyes sparkled as she listened intently to Arwin’s words, and she asked a question.
“Will the Empress Dowager come too?”
“Hmm?”
Demian shook his head.
“The Empress Dowager will attend the Foundation Festival ceremonies, but she won’t be able to go around enjoying the festivities with us. She is the elder of the Imperial Family, after all.”
“Oh……”
“But your siblings will make sure you have fun, how about that?”
“Mmm…… but the Empress Dowager must feel so sad. All those fun things happening outside, and she can’t go play too.”
Demian considered it. At the Empress Dowager’s age, being unable to venture out might indeed be sadder still.
Clover’s eyes brightened with another question.
“Can the Emperor go to the Foundation Festival?”
“Hmm? He should be able to—the Imperial Family must attend state events without fail. He’s been attending regularly all this time.”
At least there was that comfort.
Outside of the household, Clover had exactly two friends in the world.
One was the Second Prince, Pluto.
The other was the Empress Dowager, Anernia.
With at least one of them able to attend, Clover buried her disappointment beneath the blankets and pressed her face into the quilts.
‘I want to play so badly.’
I want to go to the festival soon.
Just moments before, she’d used an enormous amount of Divine Power and bled from her nose—yet now the child radiated such vitality it seemed impossible.
***
Your Majesty.
I heard about the Foundation Festival.
There are so many delicious things and fun things to do.
I want to go play soon.
I’m sorry you can’t come with me.
Next time, let’s go together for sure.
Goodbye.
***
“Your Highness, are you feeling all right?”
The next morning, the Duke of Claudian visited the Separate Building. He pressed his hand to Pluto’s forehead as the boy lay in bed.
“Duke…….”
“No fever, thankfully.”
He pulled up a small chair and sat beside the bed.
“I’ve already reported yesterday’s incident to the Imperial Palace. As you know, I have a duty to inform His Majesty of Your Highness’s affairs.”
“……!”
“I cannot lie.”
At Kalid’s words, Pluto’s expression darkened.
Seeing this, Kalid poured a glass of water with his own hands and set it before the boy, continuing.
“However, I can tell him somewhat less than the whole truth.”
“What do you mean……?”
“I reported that your Divine Power has grown, but said nothing of what occurred in the Garden.”
“Ah…….”
“I’ve ensured the servants keep silent, and thanks to Clover, the Garden has been sufficiently restored—there’s no risk of word spreading.”
A display of Divine Power on that scale would likely be dismissed as rumor even if it did leak out, Kalid added mentally.
“Clover is……?”
Pluto asked carefully, fingers worrying the rim of the glass.
“She’s perfectly fine.”
…….
“Not a scratch on her, so don’t worry. She’s a resilient child.”
“Yes…….”
“And……Daybon will be punished according to law. He faces both the Crime of Insult to Nobility and the Crime of Insult to the Imperial Family.”
His voice and eyes were utterly steady, without the slightest tremor.
“But Father……what did he say……?”
“He said nothing in particular.”
Kalid answered quickly, recalling the letter that had come from Emperor Auron.
At this, Pluto’s body relaxed visibly, releasing the tension that had gripped him.
Kalid continued speaking calmly, observing every small shift in the boy’s movements.
“However……Your Highness.”
“……Yes.”
“You will not be attending the Foundation Festival. Given that you’re still experiencing Growth Pains, it’s probably for the best.”
Pluto nodded, absorbing Kalid’s words.
‘An imperial decree.’
Emperor Auron had barred him from attending the Foundation Festival.
Which meant, in effect, that the Emperor was turning his attention completely away from Pluto.
It didn’t hurt. It didn’t trouble him at all.
He’d never expected such things to begin with.
And yet.
‘……He’s being kind.’
The Duke’s manner in conveying that cold and cruel imperial order was so unfailingly gentle and warm that Pluto felt tears threatening again.
In the Imperial Palace, no matter what happened, he’d never wept—so why did his eyes keep burning here in Claudian?
Over the Duke’s face, Clover’s features seemed to shimmer and overlap.
Clover Claudian resembled the Duchess of Claudian greatly, bearing little resemblance to Kalid—
Yet seeing their faces align so perfectly nevertheless, it seemed that family always wore some mark of kinship, no matter how distant.
Then was this warmth something all the people of Claudian were born with as their nature, or did it belong only to them?
He couldn’t know, but either way it felt like something good.
Pluto nodded.
“I’m all right, so please don’t worry. I have no fond memories of the Foundation Festival anyway.”
“Very well.”
“Going would only earn me hatred…… Why would anyone want to go? I prefer resting, so don’t worry and enjoy yourself.”
“If you’d like to travel elsewhere during the Foundation Festival, I’d be happy to arrange it.”
“This place is fine.”
During the Foundation Festival, everyone in the Empire would be talking about Emperor Auron.
Pluto didn’t want to hear it.
Pluto, leaning back against the headboard, fidgeted with a cup whose water level remained unchanged, then asked a question.
“Is Clover going to the Foundation Festival?”
“Yes, this will be her first Foundation Festival.”
“She must be looking forward to it.”
“She’ll be disappointed when she realizes she can’t go with you.”
……
“It seems that child wants to grow closer to you. Perhaps it’s because she’s never met anyone her own age before.”
Pluto looked at Kalid and nodded slowly.
“Yes……”
Of course he knew. He knew that Clover wanted to be his friend.
But what makes someone a friend, exactly?
How does one become a friend?
The image of Clover suddenly came to mind—blood trickling from her nose, her eyes fixed on him.
The words she’d spoken: that friends don’t need to apologize to each other.
The promise that she’d stay with him so he wouldn’t have to hear cruel words alone.
As he turned these moments over slowly in his mind, something began to crystallize about what friendship meant…… and something else too.
Pluto lowered his eyes and murmured quietly.
“I want to become closer to her too……”

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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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