The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 77

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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 77
Of course, Clover’s friends were only Pluto and the Empress Dowager Anernia.
‘Making new friends isn’t so bad after all, just like Dad said!’
Besides, Kalid had promised to find a way for Pluto to attend the Foundation Festival, so asking this much hardly counted as a betrayal.
But then.
“Why does the atmosphere feel so strange……”
Clover murmured.
Her sister and brothers were watching her with expressions that said, “Are you serious?”
“Dad? Dad said something like that!?”
“Father did? I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten how Arwin fought the eldest of that house last Foundation Festival.”
“There’s definitely a child about your age in House Aibh, though……”
The speakers were Arwin, Demian, and Sone, in that order.
Clover turned her head sharply to look at Arwin.
“Brother, you fought him?”
“……No, that bastard started it, being so damn rude!”
“Arwin, watch your language in front of Clover.”
“……He said nasty things first.”
Arwin spoke sullenly, his eyes narrowed at the corners. His gaze bristled.
“I’m against Clover becoming friendly with House Aibh.”
Last year, Arwin had fought Peson Aibh, the eldest son of House Aibh, even resorting to his Authority, for which Kalid had soundly scolded him.
Though the fault was entirely Peson’s, since Arwin had thrown the first punch, he couldn’t escape Kalid’s rebuke.
As a result, Arwin still harbored grievances about that day and kept mulling over how he would one day pay Peson back for that humiliation.
So when Clover suddenly brought up House Aibh, naturally he was shocked!
“I don’t think it’s a good place either. The eldest son has a terrible personality, at least. I’ve never met the younger sibling, but if the older one is like that, the younger sister probably is too. I’m against it as well.”
Demian chimed in.
Then Sone, who had been quietly observing while her fingertip rested against her lips, flipped her book closed and stepped forward, scooping Clover up in her arms.
“There, there.”
“Make friends if you want to. Don’t listen to your brothers.”
Sone set Clover down in a spot away from Arwin and Demian.
“They’re just in a bad mood because of how badly they fought last year. House Aibh is respectable enough—Peson is rather lacking, but the Duke himself is a person of fine character. Making friends with someone too far above you in station would be problematic, so that level is about right.”
Arwin looked ready to protest against Sone’s words and rose sharply, but a single sharp look from her settled the matter.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, okay.”
Clover nodded.
But truthfully……
‘Even if I say all this, wouldn’t it be pointless if the children of House Aibh don’t want to be friends with Clover?’
Clover had learned one thing through Pluto.
And that was: friendship cannot be formed if only one person wants to be friends.
So no matter what her sister and brothers said, whether Clover could become friends with House Aibh would only be known when the day actually came.
Still, Clover nodded earnestly for now.
“Yes, okay.”
***
“Your Highness.”
Clover slipped into Pluto’s room and, with familiar ease, padded over to his bed and flopped down on it.
“Mm.”
“Your Highness, about the Foundation Festival……”
“I’m not going. Have a good time.”
Before Clover could even finish, Pluto cut her off.
‘Hm?’
Clover studied Pluto’s face while lying face-down on the bed.
Pluto didn’t look disappointed or upset, but he seemed not to want to discuss this any further.
Clover turned her gaze away glumly.
If Pluto disliked this topic, Clover didn’t much want to talk about it either.
‘But I was hoping….’
Didn’t Pluto even look forward to playing with Clover?
“Your Highness.”
“Mm.”
“Next time, you’ll come with me, won’t you?”
“……Yes, I will come with you.”
“But this time…?”
“I’m not going this time.”
Pluto said.
“But what if there’s a way for me to go……? Even if there were……?”
“…….”
“What if some fairy suddenly whisked His Highness right to my side?”
“……I’ll think about that.”
Pluto answered, stealing a glance at Clover.
“If it’s a fairy who appears, then I’ll consider it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but it has to be a fairy—no one else.”
Pluto said.
“Without a fairy, there’s no way around the Imperial Decree.”
“I see.”
“……Anyway, don’t worry. Have a safe trip.”
Pluto spoke, looking at Clover.
“I’ve always preferred being alone.”
At his words, Clover glanced at the sword.
From an angle hidden from Pluto’s sight, the sword shook its head slowly.
The sword’s tail drooped.
A Summoned Creature knows the Authority Bearer’s heart.
Because their minds are connected.
‘The way that sword is expressing itself……’
It meant Pluto didn’t actually enjoy being alone.
‘Foolish boy…….’
Clover stared through him.
The boy quietly averted his gaze.
***
Time passed swiftly, and the day of the Foundation Festival drew near.
House Claudian bustled with preparations to head to the Capital.
Though the household was in the process of relocating to the Capital Residence, the servants were already stationed there, and the children’s belongings had been sent ahead, so there was little of real concern.
Clover, dressed in the gown Kalid had tailored himself, spun slowly before the full-length mirror and the attendants.
As she did, the hem of her dress, beautifully embroidered in white and gold, fluttered like butterfly wings.
“My goodness, Miss…….”
The attendants who had helped Clover bathe and change spoke with faces full of awe, their hands covering their mouths.
“Miss, you’re truly beautiful.”
“How does it remind us of Madam…….”
“It’s the exact same design as the dress Madam wore—surely the Master must be a genius……?”
At the attendants’ words, Clover looked down at her own gown.
“The dress Mother wore?”
“Yes, it’s the exact same design as the dress Madam wore at her first Foundation Festival. There should be a portrait still, so you’ll be able to see it!”
The attendants carefully embraced Clover so her gown wouldn’t wrinkle or soil as they made their way to where Elisia’s portrait hung.
Upon reaching the spot, they drew back the curtain that had been draped to keep dust away, and the portraits of Kalid and Elisia with contented faces appeared.
“Mother…….”
Elisia’s image, dressed in a white and gold-adorned gown, was reflected in Clover’s round eyes.
It was truly identical to the dress Clover wore now.
“It’s exactly the same, isn’t it?”
Belze, gently cradling the child’s cheeks, whispered with affection in her voice.
“Do you like the dress?”
Clover, unable to tear her eyes from her mother’s portrait, nodded with a flushed face.
“Yes, absolutely……!”
The same dress Mother wore.
The child’s heart filled with joy.
Delighted, Clover returned to her room and sat quietly while the attendants arranged her hair.
They braided her hair into two sections and adorned the spaces between with jewels and pearls.
Finally, they crowned her with a pretty bonnet to complete the look.
“Tada! All done.”
“Ooh! It’s finished!”
“Are you pleased?”
“I love it every single day!”
At Clover’s words, the attendants laughed and delighted once more.
The young lady’s words had a way of bringing cheer to the servants around her.
“Come now, let’s go.”
Belze cradled Clover gently in her arms and stepped out of the room.
In her other hand, she carried a bonnet with a slightly wider brim, prepared in case the sunlight proved too harsh.
As Belze emerged with Clover, Sone, who had been waiting outside the door, moved swiftly into her path.
“Oh, my lady!”
Sone wore a neat and elegant shirt and jacket over her skirt, adorned with the golden insignia of House Claudian.
With her hair drawn up high in a single braid and white gloves on her hands, Sone looked rather striking.
Sone, standing before Belze, caught sight of Clover and smiled softly.
“Aren’t you adorable, Clover.”
“Sister!”
“Come here, let me hold you.”
As Sone extended her arms to receive Clover, Belze carefully transferred the child to her.
Where Sone had once held Clover as she might a puppy she’d picked up, or as one might hold an object, she now cradled the girl with practiced ease.
Belze arranged the dress carefully so it wouldn’t wrinkle.

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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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