The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 79

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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 79
House of Eibe, wielders of the Tidal Power.
The Duchy of Eibe stretched in a long line along the eastern Coastline. As a Great Noble house, its territories, authority, and Power rivaled Claudian’s almost evenly.
Though Eibe’s Tidal Power was formidable enough to overwhelm Claudian upon the Sea, it could not contend with them on Land where the waters did not flow.
Yet there was no dispute that the Power they wielded was formidable. It was only natural for House of Eibe, one of Rosipheron’s two pillars, to possess such Authority.
The Duke of Eibe stepped down from the carriage and broke into a grin at the sight of Kalid.
“Well met? Claudian.”
“Ziteia, what brings you here? Not a word of warning.”
Kalid spoke flatly. As if she’d expected nothing less, she strode forward with a toss of her white hair, foam-white as sea spray.
“Wanted to see your face, and there’s a matter or two to discuss. Two birds with one stone.”
As Ziteia came walking forward, two children trailed in her wake.
The boy moved so like Ziteia that they might have been cast from the same mold, while the girl—walking at a slight distance from her brother—had an oddly cautious gait.
The girl was as small as Clover, and she’d hung back nervously from the Duke of Kalid until Peson had taken ten steps; only then did she venture three of her own to follow.
It was altogether different from Clover’s way—scampering forward in a rush and burrowing into an embrace with a wide smile.
‘Children truly are all different temperaments.’
When Kalid glanced at the girl, the tiny child froze in place, trembling with visible alarm.
Ziteia, turning to regard both children, spoke.
“Children, greet the Duke of Claudian.”
At her word, Peson of Eibe stepped forward first, bowing his head with measured courtesy and perfect decorum.
“Good day, Duke of Claudian. It is an honor to see you again after so long. I am Peson.”
The boy, who bore an unmistakable resemblance to Duke Ziteia, was flawless in every aspect of his bearing.
Following her brother’s lead, the small girl who had been watching Kalid and Arwin with wary eyes bowed her head as well.
“…Hello.”
“Your name too, Nenia.”
“I’m Nenia.”
Nenia, who had offered her name at Peson’s prompt, fixed a steady gaze on Kalid Claudian.
“Hello, pleased to meet you.”
Kalid returned the greeting to the children.
His eyes, which had lingered briefly on Peson, shifted now to Nenia.
“So you’re Nenia, then.”
“…!”
“How old are you this year?”
“Five.”
Ziteia answered on her behalf.
Slightly larger than Clover, then—perhaps the extra year made the difference.
At this age, a year or two seemed monumental in the growing child.
“Arwin, you greet them too.”
At Kalid’s word, Arwin—who had been standing with a sullen expression the whole while—turned his attention toward Peson.
Peson maintained his composed demeanor regardless of whether Arwin looked his way or not.
Seeing that indifference only rankled Arwin further, and he was about to open his mouth when—
“Go on.”
“…Good day, Duke of Eibe. I trust you’ve been well?”
At Kalid’s urging, Arwin offered his greeting, though his expression still betrayed his displeasure.
The sight drew a laugh from Ziteia.
“Still holding a grudge about the fight with Peson last year, are we?”
“No, that’s not it!”
“That business was Peson’s fault. I gave him a proper scolding for it when we returned home, so don’t let it weigh on you.”
At her words, Peson flinched.
“Where are the other children?”
“Sone and Demian are in their rooms. Clover’s asleep—she seemed worn from the long journey, so I told her to rest.”
“Ah! You’ve only just arrived, so that’s hardly surprising. We came in yesterday, you see.”
Ziteia gave Peson’s back a couple of reassuring pats.
“You came early, then?”
“Mm, had a few things to verify.”
“You mentioned you had matters to discuss—is this related?”
“More or less. How long are you planning to stay here?”
Ziteia gave Peson a sidelong glance.
“Go along and play with Arwin while we talk.”
“…!”
“And offer your apologies while you’re at it.”
Ziteia’s words showed no consideration for Arwin’s wishes, and he leaped to his feet.
But Peson merely nodded calmly.
“What about Nenia?”
“Nenia stays with Mother.”
Nenia answered quickly.
“No, we have an important conversation to have.”
Ziteia turned her head to look at the woman standing behind the children.
She was Peson’s nursemaid, someone who had followed him everywhere since childhood and cared for him with devoted attention.
“Would you mind looking after Nenia?”
“Of course, Duke.”
But Nenia shook her head stubbornly.
“I won’t stay with Manela.”
Manela, Peson’s nursemaid, looked taken aback as she glanced between the Duke and Nenia.
“Well, I suppose we can’t help it then.”
Ziteia, however, was not particularly surprised. Nenia had never liked Peson’s nursemaid very much to begin with.
Ziteia turned to another maid of Claudian.
“Would you be kind enough to look after Nenia instead?”
“Of course, Duke.”
The maid answered at once. This time, Nenia did not object.
Having quickly settled the two children, Ziteia looked at Kalid with a relieved expression.
Arwin, forced into spending time with Peson—number one on his personal list of most-despised people—sent a desperate look toward Kalid for rescue.
“Don’t fight. Stay put.”
“Father!”
“Don’t wake your sister.”
Kalid, speaking matter-of-factly, walked down the hallway alongside Ziteia and disappeared from view.
Left suddenly and alone between the siblings of House Eibe, Arwin stood dazed, watching them go.
***
The maids led Arwin and Peson to a place where they could play and talk freely.
They attempted to take Nenia along as well, but she clutching a cat doll firmly refused.
“I won’t stay with my brother or a nursemaid.”
Arwin had not yet heard that the siblings of House Eibe were not on good terms.
Were they really not getting along?
Then why did she dislike the nursemaid? In any case, the maids of Claudian obliged and separated Nenia from Peson as she wished.
“Young Lady, is there anything you’d like to do?”
An experienced maid who had taken charge of the young noble asked, regarding Nenia warmly.
Nenia gazed up at the maid with clear, watchful eyes before answering.
“A nap.”
“A nap, you say?”
“Yes, I’m sleepy.”
Nenia blinked her eyes. Only then did the maid realize it was the hour when children naturally grew drowsy.
“Our young mistress is resting as well—would you like me to put you to bed in the room next to hers?”
“Your young mistress?”
“Yes, Miss Clover is sleeping there.”
“Clover…”
Nenia recalled something the Duke of Eibe had said.
‘There’s a youngest child in Claudian about your age.’
‘Really?’
‘I’d like it if you two could become friends.’
How had Nenia answered that?
‘I don’t need friends.’
That’s what she had said.
In truth, Nenia didn’t need friends.
Every child Mother called her friends liked only Peson, her brother, far more than they liked Nenia.
Peson was the eldest son who would inherit House Eibe.
A promising heir rumored to have been born with the Tidal Power far stronger than Nenia’s own—of course children would favor him.
None of them had ever truly wanted to be Nenia’s friend. So it was only natural that Nenia said she didn’t need friends.
‘And she probably doesn’t need me either.’
Nenia didn’t trust it.
Nenia bit her lip hard.
“Young Lady?”
……But why was she so curious about that girl?
Because she was the same age? Or because she was the only one in this house with a different kind of power?
In any case, Nenia wanted to see Clover’s face, right this moment.
And the little girl had the temperament of someone who needed to have whatever she wanted and do whatever she wanted in order to feel satisfied.
“Not the next room.”
“Pardon?”
“What if we didn’t sleep in the next room? What if we slept together?”
Nenia looked up at the maid with wide eyes as she spoke.
“I want to sleep together.”
“Oh my…….”
“With my friend.”
***
“Miss, I’ll change you into your nightgown.”
“Mm…….”
“There we are, back to sleep now, there’s a good girl.”
The maid undressed Clover and fitted her into a soft nightgown.
Clover surrendered herself to the maid’s hands, her eyes barely open.
The maid dressed the child with practiced ease, then carried away the dress to fold it properly.
Though the curtains were drawn, sunlight seeped through the gaps, warming the soft little hands with gentle heat.
The weather was perfect for an afternoon nap, the hour ideal.
And the temperature just right.
Clover was drifting back into sleep when it happened.
Click.
The door opened quietly, and she heard someone entering the room.
She thought perhaps the maid had forgotten something, but the sound of footsteps seemed somehow off for that.
There were two sets of footsteps.
Who was coming in?
Clover rolled over, turning her gaze toward the door.
She forced her heavy eyelids open and looked in the direction of the sound.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
“……?”
“Sorry.”
At the foot of the bed—a bed so vast that three grown men could sleep on it and still have room—
A girl about the same age was climbing onto the mattress, her expression sheepish as she looked down at Clover.
“Wha……?”
Clover wiped her mouth with her nightgown sleeve and blinked her eyes.

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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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