The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 81

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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 81
“In the Territory?”
“Demonic beasts have been appearing suddenly in our lands. According to what I heard from Haepung, it seems to be twice what we saw last year.”
“We’ve seen an uptick here too, but I didn’t think it was serious enough to warrant concern.”
“I thought the same. The sheer numbers aren’t the real problem.”
Jiteia of Abe fixed Kalid with eyes that gleamed a pale blue.
“But what if someone deliberately increased the demonic beast population?”
“What are you getting at?”
“It’s only speculation for now.”
She leaned back against the chair’s armrest as she spoke.
“The number of beasts crossing near the Border has grown. And there’s been steady talk of His Majesty’s ambitions toward war…….”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“If war breaks out, who do you think will be sent to the front?”
Jiteia said this plainly.
“You? Or me? It depends on whether the lands His Majesty covets lie beyond the Sea or past the Mountain Range.”
…….
“His Majesty has kept a watchful eye on both Abe and Claudian all along, hasn’t he?”
The Emperor fears the formidable Authority and military strength that both Houses possess.
That was a truth Jiteia and Kalid both understood.
Kalid asked quietly.
“So what you’re saying is……that His Majesty might have increased the demonic beast population near the Border to manufacture a pretext for war and send us both to the battlefield?”
“Kill two birds with one stone—eliminate an eyesore, gain territory, and profit all around.”
“But there are people living near the Border.”
“Since when has His Majesty been concerned with such trifles?”
Jiteia murmured darkly.
“The previous Emperor ruled Abe and Claudian with benevolent governance, keeping Rosipheron secure both within and without.”
…….
“But the current Emperor…….”
“Jiteia, enough.”
“Hmm, the mainland is troublesome. At sea, one only needs to watch for seabirds and schools of fish.”
Jiteia laughed bitterly. Kalid chose not to respond.
He had long known that the Emperor desired war.
To expand Rosipheron’s territory through conquest, and in doing so, to cast aside troublesome obstacles like thorns into the Border.
The Emperor wished to keep only one of the two ducal houses in the capital.
In the past, he had been wary of his sister Tiaren; now he feared his son Pluto. How could such a man not view both ducal houses with suspicion?
He might even believe that one day, both families would betray him, loyal though they were now.
This was why Ouron had never quite warmed to the closeness between the two houses.
Kalid, turning these thoughts over quietly, murmured without thinking.
“A lion too afraid to leave its den—how pathetic.”
“Do you remember? When the Crown Princess was alive, the current Emperor didn’t dare stretch his wings.”
“Jiteia.”
“Perhaps those old memories still haunt him.”
Kalid’s eyes narrowed at Jiteia’s reckless words.
Jiteia finished her tea regardless and continued speaking.
“That’s why I came here.”
…….
“To warn you—since you’ve taken in the Second Prince.”
“About that——”
“Be careful. Even if the Second Prince is a cast-aside heir, he carries imperial blood.”
Her eyes flashed with intensity.
“Who knows what schemes His Majesty might be weaving with imperial blood entrusted to Claudian? Can anyone truly fathom the mind of the Emperor?”
The teacup soon revealed its empty bottom.
In the porcelain’s base, Jiteia’s faintly smiling face was dimly reflected.
***
“Naenia isn’t close with her brother.”
Naenia spoke while clutching a doll tightly, her eyes blinking slowly.
“Then who is she close with?”
“Not close with anyone.”
“Oh…….”
“Friends are useless anyway.”
Naenia spoke with a sharp edge to her voice. At once, Clover’s expression darkened.
‘Friends? As if I need friends!’
Father had said perhaps he could become friends with Naenia too.
‘Maybe that was just wrong……’
As Clover looked down dejectedly, Naenia, who had been watching her quietly, spoke.
“What about you?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you have no friends either? Like Nia?”
Naenia’s blue eyes sparkled with hope.
At Naenia’s words, Clover squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
“I have some.”
“……”
“Two of them.”
Clover held up two fingers, and this time Naenia’s face darkened in an instant.
‘I thought she wouldn’t have any.’
Since Clover was the youngest of the Claudian house, perhaps she, like Naenia, had grown tired of “friends” and simply chosen not to make any.
Yet Naenia’s hope evaporated in a heartbeat the moment Clover held up her fingers.
“Nia? Are you unhappy?”
As Naenia’s face suddenly fell, Clover tilted her head and studied the girl’s expression.
“No.”
Naenia replied, still looking quite displeased.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“I really am fine, I’m telling you.”
Naenia hugged the doll tightly and turned her head away sharply.
A flustered Clover rested her chin gently on Naenia’s shoulder and spoke.
“I made a mistake……”
“In what?”
“It’s not two. It’s three.”
Nia’s eyes, which had sparkled with hope for a moment, went dull again.
It seemed Naenia had been hoping Clover would answer that she had no friends at all.
But how could Clover claim to have no friends when she did?
‘That would make me a liar.’
Clover paused to think for a moment, then carefully brought her hands together.
At that, Clover’s Summoned Creature Lucky flew down in a shower of golden sparkles and hovered above her palms.
“Clover’s friend—look.”
“……What?”
“This is Clover’s friend.”
At Clover’s words, Lucky spun once in place like a dress being shown off.
“His name is Lucky.”
“……!”
“I’ll introduce him to Nia too.”
When Naenia saw the four-leaf clover glowing gold in Clover’s palm, her eyes widened.
It was much smaller than her own Summoned Creature.
Her own creature was a large and magnificent sea lion, after all.
But it didn’t shine with golden light.
Because of that radiance, Clover’s Summoned Creature looked far more special than her own.
“Mm……”
Naenia turned her head as if uninterested, but kept stealing glances at Lucky.
Clover’s friend Lucky was amazing.
A friend like this—Naenia thought she might be able to summon one too.
‘Heh.’
Clover was smiling broadly, having vaguely noticed that Naenia secretly liked Lucky.
Bang!
A tremendous noise came from somewhere.
Both children, startled, turned toward the direction of the sound.
***
“You…… apologize right now!”
“I won’t!”
“Don’t you regret it? This is inland.”
“So what? You think you two half-bloods actually stand a chance of winning?”
Ten-year-old Arwin and Peson snarled at each other. The furniture in the room where the three children sat had been smashed to pieces long ago.
Arwin huffed sharply and summoned his creature. Raindrops coalesced into the form of a long serpent, which raised its head beneath Arwin’s feet.
This time, Arwin had no intention of backing down. Not if Kalid told him to. Not if Sone told him to. He wouldn’t yield.
Because Peson had insulted Clover first!
Just moments before.
Peson, who had been reading, suddenly set down his book as if remembering something and spoke.
“Come to think of it, your youngest—is she asleep yet?”
“Why?”
“Just curious. The Sprout Authority, no less.”
“Why are you curious about our youngest? Mind your own business.”
“Is it wrong to ask out of curiosity?”
“Yes. Our youngest is off-limits.”
“Honestly.”
“My sister is very small and cute, unlike you. If you talk about her too much, you might wear her out.”
Demian chimed in.
“That’s right.”
“Besides, you have no idea how much she adores me. Unlike Naenia, who ran away because she hates you.”
At Arwin’s words, Peson’s chest tightened.
He was already worried that Naenia seemed to dislike him, and hearing something like that now was naturally infuriating.
“So what? An Authority that’s utterly useless anyway.”
Peson sneered.
“Seems you inherited that from your brothers. With an Authority like that, she can’t even protect herself.”
Hearing those words, Arwin couldn’t hold back. He leapt to his feet and drove his fist at Peson’s face.
“You!”
“You spout any rubbish that comes out of that hole in your face?”
Ordinarily, Demian would have restrained Arwin.
But this time, Demian didn’t hold him back—he joined in. Given that he was normally someone who wouldn’t throw a punch or speak a harsh word, it was an extraordinary turn of events.
In the end, Peson, beaten by both brothers, used his Authority to escape.
“These brats…….”
And so they’d arrived at this state.
Peson, Demian, and Arwin all faced off, their faces battered and worn, breathing hard.
It seemed that if even one of them moved, a serious fight would break out any moment.
Bang!
The door suddenly flew open.

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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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