The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family - Chapter 93

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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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Chapter 93
As Kalid descended from the carriage with Clover in his arms, Arwin and Demian, who had been waiting, immediately fell into step behind him.
Sone walked at Kalid’s side, her gaze fixed upon Clover.
In that instant, the attention of every nobleman entering the Ball Hall converged upon the Claudian family.
A murderer—a demon who destroys everything that does not bend to her will.
And yet, possessing the formidable Authority of a raging tempest, she was the Empire’s most powerful trump card, one that the imperial house could never afford to discard.
When the Claudians made their entrance into the Ball Hall, all that other nobility possessed paled into utter insignificance before their towering glory, their name, and their renown.
The Claudians’ presence was so overwhelming that no one dared to lift their head or move freely in their shadow.
“The Claudians…”
Someone whispered.
“The youngest princess…”
“She’s so very small.”
“Well, of course—she’s only four.”
“Is it truly a fact that the youngest princess awakened the Ancient Flower?”
“A child that young? There must be some exaggeration in the story…”
The nobles’ whispers rippled outward from the entrance of the Ball Hall to the vast interior, spreading like waves across still water.
It could not have been otherwise. This was the moment Clover Claudian made her public appearance for the first time.
They beheld Clover cradled in Kalid’s arms—the child in a dress that gleamed with obvious expense, and Kalid himself holding her with the tender care one might reserve for the world’s most precious thing.
The whispers that had haunted Clover for four years—that her Authority was useless and she had been cast aside by the Claudians, that the duchess had collapsed after birth and the duke neglected the child—
All of it vanished in a single moment of their arrival.
It was true that Rosipheron tradition held that most nobility attended the Founding Day Ball with their children, but there had been no necessity to bring Clover at all.
The girl was still so young.
Yet the fact that Kalid had deliberately presented Clover at this official occasion spoke to his intent with unmistakable clarity.
He meant to extinguish the false rumors surrounding the child.
He would confront head-on and categorically deny the rumor that a bloodless, tearless duke had abandoned his own daughter—
And simultaneously silence the unkind gossip that had long circled young Clover in high society, delivering what amounted to a warning that should such rumors spread again despite all he had done, he would not stand idle.
Sone, feeling the weight of every gaze in the hall turned upon Clover, pressed closer to her youngest sibling’s side.
She wanted to shield the child in case she felt shy or uncomfortable among so many people.
But fortunately, Clover seemed scarcely bothered by the stares.
“So many people, way more than I thought.”
Perhaps it was because she was nestled safely in her father’s reassuring embrace. At Clover’s murmur, Kalid gently brushed her hair.
“There are quite a lot, aren’t there?”
“Mm-hmm, yes.”
“Anernia will be coming later too.”
“Want to see Anernia.”
When Clover giggled, the nobles’ attention converged upon her once again.
Lucky, who had been perched on Clover’s shoulder the whole while, suddenly glanced about with visible wariness.
[Most everyone here is an Authority Bearer, little one. You need to keep your wits about you. A noble’s ball is as dangerous as a tiger’s den!]
At Lucky’s words, Clover gave a small, solemn nod.
She could not answer aloud.
‘We promised to keep it secret.’
The fact that Clover could speak with a Summoned Creature was a secret among secrets.
So she must never let it show. Clover resolved that no matter what Lucky said today, she would not respond.
And then—
“Duke Claudian.”
A familiar voice carried down from the upper level of the Ball Hall. Clover, Kalid, Sone, Demian, Arwin, and every other nobleman present lifted their heads to gaze upward.
Emperor Oilron Peroi Rosipheron descended the staircase, resplendent in an ornate tailcoat.
At the same moment, the Aibe Ducal House entered the Ball Hall. The Emperor had arrived, and the two great ducal houses had assembled.
It was all but the official signal for the ball to commence. Oilron descended to the lower level and approached Kalid with a warm smile.
“I had thought Miss Clover would be too young to bring along, yet here she is with you.”
“We are blessed with Rosipheron’s endless glory. The child has been looking forward to the Founding Day Ball, so I could not bring myself to leave her behind.”
As Kalid and Oilron exchanged brief pleasantries, Sone, Demian, and Arwin, standing tense, offered their respects to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I am Sone Claudian.”
Demian and Arwin followed Sone’s lead with lowered heads. Yet the Emperor’s gaze lingered not on the three of them.
‘Oh.’
The Emperor’s unwavering stare was fixed not on the other children, but on Clover.
Prickle, prickle.
Somewhat startled by the Emperor’s intense gaze upon her, Clover looked back at him from within Kalid’s arms.
“Hello, Your Majesty…”
“Indeed.”
“It’s Clover…….”
At Clover’s greeting, the Emperor finally broke into a broad smile. As he did, the atmosphere throughout the Ball Hall naturally eased.
“Clover, what perfect timing. I’d been wanting to introduce you to a friend.”
A friend?
Clover’s friend Pluto was at the Claudian Residence.
The Emperor had forbidden him from going out!
‘But who could it be?’
Which friend was he trying to introduce? Clover was still puzzling over this when
a boy who had been standing quietly behind Oilron stepped forward.
“Good evening, Your Grace.”
The boy appeared to be around the same age as Arwin and Demian. He was certainly twice the size of Pluto and Clover.
“This is my son, Diwurth.”
Diwurth Rosipheron.
Oilron’s eldest son, Pluto’s older brother, and the sole heir to this Empire.
He was the current Empress’s only child, and because she was delicate and rarely appeared at official occasions, he frequently attended them at the Emperor’s side instead.
There was no one in Rosipheron who did not know Diwurth. From the time he was very young, he had appeared at official occasions cradled in the Emperor’s arms.
So, all the people of the Rosipheron Empire knew him.
Only Clover was the exception.
“Huh?”
So he was supposed to be a friend, but wasn’t he rather too old?
Clover had become friends with the Empress Dowager herself, but for some reason, it seemed she could not become friends with Diwurth.
For one thing, Diwurth appeared to be closer in age to Demian and Arwin than to Clover.
‘Your Majesty, I’d rather not.’
Clover disliked the Emperor, so she wasn’t particularly eager to befriend someone he was introducing.
Fortunately, it seemed the Emperor wasn’t truly insisting they become friends either.
“There’s quite an age gap for friendship, but there’s no harm in a young man becoming acquainted with Claudian’s cherished youngest daughter.”
The Emperor spoke playfully. Diwurth gazed at his father for a moment, then turned his eyes toward Clover.
“Claudian Miss, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Clover was only four years old.
But now that she had arrived cradled in the arms of the Claudian Duke, bearing the rank of a ducal daughter, at an official occasion no one, not even a crown prince, could speak to her casually.
“Hello to you.”
The children’s greeting ended there. Fortunately, Oilron seemed to have only been joking, and he did not bring Diwurth over again or speak further.
And not long after, the ball began. The nobles gathered in small groups and enjoyed the festivities.
And the children, fitting the concept of a Founding Day Ball shared with family, had gathered in a separate space prepared just for them.
“Here.”
“This is my friend, Tersia.”
Sone, who had brought Clover to the children’s area next to where the adults were, pointed to Tersia and spoke.
Tersia Hesoni, dressed in a deep crimson dress, stood transfixed, looking down at Clover gazing up at her with sparkling eyes.
“This little one…….”
“Yes, my youngest sister.”
“Sone, don’t tease.”
Tersia tapped Sone’s shoulder lightly with the fan she was holding.
“How could you and this baby angel possibly share the same blood?”
“?”
“It’s a lie, it has to be! She’s so adorable! Demian and Arwin don’t even compare!”
At Tersia’s words, Sone’s eyes unconsciously followed her two brothers.
Fortunately, Demian and Arwin were elsewhere. Their not hearing Tersia’s comment could only be considered fortunate.
And in the moment Sone was distracted, Tersia, who had crouched down before Clover, spoke to her.
“Good evening, Claudian Miss?”
Even for a four-year-old child, if she had come to the ball with the adults, it was only proper to show her formal respect.
Outside, she might be a friend’s younger sister, but here she was not.
Having reached this conclusion, Tersia smiled brightly and extended her hand to Clover.
“I am Tersia Hesoni of the Hesoni Marquisate, Sone’s very close friend.”

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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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