The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The youngest daughter of Claudian, Clover Claudian, had found the family’s treasure.
After a long time, the blessing of Claudian dwelling within the treasure had descended once more upon the tiny youngest daughter.
The rumor spread quickly through the mouths of those who had witnessed ‘that incident’ there on that day.
And before long—
“My Lady, is it true that you found the Treasure of Claudian?!”
“How could such a tiny lady do something like that…?! You’re truly amazing!!”
Everywhere Clover went, maids and servants who recognized her great ‘achievement’ showered her with praise.
Dazed by the countless requests for handshakes and the outpouring of praise, Clover felt a little shy at first, but soon began strutting slyly through the Claudian mansion.
And whenever she ran into the maids, she would lean against the wall in a cool pose.
Fufu.
“Tha’s right, Clover found it! The Treasure of Claudian!”
She proudly held up the ring that Khalid had hung around her neck on a cord.
Lucky flew around near the maids, chiming in to keep Clover’s rhythm.
[Come on, react again! React! Shout it! Shout that Clover is the best!]
“Woow! Is that the Claudian ring?!”
“My Lady, you look so wonderful!!”
The maids squealed and hopped in place. At their enthusiastic reaction, Clover smiled like a grown-up and smoothly brushed back her bangs.
‘……This might actually feel pretty good.’
Her initial surprise at receiving treatment she had never once experienced while living in Demper was brief; after hearing praise about five hundred times, Clover’s shoulders rose sky-high with pride, showing no signs of coming down.
This was truly the best. Her mood was absolute perfection.
The child mumbled to herself, enjoying what was undeniably the best period of her short, four-year life.
She was able to live in Claudian, she didn’t have to go back to Demper, she had heard that her mother was alive, and she had even found the treasure.
‘I can stay here.’
Of course, there had been a very slight accident, but since Daddy didn’t seem to mind much, Clover felt she didn’t need to worry too much either.
Besides, Daddy had even promised to take Clover to Mommy within the year. So there was no way Clover wouldn’t be in high spirits!
Fond of the people of Claudian who hopped excitedly and praised her whenever they saw her, Clover deliberately roamed all over the estate.
And whenever the servants ran into this tiny sweet pea of a lady, as if on cue, they gave Clover the exact ‘reaction she was hoping for.’
“Thank you for praising me, I’m going now.”
Bye-bye, maid unnies.
Waving her small hand in farewell, Clover strutted away while holding the ring in plain sight. Watching her with broad smiles, the maids whispered among themselves.
“Isn’t she so adorable?”
“Yeah, she seems to be walking around just to show it off.”
“So cute. I hope she finishes her lap and comes by again……”
“Even though this is already her second round.”
“Yeah, but I still want to see her again! I hope she does a third lap……”
However, because the maids’ voices were so quiet, Clover, who had already walked ahead, didn’t hear them.
Where should I go brag next?
Clover, who was now freely strutting around Claudian without worrying about getting sick or collapsing, paused in front of the garden.
She saw the gardeners busily cleaning up the debris of the broken fountain since morning. Startled upon noticing them, Clover subtly turned her head away.
‘I’m not going over there.’
Even now, just looking at the fountain she had broken made her heart prickle with guilt.
Eesh, if only I could fix it.
Unfortunately, Clover possessed no such Authority. Slinking sideways like a crab, Clover steered clear of the place.
Just then—
“Clover.”
A familiar voice drifted from somewhere. Before Clover could even react to the voice, her small body was scooped right up into the air.
“Huh?”
“Where are you wandering off to like that?”
Khalid lifted Clover effortlessly and settled her snugly into his arms. Held comfortably by the practiced touch of a father who had already raised three children, Clover beamed brightly.
“Ah, Daddy!”
“You seem to have been roaming around all day.”
“Eung, well……”
Wiggling her fingers, Clover buried her head softly against Khalid’s chest.
“It’s so nice here, and I got so excited thinking I can stay forever and ever. And the maid unnies gave me lots of compliments, and congratulated me for finding the treasure, too.”
Clover folded down her fingers one by one as she explained her reasons for wandering through the mansion all this time.
While Clover rattled off her reasons one after another, Khalid listened attentively without cutting the child off, then stroked her head.
“Is that so? Clover must have been happy.”
“Ung, I was super happy.”
When Clover giggled softly, Khalid chuckled and gave her soft, chubby cheek a gentle squeeze before letting go.
Just then, Khalid asked.
“Do you want to play more, then?”
“Ung?”
“Or could you spare some time for Daddy? There’s something Daddy wants to do with Clover.”
“Something you wanna do?”
“Yes, something I want to do. Things we couldn’t do until now.”
Clover rolled her round eyes up to look at Khalid. Daddy’s expression was quite enigmatic.
He clearly looked happy, but also a little sad. You couldn’t be happy while being sad, and you couldn’t be sad while being happy, so why was Daddy like that?
Involuntarily reaching out to wrap her arms around Khalid’s neck, Clover nodded.
“Ung, okay! Clover isn’t busy at all. I wanna spend time with Daddy.”
At that, Khalid smiled faintly and patted Clover’s back.
“Is that so? You’re not busy?”
“Ung, completely free!”
“Really? Then my timing was quite good.”
In truth, Khalid had been watching the child ever since she started her very first lap, but he did not mention that at all and spoke as if he had only just arrived.
At his words, Clover beamed and gave him a big thumbs-up.
“That’s right, totally the best timing!”
Hearing that, Khalid lightly rested his cheek against Clover’s and smiled.
The place Khalid carried Clover to was the dining hall.
‘The dining hall?’
Come to think of it, it seemed about time to eat. Clover gingerly patted her tummy.
“Sit here.”
Khalid seated Clover in the prepared booster chair. Seated right next to Khalid, Clover nodded and answered.
“Okey.”
[Hmm, we were having so much fun, and before I knew it, it’s already time for the squirt to eat.]
Flitting up into the air, Lucky also perched on Clover’s shoulder. Having taken her seat, Clover looked up at the massive dining table of Claudian.
‘This is my first time here.’
Until now, Belze had brought all her meals to her room. Since she couldn’t see Daddy, of course they couldn’t eat together either.
But now they could even eat together! With the children’s fork held in her mouth, Clover rolled her eyes around to look around the dining hall and smiled softly again.
‘This feels just like a dream.’
Back when she was in Demper, she had often dreamed of this while writing in her diary.
Imagining a cozy, happy meal in a grand and wonderful dining room with Daddy, Mommy, and her older brothers and sisters, eating about a hundred servings of meat.
‘Dreams come true……!’
Clover swung her legs, her eyes sparkling.
Right then—
“Huh? Clover! You’re already here.”
“Father, we’ve arrived.”
Arwin and Demian walked into the dining hall. As soon as Arwin entered, paying no heed to Khalid, he cupped Clover’s cheeks and rubbed them.
“Sweet Pea, I heard everything. You spent all day bragging about the ring, didn’t you?”
Flinch.
Having thought she was bragging rather discreetly, Clover stared blankly at Arwin after having her movements completely exposed.
“Cute little thing…… It feels like a dream to have a meal with you. Want to sit next to me? Want oppa to feed you?”
“I like this seat too, but why am I a sweet pea……?!”
“Because you’re round and cute, just like a sweet pea.”
After rubbing Clover’s cheek one more time, Arwin obediently returned to his seat.
And next was Demian.
Taking the napkin from a maid who was approaching to tuck it into Clover’s clothes, Demian personally tucked the napkin in so that food wouldn’t splatter on her outfit.
“The ring necklace suits you, Clover.”
He patted Clover’s head and then returned to his seat.
Leaving two empty chairs, the remaining four seats were all filled. Clover glanced once at the empty chairs, then looked at Khalid, Demian, and Arwin in turn.
The scene looked no different from that of any warm, harmonious family.
It was truly the very picture of a ‘family’ that Clover had envied so much back in Demper.
