The Baby Sprout Who Bloomed in the Villain Duke’s Family
Chapter 27
[You really don’t have to bring a gift, seriously!]
“But Daddy said he got one ready.”
[Your dad and you are completely different!]
Lucky tried his best to soothe her, but it was no use. Clover was already in ‘gloomy mode.’ In the end, Lucky gave up.
[Fine, gift whatever you want. That human will probably like anything you give them anyway, coming from a tiny squirt like you.]
Thud, thud. Listening to Lucky’s half-muttered monologue, Clover buried her head into the sofa.
‘What should I give?’
She had been brooding over it since last night, but Clover didn’t really own anything.
Just the toys Daddy bought her, the pretty clothes Daddy bought her, and the lovely hair accessories and shoes Daddy had given her.
But she couldn’t give those away.
‘Since they said she’s the boss of the boss, she must have tons of stuff like that.’
Haaangh, then what could she give?
Those wouldn’t do. But setting those aside, what was left?
‘…Hmm, a seed?’
Pondering deeply, Clover perked up and sat straight.
The seed planted with Daddy’s heart!
Just this morning, she had heard that a tiny sprout had poked up from it.
Harriet, the gardener overseeing all groundskeeping in Claudian, had said he was eagerly tending to it to see how it would grow.
However.
“…Can’t.”
That belonged to Daddy. She had to give it to Daddy.
Besides, it didn’t seem like it would fully grow before she had to go see the Empress Dowager.
It was out of the question to gift someone else’s half-grown plant, so Clover erased ‘seed’ from her mental list of candidates.
Then what was left now?
Really, all she had left was a teddy bear with a ribbon and a few snacks she had gotten from the head chef…
“Milady, why are you sitting there looking so troubled?”
Just then, Belze asked as she entered with a tray carrying cookies and juice.
‘Juice!’
She was in a bad mood and craving juice, so how did Belze know?!
A gentle halo almost seemed to radiate behind Belze. Overcome with deep gratitude, Clover smoothly sat up and took the juice with both hands to drink.
Watching Clover gulp down the juice, Belze asked gently,
“Is something the matter?”
“Belzhe.”
“Yes, Milady.”
“Belzhe… what kind of pwesent makes you the happiest to get?”
“A gift? Hmm…”
Belze pondered. Clover took sips of juice through her straw, glancing up at Belze.
What would she say?
“I suppose it’s when I receive a gift that comes from the heart?”
“From the heart…?”
“Yes. Even if it’s not expensive or grand, a gift that makes you think, ‘Ah, this person prepared this just for me. They must have put a lot of care into it.’ But why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“That’s…”
While Clover hesitated over whether to tell her, Belze beat her to the punch.
“Ah! Are you preparing for Lord Khalid’s upcoming birthday?”
“…B-Birthday?”
“It’s still a month away, and you’re already preparing? And how did you even know Lord Khalid’s birthday is coming up… You really are such a clever young lady, Milady!”
Having accidentally stepped backward onto an unexpected bombshell, the “clever” little squirt Clover’s jaw dropped.
Daddy’s birthday was coming up?!
Rumble.
Having heard information she hadn’t bargained for, Clover’s face darkened like a child who had lost the entire world.
‘Clover’s in big twouble.’
Suddenly faced with having to pull off a doubled mountain of gift homework, Clover let the juice straw slip right out of her mouth.
“Oh dear, Milady?”
“Sighhh…”
Clover wilted once more and buried her face between the cushions.
Lucky fluttered lightly onto the cushion and let out a sigh along with her.
[Good grief… parenting is hard work.]
Their sighs deepened twofold.
Belze, however, still had no idea what was happening and could only watch Clover in confusion.
After Khalid Claudian sent a reply stating he would visit the Imperial Palace with Clover,
time passed quickly, and the day of Clover’s visit to the Imperial Palace arrived.
In the meantime, Clover had adapted completely to the Claudian estate, putting on healthy plumpness as if she had never been scrawny and malnourished in her life.
Perhaps it was thanks to eating three nutritious, delicious meals every single day, along with plenty of sweet, tasty treats in between.
Her hair had a healthy sheen, and her cheeks were as round and plump as a doll’s. Her dark eyes were livelier than ever before.
However.
“Eeng…”
Clover, the very star of today’s trip to the Imperial Palace, was still utterly wilted.
While Belze washed her clean and dressed her in new clothes, Clover hung limp in Belze’s hands, letting herself be handled.
‘I couldn’t get a pwesent.’
Lucky fluttered around diligently to comfort her, but feeling upset was feeling upset.
While Belze tied on her bonnet, Clover glanced sideways at the small flowerpot that Harriet, the gardener, had prepared for her.
‘You need a flowerpot for a gift?’
‘Mm-hmm, yes.’
‘Then leave it to Harriet! I will have it ready right away!’
And Harriet really had prepared a flowerpot fit to be a gift in just half a day.
The small ceramic pot was quite fine and costly, filled with nutrient-rich soil to help plants thrive.
But nothing was planted inside. Not a single seed had been sown.
[Clover, what are you planning to plant in here to give them?]
Lucky landed squarely in the pot as if planting himself. Perched like that, it looked just like a complete gift set featuring Lucky, the golden four-leaf clover.
Staring blankly at the sight, Clover averted her eyes from Lucky as far as possible and mumbled,
“I dunno. Maybe I should jus’ give it like that.”
[Huh?]
“Lucky included…”
[What? No way!]
Lucky whirled out of the flowerpot and shrieked. Clover pouted her lips and grumbled, “Che.”
While Lucky and Clover were talking, Belze fitted a bonnet trimmed with lovely lace onto Clover’s head.
The pretty light purple bonnet complemented her light green hair wonderfully. Expertly tying the ribbons under Clover’s chin into a bow, Belze beamed down at her.
“All done, Milady! How is it? Do you like it?”
“…Gasp!”
Looking into the large mirror another maid held right in front of her, Clover caught her breath.
The Clover in the mirror was astonishingly cute. So adorable and charming that one could hardly remember the days when she wore grubby, tattered rags.
“I look totally like a wich young lady.”
[Because you are in a rich family.]
Lucky replied to Clover’s murmur. Regardless of Lucky’s comment, Clover stared fixedly into the mirror, having momentarily forgotten about the ‘empty flowerpot.’
And fingering the layers of gorgeous lace, she made a firm resolution.
‘I won’t run today.’
She wouldn’t run, and she wouldn’t trip into the dirt either. Even Clover hated the thought of dirtying such a pretty dress.
“Do you like it?”
“Mm-hmm, totally.”
“I’m so glad! Shall we head out now? I’ll carry the flowerpot for you~”
Belze picked up Clover’s flowerpot. Clover glanced at the pot once more with a slightly glum face, then quickly shook her head to shake the thought away.
“Come along, let’s go.”
“Mm.”
Holding Belze’s hand tightly, she stepped forward with careful little steps. Behind them followed the maids, brimming with excitement.
“Isn’t she so adorable today?”
“Yeah. This bonnet is just too cute… It suits her so well.”
“It’s different from Lady Sone’s days…”
For every step Clover took, five words of praise from the maids trailed after her.
As the endless compliments poured over her, her slumped, gloomy shoulders rose little by little.
And by the time she reached Khalid—
“Daddy!”
As if she had never been sulking at all, she pattered forward on little feet and threw herself straight into Khalid’s arms. Sulking one second and beaming the next, she was every bit a little child.
“Clover.”
Khalid lifted Clover effortlessly into the air and spun around. A bright, cheerful giggle burst from Clover.
“I had it bought in a hurry, but it suits you well. I should buy a few more bonnets.”
Khalid adjusted Clover’s bonnet neatly as he spoke. In Khalid’s arms, Clover broke into another bubbly giggle.
Just then.
“Pea! Have a good trip!”
Arwin popped out from somewhere.
