BSBD | Chapter 17

~Chapter 17~

The youngest daughter of the Claudian family, Clover Claudian, had discovered the family’s treasure.

The blessing of Claudian, which had been sealed inside the treasure for so long, had finally descended again—this time into the tiny body of the youngest daughter.

That rumor spread quickly through the mouths of those who had witnessed “that incident” firsthand.

And not long after—

“Miss, is it true you found the Claudian treasure?”

“For someone so little to do such a thing…! Truly amazing!!”

Everywhere Clover went, the maids and servants praised her endlessly for her great ‘achievement.’

So many handshakes, so many compliments poured over her that Clover, overwhelmed, felt a little embarrassed. Before long, she was wandering proudly around the Claudian mansion.

Every time she met a maid, she would lean coolly against the wall in a dramatic pose.

Heh-heh.

“That’s right! Clover found it—the Claudian treasure!”

She raised the ring, which Khalid had strung onto a chain for her to wear around her neck, showing it off proudly.

Lucky, fluttering around beside her, egged the maids on.

[Come on! React! React! Shout it! Say Clover is the best!]

“Wow! That’s the Claudian ring!”

“Miss, you’re incredible!!”

The maids squealed, hopping in place with excitement. Clover brushed her bangs back like an adult and smiled smugly.

‘…This feels kinda nice.’

She had never been treated this way back in the Demper household. At first it startled her, but after hearing about five hundred compliments, Clover’s little shoulders rose higher and higher, never coming down.

This was the best. She was on top of the world.

In her four short years of life, this was the happiest she had ever felt.

She got to stay in Claudian, she didn’t have to go back to Demper, she’d learned her mom was alive, and she had found the treasure.

‘I can really stay here now.’

Of course, there had been a little “incident,” but since Daddy didn’t seem to care too much about it, Clover figured she didn’t need to worry either.

Besides, Daddy had even promised to take her to see Mommy before the year was over. How could she not feel great?

So Clover wandered all over the mansion, on purpose, just to bump into the Claudian people.

Every time they saw her, the servants would clap, cheer, and give exactly the “reactions” Clover was waiting for.

“Thanks for all the compliments! I’ll be on my way now.”

Bye-bye, maid sisters!

Clover waved her little hand, strutting off with the ring swinging proudly at her chest. The maids, watching with wide smiles, whispered softly among themselves.

“She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

“Mm, I think she’s walking around on purpose to show off.”

“It’s so cute. I hope she comes by again.”

“She already passed by twice, though.”

“Even so! I want to see her a third time…”

But their voices were too quiet for Clover to hear.

‘Where should I go brag next?’

Humming to herself, Clover wandered freely through Claudian, no longer worried about fainting or falling ill.

She stopped short in front of the garden.

The gardeners had been working since morning, clearing the remains of the broken fountain. Clover’s eyes widened, and she quickly turned her head away.

‘Not going there.’

Her chest still ached whenever she saw the fountain she had destroyed.

If only she could fix it.

But sadly, Clover didn’t have that kind of power. She shuffled sideways, skirting away from the garden.

And then—

“Clover.”

A familiar voice called out. Before she could react, her little body was suddenly lifted up.

“Eh?”

“Where have you been wandering off to?”

Khalid had scooped her up and set her snugly in his arms. With the practiced hands of a father who had already raised three children, he held her so comfortably that Clover broke into a bright grin.

“Daddy!”

“You’ve been roaming around all day.”

“Well, um…”

Clover twiddled her fingers and buried her face into his chest.

“It’s just… this place makes me so happy. I kept thinking about how I can live here now forever, and I got so excited. And the maids kept praising me, saying congratulations for finding the treasure…”

She ticked the reasons off on her tiny fingers one by one.

Khalid listened without interruption, his gaze warm, then stroked her hair.

“Is that so? That must have made you happy.”

“Mm! Super happy!”

Clover giggled, and Khalid chuckled, lightly squeezing her soft cheek.

Then he asked,

“Do you want to play some more?”

“Hm?”

“Or will you spare some time for me? There’s something Daddy wants to do with Clover.”

“Something you want to do?”

“Yes. Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but never could.”

Clover blinked up at him with round eyes. His expression was strange—happy, but also a little sad.

Happy and sad at the same time? That didn’t make sense. But Daddy looked exactly like that.

Without thinking, Clover wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded.

“Mm, okay! Clover’s not busy at all. I want to spend time with Daddy!”

Khalid gave a faint smile, patting her back.

“Really? Not busy?”

“Mm! Completely free!”

“Good. Then I picked the perfect timing.”

In truth, Khalid had been watching her since her first lap around the mansion, but he didn’t say so. Instead, he made it sound as if he had just arrived.

Clover grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.

“Yup! Best timing ever!”

Khalid leaned down, pressed his cheek lightly against hers, and smiled.

***

The place Khalid carried Clover to was… the dining hall.

‘The dining hall?’

Come to think of it, it probably was about time to eat. Clover patted her stomach curiously.

“Sit here.”

Khalid set her in a special chair prepared for children, right beside him. Clover nodded politely.

“Yes!”

[Heh. After running around all day, it’s no surprise it’s mealtime for the little one.]

Lucky fluttered down to perch on Clover’s shoulder. She lifted her gaze, looking around at the enormous Claudian dining table.

‘I’ve never been here before.’

Until now, all her meals had been delivered to her room by Belze. She hadn’t even been able to see her father, so of course, she’d never eaten with him either.

But now—she was going to eat at the same table as Daddy! Clover bit her fork with a big grin, her eyes sparkling as she gazed around.

‘This feels like a dream.’

Back in Demper, while writing in her diary, she often dreamed of this:

A grand, beautiful dining hall… sharing a meal with Daddy, Mommy, and her brothers and sister, eating a hundred servings of meat together, happily, like a real family.

‘Dreams really do come true…!’

Clover swung her little legs under the chair, eyes shining.

Then—

“Oh? Clover! You’re here already.”

“Father, we’re here.”

Arwin and Damian entered the hall.

Arwin, spotting Clover, immediately ignored Khalid and rushed over, grabbing Clover’s cheek to rub it.

“Pea pod! I heard all about it. You went around all day bragging about the ring, didn’t you?”

Clover froze. She thought she had bragged subtly, but it seemed her tracks had been completely exposed. She stared at Arwin.

“You little cutie… I can’t believe I get to eat with you. Sit next to me? I’ll feed you.”

“I like this seat! And why am I a pea pod…?”

“Because you’re round and small, like a pea pod.”

Arwin ruffled her cheek again before finally going to his seat.

Next was Damian.

A maid had been about to tuck a napkin into Clover’s collar, but Damian took it from her and carefully fastened it himself, so food wouldn’t stain Clover’s clothes.

“The ring necklace suits you, Clover.”

He patted her head gently before returning to his seat.

Now four seats were filled, leaving only two empty.

Clover glanced at the vacant chairs, then looked one by one at Khalid, Damian, and Arwin.

It felt like a true family.

Exactly the kind of family Clover had envied so much back in Demper.