~Chapter 8~
‘That can’t be right.’
Dad looked so sorry toward me.
‘But… he’s gonna send me away again?’
Lucky just kept sweating and didn’t say a word. Clover stared at him for a while, then clenched her little fists.
“I’m gonna check. Gotta see if Dad really wants to send me away…”
[What? How are you gonna check?]
“I got a way.”
Tap-tap-tap!
Clover dragged a chair her size over to the window and climbed up.
Then she stretched out her arms and grabbed a flowerpot sitting on the windowsill.
[Hey, kid…]
“Sorry.”
She apologized to the plant and plucked off one tiny leaf.
Then she closed her eyes.
Through the leaf, faint sounds began to echo in her head.
Clover’s power wasn’t just about sprouting seeds. She could also listen in on sounds through plants.
She couldn’t use it often, but…
‘Perfect, it worked.’
“Lucky, come with me.”
Plop, hop!
Clover jumped down from the chair and ran off.
She pushed open the door—just as Belze and the duke’s butler were about to enter—and they both froze in surprise.
It was Clover’s first time seeing the butler. The strange man startled her, and she stiffened.
“Oh, my lady. Where are you going?”
“Um, to Belze. Belze, hold me.”
She stretched out her stubby little arms. Belze smiled brightly and scooped her up.
“My lady, are you feeling better now?”
“Mmhm.”
Belze thought the cake had cheered her up.
But nope—not at all.
“But, um… who’s that man?”
From Belze’s arms, Clover asked curiously.
The man chuckled.
“I’m Cherenio, head butler of this mansion. I’ve served the Claudian family since my father’s days. It’s an honor to meet you, young miss.”
“Butler?”
Clover thought she remembered a similar man back at the Bemper estate, always stuck to the count’s side.
Her eyes lit up. Spark!
Target for eavesdropping: found!
Clover held out the leaf she had picked and said,
“Here, take this.”
“What is it, young miss?”
“A gift. Don’t throw it away, keep it. Then you’ll get good luck.”
She pointed to Lucky, her golden four-leaf clover summon. Lucky gleamed brightly to back her up.
The butler chuckled.
“Thank you, my lady. I’ll keep it safe.”
“Carry it with you, okay? I wish you good luck, Mister Butler. Good lucky boy.”
“Haha, my lady already knows the word ‘luck’? How clever you are. I’ll make sure not to lose it. Thank you.”
Clover grinned.
Perfect spot for eavesdropping: right in his pocket.
But then she noticed Belze staring at her sadly. Clover started sweating.
She’d only had one leaf, so she couldn’t give one to Belze. And it hadn’t been given with “pure” intentions either.
‘Next time… I’ll give Belze one next time.’
Still, her heart ached.
Clover snuggled into Belze’s arms and quietly turned her head away.
***
Meanwhile…
“How is the child? Still gloomy?”
“She seemed better just now, sir. Her maid said she ate lots of cake happily. Perhaps that cheered her up.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But, may I ask… what are you studying so intently?”
“I’m looking at ways to move one of the World Tree’s branches from Demfer, to raise her in a separate house with a nanny. And also…”
Khalid’s fingers traced the edge of an old parchment.
“I’m searching for a way to keep her here, at Claudian Manor, without all that.”
“…You’re still searching for the family’s treasure.”
Khalid nodded.
The Claudian treasure.
It was a single ring—sapphire in the center, diamonds all around.
It wasn’t just valuable jewelry.
‘Not just that…’
The ring could nullify the Claudian family’s power.
Long ago, Teana Claudian, the first head of the house, had a husband too weak to withstand her power.
So she created a ring imbued with the blessing of storms, and under its protection her husband lived well.
For a while, it was even passed down as the “spouse’s ring.”
But now—
‘It’s gone.’
Or rather, “removed.”
Because if the ring ever left the family, chaos would follow. Other noble families had even tried to kidnap Claudian spouses for it. So in the end, the Claudians destroyed it.
Or so they said.
‘Damn it… maybe it still exists?’
For four years, Khalid Claudian had searched desperately. He pored over ancient texts, looking for any hint.
“I know, Cherenio,” Khalid muttered. “The records don’t say exactly how it was destroyed. And storm’s blessing isn’t something that disappears so easily.”
Which meant—it might still exist.
‘If I find it, Clover can live here.’
He wouldn’t need to keep his daughter away or risk her being hurt.
That hope alone kept him going.
“If I can’t find it, I’ll research how to recreate it. The first head did it with her power—if I can figure out how, I’ll do the same.”
And Khalid Claudian was said to be the strongest wielder of storm’s power since the first head.
It wasn’t impossible.
Cherenio listened silently, then finally asked,
“Then, my lord—if you find this treasure, does that mean young miss Clover can stay here, in Claudian Manor?”
“Yes. The ring would nullify our powers.”
The butler thought of the little girl he had just seen—green hair, round black eyes, pink cheeks.
‘Carry it with you. I wish you good luck, Mister Butler. Good lucky boy.’
Cherenio couldn’t help smiling.
He’d always told Khalid not to waste time chasing something impossible. But after meeting Clover, he couldn’t bring himself to say that anymore.
He nodded firmly.
“Then I’ll help you. Whatever you need me to do. I hope… we really can raise her here.”
“Yes.”
Khalid nodded and looked back at the books. Then his eyes narrowed.
“But Cherenio… what’s that in your pocket?”
“My pocket, sir?”
Instinctively, the butler touched it. He pulled out the little leaf Clover had given him.
“Oh!”
He chuckled and tucked it back carefully.
“A gift from young miss Clover. She said it would bring me luck. Isn’t it cute?”
“…Clover gave you that?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“…I’m jealous.”
Khalid muttered, staring at the leaf. Just looking at it felt like it might really bring good luck.
***
Meanwhile, Clover, listening to everything through the leaf, gasped.
“Huh… So Dad was really gonna send me away…”
