The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 102

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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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Episode 102
Tiel’s cheeks flushed at Iris’s praise. The small girl smiled softly and opened her mouth.
“My ability is still inadequate, but…… thank you for seeing it kindly, Head of Household.”
“Inadequate? The Light Ability is flawless from the very moment it manifests. I think you should take more pride in your gift.”
Iris replied with a warm smile. After exchanging greetings with all the children, servants from Arne entered carrying trays laden with refreshments.
“Excuse us.”
The servants set down fragrant flower tea and elaborately arranged platters on the table with gentle smiles. The dishes held pastries arranged with neat precision.
Listening to the servants’ clear voices, Tiel found herself thinking how beautifully everyone in this Arne mansion spoke.
The fragrant aroma of tea soon filled the room. Iandros lifted his cup first and took a sip. The flower petal floating on the surface of the tea settled.
“The fragrance is lovely.”
Tiel, who had been watching Iandros drink, carefully lifted her cup with both hands and took a sip of tea.
The subtle floral fragrance bloomed across her palate. As the warmth settled gently in her mouth, a soft smile spread across Tiel’s lips.
“Arne’s flower tea is renowned. I’ll have some sent to you as a parting gift. I’d be most grateful if you accepted without hesitation.”
The children nodded. After each of them tasted a sip of tea, they turned to look back at Iris. Ferdi was the first to speak.
“Head of Household, I trust you understand why we’ve come to Arne.”
“Of course. I received a letter from Asterian before your arrival requesting guidance to the Sunless Land……”
“Yes. We would be deeply grateful if you would guide us. Asterian shall repay this favor without fail.”
Ferdi spoke in a measured voice, each word precise. He carried himself with the dignity befitting Asterian’s heir—a far cry from when he joked around with Ludian and Olivier.
“The Imperial Family shall also offer recompense. We have come to Arne in the name of His Majesty the Emperor himself.”
Iandros picked up the thread. Iris glanced between the two boys’ faces and smiled.
“Of course. Clemens will guide you herself.”
“Clemens? Isn’t she the Heir of Arne? The Heir will provide guidance personally?”
“Yes. She is the Heir, but she’s also the one who knows that land better than anyone. She’s been interested in the Sunless Land since childhood.”
Olivier nodded.
“Yeah, she likes that place…… anyway, she’s got peculiar tastes, I’ll say that much.”
“It’s not quite accurate to call it a peculiarity, but…… that’s how it is.”
Iris answered with a somewhat hesitant tone. Ferdi listened quietly to the exchange between Iris and Olivier, then asked again.
“Then—would it be acceptable to ask Clemens for information about that land as well? I understand Arne possesses the most comprehensive records regarding the Sunless Land.”
“Yes, you can ask Clemens. She’ll give you detailed answers to the extent of her knowledge.”
“Are there materials? Books and old records about that land?”
Ludian interjected suddenly. Iris nodded readily.
“Of course. I’ll show you the archive. You’re welcome to stay comfortably in Arne while you gather sufficient information.”
Iris displayed a helpful attitude, offering to provide anything else they might need. Thanks to her generosity, the children relaxed their guard.
“Things seem to be going well.”
“Ludian, don’t speak so carelessly in front of the Head of Household.”
Ferdi gently reproved Ludian. Iris watched the children with evident affection.
Iandros picked up a sweet and sugary-looking cookie and popped it into Tiel’s mouth, all while observing Iris carefully.
“By the way, I heard from Clemens that you had urgent business to attend to.”
It was likely an excuse to gloss over the Head of Household’s failure to greet them personally, but Iandros deliberately mentioned it again, gauging Iris’s reaction.
Iris laughed awkwardly and nodded.
“I apologize for being unable to receive the Crown Prince immediately due to pressing matters. The urgent business is…… well, it’s this:”
Iris rose carefully from her seat. The soft folds of her dress rippled along her shoulders as she stood. Tiel thought Iris was truly beautiful……
Iris moved gracefully across the room and lifted a velvet cloth from the corner. There, a small, exquisite flowering tree was revealed. In the sunlight, its leaves glimmered golden.
It was the most beautiful and precious-looking tree Tiel had ever seen.
“Do you know what this tree is?”
Iris asked quietly. Iandros, Ludian, and Olivier nodded, and Ferdi answered.
“I’ve heard of it. The Heads of Arne inherit the Divine Tree from their predecessors.”
“That’s right. This little tree is Arne’s Divine Tree…… Isn’t it lovely?”
Iris carefully caressed the Divine Tree with her fingertips. A green light shimmered from her touch. The tree’s leaves trembled lightly in response.
“The Head of Arne must nurture this Divine Tree with complete devotion. There is a legend that so long as this tree does not wither, the Divine Blessing bestowed upon Arne’s territory shall endure……”
As she withdrew her hand, a few leaves from the Divine Tree fell to the base of the pot. One landed on the exposed roots.
“As you can see, despite my utmost care, the tree has not been in good condition…… which is why I was unable to greet you when you arrived.”
Tiel gazed at Arne’s Divine Tree. It was beautiful beyond compare, yet…… something about it seemed somehow lacking.
‘Why do I feel this way?’
Tiel tilted her head as she looked at Iris. Iris promptly covered the Divine Tree again with the velvet cloth. It disappeared completely from view.
Watching this in silence, Ferdi tilted his head slightly. It was an unconscious habit of his that emerged when he was thinking.
‘Why show us this?’
If what Iris Hilde Arne said was true, a problem with the Divine Tree meant a problem with Arne’s Divine Blessing.
That meant if this fact were to leak outside, Arne’s standing could become precarious.
In the Crasion Empire, where a family’s power structure shifted according to the magnitude of their Abilities, such knowledge would deal a direct blow to the household.
‘But why……’
Was it because even with this knowledge revealed, no one could threaten Arne?
Though the land was said to be blessed by the Divine, maintaining this much vegetation in the heart of the frozen Northern Region required Arne’s Ability as an essential element.
That is why, unlike other families locked in constant competition within the same bloodline or allied families, Arne had never once faced a true threat.
This was partly due to Arne’s neutral stance, but also because only those who possessed the Divine Tree’s Ability could govern Arne’s territory.
‘Still, something feels off……’
He could not fathom Iris’s intentions. These were no mere children. They were the heirs of Asterian and Wolfgang, the Crown Prince of the Crasion Empire.
They would not act without purpose.
At that moment, as if reading Ferdi’s thoughts, Iris opened her mouth.
“Of course, I would like you to keep this confidential. Everything concerning Arne’s Divine Tree must be held in the strictest secrecy……”
“Then…… why did you tell us?”
Iris returned to her seat and smiled at the children.
“Trees need water and sunlight to grow…… nothing else is necessary. Though now the water has vanished……”

“Ice kills trees, and lightning splits them in two……”
Iris’s gaze turned to Tiel. Her forest-green eyes rested upon her.
“Arne wants to help you become the Head of Asterian.”

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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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