The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 125

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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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Chapter 125
***
The children arrived in Arne quickly.
Having received word of their arrival beforehand, Iris was waiting at the front gate to greet them warmly as they stepped out of the carriage.
“I’d already heard the news.”
Iris’s expression was quite bright. She smiled radiantly and turned her gaze toward Tiel.
“I had faith that you would see it through. Come inside—we must host a grand celebration this evening.”
Iris gave a light eye-smile and gathered the hem of her dress in her hand. The petal-like fabric swayed gently in the wind.
Ferdi, who had been watching her quietly, spoke with his usual courteous and measured tone.
“We’re grateful for your kindness, but we intend to return at once.”
“Why? There’s no need to rush, is there? You’ve completed your task safely—surely you could stay a while longer.”
“Father is waiting for us. We mustn’t delay our departure.”
At Ferdi’s words, Iris’s expression became meaningful. Tiel looked up at her with a tilted head.
‘Hmm?’
Iris gestured, and a maid appeared carrying something like a small cushion. In the center of the cushion lay soot, and there was a small hole burned through it.
Traces of charred fabric. The children squinted at the cushion.
“It seems the Marquess Celeste is quite concerned for you all.”
The moment Iris finished speaking, a small Salamander popped out from the hole in the center of the cushion.
“A Salamander!”
Tiel let out a small cheer upon recognizing Cassius’s Salamander.
When she first came to the Asterian Mansion, it was this very Salamander that had found her lost and crying in the cellar and alerted Cassius.
“Father sent a Salamander all this way? That’s so like him.”
Ludian tapped the Salamander lightly on its snout, and it spewed flames—Whoosh!
As a result, the top of the cushion burned away entirely. The servant holding it perspired profusely.
“I’m sorry, but would you mind taking this little one with you? It doesn’t suit Arne at all, and all the servants are terrified of it.”
Arne’s Ability was Verdant Affinity.
Consequently, the Arne mansion was filled with plants that had been bloomed into existence through that Ability.
It was little wonder that they would dislike a creature made entirely of flame.
The maid had brought the Salamander in the cushion for that very reason.
Tiel carefully reached out toward the Salamander.
She slipped her hands beneath its small arms and lifted it, cradling its body. The Salamander’s eyes widened round, as if it were smiling.
“It’s not hot.”
The flame of Asterian does not harm those who carry Asterian blood.
No matter how much fire the Salamander spewed, not a single strand of Tiel’s hair was singed. She held her father’s gift close to her chest.
“Father, don’t worry—we’re doing well. We’ll return soon.”
Ferdi held his face close before the Salamander’s eyes. Ludian and Olivier did the same. Tiel looked up at Ferdi.
“Can Father hear me if I talk to the Salamander?”
“Yes, his senses are connected to the Salamander. He’s probably watching you through its eyes right now.”
Tiel lifted the Salamander high, bringing it before her face. The small creature dangling in the air swished its tail and gazed at her with golden eyes.
“Father, can you see me?”
……
“I’ll be back soon. Just wait a little longer!”
The Salamander responded by spewing a small flame. The wind from the fire sent Tiel’s bangs fluttering. She burst into delighted laughter.
Iris, watching the scene quietly, laughed along with her.
‘I was planning to ask them to stay a bit longer……’
Through a message from Clemens, Iris had learned that the heir to Everard was alive.
Since Everard had been extinguished, her plan to annex Everard’s territory into Arne’s domain had fallen through.
She had intended to ask them to stay a few more days—both to deliberate on how to proceed and to hear more details from the children about what had happened in Arcadia. But……
‘I can’t bring myself to say such a thing, seeing how happy she is.’
The sight of Tiel’s eyes sparkling as she spoke to the Salamander was unmistakably that of a seven-year-old longing for her father.
For a moment, Iris herself had forgotten that Tiel was a child of seven before anything else—before she was a bearer of the Light Ability.
‘Well, I can hear the details of what happened in Arcadia from Clemens anyway.’
Iris nodded. Ferdi and Ludian looked up at her. Her expression softened into a gentle smile.
“I understand the desire to return home after being away so long. I won’t keep you. Depart whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Think nothing of it. If you need anything at all, do ask. Arne will be happy to provide it.”
“Then might we trouble you for some provisions?”
Just then, Olivier suddenly inserted himself into the conversation. He grabbed Tiel by the shoulder and yanked her to stand before him.
“Tiel loves snacks! We need some desserts for the journey!”
“Of course. Arne’s pastry chef is quite skilled—they’ll certainly be able to create something Tiel will enjoy.”
Iris smiled gently.
***
“Let’s depart.”
Iandros spoke, watching Tiel with her cheeks stuffed full.
Tiel chewed and swallowed the Castella in her mouth, then nodded eagerly.
“Let’s go!”
“You’re going to burst at this rate……”
Iandros murmured, observing the small girl nod and take yet another bite of Castella.
Iandros poked Tiel’s soft cheek. She opened her eyes wide in protest.
“I won’t burst!”
“I don’t know—at this rate, with your brothers and Olivier feeding you constantly, I think you might……”
Iandros looked at the carriage, which was loaded with desserts.
Though they had originally planned to leave promptly, Olivier’s insistent request for “desserts for Tiel to eat on the way” had delayed their departure.
Moreover, when Arne’s pastry chef had pleaded on bended knee that an hour wasn’t nearly enough time to produce such a quantity, the departure had been pushed back further.
Then, when Iris suggested that since they were already so delayed, they might as well have a meal before leaving, the departure time slipped even further……
It was a departure far later than one might expect, given they had declined Iris’s party invitation.
Yet Iandros found he couldn’t really resent it. Tiel looked so happy, nestled among the desserts and contentedly eating her Whipped Cream Castella.
“You did well, Tiel.”
“Yes! You too, Iandros.”
“Swallow what’s in your mouth before you talk.”
Tiel swallowed her Castella once more. Then she smiled brightly and looked up at Iandros.
“You too! You really worked hard! Actually, you didn’t even need to come, but because of me, you came all this way……”
“Get it straight. I didn’t come here because of you—you came here because of me. Because of this.”
Iandros tapped the nape of her neck lightly. Where his hand touched, Tiel’s Mark flared with brilliant light—a Light Mark.
“If it weren’t for this, you wouldn’t have had to come all this way and suffer. A debt I must repay……”
“A debt!”
Tiel’s hands clenched into tight fists. Iandros’s eyes widened. It was rare to see Tiel raise her voice like this.
She usually avoided raising her voice. That made the moment all the more startling. He could see Ferdi, Ludian, and Olivier hurrying over in concern from a distance.
Before her older siblings could reach her and snatch her away from Iandros, Tiel lowered her voice and whispered urgently.
“Don’t say that. You’re my benefactor. Compared to what you’ve done for me, this is nothing.”
“Tiel, in that situation, anyone would have……”
Iandros left the rest unsaid. He couldn’t be certain. Would he have acted the same way? If the person Tiel had knocked on that day had been someone like Thender instead of Iandros, would he have helped her?
Iandros held his tongue, but Tiel understood what he had been about to say.
And she answered.
“No, that’s not true…… Even in that situation, not many people would readily say, ‘I’ll help you.’ That’s why what you did was truly remarkable.”
Tiel reached into the basket she was holding and withdrew the most beautiful macaron. She held it out to Iandros.
Of everything she possessed, it was the sweetest and most lovely.
“So please don’t say such things!”
Iandros accepted the macaron with a bewildered expression. Tiel’s golden eyes sparkled as she pressed on.
“You understand, don’t you?”
……
“Iandros?”
“I understand.”
Not long after, Ferdi appeared and swept Tiel into his arms, fixing Iandros with a withering stare before carrying her away.
Iandros slowly savored the macaron Tiel had given him.

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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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