The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 148

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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 148
“Father!”
Cassius swept Tiel into his arms. She nestled into his embrace as easily as breathing.
He patted her back gently and carried her into the room.
“I told them not to wake you, but did you have a nightmare? You’re drenched in cold sweat…….”
Cassius studied Tiel’s damp pajamas with concern. She hesitated a moment, then nodded.
“I had a bad dream. Snakes were chasing me.”
“Snakes can’t touch you. You’re a Snow Leopard like Rena, and the Head of Household of Asterian.”
“They covered me, the snakes did. And…….”
Still cradled in Cassius’s arms, Tiel’s face twisted at the memory.
The image of snakes cascading over her body was unnervingly vivid.
She fought to push the scene away and asked instead:
“But Father, where is that girl? The one named Lis?”
“Lis? Why do you ask?”
Cassius draped a blanket over her as he spoke.
A thoughtful gesture—the sweat was cooling, and a chill could bring fever. Tiel burrowed deeper into the blanket and mumbled her answer.
“She appeared in my dream. Something tells me I need to see her…….”
“She was in your nightmare?”
“Yes.”
Cassius fell silent, considering.
He had never intended for Tiel and Lis to meet again.
Whatever circumstances surrounded the girl, the fact remained that she had attacked Tiel.
‘Whether by choice or compulsion, the act of violence stands unchanged.’
So rather than execute Lis, Cassius had chosen complete separation—keeping her wholly apart from Tiel.
Alpheus and Ludian, Ferdi, even Iandros himself had agreed to this decision.
And yet…….
“Won’t you let me?”
Tiel blinked her luminous golden eyes up at him.
For a moment Cassius imagined he saw light particles cascading down behind her shoulders.
…….
Cassius closed his eyes, sighed, and shook his head.
He was far too weak against his daughter.
“You must have your reasons for wanting to see her.”
He summoned a maid and ordered her to bring Lis to him.
After the servant left with assurances she’d return promptly, he carefully arranged the blanket around Tiel once more, tucking it in snugly.
“From now on, change your clothes before coming down to see me. No matter that you’re a Snow Leopard—the night air is quite cold. You’ll catch a chill in wet clothes like that.”
“Yes, thank you for worrying. I won’t come down in wet clothes anymore. Or, if I must, I’ll come straight to you—and you’ll wrap me up warm in your blanket just like now!”
Tiel beamed and prattled on happily. Cassius stroked her hair and waited for the maid to return with Lis.
Before long, a knock sounded at the door.
“Enter.”
At Cassius’s command, the door opened slowly.
Tiel watched it swing wide. In the doorway stood the maid who had fetched Lis, and Lis herself—both keeping their eyes down.
“As you requested, I’ve brought her.”
“You’ve done well. That will be all.”
The moment Cassius dismissed her, the maid hurried from the room. Lis kept glancing back at the departing servant, anxiety written across her face.
Lis looked far healthier than when they’d first met. Her cheeks had filled out, and she wore cleaner clothes than before.
“Come here.”
Cassius commanded.
The girl shuffled forward nervously. Tiel threw off her blanket and rose to face her.
“Um, hello?”
Tiel greeted her carefully, her voice small and gentle as a forest bird’s whisper.
But Lis, tense from being summoned so abruptly, started at even this soft voice and looked up.
The girl glanced once at Cassius, once at Tiel, then lowered her head respectfully.
“You… called for me…….”
She stumbled through the words.
Then it happened.
Lis’s head snapped up, and she stared directly at Tiel.
Tiel’s eyes went wide with surprise at the abrupt movement. Cassius watched the two girls with puzzlement.
“Um, I wanted to see you, so I asked Father to bring you here——”
“Why do you have this?”
Lis cut her off, her voice bewildered, asking instead.
Tiel’s expression turned confused. She wound a strand of her white hair around one finger idly and asked:
“Have what?”
Lis fell silent, her brow furrowed in thought. Her face had gone pale, and she stared at Tiel as if frightened.
“Could it be… that time……?”
“Lis, what are you talking about?”
“Yes, what are you talking about? Choose your words carefully.”
Cassius warned her sharply. But the girl seemed deaf to him, as if he didn’t exist.
“Ah, Miss——”
“Address her as Head of Household.”
Cassius’s tone brooked no argument. Lis nodded blankly and obeyed.
“Head of Household…… Why did you summon me?”
Tiel hesitated at the question.
‘Should I say I saw you in a dream?’
But that sounded far too absurd. Even Tiel didn’t understand why she’d sought Cassius out to bring Lis here.
It simply felt necessary. Nothing more. Could it be connected to that ‘voice’ she’d heard when she was seven?
As Tiel faltered, unable to answer at once, Lis extended her small hand.
“Head of Household, might I examine your hand for a moment?”
Lis asked carefully.
Tiel considered, then obediently held out her hand.
Lis didn’t seem like she meant to harm her, and Cassius was right beside her.
If the girl tried anything, he would stop her instantly.
Besides, Tiel had become quite proficient with her Protection Ability by now. She trusted herself and Cassius, rather than Lis herself.
There was a difference between thinking someone meant no harm and truly trusting them with your life.
As Head of Household of Asterian and the sole Beastman with the Light Ability, Tiel had to be cautious in all things.
As Tiel carefully extended her hand, Lis grasped it.
The girl pressed near her wrist and closed her eyes as if searching for something.
Then Tiel felt something unpleasant stir within her body.
“……!!!”
Without thinking, she went pale and wrenched her hand away from Lis.
Cassius caught her up at once. Lis simply stood there, unflustered, watching them both.
“What did you do to my daughter?”
Cassius’s voice turned lethal, like a predator’s growl. His golden eyes flashed with killing intent.
Tiel thrashed weakly in his arms.
“Father, put me down. I’m all right……!”
“You’re clearly not. What happened? What did you do to her?”
“I did nothing.”
Lis spoke each word distinctly. Cassius kept Tiel in his arms and pinned his gaze on the girl.
She pressed her small hands together carefully. Tiel’s eyes widened as she watched.
What Lis was mimicking was the way Tiel used her Ability.
The way seven-year-old Tiel had wielded her power…….
Like that younger Tiel, hands clasped and eyes closed, Lis whispered something soft. Black Smoke Manipulation rose from her palms.
“……!”
“!!”
Cassius and Tiel both stepped back, watching Lis in shock.
Of the three people in the room, only Lis remained calm.

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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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