The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 15

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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 15
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Knock, knock.
Tiel rapped gently on the door, and the servants standing on either side immediately announced in loud voices:
“Master Cassius, Miss Tiel has arrived.”
The servants swung open the massive doors. Tiel hesitated for a moment, then poked her head through the gap.
At the far end of the room, before a great desk, sat a figure with neatly combed hair swept back without a strand out of place, keen and piercing eyes, and golden irises the exact same shade as her own.
Cassius Celeste Asturian. The master of the room, and Tiel’s own father.
Tiel studied him for a moment, then tapped on the door once more and asked hesitantly:
“Um… may I come in?”
“Ah, come in, Tiel.”
Cassius set down his pen carefully as he spoke. Tiel nodded and padded quickly into the Study Room.
The servants closed the door behind her.
“Sit over there, little one.”
Cassius removed the Golden-rimmed Glasses from the bridge of his nose and gestured toward the sofa in the middle of the Study Room.
Tiel obediently perched on the edge of the sofa as he’d instructed.
But Cassius seemed displeased by something, frowning slightly before stepping toward her in one long stride.
“Not like that.”
He smiled faintly, reached down, and lifted Tiel gently. Her eyes went wide with surprise.
“C-Cassius!”
Cassius paid no mind to her squirming and set her down deeper into the sofa.
Now, instead of balancing on the edge, Tiel sank comfortably into the cushions.
Satisfied at last, Cassius settled himself on the sofa across from her.
Buried in the vast, plush sofa, Tiel blinked up at him.
‘That surprised me…’
She’d been startled when he suddenly stepped forward and scooped her up—but he’d done it only to settle her more comfortably into the sofa.
Such a thing was unimaginable in Nestian.
In Nestian, an adult’s touch had always meant something frightening and cruel.
So this was novel, and welcome. She’d never known such care. She’d never even imagined receiving it…
Tiel’s guard against Cassius lowered slightly. Without quite realizing it, she set aside her fear and regarded him with curious eyes.
Cassius, watching her intently, felt the corners of his mouth lift.
‘Good—she’s adapting quickly.’
He’d worried she might not lower her guard, but she’d relaxed far faster than he’d expected.
While he found that encouraging, it also made him deeply sad.
Despite the marks of such prolonged abuse, she’d surrendered her caution so easily—at the mere touch of warmth.
What treatment had she endured all this time?
‘What kind of life has she been living all this while, without my knowledge…’
Murder flickered in Cassius’s golden eyes as his gaze turned toward Nestian, but he swiftly quelled it. He mastered his rage without effort.
He was afraid that Tiel might notice the killing intent written across his face and become frightened.
Fortunately, she didn’t notice.
Soon the maids entered carrying a tiered tray laden with snacks and set refreshments and tea before them.
Since Tiel was still young, Orange Juice was substituted for her.
“Well done. You may go now.”
“Yes, Master Cassius.”
The maids bowed lightly and scurried from the Study Room.
“Tiel, I asked you here because I have something to tell you.”
Cassius picked out the most appetizing Cookie from those arranged before her and handed it to her as he spoke.
Tiel accepted it carefully, watching his expression anxiously. He had something to tell her? What could it be?
Could he be changing his mind—sending her away again…?
Just as her thoughts were spiraling into darker territory, Cassius’s voice cut through them.
“You seem to remember what happened in the Underground Chamber that day.”
“Yes? Yes, I do.”
Tiel nodded. She didn’t remember everything clearly, but the memory was there, hazy but whole.
She remembered Cassius coming down into the Underground Chamber himself to find her, and in that moment, light of unknown origin had burst from her palm.
“I don’t remember it clearly, but I do remember it, vaguely.”
How could she forget?
Even now, closing her eyes brought the scene rushing back—the desperate terror of believing Asturian would kill her, and the shimmering light pooling in the hollow of her hand, answering that desperation.
But what had that been? It certainly wasn’t the Frost Ability. The question bloomed in Tiel’s mind.
“That is your Ability, little one.”
“…An Ability?”
“Yes. A very special one.”
Cassius’s gentle voice settled softly around her. Tiel could only blink, unable to believe it.
A special Ability?
The child tilted her head in confusion.
Tiel possessed neither the Frost Ability nor the Flame Ability. And the Ability she’d used that day was surely unremarkable. Yet he called it special…?
Could he be mistaken?
‘…There’s no way a little light is a special Ability.’
Tiel had never heard of the Light Ability passed down through the Crasion Empire. She’d never received proper education, so of course she hadn’t.
It was only natural that she thought of her own Ability as insignificant.
Cassius began to tell her, slowly, of the legends surrounding the Light Ability.
The legend of the Light Ability passed down through the Crasion Empire, and about the Light Ability itself.
And what the fish-shaped light that had burst from Tiel’s palm symbolized in Crasion.
But he did not tell her that there was one more legend—passed down only to the Asturian and Nestian houses.
He feared the burden would overwhelm the child. It was a small mercy.
After hearing everything, Tiel’s eyes widened. She carefully opened and closed her small fist, asking:
“Then… does that mean I…?”
“Yes. You are a special child who manifested a special Ability from legend. Tiel.”
Cassius’s words seemed unreal. Like listening to a story from another world. Just a short while ago she’d been scorned as a worthless half-breed, yet now he was calling her special…?
She wondered if something was wrong, but Cassius didn’t seem like a man who would lie.
Tiel pressed her palms together, the hollow of her small hands forming a shallow cup. Carefully, she attempted to use her Ability.
A faint light appeared between her hands for a moment, then vanished. Disappointment crossed Tiel’s face.
It was natural that she couldn’t use the Ability properly—she’d never been trained—but that didn’t stop her from feeling dejected.
Tiel carefully looked up to meet Cassius’s eyes.
“Um, Cassius? In that case…?”
“Yes, go on.”
“Then… can I be useful to the Asturian House?”
Tiel asked, her small mouth trembling slightly. At her question, the Study Room fell silent.
Cassius swallowed a short breath.
What on earth had Nestian done to this child that she would ask such a thing?
Cassius smoothed away the discomfort from his face and turned his attention to the small girl.
“Tiel, you don’t need to be useful to the Asturian House. Even without that, you are my daughter, and a rightful member of the Asturian House.”
Paternity Tests meant nothing.
Tiel was his daughter.
Only the golden eyes—the symbol of the Black Panther—the white fur—the symbol of the Snow Leopard—and Rena’s Rocket proved it.
The Paternity Test was merely to declare Tiel as the heir to Asturian. Nothing more, nothing less. She was undoubtedly his daughter.
He’d known from the moment he first saw her.
No parent in the world fails to recognize their own child.
At the words “my daughter,” Tiel’s face flushed and her eyes widened. She scrambled to add hastily:
“But Grandfather always said that a child must do their part for the House…”
“Anything maintained by a child’s hand deserves to crumble, Tiel. You needn’t worry about such things. You need only eat well and play well.”
His voice was firm. Tiel nodded as if entranced.
“Yes.”
“The reason I told you about your Ability was because you had the right to know about it—not because I expect anything from you.”
Tiel nodded again. Cassius looked quite uncomfortable… though not because of her.
Cassius smoothed away his troubled expression and, plucking the Cookie that Tiel had been holding uneaten, gently placed it between her lips.
“Wh-what?”
“So remember this, Tiel. You need not do anything. At least not in the Asturian House. You need only eat well and play well.”
These were words she’d never heard before.
Eat well and play well—that’s all? Such a thing was unimaginable in Nestian. Yet Cassius said it as though it were simple.
“Yes… Cassius.”
Tiel took a small bite of the Cookie he’d offered, her cheeks flushing as she experienced kindness for the first time, and nodded.
A faint light flickered once more in Tiel’s hands.

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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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