The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 162

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 162
“Miss, happy birthday!”
Lia woke Tiel with a bright smile. Still drowsy with sleep, Tiel sat up and smiled back at her.
“Mmm, thanks, Lia…….”
Today was Tiel’s birthday.
Or more precisely, the birthday that Asterian had given her.
Because Thender Nestian had refused to tell Tiel when her real birthday was, calling it an “unlucky day,” she had never known her own birth date.
The same was true for Asterian. Since Nestian had never disclosed Rena’s date of death, Asterian marked the day Rena disappeared as her memorial day.
But Tiel came to have a birthday thanks to Asterian’s four men, who could not bear the thought of her having no birthday at all.
When they decided to establish a birthday, they chose to celebrate the day Tiel herself preferred. So they asked seven-year-old Tiel to pick her favorite season.
Tiel had wondered if it was really all right to choose a birthday this way, but when asked to pick, she chose spring.
Tiel loved spring most of all.
Spring was when even Nestian’s snow began to melt a little. Though the Snowy Field region didn’t bloom with flowers, the wind grew somewhat warmer.
And Asterian’s spring was incomparably beautiful compared to Nestian. Spring blossoms bloomed everywhere, and tender green shoots sprouted.
After a harsh winter, spring always comes. That was why Tiel loved spring the most.
Taking Tiel’s preference into account, Alpheus and Cassius chose the finest spring day of that year and made it her birthday.
Ever since, Asterian had celebrated Tiel’s birthday every spring.
Tiel sat up groggily and combed her hair with her fingers hooked like a comb.
Behind her, Lia waited with a brush in hand and gently combed Tiel’s beautiful, lustrous white hair while speaking.
“Aren’t you disappointed we can’t have a birthday party?”
“I don’t have any friends anyway, so there’s nothing to regret. Spending time with family is the best.”
Tiel smiled brightly. Lia laughed in relief, following suit. Though she had told Tiel that family time was the best, it seemed Lia was secretly troubled that Tiel couldn’t have a proper party.
‘But I’ve hardly ever had a party anyway.’
When she was twelve or fourteen, Ferdi and Ludian had helped her host small tea parties a few times, but she had never had a lively party in the Asterian Mansion.
Before Tiel arrived, the mansion used to hold grand birthday celebrations for Ludian and Ferdi, but out of consideration for Tiel, who was wary of strangers, neither brother had hosted parties since her arrival.
So Tiel had no particular feelings about parties. Since she gave it no thought, she felt no disappointment either.
Tiel changed into casual clothes and left her room.
“Miss! Happy birthday!”
“Head of Household! Happy birthday!”
Every servant she passed offered warm congratulations. Tiel smiled cheerfully in return.
“Thank you!”
Because Tiel had been uncomfortable with the title “Head of Household,” the servants of the Asterian Mansion called her “Miss” instead. But as she came of age, the title gradually shifted toward “Head of Household.”
Still, more people called her “Miss,” so Tiel had to receive birthday wishes alternating between the two titles.
The gardener had decorated the garden beautifully with spring flowers for today, and the servants had cleaned the mansion more thoroughly.
Every hallway was filled with spring blossoms that Tiel loved.
Of course, scattered among them were “flowers of Nestian” that Ferdi had procured. The care taken was evident.
Though the situation prevented them from hosting a grand party, within the mansion Cassius’s heart was clear—he wanted to give Tiel’s birthday proper attention.
“Tiel.”
Tiel turned her head at the gentle touch on her shoulder. Ferdi was standing there.
“Brother!”
The moment Tiel saw Ferdi, she opened her mouth hurriedly.
“I haven’t finished making the orb yet. I need to put the Ability into it, and it takes quite a long time…….”
But Ferdi cut off her words and pulled her hand.
“Don’t worry about the orb. You can make it later. You don’t need to force yourself. If it’s too difficult, you don’t have to make it at all. I’ll figure something out on my end.”
Tiel followed Ferdi and nodded.
The truth was, the reason she had slept in was because she’d been making the Light Orb that Ferdi had asked for until late into the night.
But whether it was an issue with the Ability or something else, unlike when she was younger, the Ability wouldn’t go into the orb properly.
Tiel had tried putting the creatures she controlled into it instead, but her fish also seemed to refuse to enter the orb for some reason.
She had been worrying about how to explain this to Ferdi when he said it was all right if she couldn’t make it, which eased her mind a little.
“Come on, it’s your birthday. We should have breakfast with the family.”
Tiel took Ferdi’s hand and headed to the dining room.
Cassius, Alpheus, and Ludian were already seated, waiting for Tiel.
Tiel naturally sat beside Cassius. Ludian sat across from her.
Ferdi seemed to want to say something to Tiel but said nothing, quietly taking a seat a little away from hers.
“Tiel, happy birthday.”
Alpheus spoke with a gentle smile. It was a completely different face from when he had shouted at Olivier not long ago.
“Did you sleep well? Thank you for the birthday wishes, Grandfather!”
Tiel answered brightly and sat down.
Alpheus handed Tiel a small gift box. Tiel accepted it with a radiant smile.
“Here, a gift. I’m not sure if you’ll like it……. But I put quite a bit of thought into it. I hope you do.”
“I don’t even need to look! I’m sure I’ll love it. Anything you give me, Grandfather, I’d treasure.”
At Tiel’s words, Alpheus chuckled warmly again.
“I’ll give you my gift after breakfast, in your room.”
“Me too.”
Ferdi and Ludian said the same. Tiel set the gift box beside her for the moment and nodded.
“I’ll give you mine a bit later as well.”
Cassius looked at Tiel and spoke. Tiel nodded again. Truthfully, gifts didn’t matter to her. What mattered was having her family together and knowing they cared for her.
“Then let’s eat.”
As soon as Alpheus finished speaking, everyone picked up their utensils in unison. Tiel cut her meat into small pieces and popped them into her mouth.
Ludian cut his into large chunks like a carnivore and ate, while Ferdi, like Tiel, cut his into small pieces, chewing them thoroughly.
Perhaps because it was a special day, the meal today was more refined and delicious than usual.
“They paid special attention to dessert today, I heard, since it’s your birthday.”
“I should say thank you after we finish eating!”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
Cassius replied as he cut and ate his steak.
“Speaking of which, didn’t we say the Crown Prince was visiting the mansion today?”
Alpheus turned to Cassius. But it was not Cassius who answered—it was Ferdi and Ludian.
“Since when does His Highness need permission to enter our mansion?”
“I thought he already lived here.”
“Is that any way to speak to the Crown Prince?”
When Cassius rebuked them, Ferdi and Ludian shrugged and turned their focus back to eating.
Tiel nodded.
“Yes, he said he’d come today. He said he also has a gift for me.”
She chewed the tender meat thoroughly and swallowed, then took a sip of water.
That was when it happened.
“……?”
Tiel’s eyes widened.
The crystal glass she was holding slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor with a sharp, ringing sound.
Glass shards scattered everywhere, but Tiel didn’t notice them at all. She simply froze with her eyes wide open.
“……Tiel?”
Ludian, sensing something was wrong, set down his fork and asked.
Tiel opened her mouth several times to speak, but no sound came. As if she had suddenly lost the ability to talk…….
“Tiel!”
Cassius called out to his daughter and embraced her. But Tiel couldn’t lean into his hold or hold him back.
Her vision blurred.
An unknown, powerful force was churning through her entire body from her core.
It was a force both familiar and unfamiliar. Which meant…….
‘It feels like Iandros’s power.’
In that moment, Tiel understood.
Something had happened to Iandros.
But she couldn’t run to him.
Because she was collapsing.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————