The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 166

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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 166
“Tiel! Are you all right?”
Tiel opened her eyes to the gentle shaking of a hand and a voice that was somewhat flustered but kind.
‘Mm… was I asleep?’
Tiel thought her stamina seemed to have weakened lately as she looked around at the people surrounding her.
Lia had said something about calling the physician, but standing before Tiel were not the physician but four men of Asterian and Iandros.
“Brother?”
At the sound of Tiel’s voice, Ludian, somewhat relieved, pulled her into his arms.
“We were so worried. How frightened we all were when you collapsed so suddenly…”
Tiel rested her chin on Ludian’s shoulder as she laughed, a bit embarrassed.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t quite understand what happened either… My vision blurred, and then suddenly…”
“Are you all right? You are all right, aren’t you?”
Ludian gripped Tiel’s shoulders and checked on his sister’s condition.
After watching this scene with displeasure for some time, Ferdi grabbed Ludian’s shoulder and pulled him away from Tiel.
“If you want to see whether Tiel is all right, shouldn’t you move aside first?”
Ferdi pointed behind him with his thumb. Ludian turned his head to follow where the finger indicated.
There stood the Asterian physician, unable to step forward and standing awkwardly.
With Alpheus, Cassius, Ferdi and Ludian, and even Crown Prince Iandros crowding around Tiel, there was simply no room for the physician to stand.
Ludian finally stepped aside to make space for the physician to examine Tiel.
His name was Kade, and he had been the physician looking after Tiel’s health ever since she first came to this manor.
“Good day to you, Head of Household. Happy birthday.”
Kade greeted Tiel naturally while bringing a chair to sit down. Tiel beamed as she replied.
“Thank you so much, Kade.”
“For such a fine day to be troubled by this. Shall I? I’ll examine you briefly to see if there’s any problem with your health.”
Kade still coaxed and soothed Tiel as though she were a seven-year-old child, and Tiel found this not at all unpleasant.
Kade examined her state with practiced efficiency. Tiel, unlike when she was young, neither cried nor hid, allowing him to check her body thoroughly.
After examining Tiel’s condition, Kade reached his diagnosis: there was nothing wrong with her body.
“Your stamina appears to be somewhat depleted, but that is all. It will resolve itself with proper meals and some rest.”
“Then why did she collapse at all?”
Alpheus could not hold back the question. Kade scratched the back of his head as though troubled.
“This is merely a conjecture of mine, but… might there be some issue with both of your Abilities?”
At Kade’s words, both Iandros and Tiel flinched at once. Seeing their reaction and realizing his conjecture was correct, Kade continued.
“Yes, this is a common symptom that appears in those who have Imprinted with their Bonded Partners. When a problem arises with the partner’s body, through the Imprinting, a problem manifests in one’s own body as well, and the pain is shared. That is why you collapsed.”
At Kade’s words, Iandros’s expression grew subtly troubled.
Tiel too avoided his gaze. Alpheus released a short sigh, as did Cassius.
Ferdi and Ludian remained silent, but their disapproval was plain to see.
Alpheus, though it was somewhat selfish of him, regretted not stopping Tiel that day.
Iandros’s Ability was Dimensional Creation—an Ability so potent and dangerous that even within the Crasion Imperial Family, including Iandros, only three had ever manifested it.
The fact that only three people had manifested it so far meant that information about the Ability was critically lacking.
Moreover, Tiel’s Ability was no ordinary power either.
For the two of them to have Imprinted in such a situation… it was possible such incidents might happen frequently from now on.
The worst outcome would be if Iandros’s Ability went berserk, and both Tiel and Iandros could not withstand that tremendous force and vanished without a trace.
An Imprinting was that dangerous, and a half-completed Imprinting was even more so.
When Alpheus first learned of Wilhelm’s plan, he had raged for the same reason.
For Iandros was not only the empire’s most exalted crown prince, but also the empire’s one and only time bomb.
Tiel, noticing how the atmosphere had grown quiet in an instant, rolled her eyes and then lightly grasped Alpheus’s fingertips.
“Um, Grandfather. I’m fine.”
“…”
“There won’t be incidents like this anymore. Really! Today was just… I wore myself out last night, so I was a bit tired.”
“Tiel.”
Alpheus cupped Tiel’s cheek. Her pale, soft cheek was pressed firmly into his weathered, calloused hand.
Tiel blinked with her cheek compressed. Alpheus looked into the eyes of his beloved granddaughter.
Her eyes were so perfectly clear, not a speck of dust in them, and Alpheus wanted to protect his granddaughter who held such eyes for all the days of his life.
“Tiel, heed your grandfather’s words.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“In any circumstance whatsoever, your life and your wellbeing must be your highest priority. You understand, don’t you, how precarious things are right now?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“No one knows what may befall you. Just as you collapsed today, it could happen again, or perhaps something worse still might come to pass.”
Tiel rolled her eyes to look at Iandros. Iandros gazed back at her without turning his gaze away.
Alpheus continued regardless.
“So remember this. Nothing is more important than your wellbeing—not even my life. My life is not worth more to me than yours.”
Those words sounded almost as though Alpheus were speaking them to Iandros.
At the same time, they seemed to be a response to what Iandros had said and resolved just moments before.
“Tiel, I worry for you. I want to protect you, but I fear I may not be able to.”
At Alpheus’s words, everyone nodded in agreement.
Tiel hesitated for a moment, then grasped Alpheus’s wrinkled hand firmly.
Alpheus’s hand, perhaps because it wielded the Flame Ability, was hot like fire but warm like a campfire, and Tiel wished her cheek could remain pressed against it longer.
Tiel held Alpheus’s hand clasped tightly in both of hers as she looked at her grandfather.
Seven years old,
now twenty-two.
Tiel wanted to show without reservation that she had grown so very much, that she would no longer act recklessly under the guise of caring for them, and that she cherished them just as they cherished her.
“Grandfather, I will remember. I know well that you and Father and my brothers love me and worry for me.”
“…”
“I will not act recklessly, no matter the circumstance. Before I do anything foolish, I will always think of my family. I will never forget that there are those who love me.”
Tears welled slightly in Alpheus’s eyes.
In that moment when Tiel collapsed, Alpheus had thought of so very many things.
Gripped by the thought of what would happen if something were wrong with Tiel, he had wandered the room unable to work properly until she woke.
When she still had not awakened, he was even preparing to go to the Temple when Tiel at last opened her eyes.
Alpheus truly wished for his granddaughter to know no danger.
He wanted to protect this little Snow Leopard, who still seemed to him a seven-year-old girl, for all his remaining days.
As Tiel spoke with quiet composure, giving every sign of understanding Alpheus’s heart, it was only natural that tears should pool in both his eyes.
“Yes, Tiel… I am proud of you.”
Alpheus, his throat tight, could add nothing more and merely forced out the words of his pride.
Then he released his granddaughter’s cheek and stepped back.
Cassius stroked Tiel’s hair once and tidied it, then, after confirming that Tiel had no fever and did not seem about to collapse again, turned away.
“Then we shall take our leave so that Tiel may rest. Your Highness should withdraw as well.”
Cassius’s gaze turned toward Iandros. Tiel’s gaze followed suit.
Iandros looked at Tiel once, then at Cassius, before he spoke.
“There is something I need to ask Tiel. I would like to speak with her alone, so I will remain. I would be grateful if you would all leave first.”
At Iandros’s words, Cassius and Alpheus left the room first.
Ludian struggled against leaving, so Ferdi had to take him out.
“…”
“…!”
Only Tiel and Iandros remained in the room.

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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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