The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 174

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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 174
“Tiel!”
At that moment, a familiar voice called out from a distance. Tiel turned slowly to look.
Knights clad in armor bearing the Eberard crest were approaching her. The beast-people of Arcadia stepped aside thoughtfully, clearing a path for them.
Tiel recognized at once the boy mounted on the horse at the front of the procession.
“Karl?”
As Tiel murmured the name with certainty, the boy sitting atop the horse leaped down in one fluid motion.
A boy with blue hair and eyes the color of water. In all this empire, only one person possessed hair and eyes of such a hue.
“Karl Eberard!”
Tiel called out warmly, and he drew near, bringing her hand to his lips. She accepted the gesture without resistance, her eyes brightening as he did.
Karl pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand, then lifted his head with a smile. His blue hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like ripples of light dancing across water.
When he raised his head, he stood a full head taller than Tiel. It was then that she truly understood—he could no longer be called a boy. Just as she could no longer be called a girl.
“Have you been well?”
Karl asked gently. His voice was deeper now, far richer than she remembered. Tiel felt the weight of time acutely and nodded in response.
“I have. And you, Karl?”
“All is well.”
Karl nodded lightly and turned his gaze toward the beast-people of Arcadia, gesturing to them with a sweep of his eyes.
They broke into radiant smiles as his gaze fell upon them. There was no trace of the darkness that had once haunted their faces. Every countenance shone bright as sunlight.
“Truly, so much has changed, hasn’t it? The children born after have no memory of That Time ever existing. It is all thanks to you, Tiel.”
The “That Time” Karl spoke of referred to the period when no sun had risen over this land. Tiel looked around and smiled brightly.
“Yes, it has changed so much. It’s truly a beautiful land. Beautiful people. I love this place deeply.”
“I’m glad it pleases you. Let us go to the mansion. Everyone has spent a long time preparing to receive you with the utmost care.”
Karl extended his hand to Tiel. She placed her own hand carefully upon his.
His hand was so much larger than hers that even if she placed both hands in his palm, there would still be ample room.
Karl took her hand and led her toward the carriage that Eberard had prepared. The knights stepped back, forming a passage for them.
“Oh, but I came in a carriage of my own. Father and Grandfather are…”
Tiel spoke carefully, not wishing to disregard Karl’s thoughtfulness. Karl shook his head as if to ease her concerns and replied.
“I informed the Duke Ebalte and the Marquis beforehand.”
Tiel glanced back briefly to confirm his words were true.
Cassius and Alpheus, along with Ludian and Ferdi, watched from a distance as Tiel boarded the carriage with Karl.
‘If they hadn’t given permission beforehand, they would have stopped him. They all care for me and worry about my wellbeing.’
The fact that they remained silent was clear proof that Karl had sought approval in advance. Tiel boarded the carriage that Eberard had prepared without hesitation.
The carriage was not as ornate as those of Asterian, yet it had been decorated with great care.
Both inside and out, it was adorned lavishly with flowers that grew only in Eberard, and hanging from various points outside the carriage were golden fish charms that symbolized Tiel.
A carriage prepared solely for Tiel. That fact was indisputable. With Karl’s escort, she stepped inside.
“I shall see you safely to the mansion, Tiel.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Tiel laughed lightly. Karl closed the carriage door for her himself before mounting his horse. It was work ordinarily done by knights—hardly the duty of a household head.
‘I’m glad Karl has grown up so well.’
Karl had assumed the position of Head of the Eberard household at merely six years old.
Even with good adults around him to offer guidance, it could never have been an easy path.
Yet seeing how well he had grown—so well that he had rebuilt Arcadia to this extent—filled her with quiet pride. Tiel gazed out the carriage window.
The beast-people of Arcadia stood on both sides, showering flowers onto her carriage.
“Tiel!”
“Tiel! Welcome to Arcadia!”
“We welcome you to Arcadia!”
As a result, the knights escorting Tiel’s carriage found themselves thoroughly covered in flowers.
A single flower petal flew through the carriage window. Tiel picked it up carefully.
The Salamander and golden fish that hovered near Tiel dashed toward the petal, sniffing it inquisitively.
Finding nothing amiss, they sprawled across her lap on their backs, bellies exposed.
Only then did Tiel bring the petal to her nose to inhale its fragrance.
It was the most fragrant flower she had ever smelled in her life.
***
“Does a household head usually come to greet a visitor personally?”
Ludian asked with uncertainty. Ferdi kept his gaze fixed on the beast-people of Arcadia as they scattered flowers toward Tiel, but answered.
“Usually not. Not unless the Emperor himself arrives.”
In the territories of beast-people, the household head who owns the land holds the highest authority.
Even if a visitor holds a higher noble rank, they must observe proper courtesy within another’s domain.
Yet Karl, as though he had forgotten his position as Head of Eberard, had ridden out on horseback himself to personally escort Tiel into the mansion.
Ferdi furrowed his brow, making a thoughtful sound.
“Perhaps Arcadia is so remote that news travels slowly. They might not know Tiel already has a betrothed.”
“How could they not know? When we visited Arcadia before, Tiel was already with Iandros and—”
“Tiel was only seven then, and Karl Eberard was just six.”
Ferdi shrugged. Ludian followed suit with a thoughtful sound, tracking Tiel’s carriage with his eyes.
“So what you’re saying is that Karl Eberard might harbor feelings for Tiel—”
“Best not to entertain such talk, Ludian.”
Cassius cut off Ludian’s words.
“This is Eberard territory, as you’ve both acknowledged. It behooves us not to insult them in any way. Besides, Karl Eberard’s decision to greet Tiel personally isn’t for such trivial reasons.”
Cassius too kept his eyes on Tiel’s carriage, which sparkled ceaselessly as if she were wielding her Ability, its surface studded with crystal fragments.
“The beast-people of Arcadia do not forget kindness. Tiel is their benefactor. Without her, they would have perished that day. Of course they wish to receive her with honor.”
Ferdi and Ludian nodded at Cassius’s words. Yet neither could quite shake the thought that Iandros, had he been present, would have felt a certain unease.
***
The carriage door swung open.
Tiel carefully poked her head out. Karl approached and offered her his hand so she could descend with ease.
Tiel accepted his hand and stepped down from the carriage.
She did not resist, and together they descended.
“Welcome to Eberard, Tiel.”
Karl spoke with formal courtesy. Tiel gathered the folds of her dress and bent her knees, offering an equally formal greeting.
“Thank you for the invitation, Karl.”
“We have prepared quarters for your rest. Please take time to recover from your travels. The journey has been long.”
At Karl’s gesture, three maids approached and bowed deeply.
“We shall escort you to your quarters, Miss Tiel. Please follow us.”
Tiel nodded and looked back at Karl with a question.
“Where will my brothers be staying?”
“Not far from your quarters.”
Karl replied. Tiel smiled faintly and followed the maids with light, graceful steps.

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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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