The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 175

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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 175
Contrary to Tiel’s expectation that the Eberard Mansion would have been rebuilt during Karl’s tenure, it was constructed in a distinctly ancient architectural style.
Though old, it had been maintained with meticulous care, and therefore bore no shabby appearance whatsoever. Rather, it exuded a refined, antiquated charm.
As Tiel gazed around in wonder, the maid who had been guiding her to her room spoke with a smile.
“Actually, this mansion was built a very long time ago. It was preserved by special means and never collapsed, and during this generation, Karl had it restored.”
Another maid continued the explanation.
“It had originally existed but remained unused. However, when Karl expressed his wish to restore and inhabit it, Illum undertook the restoration himself.”
“Illum?”
Tiel’s eyes brightened at the familiar name. Illum was someone she had met when she previously came to Arcadia. At that time, he had been the beast who oversaw all of Arcadia’s inhabitants.
“Surely Illum still works at the Eberard estate?”
“Of course! Illum is the steward of the Eberard Mansion. You’ll surely meet him during your stay···.”
At that moment, a familiar figure approached from down the corridor. Tiel recognized him at once.
“Illum!”
“Miss Tiel.”
Illum approached and bowed respectfully. The maids tactfully stepped back.
Tiel lifted her skirts and hurried toward Illum with evident joy.
“Illum! It’s been so long!”
“Miss Tiel, I trust you have been well? I apologize for not greeting you upon your arrival. The Festival has kept us busy···.”
“It’s fine! I’ve been well, and I hope you’ve been well too?”
Illum appeared older than when she had last seen him, yet his expression was far brighter than before.
More than his expression alone—his bearing and demeanor conveyed unmistakable pride in the Eberard estate. Tiel found this positive change deeply gratifying.
“I have fared well. Thanks to the substantial support from both Asterian and Arne, the restoration of the Eberard estate and the reconstruction of Arcadia have proceeded smoothly.”
Illum spoke each word with deliberate clarity, his gratitude evident and genuine.
And then he looked at Tiel.
Tiel Asterian.
The small snow leopard who had been only marginally taller than Karl when they first met now stood before him as a fully grown woman.
Her fluffy white hair was fuller and more beautiful than when Illum had first seen her, and her face shone as brightly as when she first brought light to Arcadia.
Yet one thing had changed.
‘Miss Tiel’s eyes···.’
The eyes are the mirror of the heart.
By gazing into the eyes, one can discern the state of another’s spirit. Illum noticed that Tiel’s brilliant golden eyes had lost some of their luminescence.
‘It must be because of that matter.’
Arcadia lay far from the Capital City, and news traveled slowly, but it was no longer completely cut off from the outside world as it once had been.
Therefore, Illum had continued to hear of Tiel’s circumstances—from the beginning of the imbalance of Day and Night, to the doubts the people of Crasion harbored regarding Tiel’s qualifications.
Illum found the very notion of doubt to be incomprehensible.
There was only one person who possessed the Light Ability, and that was Tiel. What could possibly be gained by doubting her? Moreover, she had already proven her capability by restoring light to Arcadia.
Illum felt only sorrow for Tiel’s plight.
And he made a vow: no matter what came to pass, he would stand by Tiel’s side. Even if all the beasts of Crasion turned away from her, Arcadia would remain her steadfast ally···.
Feeling Illum’s gaze upon her, Tiel smiled somewhat awkwardly and asked.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No, Miss Tiel. I was merely moved to reflection upon seeing how splendidly you have grown. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Illum replied with measured courtesy. He then gestured for the other maids to withdraw, and led Tiel personally to her chamber.
“This is the finest room in the Eberard Mansion. It was the room the Head of Household should have occupied, but from the time this mansion was first built, the Head of Household refused to use the finest room for himself, and so it has remained empty.”
As Illum opened the door, a spacious and magnificent room came into view.
It seemed perhaps even slightly larger than Tiel’s chamber in Asterian.
Restored while preserving its original ancient design, the room emanated an atmosphere of refined antiquity.
Along the edge of the room flowed a small water channel, and Tiel gazed at it with fascination.
“Every room in the Eberard Mansion has a water channel. It is something that has been maintained since ancient times. Through this channel one can send letters to adjacent rooms, or else···—hmm, it seems it has already begun.”
Illum let out a laugh. Tiel turned to follow his gaze. At the end of the water channel, colorful flower petals were drifting downstream.
“This is how we decorate the rooms with flowers. When the Eberard household welcomes honored guests, we float flowers in the water channel as a sign of welcome.”
“Oh my···.”
Tiel reached toward the water channel with a smile spreading across her face. A water-soaked petal clung to her pale fingertips.
“Well, normally we don’t send quite so many. That is to say, it’s not that we don’t welcome you—it’s just that if we send this many, the flowers will clog the channel···.”
Illum fumbled awkwardly through his explanation. Tiel tilted her head in confusion, but once she saw the tide of petals filling the water channel, she understood what he meant.
“I told you not to do this much···!”
Tiel could guess who Illum was addressing. Karl Eberard—the kind boy had gathered the most beautiful blossoms and sent them floating into Tiel’s room as a welcome.
Moreover, if the water had undergone some special treatment, the liquid flowing through Tiel’s chamber gleamed with the same golden light as the water she and Karl had sent through Arcadia long ago.
“In any case, please rest now. I shall return to fetch you at dinnertime. Do recover from your journey. I will have the maids you brought from Asterian sent to this room.”
“Thank you, Illum!”
“You are most welcome. I hope you have a pleasant day.”
Illum bowed with practiced courtesy and withdrew from the room.
The moment he left, the Salamander that had been nestled in Tiel’s arms sprang out and watched the flower petals drifting along the water channel.
“Find it interesting?”
“!”
The Salamander, apparently fascinated by the water channel, brought its nose close to the surface—only to tumble straight into the water with a splash.
“Oh no!”
Tiel started in alarm and fished the Salamander from the water, but by then the flames that normally engulfed its body had already been extinguished.
Tiel’s lips turned downward as she frantically dried the Salamander with her skirts, murmuring anxiously.
“You should have been more careful! But what happens when the fire goes out? Surely you don’t die? No, that can’t be right. I should ask Father···.”
Tiel scrubbed at the Salamander’s face so vigorously that its eyes and cheeks were squeezed quite flat. The creature sagged limply in her hands for a moment before suddenly lurching free and springing from her grasp.
And then, at once—
Whoosh!
It reignited its own flames with a burst of fire, then strutted about the room as if unbothered by such a minor inconvenience. The fish swimming about Tiel’s surroundings seemed to regard the display with contempt, flicking at the Salamander with their fins.
Tiel watched the scene and smiled quietly to herself, then carefully opened the door.
“I’d like to visit Father, but I wasn’t shown where he and Grandfather are staying. Could you find them for me?”
At Tiel’s question, the Salamander dashed ahead with an air of self-importance, as if to say: follow me.
Tiel walked slowly through the corridors of the Eberard Mansion in the Salamander’s wake.
***
“Father!”
Tiel spotted Cassius and rushed toward him in quick, light steps, her skirt fluttering like butterfly wings. Cassius caught his daughter in a gentle embrace.
“Tiel, how do you find your room?”
“It’s wonderful! A truly beautiful room. I don’t think I’ll be uncomfortable at all during my stay.”
“Good to hear. Well, rest well then. More beasts continue to arrive in Arcadia. The Festival will commence soon.”
“Will the other beasts be staying at the Eberard Mansion as well?”
“From what I’ve heard, they won’t be. Apparently there aren’t sufficient rooms to accommodate them, and Karl Eberard has declined to house the others in the mansion. So only we, the Crown Prince, and those from Arne will be staying here.”

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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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