The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 22

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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 22
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Ferdi Asterian was not at all pleased with his suddenly acquired younger sister.
The paternity test results hadn’t even come back yet, and already everyone was prattling on as though that child was genuinely Asterian’s daughter and truly his sister.
Of course, her distinctive appearance—bearing both the white fur of the White Leopard Clan and the golden eyes of the Black Leopard Clan simultaneously—served as compelling evidence of her kinship to Kaserth and Lena, even without a paternity test.
‘But such things can be manipulated with Holy Power, can’t they?’
What bothered him more was how perfectly, how suspiciously, she embodied both bloodlines.
As if someone had deliberately crafted her to be “the daughter of Kaserth and Lena.”
That was why Ferdi remained wary of Tiel. At least until the paternity test results came back, he’d made up his mind to stay on guard.
Even the foolish and dull Ludian had been bewitched by the child’s appearance, and it fell to him—if no one else—to think rationally.
‘And besides… how can she be so small?’
Tiel was remarkably small.
Her frame was so tiny it was hard to believe she carried Asterian blood.
That very fact only deepened Ferdi’s suspicions.
Her pale skin, so unlike their own. Her large, round eyes. Those tiny hands that could vanish in his own. That small, prattling mouth.
The way his gaze kept drawn to her was deeply irritating. Irksome and troublesome.
Were all younger sisters this aggravating? And besides…
“What if the child gets indigestion?”
His father Kaserth was suddenly showing a tenderness that didn’t suit him at all. And—
“Tiel, does the food suit your taste?”
His grandfather Alpheus was grinning from ear to ear as if he adored his granddaughter to death. This made Ferdi all the more irritated.
Ferdi disliked all of it.
So much so that rushing here at the news of his younger sister being alive—when he’d thought her dead—felt foolish.
And then there was that Ability.
‘Light Ability, then?’
‘Yes.’
‘Father, that’s—!’
Kaserth had recently called Ferdi and Ludian to tell them about Tiel’s Ability.
Since both boys were her brothers, he said, they needed to know about their sister’s condition and capabilities.
Both Ludian and Ferdi had been shocked. Light Ability? That couldn’t possibly exist.
It was nothing but a legendary Ability.
And while foolish Ludian didn’t know any better, Ferdi, as the eldest son of Asterian and the heir to the clan leadership, was privy to “the legend that had been passed down only through Asterian and Nestian.”
‘With glorious light, Asterian and Nestian shall reclaim their original power.’
Glorious light referred to the Light Ability, and original power meant…
‘The lifting of the curse that has been passed down through generations of Asterian and Nestian.’
The heirs of Asterian and Nestian were born cursed, generation after generation.
The curse of the evil god Orpheo.
This curse was a madness passed down through the bloodline of the leopard clans across the ages.
Using the Ability excessively caused one to lose reason as a beast-human, and could lead to complete insanity.
Alpheus, Kaserth, Lena, Ferdi, Ludian—all of them bore this curse.
And among them, Ferdi suffered from it most severely.
Ferdi’s innate Ability was strong enough to rival even the talented Ludian, but the severe madness he experienced prevented him from using it for extended periods.
Thus it was his Reverse Scale—and indeed, the Reverse Scale of the entire leopard clan.
But…
‘That little thing has the Light Ability?’
Then this madness…
Could that little thing…
Ferdi’s eyes narrowed at the thought.
A short, mirthless laugh escaped him, as if even he found it absurd.
Impossible.
The Light Ability is, quite literally, a legendary Ability.
Father must have been mistaken. Or they’ve all been deceived by that little thing.
By that small, round, bothersome, perpetually attention-drawing creature.
With such a harmless, innocent, adorable face… she must have deceived the Asterian beast-humans.
Of course, when Kaserth heard this thought, his expression turned cold.
‘So you’re saying I’m a fool clinging to baseless legend?’
That was his answer.
Everyone else might be fooled, but not him. Not Tiel.
Father had already lost his heart to that adorable creature, so Ferdi at least needed to keep his wits about him.
“Iandros came calling?”
This was, at any rate, purely a matter of keeping watch over that little thing.
Ferdi stepped out abruptly from behind the rose bushes.
Tiel, Lia, and the maid who’d brought the news regarded Ferdi with mildly surprised eyes.
“That doesn’t make sense! You won’t let us see her with the excuse that she’s shy, but Iandros gets to visit?”
Ludian burst forth equally abruptly, raising his voice.
The two boys subtly drew closer to Tiel’s side. Long shadows fell across the tea table.
“I agree completely. The order does seem wrong, doesn’t it, Lia?”
“…Ferdi?”
“Who knows what that rogue might try with this little one!”
Ludian pointed at Tiel, speaking as though he could absolutely not allow such a thing.
Ferdi nodded in agreement.
“I concur that Iandros is a rogue. Besides, Tiel is still too young to meet guests of the Imperial Palace. Regardless of it being Iandros who brought her here… I think it best we send the visitor away for today. Family time should take precedence over receiving guests, wouldn’t you say?”
Ferdi smiled, meeting Tiel’s gaze as if seeking her agreement.
Tiel, caught off guard, nodded without thinking.
“Yes… yes, of course.”
“You see? Tiel agrees as well, so it seems best to send the guest away, Lia.”
Ferdi lightly tapped Tiel’s small bonnet.
Tiel flinched slightly at his touch, then relaxed as he offered her a Madeleine.
Lia was just about to go tell Iandros that “it would be best if you left for today,” pressed by the two resolute young masters, when—
“A rogue, is it? That’s not what I expected to hear from you two.”
“…!”
“Ferdi. Ludian.”
Iandros spoke as he crossed the garden toward them.
Ferdi’s and Ludian’s eyes narrowed simultaneously, while Tiel’s round eyes widened.
The peaceful afternoon tea time was suddenly filled with uninvited guests.
‘Iandros!’
Tiel’s face brightened as she caught sight of her benefactor.
Had she been in animal form, her tail would surely have stood straight up with joy.
Ferdi, catching this with a sidelong glance, continued to smile as he asked.
“Ha. How does the Imperial Palace suit you, Your Highness?”
But his eyes were not smiling.
“I came as a guest. But the maid I sent hasn’t reported back, for some reason.”
Iandros spoke while looking reproachfully at the maid who’d been standing beside Lia. She quickly lowered her head.
“Listen, Iandros. My sister is very shy. That’s why we haven’t properly met her ourselves yet.”
It was Ludian speaking. Ferdi nodded and handed Tiel another Madeleine.
“That’s right, Iandros. We’re grateful you brought my sister back, but this visit was premature. Tiel needs time to adjust to the estate, doesn’t she?”
As the two brothers and the crown prince engaged in this tension, Tiel simply rolled her eyes, accepting the Madeleine Ferdi offered.
It was soft and sweet.
“And who’s the one who found and brought back the Asterian’s youngest daughter, whom you all thought was dead? Is this how Asterian treats its benefactors?”
“Asterian doesn’t treat benefactors this way, but… when it concerns our sister, things are a bit different.”
Ferdi Asterian does not take kindly to Tiel.
But without properly understanding Tiel’s true nature, he could not allow her to meet Iandros alone.
And Tiel was irritatingly small. How could he possibly let such a tiny child be alone with that man? What might he do?
A silent tension crackled between the three boys. Remarkably, it was Tiel who broke it.
“Um, if I may…?”
“Yes, Tiel. Go ahead.”
“Iandros is my benefactor. I wanted to thank him. Just for a brief moment, and then I’ll return.”
“…”
“Would that be all right?”
Tiel looked up at Ferdi and Ludian, asking carefully.
Meeting her large, round eyes, Ludian’s lips twitched upward slightly. He let out a small, suppressed cough.
“Well, if it’s only for a moment…?”
“But Tiel, going alone is dangerous. You’re still just a small child, and Iandros is twice your size.”
At Ferdi’s firm words, Tiel drooped and nodded, then glanced at Iandros.
“Are you worried I’ll harm her? I only came to deliver a gift. So don’t treat me like an uninvited guest, Ferdi.”
“Still…”
“Then… would it be all right if my brother came with us?”
Tiel urgently gripped Ferdi’s hand.

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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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