The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 236

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

Omake 4
***
Two houses have upheld and sustained the Leopard Clan—Asterian and Nestian.
For ages, the two houses had competed with one another while governing the Leopard Clan with wisdom.
‘Until now,’ that is.
“Nestian will be erased from history now.”
Ferdi tilted his teacup and murmured the words. His manner was leisurely and unhurried.
Ludian answered back.
“Mother’s house, at that. When I think of it, I’m rather sorry. If Thender hadn’t done such things, Mother’s house would have been spared.”
Unlike in his childhood, Ludian’s speech too had grown measured and calm.
Before Ludian and Ferdi lay a newspaper fresh from the press.
Tiel glanced down at it.
[What Becomes of the Nestian Dukedom of the Leopard Clan?]
The headline, printed in bold letters, caught her eye first.
Beneath it, line after line detailed how Thender Nestian, Rowen Nestian, and Cornelia Nestian were now imprisoned in a facility owned by Asterian.
Tiel looked away from the newspaper. She already knew what came after.
They would stand trial, and after the trial concluded, they would be disposed of through proper procedure.
‘And Nestian’s territories will likely…’
It was then that Ferdi set down his teacup with a sharp tap and spoke.
“Though there is a silver lining—now Nestian’s Snowy Field will be annexed into our territories. It’s a matter within the Leopard Clan, after all.”
Tiel nodded.
Ferdi was right. Some of Nestian’s territories would be formally incorporated into the Imperial Palace’s holdings, but the rest would all fall under Asterian’s possession.
In other words, Tiel need no longer fear Nestian’s Snowy Field.
Remembering this fact, her heart felt slightly eased.
The fragrant scent of tea tickled her nostrils.
Sunlight poured through the transparent window, illuminating the three of them.
She sat by the window, sipped her tea for a moment, then set down the cup and watched the two before her.
Her two brothers sat side by side in front of her, bickering without so much as glancing at one another.
Tiel smiled quietly.
‘Really, they never change.’
Ferdi Asterian and Ludian Asterian.
One could say they had hardly changed since childhood.
Save that Ferdi’s hair was somewhat longer now, and Ludian had taken to combing his completely back, they looked almost identical to how they had been as children.
‘Though that’s the problem these days…’
Both were now in their mid-twenties, full-fledged adult Black Leopards.
In any other house, it would not have been strange for them to have married and fathered children by now.
Yet Ferdi and Ludian remained unmarried.
‘They simply have no interest at the moment. Who knows what they’ll think later.’
The reason was that simple: ‘For now, I have no wish to marry.’
Of course, naturally! There was someone who found such an attitude maddening.
‘No thought of marriage?’
Their grandfather, Alpheus.
‘Does that make any sense? Do you have any idea how many marriage proposals have come your way?’
Alpheus railed against his grandsons’ attitude, yet his nagging fell on deaf ears where Ferdi and Ludian were concerned.
They had learned early in their twenties how to slip free from Alpheus’s scolding, and they did so with practiced ease, like eels.
Each time they did, Alpheus turned to Cassius for help.
‘Do something about your sons! They’re old enough, and still unmarried—does that make any sense?’
‘Children these days are different from our time, sir. If you wait, they’ll find their own match.’
Their father, Cassius, only offered placid words in return.
Worn down by this, Alpheus eventually gave up on ‘marrying off Ferdi and Ludian early.’
How deeply the noble young ladies of Crasion who awaited Alpheus to turn the hearts of these two men must have grieved at this news.
‘Hah…’
Tiel recalled Ferdi and Ludian struggling against Alpheus and smiled quietly.
Then she broached the subject carefully.
“Elder brother Ferdi, have you been seeing anyone these days?”
“Seeing anyone? No, truly, I have no interest for the time being. But why do you ask? Did Grandfather tell you to ask?”
“No, Grandfather didn’t tell me to. I was just curious…!”
Ferdi, who had been watching Tiel quietly, suddenly clapped Ludian on the back.
“I don’t, but who knows—he might.”
At that, Ludian’s face flushed crimson.
“W-what are you saying? I’m not seeing anyone either!”
“Why do you react so dramatically? You look like someone with something to hide.”
“Something to hide!”
Ferdi and Ludian resumed their bickering. Tiel watched them with a soft laugh.
And her thoughts naturally turned to ‘marriage.’
‘Marriage…’
Tiel fidgeted with her teacup and thought of Iandros.
Though Tiel and Iandros had not held a betrothal ceremony, they were bonded by a Bond far more binding than any ceremony—and thus they were each other’s Betrothed.
Which meant someday, they would marry and live together.
Tiel as Iandros’s wife, and Iandros as Tiel’s husband.
‘It feels strange somehow.’
Iandros and Tiel had been betrothed for a long time, together since childhood—so why did thinking of it make her feel shy?
At the thought of Iandros, Tiel’s cheeks flushed and she turned her attention back to her teacup.
“Tiel, your cheeks have turned quite red. Are you unwell?”
Ludian, who had been quarreling with Ferdi, noticed Tiel and asked with concern.
Startled, Tiel set down her cup and waved her hand dismissively.
“No, no! I’m not unwell!”
“Really? Your face is quite flushed.”
Tiel hurriedly waved her hand again, trying to hide her warming face.
“It’s f-fine. It’s just warmer here, I think. Since I’m sitting by the window…”
It was then.
“Warm? Then why not move to a shaded seat? It happens one of your brothers is sitting in the shade—shall I claim that spot for you?”
Someone appeared and spoke to her in a tender voice, standing at her side.
With one hand, he gently cupped her flushed cheeks, and with the other, he cast his hand’s shadow over her face to shield it from the pouring sunlight.
Tiel, who had been sitting in a daze, suddenly lifted her head, her eyes widening.
“I-Iandros…?”
“Hello, Tiel.”
Iandros cradled both of Tiel’s cheeks in his hands. Her cheeks, which had grown warm moments before, settled softly into his palms.
Tiel stared at Iandros’s face for a long moment, looking rather dazed.
Golden hair that gleamed even brighter in the sunlight, and emerald eyes that shone just as brilliantly.
Iandros Crasion—truly Tiel’s Betrothed!
Startled, Tiel grasped both of his hands and asked.
“Iandros? How did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming…!”
“I came by carriage, and the reason I didn’t mention it was because I wanted to surprise my Betrothed.”
Iandros smiled.
“Judging by your expression, I’d say I succeeded.”
Iandros placed a Bouquet Woven with Spring Flowers into Tiel’s arms and asked.
“Did you enjoy your tea time? Your brothers weren’t too rowdy, were they?”
“What? Yes! Not rowdy at all, but what is this…?”
“Your gift. I didn’t want to arrive empty-handed.”
Holding the bouquet, her cheeks faintly pink, Tiel rose from her seat and gently embraced Iandros.
Her cheeks had taken on the pale rose hue of the spring blossoms she held in her arms.
“They’re really beautiful. Thank you, Iandros. I’ll have them arranged in my room and take good care of them so they don’t wilt.”
“Don’t worry if they do. I can always bring you more. Now, then…”
Iandros’s eyes narrowed. His sharp gaze fixed on the two Black Leopards seated across from Tiel.
Ferdi and Ludian.
Iandros’s eyes slowly swept across them in silent assessment, then turned back to Tiel.
“Shall we end tea time here? I’d like to spend time alone with you for once.”
He took Tiel’s hand and spoke in a hushed tone.

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