The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 24

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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 24
Inside the Reception Room of the Asterian Mansion.
“You’ve put on a bit of weight, haven’t you? When I first saw you, you looked absolutely wretched, but now you’re at least presentable.”
Ian’s gaze turned toward Tiel. She nodded timidly and smiled softly.
“Yes, thank you so much for treating me so well at the Asterian…”
“I’m glad you’re doing well. I felt bad about not saying a proper goodbye, so I stopped by.”
Ian snapped his fingers with a sharp click.
“I have a gift for you, too.”
As Ian snapped his fingers, servants filed in one after another and set up a portable garment rack in the room, hanging Dresses from it.
But there wasn’t just one.
“…?”
One, two, and then three… As the endless stream of Dresses kept coming in, Tiel’s eyes went wide while Ferdi’s narrowed.
At first glance, they were clearly extraordinarily expensive Dresses.
At Ian’s sudden gift, Tiel’s mouth fell slightly open.
In just the few days she’d spent at the Asterian, she’d already received more gifts than Rowen had in the past seven years…
As Tiel stood contemplating what to say in front of the heap of Dresses, Ferdi spoke first.
“Thank you, Ian. But we can buy Dresses at the Asterian too.”
“The last time we met, you were wearing something so tattered I couldn’t even tell if it was clothing or a burlap sack.”
Ian sneered.
It was a mockery laden with the meaning—how could Ferdi now speak such words, when he’d been unaware the child was living in such shabby clothes and receiving such treatment?
Tiel swallowed hard and gazed at Ian’s gift, then rose from her seat and hurried toward the garment rack.
“…”
“…”
Ian and Ferdi turned their heads and quietly watched. Tiel examined the hanging Dresses carefully, then picked up the most modest one.
“Thank you so much for the gift… But this seems like too much. Just this one—”
“…?”
“Th-thank you!”
Tiel held the Dress tightly to her chest and bowed deeply.
Ian covered his mouth and laughed silently at her behavior.
“So, Tiel, you’re hoping that I become the guy who brought just one Dress as a gift to the youngest—and most precious—daughter of House Asterian?”
“N-no, that’s not what I—!”
“If that’s not what you want, then take them all. They’re not expensive anyway. Of course, your brothers could buy you these kinds of things anytime—”
Ian’s gaze shifted toward Ferdi, then back to Tiel.
“But it bothered me that I could only buy you one last time.”
“…Oh.”
“So take them. Soon you’ll be receiving gifts like these in abundance, and it’s good to get used to it now. Consider this practice in accepting gifts without obligation—without being suspicious.”
“Gifts like these… in abundance?”
Tiel blinked. She’d already received plenty of gifts, and now there would be more? For Tiel, this was bewildering.
That made sense, since she’d never once received a gift in Nestian, and even Rowen only received gifts on the rare occasions when Chender was in a good mood or on special days.
Tiel looked up at Ferdi with a confused expression.
Ferdi smiled warmly and gently stroked Tiel’s hair.
“We haven’t announced it yet since you’re still adjusting to the Asterian, but once we announce that you’re the youngest daughter of House Asterian, gifts will pour in from everywhere.”
To curry favor with the Asterian, you see. Among them will be things like these Dresses—perhaps jewels as well.
With Ferdi’s kind explanation, Tiel finally understood and closed her mouth, nodding her head.
“Ah, so that’s…”
“Right. So it’s good for you to get used to gifts like these. Compared to what you’ll receive later, they’re not really excessive at all.”
“Openly sarcastic now, are we? This is a personal gift from me, not from the Crasion Imperial Court. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mock it like that, Ferdi.”
The tension between Ferdi and Ian started up again.
Only Tiel stood awkwardly caught between them, her expression troubled.
“P-please don’t fight!”
“Tiel, we’re not fighting. The Crown Prince is just saying that for someone of his station to make a personal visit, the gift is somewhat disappointing.”
“For her education, I think it’d be better if you weren’t around. Why don’t you head back to the Academy?”
Ian seized Tiel, who had been standing awkwardly still clutching the Dress, and pulled her swiftly to sit beside him.
“I should have just brought her with me. Ferdi—Ludian. I forgot for a moment that you could be a bad influence on the girl.”
At Ian’s words, Ferdi’s face went rigid.
Tiel couldn’t bring herself to leave Ian’s embrace, yet nor could she sit comfortably; her body went stiff.
“Um…”
“Are you declaring that you’ll abduct the youngest of House Asterian, Your Highness?”
“So what? The Paternity Test results haven’t come back yet, have they?”
At Ian’s words, Tiel’s body trembled.
Tiel hugged the Dress Ian had given her so tightly it wrinkled, burying her face in it.
‘The Paternity Test results haven’t come back yet…’
All the way here, Tiel had never once thought that she might not be the daughter of Cassius and Rena.
That made sense—Tiel was a Mutant born with characteristics of both silver and red coats, and Chender had always railed at her, saying she was born so uselessly precisely because the blood of House Asterian was mixed in her.
Yet hearing the words “Paternity Test” now filled her with sudden dread. What if, by any chance…
What if I’m not actually their biological daughter?
Where would I have to go?
“If there’s a Paternity Mismatch, let me know. You’re so small and cute, I bet I could find any number of uses for you if I took you home.”
Ian laughed playfully at Tiel then, his voice light with mirth. Strangely, in that moment, all of Tiel’s anxiety melted away.
Their eyes met.
For an instant, Tiel forgot to breathe as she gazed at Ian’s face.
Bright golden hair, emerald eyes that symbolized his place in the imperial bloodline. His sharp nose ridge and smooth jawline…
Ian, whom she’d met again, was just as beautiful as before.
Incomparably so compared to herself.
‘Andros…’
She silently pronounced the name Ian had taught her before.
She liked the rounded vowels that required rolling the tongue. Tiel gazed at Ian and remembered the day she’d first met him.
‘If Ian hadn’t hidden me that day…’
By now, she would likely have been locked away in the Attic, with a great padlock on the door.
If she’d been unlucky, she might have been beaten severely—or worse, killed.
Having conjured such a terrible image, Tiel shivered.
She didn’t want to die again. Meeting Ian had truly been… extraordinarily good fortune.
‘I’ll never forget that day.’
The day Ian had hidden her from the servants who were chasing her, and promised to bring her to the Asterian.
As Tiel sat lost in thought, unable to tear her gaze from Ian, Ferdi, who had been watching her quietly, stepped close and suddenly lifted her into his arms.
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry, Andros. Golden eyes and silver-white hair—do you know how common those traits are?”
Not long ago, he’d wondered if it was all a fake created with Divine Power, a fabrication of her hair and eye color.
Even though he still believed Tiel was deceiving the family with a False Ability, it was ridiculous that he was getting irritated at Ian for saying such a thing, but he couldn’t help it.
“Tiel, when someone tries to take you away, you need to say you don’t want to go.”
“Y-yes? But Ian is a guest of the mansion…”
“It doesn’t matter who. When someone tries to take you away, you tell them no. Understand?”
“Yes!”
“Then say it now.”
Holding Tiel, Ferdi glanced scornfully at Ian over her small shoulders as he spoke.
“Tell him you don’t want to go.”
At Ferdi’s insistence, Tiel looked nervously between the two of them, her large eyes darting back and forth, before she stammered her reply.
“…I… don’t want to?”
“Unbelievable.”
Ian burst out laughing, leaning back against the sofa as he watched Tiel and Ferdi, looking utterly exasperated. Then he rose from his seat.
“I’m leaving now, so let’s drop the hostile guest act, Ferdi. You seem to forget my station sometimes.”
“Ha, as if I could forget the Crown Prince’s station. I’m simply well aware of my own as well.”
Ferdi finally set Tiel down on the floor.
He took the Dress she still held and draped it loosely over the rack, then placed a hand on Tiel’s shoulder.
“Well then, Tiel. Since our guest is leaving, we should say goodbye.”
“Wait, Ian!”
At Tiel’s call, both Ferdi and Ian turned to look at the small child. Tiel gazed up at Ian and opened her mouth.
“Um… will you come again next time?”
Tiel liked Ian because he was kind.
Ian had rescued her from that hell and brought her to the warm Asterian, and even as time passed, he hadn’t forgotten about her—he’d come back and given her gifts.
So she wanted to see him again.
When she was with Ian, she felt a warm, fuzzy sensation.
That’s why it was painful that he said he was leaving now.
She wished Ian would stay a little longer.
Perhaps reading Tiel’s heart, Ian laughed softly.
“Yeah, I’ll come back. When your brothers aren’t around.”
“When I’m not here, what are you planning to do with my sister—”
“Wait for me. Next time I’ll bring you an even better gift.”
Ian brushed aside Ferdi’s words lightly, gently took Tiel’s small hand, bent at the waist, and softly pressed his lips to the back of her tiny hand.
“…?”
“…!”
“See you next time, Tiel.”
Ian gently stroked Tiel’s hair once more, then left the Reception Room.
In the middle of the spacious Reception Room, only Tiel and Ferdi remained, silently watching the place where Ian had gone.
“Um…?”
“Tiel, you’re supposed to say you don’t want to go.”
Ferdi spoke in a gentle tone, but his face had hardened visibly.
He pulled an Embroidered Handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the back of Tiel’s hand.
“Understood?”
“Y-yes.”
Tiel nodded confusedly.

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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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