The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 243

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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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Side Story 11
Tiel and Iandros lingered for a long while watching the fireworks before returning to the palace.
It was later that Tiel learned the fireworks display had been planned by Iandros for that evening’s proposal.
“Did you like it?”
“I absolutely did.”
Tiel broke into an unconscious smile, and Iandros laughed alongside her—a bright, boyish sound. She loved that laugh of his, the way it made him seem almost young. His face wore that same boyish quality that she adored.
Upon returning to the Villa, Tiel glanced back at Iandros and spoke.
“I’ll change into something more comfortable. Rest yourself for a bit.”
“All right. Take your time.”
With her attendants’ assistance, Tiel made her way to her chambers to change.
The handmaids, who had prepared the bathwater in advance, helped her undress and asked in a tone tinged with barely concealed excitement.
“Did you enjoy your outing today, my lady?”
At that moment, the realization struck Tiel.
‘They knew beforehand.’
It seemed the entire household of the Villa had known that Iandros would propose to her this evening.
Tiel gazed at her attendants—their faces alight with barely contained joy—and smiled warmly.
“Yes, it was wonderful.”
Above the steaming bathwater floated fragrant rose petals in abundance.
Tiel eased herself carefully into the warm water and rinsed her face.
Then, with her face cradled in her palms, she gently squeezed her own cheeks.
‘So much has happened today.’
She’d been to the Sea with Iandros, visited the Night Market, watched the fireworks, and received a proposal from him—
A proposal.
Tiel and Iandros would have naturally proceeded to marriage without any formal proposal; they were already betrothed, after all.
Yet it was clearly Iandros’s deliberate choice to propose nonetheless.
“I wanted to ask you directly. I wanted to seek your permission myself, Tiel Asterian.”
As she recalled her lover’s confession, Tiel’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed quietly to herself.
She gazed down at her fourth finger.
A ring sat upon it.
It was the ring Iandros had placed on her hand moments before.
She hadn’t wanted to remove it even for her bath, so she’d kept it on—and her attendants had made no attempt to stop her.
Submerged in the bathwater, Tiel stared at the gleaming ring for a long time.
Then, suddenly, something occurred to her.
‘That’s right—Father and Grandfather! And Ferdi!’
Before Tiel had departed, Cassius, Alpheus, and Ferdi had seen her off, their eyes lingering on her ring finger for what felt like an eternity.
And that wasn’t all—they’d held her hand so persistently that immediately after parting from them, she’d felt compelled to examine her fingers closely to see if something was amiss.
Now, looking back on it all—
‘They knew. They knew Iandros would propose to me.’
That’s why they’d studied her fourth finger so intently—because they’d known their beloved daughter would return from her journey with a betrothal sealed, ready to wed.
How could they not have known?
Once all the circumstances were arranged, whispers of marriage between Tiel and Iandros had begun to circulate.
It was amid all this that Iandros had proposed this “trip”—a vacation of sorts.
Tiel had sensed nothing, but her family understood perfectly what it meant when one’s betrothed suggested a journey before marriage.
‘Father, you sly thing.’
Now everything made sense.
Tiel felt her spirits lift even further. She smiled broadly once more, sank deeper into the bathwater, then rose and stepped out of the tub.
***
“Tiel.”
Iandros, who had bathed earlier and was sitting on the bed, looked up as she entered.
Tiel, dressed in the nightgown her attendants had prepared, approached him and gently draped her arms around his neck.
“You could have slept first. Why did you wait?”
“Because I wanted to. Don’t worry about it.”
Iandros drew her close by the waist. At the ticklish touch, Tiel laughed and nestled into his embrace.
He had held her countless times before, and she had grown accustomed to his arms—there was no awkwardness between them now.
Seating her on his lap, Iandros took her hand.
The very hand upon which he’d placed the ring.
“Your father has been eager to pass the Imperial Throne to me. I imagine at his age, he simply wishes to step back and rest.”
“I’ve heard as much. You’ve seemed so occupied with those preparations lately that I’ve been reluctant to call on you.”
Yet despite being busy preparing to assume the Imperial Throne, Iandros had frequented the Asterian Mansion with remarkable regularity.
Remembering this, Tiel laughed once more and squeezed his hand firmly.
“True, you’ve been swamped. With barely any time to sleep except when you saw me. But things are nearly settled now, and soon it will all be finished. Then we can be married.”
“You know, Iandros, I’ve actually imagined our wedding many times before.”
“With me?”
“Yes, with you. But every time I did, I became terribly embarrassed.”
So she’d stopped. But now she couldn’t stop, not anymore—not since the moment the ring had been placed upon her finger, her mind had been consumed entirely with thoughts of marrying him.
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? You’re my betrothed. I’ll dress you in the empire’s most exquisite and beautiful Wedding Dress, and have a Tiara made—far more magnificent than any worn by past empresses.”
“Ah, ha ha…”
“After you become empress, if you wish, you may visit the Asterian Mansion whenever you please. If you desire it, we can go out together whenever you like.”
Iandros’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Tiel, without thinking, reached out and touched that boyishly radiant face.
“……”
Silently, Iandros leaned his cheek into her touch. Tiel smiled brightly and caressed it gently.
“Iandros, I felt before I left on this journey that my family seemed somewhat melancholy. Grandfather especially.”
“He did seem that way.”
“Yes. I didn’t understand why then, but I do now. He must have felt sad thinking of me, all grown up, leaving his arms.”
“True. But your family cannot protect you forever, nor remain with you always. This was something you would have to face eventually.”
“That’s right. It was bound to happen. And I think Grandfather will be fine.”
“I agree. He’ll be fine. Though when he sees your magnificent wedding, he may well become sentimental.”
In that moment, both Tiel and Iandros simultaneously pictured Alpheus shedding tears at their wedding and burst into laughter.
“Grandfather absolutely would do that.”
“Do you think only your grandfather would? I suspect others might do the same.”
“Well, Lia might shed a few tears too—she’s mentioned before that she’ll feel sad when the moment comes to part with me.”
“But marriage doesn’t necessarily mean parting from your family. The same is true for your attendants, and I’m sure they understand that. Moreover—”
Iandros gently caught her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss upon it.
“I intend to be quite considerate of my empress, so if they wish, they’ll be able to see you as often as they like. They may come to the palace whenever they desire.”
“I love how kind and gentle you are, Iandros.”
“Is that all you like? Nothing else?”
“What else?”
“Well, for instance—”
Iandros took her hand—the one he’d just kissed—and placed it upon his face once more.
“My face, perhaps? Or maybe my face?”
Tiel, gazing at his face, smiled again with a soft laugh.
“Iandros! You’re fishing for compliments, aren’t you? You want me to say you’re handsome.”
“Well, what man doesn’t want to look good to the woman he loves? It’s instinct.”
“You don’t even need me to say it—you already know how—”
Her fingertips traced his cheek gently.
“Handsome you are.”
Waves crashed against the night Sea.
The sound of the swells rising and breaking upon the surface filled the shore and drifted softly into their chamber.
Listening to the rhythm of the waves, Tiel carefully brought her forehead to his.
“…Iandros.”
“Tiel.”
Her hair caught the moonlight and shimmered with iridescent brilliance.
Tiny fragments of light sparkled and bloomed around them both.
And not long after—
“……!”
Iandros kissed her gently. Still the waves whispered against their ears.
Yet neither of them paid the sound any mind. There was something far more important now.
Beneath the radiant moonlight,
their lips met.

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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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