The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 245

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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 13
Tiel had once glimpsed Iandros’s memories before.
Back then, she was too young to know whether what she had seen that day was truly his memory or merely a hallucination.
But now.
‘I can tell the difference now.’
What Tiel had seen that day was no mere hallucination—it must have been Iandros’s actual memory.
The Subspace had briefly shown her its owner’s memory, just as the Imperial Princess’s Subspace had shown her the Imperial Princess’s memory.
Tiel hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should tell Iandros about that day.
‘What if he’s upset that I peeked?’
Seven-year-old Tiel had held back from telling Iandros about that day for precisely that reason.
But.
‘No, I don’t think he would be.’
Iandros would not grow angry with Tiel over something like that.
As time passed and they spent more of it together, a certain trust and faith had grown between Tiel and Iandros.
Tiel knew he would not be upset with her, and Iandros would not betray her trust.
Having finally made her decision, Tiel opened her mouth carefully.
“Iandros, the truth is… I’ve seen your memory before.”
“…My memory?”
Tiel nodded. Iandros fell silent for a moment.
Only the sound of horses pulling the carriage echoed in the quiet interior. After gazing at Tiel for a brief moment, Iandros spoke.
“Where?”
“When I was little—that day when you went into a Rampage and we were both drawn into your Subspace together.”
Tiel recalled that memory once more.
“Don’t cry. It’s all right. Mother is here, isn’t she……”
The voice of a woman whispering like a songbird tickled Tiel’s ears as she remembered.
Tiel had not seen his entire memory. But the Subspace had shown her ‘the most important moment’—
The moment when two people walked into Iandros’s Subspace of their own accord.
But Tiel could not speak of it right away and hesitated. She was afraid that bringing up this story might wound Iandros.
What would his reaction be if he learned that his parents had deliberately walked into the Subspace to protect him?
Tiel was frightened—terrified, even—of Iandros being hurt.
No one wishes to see the person they love suffer. Tiel was no exception. She did not want to see her beloved hurt.
But.
‘I can’t avoid telling him forever.’
Someday, she would have to tell him.
Tiel shifted her position and sat carefully beside Iandros. In the jolting carriage, Iandros held her hand to keep her from falling as she moved.
“Be careful.”
“Yes, Iandros.”
Sitting beside Iandros, Tiel gently clasped his hand in both of hers.
And she slowly opened her mouth.
“Iandros, that day… the day your parents passed away.”
“Yes.”
“I saw your mother weeping. She was… holding you in her arms and shedding tears.”
Iandros listened without a word.
“While cradling you and soothing you, she looked at the door and spoke.”
Tiel gazed into Iandros’s eyes. They gleamed with transparent emerald brilliance, waiting for her next words.
“We cannot bear another child.”
“We cannot bear another child, Your Majesty.”
“So we have chosen the best path forward.”
“So we have chosen the best path forward……”
Tiel’s voice whispered softly like a songbird against Iandros’s ear. Entranced, Iandros listened to her words and asked in return.
“…And then?”
“And then……”
Iandros’s Subspace opened, and the two of them walked into it of their own will and disappeared.
Before Tiel could carefully finish her tale, Iandros seized her hand and spoke.
“No, you don’t have to tell me.”
“……”
“I already know what happened next. I know……”
Then he furrowed his brow as if something defied his understanding.
“But who was Mother speaking to? While holding me, to whom was she really speaking…? Who came to the Mansion that day?”
Iandros looked bewildered.
As Tiel listened to him, she tried to recall that day’s memory once more.
But there was no need.
“Iandros.”
“Yes, Tiel.”
“There was only one person who could have come there that day. You know that as well……”
It was not a place anyone could enter freely.
Moreover, if it was someone Iandros’s parents would address with formal speech……
“…That’s right.”
Iandros nodded.
He too had realized it. Who had come to the Mansion that day.
Who had safely retrieved Iandros from that chaos and brought him to the Imperial Palace……
In that moment, a memory struck Iandros’s mind like lightning.
It was a very old, faded memory. Perhaps it was not even a memory at all, but something Iandros had imagined based on the story Tiel had told him.
Yet one thing was certain.
“Hello, my little one.”
His mother’s voice, smiling down at him, was gentle and soft like a songbird.
It was tender, and full of love……
That was the one thing.
Iandros turned that voice over in his mind again and thought of his grandfather.
And it occurred to him that somehow, his grandfather might be able to answer the questions that haunted him.
***
Tiel and Iandros returned together.
Iandros set Tiel down, kissed her forehead, and returned to the Imperial Palace, while Tiel entered the Asterian Mansion.
“Tiel……”
There, three people were waiting to welcome her home from her long journey.
Tiel greeted them cheerfully.
“Father, Grandfather!”
Cassius and Alpheus, along with Ferdi, fixed their gaze on Tiel’s face, then quickly shifted to her fingers.
Spotting the ring on her slender finger, Ferdi grasped her hand carefully, his expression troubled.
“So it’s finally happened……”
His voice held little enthusiasm. Ferdi did not carelessly fidget with the ring.
He merely stared at it as if he were fidgeting with it.
“Did Iandros propose to you?”
“But he is the Crown Prince…!”
“He may be, but he’s still my long-time friend. Tiel, isn’t marriage a bit too hasty? Your brother does worry……”
Ferdi spoke in a genuinely ‘concerned’ tone. Watching him, Tiel found herself thinking of Iandros.
If Iandros had been there, he would have told Ferdi to stop meddling and worry about his own wedding instead, then sent him away.
Ferdi would have pretended to be cowed and retreated. Remembering that scene, laughter came naturally.
“But brother, I’m twenty-two now, and both Iandros and I are of age to marry.”
Cassius, who had been quietly listening to Ferdi and Tiel’s exchange, nodded.
“That’s right, Tiel. What you say is true.”
Then he carefully stroked her hair.
“You’ve come of age to marry now. I’m grateful that His Highness the Crown Prince waited so long for you.”
He then gently took her hand. Tiel placed her hand in her father’s large, sturdy palm and met his gaze.
Cassius gazed at Tiel’s ring and smiled.
“It’s a beautiful ring. You can see that His Highness gave it careful thought to match you. Congratulations, Tiel.”
Cassius had three children, and someday they would leave his embrace to marry—though Ferdi had declared he would not—and Cassius would have to let his children go one by one.
And now, at last, he felt he was ready to let all his children leave his care.
And that thought grew firmer the moment he saw Tiel’s ring.
“My beloved daughter.”
Cassius gripped and then released Tiel’s hand, gazing at the daughter who had grown to resemble Rena so closely.
He smiled.
“I too have a gift for you.”

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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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