The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 250

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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 18
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“What is this?”
Ferdi lifted a Salamander into the air with a flourish.
The Salamander blinked its eyes while caught in Ferdi’s grasp.
“A Salamander.”
“I wasn’t asking because I didn’t know.”
“It’s the Salamander that Tiel used to carry around. His Majesty the Emperor returned it to me.”
Among Cassius’s Salamanders, this one was unique in possessing both intellect and self-awareness.
Normally, creatures born from an Ability lacked intelligence and consciousness, but Tiel’s fish and this Salamander were different.
The fish and the Salamander possessed self-awareness and could think for themselves rather than simply obey commands.
Cassius suspected that the Salamander’s self-awareness had come about through Tiel’s influence.
Tiel’s power must have affected it, granting the creature consciousness.
Ferdi set the Salamander down abruptly. It bolted away and settled onto Cassius’s lap.
“Returned it?”
“Yes. He was concerned I might spy on the Emperor and Empress through the Salamander’s eyes, seeing as they’ve only recently married.”
Of course, Cassius had harbored no such intention, but he understood well enough why Iandros had made the request.
Cassius, Ferdi, Ludian, and Alpheus could all share the Salamander’s vision if they so wished, so from Iandros’s perspective, having the creature roam the Imperial Palace would hardly be welcome.
“I see the logic behind it. Then you intend to dispose of the Salamander?”
“That’s the thing—it won’t disappear.”
Cassius summoned flames at his fingertips.
Whoosh!
The fire surged forward and engulfed the Salamander.
Yet instead of melting away into the flames, the Salamander seemed to find the warmth pleasant, curling into a ball and blinking contentedly within the inferno.
“It truly won’t vanish…”
“Tiel’s power must have influenced it. And that power appears to linger.”
When Cassius tapped the Salamander’s snout, it opened its eyes with a soft purr and rubbed its head against his fingertips.
It seemed delighted to have returned to its master’s care.
Ferdi looked between the Salamander and Cassius in turn, then nodded slowly.
“Then there’s only one solution—use it as your agent.”
“I was thinking the same. From now on, if I have something to tell you, I’ll send word through this creature.”
“How fortunate those without a thinking Salamander must feel. I should ask the Empress to create one for me as well.”
Cassius lifted a shoulder in casual assent at Ferdi’s words.
Three months had passed since the Imperial Marriage Ceremony.
In that time, Tiel had been unable to visit Asterian, occupied with adapting to the Imperial Palace, and her usual duties had been handled by Ferdi, acting as Head of Household in her stead.
Asterian was peaceful. Remarkably so.
No one threatened them; the days no longer grew abnormally short, and no assailant came seeking to attack Tiel.
Quiet, peaceful days stretched on endlessly.
“I’ve lost again.”
Alpheus often met with Wilhelm, who had stepped down from the throne, to play chess. Since Wilhelm’s skill exceeded Alpheus’s own, Alpheus found himself defeated time and again.
“Tear down the office entirely—leave no trace behind.”
Cassius had undertaken repairs to Nestian Mansion. The old attic was demolished, and the office where Thender had worked was torn down as well, its walls reduced to rubble. He intended to transform it completely so that Tiel would no longer recall painful memories.
“Marriage is about taking responsibility for someone’s life, isn’t it? I don’t feel ready for that yet.”
Ferdi, occupied with his duties as acting Head of Household, frequently pursued research into Abilities. He declared that he had no intention of marrying for the foreseeable future, which resulted in countless noble daughters throughout the Crasion Empire following his example by choosing celibacy—much to the exasperation of their families.
“To Father…”
Ludian worked as a knight and regularly sent Letters to the Asterian Mansion.
Though he filled three pages with his correspondence, the tragedy was that Ferdi received it and sent back a reply of merely three lines.
Olivier was enjoying a happy romance with his partner, and the Wolfgang couple often visited the Asterian Mansion to take tea with Cassius.
Everyone lived in peaceful, ordinary days.
And the same was true for Iandros and Tiel.
“Iandros.”
“Tiel? What brings you here without rest at the palace? Are you not resting?”
“I wanted to see you… Are you busy? If you are, I won’t disturb you.”
“I’m not busy.”
Iandros swept aside the mountain of documents scattered across the table and answered her.
Though his aide’s complexion darkened rapidly, Iandros paid no mind and rose abruptly, striding toward Tiel.
“When I’m working, you can visit Asterian if you’re bored.”
“But if I go, you’ll feel lonely. You said you’d miss me even if I was gone for just a moment…”
“That’s…”
Left without words, Iandros took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her delicate skin.
“I can visit Asterian later. Right now I wanted to be with you, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Then shall we step out for a bit? A walk in the Garden perhaps? I’ve been wanting to show you something…”
Iandros spoke softly against Tiel’s ear. She smiled sweetly and nodded, stroking his cheek affectionately.
“Your Majesty!”
Iandros ignored his aide’s cry, taking Tiel’s hand and leading her elsewhere.
It had been quite some time since an Emperor and Empress held hands so tenderly after marriage, and the Beast-kin staff of the Imperial Palace smiled broadly whenever they glimpsed the royal couple.
Tiel answered their smiles with her own and followed Iandros while clasping his hand.
Iandros stopped only once they reached the Garden.
Then he turned to face Tiel.
“Tiel, could you use your Ability for me?”
“Of course.”
“But as always, if you’re tired, you don’t have to.”
“I couldn’t be tired. Sometimes I prefer using it…”
Iandros gazed at her with adoring eyes and gently tucked a slightly tousled strand of hair behind her ear.
Then, hand in hand, they walked toward the center of the Garden.
Only once they reached the middle of the Garden did Tiel understand what Iandros had wanted to show her.
It was a Fountain.
“I wanted to give you a gift—to give you the most beautiful Garden in the world…”
At its peak sat a small statue: a snow leopard and three fish carved together.
At once, Tiel recognized the figure as her own childhood form.
The statue’s small frame, with its fluffy and thick tail and distinctive markings, revealed that she was no mere cat but a snow leopard.
“Do you like it?”
Iandros asked gently.
In answer, Tiel used her Ability. Three fish bloomed like flowers in her cupped palms and swam toward the Fountain.
They glided through the air and began circling the sculpture, then dove into the flowing water below.
Within the water, Tiel’s fish swam ceaselessly, casting brilliant light.
Gemlike radiance danced across the surface, appearing and vanishing in turn.
Tiel gazed at the sight for a long moment, then spun around and pulled Iandros into a tight embrace.
“Of course I love it… Anything you give me, I love.”
“Anything?”
“Truly, anything.”
Tiel pressed a light kiss to Iandros’s cheek.
Iandros beamed and drew her close, and the fish rose once more toward the statue, scattering glittering light in all directions.
It was a peaceful, ordinary day.
Farmers would no longer ruin their harvest by the sun’s excess,
and children would no longer need to hurry home before nightfall.
And never again would the ring of the Calamity God appear in the sky above the Crasion Empire.
All of that was peace that Tiel and Iandros, along with countless Beast-kin, had protected by joining their strength together.
And Tiel and Iandros had earned the right to savor that peace.
More than earned it—they had more than enough.

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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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