The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 255

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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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Special Side Story, Episode 5
And so it came to pass.
Tiel and Iandros took Luna to the Asterian Mansion.
They did not bring Ain. They had decided it was necessary to separate the two children for a time.
Whether Ain intended it or not, Luna grew despondent whenever she saw him.
Moreover.
“Fighting again?”
Ain and Luna fought the moment their eyes met. The disputes never ended until one of them was in tears.
For Tiel, who had grown up on good terms with her older brothers, and for Iandros, who had been an only child, it was utterly incomprehensible.
For this reason, Ain remained at the Imperial Palace while they decided to send Luna alone to the Asterian Mansion for a while.
Fortunately, Ain showed no regret about being separated from Luna.
He seemed to give the matter little thought at all—that Luna would go alone to the Asterian.
“I don’t need Luna.”
Ain’s eyes narrowed sharply as he swished his tail back and forth.
“Really?”
“…… Yes, I’m fine without Luna.”
Watching this display, Tiel grew all the more convinced that separating Ain and Luna for a time was indeed necessary.
She harbored a small hope that being apart for a while might improve their relationship more than things stood now.
“Waaaaah, Grandfather!”
The moment they arrived at the Asterian Mansion, Luna dashed forward and nestled into Cassius’s arms. The corners of his mouth lifted naturally.
“Luna.”
Luna was a small girl who resembled Tiel and Iandros in equal measure. Cassius could find no reason not to love her.
Cassius gathered the quickly approaching Luna into his embrace and rose to regard Tiel and Iandros.
“Your Majesty, what brings you here? Had you sent word, I would have come myself.”
“I couldn’t very well order you about when I’m here to ask a favor.”
A favor? Cassius regarded Iandros with a puzzled expression for a moment before turning his head toward Tiel.
Tiel, delighted to see her father after so long, stood with flushed cheeks, waiting quietly for her turn to greet Cassius.
Her bearing seemed quite grown now, yet to Cassius she remained forever small and beloved, his precious daughter.
“Tiel.”
As Cassius approached, still cradling Luna, Tiel broke into a bright smile and nestled into his embrace.
“Father, have you been well?”
“Of course. I’ve missed you, Tiel. You’ve been managing?”
“Yes, very much.”
“And what of me, Grandfather?”
“Why, I’ve missed our little princess just as much.”
Cassius stroked Luna with one hand while placing a kiss upon Tiel’s brow—a gesture of affection.
“The journey wasn’t taxing, I hope?”
“Not at all. Luna enjoyed herself too. She seemed delighted to visit the Asterian again after so long.”
“Yes! I’m so happy!”
Luna spoke with gleaming eyes.
“How are Uncle Ferdi and Uncle Ludian? Do they know Luna has come?”
“They do. Both will come to see you soon. Be patient a moment.”
“Oh! I’m so excited! Can I go meet my uncles?”
As Luna struggled and wriggled in Cassius’s arms, he lowered his posture with practiced ease.
The moment he bent lower, Luna sprang from his embrace and scampered away to meet Ferdi and Ludian.
Only then did Cassius, taking a breath, turn to Tiel and Iandros with a question.
“Where’s Ain? Why did you bring only Luna?”
“Ain and Luna have been fighting so much lately…… I couldn’t bring them together. They seem to need time apart from each other sometimes.”
Tiel scratched her cheek with a weary expression, and Cassius nodded slowly.
Come to think of it, Ludian and Ferdi had quarreled fiercely when they were young too.
Though Tiel’s arrival had dampened their conflicts somewhat, it seemed that raising two children of similar age brought fighting as an unavoidable matter.
“And Luna seems depressed these days.”
“Luna? Why?”
“As you know, Father, it’s because of Luna’s Ability…”
Tiel’s voice grew small. Iandros, watching her anxious expression, took her hand in his.
Tiel glanced toward the direction Luna had gone before continuing.
“Lately, when she’s alone, she becomes withdrawn. That’s why I brought her here. I was hoping you might care for Luna here at the Asterian for a few days.”
Tiel said this quietly.
“I’ve reassured her many times that everything is fine, but the child’s heart remains troubled. She grows melancholy whenever she has a moment. I haven’t seen her smile like that in ages.”
Tiel released a small sigh. Iandros looked toward Cassius and spoke.
“However, if it troubles you to keep her, we can take her back with us.”
“What trouble could there be? The child seems to love it here, so I’ll look after her gladly.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Tiel exhaled with relief as she spoke.
“I do hope Luna can spend some time here at the Asterian and recover her spirits.”
“I’ll watch over her as carefully as I can. Don’t worry yourself too much.”
Cassius nodded.
***
“…… Luna!”
Alpheus’s expression brightened the moment he caught sight of Luna. Spotting his smaller granddaughter, he broke into a wide smile.
“Goodness, my dear granddaughter! Have you been well all this time? Hmm?”
“Ow, your whiskers are scratchy.”
“It’s because my dear Luna is so precious, my girl. Did you not miss me?”
“I did miss you, Grandfather.”
Luna spoke with exaggerated pout. Alpheus pressed his bearded face against her cheek regardless of her pouting.
Luna, the daughter Tiel had borne, felt different from when Tiel herself was young.
Tiel had seemed as though she might shatter with even a firm embrace, whereas Luna seemed sturdy enough to withstand one.
Yet the difference was merely that—whether Luna or Tiel, both were equally dear to Alpheus as granddaughter and great-granddaughter.
“Tiel, come here, my dear girl. Did Grandfather not cross your mind?”
“Of course I missed you. But Luna missed you even more, I think.”
Tiel, smiling brightly, conversed with Alpheus and lightly tapped Luna’s cheek.
“She’s been saying she wants to live here at the Asterian Mansion. She loves this place so much…”
“Is that so? Ha ha ha! Then I should keep her with me!”
“I’m afraid that won’t do, Grandfather.”
“…… I was only jesting.”
Alpheus’s spirits deflated at once, and he kissed Luna’s cheek softly. Luna looked toward Tiel and asked.
“Mother, are you leaving now?”
Tiel smiled gently.
“No, Mother will stay here too. With you.”
“With me? So Mother and Father and Grandfather and Uncle will all be here together?”
Luna clapped her hands with delight. Iandros smiled softly and stroked her hair.
“Father must leave soon. I can’t stay long.”
“Father has to go…?”
“But you can play happily without Father, yes?”
At Iandros’s question, Luna glanced about the room before nodding.
Father would be absent, but Mother was here, and her uncles, two grandfathers, and all sorts of other fun things besides.
Now that she thought about it, Father wasn’t needed at all! Luna nodded cheerfully.
“Yes, I’m fine without Father.”
“…… Yes?”
“I can play just fine without Father. Don’t worry, please.”
Luna spoke with both fists clenched tightly, and Iandros nodded.
It was good that his daughter could be spirited without him, though for some reason his mood took a subtle turn for the worse.
But he could not show such feelings before the child. It was just as he was about to kiss Luna’s brow that—
“Tiel! Tiel is here?”
Ludian appeared, flinging the door open with his usual loud voice.
Ludian looked at Tiel once and Luna once before grinning widely and approaching Tiel first.
“Tiel!”
“How have you been, Uncle?”
“Well! How’s palace life treating you? Is His Majesty giving you a hard time?”
“I’m standing right here.”
“If he ever gives you trouble, you tell me, understood?”
“I’m standing right here.”
Iandros and Ludian traded jibes without restraint. Watching them, Tiel laughed.
“Uncle, really…… there’s no need to worry.”
“Good to hear! And our little princess! Her Imperial Highness has graced us with her presence! How have you been, Luna? Well?”
As Ludian greeted her loudly, Luna grinned widely and nodded.
“Uncle Ludian!”
And then, from behind Ludian, a man with bound hair stepped forward.
The moment Luna spotted him, her gaze naturally turned in his direction.

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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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