The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 266

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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 16
Raven stayed at Tiel’s side throughout Luna’s stay in Asterian.
Some of it was because Luna had thrown a fit wanting to play with Raven, but it was also Raven’s own choice.
‘I like being near the Princess, ma’am.’
‘Really?’
‘It’s an honor.’
Tiel worried slightly that Luna might be pestering Raven too much.
“Oh my.”
But watching the young lion cub and small raven tangled together in sleep after playing, she couldn’t help but smile warmly.
Beside them, Salamander lay stretched out, radiating gentle warmth to the two young beast-kin.
It was Tiel’s first time seeing Raven in beast form, and noticing feathers missing in patches, she absently reached out to stroke them.
The gesture stirred something in her—a memory from her own childhood.
‘Before Ludian took care of me, I was told I wandered around half-starved….’
What had happened to this little raven?
Had they suffered sorrows as deep as her own childhood?
Her fingertips caught on rough scars. They were clearly old wounds. As she traced them, her heart ached.
Why did such things happen to children….
Tiel wished every child in the world to be happy and safe.
‘Let them be at peace from now on.’
Gently, carefully, Tiel stroked Raven’s feathers. Raven’s eyes fluttered open in sleep, and after looking once at the hand touching him, he closed them again.
Half-dreaming, he didn’t seem to realize who was petting him—a childlike innocence that made Tiel smile again.
“Sleep well.”
Following Tiel’s voice, a small gathered light danced through the air.
It was light to drive away nightmares, to brighten the darkness ahead.
***
The day Luna left Asterian.
“Already leaving? Can’t you stay a little longer?”
Alpheus kissed Luna’s soft belly as he spoke, and Tiel laughed at the sight.
“Luna’s still so young that she can’t be away from home too long.”
“Still….”
“Luna, come visit again next time. You can come play at Asterian whenever you like—next time I’ll put a fence around the pond so you won’t fall in.”
Cassius pressed a kiss to Luna’s fluffy front paws as he spoke, and Luna giggled in delight.
“Luna, come again next time.”
Ferdi gently pushed Cassius aside and grabbed Luna’s front paws.
Swaying them gently up and down, Luna’s tail stood straight up.
“Seems like your spirits have lifted a bit—I’m glad. I have something prepared for you.”
Ferdi snapped his fingers, and the inner door opened as servants filed in carrying something.
“Huh?”
When Tiel turned to look, she saw Salamander sitting awkwardly atop a soft cushion.
Salamander, adorned with a pretty ribbon that wouldn’t burn, sat unsteadily on it and gazed at Luna and Tiel.
“—!”
Hop!
And with that, Salamander jumped down at the sight of Luna and scurried toward her.
“My goodness…?”
“You said you’d take Salamander to the Imperial Palace, so I dressed them up nicely.”
Ferdi pointed to the rather sizeable Salamander.
“Since they’re going somewhere new, they should look their best.”
Pop!
“Wow!”
Luna, released from her beast form in Cassius’s arms, reached out to Salamander with sparkling eyes.
“Hello! You look so pretty!”
When Luna grinned widely, Salamander—who had worn a slightly sullen expression with the ribbon—grinned back.
“So Salamander knows how to smile… I never knew that.”
“I’ve said it before, but this one is special.”
Ferdi spoke up.
“If anything seems wrong, bring them back to Asterian. Since they’re born from a Flame Ability, being far from the power of fire might cause them pain.”
“Yes, I will. By the way, taking them along like this really does feel like… bringing a pet with me.”
“There’s not much difference, really.”
Ferdi smiled.
“Take care on the way home, and come back anytime. And if His Majesty treats you poorly, come straight back to Asterian.”
“Brother, that won’t happen.”
“Of course it won’t.”
Ferdi wrapped an arm around Tiel’s shoulders and patted her gently.
“Luna, you can stay at Asterian anytime too, my sister.”
“Luna!”
Ludian opened his palm before Luna and asked.
“Are you feeling better? You had quite the long face at the Imperial Palace, they say.”
“Now I feel amazing!”
“That’s wonderful, wonderful! Come play again soon!”
“Yeah, but… Uncle.”
Luna swiveled her head, glancing around at those nearby.
While the others watched in confusion, Ludian quickly lowered himself so Luna could whisper into his ear.
Hands clasped carefully, Luna whispered very softly into Ludian’s ear.
“Uncle, when I go to the Imperial Palace… won’t I see Raven anymore?”
“Hmm? You want to play with Raven more?”
“Don’t say it so loud…!”
Luna stamped her feet.
In truth, Luna and Raven couldn’t be friends when social position was considered.
In any other noble house, both would surely have been scolded severely. Such was the weight of social station.
But.
“Should I call Raven for you?”
“Yes!”
“Alright, wait here.”
This was Asterian.
Ludian loved all children equally, and social position mattered little in his affection for them.
Commoner or princess, it made no difference.
Before Ludian, all little ones were equal.
Shortly after, summoned by Ludian’s call, Raven entered hesitantly.
“Raven!”
Luna smiled brightly, and Raven bowed his head respectfully.
“I… greet Your Highness the Princess.”
“I have to go now.”
Luna pointed to Salamander with the ribbon tied on. Salamander, who would leave Asterian with Luna and return to the Imperial Palace, was already bouncing about excitedly at the prospect of the journey.
“…I see.”
Raven nodded.
Luna was a princess, and her visit to Asterian had been only a brief one.
So of course they had to part. But why did it feel so sad?
Among his own kind, Raven was scorned as inauspicious; among his peers, he was ignored as small and unprepossessing.
Luna was the first ‘friend’ Raven had ever had.
He didn’t dare call her that—the words lived only in his heart—but they were friends nonetheless.
‘I’m going to miss this….’
Though Luna was younger than Raven, he had never played with a peer before, so he stood uncertainly.
If this was his first time playing with a friend, it was also his first time saying goodbye to one.
Even though Raven tried so hard to appear grown, he was only seven years old, and now, forgetting to read Asterian’s mood, he fidgeted awkwardly.
Then Luna bit her lip.
Sniff.
“…Y-Your Highness?”
If this was Raven’s first parting with a friend, it was Luna’s first too.
With a sorrowful, lonely expression, she grabbed his hand.
“Can’t you come with me? Can’t we go together and play more?”
“Luna, Raven has to stay here.”
“But why? Let’s go together, okay? Let’s go and play some more….”
As Luna began to sniffle, the great black leopards of Asterian all tensed at once.
Ferdi squeezed his eyes shut.
‘I overlooked how a friend becomes the whole world at that age.’
She’d just met a kindred spirit outside the palace for the first time and played joyfully—how could she not grieve the parting?
Luna stamped her feet and looked up at Tiel and Ludian.
Tiel, her expression troubled, stroked Luna’s head.
“Can’t Raven come with me?”
“No, Raven has to stay with Uncle Ludian. You go with Mother.”
“Uuuh….”
Luna’s cheeks puffed out. Yet no tears fell.
Holding back tears like that without crying was a skill all its own.
Wiping away the tears that hung on her lashes, Luna pointed sharply at Raven and spoke.
“Then come visit the Imperial Palace next time.”
“—!”
“I’m a princess, so I can invite a friend. Come visit.”
As if agreeing with Luna’s words, Salamander nodded vigorously.
“Come visit and I’ll give you delicious food, a comfortable bed to sleep in. Completely guaranteed.”
Luna clutched at Tiel’s sleeve.
“Shimmering Light Fish that help you sleep soundly—completely guaranteed too.”

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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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