The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 267

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Special Side Story 17
“Is that all right?”
“Of course it’s all right.”
Tiel kissed Runa’s small cheek. The girl puffed up with even greater satisfaction.
“Come play with us, okay?”
“Well, that’s…….”
Raven was actually thrilled.
To be invited to the Imperial Palace—was that not a glory no commoner could ever experience twice?
Yet worry seized him first.
As the saying went, he was only a commoner boy, and Runa was a princess—was it really all right to spend time together so casually?
If somehow this brought shame upon Asterian, and upon Ludian who had taken him in…….
“If you want to play, just say you want to.”
Ludian placed a gentle hand on Raven’s shoulder.
“Why does such a small one have so much on his mind?”
Though the words were carelessly tossed out, they reached Raven as genuine comfort.
Until now, only Ludian had ever told the boy to do as his heart wished.
And now that Runa had said it too, that made two.
Raven still wasn’t quite sure he deserved to be this happy, to enjoy such things.
“Then……I will, sir.”
The boy answered with all the courage he could muster.
His voice was barely audible, yet no one could have missed how delighted Raven truly was.
“If you call for me, I will come.”
Runa, who had been waiting quietly for his response, broke into a smile.
“Yes!”
She laughed with unbridled delight, a far cry from how she’d been before arriving at Asterian.
Now even watching her brother Ain display his magnificent Ability would not make her sink into despair.
***
“Mama, Mama!”
Ain came bounding from across the way on all fours, leaping into Tiel’s arms.
Still finding the shift between Beast Form Transformation and human shape difficult, Ain sometimes moved like this even in his human form.
Once in Tiel’s lap, he made pleased, rumbling sounds.
“Ain, have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been very good. I didn’t cry. When I missed you, I asked Papa to let me sleep.”
The connection between missing his mother and asking his father to let him sleep made no logical sense, but Tiel accepted it to mean that Iandros had cared for him well.
“You should greet your sister too, Ain.”
Ain looked toward Runa, who was cradled in the nursemaid’s arms.
Runa held something like a great ball of fire in her lap, gazing at him.
“……Huh?”
Wait—a ball of fire?
Ain’s tail puffed up with a startled whoosh. Clinging tightly to Tiel, he stared at Runa in confusion.
“Wh-what is that? What did you pick up?”
“This? Runa’s friend.”
“Huh?”
“Ain, that’s a Salamander. Look closely—a Salamander, see? It’s quite large, but…….”
Quite large? Enormous, really?
Ain peered anxiously at the ball of fire in Runa’s arms. Sure enough, there were eyes within it.
‘It really is a Salamander!’
But why was it so huge?
Grandfather’s Salamander wasn’t that big, nor was Uncle’s—but Runa’s was the size of a house.
The heat from the Salamander soon made Ain warm, and he began swishing his tail back and forth.
“Why did you bring something like that……?”
“This one is Runa’s friend now. It’s going to stay with Runa.”
“……?”
“Give it a name, will you?”
Runa leaped down from the nursemaid’s arms and set the Salamander on the floor.
“Its name is Sally.”
The Salamander burst into flame where Runa’s feet touched the ground.
Then.
“Is this the Salamander you mentioned back then?”
Iandros appeared from behind and hoisted Runa into his arms. She clapped her hands and broke into delighted laughter.
“Papa!”
“Iandros! Didn’t you say you were busy?”
“That’s why I didn’t give advance notice of when I’d return.”
Iandros spoke with a hint of displeasure in his voice. Tiel laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek.
“I just didn’t want to disturb you.”
“It’s not a disturbance. Next time, tell me for certain.”
“I will.”
Holding Runa in one arm, Iandros kissed Tiel’s cheek. She flushed slightly and returned the kiss to his cheek.
Watching this, Ain’s eyes sparkled.
“Mama and Papa kissed!”
“Ah, Ain…….”
“Papa kissed Mama!”
Now it was Runa’s turn.
“And Mama kissed Papa!”
Iandros replied calmly.
“Yes, we did. Welcome home, Runa. What did you name the Salamander? Sally?”
“Yes, she’s Runa’s friend. Want to see something amazing?”
Runa pointed at the Salamander.
“Sally, sparkle!”
At her command, the Salamander reared up and spewed flame from its mouth.
The roaring fire glowed red like a glittering jewel. Seeing this, Runa smiled and shrugged proudly.
“See? Runa has no Ability, but now I’m completely cool.”
It seemed they’d come to an agreement: whenever Runa said “sparkle,” the Salamander would use its flame.
Runa, who had always grown gloomy whenever Abilities were mentioned, now hugged the Salamander tight instead of despairing.
Tiel felt genuine gratitude toward that Salamander.
And Iandros felt the same.
“Ah, Runa’s lucky. Yes? With such a magnificent Salamander listening to her.”
As Iandros coaxed Runa familiarly, she laughed with delight again.
Watching this, Ain crept slowly toward the Salamander.
He had never seen a Salamander this large before.
He didn’t want to seem too obvious in front of Runa, but truthfully, Ain also thought this Salamander was impressively huge and magnificent.
Cautiously, though warily, Ain approached and poked the Salamander with one finger.
Whoosh!
Pleased by Ain’s touch, the Salamander raised its heat.
“!!”
But startled by the Salamander’s sudden action, Ain’s fur stood on end. In alarm, he clung to Tiel’s dress.
“Mama!”
“It’s all right, Ain. It won’t hurt you.”
Tiel gently picked up Ain. But he remained clinging to her, his fright not yet settled.
“Speaking of which, brother…….”
Runa, nestled in Iandros’s arms, pointed at Ain.
“You said you missed Runa, didn’t you?”
“……!”
“You’re such a fake. You said you didn’t even need someone like Runa.”
“I, I never——”
Ain buried his face in Tiel’s embrace, his denials muffled. His round cheeks were pressed flat.
“That’s not true! I did want to see you!”
“Mm-hmm, you’re lying.”
“I’m not!”
“Lying won’t help. Runa knows everything. The nursemaid told me.”
Runa spoke triumphantly. Ain had no more denials to offer, and his face flushed bright red as he gripped Tiel tightly.
“Ugh…….”
“But Runa doesn’t need you to carry her anymore.”
“!?”
“Because I have a new friend now.”
“Sally?”
“No!”
Runa smiled and said,
“A different friend!”
Iandros glanced at Tiel—asking silently if the “friend” Runa spoke of was that commoner boy Raven mentioned in her last letter.
Tiel nodded with a smile.
“He’s coming to visit. When he does, I’ll introduce him to you.”
“……Do as you like.”
“Hm?”
“Do what you like.”
Ain spoke in a sulky tone. He was clearly pouting.
Noticing that her brother had taken offense, Runa wriggled free from Iandros’s arms and crept toward Ain’s side.
“Brother, are you mad?”
“No.”
“You sure you’re not mad?”
“I said I’m not mad……!”
At Ain’s protest, Iandros and Tiel exchanged helpless smiles.
“Hmph.”
Runa only tilted her head, watching her pouting brother’s back.
***
“Is Runa asleep?”
“Yes. And Ain?”
“Ain too.”
Iandros and Tiel walked slowly down the corridor. A night breeze drifted in, brushing their cheeks.
“Did you enjoy Asterian?”
“Of course. I always enjoy it when I visit. The family is all the same as ever.”
“Ferdi and Ludian are almost unchangingly the same—I sometimes think they could use a little change…….”
“I can’t imagine my brothers changing.”
Tiel laughed softly.
“They’d be just as wonderful if they did change, but for now……it’s nice that Asterian stays the same.”
A home I can return to unchanged whenever I wish.
Where Alpheus is, where Cassius is.
Where Ferdi and Ludian always greet me with warmth.
Tiel felt her heart fill simply by thinking of Asterian.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————