The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 29

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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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Chapter 29
They crossed the mansion in a heartbeat and arrived at Tiel’s chambers.
Lia, who had been pacing anxiously in the corridor, fell into step behind them with a grave expression as Cassius returned, cradling Tiel in his arms.
“Oh, Miss. Goodness—”
“She’s simply exhausted and asleep. Where is the physician?”
Cassius laid Tiel carefully on the bed.
Her sleeping face tilted slightly to one side.
Tiel did not appear to have collapsed as Cassius had feared—she looked merely to be in a deep, peaceful sleep.
“He should arrive shortly, sir. But will Miss truly be all right……?”
Lia spoke with concern, her eyes fixed on Tiel.
Cassius nodded.
“Watch her condition carefully, and report to me at once if anything changes.”
At Cassius’s command, Lia bobbed her head in understanding.
Cassius lingered for a moment, watching the child sleep peacefully, then stepped out into the hallway.
Alpheus was waiting beyond the door.
Alpheus and Cassius made their way slowly down the corridor toward the Head of Household’s study.
“We must obtain the Paternity Certificate from the Temple tomorrow without fail. Only then can we protect Tiel under the Asterian name.”
Alpheus was the first to break the silence. Cassius inclined his head in agreement.
“Yes. The circumstances are far from favorable.”
Indeed, the circumstances were dire.
The fact that the child possessed the Light Ability had become known before Tiel’s paternity could be properly verified.
But this was the supreme Asterian Family.
A matter of such magnitude could be handled by Asterian standards.
Nevertheless, it was preferable that the Paternity Test results come quickly.
Cassius spoke as he followed Alpheus into the study.
“I will send a letter to the Temple tomorrow requesting the Paternity Test results with utmost urgency.”
“Yes. By now, the Temple has likely grasped the nature of this light as well. We cannot rule out the possibility that they may attempt to falsify the results.”
“Yet if they wished to tamper with the results, we would have no way of discovering it.”
Cassius’s reasoning was sound.
The Temple’s Paternity Test was conducted by the High Priestess or her appointed representative, who would immerse a strand of hair in a special Holy Water.
If the kinship was genuine, the water would turn blue; otherwise, the color would remain unchanged.
But if one wished to manipulate the results, there were countless ways to do so.
Sending the hair in advance could well have led to such unwelcome consequences.
“Could we not simply request a retest?”
“They will refuse.”
At Alpheus’s calm remark, Cassius let out a hollow laugh and tilted his head slightly.
Only the High Priestess or her appointed representative could conduct the Paternity Test. If they refused to perform a retest, there would be nothing more that could be done.
It was certainly a difficult situation.
But all was not lost. Alpheus spoke with measured composure.
“It is no matter. There is one who can resolve this problem for us.”
“That is fortunate. Let us set that aside for now, then.”
Cassius paused briefly. Soon, servants entered bearing tea and coffee.
Coffee was placed before Cassius, while warm tea was set before Alpheus. Neither man indulged in refreshments, so no pastries were brought.
“You may go.”
Alpheus dismissed the servants.
Cassius, who had fallen silent moments before, lifted his cup and spoke.
“The Light Ability. It is truly remarkable.”
“Indeed. She was able to suppress the Ability Runaway.”
Ferdi and Ludian did not appear to be lying.
In truth, Ferdi’s Ability flow had been unstable just moments before, as though he were still in the throes of a runaway state.
Yet it had been calmed. Which meant that Tiel had truly—truly suppressed Ferdi’s runaway.
“I thought legends were merely legends……”
Alpheus’s murmured words fell from lips that had gone subtly pale.
Cassius wore the same expression.
They both understood what “the legendary Ability” meant.
A power beyond measure and glory itself—yet bearing a burden to match.
All would covet such strength, and there would come a day when neither Cassius nor Alpheus could shield her from their grasp.
Cassius smiled bitterly.
He thought his fear had scattered and died when he lost Rena. Yet some small handful of it remained.
He was terrified of losing Tiel.
The thought that all would hunger for her kindled a rage he could barely contain.
His own daughter—unworthy even of a careless touch.
With that thought, Cassius laughed aloud and brought the coffee cup to his lips.
“I fear I have grown quite weak, Father.”
“That is how all parents are.”
Alpheus nodded as though in understanding.
His own heart was no different from Cassius’s—if anything, it ran deeper, never shallower.
Alpheus pondered for a moment while Cassius took a sip of coffee, then spoke with deliberate care.
“Bring Tiel to me when she awakens. There is something I must verify.”
“You mean to take her to the Asterian Secret Chamber?”
The Asterian Secret Chamber.
It was a clandestine space known only to successive Heads of the Asterian Family, and it housed the documents containing the legends of the Light Ability.
Beyond that, it held countless treasures and preserved a chamber prepared for any who might manifest the Light Ability in generations to come.
Alpheus nodded.
“It is a place for one who possesses the Light Ability. If Tiel truly is—a child bearing the legendary Light Ability—”
“Then the Asterian Mansion itself will recognize her. Is that what you mean to say?”
“……”
With those words, a silence fell between them that would hold for some time.
Only the soft clink of cup against saucer broke the quiet.
***
As Cassius and Alpheus had feared, nearly all who dwelt in the realm came to know of the child who possessed the Light Ability.
How could they not?
In the Crasion Empire, light shaped like a fish symbolized Lucette, the deity of the state religion Lucette itself.
Such a light had risen from the Asterian Mansion, swept across the Black Leopard Territory, and engulfed the territories beyond.
“To remain ignorant would be foolishness itself.”
Cassius spoke with perfect composure.
Naturally, all throughout the Crasion Empire were clamoring about “the legend of the light” and “the Light Ability.”
The Imperial Palace,
“Send word to the Asterian Mansion at once! We must learn the identity of whoever wielded that power!”
The Temple,
“The legendary Ability has manifested! Surely this is the will of Lucette! We must bring this person to the Temple at once and nurture them under the deity’s divine protection!”
And Nestian as well.
“……What? From the Asterian Mansion?”
That night, the Asterian Mansion made no formal statement regarding the beam of light that had erupted from the mansion’s northern wing and swiftly consumed the night sky.
Yet all were convinced that there existed within the Asterian Mansion one who possessed the Light Ability.
The first to send correspondence were unsurprisingly the Imperial Palace and the Temple.
“Tch. I knew it would come to this.”
Alpheus tossed the letter from the Imperial Palace aside carelessly, muttering to himself.
The Imperial Palace’s letter contained a request that Duke Ebalte present himself at the Imperial Palace with all haste to provide a detailed account of the events that had transpired at the Asterian Mansion that night.
Cassius quickly scanned the letter Alpheus had discarded, then threw it aside with equal indifference.
“What does the Temple say?”
“The Paternity Test results are ready, and they request that Tiel and I attend the Temple in person.”
Cassius let out a dry chuckle.
Ordinarily, Paternity Test results were carefully sealed and delivered to the residence. For the Temple to demand a personal appearance was highly irregular.
“Results delayed for so long, yet arriving the instant last night’s events unfold……”
The Temple had evidently discovered that Tiel was the bearer of the Light Ability.
Other parties, having made no public announcement from the Asterian Mansion regarding Tiel’s existence,
Claimed to know nothing of who had wielded the light from the mansion.
Yet the Temple was aware that the Asterian Family had requested Paternity Test results for their youngest daughter.
Moreover, they possessed a strand of Tiel’s hair.
“The Light Ability is the Ability closest to Lucette, after all.”
Perhaps they had divined from the hair alone that Tiel had manifested the Light Ability.
Cassius murmured this dismissively and crumpled the Temple’s letter, tossing it aside. Then he said,
“Have you informed that person?”
“I did. I sent word immediately that very night. They said they would visit the Temple on the day we attend.”
“It is a great kindness. Once this matter is concluded, I must offer personal thanks.”
As Cassius spoke those words, his expression seemed somehow guarded.
Yet like Ferdi, he was well practiced in concealing his emotions, so his face composed itself quickly.
“Then as soon as Tiel’s condition improves, we shall proceed to the Temple. We cannot postpone this indefinitely.”
“Yes. But first, bring her to me as I said. Understood?”
“Do not concern yourself.”
Cassius rose from his seat as he spoke. Alpheus nodded in acknowledgment.
With that, he departed the study.
An untouched cup of tea sat alone where Cassius had been sitting.

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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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