The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 33

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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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Episode 33
The day of the Temple visit.
Ria took extra care in dressing Tiel today.
Though it was an informal outing, it was still Tiel’s first time going out, after all.
Ria selected a Pink Dress with abundant frills and Ribbons from among the dresses Ian had gifted, dressed Tiel in it, then carefully gathered her voluminous white hair into two braids and coiled them neatly.
She placed a cute Bonnet covered in frills on Tiel’s head and tied a charming Ribbon beneath her chin.
Once she had Tiel in pretty Shoes as well, the girl who had first arrived at the Asterian Mansion was hardly recognizable.
During her stay, she had eaten so many delicious foods that her cute cheeks had filled out pleasantly, and a soft blush colored them.
Her large eyes sparkled with vitality, and her once-dull hair now gleamed with luster thanks to careful grooming.
Now she truly looked like a young lady from a great noble house.
Satisfied with her work, Ria led Tiel before the full-length mirror.
“What do you think, Miss? Does it please you?”
Ria asked gently, resting her hands lightly on Tiel’s shoulders.
Tiel stared at her reflection as if entranced, then nodded slowly.
‘Is this really me…?’
It was nothing like what she could have imagined back in Nestian.
Rowen had always called her a vulgar, ugly mongrel, but the Tiel she saw now was nothing of the sort.
Rather, her white hair and strange golden eyes only made the small girl’s charm shine all the brighter.
Embarrassed, Tiel’s cheeks flushed as she looked up at Ria.
“I love it, Ria. Thank you for making me look so pretty.”
“Our young lady is kind as well. You’re truly beautiful, Miss. I’d venture to say there isn’t a prettier girl among all the noble young ladies your age anywhere in these lands.”
At Ria’s praise, Tiel’s face colored once more.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Ria hurried over and opened it.
“Tiel.”
Standing in the doorway were Ferdi and Ludian, Tiel’s two older brothers.
Unlike their usual preference for comfortable shirts, both Ferdi and Ludian wore Silk Vests embroidered with golden thread and Jackets over them.
At the sight of her well-dressed brothers, Tiel’s eyes curved like crescents with joy.
“Brothers…!”
“You look absolutely beautiful today. That Pink Dress suits you perfectly.”
“Seriously. I should fill your wardrobe entirely with Pink Dresses. When you’re dressed like this, you look just like a tiny doll.”
Ludian chuckled and moved to pat Tiel’s head, but stopped himself.
He didn’t want to ruin the careful styling Ria had done.
Yet when Ludian withdrew his hand, Tiel looked up at him with a puzzled expression. Why wasn’t he patting her head?
Living at the Asterian Mansion with Cassius, Alpius, Ferdi, and Ludian, Tiel had grown accustomed to being patted, embraced, and having her hand held.
So now, when someone didn’t pat her head, she felt a small pang of disappointment.
Understanding what Tiel wanted, Ferdi carefully arranged her dress so it wouldn’t wrinkle, then lifted the child into his arms.
Tiel wrapped both her hands around his neck while nestled against him.
“Come on, let’s go. We’re going to be late. Father is waiting for us.”
“Hey, Ferdi. I told you not to keep picking Tiel up and setting her down. Girls her age should be treated very delicately.”
“Where’d you pick up that ridiculous theory? Tiel likes being held.”
“…From a book. No, wait, that’s not—”
Ludian and Ferdi bickered as they made their way toward the carriage.
As she listened to her two brothers’ playful quarreling, Tiel carefully placed her hand over her heart, feeling it flutter.
The paternity test result hadn’t made her nervous.
But visiting the Temple—that frightened her a little.
Cassius had once explained just how remarkable Tiel’s Ability was, warning her that everyone would covet it.
‘He said the Temple would covet my Ability.’
Tiel swallowed.
It was already nerve-wracking enough to go to a strange place and meet unfamiliar people, but to know that those people would be after her…?
Not being nervous would have been stranger.
“Look, he’s waiting for you.”
Just then, Ferdi spoke, his gaze fixed on something distant.
Tiel turned to look in the direction Ferdi was indicating.
Far ahead, Cassius stood waiting, wearing a dignified Cloak, for Tiel, Ferdi, and Ludian.
He lifted his gaze to look at Tiel.
Steady eyes turned toward the small child.
Their eyes met.
“…!”
And in that instant, all of Tiel’s worries melted away like snow in the spring sun.
***
“Tiel.”
Cassius took Tiel from Ferdi and lifted her into his arms.
Tiel naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, having done so many times before.
“Cassius…! Oh, no.”
While holding Tiel lightly, Cassius waited patiently for the child to work up the courage to speak what was on her mind.
“Father…?”
“Yes, my daughter. You look adorable today.”
Tiel’s cheeks flushed as she nodded.
The Ribbon tied in her hair fluttered with each nod.
“Thank you. You look truly handsome today too, Father…!”
Cassius truly did look handsome.
While his face was never lacking even on ordinary days, today he had taken extra care, and the dignity he carried shone bright simply from standing still.
So Tiel worried she might wrinkle his magnificent Cloak and tried to slip from his arms to sit on the carriage seat instead.
“…?”
But Cassius did not let her down.
He climbed into the carriage with Tiel still in his arms and seated her on his lap.
As a result, Tiel found herself perched on his knee like a small doll, blinking in surprise.
“…?”
“Why are you holding her and getting in like that? Tiel’s seat is right here.”
Ferdi gestured with a grinning face toward a plush Cushion positioned right beside his seat.
“When a child is very nervous, a parent’s arms are the best comfort.”
Cassius shrugged and gently placed his hand on Tiel’s belly, drawing her small body snugly against him.
Tiel sat pressed close against Cassius, watching her two brothers across from her.
“So I intend to hold her. Do you have an objection?”
At least in this carriage, there was no one who could gainsay Cassius’s orders.
For that reason, Ferdi and Ludian let out reluctant sighs and shook their heads.
“Tiel, are you uncomfortable?”
Instead, Ferdi tried a different approach.
He gently stroked the soft, plush Cushion that had been prepared for Tiel as he spoke.
“A lap can be hard, after all. A Cushion would be more comfortable.”
“That’s right, Tiel. A Cushion would be more comfortable than Father’s lap. Or if you prefer, this brother’s lap is fine too.”
Cassius watched Ferdi and Ludian’s meek rebellion—or rather their futile effort to claim Tiel—with an amused expression.
Tiel looked at Ludian and Ferdi, considering for a moment, then shook her head.
“Thank you for the offer, but I want to stay here.”
The moment Tiel finished speaking, Cassius pulled her even closer, holding her snugly.
Nestled in his arms, Tiel blinked and spoke as if in her own defense.
“It really is… comfortable.”
In truth, if one measured comfort alone, the Cushion beside Ferdi would certainly be more comfortable than Cassius’s lap.
‘But I like it here better….’
Cassius’s warm embrace melted away Tiel’s tension in an instant.
Whether Cassius’s words—’When a child is very nervous, a parent’s arms are good’—were true or not, when nestled in his warm embrace, she could temporarily forget the painful memories she had endured.
So Tiel found Cassius’s arms quite pleasant.
The slightly cool scent she could detect when held by Cassius also helped ease her tension.
“Then so be it.”
Fortunately, Ferdi and Ludian yielded without protest.
Cassius wore a triumphant expression as he held Tiel, facing his two sons.
“…How childish.”
“Seriously, it’s annoying.”
The former was Ferdi, the latter Ludian.
The two brothers grumbled and turned their gazes out the window as if they couldn’t bear the sight.
Regardless of what his sons did, Cassius carefully arranged Tiel’s beautifully groomed hair so it wouldn’t come undone.
“…?”
Because she was held in Cassius’s arms, Tiel couldn’t see his expression, so she merely looked up at him with a bewildered tilt of her head.

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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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