The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 36

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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 36
“I’ve heard everything. So what you’re saying is that without Proper Procedure, you cannot recognize it.”
“Your Highness, Crown Prince! You mustn’t come this far!”
Elandros brushed off the Papal Legate’s words lightly and exchanged a brief glance with Cassius.
Elandros glanced at Tiel, then stepped forward one pace.
“Then if we follow Proper Procedure, that would suffice?”
The Papal Legate’s face went deathly pale as he realized what Elandros intended.
He rushed toward Elandros in desperation.
“Your Highness! You cannot do this! If His Majesty learns of this—”
“I know His Majesty is abroad. And Andreas, you—”
“That is—”
“Did you forget that His Holiness the Pope granted me the authority of Papal Legate?”
Elandros of the Crasion Empire was currently both Crown Prince of the Crasion Empire and Papal Legate to the Pope of Lysette Temple.
Since childhood, the Pope had granted him the authority of Papal Legate.
But after his appointment as Crown Prince, he had let that power slip from memory, having had no cause to invoke it until now—
Andreas moved to stop him, at a loss for what to do.
Only the Pope and the Pope’s Legate could conduct a Paternity Test.
With the Pope currently absent from the temple, Elandros, acting as Papal Legate, could rightfully conduct the test again.
Elandros brought his hand toward the Sacred Fountain.
A Fish Mark, the symbol of Lysette, shimmered into view on the back of his hand.
“All that’s needed is to follow Proper Procedure—”
Before Elandros could finish, the Sacred Fountain rippled and gleamed.
The Divine Power that the Pope had granted Elandros as Papal Legate had responded.
……
……
Everyone held their breath, watching the Crown Prince of the Empire.
As Elandros slowly channeled Divine Power, the Sacred Fountain sparkled.
But the color of the water flowing in gold did not change.
The water remained gold. He gently withdrew his hand, wiped it clean, and turned to the Papal Legate.
“The water’s color did not change despite the use of Divine Power. Since we have followed Proper Procedure, you can accept it now, Andreas.”
……
“Tiel is indeed of House Asterian’s blood. She is Cassius’s true daughter.”
Elandros placed his hand gently on Tiel’s head. Tiel nodded and looked up at him.
A boy with brilliant golden hair the exact shade of the golden fountain gazed down at Tiel with warm eyes.
“Thank you, Elandros.”
Tiel quietly grasped his hand and whispered.
The expressionless boy’s face softened.
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural. You don’t need to thank me.”
“Still, you’ve been helping me all this time.”
Tiel spoke with quiet precision. Elandros raised an eyebrow.
The last time he’d seen her, she’d trembled at the mere gift of something. When had she changed like this?
‘When did she become like this?’
Her face had come alive, her eyes sparkled like starlight, and her voice rang clear and steady.
At Tiel’s transformation, Elandros let out a brief smile.
“So you’re thinking of repaying me?”
“Yes. Once I come of age, I’ll be sure to repay you first, Elandros.”
The men of House Asterian’s faces twisted simultaneously at Tiel’s words, but Tiel stood with her back to them and could not see the expressions of her father and two brothers.
Elandros watched the three men of House Asterian glaring at him as if they might tear him apart, and his mouth curved upward.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I absolutely will!”
“Then I’d better start thinking now about what kind of repayment I should ask for—”
Elandros, as if mocking them, suddenly grabbed Tiel’s cheeks.
Ludian’s body jolted forward. But Elandros paid no mind and continued kneading her cheeks.
“Wh-what? E-Elandros—”
“You little thing. Before, you were so frail I thought you’d die any moment, but now look at you—you’ve found your home. Hmm.”
Elandros chuckled.
Ferdi and Ludian started to surge forward in indignation, but Cassius held them back.
Elandros was the Crown Prince of the Empire and, to Tiel, her benefactor.
So they should let it pass.
“Ah, Father! It hurts!”
“Father, please let go. My clothes will tear!”
Ferdi and Ludian shot Cassius a look of disbelief.
Cassius’s hands gripped tightly as he watched Elandros and Tiel.
Cassius held on without loosening his grip, regardless of what his sons said, until—
“It appears there was some kind of misunderstanding.”
He then opened his mouth with a bitter edge. His sharp gaze shifted from Elandros to Andreas.
At Cassius’s words, Andreas wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded.
There was no room left for excuses now.
Andreas, who had been in despair, gave an awkward laugh at Cassius’s words and quickly bowed his head.
“Yes, it does appear there was a misunderstanding. The temple will conduct a thorough investigation into how such a result came about.”
The opportunity Cassius had just given Andreas was the last chance to dismiss this as a simple error.
Andreas, not about to miss that chance, bowed his head once more.
“I sincerely apologize. If there is any compensation the temple can offer—”
“Compensation is unnecessary.”
Cassius reached out his hand to Tiel. Elandros, with perfect timing, released her cheeks.
Tiel, her cheeks flushed and thoroughly kneaded, nestled into Cassius’s embrace.
“Tiel, let’s go home.”
Warm voice. Tiel nodded briskly.
That was when the golden fish circling the fountain found their way into Tiel’s embrace.
Everyone fell silent, watching Tiel. Ferdi and Ludian were no exception.
The small glowing fish nestled into her arms as if they had finally found their home, discovering themselves within the small hollow of her hands.
Tiel, her eyes wide with wonder, burst into laughter.
Her round eyes curved into crescents.
“Do you want to go home too?”
……
“Yes, I want to go home too. Let’s go together, all of us—”
Tiel loved the word “home.”
In Nestian, she had never once been able to speak that word.
It was only natural. Nestian was not her home.
It belonged to Grandfather Chender and existed only for those who bore the Nestian name.
And Tiel had never been given the Nestian name.
So it could never be her home. Her home was only—
‘House Asterian.’
Tiel whispered the words and lifted her head.
The Sacred Fountain, still flowing with gold, came into view.
House Asterian alone.
So—
‘I want to be helpful to Father.’
She had heard it long ago.
That wishes made at the Sacred Fountain in the temple sometimes came true.
Tiel quietly made a wish.
To be helpful to Father, to House Asterian. If this truly is a special power, then let me be helpful to those who love me—
The fish, as if Tiel’s voice were a signal, swam for a moment before scattering into the air and disappearing.
Before they vanished, the fish gleamed briefly in the air as if answering Tiel’s wish. Tiel did not miss that moment.
Cassius gently stroked Tiel’s soft hair, then pressed a light kiss to her brow.
***
News that Tiel was Cassius’s true daughter spread quickly through the Asterian Mansion.
It was thanks to Cassius’s Salamander delivering the news first to Alpheus, who had been waiting eagerly for word, and to everyone in the mansion.
“I knew it—there’s no way the young lady couldn’t be his true daughter. She resembles Lord Cassius and Lady Rena so much.”
“Right, it’s rare to see someone resemble both parents so evenly.”
“From the moment I first saw the young lady, I could tell at a glance that she was the daughter of Lord Cassius and Lady Rena!”
The servants chattered happily.
Alpheus, the head of House Asterian, had long known that Tiel was his granddaughter, but he rejoiced nonetheless, bringing out wine and meat with a special bonus for the staff.
‘It seems it was resolved well.’
Alpheus nodded contentedly.
With the Crown Prince accompanying them, there would have been no real problem.
He let out an amused chuckle.
Alpheus had known that Crown Prince Elandros would appear there.
‘I requested the Crown Prince’s assistance.’
Because the one who had asked Elandros for his help was none other than Alpheus Ewald Asterian himself!
He had anticipated long ago that the temple would resort to scheming.
They would certainly try to take Tiel away. The interior of the temple was a sacred sanctuary that even the Emperor could not enter carelessly.
So he knew they would charge in with the single-minded intent of merely getting her into their hands once.
That was why he had requested assistance from Crown Prince Elandros Crasion in advance.
The Crown Prince possessed the authority of Papal Legate from the Pope.
Not long after the Salamander delivered the news, a carriage arrived.
He reached out his hand to his granddaughter as she descended from the carriage.
“Tiel.”
Tiel spotted Alpheus and smiled brightly, her cheeks flushing.
“Grandfather—”

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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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