The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 4

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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 4
Tiel flinched at the sound from beyond the door, drawing her shoulders inward with a flinch.
Her hunched shoulders trembled so visibly that it was plain to the naked eye.
“Stay hidden for now. Do you know how to use Beast Form Transformation?”
Iaan grabbed Tiel’s slight shoulders and asked.
Tiel nodded, shivering. Then Iaan lowered his voice so the person outside wouldn’t hear and leaned close to her ear.
“Then transform and hide. Get under the bed.”
The girl stepped back, trembling, and set down the blanket she’d been clutching.
She spun once through the air, and in an instant the small girl vanished—only a terrified snow leopard remained in her place.
“Hurry!”
Iaan mouthed the words urgently.
The snow leopard dragged a bundle of blanket nearly her own size into her mouth and scurried under the bed.
But her tail stuck out from under the bed frame, a sign of her anxiety.
Iaan caught sight of the protruding tail, rushed over, tucked it back inside, and pulled the bedcover down.
To an outside observer, it looked as though the blanket had simply slipped down from poor sleeping habits.
Only then did Iaan straighten his rumpled nightclothes, then opened the door.
Creak—
A man stood in the doorway, half-open. Iaan’s brow furrowed at the sight.
“Cedric Yobino.”
When Iaan spoke the man’s name, he bowed slightly instead of answering.
“What brings you at this hour?”
After quickly surveying the corridor and confirming it was empty, Iaan pressed him.
Cedric’s expression was troubled as he stood in the doorway, speaking in a hushed voice.
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness.”
Cedric whispered the words so quietly only Iaan could hear.
The reason Cedric and Iaan were being so careful was that Iaan had not come to the Nestian Estate in his capacity as Crown Prince.
Iandros Crysion.
He was currently on a secret mission at the Emperor’s command: “Should you not choose your own bride?”
And he had planned to return quietly, as the Emperor had ordered—to observe the qualities of the bride candidates in silence and depart.
That was, until the snow leopard had burst into his room.
‘So much for leaving quietly.’
Iaan sighed and ushered Cedric inside.
All the servants of the estate had gathered at the entrance to the Annex Building, peering inside. If anyone heard Cedric call him “Your Highness,” the situation would become very awkward.
“State your business and leave.”
Iaan spoke tersely. Cedric bowed his head, then opened his mouth.
“A maid has apparently fled the estate.”
“A maid?”
“Yes, a young maid, my lord. Her mind is not entirely sound, and while we were looking after her, she escaped. The servants saw her run into the Annex Building.”
Iaan let out a dry laugh.
Hair as white as snow was unmistakably the mark of a snow leopard, yet they dared call her a young maid.
Whatever had happened in this estate, it was clearly not a normal situation. Iaan’s expression hardened as he spoke.
“I see. A young maid, is it… I haven’t seen her, so I wouldn’t know. If you’re truly concerned, you may search—just not my room or yours.”
Iaan spoke with finality.
As Cedric bowed his head, he noticed Iaan’s damp sleeve.
Cedric’s eyes widened in question.
Contrary to Iaan’s usual preference for order, his bedchamber was in disarray—as though someone had intruded.
But Cedric decided to say nothing and took a step back.
“I shall see to it at once. Rest well, Your Highness.”
Cedric placed a hand over his heart, bowed his head, and spoke.
Iaan nodded dismissively, and Cedric closed the door and left.
Voices could be heard from the corridor outside, and soon the area beyond grew noisy.
Fearing someone might enter, Iaan locked the door.
***
The commotion beyond the door had finally ceased. It seemed the servants had now abandoned their search and returned to their posts.
Since Cedric had made it clear that there was no maid in his room or Iaan’s, the servants had not ventured into Iaan’s chamber.
Iaan pulled back the blanket and spoke.
“You can come out now.”
At Iaan’s words, Tiel carefully poked her head out.
Because the Nestian servants had cleaned every corner meticulously, she had not gathered a speck of dust despite hiding under the bed.
Tiel looked around, heard a loud noise from outside, and quickly ducked back under the blanket.
‘I can’t be found. I absolutely cannot be found.’
If she were caught, Jaira’s words would come true—a great lock might be placed on her door.
Then there would be no chance to escape. And Tiel couldn’t use her Innate Ability anyway.
The thought of being trapped and waiting to die a month later made every hair on her body stand on end.
“You can come out, so why are you going back in?”
Iaan scolded her.
He thrust his hand under the bed and carefully grasped the small snow leopard’s body.
Then he lifted her and set her on the mattress. Tiel’s eyes went wide.
“Now, tell me again. Why are you running away?”
Tiel shook her head firmly.
If she spoke now, the servants wandering outside might hear.
From the conversation she’d overheard between this boy and that man, it was clear he held some position of authority. But she still wasn’t certain he would protect her.
When Tiel kept her mouth shut and said nothing, Iaan sighed.
“First, undo the transformation.”
Tiel obediently released her form as he instructed. A girl in worn nightclothes reappeared on the bed.
“The servants are gone. It’s just you and me now, so speak clearly. What’s happening? And first, are you really a maid of this estate?”
Iaan stood looking down at her, arms crossed.
Tiel shook her head vigorously.
A maid—what nonsense.
Her silver hair wasn’t as beautiful as Rowen’s, but Tiel unmistakably bore hair the color of a snow leopard—white-hued.
‘And this person saw me transform…’
Snow leopards were born only to the direct line of the Nestian Family.
There was no way this boy didn’t know that. Tiel shook her head and carefully opened her mouth.
“…I… I am a daughter of the Nestian Family.”
Iaan scoffed in response.
“I already knew that—I saw you transform. I’m asking why you’re running. Why they introduced you as a maid.”
Tiel hesitated for a moment.
She wasn’t sure what to say first, or how much she should reveal.
‘How much should I tell? That Grandfather wants to kill me?’
Tiel decided against it. If she told the boy in front of her that her grandfather was trying to kill her, he might truly treat her like a “mad maid.”
So she chose not to mention that part.
“…My grandfather thinks I’m a disgrace to the family. I wasn’t born with an Innate Ability, and… my appearance is unremarkable…”
“So they introduced you as a maid instead.”
Iaan immediately looked her over as he spoke. Tiel swallowed hard, feeling his gaze, and continued.
“I’ve been locked away since birth, so…”
Iaan listened quietly to her words, then pulled her into his arms.
While Tiel was bewildered, the boy lifted her thin nightclothes to examine the scars on her tender skin.
There were old scars and fresh wounds. They varied in shape and size.
When Tiel realized that Iaan was inspecting her scars, her face flushed deeply red.
Regardless, Iaan’s eyes had gone cold as he examined the marks.
“So that’s why you’re running—because when guests arrive, you become unstable.”
“Yes.”
Tiel nodded.
“And if you escape the estate, what then? You can’t do anything alone.”
Tiel was quiet for a moment.
She did have a destination in mind. But that place would not welcome her warmly either. This conflict made her uncertain whether to reveal it to the boy before her.
“…To the Asterian Family…”
“The Asterian Family? Why would a snow leopard go there?”
“Ah, my father… he’s with the Black Leopard Family…”
Tiel was on the verge of tears.
At her words, Iaan’s eyes widened as he looked at the girl’s face again.
Then he let out a dry laugh and covered his mouth with one hand.
‘What did I miss?’
Of course, Tiel, not knowing why he was reacting this way, simply watched his expression.
“How did I not notice until now…”
Iaan examined the child’s face once more, then pressed the bundle of blanket into her arms and asked.
At the sudden gift of the blanket, Tiel’s small body swayed.
“How were you planning to get to the Asterian Family?”
“I was going to take a carriage. And give them this…”
From the blanket bundle, Tiel pulled out a few coins and a fountain pen—things she’d stolen from Chender’s study earlier.
Tiel didn’t know it, but in truth, the fountain pen and coins were worth very little.
Chender Nestian would never leave valuables lying about in a study he normally kept open.
Iaan looked at the coins with cold eyes, then laid Tiel down on the bed and spoke.
“That won’t even get you out of Nestian Territory. No—I’ll take you.”
“What?”
Tiel’s eyes widened as she questioned him.
“I’ll take you to the Asterian Family.”
“Really…?”
Tiel asked carefully, her face streaked with tears.
“Yes, I’m telling you. You’ve been deceived your whole life, haven’t you.”
Iaan replied tersely. He ran his hand through his hair, then tapped Tiel’s forehead and made her lie down.
“…?”
Tiel lay on his bed in confusion. She tried to get up, but his hand stopped her.
“So get some sleep. If you can’t get up tomorrow, I won’t take you.”
Iaan pulled the blanket over her small body and spoke bluntly.
Tiel nodded repeatedly. And as she carefully grasped the waist of the boy sitting beside her, she spoke.
“Um, um… I’m truly grateful. I owe you my life, and I want to repay…”
“Don’t mention it.”
“But… you’re my savior… Would you tell me your name?”
Tiel’s luminous golden eyes glistened in the darkness, catching the moonlight.
Iaan gazed at her face, then washed his face with his dry hands, looking conflicted. He answered slowly.
“…Iandros Crysion. Call me Iaan.”
Tiel’s eyes widened greatly at learning her savior’s name.

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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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