The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 48

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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 48
“A letter? For me?”
The elderly woman looked out the window at the Messenger Bird and opened it with delight. The bird flew in and landed on her shoulder, spreading its wings in greeting.
“I wonder where it’s come from. Let me see.”
The woman unfolded the letter the Messenger Bird had brought. The seal of the Krasieon Imperial Family was stamped upon it.
“From Krasieon, then.”
The Messenger Bird made its way instinctively to where the water basin sat and drank.
After flying such a distance without rest, it had every reason to be parched. Estella poured grain into a dish so the bird could fill its belly.
This Messenger Bird was one that Estella had gifted to the various royal and imperial houses long ago.
These birds possessed a special ability—they could find Estella wherever she was in the world.
“Such a good creature.”
Estella could never settle in one place. Her nature compelled her to wander wherever her feet took her.
In her travels, whenever she lacked coin to buy fabric, she would sew a garment and accept cloth as payment. So the rumor that she sewed only for royalty was false from the start.
The only reason no one else could reach her was that she wandered so ceaselessly—unless they possessed a Messenger Bird that she herself had given them.
Estella adjusted her glasses and read the letter through to its end.
The letter contained a request: would she make several dresses for a young girl?
“Ho.”
Estella rounded her lips in an amused sound.
The word “girl” had made her pause several times. Had the Crown Prince of the Empire fallen in love?
She laughed with genuine delight and took out a pen to write her reply. She noted that she was currently in the Krasieon Empire, so the garments would arrive without delay.
“There you are, then. Off with you now.”
Estella tied the letter to the leg of a different Messenger Bird, sparing the one that had just flown such a long distance.
Through the open window, the bird bearing the letter took flight.
***
“There you are.”
Iandros tapped lightly on the glass window. The children inside, who had been devouring cake, looked up.
“Iandros!”
Tiel cried out in delight. Olivier regarded him with wary eyes. Ferdi and Ludian felt much the same.
“What’s this? How did Iandros know to find us here? Did you tell him?”
“As if.”
Ferdi shrugged.
“I ran into the marquis on the way to the Asterian Residence, and he mentioned you’d come to this Bakery.”
Iandros entered naturally and took a seat. Quite suddenly, the Empire’s Crown Prince and the heirs of two great houses had gathered in a modest provincial Bakery.
Michel, the modest Bakery’s proprietor, struggled to compose herself despite her trembling hands, and decided to call it a day as far as business was concerned.
With the Asterian knights and the Imperial Palace guard crowded outside, there seemed little chance of other customers arriving anyway.
Michel flipped the Bakery’s open sign to closed so the young lords and lady could converse at ease.
Ferdi studied Iandros, who had seated himself so naturally, and spoke with evident displeasure.
“Don’t you think you visit the Asterian Residence far too often, Your Highness?”
“Not at all. Didn’t I visit at this frequency before? I think it’s simply that you’ve all grown more sensitive since Tiel arrived.”
“Ah, what’s this? I just wanted to enjoy some time with my charming cousin, but you uninvited guests have ruined it all.”
Olivier grumbled.
Olivier had been close to Iandros, Ferdi, and Ludian since childhood, so he had no reserve in the presence of the Empire’s Crown Prince.
“But I really did enjoy it! Didn’t I, brother?”
“…”
“Didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did enjoy it.”
Ludian answered. Only then did Tiel purse her lips with satisfaction and nod her head.
“You’ve got cake on your mouth.”
Iandros drew out a Handkerchief and wiped Tiel’s mouth gently. She started in surprise and grabbed his wrist.
“That is, I should…”
“Hold still.”
Faced with Iandros’s firm tone, Tiel had no choice but to release his wrist.
After carefully cleaning her mouth, Iandros tossed the Handkerchief to Ludian.
“Iandros!”
Ludian protested, but no one paid him any mind.
In the end, Ludian stuffed the Handkerchief into his pocket while grumbling. Then he narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Why are you so free right now, Iandros? Shouldn’t you be busy with Crown Princess matters?”
“Indeed, why do you seem so at leisure? The Ladies of various houses are making quite a fuss about impressing you.”
This time it was Ferdi, who mimicked Olivier’s tone and glanced at him.
“Look at you, copying my tone and using it!”
Olivier cried out in exasperation.
Iandros listened to all of this in silence. Tiel glanced up at him from the corner of her eye.
‘Busy with Crown Princess matters,’ she thought.
It occurred to her now how Rowen had made such a fuss when she became a Crown Princess candidate. She’d learned later that it wasn’t just Rowen—all the children her age had become candidates.
‘If he takes a Crown Princess, will I not be able to see him so often anymore?’
Tiel loved being with Iandros.
He was kind, gentle with her, and remembered even the smallest things to care for her.
That’s why time spent with Iandros was happy. Her brothers and sister said nothing against it, but they clearly cherished time with him as well.
“So, have you looked over all the Ladies from each house? What do you think—which one appeals to you most?”
Though they claimed to dislike it before others.
Still, the thought that she might not see Iandros so often anymore felt not merely sad—it felt deeply sad. Tiel’s expression grew downcast, and she looked away.
Iandros, lost in his own thoughts for a moment, watched the play of emotions across Tiel’s face before turning his gaze to Ferdi and Ludian.
“Why do you two seem so at leisure? Don’t you need to return to the Academy soon?”
“…”
“Are you planning not to go back until after break? The Headmaster won’t let that stand.”
Iandros smiled wickedly.
“Ah, we have to go back to the Academy…!”
Only then did Tiel, realizing that Ferdi and Ludian would soon have to return, clap her hands.
Ferdi and Ludian, who had been about to tease Iandros, grimaced and drained their cups of cold water.
The thought that they would have to leave Tiel and go back to the Academy was unbearable.
What if some fool bothered her while they were gone?
Groundless worry had already begun. Ferdi and Ludian spent the next few moments scheming ways to avoid returning to the Academy.
Olivier shrugged at the two brothers with mockery.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Tiel while you’re away. Now hurry back.”
“That’s right, Ferdi, Ludian. Don’t worry. I’ll be here.”
Iandros chimed in.
Ferdi and Ludian had to swallow the words: ‘You two are exactly what we’re worried about.’
“When you return to the Academy, will we not be able to see each other?”
Tiel asked carefully. Ferdi quickly wiped away the shadow that had fallen over his face and answered kindly.
“No, you can always come visit. If you write to me saying you miss me, I’ll come see you.”
At Ferdi’s words, Tiel’s face brightened. The girl nodded.
“Yes! I’ll study my letters hard, and when I miss you, I’ll write!”
“Tiel, don’t do that—come visit the Academy instead. All right?”
Ludian pushed Ferdi aside and leaned his face toward Tiel.
Ferdi, irritated, rubbed Ludian’s cheek firmly.
“That makes no sense. How would Tiel come visit the Academy?”
“She only needs to come to the entrance! Philip’s sister came to visit the Academy entrance before! You have no idea how jealous I was!”
After a moment’s thought, Tiel clapped her hands and spoke.
“If father permits it, I’ll come visit! To see my brothers!”
Ferdi and Ludian nodded in unison.
“No, Tiel. The Academy is so far away. If something happened on the way there—ow!!!”
Olivier’s mouth, shaking in refusal, was covered by Ludian’s hand.
Olivier and Ludian squabbled without pause. Ferdi, leaving the two of them behind, turned to look at Iandros.
“So, joking aside—what’s the real reason for your visit today?”
Iandros hadn’t been scheduled to visit. If he’d come unannounced, something was certainly the matter.
And Ferdi’s instincts were almost never wrong. Iandros opened his mouth slowly.
“A rumor has spread.”
“…”
“About your sister.”

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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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