The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 52

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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 52
“Happy birthday, Ian!”
Tiel rushed forward cheerfully to greet him.
Ian moved to embrace her as he normally would, but hesitated when he caught sight of two brothers standing behind her, and quietly lowered his arms instead.
“How have you been?”
“Great! Really great! Look at this!”
Tiel gripped Ian’s sleeve tightly and opened her small palm to reveal something.
Her expression was full of confidence.
A burst of brilliant light—
In the next instant, a small glow erupted from Tiel’s palm.
The light quickly took the form of a fish, swimming gracefully within the hollow of her hand.
The corners of Ian’s mouth lifted slightly as he watched.
‘It’s grown.’
The last time he’d seen it, the fins had been noticeably shorter.
Now the fins had lengthened considerably, and the fish had taken on a rather respectable form.
It was clear that in that brief span of time, Tiel’s Ability had developed in ways worthy of note.
This was precisely what Tiel had wanted to show him.
“It’s grown so much! It’s still far too weak to call it Lucette’s power yet, but… with more effort, I’ll be able to create something far more magnificent!”
Tiel whispered excitedly.
To Tiel, Ian was more than a benefactor.
A light vast enough to shine equally upon the entire world would naturally be recognized by all.
But a light on the verge of extinguishing is not easily perceived—and even less so when it has yet to truly shine.
Yet Ian had not overlooked her. He had not merely passed her by; he had saved her.
He had not hesitated to make the long journey to Asterian, bringing her here, and had continued to visit afterward, offering her his aid.
How could such a person possibly be described merely as a benefactor? To Tiel, Ian was something far greater.
Sensing dimly that he occupied such a place in her heart, Ian reached out and gently stroked her small head.
“You did well, Tiel. You’re remarkable, so you’ll master your power in no time.”
“Yes!”
“But don’t push yourself too hard. As I always say, there’s no need for you to strain yourself.”
The girl nodded with a smile at his familiar, gentle tone.
“I won’t! Don’t worry!”
“Then let’s head inside. Otherwise we’ll be standing here all day.”
Ian took Tiel’s hand gently. She accepted it without hesitation, clasping his in return.
Oliver, observing this quietly, tilted his head toward Ludian’s ear and whispered.
“Hey, they seem closer than you two.”
“Be quiet.”
“What if our sister gets stolen?”
“Don’t worry, Oliver.”
This time it was Ferdi.
“That won’t happen.”
Ferdi smiled smoothly, looking every inch the flawless young master of a distinguished house.
Even though everyone present knew his character had its flaws.
***
“…Wow.”
Oliver was the first to speak.
An array of dishes far more elaborate and resplendent than anything they’d eaten before lay spread across the table in countless varieties.
Born of the blood, sweat, and tears of the Asterian cooks who had suddenly been ordered to prepare a feast befitting the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration…
“Blood and sweat? Saying it that way makes me lose my appetite…”
Ludian scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?”
“I have a delicate stomach.”
“Then simply don’t eat.”
“Your Highness, trying to sound refined doesn’t make your words any kinder.”
Ian smiled slightly and took the seat of honor. Normally, the master of the house would occupy such a seat, but neither could the Crown Prince take a lesser position.
“Come here, Tiel. Sit beside me.”
Ferdi sat down next to Ian and pulled back the adjacent chair for her.
A servant who had been standing by with a thick cushion to make Tiel’s seating comfortable stepped forward with the cushion.
“No, not there. Over here.”
At the Crown Prince’s command, the servant’s footsteps stopped abruptly. He quickly placed the cushion beside Ian’s seat instead.
A man of quick judgment, indeed.
“…”
Not even Ferdi, Ludian, and Oliver had a word to say this time.
It wasn’t because he was the Crown Prince. It was simply that today…
“Since it’s my birthday, you all have no objections, yes?”
There were no objections. There wouldn’t be.
And yet…
‘Why is he being so tiresome today?’
Ludian watched him with bewilderment. Ian had always been tiresome, but today he seemed especially so.
Without demurring, Tiel took her seat beside Ian.
Before the meal began, Ian nodded slightly.
“Cedric.”
At his summons, Ian’s aide Cedric appeared from somewhere and bowed.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Bring what you prepared.”
Cedric bowed. As he whispered something to a nearby servant, the servant hastily left the Dining Hall.
The other children stared openly at Ian and chattered among themselves.
“What’d he bring?”
“A meal ticket?”
“We agreed to pay you with a dress. He’s not about to hand over something strange and call it even…”
Ferdi’s eyes narrowed. Ian’s gaze turned toward him.
Before, it had seemed like Ferdi at least was conscious of Ian being the Crown Prince.
Now they all seemed to have lost any such awareness. Not that he particularly minded…
Tiel turned her head away from her chattering siblings, having left Ian to his own devices. The servant who had departed moments earlier was returning, carrying something in hand.
“A box?”
More precisely, it resembled a Jewel Box. The servant carrying the ornately decorated Jewel Box handed it to Cedric.
Who then handed it to Ian. An inefficient chain of custody, it seemed.
“Tiel, this is your gift.”
Ian took the Jewel Box and offered it to Tiel.
Tiel’s eyes widened.
“For me? But today isn’t my birthday…?”
“I want to give it to you, so take it.”
Tiel carefully accepted the Jewel Box. Ian tilted his head as if to ask why she wasn’t opening it already.
Urged on, her small hands fumbled with the clasp.
Click.
A soft sound of unlocking came, the box’s lid lifted, and its contents were revealed.
“…This is…”
Tiel’s eyes went wide as saucers the moment she recognized what lay within.
The other children, too, widened their eyes upon identifying the object.
“!”
“That’s…”
“Good heavens.”
There was no mistaking it.
This was a treasure of Nestian, found only in Nestian’s territory.
“The Breath of the Snow Field…”
Tiel murmured softly.
The flower bearing the grand name of Breath of the Snow Field was among the last of its kind remaining in Nestian—a true treasure of the realm.
And for good reason: it bloomed only once every hundred years, and only between the cracks of the Ice Cliff.
But the flower’s value lay in something else.
No heat could wilt it, and it possessed the Ability to lower the body temperature of whoever carried it.
In other words, it was precisely what Tiel needed now.
“How could you possibly have…”
Tiel asked carefully.
The Breath of the Snow Field was so rare that even those bearing the name of Nestian’s house would struggle to catch a glimpse of it.
So how could he possibly have…?
“I received it as a gift long ago. Nestian presented it to the Royal House, and His Majesty gave it to me.”
The younger Ian had been sensitive to heat, after all. Though he was not anymore.
“Since His Majesty gave it to me, it is mine. But now that I have given it to you, it belongs to you.”
“But why are you giving this to me…? Today is your birthday, so you should be receiving gifts, not…”
Her question was tentative.
Ian answered at once.
“Because you need it.”
Ian withdrew the flower that resembled ice, called the Breath of the Snow Field, and placed it in the front pocket of Tiel’s dress.
A cool breeze swept across her instantly. Tiel’s face relaxed naturally.
“It’s refreshing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, yes! It really is so refreshing.”
Tiel nodded.
“Good, then.”
Ian spoke as if it were nothing of importance.
The other children still wore expressions of shock. Ferdi’s was particularly pronounced.
“I… I…”
“…”
“How didn’t I think of that?”
Ludian murmured. The Breath of the Snow Field! With just that, our Tiel could stay comfortable and cool!
That he, Tiel’s own brother, had thought of it later than Ian was a shame upon the Asterian Family!
Oliver, understanding Ludian’s sentiment, nodded sympathetically and patted his back.
“Don’t worry. You’re too stupid to have thought of it anyway.”
Understanding, but hardly consoling.
Ludian and Oliver began scuffling viciously, grabbing at each other’s hair as if ready for a brawl.
In the meantime, Tiel, who had been toying with the flower tucked in her chest for some time, looked up at Ian with a radiant smile.
“Let’s eat! I prepared a gift for you too!”
Tiel smiled as she recalled the gift she had prepared in advance. Her fair, soft cheeks flushed a gentle pink.

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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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