The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 55

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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 55
***
Not long after the Crown Prince’s visit, two letters arrived at the Asterian Mansion.
One was a reply from Ali, the painter whom Alpheus had specially sought out, and the other was…….
“Estella?”
Alpheus tilted his head in confusion upon confirming the name written on the letter.
Estella—wasn’t she the imperial family’s exclusive designer? Why would she be sending a letter to the Asterian Mansion?
Alpheus examined the letter.
The message was brief and neat: in five days’ time, she would visit the Asterian Mansion to create a dress for Tiel Asterian.
“Why would she make Tiel’s clothes…….”
Why Estella, of all people?
Could it be that the Emperor had gone to such lengths? That was when Alpheus’s gaze turned sharp as a honed blade.
He recalled the Crown Prince of the Empire, who had unexpectedly celebrated his birthday at the Asterian Mansion not long ago.
‘Was that the right choice?’
‘Still, all’s well that ends well……, if we can dress Tiel in a fine gown.’
And his two grandsons came to mind as well—those two who had shown a somewhat unsettling attitude.
Those grandsons who had been sprawled about with the expression of loan sharks who couldn’t be touched carelessly because they had money to collect.
At the time, he’d assumed it was just a small party among close friends…….
But thinking about it, Ludian aside, Ferdi was not the sort to permit such a thing.
Now that the children had matured, they were different. But when they were a bit younger, didn’t Iandros prowl freely through the Asterian Mansion? He’d raged that he’d burn it all down rather than witness it.
He’d thought that the arrival of his younger sister, the existence of Tiel, had transformed those children…….
Alpheus gazed at the letter in his hand with a cold, contemplative expression.
He was the Head of Household of the Asterian Family and the leader of the Leopard Tribe. That meant…….
“They’ve made a deal, it seems.”
His mind was not slow to turn.
A letter from the imperial family’s exclusive designer, who only made clothes for royalty. And suddenly, his grandsons doing things they hadn’t done before.
A deal. They’d struck a deal.
No doubt they’d extracted Estella’s labor from the Crown Prince in exchange for spending time with him at the Asterian Mansion.
Since the Luminarie was happening this year, they’d likely made this deal hoping to dress Tiel in the most beautiful gown possible.
The scattered puzzle pieces fit together in Alpheus’s mind.
‘Should I be pleased?’
That his grandsons didn’t even treat the Crown Prince of the Empire as a friend, but rather as a trading partner?
Alpheus knew well enough that the Crown Prince and his grandsons were of the same age and got along without formality.
‘I thought they’d become good friends…….’
So he’d been watching with pride…….
Alpheus’s expression grew complicated. And surely the Emperor, who had rejoiced when he heard that Iandros would spend his birthday at the Asterian Mansion, would be equally disheartened by this news.
Alpheus rubbed his face with his rough palm.
Still……. If Ferdi became Head of Household, the Asterian Family would never fall into ruin.
Of that, he was certain.
***
“Didn’t I mention it?”
“You should have, you fool!”
The former was Ferdi, the latter Ludian. Both boys stared at Alpheus with wide eyes.
“So……, you’re saying you spent time with the Crown Prince not as a friend, but for some other reason?”
“What do you mean, Grandfather?”
Ferdi smiled brightly.
When a boy with a face more beautiful than handsome smiled like that, the surroundings seemed to brighten.
Yet those who knew what lay behind that smile did not fall for it.
“He is the Crown Prince of the Empire. How could he possibly be my friend?”
“Most of the time, you don’t even treat him as a crown prince…….”
Alpheus clicked his tongue. Ferdi merely shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t understand.
“It’s a good thing, isn’t it? We needed a dress for Tiel anyway.”
“It is a good thing, but…….”
“Just so you know, Tiel asked for this, and I agreed. It wasn’t about the dress.”
…….
“……Really?”
Ahem.
Alpheus regarded his grandsons with suspicious eyes.
Alpheus was an old friend of the Emperor. Because of this, he knew intimately how Iandros had lived thus far.
For all that he was called the Crown Prince of the Empire, he was still but a boy—Alpheus knew how lonely his life had been, and how lonely it would become.
That was why he had brought his grandsons to his side. He’d believed they could become good friends, since they were of the same age.
And the Emperor too was grateful to Ferdi and Ludian. After all, they were the only two he could call friends.
But…….
Ferdi and Ludian’s faces were as smooth as polished stone. They seemed to think there was nothing wrong with simply having done a good deed.
In truth, there was nothing wrong. Iandros had given fair payment, and the Asterian Family had given fair payment in return. A fair transaction had been completed.
The problem was that these children had drifted far from the original intention of Alpheus and the Emperor, who had hoped they would become ‘good friends.’
Alpheus set the letter aside and looked at Ferdi and Ludian.
“Ferdi, Ludian.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Yes.”
“I know you treat him without formality. The Crown Prince must regard you as friends to permit such conduct.”
Alpheus’s voice was grave—so much so that one would not believe it came from the same man who spoke to Tiel.
“But he is the Crown Prince of the Empire. He is different from you. Even if you are familiar with him, maintain propriety.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“……Yes.”
Unlike Ludian, who showed some reluctance, Ferdi listened to Alpheus’s words with the utmost respect.
Alpheus’s words were not wrong. Still, Ferdi too did not enjoy long lectures.
After briefly assessing the situation, Ferdi swiftly changed the subject.
“By the way, Grandfather, may I ask where the other letter came from?”
“Ah, this one?”
Alpheus picked up the other letter. A faint smile appeared on his face.
“A reply from the Empire’s finest painter. I sought him out to paint Tiel’s portrait.”
“The Empire’s finest painter, you say?”
“Yes, the painter who painted your portrait long ago. His name is Ali.”
Alpheus’s expression was already brimming with anticipation.
“The Crown Prince gave her a dress as a gift, so if we have the portrait painted with her wearing it, that should be perfect!”
“Surely you don’t intend to have just one portrait painted? You’re planning to have several smaller ones made and then give one to me too, right, Grandfather?”
Ludian quickly pressed close to Alpheus’s side.
“Of course! I’ll have several made and give them to all of you!”
Alpheus, his mood brightened, cleanly forgot about what had troubled him just moments before and burst into laughter with Ludian.
Ferdi watched from behind, observing the scene, and then smoothly inserted himself.
He too intended to obtain a portrait of Tiel.
***
“Wow-!”
Tiel’s eyes sparkled.
On the girl’s chest hung the treasure that Iandros had given her recently—the Breath of the Snowy Field.
Though the stem had to be trimmed to craft it into a brooch, what remained was more than sufficient.
After fastening the brooch, Tiel bounced and squealed with joy, letting out cries of “Wow!” and “Ah-mazing!”
And with good reason—the brooch was not just beautiful, it was extraordinarily beautiful.
‘It really does feel wonderful, doesn’t it?’
She hadn’t felt it much at first, but now that she wore it constantly, the power of this treasure became newly apparent.
“How does it look, Lia?”
“It’s absolutely beautiful! It suits you so perfectly, Miss-.”
Lia applauded and showered Tiel with praise.
Tiel smiled brightly and lowered her head to gaze at the brooch. She could only think of it as a thoughtful gift, much like Iandros himself.
“Now, let me fix your hair as well.”
Lia had Tiel sit down and began tending to her hair.
The hair that had been tangled so severely it had to be cut away was now gone, replaced by soft, silky strands that rippled like cotton.
It was thanks to the careful management of the Asterian servants, especially Lia. Even now, there were those who quietly wiped away tears whenever they saw Tiel’s rippling hair.
Lia carefully braided Tiel’s hair and adorned it with a ribbon decorated with pearls.
Though this was not an outing but rather a visit to the one who would make Tiel’s dress, Lia devoted herself entirely to Tiel’s appearance.
It was not mere calculation. Simply put, Miss should be perfect wherever she went…….
“……So cute……, sob.”
……It was calculation after all.
Unable to hold back her feelings at the sight of Tiel’s round, adorable back, Lia clutched at her own chest.
Tiel turned at the strange sound coming from behind her and looked back at Lia.
“Lia?”
“You’re just so adorable, Miss! Goodness, how can you be so cute? It seems like you grow more beautiful each day.”
Lia arranged Tiel’s hair to ensure it wouldn’t be disturbed, then took the girl’s small hand.
“It’s time to go now. The young masters must be waiting.”
“Yes! Let’s hurry!”
Tiel nodded and rose from her seat. Lia naturally followed behind her.
With each light step the girl took, the tied ribbon fluttered like the wings of a butterfly.

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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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