The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 62

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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 62
“Um, how is it?”
Tiel asked carefully, studying the maids’ expressions.
The maids all had their mouths covered or faces hidden behind their hands, making it impossible to read their reactions.
“Is something wrong?”
Just as Tiel finally gave up and lowered her head, a cheer erupted from the maids.
“You’re absolutely adorable, Miss! Oh my goodness, so this is what ‘speechless’ truly means!”
“So, so precious! Simply perfect. This is wonderful…”
“Oh, I’m so glad I work at the Asterian Mansion…”
Emotional voices burst out from all directions. Tiel found herself laughing awkwardly amid the near-tearful maids.
“So that means… it suits me well, yes…?”
“There’s nothing that could suit you better! Estella is a genius!”
A maid with flushed cheeks cried out and gently led Tiel before a grand mirror. Tiel stood facing the enormous glass and beheld her reflection.
“Oh…”
A small gasp escaped Tiel’s lips.
In the mirror stood a girl in a beautiful pale-blue dress.
Tiel examined the dress closely.
The hem of the voluminous skirt was embroidered with golden thread, and dozens of gleaming crystals were set above it, catching light with every movement.
The deep blue ribbon and the dress’s flowing hem that rippled gently with each step were equally exquisite.
‘It’s truly, truly beautiful…’
The most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She began to understand why the maids had been unable to speak, only trembling.
Tiel stood before the great mirror for a long time, unable to move away.
It was unbelievable.
‘I thought I’d never wear something like this in my whole life.’
Just days before arriving at the Asterian Mansion, on the day she first realized she was alive again.
The vast gulf between then—gazing at her wounds in a shattered mirror—and now, standing in a beautiful dress, left her feeling almost disoriented.
“Go show the young masters right away!”
The maids, delighted as if it were their own joy, led Tiel outside. With flushed cheeks, she took their hands and stood before Ferdi and Ludian.
“Brothers!”
At Tiel’s call, both Ferdi and Ludian turned at once.
“Tiel…!”
“One birthday blessing wouldn’t be enough—I’d give another…”
Ludian covered his mouth with the back of his hand like the other maids, while Ferdi stared at Tiel as if entranced.
Tiel approached gracefully and stood before the twins. With each step, her dress hem fluttered like butterfly wings.
“Um, how does it look?”
Her eyes sparkled with hopeful expectation as she asked.
Ferdi broke into a smile, his stern face softening instantly.
“Beautiful. Truly beautiful, my sister.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
At Ferdi’s words, Tiel’s face lit up, and tiny lights burst from her like sparklers—pop, pop, pop.
Ferdi watched with a pleased smile and squeezed Tiel’s hand firmly.
“But before the festival, you’ll need to learn better control over your Ability. We can’t have you sparkling like this in front of others.”
“Yes! Please teach me, brother!”
Tiel nodded eagerly.
Certainly, she was still clumsy in wielding her Ability.
But if Ferdi and Ludian helped her, she would master it before the festival—at least, that’s what the girl believed.
Then it happened.
“Tiel!”
“Eek!”
Ludian scooped Tiel into his arms and spun her around. She yelped in surprise and clung to his neck.
“My sister is so adorable, what shall I do? I can’t let strange fellows get any ideas about you!”
“But brother, you’re holding me like this—who would dare look twice?”
…They probably wouldn’t even glance, Tiel thought wisely, swallowing the rest.
Ludian set her down carefully so the dress wouldn’t wrinkle.
Tiel glanced at the mirror once more, then scurried over to Ferdi and spoke earnestly, counting on her fingers.
“I must remember to thank Ian when I see him… and ask if he liked my gift!”
“You’ll see him at the festival. Ian will be attending the Luminarie too.”
“Really!”
Tiel’s face colored with anticipation.
She wanted so badly to tell Ian her thanks as soon as possible.
And—
‘I should ask if he liked my present…’
In truth, that was what she most wanted to know. Had Ian truly enjoyed her gift?
Since Ian was kind, he might say he liked it even if he didn’t…
At that thought, Tiel’s eyes scrunched up slightly.
Then the dressing room door swung open.
Tiel, by now quite accustomed, didn’t startle at the sudden opening.
“Tiel!”
“My dear.”
The newcomers were, as expected, Alpheus and Cassius.
Alpheus’s eyes widened at the sight of his granddaughter in the intricately tailored dress.
He quickly approached and scooped her into his arms. Tiel naturally wound her arms around her grandfather’s neck.
The men of the Asterian household had lifted her so many times that by now, being held felt more natural than standing.
Tiel nestled her face affectionately close to Alpheus’s.
“Grandfather! Didn’t you say you were busy?”
Alpheus was indeed consumed with festival preparations. Recently, he hadn’t even managed to join them for evening meals.
Tiel regarded him with equal parts joy and concern. Alpheus chuckled softly and replied.
“My granddaughter received a new dress—how could I not come see? A meeting is nothing in comparison!”
“That’s not quite accurate. Tiel, your grandfather abandoned an important meeting, but you are more important than any meeting.”
Cassius, standing nearby, corrected him gently.
Tiel’s eyes curved into crescents. Cradled in her grandfather’s arms, she reached out to Cassius.
“Father!”
“Beautiful, Tiel. I dare say of all the girls in this empire, none could be lovelier than you.”
Cassius pressed a light kiss to Tiel’s forehead. In the same instant, the warmest light in the world sprang from her hand like a fountain—bubbling softly forth.
Yet no one reproached her for it. Alpheus swept back her bangs and spoke.
“I’ve commissioned the empire’s finest portrait painter! I shall have him paint you in this dress, and the canvas will hang on the walls of the Asterian Mansion!”
“Will I get one too?”
“Of course, you’ll have one.”
“Don’t forget me either.”
“Yes, I’ll paint you too, Ferdi.”
Alpheus, Ludian, and Ferdi exchanged words in good spirits.
Though Tiel didn’t quite understand what a “portrait” was exactly, she nodded along happily seeing her brothers pleased.
‘As long as my brothers are happy, that’s all that matters!’
At least, that was all that mattered to Tiel.
***
“Where’s Rowen?”
“Don’t ask. She refuses to leave her room. Why did Father have to dismiss the governess…”
Cornelia clicked her tongue in disapproval.
Ever since Chender had dismissed Zairah, Rowen had barricaded herself in her room and refused to see her father.
She’d wept that she wouldn’t eat unless Zairah returned, and only after Cornelia had coaxed her at length did she finally eat.
Chender’s face twisted as if something displeased him greatly, his already fierce expression growing more forbidding.
“Bah! One governess is easily replaced! You shouldn’t indulge her either—you’ll spoil the child.”
“How can I not indulge her? She’ll be the next Head of Household of Nestian.”
A thread of pride wove through Cornelia’s voice.
‘The Head of Household of Nestian’—neither Rowen nor Chender could fathom how much that meant to Cornelia.
Only Cornelia herself could truly understand.
Chender quickly detected the emotion in his daughter’s tone and raised an eyebrow.
“Which is precisely why you shouldn’t indulge her. The more you give in, the more spoiled she becomes.”
Cornelia blinked as if bewildered by his words.
Indeed, Cornelia had never shown Rowen much attention.
It was Chender, not Cornelia, who had lavished attention on Rowen and granted her every whim, ruining her disposition!
And now here was Chender, lecturing Cornelia about not spoiling the child! To her, it was the height of absurdity.
Yet she did not contradict or dispute him. Cornelia skillfully concealed her feelings.
“I’ll be careful.”
“Good. The Luminarie approaches. We can’t afford to be found fault with. Keep the girl in line until then.”
Cornelia was heir to Chender’s position as Head of Household of Nestian, and when Cornelia assumed that role, Rowen would become the next Head of Household in her turn.
Therefore, they could not be criticized at the Luminarie.
For the Luminarie was a festival in honor of Lucette, the god of light, and at the same time an event to demonstrate that the five great houses sustaining the empire remained strong.
“Rowen must be flawless!”
Like his daughter Rena, of whom he was so proud!
His thin lips pressed together, his sharp eyes narrowed with stubborn resolve.
Cornelia turned her gaze away from Chender.

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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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