The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 64

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 64
The carriage sped into the Capital and came to a halt.
The horses hitched to the Asterian Family’s carriage had been gifted by Wolfgang and blessed with the Wind Ability, which was why they moved far faster than any ordinary team.
“We’ve arrived, Tiel.”
“Already……?”
Tiel stirred groggily and asked. They’d only just left, or so it seemed—how could they be here already?
‘Wolfgang’s Ability really is something extraordinary.’
Tiel blinked away the sleep from her eyes and rose from her seat.
Ludian, watching her, scooped her up effortlessly and carried her down from the carriage.
“If you’re tired, you can sleep more inside. Go on, rest.”
Tiel yawned while nestled in Ludian’s arms, her small mouth opening to reveal tiny pointed fangs.
The girl rubbed her drowsy eyes and looked around.
The Asterian knights were drawn up in formation on either side, and a line of household servants stood waiting at the entrance to the Villa.
It was exactly as it had been when they left the Asterian Mansion……. Tiel’s eyes widened a little in surprise.
A man positioned at the very front stepped forward and bowed.
“Welcome, Cassius, Ferdi, Ludian, and…….”
He turned his gaze to Tiel.
“Tiel.”
Tiel regarded the man quietly. His clothes resembled those worn by Ferdi.
“I am Rozher, butler of this Villa. It is my pleasure to serve you, miss.”
Rozher smiled gently at Tiel.
Everyone except Tiel already knew Rozher.
It was only natural—whenever Cassius, Ferdi, or Ludian had reason to stay in the Capital, they always lodged here at the Villa.
Tiel was the only one meeting him for the first time. Still cradled in Ludian’s arms, she nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Rozher!”
Rozher’s smile broadened. He bowed deeply and gestured toward the Villa’s interior with one hand.
“Please, come inside. Everything has been prepared as instructed.”
“Good work.”
Cassius gave a nod of approval.
Rozher, his smile never wavering, bowed once more and inquired with formal courtesy.
“When will the Head of Household arrive?”
“Father will finish his business and arrive this evening.”
Rozher nodded and withdrew. Cassius turned back.
“Tiel, I’ve had them prepare a room for you. Go see it.”
“A room for me?”
“Yes, somewhere for you to stay while we’re here. If anything is uncomfortable, let us know.”
“Understood!”
Tiel nodded.
Cassius seemed to have pressing business elsewhere and disappeared into the Villa.
Ludian and Ferdi, familiar with the Villa’s layout, carried Tiel up the stairs.
“Where exactly is Tiel’s room?”
“Right beside your rooms, sirs.”
The maid’s answer brightened both twins’ expressions. Ludian murmured, ‘I approve of the arrangement,’ to himself.
Without bothering to stop at their own rooms, Ludian and Ferdi headed straight for Tiel’s.
They swept past the waiting maids and flung open the door to their sister’s room.
“Wow……!”
Tiel’s eyes went wide at the sight before her.
The room was somewhat smaller and more modest than the one she had at the Asterian Mansion, yet it was clear the Villa’s servants had gone to extraordinary lengths in its preparation.
The walls were painted in soft, soothing pastels suited to a child’s taste, and the wide-open windows held layers of Suncatchers that scattered light in every direction.
Charming furniture was arranged throughout the space, and moreover—
“The sofa is so tiny!”
A perfectly diminutive sofa, scaled exactly to Tiel’s small frame, sat in the center of the room.
Tiel hopped down from Ludian’s arms and explored every corner of the space.
There was an adjoining room off to one side, and it was piled high with new toys.
“This must be a playroom!”
“It’s quite nice actually. Perfect for Tiel to stay in.”
The former remark came from Ludian, the latter from Ferdi. Seeing the mountain of toys, Tiel’s cheeks flushed with delight.
“Look at this! There are the cutest dolls here!”
“And here’s an ugly doll that looks exactly like Ferdi.”
“This stupid-looking leopard doll is a perfect match for Ludian.”
The twins each grabbed a doll they deemed the ugliest and began growling at one another.
Tiel, now fully acclimated to her two brothers, hugged a doll to her chest regardless of their antics.
Then it happened.
Flash—!
A brilliant light suddenly burst from Tiel’s palm.
Ferdi and Ludian forgot their quarrel at once and stared at her hand.
“Tiel, why so suddenly?”
Ferdi’s eyebrows rose questioningly. Tiel, flustered, shook her head urgently.
“I—I didn’t do it.”
Tiel hadn’t called upon her Ability. Her power had activated of its own accord.
“That’s strange.”
Tiel tilted her head, clenching and unclenching her fist.
But the light didn’t fade—if anything, it blazed brighter.
‘This is odd.’
She’d practiced controlling her Ability with Ferdi and Ludian.
Though she couldn’t yet master it completely, summoning and dismissing her power at will came fairly easily to her now.
‘But this is like……’
My power is responding without my will.
Like when it resonated with Lucette’s divine presence in the Temple.
The fragments of light colliding and sparkling in her palm transformed into a small school of fish that circled around Tiel in glowing spirals.
“What’s happening……?”
Bewildered, Tiel tilted her head and watched the fish. They swam in formation around her, indifferent to her confusion.
“Could the Pope have come downstairs?”
Ludian spoke without thinking.
“Why would the Pope come here? You’re talking nonsense.”
“But how else would Tiel’s Ability react like that?”
At Ludian’s words, Ferdi’s eyes narrowed as he watched Tiel.
Her Ability continued to circle around her, wholly independent of her will.
……As if protecting her from something.
‘Protecting?’
Suddenly, the school of fish that had filled the room with light swam back into Tiel’s palm in a flash.
“Oh, it stopped!”
Tiel nodded as she watched the fragments of light absorbed back into her hand.
The fish-shaped particles of light, as if nothing had happened, docilely swam back into Tiel’s body and vanished.
“It’s done now! But I wonder why that happened…….”
Tiel’s Ability was fundamentally different from that of others.
While others wielded their Abilities merely as tools, Tiel could commune with the light-fish she created.
It was a truly remarkable power, but because Tiel had never mentioned it, Ferdi and Ludian remained unaware that she could communicate with her creations.
Cautiously, Tiel activated her Ability again.
A single small fish popped from her palm and swam in circles before her nose.
‘Why did it suddenly appear?’
Tiel gently brought her index finger toward the fish. It greeted her like an old friend, pressing its head against her fingertip.
[Power…….]
A voice—barely a whisper—came through to her. Tiel closed her eyes and focused harder on the sound.
But the voice didn’t continue. She opened her eyes again and sent the fish back into her embrace.
“Tiel, what were you just doing?”
“I was trying to figure out why my Ability activated…….”
Tiel frowned. The voice she’d just heard was far too faint and indistinct to explain to Ferdi and Ludian.
“But I couldn’t. Is it because I still can’t control my Ability perfectly?”
“I don’t think it’s your fault. Something here in the Capital resonated with your power. It could even be that Ludian was right and the Pope really has come…….”
Just then, someone knocked lightly on the door.
“Come in.”
At Ludian’s permission, the door swung open. All three children turned to look at the maid entering.
The maid curtsied and bowed before speaking clearly.
“Your Highness, Crown Prince Iandros has arrived. Shall I show him to your room?”
“Iandros?”
Ferdi echoed the name, and the maid nodded. Ferdi let out a dry chuckle and waved a hand dismissively.
‘We’d see him tomorrow anyway. I suppose I can forgive his impatience.’
Ferdi turned back to Tiel.
At the mention of Iandros, Tiel was already reacting, as if ready to spring up at any moment.
For some reason, this irritated Ferdi, but…….
“We’ll head downstairs. He’s in the reception room, right? Let’s go, Tiel. It seems Iandros wants to see you.”
Ferdi smiled gently and offered his hand to Tiel. Tiel grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Let’s go down right away!”
Tiel’s eyes sparkled like precious gems.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————