The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 70

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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 70
“……What did I say wrong?”
Olivie was the first to speak. Ferdi turned to her and snapped sharply.
“Olivie!”
“But that’s not it! Sir, have you perhaps been forgetting things lately, or maybe having trouble speaking……?”
Olivie, however, paid no mind and continued.
Indeed, Olivie was a girl who discarded courtesy like waste even before the Head of the Nestian household—and a duke at that.
There was no reason she would bow to Iker, who stood on equal ground with Wolfgang.
In the end, Ferdi and Ludian bore the shame for failing to stop their cousin.
Yet Ferdi and Ludian did not believe Olivie’s words were wrong.
Only the method was mistaken.
Ludian cleared his throat and asked with solemn propriety and courtesy.
“Duke, I apologize for asking such a thing—or rather, I beg your pardon.”
“…….”
“Perhaps the breakfast menu this morning was…….”
“Hey.”
Ferdi quickly pinched the back of Ludian’s hand. The spot reddened and swelled at once.
Ludian could only retreat, his eyes welling with tears, having gained nothing for his trouble.
“Please forgive our rudeness, Duke.”
Ferdi smiled smoothly.
The Head of the Iker household raised his eyebrows at Ferdi’s words.
‘Forgive our rudeness?’
Normally, one would say ‘Please forgive our rudeness,’ wouldn’t one?
It seemed the lack of propriety extended beyond just his own son. Yet the Head of House Iker, with adult restraint, did not show it.
“It’s fine. My son was wrong first.”
“Yes, that is something you should correct.”
Ferdi spoke on, measured and careful.
“My younger sister has manifested a Light Ability and is the sole princess of the Asterian ducal house. She is not a child to be disrespected by street rabble.”
That was the reality of it.
With those words, Ferdi ended his speech and grabbed Tiel’s hand with a bright smile.
At the sight, the Head of House Iker felt his insides turn.
‘What shameless behavior!’
The boy had just called the rightful heir of House Iker ‘street rabble’ before his very face.
And this was utterly unforgivable rudeness!
Ferdi Asterian—this boy was the heir of House Asterian.
So to some degree, a certain indulgence in arrogance was permissible. The name Asterian alone entitled him to it.
But it was another matter when it was before him. No matter the difference in rank between a duchy and a marquessate.
‘What does rank matter?’
In other empires, perhaps it mattered. But not in the Crasion Empire.
In this empire, ranks rose and fell—even disappeared—according to the strength one possessed.
If he defeated the Head of House Asterian at tomorrow’s tournament, House Iker could claim the ducal title.
Of course, with the difference in power, such a thing wouldn’t happen. But still, a mere heir shouldn’t conduct himself with such arrogance before a household head. That was the point.
The Head of House Iker shot a glare at his own son.
‘That fool has ruined everything.’
There was one reason the Head of House Iker had come here: to see Tiel Asterian and take note of her.
Some time ago, rumors had spread that another legend concerning the Light Ability existed.
According to the rumor, the child who possessed the Light Ability could make their Abilities stronger.
Of course, the rumor had been garbled and distorted as it passed through Nestian’s mouth, but other houses, including Iker, believed it.
That was why he had come to see Tiel.
‘She is a girl.’
So someday she would have to leave House Asterian, marry a man from another family, and establish her own household.
And if that family were Iker, it would be ideal—more so because his son and the heirs of Asterian were of similar age!
But circumstances had deteriorated beyond any remedy. The Head of House Iker opened and closed his mouth several times as if to say something to Ferdi, then shut it.
No matter how young Ferdi was, he was the heir of Asterian.
A head of another house could not simply instruct an Asterian heir. The Head of House Iker swallowed his anger and stepped back.
“Very well. I’ll have a word with him.”
He turned his head and gazed at the small girl nestled in her brothers’ arms.
“Your name is Tiel?”
“Yes? Yes, it is.”
“I’ll see you again next time.”
“Why, sir?”
Olivie interjected suddenly, but the Head of House Iker suppressed his fury and deliberately ignored her words.
“Let’s go.”
The moment he finished speaking, numerous knights turned and followed him.
“W-wait, let’s go together!”
Sterling, who had been watching from the sidelines, scrambled after his father.
When the Iker knights who had filled the street disappeared, people gradually began to emerge.
“They’re gone!”
“Why bring so many knights out on a day like this?”
“Shh! Keep your voice down!”
The murmur of the crowd rose up.
During Luminarie, it was customary to bring a minimal retinue when venturing into the streets.
This allowed one to blend naturally with the citizens enjoying the festival.
Yet the Head of House Iker had behaved as though such conventions meant nothing to him. The people thought—wasn’t that man the truly arrogant one?
“Tiel, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. He said he didn’t see because he was looking away, so it can’t be helped.”
Tiel spoke with innocent simplicity.
After all, how could one blame someone for turning away when they turned away? That would be unreasonable.
So instead of reproaching him, Tiel said:
“Next time we meet, I must show him my Ability……since he didn’t see it!”
Tiel spoke with a bright smile, and at the sight, Olivie, Ferdi, and Ludian beamed with pride as they ruffled their younger sister’s hair.
“My, how have you grown so well, our Tiel?”
“That’s right! Next time we meet, show him right before his eyes! Or you should have shown him when the Duke was here!”
“If you’d shown your Ability then, he would’ve foamed at the mouth!”
The knights of Wolfgang and those of House Asterian, who listened quietly to the children’s chatter, wore ambiguous expressions.
So the sweet young lady was, after all, Asterian blood…….
The young of a beast is a beast. Such was the order of nature.
They felt the slightest pity for the Head of House Iker, who had vanished like an enraged bull.
Though only the slightest. After all, they were knights of Wolfgang and House Asterian.
“Come on, Tiel. Is there anything you’d like to eat? Your brother will buy it for you.”
Ferdi gently led Tiel. With her hand in his, she walked down the street in quick, small steps.
“Something to eat? Well, this is my first time in a place like this, so I don’t know what there is.”
“Then first!”
Olivie dashed to the nearest shop and grabbed two lollipops.
They were candies with small jewel-like pieces of sugar studded throughout and a soft dusting of white sugar powder like snow.
“Here, Tiel!”
Olivie held out the candies to Tiel with a bright smile.
The knight standing at the front of Wolfgang’s group reached into his pocket, produced a coin, and paid for the candies Olivie had taken.
“A lollipop?”
“A lollipop! Try it quick! You can’t eat something like this once you’re back at the mansion!”
Tiel flinched at Olivie’s words and accepted the candy.
‘True enough……if it were Lia.’
She would refuse such candy, saying it was bad for her health.
But the candy looked far too pretty and sweet to refuse……. Tiel cautiously gave it a small lick.
“……!”
“How is it? Delicious, right? Delicious!”
Olivie asked in a voice brimming with excitement. Tiel nodded with wide eyes.
“It’s delicious!”
“See? When else would we get to eat something like this!”
“You eat it all the time outside.”
“Don’t spoil the mood, Ludian.”
Olivie spoke firmly.
Ferdi watched for a moment as Tiel put the candy in her mouth, looking happy, then turned to Olivie.
“But why just two?”
“Huh?”
“You’re the only one? What about mine and Ludian’s?”
“You’re rolling in money anyway?”
Olivie’s eyes narrowed sharply. Yet she quickly dashed back to the shop and returned with two more candies in hand.
“Eat up, you pig.”
“That’d be you, pig.”
A precious sight—a wolf and a black leopard bickering, calling each other pig.
The knight who had produced a coin earlier to pay for the candies produced one again.
The expression on his face looked oddly serene.

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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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