The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 79

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

Chapter 79
Days slipped away like arrows.
After the fireworks, Ferdi, Ludian, Olivier, and Tiel decided they’d exhausted everything Luminarie had to offer and refused to leave the mansion.
It was a wise choice.
“……Really?”
Thanks to Alpheus and Cassius, the children had to be escorted everywhere by an enormous retinue of knights.
It was astounding enough that such a force could move through the Capital itself—let alone mobilize them as bodyguards for children, as if marching to war.
To be precise, they were attached to Tiel.
When Ludian stepped out for a moment on his own business, not half of the Asterian knights standing by made a move to follow.
Though Ludian had no intention of dragging a retinue along, the moment the knights failed to stir, his feelings hurt, he announced he wasn’t going after all and flung himself back down—and so the children ended up remaining in the mansion for the entire duration of the festival.
And so came the final day of the festival.
“Are we going home today?” Tiel asked, watching Lia arrange her hair.
Lia caught her eye in the mirror and smiled warmly.
“Yes, you’ll be returning home today. The servants have packed all your things. You should be able to leave right after the closing ceremony. Will you miss it?”
“Hmm……”
Tiel pondered the question.
During her time in Luminarie, she had indeed built countless memories with her siblings.
So of course there was some sadness in leaving……
“No.”
The girl shook her head firmly, her lips pressed together.
“Really? I thought you adored the Capital!”
“Of course I love it—it’s a wonderful place. But……”
Tiel paused mid-sentence, her thoughts drifting to the Asterian Mansion in the Asterian Territory.
The massive mansion with its grand facade, the beautiful gardens, the corridors she’d grown so fond of, her own room……
The Capital was lovely, certainly. But there could be no place in this world more precious than the Asterian Mansion.
For Tiel, the Asterian Mansion was the finest place—the place she most longed to return to, the place that made her know, even if she were to leave someday, that she would always come back.
Understanding the girl’s heart, Lia smiled knowingly and finished arranging her hair.
She parted it into two sections and braided it neatly, then tied two large yellow ribbons into her locks, making the girl’s loveliness all the more radiant.
“There, all done.”
At Lia’s words, Tiel, who had been sitting quietly on the bed, jumped up.
“Do you like it?”
Lia held up a small hand mirror before the girl’s eyes. Tiel nodded without hesitation.
“I always love it—you’re truly the best, Lia……!”
“My, really? How delightful.”
Tiel was wearing Estella’s Dress, which Iandros had given her.
It was a different dress from the one she’d worn on the first day—made of yellow fabric adorned with ribbons and lace, emphasizing her cuteness to the fullest. It was utterly precious.
With her hair braided prettily and matching yellow ribbons tied through it, she looked just like a little doll.
Tiel held Lia’s hand tightly as they descended the stairs.
“Tiel!”
Ludian, waiting at the bottom, reached to scoop her up—then paused.
“……Tiel.”
“Yes?”
“You’re too adorable today. Isn’t it dangerous? Maybe we should remove this ribbon……”
“Stop talking nonsense and get out of the way, Ludian.”
Ferdi dismissed him with a quiet rebuke, then gently tapped one of the ribbons in Tiel’s hair.
“Tiel, you really are precious.”
“Thank you! You look wonderful too, brother!”
At first, Tiel had been shy about receiving compliments, unsure how to respond. Now she returned them with the ease of habit, as naturally as water flowing.
She had learned it in the Asterian Mansion—to be loved, to be praised, and to praise in turn.
This small change made the Asterian servants adore the little girl even more.
Today was the last day of Luminarie, and Olivier had to attend the closing ceremony, so Wolfgang was already at his mansion.
The children boarded the carriage without waiting.
Cassius and Alpheus would arrive in a separate carriage, so the three children could depart alone.
The moment they climbed aboard, the coachman urged the horses forward without further delay.
Cassius and Alpheus had left ahead by carriage, so they had to make good speed to keep up.
Tiel sat quietly, carefully holding her dress hem, and gazed out the window at the passing scenery.
Today marked a farewell to the Capital.
***
The people of the Krasion Empire, the five Great Houses, and their subordinate families gathered once more in the Square.
Tiel stood at the Asterian platform and looked toward where the Emperor stood.
‘It’s Iandros!’
She had been worried when he’d gone in without word, but fortunately he looked all right……
‘Huh?’
Tiel squinted.
Something was clearly off about Iandros’s state.
Seeing her reaction, Ferdi and Ludian leaned close and whispered near her ear.
“Tiel, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing—Iandros just seems a bit odd today……”
At her words, Ferdi and Ludian turned their gaze toward Iandros Krasion in the distance.
He wore his usual clothes, but today his expression was strangely vacant, his eyes unfocused.
“You’re right, something’s off.”
Ferdi murmured.
“He’ll figure it out on his own. He’s the Crown Prince, after all.”
Ludian said casually, but fell quiet when Ferdi shot him a look.
Tiel ignored her brothers and continued studying Iandros’s expression. It was so dark that the area around him seemed shadowed.
While sunlight fell brightly everywhere else in the Square, the space around Iandros was curiously dimmed and gloomy.
As if darkness itself had swallowed him whole……
As Tiel’s worried eyes remained fixed on him, Ferdi placed a gentle hand on her small shoulder and spoke softly.
“If you’re that worried, let’s go see Iandros after the ceremony. You can’t go now anyway.”
Tiel nodded at Ferdi’s words.
Iandros was currently standing beside the Emperor in the Crown Prince’s place, so there was no way for Tiel to approach and check on him now.
‘All right, I’ll ask after it’s over.’
For now, she would wait.
Having decided that, Tiel turned her head and looked at the Heads of Household of each Great House.
The closing ceremony was shorter than the opening one.
While the opening had been grand and elaborate and noisy, the closing proceeded calmly, as if settling and soothing the excitement of the festival days.
And whatever Alpheus told the Emperor, he did not call Tiel forward during the closing ceremony.
Thanks to that, Tiel was able to watch in peace.
Then.
“……!”
Her eyes met those of Chender, Cornelia, and Rowen from Nestian across the way.
Rowen’s eyes were oddly inflamed and swollen to a pitiful degree. Since Tiel had never seen her look like that before, she could only stare at the girl with wide eyes.
‘What……?’
Rowen had hardly ever cried at the Nestian Mansion.
Before she could even desire anything, Chender and Cornelia would grant it.
‘But she cried……’
Tiel found Rowen’s reddened eyes pitiful, and yet, in a small corner of her heart, a very small corner indeed, felt a certain satisfaction……
Though she quickly reproached herself for such a terrible thought and silently apologized to Rowen.
In any case.
Tiel looked at Nestian once, then turned her gaze elsewhere. She didn’t feel like watching them long just yet.
Her eyes naturally drifted to Iandros’s face……
That was when it happened.
A tremendous roar and shockwave tore across the massive Square in an instant.

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