The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 85

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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 85
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“Tiel, I intend to pass the position of Head of Household of the Black Leopard Clan to you.”
At Alpheus’s sudden declaration, Tiel’s eyes widened and she tilted her head slightly.
“……Pardon?”
“I intend to pass the position of Head of Household of Asterian to you, Tiel.”
“……?”
Did I mishear that?
Tiel paused to consider carefully whether she might be dreaming at this very moment.
The sunlight streaming down felt warm, and the breeze drifting through the window was refreshing—so it didn’t seem like a dream.
‘Why… why is he saying this?’
Tiel looked at Alpheus with obvious confusion and asked.
“Why… why me?”
“Because that way you won’t have to enter the Imperial Palace.”
“……The Imperial Palace?”
“Yes.”
Alpheus spoke firmly. Tiel set down the cookie she’d been holding and eating—studded with raisins—and gazed at him.
“Because I’ve been Imprinted with Ian?”
“Yes. Since you’ve been Imprinted with the Crown Prince, you’ll become the Crown Princess.”
“……Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I……”
She would have to live in the Imperial Palace?
That… she didn’t want that. The Emperor had been kind, and Ian was nothing short of gentle, but living in the Imperial Palace meant she would have to leave Asterian.
She had only just found her family, and she was living happily with them—the thought of being separated so suddenly made her heart ache.
And besides.
“……Grandfather.”
“Yes, go ahead and speak.”
“Ian hasn’t… woken up yet, has he?”
“No, he hasn’t woken up yet.”
Then… didn’t that mean Ian didn’t know he’d been Imprinted with her?
He’d been unconscious when the incident occurred, and he’d been lying dormant ever since.
‘Oh no…’
What if he woke up and became angry with her for Imprinting with him?
Tiel swore—she had never intended to Imprint with Ian.
In a situation where so few Beast Clan Members remained who even knew how to Imprint, there was no way a seven-year-old Tiel could have learned the method and Imprinted with Ian.
Moreover, Imprinting was not something accomplished by one’s will alone. The hearts of two Beast Clan Members had to align perfectly, and several other conditions had to be met before Imprinting could truly occur.
That was why the Imprinting between Ian and Tiel was only a partial Imprinting.
In any case, unaware of these facts, Tiel swallowed hard at the thought of Ian waking and interrogating her about the Imprinting.
Seeing his granddaughter’s expression grow darker by the moment, Alpheus raised his eyebrows and asked.
“Tiel? What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Grandfather……”
“Yes! Your grandfather is right here. Tell me freely, yes?”
“What if Ian… resents me when he wakes?”
“……?”
“According to what you and the Emperor said, I Imprinted with him without his consent, didn’t I……?”
At that, Alpheus stepped forward, lifted Tiel from the sofa in one motion, and held her.
He then set her on his knee and, holding her gently, stroked her small back softly as he spoke.
“Tiel, there’s no need to worry about that. Imprinting isn’t something you alone can make happen—I don’t know what transpired during that event, but because the Crown Prince accepted it, your Imprinting has been established.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. It’s not you who should be submissive, but the Crown Prince himself. He put you in such danger—what shame would allow him to be angry with you?”
Alpheus spoke gently, soothing her with his words. Tiel calmed in his embrace and nodded.
“Yes……”
“So you mustn’t waste time on needless worries. You need only trust your grandfather.”
“But, Grandfather……”
“Yes!”
“If I become Head of Household, what about Father and my brother Ferdi?”
Tiel asked another question.
The next to hold the position of Head of Household of Asterian after Alpheus would be Cassius Celestus Asterian, and after him would be Ferdi.
No matter how she looked at it, there seemed to be no place for Tiel to fit. And besides……
“Isn’t this the Black Leopard Clan?”
“It is.”
“But… I’m a Snow Leopard?”
Tiel gathered a handful of her pure white hair and held it out to Alpheus as if to show him.
“Grandfather……, you’re joking with me, aren’t you?”
“It’s no jest, Tiel.”
Alpheus’s voice was firm.
“I’ve already discussed this with Cassius and Ferdi. Moreover, while Asterian is the Black Leopard Clan, any direct descendant with Asterian’s characteristics may become Head of Household.”
They’d already discussed it with Cassius and Ferdi?
Those two had been raised and educated their entire lives to become Head of Household of Asterian.
And yet… they had relinquished that position for a mere seven-year-old girl like herself?
No, from the beginning……
‘I’m… I’m only seven years old.’
Could she really become Head of Household of Asterian? Her small head was filled with thoughts. The world before her eyes seemed to spin in confusion.
At that moment, Alpheus gently brushed his warm fingers across Tiel’s eyes, as if to clear away all her thoughts.
“You were born with the Golden Eyes of Asterian.”
“……”
“Should anyone object to your ascension to the position of Head of Household, I shall handle them all personally.”
“But, Grandfather……”
“Tiel, we cannot lose you again.”
The sadness in Alpheus’s voice made Tiel fall silent, and she simply looked up at her grandfather.
Golden eyes identical to her own shone with gentle warmth.
“I will do whatever it takes to keep from losing you. I won’t allow any harm to come to you.”
“If I go to the Imperial Palace, will I be in danger?”
“Yes. There will surely be those who seek to use you. But I don’t mean to confine you to Asterian for your whole life, my dear.”
Alpheus’s large hand caressed Tiel’s round head as though it were the most precious thing in the world.
“When you’ve grown, when you’re old enough to protect yourself alone, your grandfather will support your departure.”
“……”
“But now you are too small and too young—you are an age that still needs the protection of adults.”
“Yes……”
“A clan exists to protect its people. A clan that cannot protect even one of its own has no reason to exist.”
Tiel gazed up at him intently.
In his lined face, his eyes curved gently, and his firmly set mouth, there gleamed a resolute will.
And so… Tiel asked nothing more and simply listened.
“Tiel, I intend to pass the position of Head of Household of the Black Leopard Clan to you.”
“……”
“Will that be acceptable?”
“……Yes!”
Tiel clenched her fists and answered spiritedly, her gaze meeting Alpheus’s directly. Grandfather and granddaughter’s eyes met with unmistakable clarity.
Head of Household of Asterian? Crown Princess?
Such things were beyond her understanding, and she could have lived her whole life without ever knowing them. But……
‘He’s going to all this trouble to protect me.’
She couldn’t keep responding with nothing but reluctance.
Tiel was prepared to follow whatever decision Alpheus, Cassius, Ferdi, and Ludian had made.
“Yes, Grandfather. I will honor your will……!”
Now, Tiel understood.
Because she had manifested the Light Ability, she could not hide in her grandfather and father’s embrace forever.
There would be countless who coveted or opposed that Ability, reaching out their claws toward her, and it was her role to bear it all.
And so.
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Tiel smiled brightly. The corners of the small child’s mouth lifted high, and her soft, tender cheeks puffed round.
“Thank you for protecting me.”
“……”
“I know it will be difficult at first, but… in the future, I’ll grow into a splendid adult who can protect herself and repay you, Grandfather……”
Tiel brought her small mouth close to Alpheus’s ear and whispered softly, as though sharing a great secret.
At her words, Alpheus let out a delighted laugh.
“Hehehehe! Yes, yes! All you need do is grow into a splendid adult who can protect yourself and repay your grandfather! That is repayment enough!”
“Grandfather……”
Tiel burrowed into Alpheus’s embrace and hugged him tightly. Alpheus looked down at his small granddaughter with warm eyes and gently stroked her back.
“Yes…… Tiel. You have nothing to worry about.”
“……Yes……”
“You need only trust your grandfather. Think of nothing else.”

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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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