The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 87

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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 87
“Miss, have a good outing!”
Lia beamed and placed an adorable bonnet on Tiel’s head—white lace trim sewn densely along its edges.
“Yes, I’ll be back soon!”
“Hehe, I’ll be waiting.”
Lia adjusted the bonnet on Tiel’s head one final time, then gently clasped the girl’s hand.
Tiel trotted forward, her hand still in Lia’s grip.
Ferdi and Ludian, who had been waiting in the corridor, approached as they saw her coming.
“Brother!”
Lia tactfully stepped back, and the two brothers moved closer, bending down to meet their sister at eye level.
“Safe travels, Tiel.”
Ferdi pressed a light kiss to Tiel’s cheek. Not to be outdone, Ludian followed suit on her other cheek.
“You understand? Safe travels.”
“Yes, yes! Don’t worry!”
Tiel answered brightly, then spun around and dashed toward Cassius and Alpheus.
“Come, little one.”
Cassius lifted Tiel effortlessly into his arms with practiced ease.
Between her grandfather, father, and two brothers hoisting and swinging her about daily, Tiel had grown quite accustomed to settling comfortably in Cassius’s embrace.
Cassius and Alpheus climbed into the carriage with Tiel. The spacious interior was furnished with several cushions and pillows to keep her comfortable during the journey.
Yet instead of burying herself among them, Tiel chose to nestle in Cassius’s arms.
Cassius had no intention of setting her down; he simply positioned her on his lap without offering her a seat.
“Tiel, there’s nothing to be anxious about.”
He soothed her gently.
“Your father and grandfather will handle everything. You need only stand beside us.”
“Will there be people other than His Majesty present?”
“Likely the heads of each household. Stephano will probably attend, and Iker as well. As for Arne and Nestian, I’m not certain.”
By now, word had certainly spread that the Asterian Family intended to name their seven-year-old youngest child as the new Head of Household.
At minimum, the heads of those five families would surely come today determined to prevent Tiel from ascending to the position.
From their perspective, it would be far better for Tiel to become the Crown Princess, confined within the Imperial Palace, than to become Head of the Asterian Family.
‘But that won’t happen.’
Cassius stroked his beloved daughter’s round head gently as he thought.
This child, whom he had failed to raise until now, deserved all his heart, all his love, all his affection.
He would not let her be taken from him by people of no account. Not even by the Emperor himself would she be torn from Cassius’s arms.
‘Don’t worry, Tiel.’
Father will protect you.
Cassius whispered so softly only he could hear. Tiel turned to look at him, blinking her wide eyes.
“Precious thing.”
Without another word, Cassius pressed a gentle kiss to his daughter’s cheek.
Today, Cassius and Alpheus would declare before them all that the Head of the Asterian Family had changed.
There should have been no problem.
None at all.
***
But that was not how it happened.
“A child of merely seven years old becoming Head of the Asterian Family? Impossible!”
Cloud spoke, his gaze fixed upon Alpheus. Cassius did not reply, merely regarding him with a measured stare.
“The authority to appoint the Head of the Asterian Family rests solely with the Asterian Family itself. Why does the head of another house interfere in Asterian affairs?”
“Surely you see why we must. Tiel is destined to become the Crown Princess.”
Crown Princess.
Every person gathered here understood precisely what that word meant in this empire.
A vessel to contain his Ability in her stead, draining her own life to share power with him—a safeguard against Iandros’s rampage.
“…What do you mean?”
“I understand that Miss Tiel has undergone Imprinting with His Highness the Crown Prince. If she has, then she is no longer the daughter of Asterian, but the future consort of—”
“I never said any such thing. Where did you hear this?”
The Emperor cut Cloud off, interjecting slowly. Cloud raised an eyebrow as he responded.
“The rumor is quite widespread, Your Majesty.”
“News travels fast indeed—the parties themselves don’t yet know, and yet others already speak of it.”
At the Emperor’s rebuke, Cloud fell silent and stepped back. The Emperor regarded him with visible displeasure before turning his attention to Alpheus.
“You were right that only the Asterian Family may appoint their own Head. I acknowledge that.”
“Thank you.”
“However, we must also consider that the Asterian Family stands as the foremost among all Beast-Human houses. A seven-year-old child cannot lead all Beast-Human families.”
Emperor Wilhelm wished to side with the Asterian Family if possible.
And small wonder—his grandson and Crown Prince, Iandros Crasion, owed his very life to Tiel’s aid, and Tiel’s grandfather, Alpheus, was Wilhelm’s closest friend.
Yet the Asterian Family was no ordinary household; it was the paramount family among all Beast-Human clans.
Other common families might raise a seven-year-old child or a five-year-old to headship without concern.
But Asterian was different. The weight of that name was unique. Wilhelm studied them both with evident difficulty.
“I think it best you reconsider the matter.”
“Your Majesty, Tiel has manifested the Light Ability, despite being only seven years old.”
Alpheus spoke slowly and deliberately.
“Surely no one in this chamber is ignorant of what the Light Ability signifies in the Crasion Empire.”
Indeed, it was common knowledge—the Light Ability was the legendary power said to one day save the Crasion Empire itself.
Mere manifestation of it held profound significance.
“It is true that the Asterian Family stands foremost among all Beast-Human houses. Yet I believe, Your Majesty, that no talent more suited to lead than my granddaughter, who has manifested the Light Ability, exists in this very room.”
“Hmm…”
“That cannot be permitted.”
Thender, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. The gazes of Alpheus and Cassius immediately locked onto him.
“With all respect, it is impossible. No matter that she has manifested the Light Ability, she is merely seven years old. A child of seven cannot be placed in that position. Furthermore…”
Thender’s eyes bored into Alpheus. For a moment, the two old men’s stares clashed in the air before falling away.
“She has manifested the Light Ability, yes—but what has she actually accomplished?”
“The child is only seven years old,” Cassius said calmly.
Yet Thender seemed determined not to hear him. He shrugged and pressed on.
“Exactly—Tiel is barely seven. So how can you propose to raise her to Head of the Asterian Family? One cannot sit her in that chair merely because she has manifested the Light Ability. Regardless of age, she must either prove her capability, or wait until she is old enough to do so.”
At Thender’s words, the heads of the other families exchanged glances. None of them showed it openly, but all were in agreement with his argument.
The weight of the Asterian Family name was of a different order entirely. Whoever would bear that weight must also bear the responsibility it demands.
Alpheus fixed Thender with a measuring stare, as though gazing through him, before speaking slowly.
“Duke Thender, you seem to have something more to say.”
“Something more to say?”
“Your insistence on ‘proof’ suggests you wish for Tiel to demonstrate something. Is that not so?”
At Alpheus’s question, Thender smiled faintly and nodded. Thender of Nestian bowed toward the Emperor and spoke.
“Your Majesty, among the many legends of the Light Ability, there is one that says: ‘In a land where dawn never comes, a child with the Light Ability shall call forth the morning.'”
“And your point?”
“If Tiel Asterian is truly the legendary child of light, and thus worthy of inheriting the Asterian headship without question—”
Thender continued.
“Then should she not transform the many legends that attend the Light Ability from mere fables into living truth? Command her to bring dawn to the land where it never comes. If she truly calls forth the morning, then Nestian will recognize Tiel Asterian as the new Head of the Asterian Family and pledge our allegiance.”

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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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