The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 88

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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 88
“That’s absurd.”
Cassius addressed the Emperor, bowing lightly before continuing in a measured, respectful tone.
“As I mentioned, Tiel is only seven years old. She’s still a child who hasn’t finished growing. I would ask that you not place such a heavy burden on such a young girl.”
“Who exactly is placing a heavy burden on a seven-year-old child? Is it us trying to prevent it, or is it Asterian insisting on making that little girl the Head of Household?”
Chender’s words dripped with sarcasm. The other Heads of Household echoed his sentiment, nodding lightly or adding their own brief remarks.
“The Duke of Buchanan is quite right.”
“Well said.”
Alpheus and Cassius furrowed their brows at the sight.
They had expected opposition, but Chender was pushing far more aggressively than anticipated.
The Emperor could no longer side with Asterian. Though Stefano had worked hard to advocate for them, his voice was already drowned out by Chender’s remarks.
But then—
“That’s nonsense.”
The door opened, and Iandros appeared.
Everyone in the chamber widened their eyes, staring at him in astonishment.
Iandros paid them no mind and walked straight to the Emperor, bowing his head slightly.
“Your Majesty.”
“Iandros? When did you wake?”
“Just now. I woke and had something to ask you, so I came to find you despite the intrusion. However…”
Iandros’s sharp gaze fixed on Chender, then moved deliberately from one Head of Household to the next.
“You’re having quite an amusing discussion about a seven-year-old child.”
“Iandros.”
The Emperor rebuked him. Iandros, unbothered, turned to address Alpheus.
“Duke, will you accept that proposal?”
“…”
“It’s not a proposal anymore, is it? It’s become something that must be done if that girl is to become Head of Household.”
A boy barely more than a child was speaking so brazenly before the gathered Heads of the Empire’s most prominent families, yet no one dared challenge him.
Not even the Emperor.
They had all witnessed in Luminarie the tremendous power the Crown Prince Iandros possessed.
Alpheus said nothing, only meeting Iandros’s gaze. Iandros returned it without flinching.
“The Land Where Morning Never Comes lies in the far north of the Empire. It’s too far and dangerous for the girl to go alone, so…”
Iandros looked at Chender.
“I will accompany her.”
“Your Highness!?”
“I owe that girl a debt. I’ve been looking for a chance to repay it. This works out well. Your Majesty.”
Iandros turned to face the Emperor. The Emperor, seeing the Crown Prince suddenly appear and disrupt the proceedings, pressed his head in frustration before nodding. He was telling Iandros to continue.
“If Tiel Asterian accepts this proposal, I will accompany her and assist her. Please grant me this.”
“Assist her, you say?”
“Exactly as I said. Isn’t she a legendary child with the Light Ability? I doubt I’ll be much help, but I’ll do what I can within my power.”
“Iandros, don’t be hasty. You’re not fully recovered yet. You should rest first and—”
“Shouldn’t we call the person involved and ask for her opinion?”
Iandros was no longer listening to the Emperor. Noticing that the Crown Prince was ignoring him, the Emperor’s expression darkened rapidly.
“Sigh… Duke Ebalte. What is your thought on this?”
The Emperor looked to Alpheus. After a brief moment of consideration, Alpheus spoke.
“To be honest, Your Majesty, I don’t believe Tiel can bring morning to the Land Where Morning Never Comes as the legend suggests. A legend is merely a legend.”
“Indeed.”
“However, it seems wise to ask the girl’s own opinion. We may think one way, but she might think differently.”
“Then bring Tiel here.”
“She’s outside. I’ll have her brought in.”
Alpheus turned to an Imperial attendant and commanded him to fetch Tiel. The attendant bowed and hurried from the chamber.
Not long after, the great doors opened slowly, and the girl they had been waiting for appeared.
“Ah, hello everyone!”
Tiel blinked her round eyes rapidly and curtsied toward the Emperor, lifting her dress in greeting.
“I am Tiel of Asterian, and I have the honor of meeting Your Imperial Majesty!”
Seeing Tiel perform such a graceful, if imperfect, courtesy, Alpheus and Cassius’s faces brightened at once.
At the same moment, Chender’s expression twisted. The sight of Tiel—so different from how she had been in Nestian—grated on him.
Tiel, however, paid Chender no attention and looked toward Alpheus and Cassius.
And then at Iandros standing tall beside them.
‘Iandros!’
He had finally awakened! The moment Tiel saw Iandros awake and looking at her, she felt a surge of joy.
She had to restrain the urge to run to him and embrace him in greeting.
Just as Tiel managed to hold herself back and was about to move toward Cassius and Alpheus—
Cassius called to her gently.
“Tiel, come here and stand before His Majesty.”
“Yes.”
Tiel nodded and walked forward at a measured pace, standing before the Emperor. She looked up at him.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes, Tiel. I have something to ask you.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“Is it true that you wish to become the Head of Household of Asterian?”
“…”
The sudden question made Tiel’s eyes widen. No one had told her the Emperor would ask something like this.
After a moment’s thought, Tiel looked directly at the Emperor and nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then you would be willing to attempt even the impossible for that goal?”
“The impossible?”
Tiel tilted her brow slightly as she asked. The Emperor nodded.
“You are still too young and weak. You cannot become Head of Household and sovereign of all the families. However, if you can prove your ability, that changes.”
“You mean…”
“In the legend of the Light, there exists a real place in the Crasion Empire called the Land Where Morning Never Comes. Can you bring morning to that land?”
“…?”
Tiel tilted her head. Bring morning to a land without morning? What did that even mean? It was far too complex for a seven-year-old to comprehend.
Yet—
“Can I do it?”
Tiel asked innocently. The Heads of the other families fixed their stares on her. The Emperor too smiled softly as he looked down at the small girl before him.
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either, but… it’s something I have to do, isn’t it?”
“Not necessarily something you must do right now.”
“But in the end, it’s something I’ll have to do eventually, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll do it now. I don’t avoid things I have to do. If it’s something I must do, I’ll do it properly.”
For a seven-year-old girl, the words that came from her mouth were remarkably composed and filled with a sense of responsibility.
Every Head of Household present stared at Tiel Asterian in wonder. Tiel nodded once more and spoke.
“I don’t avoid things I have to do. That’s one of the things I learned from Asterian.”
While everyone in the chamber was stunned by the little girl’s maturity, there were exactly three who were not.
Two of them—Alpheus and Cassius—had already known of Tiel’s composure, her spirited nature, her boldness and her reckless courage.
The third…
“Tiel.”
Iandros, who had been standing quietly to the side all along, called out to her gently. Tiel turned slowly to look at him.
“If you’ve made up your mind to do this, then I will surely follow you.”
“Iandros?”
“I will accompany you. I will help you with what you must do.”

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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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