The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 91

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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 91
***
“Head of Household? That’s absurd.”
Chender settled onto the sofa with a derisive smile, slowly swirling his teacup. The liquid inside moved in lazy circles, releasing fragrant wisps into the air.
“Ha… you really thought I’d let her slip away that easily?”
He spoke to himself, yet his voice carried loudly through the room. After setting his cup down with a deliberate clink, he gazed at the empty chair across from him.
Despite no one sitting there, Chender behaved as if someone occupied that space.
A seven-year-old girl, smaller than children her age—his own granddaughter, perhaps.
‘A cunning cat has made her move.’
He had learned through Ikerl that Tiel and Iandros had formed a Bond.
Chender’s original plan to see his granddaughter become Crown Princess had crumbled, but the outcome was not without merit.
It was far better for Tiel Asterian to fall into the Emperor’s hands than to remain in Asterian’s own grasp.
He could not abide the thought of Asterian growing stronger.
If that were the case, he would have preferred no one to possess her at all—but since circumstances made that impossible, letting the Imperial Palace claim her was the next best thing.
Yet to appoint that seven-year-old to Head of Household?
Chender laughed at Alpheus. The old fool had lost all sense of proportion upon taking the Head’s position—proposing to elevate a child to such rank.
Since he could not let the matter pass unchecked, he had demanded proof of ability and invoked the ancient legend: if Tiel could bring dawn to the Land Where Morning Never Comes, he would acknowledge her ascension to Head of Household.
Even as he spoke the words, he harbored no expectation that Asterian would accept.
‘The Land Where Morning Never Comes’—a region sealed by the Beast Seal, where no Marked Beast could enter.
Neither Alpheus nor Cassius could accompany her, and neither could Asterian’s knights. Sending Tiel there meant exposing an unprotected child to certain death.
He had expected them to refuse—naturally.
‘Then I will do it now. I do not shirk from what I must do. If it is my duty, I will see it through.’
But that foolish little girl had seized upon his words, and now Asterian could not refuse without losing face.
Chender chuckled with genuine delight.
‘Is all that Asterian has taught her to throw herself recklessly into danger?’
Had Nestian continued her education, they would never have instilled such a thing.
They would have taught her to step back, to see farther ahead. They would not have raised such a myopic child.
‘But then again.’
Chender stroked his jaw. The Land Where Morning Never Comes lay at the far northern edge of the Crasion Empire.
The journey itself was long and arduous. For Tiel to travel there alone without adult supervision…
‘Ah, but she won’t be alone, will she?’
The other children would almost certainly accompany her—Ferdi Asterian, Ludian Asterian, and Crown Prince Iandros Crasion.
Yet strong as they might be, they were only eleven years old.
Even with formidable Abilities, children who had never once used them in actual combat.
‘This is the opportunity.’
It had to be now. Chender stared at his palm, then clenched it into a fist.
If he failed to act now, that little girl would grow into a savage beast and bury her fangs in his throat…
Whether she succeeded or failed in her task, once she returned, she would be locked within Asterian’s walls. This moment—separated from Alpheus and Cassius—was his only chance.
“…Wait.”
Rena. Watch this closely.
Watch me dispose cleanly of the troublemaker your womb produced…
***
“Clear this away.”
Ferdi stood with a crooked posture, glaring at the servant as he spoke. The maid gave a respectful bow—a gesture of refusal.
It made sense. What stood before them was not an object, but Olivier Wolfgang.
“Ferdi~ is that how you greet a cousin you haven’t seen in ages?”
“Haven’t seen you? You only went back to Wolfgang a week ago. We need to return to Asterian ourselves—what are you doing here?”
“Why, I came to return to Asterian with you all, of course!”
Olivier announced this with perfect confidence, her hands planted firmly on her hips. Her beloved pink eyes sparkled with mischief.
“What? Why should you?”
“Because I’m part of Asterian?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Ludian shook his head in exasperation, letting his tongue slip from his mouth. It seemed clear that Cassius and Alpheus had not summoned her.
“I’m joking! I’m curious about something—is it true that Tiel and Iandros formed a Bond?”
“Has word of that spread already?”
“Spread? Everyone’s talking about it! They’re saying Tiel Asterian will become Crown Princess soon!”
“I don’t know who’s been flapping their jaws, but they certainly have loose tongues…”
The Imperial Palace hadn’t even made an official announcement, and already rumors were circulating. Such a loose-tongued and audacious person—what if the Palace traced the source and caught them?
And besides.
‘A Bond isn’t something you can see with your eyes.’
The fact of Tiel and Iandros’s Bond should have been known only to those directly involved and a select few. How had it become common gossip?
Ferdi tilted his head with skepticism, studying Olivier for a long moment before shrugging.
“It’s true.”
“Really? Truly? This is unbelievable! Just tell me it’s not!”
“I wish I could. But a fact’s a fact.”
Just then, a small Baby Snow Leopard came bounding out from the distance.
“Tiel!?”
Olivier’s eyes went wide at the sight, and she broke into a brilliant smile.
The Baby Snow Leopard—with silver hair and pink eyes—rushed toward the lovely girl and threw herself into Olivier’s arms with a soft thud.
“Oh!”
“Tiel! You’re so adorable! Why did you transform all of a sudden?”
At Olivier’s question, the Baby Snow Leopard hesitated for a moment, then squirmed free from Olivier’s embrace.
“Huh?”
Tap.
She landed lightly on the floor and pirouetted in place.
Poof!
In an instant, the Baby Snow Leopard vanished, and in her place stood a lovely girl with white hair and golden eyes.
“Olivier!”
“Tiel! I hadn’t even gotten to kiss your soft pink paw pads, and you’ve already released the transformation!”
“Oh, I’m sorry. But I still can’t speak while transformed—though I’m practicing…”
Tiel laughed sheepishly and scratched her cheek. Lately, she had been working hard to master using her Ability in Beastform, as well as speaking while transformed.
Ferdi and Ludian had awakened to both at five years old, but Tiel, having developed late, still found both difficult.
“Cheer up, Tiel! You’ll master it all in time—why rush to learn now?”
Olivier lifted Tiel effortlessly into her arms, asking the question with genuine warmth. Tiel met her pink eyes and answered with honest simplicity.
“Because I have to leave soon on a…”
“Ha ha, what are you saying? Tiel, you’re learning this because you want to, that’s all. Right?”
Ferdi, who had appeared beside them without warning, clapped a hand over Tiel’s mouth. He gently patted her back as he continued speaking.
“Leave on a journey? Where would you possibly need to go? My little sister, you’ll never have cause to set out on such a journey…”
“That’s right, Tiel. You’re not learning because of something like that. You’re learning because you want to be like your wonderful older brothers, aren’t you?”
Tiel, her mouth covered by Ferdi’s hand, rolled her eyes, looking from Ferdi to Ludian to Olivier in turn.
Ferdi and Ludian were both smiling at her.
‘Are they worried Olivier will insist on coming along…?’
The child observed their expressions for a brief moment, then nodded slightly against Ferdi’s hand.
“…”
“See? Ah ha ha, my little sister really…”
Only then did Ferdi release her.
Olivier, who had been watching intently the whole time, narrowed her eyes and turned her head toward Ferdi and Ludian.
“Tell me.”
“What?”
“Tell me what you’re hiding! Where is Tiel going? Why won’t you tell me? What are you keeping secret?”
Ferdi and Ludian laughed mockingly and shrugged, and when they refused to yield anything, Olivier shifted her focus.
“Tiel!”
“I… I don’t know either…”
But Tiel had no wish to cross what Ferdi and Ludian were signaling her not to do, so she simply turned her head away.
At that, Olivier’s face fell with the expression of one utterly betrayed, her mouth dropping open.
“How could you…”
“…”
“How could you do this to me…?”
It was at that moment.
“Olivier?”
Alpheus approached from the distance, calling out to her. At the sound of his voice, Olivier’s head snapped up and her face broke into a radiant smile.
“Grandfather!!”
“Yes, you’ve come at the right time. I have something to discuss with you—come along.”
At those words, the faces of both brothers fell in an instant. In stark contrast, Olivier’s expression brightened like the morning sun.
A moment where joy and sorrow crossed paths.

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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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