The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 94

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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 94
“Unfortunately, I’m not entirely certain about that myself.”
Lia smiled gently. Tiel’s mouth opened in a small O of understanding as she nodded.
“Arcadia became what it is now such a long time ago. Honestly, there isn’t even much history passed down about it.”
“But I’ve heard there are still Beastfolk living there…”
“Mmm… well, the Beastfolk there simply won’t engage in any exchange with outsiders. As you know, Fierce Beasts can’t enter that place, so the information Asterian possesses is quite sparse. Still, I’ve heard that Arne has the most knowledge about that land.”
“Arne—you mean the family that possesses the Green Light Ability?”
Tiel spoke while recalling the beautiful women with green hair she had seen in Luminarie.
The retainers of House Arne who participated in Luminarie were remarkably few in number for men. Both the Head of Household and her successor were women. Aside from the Knights, there was only one man among those who appeared to be direct descendants of the family.
That peculiarity had struck her as unusual and memorable. Lia nodded and smiled.
“That’s right. And Arne is also the place closest to the land where dawn never comes. So they would certainly hold the most information about that place.”
“I see…”
Tiel finished her meal while listening to Lia’s explanation, then popped a cherry that had been placed atop the dessert pudding into her mouth and rolled it around on her tongue.
“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
“No, I think this much will do for now…”
“Then I’ll clear the table. If there’s anything else you’d like, please let me know!”
Lia gathered the plates and remaining food from Tiel’s table onto a tray and carried them out.
Tiel collapsed onto the bed and blinked her eyes.
‘Arcadia…’
It was a lovely name.
When it was called Arcadia, it must have truly been a paradise.
Tiel had never been to that land where dawn never came, but thanks to Ludian and Ferdi’s fairly detailed explanations, she knew it was now as good as a dead land.
A land where the sun never rose was naturally a land where no living creature could survive.
‘Then why do the people living there continue to live?’
If it was a land where no living creatures could survive, surely there would be nothing to eat. What could they possibly be living on?
Tiel suddenly found herself thinking that the Beastfolk living in that place, which had once been Arcadia, must be terribly lonely.
***
The next day
“First of all, we’ll need to seek Arne’s assistance.”
Alpheus spoke while regarding Cassius. On the table between them sat two teacups, still wisping with steam.
After Alpheus lifted a cup and took a gentle sip, he continued.
“If we can borrow Arne’s Knights, that would be ideal.”
“Can Arne be trusted?”
“What choice do we have? We cannot follow after it ourselves. And since Arne is the one most knowledgeable about that land, we have no other option.”
“We may need to request a guide from Arne, but I cannot accept the children staying at their house. How could I send the children to stay at Arne when I don’t know what might happen while they’re there?”
“Surely you’re not so foolish as to believe the streets are safer than Arne’s manor? Cassius, don’t be absurd. Arne cannot move rashly either. This is a matter in which the Imperial House and Asterian move directly. There is no place for Arne to intervene.”
Alpheus spoke with finality. Cassius said nothing more and simply looked at him.
“If anything were to happen that endangered the children…”
“Who would dare stand against Asterian?”
Of course, foolish places like Iker and Nestian might entertain such thoughts.
But the power that Asterian possessed was precisely what made them reconsider before attempting anything.
“To be honest, I don’t believe Tiel will succeed.”
Cassius spoke matter-of-factly. This time, Alpheus listened to his son’s words.
“Tiel is still far too young, and it hasn’t even been a year since she manifested her Ability. She has shown remarkable progress in a short time, but that is all.”
Cassius’s voice remained level.
“She is only seven years old.”
“That’s true…”
“Therefore, I believe we should stop her even now, Father.”
Cassius respected Tiel’s decisions and always prioritized her wishes above all else, and he was prepared to fulfill whatever she desired.
But if that meant sending his daughter to a dangerous place…
“I feel the same way, Cassius.”
“…”
“Tiel is too young… and this matter is too dangerous… and there’s no pressing need to do it right now.”
If Asterian so wished, they could crush all four houses—Nestian, Iker, Wolfgang, and Arne—by force and raise Tiel as Head of Asterian.
If Asterian were to do such a thing, who would dare object?
But the reason they did not…
…was that if they used force to suppress the matter, the true power of Tiel’s Ability would be overshadowed by Asterian’s authority.
Alpheus looked at Cassius.
“But if my granddaughter wishes it. If she wants to attempt it even if she might fail, then the family’s duty—and mine as grandfather and father—is to trust her and support her.”
“…”
“Of course I understand your heart. Having reclaimed your daughter, you would not wish to send her into danger again.”
“Yes.”
“Is that not all? You would wish to keep her close until she grows and leaves your embrace. But Cassius.”
Alpheus’s gentle and clear golden eyes fixed on his son.
“That child is born to a fate that will not allow her to live that way. You know this, don’t you?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Now that she has manifested the Light Ability, countless people will seek to torment her and bring her down. There will surely be limits to what we can protect her from.”
Alpheus brought the now-cooled teacup to his lips.
“And there will certainly be tasks that only Tiel can accomplish, like this one. I believe this journey is necessary for her growth.”
“Yes, Father. Your words are without flaw. However…”
Alpheus tilted his head, inviting him to continue. Cassius opened his mouth slowly.
“Not even half a day ago, you were anxious, bouncing your leg up and down.”
“…”
“Before that, you were insisting that sending only Ferdi and Ludian was too risky, and that you absolutely had to bundle the three of them together with Olivier.”
“…”
“What happened in that short span of time?”
Cassius regarded Alpheus with a meaningful expression. Alpheus let out a loud “Ahem!” and turned his head away.
“Don’t question the Head of Household!”
“Yes… I wasn’t trying to question you, but very well.”
As Alpheus listened to Cassius, he felt keenly where Ferdi and Ludian’s manner of speaking had come from.
“It’s my fault…”
“I’m sorry? What did you say?”
“Never mind. Anyway, I need to write to Arne. I’ll write requesting their cooperation, and I’ll also need to send a letter to His Imperial Majesty.”
“Are you intending to discuss the timing for sending the children northward?”
“Yes, they should go before it gets any colder. Once the cold deepens, the journey will become much harder. Tiel, being a child who lived in cold places, will manage to some degree, but the others won’t.”
If the weather grew colder, the northern road would become treacherous. Should they encounter a blizzard, it was certain that the children would suffer immensely.
So before the freeze worsened, they would need to hastily assemble a company of Knights and send the children. It was just as Alpheus was about to say he would write the letter to the Emperor himself.
A commotion arose outside. Both Alpheus’s and Cassius’s eyebrows rose simultaneously.
“Who has arrived?”
Cassius murmured, turning his gaze toward the window. But the garden beyond was quiet, offering no clue as to why there was an uproar outside.
Knock, knock.
A light knock sounded, and soon after, the study door opened. The maidservant standing in the doorway bowed her head.
“Head of Household, a carriage from Nestian has arrived outside.”

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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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