The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 95

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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 95
“A carriage from Nestian?”
Alpheus rose from his seat. Cassius followed suit, standing behind him. The maid bowed her head as she answered.
“Yes, a carriage has arrived for Master Ferdi.”
“…For Ferdi?”
What could Nestian possibly send a carriage to Ferdi for? Surely Chender wasn’t trying to play the role of great-grandfather now.
Alpheus and Cassius exchanged a meaningful glance before stepping outside to see for themselves.
An enormous carriage bearing the Nestian crest stood imposingly before the front gates of the Asterian Mansion.
The children had already gathered around it in a cluster, excitedly chattering among themselves. Puzzled by the sight, Alpheus asked one of the servants nearby.
“What is loaded in the carriage?”
“It is the Breath of Snow Field, sent from Nestian.”
“The Breath of Snow Field? …Ah!”
Then Alpheus remembered—after Ferdi’s victory in the Competition, he had made a wish: to obtain “as much Breath of Snow Field as possible.”
“They must have sent it immediately after returning to Nestian.”
With the Emperor’s command in hand, Chender likely had no choice but to comply, grinding his teeth the whole while. At the thought of Chender’s frustration, Alpheus felt his own irritation ease somewhat.
“Tiel, does it feel refreshing?”
“Yes! Very much!”
Tiel picked up a single Breath of Snow Field and laughed brightly, her eyes twinkling.
Olivia gazed at the Breath of Snow Field piled in the carriage and spoke.
“But why is there only this much? They didn’t hold some back?”
“They probably kept a few. They can’t send away all of Nestian’s Precious Artifacts.”
Ferdi’s eyes shifted to the metal boxes containing the Breath of Snow Field. Even at a glance, the quantity was considerable—enough to nearly fill the boxes. There had to be at least thirty of them.
“So they were lying when they said they had none?”
“Still, why only this much! Grandfather, should I go rummage through Nestian myself?”
Olivia was the heir to the Duke’s house, and while Nestian might be eclipsed by Asterian, it was still a ducal family.
Yet in Olivia’s mind, Chender had been reduced to something like a “bad-tempered grandfather from next door.”
At his granddaughter’s bold question, Alpheus smiled gently and shook his head.
“Olivia, behave yourself. Please, behave yourself!”
“But thinking of Grandfather Chender getting upset over just this much makes my blood boil!”
It was the sort of remark that would have sent Chender into an actual fit had he heard it. Yet Olivia remained undaunted.
“Didn’t His Majesty say he would send more as well?”
“He said he would gather what remains in the Imperial Palace and send it.”
“I hope there’s a lot of it. I can’t make it with just this.”
Olivia muttered with evident disappointment. Tiel tilted her head, watching her sister’s dismay.
“What are you trying to make?”
“An ice room for you! I was planning to fill it with the Breath of Snow Field and intersperse it with Sapphires to make a truly magnificent and splendid chamber!”
Olivia spread her arms wide as she spoke. Tiel’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“An ice room?”
“Yes, so you won’t feel the heat… But this stingy Grandfather Chender from Nestian has ruined my plans.”
“Why? This is more than enough to make it. Do you think the Breath of Snow Field is just any Precious Artifact? Honestly, your greed knows no bounds.”
Ludian clicked his tongue in disapproval and had the servants lift the box of Breath of Snow Field with a heave.
“Let’s go! We’re putting it in your room.”
“Really? Really!”
Tiel nodded eagerly and immediately followed Ludian.
The children quickly made their way up to Tiel’s room. Olivia lifted Tiel and set her down on the bed.
“See, when you’re sitting like this, it needs to be cool, so shouldn’t we place them around the bed?”
“Hmm, if we put them around the bed and Tiel steps on them and hurts her foot, what then? That won’t do at all.”
“Ludian is right. We don’t care if the Breath of Snow Field breaks, but we can’t have Tiel getting hurt.”
The Breath of Snow Field—treated as a sacred Precious Artifact in Nestian—was now being handled by the Asterian children like a fragile glass cup…
Had Chender of Nestian heard such remarks, he would have clutched the back of his head and likely given these children a proper scolding.
“Then where should we put it?”
“What about the window? If we place them by the window, the breeze will pass through these flowers whenever the wind blows, making it nice and cool.”
“Since when do you have good ideas?”
Ferdi agreed with Olivia’s suggestion. The moment he gave his approval, Olivia lifted the box of Breath of Snow Field with ease.
Despite it being made of metal and containing some thirty Precious Artifacts inside—which should have been impossibly heavy—she carried it about effortlessly, lifting it with a flourish.
“Then let’s put them by the window!”
Olivia gathered handfuls of the Breath of Snow Field and placed them one by one along the windowsill.
Ludian helped. Following Ferdi’s instruction not to place them on the floor, they stacked the Breath of Snow Field generously along the window.
Of course, in doing so…
…Crack!
They ended up breaking one of them.
“Oh? It broke.”
“Ah, forget it, forget it. We have plenty more anyway.”
Olivia brushed off the broken Breath of Snow Field without a care. This was a far cry from her earlier tantrum about why there wasn’t more.
The broken Breath of Snow Field melted and disappeared on the spot, so there was no need to sweep up any fragments.
Precious Artifacts treated with utmost reverence in Nestian—gifts presented only occasionally, and only one at a time, to Nestian’s most distinguished guests—were now being handled by these children like toy blocks.
Tiel watched as her siblings arranged the Breath of Snow Field along the window, opening and closing her eyes slowly.
‘It’s so cool…’
Already, a chill had begun to circulate through the room. At this rate, she might even be able to use Transformation while lying in bed.
Until now, the Asterian Mansion had been far too hot, making it nearly impossible to attempt Transformation.
‘At this temperature, I could use Transformation in my room and roll around…’
The mere thought made her happy. If Tiel were in her Transformation state right now, her tail would have popped out and swayed with joy.
“All done!”
Olivia grinned widely and bounced onto the bed where Tiel was sitting, only to be grabbed by Ferdi and Ludian and dragged off.
“Where do you think you’re going.”
“You’re covered in dust. Don’t lie down carelessly.”
“But Tiel likes to lie down and roll around with me, don’t you, Tiel?”
“Yes!”
Tiel beamed and hugged Olivia tightly. Olivia let out a high-pitched squeal and embraced her back, peppering her cheeks with kisses.
“Oh, you’re so cute, so adorable, you precious thing! How can something this cute possibly exist?”
“I believe you’ve said that four times already today…”
“A hundred times wouldn’t be enough! You’re the cutest and most lovable child I’ve ever seen! Speaking of which, would you like to meet my friends?”
“…What?”
At Olivia’s sudden question, Tiel blinked her eyes in surprise.
“My friends are hosting a Tea Party, and you should come! Everyone will absolutely adore you…”
“Tiel is still too young to attend parties. She’s only seven years old.”
“But I started attending parties when I was eight.”
Then take her along when she’s eight. Your friends are predictable. She can’t go to those kinds of gatherings.”
“Come on, wouldn’t a Tea Party with me and my friends be better for her than some social gathering full of unfamiliar boys?”
Olivia stuck her tongue out playfully at Ferdi. After a moment’s consideration, Tiel nodded.
“If it’s a party being held after returning from the north…”
“Really? Really truly?”
“Yes, because all of your friends are surely kind people…”
Tiel nodded with a gentle smile, her soft white cheeks flushed a rosy pink.
Ferdi and Ludian exchanged troubled glances between their beloved younger sister and the wolf who clung to her side.
“Tiel, not everyone near kind people is kind themselves.”
“Moreover, the people around you aren’t exactly kind. If you want to have a Tea Party, your brothers can…”
“Nonsense! Girls should play with girls! What business is it of yours?”
Olivia glared at them. Ferdi and Ludian continued to regard her with disapproval, both making a silent vow to use every party invitation that came Tiel’s way as kindling…
***
Arne of New Green.
“Olivia Wolfgang is your friend?”
Iris Hilde Arne asked her daughter in a voice that was melodious, high, and gentle.

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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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