The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family - Chapter 96

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 96
“Yes, Mother.”
Clemens of Arne replied in a soft, melodious voice—like a small songbird whispering to itself.
“A letter has arrived from Asterian, Clemens. The princess of Asterian is asking for our help to reach that land.”
Iris held the letter bearing Asterian’s seal delicately between her fingertips as she spoke.
“Your friend Olivier of Wolfgang will accompany them, I imagine. They’ve asked Arne to provide a guide—whom do you think we should send?”
“I’ll go myself, Mother.”
Clemens, who had quickly grasped her mother’s intentions, answered with a bright smile.
Clemens was a girl with keen instincts.
Tiel of Asterian.
The legendary child who had manifested the Light Ability—the girl who was coming all this way to make that legend real, without even a proper guardian. That was the one.
Of course, whether the girl truly realized the legend or not didn’t truly matter. She had already proven her abilities at the festival.
“I’ll go myself and confirm whether Tiel of Asterian truly realizes the legend, and I’ll make sure she holds positive feelings toward our Arne.”
Arne was a land of glory and abundance.
Though it lay in the frozen north, Arne’s territory—blessed by the divine—enjoyed a mild climate year-round and lush greenery.
Because of the nature of its domain, all the territory-dwellers living within Arne’s lands, including green Arne itself, possessed peaceful and serene temperaments.
Until now, Arne had been the household among all Beast-person families with the least interest in power and hierarchy. Their concern was only nature itself, and the Beast-people who lived in harmony within it.
For this reason, Arne maintained neutrality in all circumstances and made it their principle never to take anyone’s side.
That had been the case until Iris Hilde of Arne became the Head of Household of this generation.
Iris wanted to make Arne a more powerful family. The problem was that Arne’s territory was isolated.
‘No matter how blessed by the divine it may be, that blessing extends only within Arne’s domain.’
The moment one crossed Arne’s boundaries, those who ventured beyond had to face a bone-chilling north wind—sharp as a blade—that blew from the Land Where Morning Never Comes.
For this reason, neither those leaving Arne nor those arriving could survive the crossing. Arne had long existed as a completely isolated land.
‘But that cannot continue.’
It could not remain isolated forever. The arctic winds beyond the boundaries were gradually eating away at Arne’s territory, creeping inward.
So peace could no longer be their lot. As Head of Household, Iris Hilde of Arne bore the duty to protect Arne and make it stronger still.
To accomplish that—
“We need that child, Clemens.”
Iker and Nestian would likely seize the opportunity of the Asterian children’s journey to the Land Where Morning Never Comes to harm them.
They believed that only with Tiel of Asterian gone could peace be maintained in the Beast-person world. And they might well seek Arne’s cooperation in this.
Arne was a neutral household, but if one were to be precise, they stood closer to Iker and Nestian than to Asterian—close enough that those two families might appeal for aid.
‘But they are mistaken.’
To make Arne prosperous, that child’s legend was necessary.
A glorious power that could summon morning to the frozen wasteland where snow fell like death itself, and bring forth sunlight.
Arcadia was a land without a master.
If that place became habitable again, it would almost certainly be incorporated into the territory of nearby Arne.
Asterian lay too far away, Nestian and Iker had nothing to gain, and Wolfgang would have no interest.
So if Tiel of Asterian truly realized the legend, Arne stood to gain the most—or so Iris believed.
“Of course, Mother.”
Clemens flashed a reassuring, graceful smile.
That smile was the very image of Iris Hilde of Arne.
***
“The north is cold, so we must depart before it’s too late and prepare accordingly. A letter from His Imperial Majesty has just arrived—the knight order assigned to accompany you is ready.”
Ludian, who had been listening quietly to Alpheus’s words, suddenly spoke up.
“Aren’t we heading to Arne first?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve heard that Arne has much the same climate as Asterian—that it’s warm year-round?”
“Ludian, you fool. What exactly have you been learning at the academy?”
Ferdi stared at Ludian with exasperation written all over his face, clearly struggling to keep his composure.
“Arne is a blessed land and has a mild climate throughout the year, but its surroundings do not, as I’ve explained.”
“So you’re saying a snowy wasteland like Nestian’s surrounds the Arne territory?”
“Not exactly surrounded, but—ah, never mind. What’s the use of talking to you?”
Ferdi shrugged. Olivier, who had been watching the two brothers’ exchange while cradling Tiel in her arms, nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, you dunce! Arne’s territory is warm, but the land around it is so cold that even a snow leopard would freeze to death! Isn’t that common sense? What have you even been learning all this time?”
“A snow leopard would freeze to death?”
Tiel, cradled in Olivier’s arms, opened her eyes wide and looked up at her companion.
Having already experienced freezing to death once, Olivier’s words struck her like a shock.
Olivier, who had carelessly lapsed into her habitual disparaging remarks about Nestian, suddenly panicked and clapped her hands over Tiel’s ears.
“Oh my goodness! Forget you heard that! I’m sorry, Tiel!”
Of course, Olivier had no idea that such a thing had ever happened to Tiel. Tiel was grateful for that ignorance.
Given Olivier’s nature, if she’d known about it, she’d probably be crying her eyes out by now.
‘Besides, it’s all fine now.’
The memories had grown hazy. Everything that had happened in Nestian had long since faded like a dream.
All of it was thanks to her family in Asterian cherishing her so.
“Please watch your words, Olivier!”
Just then, Ferdi, rarely annoyed, pulled Tiel from Olivier’s arms and cradled her in his own. Tiel blinked and quietly settled against him.
“All of you, be quiet.”
Alpheus’s voice silenced the noisy children. Olivier, Ferdi, Ludian, and Tiel turned their attention to him.
“You’ll be heading to Arne first. It will be warm once you arrive, but the journey there will be bitterly cold, so you must prepare thoroughly.”
Alpheus looked down at the little ones with worry in his eyes.
“You depart in four days. The schedule is set for departure once His Highness the Crown Prince arrives. The timeline is tight, so make sure you don’t overlook anything in your preparations—”
“Does Tiel have Winter Clothing? She’s only been wearing light clothing since arriving in Asterian.”
Ludian cut off Alpheus mid-sentence to voice his own concern. Alpheus felt his patience reaching its limit and closed his eyes for a moment.
“It was tailored at the wardrobe workshop when we had yours made. Now listen to your grandfather.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes, so make sure you prepare properly—”
“That’s right! We need to pack lots of soft Blankets in the carriage! We have to wrap Tiel up warm in them for sleeping!”
“Was I not speaking?”
Finally losing his patience, Alpheus let out a sharp rebuke, causing Ludian and Olivier to pout and look at him reproachfully.
Alpheus cleared his throat awkwardly and continued.
“Prepare without fail. And remember: you are the heirs of Asterian and the heirs of Wolfgang. When a dangerous situation arises, your priority must be to protect your own safety, not to stand and fight to subdue the threat.”
“Grandfather, aside from the Heads of the families in the empire, isn’t there anyone who could stand against us?”
At Ferdi’s question, Alpheus nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
“Then why—”
“However, that is only true when you stand alone.”
Alpheus’s gaze shifted to the small granddaughter nestled in Ferdi’s arms.
When Alpheus looked at her, Tiel smiled brightly and squeezed the arms holding her tight.
Alpheus gazed at the sight with contentment and affection, then spoke slowly.
“When there is something you must protect, the matter becomes entirely different.”
At his words, all three children’s eyes fixed on their small, snow leopard sibling.
“Fighting blindly is one thing; fighting while protecting something is twice as difficult. Ferdi, Ludian, Olivier—remember this: you must protect your sister.”
“Don’t worry!”
“Leave it to us.”
“Grandfather, really! You worry too much!”
Ludian, Ferdi, and Olivier answered confidently in turn.
In Tiel’s hands, a small fragment of light—shaped like Tiel’s own smile, warm and delicate—flickered into being and then scattered softly into nothing.
Alpheus gazed at the children with eyes full of worry.
But his golden eyes held as much faith in them as they held concern.
Faith that they would see it through.
That faith would guard the path they were about to walk.
***
Time passed swiftly,
and morning broke on the day the children were to depart for the Land Where Morning Never Comes.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————