The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

The children quickly arrived in Arne.

Having heard in advance that the children were returning, Iris waited at the main gate in a carriage and greeted them warmly.

"I heard the news beforehand."

Iris’s expression was quite bright. She turned her attention to Tiel with a wide smile.

"I believed... that you would succeed. Please, come inside. We should have a grand feast tonight to celebrate."

With a playful wink, Iris grasped the hem of her dress, which fluttered like flower petals in the breeze.

Watching her silently, Ferdie spoke in a polite and formal tone.

"We appreciate your words, but we intend to leave immediately."

"Why? There’s no need to hurry, is there? You’ve successfully completed your task, so you could stay a little longer."

"My father is waiting for us. We must go back without delay."

Iris’s face took on a meaningful expression at Ferdie’s words. Tiel looked up at her, tilting her head in confusion.

‘Hmm?’

Iris waved her hand, and a maid came forward holding a small cushion. The center of the cushion was scorched, with a small hole pierced through it.

It was a sign that the fabric had burned. The children narrowed their eyes and looked at the cushion.

"It seems that Celeste Marquis is truly concerned about you."

As soon as Iris finished speaking, a small salamander popped out from the hole in the cushion.

"Salamander!"

Tiel, recognizing the salamander as Karsus’s, cheered softly.

It was the same salamander that had found Tiel when she got lost in the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) basement of the Asterian estate and informed Karsus about her.

"You sent a salamander all the way here? Just like my father."

Ludian tapped the salamander on the nose, and the salamander breathed out a burst of flame!

As a result, the top of the cushion burned completely, and the maid holding it broke into a cold sweat.

"Sorry, but could you please take that creature away? It doesn't fit well with Arne, and it frightens the servants."

Arne’s ability was Green, and there were many plants in the estate created with this power.

So, it wasn’t surprising that the salamander, made of flames, wasn’t welcome there.

The maid had carefully carried the salamander in the cushion for this reason.

Tiel cautiously reached out toward the salamander.

She slipped her hand under its tiny arms and hugged its body. The salamander’s eyes widened, almost as if it were smiling.

"It’s not hot."

The flames of the Asterian family didn’t harm those who inherited their bloodline.

Thanks to this, no matter how much the salamander breathed out fire, not a single strand of Tiel’s hair was burned. She held the salamander close, gently cradling it in her arms.

"Father, don’t worry about us. We’ll be back soon."

Ferdie leaned his face near the salamander’s, and Ludian and Olivia followed suit. Tiel looked up at Ferdie.

"If I talk to the salamander, will my father be able to hear?"

"Yes, the sensation is connected with the salamander. He’s probably watching you through its eyes."

Tiel lifted the salamander high, bringing it close to her face. The salamander dangled in midair, tail swishing, looking at Tiel with its yellow eyes.

"Dad, are you watching?"

"......"

"I’ll be there soon! Just wait a little longer!"

As if responding, the salamander let out a small flame. The wind from the flames made Tiel’s bangs flutter, and she laughed gleefully.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Iris, who had been silently watching, smiled as she too laughed with Tiel.

‘I was planning to ask them to stay a bit longer...’

Through a message from Clemence, Iris had learned that Everard’s heir was alive.

Since Everard’s family was wiped out, Iris had planned to incorporate Everard’s lands into Arne’s territory. However, that plan had now been derailed.

She had been thinking of asking the children to stay for a few more days to hear more about what happened in Arcadia and to discuss things further. But...

‘Seeing her so happy, I can’t say that.’

Tiel, speaking to the salamander with sparkling eyes, looked just like a seven-year-old child missing her father.

Iris momentarily forgot that Tiel was not just someone with the Light ability but also, at her core, a young child of seven.

‘Well, I can always ask Clemence about what happened in Arcadia.’

Iris nodded. Ferdie and Ludian looked up at her, and she smiled gently.

"I understand you must want to return quickly after being away from home for so long. I won’t hold you back. Please leave in haste."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Not at all. If you need anything, feel free to ask. Arne will gladly provide it."

"Then... could I ask for some snacks?"

Suddenly, Olivia interjected. She grabbed Tiel’s shoulder and pulled her toward her.

"Tiel loves snacks! She needs some dessert for the road!"

"Of course. The pastry chef in Arne is very skilled, and I’m sure he can make desserts that Tiel will enjoy."

Iris smiled gently.

***

"Let’s go."

Ian Dross said, watching Tiel, her cheeks puffed from the cake.

Tiel chewed the castella in her mouth and swallowed it with enthusiasm, nodding eagerly.

"Let’s go!"

"I wonder if she’s going to burst..."

Ian muttered, watching the little snow leopard who had nodded and taken another bite of the castella.

Ian poked Tiel’s soft cheek. Tiel’s eyes widened as she protested.

"I’m not going to burst!"

"No, I think you will if your brothers and Olivia keep feeding you at this rate..."

Ian Dross glanced at the cart full of desserts.

Originally, they had planned to leave quickly, but Olivia’s request for ‘desserts Tiel can eat on the way!’ had delayed their departure.

Additionally, the pastry chef in Arne had begged, kneeling, saying it was impossible to make desserts in an hour, which caused further delays.

Then, Iris had suggested, "Since we’re so late, why don’t we have a meal before we leave?"—which only further delayed their departure...

It was a much later departure than they had intended, but Ian didn’t mind. Tiel, buried in desserts and happily eating whipped cream castella, looked so content.

"Well done, Tiel."

"Yes, Ian too."

"You can speak once you finish everything in your mouth."

Tiel swallowed the castella and then smiled brightly, looking at Ian Dross.

"You too, Ian! You’ve really worked hard! Actually, you didn’t have to come, but you came all the way here for me..."

"Now, you should speak correctly. It’s not because of you that I came all the way here... It’s because of me that you’re here. So, because of this."

Ian Dross flicked the back of her neck lightly. The mark on Tiel’s neck flashed brightly!

It was the mark of Light.

"If it wasn’t for this, you wouldn’t have had to go through all this. I will definitely repay this favor later..."

"Repay?!"

Tiel clenched her fists tightly. Ian widened his eyes in surprise. It had been a long time since he had seen Tiel raise her voice.

Tiel rarely raised her voice, so it was even more surprising. From a distance, Ferdie, Ludian, and Olivia, looking surprised, were approaching.

Before they could rush over to pull Tiel away from Ian, Tiel lowered her voice and whispered.

"Repay? No, that’s not it. Ian, you’re my benefactor. Compared to everything you’ve done for me, this is nothing."

"Tiel, in that situation, anyone would have... "

Ian Dross stopped mid-sentence. He couldn’t be sure. Could it have really been like that? If the person who had knocked on the door that night hadn’t been Ian Dross, but someone like Chender, would he have helped Tiel?

Ian held his tongue, but Tiel understood what he had wanted to say.

And she responded.

"No... Not everyone would have said ‘I’ll help’ in that situation. You really did something amazing, Ian."

Tiel took the most beautiful macaroon from her basket and handed it to Ian Dross.

It was the sweetest and most beautifully made one she had.

"So! Don’t say such things!"

Ian Dross looked confused as he accepted the macaroon Tiel offered. Tiel, with her golden eyes sparkling, asked again.

"You understand, right?"

"......"

"Ian?"

"I understand."

And soon after, Ferdie appeared, looking at Ian Dross with a ‘disdainful look’ and lifted Tiel up, walking away with her.

Ian Dross slowly savored the macaroon Tiel had given him.