The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Today, the girl who had given Tiel flowers was currently confined underground and receiving treatment.

Ria added that the girl had been saved, but her condition was not very good.

Tiel jumped out of Ria's arms and hopped down ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ from the bed.

"I need to see if she's okay!"

"No, Miss! What if she rushes at you again? If something happens again..."

Ria tried to dissuade her with a worried voice.

Tiel seemed to ponder for a moment, then shook her head vigorously.

"I don't think she'll attack me. If she was going to attack me again, why would she change her mind and save me?"

"Miss, that's..."

"Besides! This is the Asterian estate. I'm safe as long as I'm here!"

Ria considered reminding Tiel that the place where she had been attacked was also under Asterian control but decided against it.

"Phew, how can I argue with you, Miss? But you should speak to Lord Karsus before you go."

"Is Dad back?"

"Yes, he should be around now..."

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Tiel and Ria both turned their heads. Tiel's lips curved into a gentle smile.

She could now recognize who was outside just by hearing the knock.

This knocking, neither slow nor fast, was definitely...

"Dad?"

As soon as Tiel called out, the door opened and Karsus walked into the room.

His glossy black hair was neatly combed back, highlighting his striking features.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Tiel ran to him and threw herself into his arms, her dress fluttering.

Karsus, as if used to it, picked up his little daughter. He was accustomed to holding Tiel dearly, and Tiel found a comfortable spot in his embrace.

Karsus carefully supported Tiel's back to make sure she didn't fall and held her close.

"Tiel, I came to see if you were okay."

Tiel nodded and replied.

"I'm fine! I wasn't hurt at all, thanks to her... bringing it back."

However, Karsus seemed not to be listening to Tiel's words. Tiel tilted her head and said.

"..."

"Dad, are you listening to me?"

Karsus casually listened to his youngest daughter's chatter while meticulously checking her body for any signs of roughness or scars. After examining her palms, which had soft flesh instead of calluses, her soft cheeks, and all the way down to her neck and legs, and finding everything normal, he quickly pecked Tiel on the cheek.

"I was worried. Your grandfather is also coming back because he was shocked."

"I'm really okay... But Dad, about her..."

Karsus interrupted Tiel.

"She will be dealt with according to Asterian law. She endangered you, so she deserves to be punished. So don't worry. There won't be any situation where you're in danger again. I promised you that before."

Tiel was startled by Karsus's stern voice and quickly shook her head, adding,

"No! I wasn't asking for her to be punished! I just meant that even though she initially tried to endanger me, she changed her mind and saved me... I hope you won't be too harsh on her."

"Tiel, what are you talking about? She almost put the head of the Asterians in danger. Therefore, she naturally has to pay with her life."

"But Dad! If that's the case, it's my fault for not being cautious and just accepting the bouquet. Are you going to punish me?"

"What..."

Usually, Tiel never talked back to Karsus. She had been that way since she first came to Asterian.

She had occasionally talked back to Ferdie and Ludian, but never to Karsus.

But now, her daughter was talking back.

And for a beastkin who had almost harmed her.

Karsus raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"What are you talking about? Why would I punish you? You did nothing wrong in this incident. And even if you did, you wouldn't be punished. You are my daughter."

"Then, can't you spare her life? I think... she must have had her reasons. Otherwise, she wouldn't have offered the bouquet with such a terrified expression."

Tiel hugged Karsus's neck tightly and babbled. Karsus sighed.

Ferdie and Ludian were not the kind of children to say such things, but if they had, Karsus would have cut them off immediately with 'nonsense.'

However, Karsus was particularly weak when it came to Tiel, and this wasn't just true for him. Everyone in Asterian was soft on Tiel.

They couldn't completely overlook punishing her, but if Tiel went this far, they couldn't 'kill' her.

Karsus patted Tiel's back.

"Alright, as you said, I'll thoroughly investigate what happened. If it turns out she's not at fault, she'll receive a light punishment. Are you satisfied now?"

"Yes! Thank you!"

Tiel quickly pecked Karsus on the cheek and smiled brightly.

The worry that had hardened Karsus's features softened into gentle curves.

"Oh, by the way. I want to go see her!"

"No."

"Not even if I go with you?"

"..."

Karsus hesitated.

As he had said before, he had no knack for refusing Tiel's requests.

He eventually picked up Tiel and slowly walked forward.

Noticing that Karsus hadn't refused her request, Tiel smiled brightly and lightly bounced her legs.

"Dad, I somehow don't think she's a bad person."

"She tried to harm you, Tiel."

"But she saved me again."

"That doesn't change the fact that she tried to harm you."

"The fact that she saved me doesn't change either. If she had run away after giving the bouquet, she wouldn't have gotten hurt. But she chose to get hurt by snatching the bouquet I was holding."

Tiel looked quite serious as she faced Karsus. Karsus also stopped and looked into Tiel's eyes.

The two pairs of shining golden eyes faced each other.

"I don't think she's a bad person, Dad... really."

"Tiel."

Karsus lightly brushed Tiel's bangs as he called her name.

As Karsus's hand touched near her forehead, Tiel squinted one eye and tilted her head.

"Maybe you're right. She might have really tried to save you."

"Yes."

"But regardless, you need to learn to be cautious, Tiel. Not everyone in the world is good."

Karsus spoke in a low, serious voice. Tiel also stopped joking and smiling and listened seriously to Karsus's words.

The father and daughter stood in the corridor for a long time, talking.

Most of the conversation was about 'how to be wary of strangers' and 'how to be skeptical.' 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

***

In the dungeons of Asterian.

"Trying to harm the head of the family?"

"That little thing?"

"Isn't the head of the family even smaller?"

The guards in front of the dungeon chatted back and forth. During the conversation, emotions heightened, and one guard said they should 'kill her right now.'

This happened because everyone in Asterian liked Tiel. They couldn't forgive the girl who had 'dared' to try to harm their head of the family and precious young lady.

Even if that girl was critically ill and near death.

"Why did he order us to keep her alive?"

"Could that little kid really have tried to harm the head of the family on her own? There must be someone behind it. Until we find out who..."

At that moment, the door to the dungeon opened, and many footsteps could be heard.

The guards in front of the dungeon stopped their chatter and stood at attention.

Entering through the door of the dungeon were Karsus Asterian and Tiel Asterian.

"Where is the prisoner?"

Karsus, holding Tiel, looked coldly at the guards with his chilling gaze.