The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Tiel decided to postpone her visit to Ian for later.

Although meeting Ian was important and urgent, greeting Karsus, who had just returned, was a higher priority.

"But I still need to see Lord Ian."

Tiel remembered the mysterious intruder she had encountered in Ian's subspace.

She also remembered Ian's pale, distressed face after that encounter.

There was nothing Tiel herself could do to help, but if she couldn't assist, she at least wanted to be by his side.

After meeting Karsus, Tiel resolved to visit Iandross, and she left the room with Ria.

At that moment, she ran into Karsus, who was coming up to see her.

"Dad!"

Tiel happily called out to him and threw herself into Karsus’s arms. He lifted his little daughter into a hug.

"Tiel."

Though she had grown surprisingly much since he first saw her, to Karsus, she was still his little girl.

The fact that she still fit so comfortably in his embrace was proof of that. Karsus held Tiel and gently kissed her soft forehead.

"It looks like you've been having fun. But... where are you going?"

Noticing that Tiel’s clothes were not her indoor attire but rather her going-out clothes, Karsus asked cautiously.

Seizing the moment, Tiel pecked Karsus on the cheek and said,

"I'm going to see Lord Ian! I’ll be right back."

"Tiel."

"I know I shouldn’t wander around at this time. But there’s something troubling me. Can't I go see him just for a little while?"

Tiel blinked her sparkling eyes.

Facing his daughter's bright eyes, Karsus sighed. He was always weak to her requests.

"Take Ferdie or Ludian with you. You can’t go alone. The guards must accompany you as well."

"Okay! Thank you, Dad!" Tiel exclaimed joyfully as she hugged Karsus's neck. Karsus, with a resigned smile, patted the back of her head.

"Be careful. Some of the culprits are still at large. They might try to attack you again."

"They escaped?"

"Yes. We delayed at the entrance, giving them time to escape."

As he finished speaking, Karsus pulled a glass bead from his pocket.

It was the bead Tiel had given to Karsus, saying it might be helpful.

But something was off.

"Why is it so black?"

The bead she had given Karsus was clearly a brightly shining bead filled with light fragments, but the bead he returned was murky as if it had absorbed all the darkness in the world.

Tiel took the bead in both hands and asked,

"Did you use the bead I gave you?"

"Yes, I did. If it hadn’t been for this, we wouldn’t have caught the last one."

"But why has it turned so black?"

"I was going to ask you about that... When I threw the bead into that black mist, it got dyed like this."

Hearing Karsus's explanation, Tiel furrowed her brows.

Until now, Tiel had used her ability to dispel 'unidentifiable black things' numerous times.

And mostly, when she used her ability, those things shattered and disappeared like broken fragments.

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

There had never been an instance where something was absorbed like this. Tiel nodded and then pocketed the bead.

"It's my ability, so I'll look into it a bit more! Maybe I can find out something."

"Yes, please do. And your bead was very helpful. Thank you."

Karsus gently stroked Tiel’s head one more time before setting her down.

Her lace-layered dress skirt fluttered lightly. Tiel, standing firmly on the ground, held the bead in her hand and looked up at Karsus.

"I'm glad it was helpful! We haven't been able to figure out what 'it' is, but maybe this time we can?"

"If we catch those who escaped, maybe."

Tiel nodded.

Then she spoke up.

"Maybe it’s someone related to Arcadia."

"Arcadia?"

"Yes, the curse in the bodies of the people living in Arcadia reacted to my ability. If the darkness you encountered reacts to my ability as well..."

"It might be a force of the same nature as the curse there. I understand."

Tiel considered adding the story of Iandross's rampage but decided against it. Talking about Arcadia seemed enough for now.

'I wonder how he's doing?'

The last heir of Everard.

It had been a while since Tiel had heard any news about that boy.

Thinking she should ask Karsus about him soon, she parted ways with him and headed out to the carriage.

"Miss, are you going out?"

"Yes! Dad allowed me... /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Oh right! He said to bring my brothers along, but I forgot. Just a moment, I'll go fetch them!"

"Take your time. I will prepare the carriage." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The Asterian butler smiled gently and nodded lightly.

Tiel climbed the spiral staircase once more, heading for Ludian and Ferdie's rooms.

It was easy to find the boys since they were currently restricted from going out and were lounging in their rooms.

Knock knock.

Tiel first knocked on Ferdie's door.

She had chosen Ferdie's room before Ludian’s simply because it was closer to the stairs.

The door smoothly slid open, and Ferdie appeared from inside.

"Tiel?"

Ferdie seemed to have been reading, as he had transparent glasses perched on the tip of his nose. Tiel glanced over his shoulder.

His desk was piled high with thick books and parchments, apparently, he had been studying.

"Did I interrupt you?"

"Of course not. Want to come in?"

Ferdie stepped aside. Tiel shook her head.

"No, thank you! If you’re not too busy, I have a favor to ask!"

"I’m not busy. Tell me."

"I’m planning to go to the imperial palace to meet Lord Ian, and Dad said I must bring one of my brothers. If you’re not too busy, could you accompany me to the palace?"

"The palace?"

Ferdie narrowed his eyes.

"Didn’t you meet Iandross recently?"

"Yes, but there’s something worrying me. If you’re busy, you don’t have to come. I could ask Ludian..."

"I’m not busy."

Ferdie cut off Tiel's words and rested his hand on her head.

"Father said to bring one of us, right?"

"Yes."

"Then it’s fine if it’s just me. Ludian is probably asleep."

Ferdie spoke without even checking Ludian’s room. Tiel nodded, understanding.

'That’s right!'

If she had opened Ludian’s room first, she might have woken him up.

Tiel felt relieved that she hadn’t and briefly glanced at Ludian’s closed door.

"I’ll go change into my outing clothes and come back. Wait here."

"Okay, I’ll wait."

Ferdie's voice seemed a little softer than before, probably to avoid waking Ludian.

Unaware of Ferdie’s considerations, Tiel thought him very kind as she waited outside his room.

Ferdie soon emerged, dressed in outing clothes with a gold-buttoned jacket.

The jacket, embroidered with a small leopard print, was very fancy and suited him well. And the face above the jacket was even more splendid.

Every time, Tiel was struck anew by how handsome her brother was.

Previously, having met few werebeasts, she hadn’t noticed, but now she could see it clearly. Ferdie's face was exceptionally handsome.

"Why are you staring like that?"

Ferdie asked lightly, laughing as if he knew why Tiel was looking.

"You look particularly dashing today!"

Tiel gave him the response he was hoping for. Satisfied, Ferdie picked her up.

He carried Tiel to the front gate where the butler had prepared the carriage.

Ferdie carried Tiel into the carriage and then seated her on the plush chair. Shortly after, the door of the carriage closed.

The carriage smoothly started its journey.