The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Ian had only recently realized that his subspace was warping in unusual ways.

"I’m tired."

Feeling particularly exhausted that day, Ian Dross decided to enter his subspace to rest for a while.

But then...

"...Hmm?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ian tilted his head slightly. Something seemed off.

Ian’s subspace was not supposed to change. It was like an unwritten rule.

Toys scattered on the floor, frames, photos—if cleaned up, they would reappear the next day in the same spot. Even if all the doors were opened or the windows were shattered, by the next day, everything would be restored.

The only thing in Ian’s subspace that had ever changed since meeting Tiel was a ’pink cushion.’

But now, something was different.

"Has someone invaded again?"

Ian scanned the subspace with an annoyed gaze.

However, nothing seemed out of place. Frames, photos, toys, and even the broken staircase were all as they should be.

So why did it feel different?

As Ian walked down the familiar hallway, he paused.

"...?"

Sensing something odd, Ian turned around.

The long corridor lined with rooms.

At first glance, nothing seemed amiss. However, Ian knew better.

"There’s a room missing."

Ian had spent nearly two decades in this subspace.

Before meeting Tiel, this subspace had felt more like home than the royal palace, a space more familiar to him.

As the master of this subspace, Ian knew exactly how many rooms there were, how many stairs—it was all cataloged in his mind.

But now, a room was missing.

Disturbed by this anomaly, Ian quickly counted the rooms.

Indeed, one room was missing.

"Am I mistaken?"

But that couldn’t be. Ian knew this subspace better than anyone.

Even if there were ten thousand rooms, Ian would not be confused about their count... It was only then that he grasped the seriousness of the situation and checked every room in the mansion.

Two rooms were presumed missing.

They were not important rooms.

Even Ian didn’t frequent every room in the mansion.

But that wasn’t the point. The issue wasn’t whether the rooms were important; Ian’s subspace was becoming distorted.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than it has been stolen.

Intruders, disappearing rooms, doors that wouldn’t open... his subspace was twisting.

Ian swallowed hard.

He could cope with his abilities being twisted. Even if it caused his mind to break, he could bear it.

But what about Tiel?

Tiel was bonded with him. Even if it was a half-bond, a bond was a bond!

If something happened to Ian, Tiel would not be unscathed.

With that thought, Ian’s face paled. He felt as if he were choking, like someone drowning in a pond.

The thought of Tiel suffering because of him made it impossible to breathe.

Leaning against a now significantly larger cushion, Ian caught his breath.

There was nothing he could immediately do to resolve the situation. Only he was truly familiar with his subspace.

Other than Tiel, no one else even knew what Ian’s subspace looked like. He couldn’t ask anyone else for help.

So, Ian had to stay alert himself. First, he needed to figure out why this was happening.

"I knew there was a problem with my ability."

But he hadn’t anticipated it manifesting this way.

What would happen if the rooms continued to disappear one by one... until all were gone?

Ian clasped his hands and dragged them down his face. His neatly combed golden hair became disheveled.

At that moment.

Ssshh...

A book positioned in a very secluded corner dispersed into the darkness and vanished.

Ian was unaware of this.

***

"The situation is getting serious. We must do something! We cannot just sit idly by!"

A clergyman raised his voice. Other clergymen also raised their voices, and the usually quiet temple became noisy.

"Enough."

The high priest spoke, and the others silenced.

In the absence of the Pope, the clergy had to follow the high priest’s directives. They stopped speaking, but their discomfort was evident.

The high priest watched them for a while before turning to look out the window.

The sun was setting.

’In the past, it would still be light at this time.’

The time when the sun should not have set yet. The streets would be bright with sunlight, and it would be a while before the sun set and the beastfolk prepared to end their day.

But now, the sun was setting.

The beastfolk were already preparing to end their day, and some were already anxious, staying awake through the long night.

The high priest was not unaware of their fear and unease. But what could be done at the moment?

"What are you suggesting we do? The oracles have ceased, and the days are getting shorter. Should we offer sacrifices to the god Lucret and pray for the days to be restored?"

The high priest’s words caused everyone to bow their heads. They too knew there was no clear solution to the current crisis.

It was a desperate statement. The days were getting shorter, and the balance between day and night had long been broken. Everyone was blaming the temple and Tiel for the situation, causing the temple’s standing to plummet like never before.

The clergymen were lucky if they could walk down the street without being stoned.

"Should we ask Lady Tiel to pray in the temple..."

"Lady Tiel is, before being the Child of Light, the head of the Asterian family. We have no right to compel her to act. And on what grounds would you ask her?"

"...For the sake of the imperial citizens, surely Lady Tiel’s disposition would surely..."

"The problem is not her."

The high priest cut him off.

Of course, Tiel would agree without a second thought if asked to pray to Lucret in the temple.

But the problem was not Tiel.

Duke Evalt, Count Celeste, her two brothers, and her fiancé, Crown Prince Ian Dross of Crassion, were the issue.

Having Tiel pray in the temple would mean making her bear all the responsibility for this crisis alone.

Would they really let Tiel pray in the temple, knowing all this? Unlikely.

The reason Tiel was currently refraining from external activities and almost not interacting with the temple was probably their doing.

By cutting ties with the temple and showing that Tiel’s abilities were still intact, they were signaling that this situation had little to do with her.

All the clergy sighed. There was no solution to the current crisis.

The only consolation was that Tiel’s abilities remained intact.

And that she was still demonstrating her robust abilities at the Luminarie, which allowed the temple to reassure the imperial citizens that Lucret’s power was still strong, and this situation would soon be resolved.

But how long could this last?

How long could they endure?

The high priest signaled the clergy to disperse. The meeting ended without any real progress.

’If only she were not the heir to the Asterian.’

If Tiel were not of the Asterian bloodline, the temple could have used her to calm the public sentiment.

But because Tiel was Tiel Asterian and the head of the Asterian family, the temple could not touch even a hair on her head.

Her associates protected her with their entire being.

The high priest’s worries deepened.

***

"Speaking of which, there’s a festival coming up."

Ferdie set down his teacup, the steam curling up from the hot tea on the table.

"A festival?"

"Not the Luminarie, but something similar... It’s a festival hoping for the return of light. Really, it’s more of a prayer than a festival."

Ferdie continued in a calm voice. His neatly tied hair slipped down beside his neck.

As Ferdie lifted his eyelids, his brilliant golden eyes shimmered in the light.