The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Ferdi Asterian didn’t particularly like the idea of suddenly having a little sister.

The paternity test results hadn’t even come in yet, and yet, everyone was already treating that child as if she was truly an Asterian—his sister. It irritated him.

Of course, the unique combination of traits—white fur from the Snow Leopards and golden eyes from the Black Leopards—was solid proof that she was Karsus and Lena’s daughter, even without a test.

But something like that could be altered using divine power, couldn’t it?

Besides, a child who just so happened to inherit such a perfectly balanced mix of both bloodlines...

It was almost as if someone had deliberately created the “daughter of Karsus and Lena.”

That was why Ferdi remained wary of Tiel. At least until the paternity test results were out, he wasn’t going to let his guard down.

Everyone in the Asterian family—his foolish, gullible twin Ludian included—was being utterly bewitched by that tiny girl, as if they were ready to hand over their hearts on a silver platter.

Someone in this family needed to think rationally.

Besides... how could someone be that small?

Tiel was tiny.

So small that it was hard to believe she shared the same bloodline as the Asterian family.

That fact alone made Ferdi’s suspicions grow even stronger.

Her pale skin—so different from theirs.

Her big, round eyes.

Her tiny hands, so small they could fit entirely within one of his palms.

Her little mouth, constantly moving as she sipped at her tea.

His eyes kept drifting toward her, and it irritated him. She was distracting, bothersome.

Was that what having a younger sister was supposed to be like?

And on top of that...

"What if she loses her appetite?"

His father, Karsus, suddenly acting uncharacteristically tender.

"Tiel, does the food suit your taste?"

His grandfather, Alpheus, grinning like a fool, completely besotted with her.

It was all infuriating.

Ferdi couldn’t stand any of it.

It made him feel like an idiot for rushing back the moment he heard that the sister they thought was dead was actually alive.

And then, there was that ability.

"...Light ability?"

"Yes."

"Father, that’s—!"

Not long ago, Karsus had gathered both Ferdi and Ludian to explain Tiel’s ability to them.

Since they were her brothers, they needed to be aware of her condition and her power.

Both Ferdi and Ludian had been stunned. A light ability? That couldn’t be real.

It was nothing more than a myth.

Ludian, of course, was too dim-witted to realize, but as the eldest son of the Asterian family—the heir who would inherit the position of head one day—Ferdi was well aware of the legend that had been passed down through both the Asterian and Nestian bloodlines.

"Asterian and Nestian shall reclaim their true power with the glory of light."

The glory of light referred to the light ability.

And the true power...

"It means the lifting of the ancient curse that has been passed down through Asterian and Nestian bloodlines."

Every heir born into the Asterian and Nestian families carried a curse.

The curse of the evil god, Orpheo.

This curse was a madness that had been passed down through the leopard bloodline for generations.

If they overused their abilities, they would lose their rationality as beastkin—eventually going completely insane.

Alpheus.

Karsus.

Lena.

Ferdi.

Ludian.

All of them carried this curse.

And among them, Ferdi bore the worst of it.

His ability was so powerful that it was nearly on par with Ludian’s—who was considered a genius—but because his madness was so severe, he couldn’t use his ability for long periods of time.

For Ferdi, this curse was his greatest shame.

And for the leopard clans, it was an untouchable truth.

But now...

That little runt... has the light ability?

Did that mean she could...

If that girl could...

Ferdi’s eyes narrowed as his thoughts trailed off.

Then, as if he himself couldn’t believe where his mind had wandered, he let out a short, bitter laugh.

It was absurd.

The light ability was just a legend.

His father must have been mistaken.

Or worse—everyone had been fooled by that little girl.

That tiny, round, bothersome, attention-stealing little girl.

With that harmless, innocent, adorable face... she had deceived the beastkin of the Asterian family.

Of course, when he voiced his doubts, Karsus had merely stared at him coldly and said—

"So what you're saying is, you think I’m some fool clinging to a ridiculous legend?"

But it didn’t matter.

She could fool everyone else, but she wouldn’t fool him.

Tiel, you won’t fool me.

Since their father had already lost his heart to that adorable thing, at the very least, he had to keep his wits about him.

“Ian Dross is here?”

That meant—this was all for the sake of keeping an eye on that little brat.

Ferdi stepped out from behind the rose bushes.

Tiel, Ria, and the maid who had delivered the news all looked at him with slightly startled expressions.

“This is ridiculous! He bans us from meeting her because she’s ‘shy around strangers,’ but he’s letting her meet Ian Dross?”

Ludian followed right after, shouting in disbelief.

The two brothers casually positioned themselves on either side of Tiel. Their long shadows stretched across the tea table.

“I completely agree. There’s something wrong with the order of things, don’t you think, Ria?”

“...Sir Ferdi?”

“Ian—that bastard! Who knows what he might try to pull on this tiny thing!”

Ludian exclaimed, pointing at Tiel as if he absolutely refused to allow it.

Ferdi nodded.

“I agree that Ian is a bastard. And Tiel is still too young to be meeting guests from the palace. Even if he was the one who brought her here... it would be best to send him back today. Family should take priority over visitors, don’t you think?”

Ferdi met Tiel’s gaze with a bright smile, as if seeking her agreement.

Caught off guard, Tiel instinctively nodded.

“Huh? Oh... yes....”

“See? Even Tiel agrees. That means we should send the guest away, Ria.”

Ferdi reached out and lightly tapped Tiel’s small bonnet.

Startled by the touch, she shrank back for a moment—only to relax again when he offered her a madeleine.

With the two young masters standing their ground so firmly, Ria was just about to go inform Ian that he should leave for today.

But then—

“You call me a bastard? That’s rich, coming from you two.”

“...!”

“Ferdi. Ludian.”

Ian Dross strode across the garden, his voice cutting through the peaceful afternoon air.

Ferdi and Ludian’s gazes sharpened simultaneously, while Tiel’s round eyes widened in surprise.

The once-tranquil tea party was now completely overrun by unwelcome guests.

Ian!

But unlike her brothers, Tiel’s face brightened at the sight of her benefactor.

If she had been in her beast form, her tail would have been sticking straight up in excitement.

Ferdi, catching that reaction out of the corner of his eye, kept his usual smile as he spoke.

“Haha. What brings His Highness to our humble estate?”

But his eyes weren’t smiling.

“I came as a guest. But the maid I sent hasn’t returned, so I figured I’d come myself.”

Ian glanced at the maid standing beside Ria, as if chastising her. She quickly bowed her head.

“Hey, Ian. My sister is shy around new people. We haven’t even gotten to meet her properly yet.”

Ludian crossed his arms, his voice laced with irritation. Ferdi nodded in agreement and handed another madeleine to Tiel.

“Right, Ian. We appreciate you bringing our sister home, but this visit was too hasty. Tiel still needs time to adjust to the estate.”

Sandwiched between her brothers and the prince, Tiel’s eyes darted back and forth while she quietly nibbled on the madeleine Ferdi had given her.

...It was soft and sweet.

“Who was it that found and brought back the Asterian family’s supposedly dead youngest daughter? And this is how Asterians treat their benefactors?”

“Asterians don’t treat benefactors this way... unless it involves their little sister.”

Ferdi Asterian did not particularly like Tiel.

But since he didn’t know her true identity yet, there was no way he was going to let her be alone with Ian Dross.

Besides, she was far too small. How could they just let this tiny thing be alone with him? Who knew what that bastard might try?

The three young men stared each other down in a silent battle of wills.

Surprisingly, it was Tiel who broke the tense standoff.

“Um... excuse me....”

“Yes, Tiel? Go ahead.”

“Ian is my benefactor. I just wanted to thank him properly. I’ll only talk to him for a little while.”

“......”

“...Is that okay?”

Tiel tilted her head up to look at Ferdi and Ludian, her big, round eyes shining.

Ludian’s lips twitched slightly upward. He let out a small cough.

“Well, if it’s only for a little while....”

“But Tiel, it’s dangerous for you to be alone. You’re still a tiny child, and Ian is twice your size.”

Ferdi’s firm words made Tiel’s shoulders slump slightly. She glanced hesitantly at Ian.

“What, do you think I’ll hurt her? I just came to give her a gift. So stop acting like I’m an intruder, Ferdi.”

“But still—”

“T-Then! O-Oraboni, could you come with me?”

In a sudden burst of desperation, Tiel tightly grabbed Ferdi’s hand.