The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Step aside. Tiel needs to rest."

However, Alpheus's attempt to hold his granddaughter in his arms ended in failure due to Karsus’s firm words and actions.

Karsus blocked Alpheus as if he were an annoyance.

"Tiel used her ability. She must be exhausted."

Before coming back, he had made sure she drank some water at the temple, but given how frail she was, it was only natural for him to worry.

Alpheus sighed in disappointment but relented, clearing his throat as he let Tiel go.

Tiel, watching him, chuckled softly before lifting her head to look at the Asterian mansion once more.

It was the same mansion as when she had left, yet somehow, it looked different.

‘...Asterian.’

She quietly mouthed the name. When she had first arrived, this place had seemed terrifying. But now, it wasn’t scary at all.

Not Alpheus, not Karsus, not Ferdi, not Ludian, not Butler Parden or Head Maid Sophia... No one in Asterian was scary anymore.

No matter what anyone said, she was an Asterian child. She was Karsus’s daughter.

This was her home.

Her thoughts were cut short as Karsus, still holding her in his arms, strode into the mansion.

Alpheus made a move as if to follow but instead patted both his grandsons on the shoulder, careful not to hurt them.

"You both did well. Ferdi, Ludian."

"It's nothing, but..."

Ferdi trailed off, his gaze fixed on the approaching carriage with clear displeasure.

His expression was sharp and displeased. Alpheus followed his grandson’s line of sight.

A grand and elaborate carriage stood there, having arrived slightly later than the Asterian carriage.

The emblem of the imperial palace was engraved clearly on its surface.

It was Ian Dross’s carriage.

As the door opened, Ian Dross Crasion stepped out, adjusting his attire.

Upon spotting Alpheus Evalt Asterian, he approached and gave him a casual nod.

"Archduke Evalt."

"Crown Prince."

Alpheus, ignoring his grandsons for the moment, stepped toward Ian Dross.

Then, as a gesture of gratitude, he bowed slightly.

"Thank you. If not for Your Highness, Asterian’s situation would have become quite complicated."

"The almighty Asterian family, powerful enough to make even the heavens tremble, was thrown into chaos over a little girl. I doubt it was something Asterian couldn’t handle on its own."

Ian shrugged, though there was no mockery in his tone.

Alpheus chuckled awkwardly and nodded.

"That is how parents are. When it comes to their children, they can never be rational. Please, come inside. I will have tea prepared."

As soon as Alpheus finished speaking, two servants hurriedly rushed into the mansion to relay his orders.

***

"Thank you for your help. I truly appreciate it, Your Highness Ian Dross."

Alpheus bowed once more.

Ian Dross tilted his head slightly as he lifted his teacup.

"Even without me, things would have been resolved just fine. That kid isn't ordinary."

"Kid? Are you talking about Tiel?"

"Yeah, Tiel."

Ian smiled as he recalled the small child who had stood firm before High Priest Andres without flinching.

‘Strange... That shouldn’t be possible.’

‘That doesn’t make sense.’

For a seven-year-old, she was astonishingly bold and decisive.

Not long ago, she had arrived at the Nestians' estate trembling and begging for her life.

‘Back then, I wondered how a Snow Leopard could look so much like a prey animal...’

‘I have the fur of a Snow Leopard and the eyes of a Black Leopard. But you’re telling me I’m not an Asterian child?’

Now, with her claws bared, she was unmistakably a predator.

Had she merely been hiding them all this time, unaware of how to use them?

Ian chuckled to himself.

‘Such a tiny thing.’

She looked like she’d burst into tears with a single tap... and yet she had learned to say things like ‘I will repay you.’ Where had she even picked up those words? Her eyes had sparkled as she said it.

He recalled the softness of her chubby cheeks as he had pinched them.

They had felt as soft as castella cake. He could have spent an entire day kneading them.

Ian’s thoughts were completely consumed by Tiel.

Watching Ian as he stared out the window with a soft smile, Alpheus finally spoke up.

"I haven't heard the full details, so I don't know everything. However, I was told that my granddaughter used her ability in front of Andres..."

"Yeah, that kid is an Asterian through and through. The moment her bloodline was denied, she knew how to argue back. She’s just like Ferdi and Ludian."

"Haha, I didn’t know Tiel had that side to her. It's a shame I didn’t see it with my own eyes."

Ian smirked and nodded.

After a few more sips of tea, Ian finally rose from his seat.

"I should be going now. His Majesty has summoned me."

There was a hint of irritation in his voice as he said this.

Alpheus quickly noticed that Ian was not in the best mood and gave him a respectful nod.

"Of course, my apologies for keeping you. Please go ahead, Your Highness. I will personally inform His Majesty about today's events."

"Alright. See you next time, Archduke Evalt."

"Take care, Your Highness."

With a curt nod, Ian left the parlor.

His aide, Cedric, who had been waiting outside all along, stepped forward and draped Ian's cloak over his shoulders.

"You’re late, Your Highness."

"I know that already, Cedric."

Ian responded irritably, letting out a deep sigh.

Cedric remained silent. He knew his master well enough to avoid making the situation worse.

Ian's slow, measured steps suddenly came to a halt.

Cedric looked at him in confusion.

"Did you forget something, Your Highness?"

"......."

Should I at least see her face one more time?

The thought crossed his mind briefly.

But Ian resumed walking almost immediately. If he delayed any longer, who knew what His Majesty would say?

"No, let's go."

Ian climbed into the carriage.

Noticing Ian’s sour mood, Cedric silently boarded after him.

As the carriage departed and the Asterian estate faded into the distance, Ian kept his gaze fixed on the window.

"Cedric."

"Yes, Your Highness? What is it?"

"The summons... it’s about the consort issue again, isn’t it?"

"Yes."

"I'm sick of it."

A short exchange.

Ian let out a tired sigh.

Since when had His Majesty ever cared about him? And now he was suddenly so persistent.

Ian’s eyes glowed sharply.

"You shouldn’t speak that way about His Majesty, Your Highness."

"Hah, and what difference would it make, no matter how I say it?"

The Emperor of the Crasion Empire—Wilhelm Durand Crasion.

The supreme ruler of Crasion.

And the man who had killed Ian’s parents.

Ian could still remember that day, even if the memories were hazy.

The moment his mother and father—who had desperately tried to protect him—were brutally slain by the Emperor’s hands.

The instant the mansion was engulfed in flames.

Ian had only been seven years old at the time.

So he had never truly understood what had happened.

Everyone involved had been silenced under the Emperor’s orders.

But there was one thing Ian knew, one truth he could never forget.

My ability is the reason my parents were killed.

Ian’s power—Spatial Creation—was an ability that had only ever manifested in the imperial bloodline.

An ability that had never been fully understood.

The only thing known about it was that it was extremely dangerous and difficult to control.

That was why, before Ian’s eighth birthday, Emperor Wilhelm Durand Crasion had pressed a sword to his throat.

If Ian lost control and went berserk, he would become a threat.

The Emperor had wanted to eliminate that threat before it could manifest.

But in the end, he hadn’t gone through with it.

Ian had survived.

"Mother! Father!"

Because his parents had sacrificed themselves for him.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess—his parents—had thrown themselves onto the Emperor’s blade to protect their child.

If they died, the imperial bloodline would be reduced to just one.

Ian Dross Crasion.

The Emperor wouldn’t be able to kill the last remaining heir of the imperial family.

And their gamble had been correct.

The Emperor had not killed Ian.

Because if Ian died, the Crasion dynasty would end completely.

The Emperor had a duty to preserve the imperial bloodline.

In the end, he chose to let Ian live.

Instead, he decreed that Ian would be named Crown Prince.

But in exchange, a "consort" would be found to ensure that Ian never lost control of his ability.

In other words, they were searching for a sacrificial pawn—someone who would share Ian’s ability, sacrificing their own life force to suppress his power.

Ian hated it.

He despised the thought of someone else suffering because of him.

That someone, completely unrelated to him, would be bound by a mark for life, bearing the burden of his ability.

Ian was like a fragile vessel, one that was on the verge of shattering.

And the Emperor... was trying to break another vessel into pieces to use as glue.

"......."

Thinking about Wilhelm, Ian’s expression grew cold.

After that, silence filled the carriage.

The only sound was the rhythmic gallop of the horses pulling them forward.