The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Tiel..."

"You scared me," Ian lightly scolded, nearly bumping into her.

"Ah! I’m sorry! But I just remembered something..."

Tiel grinned sheepishly. She quietly glanced around. The maids following behind them looked puzzled.

"Could you stay here for a moment? I have something to discuss with Ian-nim in private."

The maids nodded without hesitation. Taking Ian’s hand, Tiel led him toward a quiet corner of the hallway.

Ian followed without resistance, though his expression showed his confusion.

"Why aren’t we talking in the parlor?"

"My brothers are in the parlor. They’re waiting for you."

"Ah."

So that’s why those overly protective black leopards weren’t trailing behind her. They had gone ahead to wait.

Ian smirked knowingly. Tiel quickly looked around once more.

Only after making sure there was no one nearby did she motion Ian to come closer.

"Your ear..."

"You’re really something."

Ian grumbled but didn’t refuse. He bent down, bringing his ear to Tiel’s lips.

"Um... Ian-nim, are you... going through something difficult?"

"?"

Ian frowned slightly, puzzled.

"I heard from my dad. That you’re not holding a birthday banquet this year..."

Ah, that.

Ian glanced at her with a strange expression.

So she had heard about the canceled birthday banquet and thought something had happened to him... enough to pull him aside like this.

Even sending away the maids just for this...

What kind of kid does something like this?

"Tiel, little cub. Do I look like the kind of person who would cancel a banquet just because something is bothering me?"

At his teasing question, Tiel pressed her lips together and shook her head.

"N-no, that’s not it."

"The cancellation was planned from the start. It’s not because something happened to me."

"I see... I just thought something might be wrong."

"Were you worried?"

At his question, Tiel squeezed his hand tightly.

His palm was so much larger than hers, warm and firm as she held onto it.

"Of course! Ian-nim is my benefactor!"

"A birthday banquet isn’t necessary. Only idiots cry over not having their birthday celebrated."

Ian grinned mischievously.

Tiel looked at him thoughtfully before speaking again.

"Then... how about celebrating your birthday at the Asterian estate? My brothers and Dad would love that."

"At the Asterian estate?"

"Yes! With me, Ian-nim, Ferdi oraboni, Ludian oraboni..."

Ian hesitated for a moment before gently clasping Tiel’s small hands.

Her tiny fingers fit snugly in his grasp. He could probably hold both of her hands in just one of his.

"Alright, Tiel. Let’s do that."

***

"No."

Ferdi rejected the idea outright.

"Can you really be so heartless in turning down the Crown Prince’s request?"

"It’s not a request. It’s an order, Your Highness. And why exactly do you want to have your birthday party at our estate when you have a perfectly fine palace for it?"

You’re not a child anymore. Ferdi muttered under his breath.

But of course, everyone in the room heard him.

"Tiel, next time His Highness says something unreasonable, you have to firmly refuse. Your brother already taught you how to handle situations like this, remember?"

"...Do you not want it?"

"That’s how you do it."

"You’re teaching her great things, Ferdi."

Ian scoffed.

He seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.

"I’m not joking. I really want to spend my birthday at the Asterian estate."

"I’m not joking either, Ian Dross. Why would you want to hold your birthday banquet here?"

Ferdi remained firm. Tiel rolled her eyes slightly, glancing between them.

Ian visited the Asterian estate often. She had assumed it wouldn’t be an issue for him to spend his birthday here too.

I guess that’s different?

Ian’s gaze shifted to Tiel. Feeling awkward, she scratched at the back of Ferdi’s hand.

"Oraboni... spending your birthday alone is lonely. And I was the one who suggested it to Ian-nim first."

"Tiel, this isn’t happening."

"I never felt lonely because I don’t even know when my birthday is. But if I did know, I think it would be even lonelier to spend it alone."

"......."

"......?"

She doesn’t know her own birthday? Ian parted his lips to say something, but before he could, Ludian smacked him on the shoulder.

Stay quiet.

Ian wisely kept his mouth shut.

Ferdi ran a hand down his face, still holding Tiel on his lap.

"Tiel, Ian isn’t lonely. He’s the Crown Prince. Even without us, there are plenty of people who would—"

"I’m lonely, Ferdi."

"......."

"I don’t have any friends to spend my birthday with."

"......Ha."

Ferdi let out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting.

Tiel stopped fidgeting with his hand and looked up at him carefully.

"Fine, I won’t ask anymore. Instead, let’s make a deal."

Ian, who had been teasing the entire time, suddenly turned serious.

Leaning back on the couch, he crossed his legs.

"A deal?"

"Yeah. I heard you’re getting Tiel’s dresses tailored."

"And who told you that?"

"Ferdi, who do you think?"

Ian looked straight at Tiel.

She flinched, suddenly recalling how she had happily chattered about it while walking Ian to the parlor.

But Ferdi didn’t scold her. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, waiting to hear Ian’s proposal.

"I’ll bring Madame Estella."

"......."

"In exchange for spending my birthday with the Asterian family."

Ferdi’s eyes narrowed. Madame Estella? Was he serious?

Who was Madame Estella?

She was a royal-exclusive designer. While not technically Crasion’s official royal couturier, she was known for making clothes only for royalty and nobility of the highest order.

Countless noble families had begged for her dresses, sending her endless requests.

But she had never responded to any of them.

Madame Estella only accepted commissions from royalty.

Most people didn’t even know what she looked like.

No one knew her exact age, which empire she was from—nothing. She had kept her identity an absolute secret.

And now Ian was saying he could bring her here?

If it were anyone else, Ferdi would have laughed them off.

But the boy sitting before him was the Crown Prince of the empire.

Which meant he had direct access to her.

Ferdi tapped his fingers on the sofa’s leather surface before asking,

"Are you serious?"

"Of course. You think I’d lie about this?"

Ian shrugged.

"I was already considering getting the little cub a new dress anyway. What do you think? Sounds tempting now, doesn’t it, Lord Asterian?"

"How can you be sure she’ll make my sister’s dress? She only works on royal garments."

At Ferdi’s skepticism, Ian waved his hand dismissively and let out a snort.

"It’s not that she refuses to make anything that isn’t for royalty. It’s just that only royalty can contact her."

"......?"

"So, are you in or not?"

Ferdi looked down at his sister in his arms.

Tiel had no idea who Madame Estella was, so she didn’t realize how big of a deal this was.

Ferdi quickly calculated.

Spending a couple of hours entertaining Ian in exchange for Tiel wearing an Estella dress?

It was a very good trade.

No noble lady would ever get their hands on such a dress.

If Tiel wore Estella’s dress to the upcoming Luminaria, she would be the center of attention.

Sure, Ian acted like he would get her the dress regardless of the deal, but Ferdi decided to ignore that part.

If Ian simply gifted her the dress, it would be Ian’s present.

But if they traded for it, then it was just part of a deal—not a gift.

With his mind made up, Ferdi clapped his hands together.

"It would be an honor to celebrate His Highness’s birthday with us. Asterian will make the best preparations."

"Haha, so in the end, you convinced Ferdi, Ian. Impressive. You know how to play to his weaknesses."

Ludian burst into laughter.

Ian, too, smirked.

"Thank you, Oraboni!"

Tiel beamed as she threw herself into Ferdi’s arms.

He sighed, helpless, and stroked her back.

"This is great! Isn’t it, Your Highness?"

Tiel turned to Ian, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

But Ian didn’t smile back.

Instead... he felt strangely irritated.

"...Your Highness?"

"Yes! Everyone calls you ‘Your Highness,’ but I realized I’ve been addressing you informally this whole time."

"......."

A subtle crack formed in Ian’s otherwise composed expression.

Ferdi and Ludian turned away slightly, smirking.

Ian carefully chose his words before speaking slowly.

"Just call me Ian-nim."

"Huh?"

"You can call me Ian. Whatever you prefer. But not ‘Your Highness.’"

Why?

Tiel’s mind was filled with questions.

But Ian’s expression looked strangely... unsettling.

So, without questioning it, she simply nodded.