The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Come to think of it."

Ian Dross raised his eyebrows as if he had just remembered something.

"His Majesty wants to meet Tiel."

"His Majesty? Why? Don’t tell me..."

Ludian’s gaze sharpened.

Ian Dross Crasion, the boy, was currently preparing to welcome the Crown Princess. That’s why every girl around his age was being considered as a candidate.

‘I knew something felt off.’

It was already strange that, despite being busy assessing potential Crown Princess candidates, he came to the Asterian estate every day.

Could it be... that he was planning to make Tiel his Crown Princess?

Ludian clenched his fists, vowing not to forgive him if that were the case.

If Ian so much as uttered the word "Crown" from "Crown Princess," Ludian was prepared to strike him on the back of the head without hesitation.

Laying a hand on the Crown Prince’s body constituted a crime of insulting royalty, but Ludian couldn’t care less.

If it was the only way to save Tiel, he would gladly hit his friend’s head multiple times.

Ian glanced at Ludian and Ferdi’s increasingly hostile expressions and shook his head.

"Come on, I don’t have even the slightest intention of doing that, so don’t worry. You both know that."

"..."

"What it means to become the Crown Princess."

Ian had no intention of placing such a burden on Tiel.

Even if it meant he would lose control and die, he would make sure no harm ever came to her.

"So stop worrying about useless things. It’s just... His Majesty seems curious."

Ian extended his hand to Tiel. Without hesitation, Tiel grabbed his hand firmly and stood up.

"Tiel’s ability isn’t an ordinary one. It makes sense for His Majesty to be curious."

The youngest daughter of the Asterian family, thought to be dead.

A girl who awakened the legendary Light Ability.

It would be more surprising if the Emperor wasn’t curious. If Tiel had belonged to any other family, she would have been summoned to the imperial palace long ago.

Fortunately, thanks to Alpheus Evalt Asterian being the Emperor’s close friend, they could delay her visit under the excuse of "the child being shy."

Ian casually kicked Ludian aside. The seat next to the sofa was now empty, and the boy guided Tiel to sit beside him.

"You shouldn’t kick your brother!"

Even as Tiel allowed Ian to lead her to the sofa, she didn’t forget to glare at him.

Ludian grumbled and tried to sit next to Ferdi. However, Ferdi, displeased about losing Tiel’s attention, didn’t give up his spot, forcing Ludian to sit on a different sofa.

"Fine, I won’t kick him anymore. But I have a question for you, Tiel."

Ian, showing no signs of remorse, waved his hand dismissively at Ludian.

Receiving such a half-hearted apology, Ludian’s face contorted in frustration.

After confirming Ian’s feigned apology, Tiel answered with a slightly prim tone.

"Yes! Please ask."

"I found a pink cushion in my dimensional pocket. One I’ve never seen before."

"...?"

Tiel tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Ian pressed on, undeterred.

"Is it yours?"

***

"It's about time you showed her to me, Alpheus."

The Emperor lifted his teacup with a solemn expression. His tone carried a hint of reproach.

However, the old man sitting across from him didn’t budge as he calmly replied.

"The child is extremely shy. Unlike her father, she is frail and would surely collapse if she were to visit the imperial palace."

"It’s not as if I can just go to the Asterian estate myself."

"The Luminarie is approaching. You can see her then."

The Luminarie—a grand festival held once a year where the entire empire gathered to honor Lysseth, the God of Light.

Now that Tiel’s Light Ability had been revealed, she would inevitably have to attend.

Thus, Alpheus had decided that the Luminarie would be the first official occasion where Tiel would be introduced to the public.

In other words, until then, he had no intention of letting her appear before anyone. Not even the Emperor.

Had he been anyone other than Alpheus Evalt Asterian, head of the Asterian family and the Emperor’s closest friend, no one would have dared to defy an imperial order like this. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The Emperor eventually gave up trying to change his mind. Instead, he leaned back with a slow, knowing smile and shrugged.

"These days, Ian seems to be quite interested in that child."

"His Highness did save her, after all. It’s only natural that he would feel attached."

"Alpheus, I know about the legend of the Asterians and Nestians."

At the Emperor’s words, Alpheus’ hand momentarily froze. However, he remained composed, simply stirring a sugar cube into his tea as he replied.

"That is merely a legend between the Asterians and the Nestians. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince."

Alpheus, as the Emperor’s confidant, knew the truth.

That Ian Dross Crasion’s ability was dangerously unstable.

That someone who had once possessed the same ability had gone berserk and killed countless people.

That Emperor Wilhelm had been searching for a Crown Princess who could share Ian’s power, preventing him from spiraling out of control.

"Your Majesty."

He knew everything.

And he understood exactly why the Emperor was bringing up Tiel now.

"This legend has nothing to do with His Highness the Crown Prince."

A child who possessed the Light Ability was said to be able to restore the true strength of both the Asterian and Nestian bloodlines.

A power strong enough to soothe Ferdi’s rampages and draw out their original abilities.

The Emperor wanted Tiel to become Crown Princess, to share Ian’s ability and stabilize him.

"Alpheus, I’m not saying we should do anything immediately. But—"

"There is no ‘but.’ His Highness is Tiel’s benefactor, and Your Majesty is my liege."

"Alpheus."

"But she is not my granddaughter’s betrothed."

Alpheus spoke with firm resolve.

There was no doubt that Ian would make a fine match for Tiel. However—

"You have not forgotten, have you, Your Majesty?"

"..."

"I know the truth about that day."

The Emperor’s brows furrowed. He lifted his teacup to his lips without another word.

Alpheus knew that the Emperor was displeased, but he pressed on.

"There is no guarantee that my granddaughter will not become a victim of that day’s tragedy. And there is no guarantee that history will not repeat itself."

"Alpheus! I said I wasn’t trying to arrange anything immediately!"

"Wilhelm! Stop this nonsense! My granddaughter is not an option. Do you think I don’t know what an Imprint is?"

An Imprint was not merely about sharing abilities.

Those who were Imprinted became irrevocably bound for life, their fates entwined in both life and death.

And Alpheus would never allow his granddaughter to be shackled in such a way.

Especially not to prevent Ian’s rampages.

They called it "sharing power," but everyone knew that those who received Ian’s ability would not live long.

That was precisely why Ian had been resisting the idea of taking a Crown Princess in the first place.

The Emperor let out a deep sigh. Even after exhaling, the frustration still lingered, and he gazed at Alpheus with a weary expression.

"Alpheus, calm down. You’re getting too worked up."

"I apologize, Your Majesty. But my answer remains the same."

"...Very well. Honestly, I doubt that Ian Dross would ever agree to an Imprint with your granddaughter, anyway."

The Emperor spoke in an unhurried manner.

"I know Ian well. That boy... he's always been lonely. But lately, I’ve noticed that he doesn’t lash out as much. He no longer isolates himself in his chambers."

"..."

"I suspect it’s thanks to your granddaughter. She must have soothed some part of him."

There was a faint melancholy in the Emperor’s expression. Alpheus remained silent, listening to him, before finally speaking.

"Your Majesty."

"..."

"You still have no intention of revealing the truth about ‘that day’?"

The Emperor simply nodded.

Alpheus did not ask further.

"See you next time!"

Tiel briefly hugged Ian before stepping back. Ian smiled in affirmation and gently patted her head.

"Don’t touch her so freely, Your Highness."

But Ferdi swiftly brushed Ian’s hand away. Ian merely shrugged and stepped into his carriage.

***

"See you next time, Tiel."

"Yes! See you again~!"

"Try keeping your promises for once, Ian Dross."

Ian completely ignored Ferdi’s remark as he boarded his carriage and rode away.

Watching the carriage disappear, Tiel recalled the question Ian had asked her earlier.

"There’s a pink cushion in my dimensional pocket. One I’ve never seen before."

"Is it yours?"

At the time, Tiel had shaken her head. A pink cushion? That cushion had been in Ian’s pocket space even before she had gone inside.

However, it was Ian’s next words that left her puzzled.

"It’s decorated with gold embroidery and has a ribbon attached."

The cushion Tiel had slept on in Ian’s dimensional pocket had not been that extravagant.