The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

The children finished their cake. It was a special birthday cake, crafted by the Asterian family’s personal pâtissier.

For a Crown Prince’s birthday, the celebration was rather modest.

But no one had any complaints.

Well—almost no one.

“Keep your promise, Your Highness.”

But the complaint wasn’t about the cake.

To be precise, it was about the birthday itself.

“You say that like I had any intention of breaking it, Ferdi.”

Ian responded calmly.

“The dress is still nowhere in sight, so of course I’m concerned. Surely, you wouldn’t throw a grand birthday party at our mansion and then conveniently forget, would you...?”

“At this point, I’m more curious about what you think of me.”

Estella wasn’t someone who would come simply because she was summoned.

Not even if the one calling her was the Crown Prince of the Empire.

Ian had already sent her a letter, and by now, Estella was likely on her way to Asterian.

And yet, Ferdi couldn’t even wait that short while before looking at him with such insolence?

Ian clicked his tongue.

And then—

Tiel came running up, carrying a large gift box that Ria had handed to her.

“Ian-nim!”

Ian’s face lit up instantly.

It was the fastest his expression had ever changed.

As if he had never been scowling, Ian smiled gently and reached out toward Tiel.

“My present?”

“Yes! Um... It might not be much, considering it’s for the Crown Prince, but...”

Tiel hesitated, glancing around.

She had never given a gift to anyone before.

Of course, she hadn’t.

Back when she lived in Nestian, gifts were a luxury—she hadn’t even been able to get so much as a scrap of bread to eat.

So for Tiel, giving a gift held deep significance.

Cautiously, she offered Ian the large gift box.

Rather than handing it over, it would be more accurate to say she moved while holding it, considering how big it was.

“Can I open it now?”

“Uh, um—no! It’d be better if you opened it once you’re back at the palace.”

Tiel shook her head firmly.

“Back at the palace?”

“Yes! If you open it now, um, um... it’d be a little embarrassing.”

Ian nodded without question.

Watching from the side, Ferdi raised an eyebrow.

Ian isn’t usually the type to listen to others so easily... but in front of Tiel, he acts like a docile lamb.

He considered teasing him about it but decided against it.

If his beloved little sister could turn the Crown Prince into a tame little pet, there was nothing bad about that.

Ian’s very presence was a source of strength for Tiel.

With that thought, Ferdi let it go.

In his mind, Ian was no more than an object—something that would conveniently smooth out the path ahead for Tiel.

The problem was that, even after handing over the gift, Tiel remained visibly restless.

“...Do you want it back?”

Ian, the one who had just received the gift, was the one asking.

Tiel quickly shook her head. Returning the gift? That was unacceptable!

She and Ria had spent three whole days thinking of what to get him.

Of course, the money for the gift had come from Karsus... but still!

“What do you mean, return it! This is my gift to you, Ian-nim!”

“Then why are you so anxious?”

“Well, um...”

Tiel’s face turned red.

How am I supposed to say I’m just worried he won’t like it...?

Giving a gift was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

Thinking of how happy Ian would be when he saw it made her heart feel like it could burst.

But at the same time, the idea of him being disappointed made her fingers tremble.

So giving a gift is both joyful and difficult...

In the end, Tiel couldn’t bring herself to say what she was truly feeling. She fumbled for words instead.

“I’ll... I’ll tell you later. But anyway, giving it back is not an option! This is a gift from me to Ian-nim!”

Tiel spoke firmly, enunciating each word.

To think that once, she hadn’t even been able to meet Ian’s gaze—let alone speak to him first.

Her growth was remarkable.

Seeing this, Ian simply smiled.

“Alright. I’ll open it on my own.”

“Yes! And the next time we meet, you have to tell me whether you liked it or not!”

“I could tell you that now, though. I already like it, Tiel.”

“W-Wait! But you haven’t even seen what’s inside yet!”

“I don’t need to. I can already say I like it.”

Ian declared with absolute certainty before looking smugly at the other children.

Ferdi, Ludian, and Olivia all had sour expressions on their faces.

Tiel, noticing their reactions, glanced between Ian and her siblings with a puzzled expression before quickly turning back to Ian.

“Happy birthday!”

“You already said that earlier.”

“But saying it more than once isn’t a bad thing, right?”

Ian chuckled and ruffled her hair.

Her once brittle, unkempt hair had grown soft and fluffy, tickling his fingertips.

Then, he turned to look at the others.

“Why is no one else saying anything?”

“...”

“No matter what, I am the Crown Prince of the Empire, you know...”

Yeah, yeah.

If Ian Dross had held his birthday banquet at the imperial palace, he would have heard countless birthday wishes until his ears bled.

And if he had saved some, he could have heard them all over again tomorrow.

The words Why did you insist on spending your birthday here? lingered at the tips of their tongues.

But none of the children spoke them aloud.

Because they remembered the price they had extracted from Ian Dross.

“Happy birthday, Your Highness.”

Ferdi smiled sweetly.

“Congratulations.”

“Happy birthday! I think my father will be sending you a gift.”

Ludian and Olivia followed suit.

Tiel quietly observed them before tilting her head slightly.

Why do their lips look so stiff?

***

“I’m glad you had an enjoyable time.”

Alpheus bowed his head slightly. Karsus did the same.

“I hope there was nothing uncomfortable for you.”

Karsus gently stroked Tiel’s cheek as he spoke.

His youngest daughter had been excited for days about giving Ian his gift.

And even now, she still seemed full of anticipation.

Ian glanced at the affectionate exchange between father and daughter before answering.

“It was a pleasant evening. As much as it could be.”

By Ian’s standards, the party Asterian had prepared had undoubtedly fallen short.

No matter how much effort the servants had put into it, it wasn’t a real banquet.

At best, it was just a group of children gathering for a meal.

Of course, Alpheus and Karsus had never intended to let the Crown Prince’s birthday pass lightly.

He was the Empire’s Crown Prince.

That meant he should be treated accordingly.

But neither could they ignore his request to keep things quiet.

So rather than preparing an extravagant event, they had chosen to let the children enjoy their time together.

That had been Alpheus and Karsus’s consideration.

And Ian Dross found that consideration quite to his liking.

“...Truly.”

Ian’s voice came out softly.

“I sincerely want to express my gratitude. To Asterian... and to Wolfgang as well.”

Ian Dross had never known that a birthday could be such a pleasant day.

For him, birthdays had always been nothing more than loud and tiresome occasions—days where he had to endure swarms of people he had no interest in.

But now.

Ian’s gaze shifted from Karsus to someone standing just below him.

There stood a familiar girl.

A little rounder than when they first met, a little brighter in her smiles—Asterian’s youngest daughter.

Tiel had given Ian something priceless, something beyond measure.

And Ian Dross would have to return something just as valuable.

As he looked at the girl’s pale face, Ian made a silent vow.

Whether it was the Emperor, the temple, or any noble house—whoever tried to claim Tiel for their own...

He would not let them.

“Well, I should get going.”

Ian Dross spoke firmly, having made his decision.

Alpheus, Karsus, and the other children nodded gently.

“Safe travels, Your Highness.”

At Karsus’s parting words, Ian Dross stepped into his carriage and departed from the Asterian estate.

No one noticed, but Cedric, following behind him, had a subtle, softened expression on his face.

Alpheus watched the carriage fade into the distance with a faint sense of satisfaction.

He was one of the few who understood just how lonely Crown Prince Ian Dross had been in the imperial palace.

But these days, the boy no longer looked so alone.

And that, perhaps, was because of these children...

Alpheus turned around to look at them—

And immediately froze.

The children had collapsed.

Some were sprawled on the ground, others leaning against pillars, running their hands through their hair as if utterly drained.

“...”

“...Who called me?”

“Hey, from now on, don’t call me when the Crown Prince is around. It’s too exhausting.”

What happened to them?

Alpheus stared at them in confusion.

His eyes landed on Tiel, as if seeking an answer.

But Tiel had nothing to offer.

“...”

She simply shook her head in silence.