The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Etienne held Tiel for a long time, as if trying to make up for all the time they had lost.

No one stopped her.

Everyone in that room knew just how much Lena had meant to Etienne.

And then, after a while—

"Um...."

Tiel was the first to break the silence.

She had been buried snugly in Etienne’s warm embrace for quite some time, but now, she hesitated and called out softly.

"Auntie, are you okay?"

Everyone around them widened their eyes in surprise.

It was such an innocent question.

Such a simple, pure kind of comfort.

And yet, those words wrapped around their hearts like warmth they hadn't even realized they had been missing.

Not once, after losing Lena, had any of them ever asked each other, Are you okay?

They had never spoken those words.

Instead, they had swallowed down their grief, silently carrying the weight of their sorrow.

At the sound of Tiel’s voice, Etienne, who had been holding onto the child tightly, slowly lifted her head.

Her golden eyes, the same color that marked her as an Asterian, were red and swollen from unshed tears.

"...Aga."

Etienne reached out and gently cupped Tiel’s cheek.

Tiel allowed her to do so without hesitation.

Her soft, chubby white cheek was pressed under Etienne’s trembling touch, making one of her eyes naturally close.

"...You look just like your mother."

Etienne’s voice shook as she spoke, and Tiel simply gazed up at her without replying.

That was enough.

"You look exactly like Lena... I’m sorry. I’m so sorry we didn’t bring you here sooner."

"I..."

Tiel took a deep breath and looked around.

At her family.

At the Black Leopards of Asterian, who had accepted her as one of their own.

And then, slowly and clearly, she said—

"I’m okay. You weren’t too late."

She spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

It’s not too late.

Tiel had died once.

But now, she was alive.

Right here.

So it wasn’t too late.

Contrary to what Chender had said, the Asterians hadn’t rejected her. They didn’t despise her. They loved her. They cherished her.

And that was enough.

She was happy because she was loved.

And she was happy because she could love them in return.

That was enough.

So—

Tiel spoke once more, clearly and confidently.

"You weren’t too late. I’m okay. I’m happy to meet you, Auntie."

As soon as she finished speaking, the little girl’s face lit up with a bright, pure smile.

And at that moment, they saw it.

The warmest glow in the world.

A faint yet undeniable light, shimmering at the heart of the Asterian estate.

***

"Now, I can finally introduce myself properly. My name is Stefano. I’m your uncle."

Stefano greeted her with a warm smile.

Broad shoulders. A rugged, muscular build.

His body looked like he could tear through his clothes at any moment, and yet his voice was surprisingly gentle.

"Hello, Uncle. I’m Tiel."

"Good, good, Tiel. Olivia hasn’t been bothering you, has she?"

"...Huh?"

"Agh, Dad!"

Olivia shrieked.

But Stefano remained completely unfazed.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he continued speaking.

"If she ever gives you trouble, just let me know. I’ll fight her myself if I have to and drag her back home."

Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, revealing just how heated his earlier conversation with Olivia had been.

"Why are you like this to me?!"

"Oh, you know exactly why! Now, stop talking nonsense and go sit in the corner!"

So much for a heartwarming family reunion.

Olivia was still pouting, glaring at her father.

She had spent the past few minutes trying to convince Stefano to sneak Tiel out of Asterian and bring her back to Wolfgang—without Karsus noticing.

Naturally, that had earned her an earful.

But Olivia wasn’t one to give up.

She immediately started listing all the amazing, wonderful things about the Wolfgang household, looking straight at Tiel.

"Tiel, don’t you want to visit my house? If you come, I’ll buy you everything you want and all the food you could ever eat!"

"Umm..."

"See! She wants to come!"

"You little—!"

"Ugh, fine! If Uncle won’t let me, then I’ll just sneak her out while she’s sleeping!"

"THAT’S CALLED KIDNAPPING, YOU BRAINLESS CHILD!"

Stefano’s roar shook the room.

His face was so red with frustration that it looked like a heated piece of iron, veins popping at his temples.

Tiel tugged lightly at his sleeve.

"It’s okay."

"Huh?"

"Olivia unnie just likes me a lot. She doesn’t really mean it..."

"While Uncle’s not looking, I’ll just—!"

"...She doesn’t really mean it...."

"......"

"...Probably?"

Tiel tilted her head slightly and trailed off at the end of her sentence.

Stefano let out a sigh, mumbling as if lamenting his fate.

"Once I’m gone, that child will inherit the family head position..."

"..."

"And that’ll be the end of Wolfgang, I suppose..."

Just then—

"What in the world are you saying in front of a child?"

Etienne, who had stepped away briefly for a conversation, had returned.

Tiel’s eyes lit up like she had just seen her savior.

"Auntie!"

"Ah, my little one—were you having fun?"

Etienne gently picked her up and brushed back her hair.

"Yes! Did you finish your conversation?"

"Of course."

Etienne smiled brightly.

Over Etienne’s shoulder, Tiel peeked toward the room where Alpheus and Karsus had gone in together.

Alpheus’s face was pale, as if the life had been drained out of him, while Karsus looked a bit subdued.

"What on earth did they talk about to end up like that?"

Her curiosity was quickly answered.

"Seriously! I understand that you had to hide her existence, but how could you delay telling me about her? Unbelievable."

"Ah, so that’s what it was about."

After Tiel first arrived at the mansion, Karsus and Alpheus had gone to great lengths to keep her presence a secret, fearing that news about her unique abilities might leak out.

Apparently, this secrecy extended even to Etienne, and she was not happy about it.

She was still fuming, glaring daggers at Alpheus.

Alpheus shook his head in resignation, while Karsus subtly avoided her gaze.

Not wanting her father and grandfather to suffer further under Etienne’s wrath, Tiel quietly tugged on her aunt’s sleeve.

"Auntie, how long will you be staying here? Are you and Olivia going to stay for a while?"

She smoothly changed the subject.

Thankfully, Etienne took the bait.

"I’d love to stay longer, but we’ll have to head back to Wolfgang in a few days."

"So soon?"

"Yes, we can’t be away from the estate for too long. But the Luminaire Festival is coming up, so we’ll see each other again soon."

At that moment, Olivia, who had been quietly fiddling with Tiel’s hand, let her shoulders droop and asked,

"Going back? Why? Can’t I stay here and go to the festival with Tiel?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the heir of Wolfgang—you need to stay and fulfill your duties."

"Ugh, being the heir is so annoying. Can’t someone else take over?"

The Wolfgang couple only had one child—Olivia.

And now, their precious daughter was openly declaring her desire to abandon her role as heir.

"Honey."

Etienne smiled softly.

"Handle it."

"...Come here, Olivia. Your mother is really mad."

Stefano, cautiously eyeing his wife, scooped up Olivia and quickly carried her away.

Etienne, as if nothing had happened, turned back to Tiel with a warm smile.

"Tiel, I have something for you."

"For me?"

"Yes."

Etienne gently lifted Tiel into her arms and walked gracefully forward. Ferdi and Ludian quietly followed behind her.

Alpheus and Karsus, who had been keeping their distance after receiving quite the verbal lashing from Etienne, also began walking after her.

In Etienne’s arms, Tiel waved toward her father and grandfather. Their faces brightened immediately.

Etienne carried her to a hall filled with items they had brought from Wolfgang.

Servants were busy sorting and organizing the various goods.

"Dex."

At her call, a man who had been speaking with a butler nearby quickly approached and bowed.

"Yes, Lady Etienne?"

"Bring it here."

"Right away."

Dex hurried off.

Tiel remained quietly nestled in Etienne’s arms, waiting for whatever it was that Dex would bring.

"What could it be?"

She had received plenty of gifts before, so she was no stranger to presents. But for some reason, this one felt different.

And she knew why.

Because—

"..."

"..."

Everyone else in the room was silent, their expressions unusually solemn as they watched Tiel.

It was as if they all knew what this "gift" was.

Then, Dex returned, holding a small box in his hands.

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.