The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

The Asterian household was thrown into chaos.

After confirming the color of Tiel's eyes, the old butler hurriedly excused himself, muttering that he would bring the head of the house and the Marquis.

In the meantime, the maids led Cedric, Ian, and Tiel to the drawing room.

Tiel felt a sense of relief as she noticed the kind Ian and Cedric accompanying her all the way to the drawing room.

At first, she had resolved not to burden them further and had decided to handle everything on her own.

But...

Gulp.

Tiel swallowed nervously and tilted her head up to look at the mansion’s ceiling. Reflected in her tiny golden eyes was a grand chandelier adorned with countless sapphire gemstones.

As her gaze shifted slightly, she noticed the luxurious wallpaper embedded with intricate gold leaf patterns.

‘...It’s enormous.’

The chandelier, the statues at the entrance, and even the ornate gate that adorned the mansion—all of it.

Everything in the Asterian estate was much larger and more extravagant than the Nestian mansion.

Because of that, the small girl had felt overwhelmed and hung her head low from the moment she set foot in the entrance.

At this rate, she couldn’t even imagine facing the Duke of Asterian, let alone claiming to be his daughter.

In such a situation, Ian and Cedric’s presence was nothing short of salvation for Tiel.

She glanced up at Ian, who was striding confidently while holding her hand tightly.

She wanted to etch the face of her kind savior into her memory as much as possible.

After all, she might not see him again.

Ian and Cedric seemed to believe that the Asterian family would welcome her warmly.

‘...But that’s not the case at all.’

Chender had constantly reminded her that the Asterians despised her.

He had told her time and time again that since her mother had died giving birth to her, it was only natural for the Asterian family to loathe her.

In truth, Tiel had unknowingly come to agree with Chender’s words.

She already felt guilty about her mother’s death; how could others not feel the same?

That was why she knew. She knew the Asterian family wouldn’t welcome her as their “youngest daughter.”

But if she voiced her thoughts, she felt like she might cry, and it would also feel like she was betraying Ian and Cedric. So Tiel kept her lips firmly shut.

When they arrived at the drawing room, Ian pointed to the soft center seat of the sofa and said, “Sit here.”

“I-I can just stand...”

But Ian didn’t bother responding to Tiel’s words. Instead, he effortlessly lifted her and placed her on the sofa.

“Th-thank you!”

“Quiet and sit still. It would be strange for the main character to be standing when everyone else is sitting.”

Ian lightly dismissed Tiel’s squirming protests with his remark.

And, oddly enough, Ian’s words made sense, so Tiel obediently folded her hands and sat properly.

It wasn’t long before the Asterian maids entered the drawing room, pushing a cart.

On the tray were simple snacks, tea, and several types of juice that seemed suitable for a seven-year-old.

The maids placed a small plate in front of Tiel, then added two chocolate cookies topped with marshmallows.

Tiel, wide-eyed, glanced up at the cookies and then at Ian.

The child was, in truth, hungry.

Although Tiel had stubbornly insisted on eating only the bread she had brought with her during their journey, she didn’t regret her actions.

She had genuinely believed that she couldn’t impose on Ian and Cedric any further.

But when the chocolate cookies were placed in front of her, her mouth watered instinctively.

It couldn’t be helped. Tiel was just a child, and she was hungry.

Watching her reaction, Ian let out a sigh and picked up one of the cookies in front of her.

“Here, eat.”

Cedric added gently, “Please eat, Miss Tiel. They were prepared for your comfort.”

But Tiel shook her head, glancing at the maids nervously.

They might hate her soon, and she didn’t want to be remembered as a shameless child from the start.

When Tiel kept her mouth shut, Ian, still holding the cookie in one hand, dismissed the maids from the room.

The maids, holding their trays, filed out of the drawing room in an orderly line.

Now, the grand drawing room had only Ian, Cedric, and Tiel sitting side by side.

Ian once again brought the cookie to Tiel’s lips and said, “Now it’s fine, right? Eat.”

Finally realizing that Ian had dismissed the maids as an act of kindness toward her, Tiel didn’t want to disregard his thoughtful gesture. She carefully took the cookie with both hands and took a tiny bite.

Even with that small bite, the sweet and slightly bitter taste of the chocolate cookie spread across her tongue almost instantly.

It was the first time in her life that Tiel had tasted such sweetness, and her eyes widened in surprise.

But then—

Bang!

The door to the drawing room burst open noisily. Tiel dropped the cookie she was eating in surprise and turned her head toward the source of the sound.

A man with jet-black hair, as dark as the night sky, and golden eyes—the symbol of the Black Leopards—strode into the room with powerful steps.

“Marquis Celeste,” Cedric said as he rose from his seat.

At those words, Tiel finally realized who the man was.

‘That man is...’

My father.

Karsus Celeste Asterian.

Tiel remembered hearing about him from her grandfather, Chender.

He was a man who didn’t know his place, someone insufferably arrogant, Chender had said.

...Much like Tiel herself.

Because she had been told repeatedly how much he despised her, Tiel’s small heart began to thud loudly in her chest.

The little girl clasped her hands together and looked up at the man standing before her.

He looked down at her with a confused gaze, as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation.

His stare bore down on the tiny child.

For a moment, heavy silence filled the room.

It was Karsus who broke the stillness first.

“...You’re...”

His voice was strained, as if he couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

But Ian and Cedric both knew exactly what Karsus was struggling to say.

He wanted to ask if she was truly his daughter.

The child he had buried deep in his heart, unable to hope for her survival after Lena Nestian’s death—was she really alive?

But Tiel didn’t think so. Or rather, she couldn’t let herself think that way.

She was convinced the Asterian family hated her.

She believed Karsus’s inability to finish his sentence stemmed from his anger at seeing her.

His hardened expression was unmistakably that of someone furious.

Tiel knew that look all too well. It was the only expression she had seen on people’s faces throughout her life.

Of course, she had prepared herself for Karsus’s anger, but facing it directly left her mind blank.

Everything she had rehearsed vanished without a trace, and all she wanted to do was beg for her life.

But Tiel forced herself to regain her composure. She had come this far with Ian and Cedric’s help; she couldn’t be sent back to the Nestian household.

So, she decided to muster her courage. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Tiel, seeing that Karsus was still unable to speak, opened her mouth first.

“...M-my mother’s name was Lena Nestian.”

Her golden eyes sparkled in the sunlight streaming into the room, identical to Karsus’s.

“...This, this is...”

Tiel fumbled with her hands and held out a necklace she had been clutching tightly.

The necklace, warmed by her small hands, was offered to Karsus.

Karsus, unable to speak, reached out with trembling hands and accepted the necklace.

“This is...”

He didn’t need to open the locket to recognize it. He knew immediately whose necklace it was.

It had belonged to Lena—she had worn it until the day she disappeared.

Click.

He pressed the tiny latch with his thumb, and the locket opened, revealing a familiar portrait inside.

“Lena.”

The woman with white hair and a radiant smile looked exactly like the small girl in front of him.

Unconsciously, Karsus reached out to Tiel. His trembling hand brushed against her soft cheek.

At that moment, Tiel suddenly stood up and faced Karsus directly.

“...I-I have a request.”

She spoke before Karsus could say anything.

Ian narrowed his eyes at Tiel’s unexpected behavior.

Her voice trembled, clearly showing her fear, though the little girl didn’t seem to notice in her nervousness.

Before Karsus could yell at her or drive her out, Tiel spoke again.

“Please, let me... stay here.”

She forced out the words she had repeated to herself hundreds of times on her way to the Asterian estate.

“I don’t eat much, I can live as if I don’t exist, I can sleep in the storage room or even the barn, so please...”

Tiel’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard.

“I want... to stay here.”

Her final words made everyone in the room instinctively fall silent.

For a brief moment, an oppressive stillness filled the space.