The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"This is absurd."

Karsus directed his words toward the emperor. He lowered his head slightly in a show of courtesy before continuing in a calm, measured tone.

"As I have already stated, Tiel is merely seven years old. She is still a child who has yet to fully grow. I ask that you do not burden her with such a tremendous weight."

"And who exactly is the one trying to place such a burden on a seven-year-old?"

Chender scoffed.

"Is it us, who are trying to prevent this? Or is it you, who insist on making that child the head of Asterian?"

The other house lords subtly nodded in agreement or voiced their support.

"The Duke of Buchanan is not wrong."

"Indeed, his words are reasonable."

Alpheus and Karsus frowned at the scene unfolding before them.

They had expected opposition, but Chender was pushing far harder than anticipated.

Now, even the emperor would be unable to side with Asterian.

Despite Stefano’s attempts to support them, his voice had already been drowned out by Chender’s declaration.

And then—

"...What nonsense."

The doors swung open, and Ian Dross Crassion stepped inside.

Every eye in the room widened in shock as they turned to him.

Ian paid them no mind as he strode forward and bowed slightly before the emperor.

"Your Majesty."

"Ian Dross? ...When did you wake?"

"I awoke just moments ago. As soon as I did, I came to seek Your Majesty’s counsel. However..."

Ian’s sharp gaze flickered toward Chender, then swept across the other house lords.

"Quite the amusing conversation you all seem to be having over a seven-year-old child."

"Ian."

The emperor reprimanded him.

But Ian remained indifferent, shifting his attention to Alpheus Asterian.

"Duke, are you going to accept this proposal?"

"..."

"No, I misspoke. This is no longer a proposal, is it? Now it is a condition that must be met for her to become the head of Asterian."

Despite the blatant insolence of a mere prince speaking so freely before the most powerful noble houses in the empire, not a single person dared to rebuke him.

Even the emperor himself remained silent.

Because every person in this room had witnessed Ian Dross Crassion’s overwhelming power during Luminarie.

Alpheus did not respond immediately. Instead, he met Ian’s gaze head-on.

Ian, in turn, did not look away.

"The land where morning never comes is at the northernmost point of the empire," Ian stated plainly.

"It is far too dangerous for Tiel to travel there alone. So..."

His gaze turned toward Chender.

"I will accompany her."

"Your Highness!?"

"I owe her a debt," Ian said nonchalantly. "I’ve been waiting for a chance to repay it. This is perfect. Your Majesty." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Ian turned to face the emperor.

Wilhelm, now thoroughly exasperated by the sudden disruption of his meeting, pressed his fingers against his temple.

After a moment, he sighed and nodded, signaling Ian to continue.

"If Tiel Asterian accepts this condition, I will travel with her and provide support. Please grant your permission."

"...Support?"

"Exactly as I said. She is the child of light foretold in legend, is she not? Though I doubt I will be of much use to her, I will assist however I can."

"Ian Dross, this is not something to rush into. Your body has yet to fully recover. First, you must rest and—"

"Rather than continuing this discussion, shouldn’t we ask the person in question for her opinion?"

Ian was no longer listening.

The emperor, realizing this, darkened his expression.

"Haah... Duke Evalt, what are your thoughts?"

Wilhelm turned his gaze to Alpheus.

Alpheus hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"To be frank, I do not believe Tiel can truly summon the morning in the land where the sun never rises. Legends are, after all, just that—legends."

"Indeed."

"However, I do think it is wise to ask for her opinion. While we may think one way, the child herself may have a different perspective."

"Then bring her in."

"She is already outside. I will have her summoned immediately."

Alpheus turned his head and ordered the imperial attendant, "Bring Tiel in." The attendant bowed quickly and hurried out of the chamber.

Not long after, the enormous doors creaked open, revealing the very girl they had all been waiting for.

"...Ah, hello!"

Tiel blinked her round eyes repeatedly as she curtsied before the emperor, lifting the hem of her dress.

"I, Tiel of Asterian, greet Your Majesty...!"

Her greeting was imperfect, but still commendable for her age. At the sight, Alpheus and Karsus couldn’t help but smile in pride.

In contrast, Chender’s expression twisted.

The Tiel standing before them now was nothing like the neglected child he had known in Nestian. Seeing her so poised and confident was an eyesore to him.

But Tiel paid him no mind. She didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, she turned her gaze to Alpheus and Karsus.

Then, she saw Ian Dross standing beside them.

‘Ian-nim!’

He’s finally awake!

The moment Tiel saw Ian looking at her, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy.

She wanted to run to him, to hug him tightly and greet him properly.

But she held herself back.

Barely managing to suppress her excitement, Tiel started walking toward Karsus and Alpheus.

That was when Karsus gently called her name.

"Tiel, come stand before His Majesty."

"Yes."

Tiel nodded and approached the emperor at a steady pace. Once she stood before him, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.

"Did you call for me?"

"Yes, Tiel. I have a question for you."

"Yes, please ask."

"Do you want to become the head of Asterian?"

"...?"

Tiel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She hadn’t been told that the emperor would ask her this.

After a moment of thought, she met his gaze head-on and nodded.

"Yes, I do."

"Then, are you willing to challenge the impossible to achieve it?"

"...The impossible?"

Tiel furrowed her brows.

The emperor nodded.

"You are still far too young and weak. You cannot yet bear the weight of leading all beastkin families as the head of Asterian. However, if you prove your abilities, things may change."

"That means..."

"In the legends of the Light Ability, there is a place in the Crassion Empire where morning never comes. Will you bring dawn to that land?"

"...?"

Tiel tilted her head.

Bring dawn to a land where morning never comes?

The meaning of the words was too complex for a seven-year-old to fully grasp.

But.

"Can I do it?"

Her voice was sharp and direct as she posed the question.

The other house lords stared at her intently.

The emperor, looking down at the small girl standing before him, let out a soft chuckle.

"That, I do not know."

"I don’t know either. But... this is something I have to do, isn’t it?"

"It is not something you must do now."

"But eventually, I will have to do it, won’t I?"

"That is true."

"Then I will do it now. I do not run away from what must be done. If it is my duty, then I will fulfill it."

Her words were astonishingly composed and resolute for a child her age.

Every house lord in the room turned their stunned gazes toward Tiel Asterian.

Tiel, unshaken by their scrutiny, nodded once more and reaffirmed her stance.

"I do not run away from what must be done. That is one of the things I have learned in Asterian."

Her mature declaration left the entire room speechless.

But there were three people who were not surprised.

The first two were Alpheus and Karsus, who already knew of her resilience, courage, and determination.

And the third—

"Tiel."

Ian Dross, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. His voice was calm and gentle as he called her name.

Tiel slowly turned to look at him.

"Tiel, if you have decided to do this, then naturally, I will follow you."

"...Ian-nim?"

"I will accompany you. I will help you accomplish what must be done."