The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

At Ian’s words, the entire room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Emperor Wilhelm.

But the emperor showed no intention of stopping Ian. Instead, he swept his gaze over the gathered nobles and spoke.

"Then it’s decided."

Wilhelm’s slow, deliberate gaze moved across the room, settling on each house lord in turn.

"Crown Prince Ian Dross will accompany Tiel Asterian. And Tiel Asterian will bring dawn to the land where morning never comes."

"I accept the order."

"I accept it as well."

Ian Dross and Tiel both bowed deeply.

And with that, the meeting concluded.

The house lords left, returning to their territories. Those who could not travel immediately sought accommodations.

Before long, the grand council chamber, which had been packed with nobles just moments ago, was empty save for a few figures—Tiel, Ian Dross, Emperor Wilhelm, Alpheus, and Karsus.

The moment the last noble left, Tiel spun around and grabbed Ian’s hand tightly.

"Ian-nim! When did you wake up?"

"Just now. Not long ago."

"You came here the moment you woke up?"

"Yes, I had questions for His Majesty. But..."

Ian’s gaze lingered on Tiel.

The small girl standing before him had not grown at all since the last time he had seen her.

And yet—

‘She seems different.’

Maybe it was because he had just witnessed her composed and mature demeanor in the meeting.

For some reason, Tiel felt... bigger.

Ian looked straight into her eyes and spoke clearly, his tone firm yet gentle.

"Tiel, thank you for saving me."

"Huh? That’s only natural... You’ve saved me many times too, Ian-nim."

"It wasn’t natural at all. No one else even thought to save me. You may have been reckless, but you were also incredibly brave. Thanks to you, I survived. Tiel, truly... thank you."

Ian’s sincere words made Tiel’s nose tingle.

She scrunched it slightly and nodded.

"Yes, Ian-nim. I’m really, really glad you’re okay."

"Yes. And... actually, I originally came here to ask His Majesty something, but since you’re here, I can just ask you directly."

Alpheus, Karsus, and Wilhelm all instinctively stiffened.

They had a feeling they knew exactly what Ian was about to ask.

"Tiel, did I imprint with you?"

"..."

"While I was unconscious... did we imprint?"

Tiel remained silent, simply staring at Ian.

For some reason, she couldn’t immediately bring herself to answer.

Maybe it was because of the look on Ian’s face—

A wounded expression.

A silent plea, asking her to say no.

That hurt Tiel more than she expected.

But she couldn’t lie to him.

So she squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.

"...Yes."

"..."

"I... imprinted with you while you were asleep."

Ian brought a hand to his neck.

The faint glow of the imprint flickered across his skin, reacting to Tiel’s presence.

Ian then reached toward her neck.

Unlike his own, which bore the mark of the imprint, her neck remained untouched.

It was a one-sided imprint.

Something had gone wrong, and the bond had not formed mutually.

A complicated situation.

But—

‘It’s better this way.’

Ian lowered his hand and exhaled.

Then, noticing how small and hesitant Tiel looked, he reached out and placed a firm hand on top of her head.

At the sudden touch, Tiel flinched, shrinking back slightly.

She feared Ian might be angry.

But the words that came next were unexpected.

"...I’m sorry."

"Huh?"

"I’m sorry, Tiel. I’ve made you carry far too much. If there’s anything I can bear alongside you, I will. That is my responsibility."

Tiel stared at Ian, stunned.

He didn’t scold her.

He didn’t demand answers.

He didn’t get angry.

All he did was apologize for making her face this alone.

For some reason, at that moment, Ian seemed terribly lonely.

Tiel, without thinking, reached up and held the hand resting atop her head.

"If there’s anything I can help with... then I’ll bear it with you, too."

She spoke softly, then hesitated before adding with a slight pout—

"After all, we imprinted. That means we’re... um, partners now, right? Isn’t that how it works?"

"...That’s right."

"So if there’s something Ian-nim has to bear, then I will always bear it with him. So please... don’t make such a lonely face."

Tiel furrowed her brows as she grasped Ian’s hand and squeezed it gently, her small fingers pressing into his palm.

His warmth was there.

It was unmistakably the hand of someone alive.

Unlike that time—when his body had been cold and unmoving, like a corpse.

Ian Dross stared down at the little girl holding his hand.

Then, abruptly, he turned his head away, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

But since Tiel was still clutching onto his other hand, he couldn’t escape.

All he could do was turn his face away, cheeks burning red.

Watching this unfold, the emperor sighed and called for Tiel.

"Tiel, come here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Tiel hesitated only briefly before letting go of Ian’s hand and trotting over to stand before the emperor.

"Tiel, do you know what an imprint truly means?"

"Yes, I do."

An imprint was absolute.

Once formed, it could never be broken.

The one imprinted upon was bound to their partner for life.

Thanks to Karsus’s careful explanation, Tiel now fully understood what an imprint entailed.

"I do not wish to force anything upon you, Tiel."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"But... an imprint is a different matter. Right now, your imprint with Ian is incomplete. If left unresolved, one of you may suffer grave consequences."

At the emperor’s words, both Alpheus and Karsus exchanged uncertain glances, shifting their gazes between Ian and Tiel.

Tiel turned to look at Ian.

Then she looked back at the emperor.

"Then... what should we do?"

"You must return and complete the imprint. The imperial palace will make the necessary preparations. Tiel, I regret that you must go through this."

Ian opened his mouth as if to protest, but then closed it again without speaking.

The emperor looked at both Ian and Tiel with a troubled expression.

This should never have been delayed.

No matter how much Ian resisted, no matter how angry he got, the emperor should have ensured his imprinting was completed with a suitable partner long ago.

If he had, this situation wouldn’t have happened.

There had been a time when Wilhelm had believed that Tiel was the perfect partner for Ian.

The Light Ability, strong enough to withstand an imprint with Ian.

The Asterian name, the only lineage noble enough to befit a Crown Princess.

There was no one more fitting.

But now, watching his grandson treat this tiny girl as if she were the most precious thing in the world, and seeing that same girl willing to throw herself into danger for Ian without hesitation—Wilhelm realized just how foolish and selfish his old thoughts had been.

And as if he could see right through him, Alpheus regarded Wilhelm with an icy stare.

Then—

"Tiel."

Alpheus opened his arms toward her.

Tiel hesitated, glancing at the emperor for permission.

Wilhelm gave her a gentle smile, ensuring she wouldn’t feel intimidated.

"Go on."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Tiel bowed deeply before dashing straight into Alpheus’s embrace.

"Grandfather?"

"Tiel... I assured you that you wouldn’t have to step forward, and yet, because I was lacking, you had to do so again."

Alpheus stroked the back of her head gently.

Tiel hugged him tightly.

"Geez, why is everyone apologizing to me? I... I don’t want to hear any more apologies, Grandfather..."

Tiel’s small grumble caught Alpheus off guard.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise before he pulled her even closer.

"Then what would you rather hear?"

"Tell me I did well, Grandfather. Tell me I was really cool... That I wasn’t a disgrace to Asterian."

Truthfully, the whole situation had been terrifying.

Tiel hated being in front of so many people.

And those present had not been ordinary figures.

Even if an older child had stood in her place, they likely would have been too overwhelmed to even speak properly—some might have broken down in tears.

But Tiel had stood firm.

She had spoken clearly.

She had faced them all without faltering.

Alpheus felt a surge of pride swell in his chest.

He patted her back softly.

"You did well, Tiel. You were truly remarkable. You did not bring disgrace to Asterian—on the contrary, you made Asterian’s name shine even brighter."

Tiel grinned.