The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Alpheus and Karsus returned to the Asterian villa in the capital with Tiel. There was nothing good to be gained from lingering in the imperial palace any longer.

As the carriage arrived, waiting outside were Ferdi and Ludian, who immediately stepped forward to help Tiel down from the carriage.

"Tiel, did you have a good trip?"

"Oraboni!"

"You must have. Your face is—"

"..."

"...?"

Ferdi and Ludian both looked past Tiel toward the carriage.

Alpheus and Karsus, who had just stepped out, wore expressions that were noticeably grim.

It was clear that whatever had happened at the palace had not gone smoothly.

‘Then why does Tiel look so happy?’

Well... as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.

Besides, Ferdi was not the kind of son or grandson who concerned himself with the moods of his father and grandfather.

And neither was Ludian.

With a quick glance at their somber faces, Ludian decided to avoid any unnecessary trouble and casually sidled away.

"..."

Alpheus, watching this unfold, wore an expression that practically screamed, I must have raised these children wrong.

Ferdi, unconcerned, promptly ignored the gloomy atmosphere and focused on Tiel. He picked her up easily, brushing her bangs back so they wouldn’t poke into her eyes.

"Why are you in such a good mood, Tiel? Did something good happen?"

"Yeah! Dad and Grandpa look like someone died, but you—ow!"

Ludian yelped as Alpheus smacked him on the back of the head.

Scowling, he rubbed his head and scooted farther away.

Tiel, completely unfazed, beamed up at Ferdi as she answered.

"Ian-nim woke up! Isn’t that a relief? I was worried he might not wake up for a long time..."

...Oh, that?

Ferdi resisted the overwhelming urge to drop Tiel and storm over to Ian’s bedside just to hurl a string of colorful insults at his face.

Before he could dwell on it further, Karsus spoke.

"Ferdi, Ludian. Come with me. There’s something you both need to hear." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Yes, Father."

Still holding Tiel, Ferdi followed Karsus inside.

Ludian, trotting along beside them, reached out and grasped Tiel’s small hand.

"Tiel, Ian didn’t say anything weird to you, did he? Tell me, and I’ll give him an earful."

"Huh? No! Ian-nim helped me."

"Helped you? He’s been unconscious this whole time. How could he have helped you?"

Ferdi, still walking behind Karsus, glanced down at Tiel with a puzzled expression.

Tiel hesitated briefly before shrugging.

She figured Karsus would explain everything to them soon anyway.

Once inside, Ferdi and Ludian sat down with Tiel on a long couch.

Karsus took a seat across from them, and Alpheus settled into the central sofa between them.

"Ferdi, Ludian."

"Yes, Father."

"Yes."

Karsus began to recount what had happened at the palace.

How Chender Nestian had interfered, demanding that Tiel prove her abilities.

How she would have to journey to the land where morning never comes.

How Ian would be accompanying her.

And what Ian had said.

Summarizing succinctly, Karsus then met his sons’ eyes and delivered the final blow.

"You two will be going with them."

A simple declaration.

Ferdi and Ludian exchanged bewildered looks.

"...Is this a decision or a command, Father?"

"So our opinions don’t matter?"

"Would you rather send your little sister off alone with the Crown Prince? If I had told you she was going alone, you two would have thrown a fit and insisted on going anyway."

"Of course we would."

"Absolutely."

"Then what’s the problem?"

Ferdi crossed his arms.

"Well, technically you’re right. But the fact that you already decided before telling us makes it feel a bit... irritating. Though now that I think about it, it’s not actually worth getting irritated over."

"See? That’s a good way of thinking."

"Still, Father, at least pretend to ask for our opinion next time. Just for formality’s sake."

Ferdi shot Karsus a pointed look before turning his gaze toward Tiel.

Karsus was right.

If he and Alpheus had forbidden them from going, Ferdi would have definitely sneaked out in the middle of the night to follow Tiel anyway.

There’s no way I’d leave her alone with him.

The land where morning never comes...

The land where morning never comes—

It was located in the northernmost region of the Crassion Empire.

A forbidden zone for beastkin, where full-grown predators were strictly prohibited from setting foot.

That meant neither Alpheus nor Karsus could accompany them. The knights for the expedition had to be chosen from the imperial forces since all Asterian knights were leopards.

The only silver lining was that young beastkin—those who had not yet reached adulthood—were permitted entry.

No one knew exactly why adult predators were barred from that land, but it was an ancient imperial law, one that no one could defy.

And so, with both Alpheus and Karsus unable to go, Ferdi and Ludian had to be sent.

With their father and grandfather absent, they would have to be Tiel’s protectors.

"When do we leave?"

"As soon as the Crown Prince recovers and the preparations are complete. The knights need to be assembled, and there’s much to arrange, so we won’t be leaving immediately."

"Wow~ We’ll have to keep this from Olivia, huh? She’s gonna throw a fit if she finds out and try to follow us."

Ludian said it absentmindedly.

But at that moment, a sharp glint flickered in both Alpheus and Karsus’s eyes.

"...Olivia? That’s not a bad idea."

"She doesn’t have much to do anyway... We should inform Stefano in advance."

Hearing their conversation, Ludian twisted his head in disbelief.

"Eh? Tell him what? Bring who? Grandfather, I know you want extra protection, but you can’t just throw people into the group like—mmpf!"

"Be quiet."

Ferdi swiftly clamped a hand over Ludian’s mouth. Then, he turned his head toward Alpheus, expression serious.

"I understand that you’re worried because you can’t come with us."

"...That’s right."

"But Grandfather, there are useful people in this world, and then there are useless people. Your granddaughter, Olivia, is clearly the latter. If she comes, she’ll only be a burden. So don’t tell her."

Ludian, still gagged by Ferdi’s hand, gave him an indignant glare.

You shut me up for being rude, and then you say something even worse!?

Ferdi finally released him, casually pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his hands before turning to Tiel.

"Tiel."

"Mm?"

"Wouldn’t you rather travel with your reliable older brothers instead of dragging along a bunch of extra baggage?"

"But Olivia unni isn’t extra baggage..."

"Oh? So you do prefer just us. I knew you understood, Tiel."

Tiel wisely chose to keep her mouth shut.

She could see that Ferdi and Ludian were determined to keep Olivia out of this no matter what.

And whether she agreed or not... she had a feeling they wouldn’t be getting their way.

Karsus and Alpheus, pretending not to notice the twins’ warning glares, merely exchanged knowing looks.

It seemed unlikely that things would go as Ferdi and Ludian wanted.

Ian stood before a mirror, examining his reflection.

He placed a hand on his neck.

As soon as he did, the hidden imprint began to glow faintly, like the first light of dawn creeping over the horizon.

A small fish-shaped mark.

‘It looks just like Tiel’s ability.’

Tiel always shaped her Light into tiny, glowing fish.

They floated effortlessly from her small hands, shimmering as they swam through the air.

Watching them was mesmerizing.

Ian had always liked her glowing fish.

But—

"Haa..."

This was not how he had wanted to bear that mark.

Ian exhaled heavily.

If he had been awake, if he had been aware, this never would have happened.

He would never have allowed Tiel to imprint with him.

‘...No, that’s not right.’

He frowned.

Why did only he bear the imprint?

Tiel had not received a mark.

That wasn’t how imprinting was supposed to work. It required mutual consent from both parties.

Which meant that, subconsciously, he must have wanted it.

Or...

Realizing where his thoughts were heading, Ian’s face twisted with frustration.

He ran a hand roughly down his face.

No matter who I ended up imprinting with...

I just didn’t want it to be Tiel.

Because he knew exactly what fate awaited the one bound to him.

He knew what they would have to endure.

And he could not—would not—let that be her.

Tiel...

You’re the most precious thing I know.

I just wanted to protect you.

I wanted to cherish you, to keep you safe, to make sure you always had a reason to smile.

But...

What if I end up ruining you instead?

Ian leaned against the wall, staring out the window.

The sunlight outside was blindingly bright.