The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Head of the family? What nonsense..."

Chender scoffed as he sat back in his armchair, slowly stirring his tea. The tea swirled gently in the cup, releasing a faint fragrance that spread through the air.

"Haha... Do you really think I'll let that happen?"

His muttering was loud enough for the room to hear. Chender set the cup down with a sharp clink, then stared at the empty chair opposite him.

Although no one sat in the chair across from him, Chender acted as if someone were there.

Perhaps his seven-year-old granddaughter, far smaller than other children her age...

‘The cunning old cat is plotting something.’

He had heard through Iker that Tiel and Ian Dross had been branded with something.

Chender’s plan to send his granddaughter to become the empress had failed miserably, but it wasn’t entirely bad.

It was far better for Tiel Asterian to fall into the Emperor’s hands now than remain under Asterian's control.

He could not allow Asterian to grow any stronger.

If that were the case, it was better for no one to have her, but realistically, it was impossible to prevent, so it was better to let the imperial palace take her for now.

But Tiel Asterian, that seven-year-old child, becoming the head of the family?

Chender laughed at Alpheus. Now that he was in charge of Asterian’s family, it seemed he had lost his mind—thinking of appointing a seven-year-old as the head of the family.

Either way, it couldn’t be allowed, so he mentioned ‘prove your abilities’ and spoke of legends, saying that if Tiel could bring the morning to a land where it would never come again, he would recognize her as the head of the Asterian family.

But even as he said it, he didn’t think Asterian would agree.

That "land where morning would never come" was the territory of the Golden Mane, a place where beasts could not enter.

Alpheus and Karsus couldn’t go there, and the knights of Asterian couldn’t either. Sending Tiel Asterian there would expose a young girl to danger unprotected.

So, of course, he thought they would refuse...

‘Then I will act now. I won’t shy away from what I have to do. If it’s something I must do, then I will do it.’

Tiel, that foolish little girl, had eagerly bitten into the trap, forcing Asterian to refuse, not out of choice, but out of necessity.

Chender chuckled with satisfaction.

‘Is this really all Asterian has taught her—how to recklessly throw herself into danger?’ 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Had she been raised by Nestian, things would have been different. They would have taught her to take a step back, to see the bigger picture. They wouldn’t have raised her to be so shortsighted.

‘Oh well.’

Chender stroked his chin. The land where the morning would never come was located at the farthest northern edge of the Crassion Empire.

It was a long journey, and getting there wasn’t easy. Tiel would have to go alone, without any adults...

‘Ah, maybe she won’t be alone?’

Perhaps other children would come along—Ferdie Asterian, Ludian Asterian, and Crown Prince Ian Dross Crassion.

But no matter how strong they were, they were still just eleven-year-olds.

Even if they possessed powerful abilities, they were still children who had no real combat experience.

‘This is the opportunity.’

It had to be cut off now. Chender looked down at his palm, clenching his fist tightly.

If he didn’t act now, Tiel, that little girl, would grow into a vicious beast and sink her fangs into his neck...

Whether she succeeded or failed, once she returned, she would be buried in Asterian and never come out, so now, when Alpheus and Karsus were apart, was the only opportunity.

"...Wait."

Lena, watch this.

Watch as I clean up the mess you left behind...

***

"Get rid of this."

Ferdie stood with his arms crossed, glaring at the maid as he spoke. The maid, however, merely bowed her head calmly. It was a refusal.

Naturally so—what stood before them was not some object, but Olivia Wolfgang.

"Ferdie~ Is that any way to talk to a cousin you haven’t seen in so long?"

"What do you mean 'so long'? You only returned to Wolfgang less than a week ago. And now that we’re about to head back to Asterian, what exactly are you doing here?"

"Obviously, I came so I could return to Asterian with you!"

Olivia declared confidently, placing her hands on her hips. Her lovely pink eyes sparkled.

"And why would you do that?"

"Because I’m part of Asterian too!"

"What kind of crazy talk is that?"

Ludian clicked his tongue as if he had lost all patience. From the looks of it, neither Karsus nor Alpheus had summoned her.

"Just kidding! I came because I was curious! I mean, there’s a rumor going around that Tiel and Ian Dross got branded together—is it true?"

"It’s already spread that far?"

"Of course! Everyone knows! People are saying that Tiel Asterian is going to be the crown princess soon!"

"Whoever started this rumor has a damn loose tongue..."

The imperial palace hadn’t even made an official announcement yet, and already the news had spread. Whoever spilled it was not only loose-lipped but bold. What if the palace decided to track them down?

Besides...

‘It’s not like a brand is something that can be seen.’

Only a handful of people knew that Tiel and Ian had been branded, including the two of them. So how had it leaked?

Ferdie tilted his head, staring at Olivia for a long moment before shrugging.

"It’s true."

"Really? Seriously? No way! Just say it isn’t!"

"I wish I could. But what can I do? It’s the truth."

At that moment, a tiny baby snow leopard suddenly popped out from the distance.

"Tiel!?"

Olivia’s eyes widened, her face lighting up with a bright smile as she spotted Tiel.

The little snow leopard, upon seeing the girl with gray hair and pink eyes, immediately bolted toward her and jumped into Olivia’s arms.

"Kyaang!"

"Tiel! You’re so cute!! Why did you suddenly transform?"

At Olivia’s question, the baby snow leopard seemed to hesitate for a moment before wriggling out of her grasp.

"Huh?"

Thud.

She landed lightly on the ground and, in a smooth motion, spun around once in place.

Poof!

In an instant, the baby snow leopard was gone, replaced by a small girl with snowy white hair and golden eyes—an absolutely adorable sight.

"Olivia unnie!"

"Tiel! I didn’t even get to kiss your soft little pink paw pads yet, and you already transformed back!"

"Ahh, I’m sorry! But I still can’t talk in beast form yet... I’m practicing, though."

Tiel scratched her cheek sheepishly, grinning. Lately, she had been training to use her abilities while in beast form and to speak in that state.

Ferdie and Ludian had both mastered speaking and using their abilities in beast form by the time they were five, but since Tiel had developed later than them, she was still struggling with both.

"Ah, Tiel! Those things will come naturally when the time is right. Why are you trying to force yourself to learn so early?"

Olivia lifted Tiel up into her arms, speaking gently. Tiel gazed straight into Olivia’s pink eyes and answered honestly.

"Because I have to go on a long jour—mmph!"

"Haha, what is she saying? Tiel, you’re just learning because it’s good to know, right? Right?"

At some point, Ferdie had swiftly covered Tiel’s mouth with his hand, cutting her off mid-sentence. He patted her back in a soothing manner, continuing.

"A long journey? What are you talking about? My sister, you’re not going anywhere far..."

"That’s right, Tiel. You’re not learning because of something like that. You just want to be as cool as your amazing older brothers, don’t you?"

Tiel, still silenced by Ferdie’s hand, rolled her eyes around, glancing at Ferdie, Ludian, and then Olivia.

Ferdie and Ludian were both smiling at her.

‘Are they worried Olivia unnie might insist on coming along...?’

She hesitated for a moment, then, with her mouth still covered by Ferdie’s hand, gave a small nod.

"......"

"See? Ahaha, my sister is really something."

Only then did Ferdie let her go.

Olivia, who had been watching the whole exchange with narrowed eyes, suddenly turned her gaze toward Ferdie and Ludian.

"Talk."

"About what?"

"What are you hiding? Where is Tiel going? Why won’t you tell me? What are you keeping from me?"

Ferdie and Ludian exchanged a smug glance before smirking at Olivia, shrugging their shoulders.

Having failed to get anything out of them, Olivia switched targets.

"Tiel!"

"......I-I don’t know either..."

But Tiel, not wanting to cause trouble for Ferdie and Ludian, simply turned her head away.

Olivia’s jaw dropped open in sheer betrayal.

"How..."

"......"

"How could you all do this to me...?"

At that moment—

"Olivia?"

A voice called out from the distance. Alpheus was approaching, looking directly at Olivia.

Olivia’s head shot up, and her face lit up instantly with a dazzling smile.

"Grandfather!!"

"Good, you’re just in time. I have something to discuss with you, so come inside."

At his words, the expressions of both brothers twisted in an instant, while Olivia’s face shone brighter than the morning sun.

A clear clash of emotions between the three of them.