The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

"Tiel is going where!?"

"...To the land where morning never comes—"

"Where!?"

Olivia’s eyes grew impossibly wide as she demanded an answer. Alpheus, watching his granddaughter’s reaction with amusement, let out a small smile before speaking calmly.

"Quiet down! Speak a little more softly, will you? My ears are about to burst, you brat!"

"You must be out of your mind if you think it’s okay to send her there!"

Olivia slammed her hands down on the table as she shot up from her seat. Alpheus shook his head at her fiery temper, sighing as he tried to explain.

"I wasn’t the one who decided to send her. Tiel is the one who said she would go...."

"Oh, really?"

The moment Olivia heard the words 'Tiel wanted to go,' her aggressive energy vanished, and she plopped back into her chair, blinking innocently.

"If our little baby wants to go, then it can’t be helped!"

"Pick one side and stick to it, will you..."

Alpheus muttered in a tired voice.

But Olivia paid him no mind and instead turned to glare at him.

"So that’s why those two bastards, Ferdie and Ludian, kept it from me? They were planning to go without me!"

"They’re your cousins."

"As if that makes a difference! No way I’m letting them leave me behind! When’s the departure? Obviously, as the heir to Wolfgang, I should be coming too!"

"Do as you please."

At this point, trying to argue was a waste of breath. It was like reading a book to a wolf—useless. There was no point in continuing a conversation when she was determined not to listen.

Alpheus now looked at his granddaughter with an expression of resignation.

People said Olivia appeared more mature when she was around Tiel, but—

‘Huh? Does she really?’

Even next to Tiel, she didn’t exactly seem mature per se... Well, whatever.

When standing beside Tiel, she seemed relatively older, but the truth remained that Olivia was still just an eleven-year-old child.

Still, he would allow her to go.

Tiel needed protectors. And knights alone wouldn’t be enough.

Even if Ferdie, Ludian, and Olivia were young, their abilities were unmatched by anyone except the heads of their respective families.

‘Even so, sending all three of them is... unsettling.’

They were all direct heirs, future leaders of their families.

Under normal circumstances, they would have been sheltered and kept close, raised with utmost care, never allowed near any danger.

But now, the crown prince, the heirs of Asterian, and even the Wolfgang successor—

Somehow, all these children, bearing such weighty names, were being sent off together.

"I asked when we’re leaving!"

"Your grandfather is thinking, girl!"

Olivia’s relentless pestering finally made Alpheus snap. But rather than looking intimidated, she simply narrowed her eyes at him.

"What are you even thinking about? Let me guess—'Should we really send just the kids?' Right?"

"......"

"But it’s not like there’s another option! Since you’ve already decided to send them, you might as well just go, Hohoho, have a nice trip! and be done with it!"

"Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right...."

If he was going to worry about it, he should have done so before telling Olivia.

Alpheus let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

"First, we’ll return to Asterian territory. There are preparations to be made. We can’t leave immediately."

"Why not? Why not just go right now?"

"Do you think it’s that easy?"

"Why wouldn’t it be? Honestly!"

Alpheus swallowed back his urge to yell at his granddaughter, pressing his fingers to his forehead as he spoke quietly.

"...I’ve said everything I needed to say. Now go play."

"Okay! But, Grandpa, can I stay in Asterian until we leave?"

"Did you tell your mother?"

"Oh, come on, since when do I go around reporting things like that?"

Olivia flashed a mischievous grin, sticking her tongue out before dashing out of the office.

Left alone, Alpheus watched her retreating figure and let out a small laugh.

‘Come to think of it, I should probably tell Etienne too.’

And knowing her, she was going to cause a commotion.

Maybe he should leave it to Karsus to tell her...

Alpheus’s headache only deepened.

***

"You're really coming with us?"

Ludian gave Olivia a look that practically screamed, Just tell me this is a joke. Ferdie, annoyed that he even had to ask, turned his head away.

"Of course! If I don't go, who will? What if something happens to Tiel while you two are off fooling around?"

"Tiel is safer when you're not there."

Ferdie cut in sharply, but it was clear Olivia had already stopped listening.

"Tiel, you did say you wanted to go, right?"

"Uh? Yes, well... it's something I have to do...."

Tiel answered cautiously.

"It all started because Grandfather was trying to protect me. If there’s something I can do, then I should do it!"

"Hmm! That’s a great mindset! As expected of my little sister!"

"I'm not your little sister."

"But, Tiel, remember."

Olivia completely ignored Ludian’s retort. Instead, she smiled sweetly, taking Tiel’s small hand in hers and gently running her fingers over the soft skin.

Her beautiful pink eyes locked onto Tiel’s golden ones, and Tiel looked up, meeting her gaze.

"Even if you fail, never be disappointed, okay? No matter how incredible your Light Ability is, you’re still only seven years old. There are things in this world that are simply beyond you...."

Olivia’s voice was gentle as she continued.

"People are expecting way too much from you. But you don’t have to meet all their expectations. Of course, it’d be great if you succeed, but even if you don’t..."

"I shouldn't be disappointed, right?"

"Exactly!"

Tiel beamed at Olivia’s warm, comforting words.

"I won’t! Even if I can’t do it, I won’t be disappointed!"

"That's the spirit! And if anyone dares say they’re disappointed in you, I’ll personally kick them off the edge of the world!"

For once, Ferdie and Ludian didn’t interrupt. Instead, they simply watched as Tiel and Olivia talked excitedly.

Whatever others might think of Olivia, to Tiel, she was a good older sister.

And right now, Tiel needed someone to say these things to her.

"If kicking them off the world isn't enough, I’ll bury them upside down—mmph!"

"Enough! Enough!"

"Is there no limit with you?"

Ferdie and Ludian both clamped their hands over Olivia’s mouth at the same time. Olivia, unfazed, merely smirked before suddenly biting Ludian’s hand—hard.

"Aagh!"

"Tiel, come here!"

Breaking free from Ferdie and Ludian, Olivia stretched out her arms. Without hesitation, Tiel jumped into her embrace.

"I’m so proud of you, Tiel."

"Unnie..."

"Why is everyone expecting so much from you? You’re seven, for crying out loud. And you haven’t even had your ability for a full year yet. That bastard Chender Nestian—if someone told him to build an ice castle when he was two, could he have done it?"

Olivia grumbled, running a hand through Tiel’s fluffy white hair. Tiel blinked up at her from where she was nestled against her chest.

"Next time I see him, I’ll ask! What he’s demanding from you is no different!"

Olivia huffed in frustration. Tiel listened to her rant with a quiet smile.

She must think I can’t do it. That’s why she’s saying all this.

And honestly, Olivia was right.

Tiel was just a seven-year-old child. She hadn't even had her ability for a full year.

Even if the legend was real, it wasn’t something a child her age should be able to accomplish.

And yet...

Why do I feel like I can do it?

Was it just baseless confidence? Was it because she’d been loved in Asterian, surrounded by family who lifted her up?

Tiel quietly closed her eyes, then opened them again.

No.

It wasn’t that.

She simply knew.

She knew she could do it.

Just as she had known Ferdie wouldn’t hurt her when he lost control.

Just as she had known Ian Dross wouldn’t harm her when she ran toward him.

She had no fear, no doubt.

That’s why she had been able to stand before the Emperor and speak so boldly.

If it’s something I must do...

Then I will do it.

That was all there was to it.

It was difficult to describe, this feeling—like a voice, kind and gentle, had been whispering to her all this time.

If not me, then who?

Tiel murmured softly to herself.

And in that moment, she felt it.

Somewhere, from a place far beyond her reach—

Someone, the kindest and warmest presence in the world, was watching over her.

Smiling.