The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

“Please, let Thiel rest a little.”

However, Alpheus’s plans to hold his granddaughter in his arms were thwarted by Cassius’ firm words and touch.

Cassius stopped him as if finding it bothersome.

“Thiel has used her abilities. She must be tired.”

They had given her water to drink before they left the temple, but as a child with poor physical strength, it was natural to be concerned.

Alpheus reluctantly, but with a sigh, sent Thiel away.

Thiel looked at Alpheus like that and giggled, then lifted her head to look at Asterian Manor once again.

Although it was the same mansion as when they departed, for some reason, the mansion seemed different.

‘…Asterian.’

She quietly chewed on the word in her mouth. It had been a scary place when she first arrived, but now it was no longer frightening at all.

Alpheus, Cassius, Perdi and Ludian, Head Butler Parden and Maid Sofia… No one in Asterian was scary.

No matter what anyone said, I am the child of Asterian. I am Cassius daughter.

This place is my home.

Her thoughts were quickly interrupted. Cassius walked confidently into the mansion, holding Thiel in his arms.

Instead of following Cassius, Alpheus patted his two grandsons on the shoulder to avoid causing them pain.

“You both did well. Perdi, Ludian.”

“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done…”

Perdi looked at the carriage that was following behind with an uninterested gaze.

His gaze was disrespectful. Alpheus looked at where Perdi’s gaze was directed.

There stood a massive and splendid carriage, one step behind Asterian’s carriage, with the emblem of the palace clearly engraved on it.

It was Ianthros’s carriage.

The carriage door opened, and Ianthros Karison stepped out of the carriage, adjusting his attire.

When he spotted Alpheus Ewald Asterian, he approached and nodded his head.

“Duke Ewald.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Alpheus approached Ianthros, leaving his two grandsons aside, and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for Your Highness, the situation in Asterian would have been difficult.”

“Asterian’s power, which claims to make even the gods tremble, seems to be easily swayed by a small girl. Actually, it wouldn’t have been a problem that Asterian’s power alone couldn’t solve.”

Ianthros shrugged his shoulders. But his tone was not mocking.

Alpheus chuckled and nodded his head.

“Well, aren’t parents like that? They can’t be rational when it comes to their own children. Please, come inside. I will have the carriage brought.”

As soon as Alpheus finished speaking, two servants rushed into the mansion to deliver his message.

* * *

“Thank you for your help. Thank you once again, Your Highness Ianthros.”

Alpheus bowed his head again.

Ianthros tilted his head while sipping his tea.

“Even without me, it seems like it would have been resolved well. That little one is extraordinary.”

“That little one? Are you referring to Thiel?”

“Yes, Thiel.”

Ianthros smiled, recalling the small child who had not been intimidated even in front of Chancellor Andreas.

“Strange… It can’t be true.”

‘It can’t be true.’

For a seven-year-old child, she was surprisingly bold and decisive.

It was a completely different story from when she had come tremblingly to Nestian, begging for help not too long ago.

“At that time, she seemed like such a timid herbivore… “

“I have the fur of snow leopard and the eyes of black leopard. But I can’t believe that I am not the child of Asterian.”

Seeing her raised claws, she seemed like a fierce carnivore.

Was she hiding the way of extending her claws all this time?

Ianthros smiled subtly.

‘Such a little one.’

She looked like she would cry if you tapped her… Where did she learn the concept of repaying someone? With her sparkling eyes, saying she will repay… The soft touch of her cheek that used to sleep peacefully came to mind.

She was as adorable as a castella cake. It felt like she could sleep all day long.

Ianthros’s mind was filled with thoughts of Thiel.

Alpheus, who had been silently observing Ianthros, who was smiling while looking outside, opened his mouth.

“I didn’t hear the exact details, so I don’t know the specifics. But our granddaughter apparently used her abilities in front of Andreas…”

“Yeah, she’s just like an Asterian. She even dared to question my bloodline. She strongly resembles Perdi and Ludian.”

“Hehe, it seems Thiel had that side to her. I regret not being able to witness it with my own eyes.”

Ianthros chuckled and nodded his head.

After tilting his cup a few more times, Ianthros soon stood up from his seat.

“I should go now. His Majesty summoned me.”

There was a slightly annoyed tone in his voice as he spoke.

Alpheus quickly noticed Ianthros’ displeasure and bowed his head.

“Yes, please go, Your Highness. I will personally inform His Majesty about today’s events.”

“Yeah, see you next time, Duke Ewald.”

“Please take care, Your Highness.”

Ianthros nodded and left the reception room.

Cedric, Ianthros’ subordinate who had been waiting outside the entire time, bowed his head and helped Ianthros put on his cloak.

“You’re late, Your Highness.”

“I know that much too, Cedric.”

Ianthros replied with an irritated tone and let out a sigh.

Cedric didn’t say anything further. He knew his master’s temperament well. It was better not to provoke him unnecessarily.

Ianthros’ slow footsteps came to a sudden stop.

Cedric looked at Ianthros with a puzzled expression.

“Is there something you forgot, Your Highness?”

“….”

Should I go and at least catch a glimpse of her face?

A brief hesitation crossed his mind.

However, Ianthros quickly resumed his steps. If he lingered any longer, he didn’t know what the Emperor would say.

“No, let’s go.”

Ianthros got on the carriage.

Cedric, who sensed Ianthros’ uneasiness, also climbed into the carriage without saying a word.

Throughout the journey, Ianthros kept gazing out of the window.

“Cedric.”

“Yes, Your Highness. What is it?”

“He called me again regarding the companion issue, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“It’s so tiresome.”

A brief conversation ensued.

Ianthros let out a sigh.

When did he start taking such an interest in me and become such a nuisance?

Ianthros’ eyes shimmered with a complex light.

“You shouldn’t speak about the Emperor like that, Your Highness.”

“Well, what does it matter how I speak?”

Wilhelm Durland Krasion, the Emperor of the Krasion Empire.

He was the reigning Emperor of Krasion and Ianthros’ grandfather.

At the same time… he was also the murderer who killed Ianthros’ parents.

Ianthros still vaguely remembered that day.

The day when his mother and father, who tried to protect him, were ruthlessly killed by the Emperor.

The moment when the mansion was engulfed in flames.

Ianthros was only seven years old at the time.

That’s why he didn’t know the exact situation.

Those involved in the incident were all silenced by the Emperor’s orders.

Therefore, all Ianthros knew, all he remembered, was one thing.

‘My parents were killed because of my abilities.’

Ianthros’ ability, the creation of a spatial dimension, was an ability that manifested only in the bloodline of the royal family, an ability that had not been revealed.

What was revealed was that it was an extremely dangerous and difficult-to-control ability.

That’s why the current Emperor, Wilhelm Durland Krasion, put a knife to Ianthros’ throat before his eighth birthday, in an attempt to kill the child.

Because it would be dangerous if he couldn’t control his abilities and went on a rampage.

However, in the end, the Emperor couldn’t kill Ianthros, and Ianthros survived.

‘Mother, Father!!’

In sacrifice for their child.

Ianthros’ parents, who were the only prince and princess consort of the empire, threw themselves into the Emperor’s knife to save their child.

If they died, the bloodline of the royal family, the Emperor’s bloodline, would be left with only Ianthros Krasion.

The Emperor couldn’t kill the last remaining royal blood.

And their prediction came true.

The Emperor couldn’t kill Ianthros. If Ianthros died, the connection of the Krssion royal family would be completely severed.

The Emperor had a duty to continue the lineage of the royal family.

In the end, instead of killing Ianthros, he appointed him as the Crown Prince.

In return, he sought someone who could be Ianthros’ “companion,” someone who would receive a share of his ability to prevent him from going on a rampage.

In other words, it was a search for a sacrificial lamb who would share Ianthros’ ability and bear the burden on his behalf.

Ianthros hated that.

He didn’t want others to suffer because of him.

To be bound for life as an unrelated person under the name of a companion, having to bear his ability in his place.

Ianthros was like a fragile vessel on the verge of breaking.

And the Emperor was trying to prevent Ianthros from breaking by breaking other dishes and filling the gaps…

“….”

Ianthros’ face sank coldly as he thought of the Emperor, Wilhelm.

Since then, no conversation took place between Cedric and Ianthros.

Only occasionally, the sound of the horses’ hooves pulling the carriage could be heard.