The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Episode 86

“Brother!”

Thiel ran to Perdi and wrapped her arms around him. Perdi caught her effortlessly, lifting her with ease.

“Thiel, why are you running like that? Didn’t I tell you not to run because it’s dangerous?”

“I just missed you, Brother! Didn’t you miss me too?”

“Of course, I missed you very much.”

Perdi smiled warmly, gently patting his beloved little sister’s head.

“Brother, I heard from Grandfather. Um…”

“Already? That was quick.”

“About… me…”

“Thiel, let me say something first. If you feel even a little bit guilty toward me, don’t.”

“…Oh.”

“Grandfather and Father gave me the chance to choose, and I made my choice. If you respect my decision, then don’t carry any guilt, little sister.”

Perdi’s voice was mature, far beyond what one would expect from an eleven-year-old boy.

So Thiel didn’t argue further and simply nodded.

“Anyway, we need to get back to Asterian soon, right?”

“Yes, under normal circumstances, we’d already be there by now…”

Alpheus, Cassius, Perdi, Ludian, and Thiel were all still in the capital, even though the other families had long returned to their territories.

Initially, they had stayed because of the chaos surrounding Ian’s rampage.

Now, however, they were stuck in the capital because of the mountain of tasks required to establish Thiel as the new head of House Asterian.

If they returned to Asterian, the time spent communicating back and forth with the Emperor would only delay matters further. Thus, Cassius and Alpheus had decided to remain in the capital and resolve everything quickly.

For that reason, the children were still at the Asterian villa in the capital.

“Thiel!”

Ludian spotted her from a distance and ran over, cheerfully poking her cheek.

“Thiel! How are you feeling? Are you okay now?”

“I’m fine! I was fine even back when I was inside.”

“Still, don’t ever do that again! Ian—that reckless fool! To me, you’re two hundred times more important than him, got it?”

“Yes, Brother. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Good, as long as you know. But honestly, the one who should really be apologizing isn’t you—it’s that Ian! Just let him wake up! I’ll make sure he hears words he’s never heard in his life, even as the Crown Prince!”

“Looks like someone’s about to get caught and punished by Grandfather.”

“And who was the one shouting about killing the Crown Prince the moment he heard about the bond?”

At Ludian’s words, Thiel’s eyes widened in shock.

“W-who’s killing who?”

“Watch your words around Thiel, Ludian.”

Perdi’s smile was calm but carried a dangerous edge. Ludian, however, stuck his tongue out in defiance.

“Did I say anything that wasn’t true?”

“Brother Perdi said… that kind of thing? Not Brother Ludian?”

“…Thiel?”

Ludian looked at her with the wounded expression of a betrayed kitten. Thiel panicked and waved her hands frantically.

“No, no! I didn’t mean that you said anything that bad…”

“Why deny it? You’re right, Thiel. Ludian does have a sharp tongue.”

“…”

“And for the record, I’ve never said such a thing, so please watch your words, Ludian. Talking about assassinating the Crown Prince—are you trying to commit treason?”

“Ugh, fine, whatever. Why do I even talk to you?”

Ludian glared at Perdi, his eyes narrowing.

“Thiel, I know you love all your brothers, but try to stay away from this one. I’m afraid he’ll corrupt you.”

“The one who should keep his distance from Thiel is you, Ludian. Just so we’re clear, let me remind you one more time.”

“You little—”

Perdi and Ludian started bickering, but Thiel didn’t bother trying to stop them.

After all, she had seen this countless times, including when Olivia joined in. At this point, their squabbles could barely even be called arguments—they were more like sibling banter overflowing with affection.

Before long, their exchange ended. As usual, Perdi emerged victorious.

“Thiel, let’s leave this fool here and head inside. We have to visit the palace tomorrow. Before that, I’ll read you a storybook…”

“Yes, Brother.”

Thiel nodded obediently.

She was scheduled to visit the palace tomorrow with Alpheus and Cassius.

Although the Emperor’s permission wasn’t required for Thiel to inherit the headship of House Asterian, the consent of the other family heads was.

House Asterian wasn’t just any family—it was the leading family of all beastkin. For Asterian to remain in its position, it needed the approval of the other families.

Thiel, however, didn’t know all these details. She only knew she was going to the palace with her grandfather and father.

‘I wonder if Ian will wake up tomorrow.’

Since this would likely be her last visit to the capital for a long time, Thiel quietly hoped that Ian would regain consciousness.

Thinking of him, she whispered a small prayer to Lusset, wishing for his swift recovery.

The mark on Ian’s neck, shaped like a fish, lingered in her thoughts.

* * *

“…What did they do?”

The head of House Iker, Cloud Warren Iker, broke the silence, his voice laced with disbelief.

His aide, Linart, bowed slightly and repeated his report.

“House Asterian is preparing to appoint Thiel Asterian as their head.”

“…What? Why would they do such a thing?”

Cloud blinked, his expression incredulous.

Thiel Asterian was only seven years old. From what he had heard, she had been with Asterian for less than a year.

And they were going to make her the head? Were they out of their minds?

“Are they completely insane?”

“Perhaps it’s to make a clear statement. Other families have been increasingly wary of the power of light. By appointing her, they ensure she won’t fall into another family’s hands.”

“Even so, appointing a seven-year-old as head? Have all the legitimate heirs died?”

House Asterian had clear successors: Cassius Celeste Asterian, a full-grown man who held the rank of marquess, and his eldest son, Perdi Asterian.

The natural line of succession placed Alpheus first, followed by Cassius, and then Perdi.

And yet suddenly…

Cloud’s grand ambitions shattered into pieces. He had dreamed of bringing Thiel Asterian into his family as the bride of his son, Sterling Iker, solidifying House Iker’s power.

Not that Asterian had ever shown the slightest interest in such a union, but in Cloud’s mind, he had already planned the wedding.

“And on top of that…”

“On top of what?”

What else was there? Cloud felt he was prepared to handle any shocking news now.

The idea of bypassing a seasoned heir and his son to appoint a seven-year-old girl as head was already absurd. What could possibly top that?

Linart bowed his head again before continuing.

“Our contact in the Imperial Palace reports that the Crown Prince may have bonded with Thiel Asterian that day.”

“…?”

“Yes, according to our source—”

“What did they do?”

Cloud asked again, his tone flat and dumbfounded.

Adjusting his glasses, Linart felt a peculiar sense of déjà vu.

“They bonded, sir.”

“Who?”

“Thiel Asterian and His Highness, Crown Prince Iandros Krasion.”

“Excuse me?”

Cloud already knew about the incident—how Thiel had followed the rampaging Ian into that spatial rift and somehow managed to subdue him.

Many feared the girl for her audacity and the extraordinary power of light she wielded, seeing her as a threat to their own families.

Cloud, on the other hand, had been delighted. A girl capable of such feats would make the perfect match for Sterling.

But now…

“What do you mean they bonded?”

“Exactly that, sir.”

“You… do you think bonding is some childish game? Do you think two kids can just say, ‘Let’s bond,’ and it happens? Where are you getting this nonsense?”

Cloud’s voice rose, and Linart, taken aback, quickly bowed again.

“But according to our source, the mark of the bond has appeared near His Highness’s neck. Think about it, my lord! Why else would they suddenly appoint a seven-year-old girl as head? It’s because she bonded with the Crown Prince. She should be moving to the palace as the Crown Princess, but they don’t want to send her there, so they’re stalling!”

Cloud’s eyes narrowed as he processed Linart’s words.

‘If she enters the palace, it would certainly be easier to get to her.’

Most would argue that the Imperial Palace was harder to infiltrate. But when it came to House Asterian, the rules were different.

Asterian’s security was impenetrable. All attempts to plant spies in their household had failed.

If Thiel moved to the palace, however…

‘She’d be separated from her family.’

A vulnerable child, left alone in the palace, surrounded by opportunists—it was obvious how that would play out.

“If she’s bonded to the Crown Prince, we can’t take her.”

Forcing a bonded individual into marriage with Sterling was impossible.

“In that case, we’ll make sure they can’t have her either.”

Cloud’s voice was cold as steel.