The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

The fish floating next to Tiel proved that fact.

Tiel didn’t attend the academy, instead learning to use her abilities in the estate’s training grounds with Karsus, Ferdie, Ludian, and Alpheus. She was quite the diligent student.

She absorbed everything she was taught perfectly, and when it came to creating shields with her abilities to defend against attacks, she surpassed Ludian.

However, there was one thing Tiel couldn’t do.

“I think... you can’t use your offensive abilities because you keep bringing that fish out.”

“No! The fish has nothing to do with it, really! It doesn’t drain my abilities at all.”

“That’s not what I mean. Offensive abilities need the intent to harm someone. But your fish...”

Ferdie looked at Tiel’s fish. The fish, sensing Ferdie’s gaze, tilted its head and spun around in place.

Then, it flapped its fins, scattering sparkling light particles over Tiel’s head.

“...”

“...”

“...Aha! You don’t need to do this.”

Tiel lightly scolded, but the fish didn’t stop and continued to gleefully scatter the sparkling light particles.

Ferdie gestured with his chin.

“It’s like it’s trying to sprinkle stardust all over the beastkin world. As long as that fish is inside you, it’ll be impossible for you to harm anyone with your mind set on attacking.”

“Then... can’t I just learn to defend more instead? If, as you said, I can’t learn to attack with this fish, it’s impossible for me to be separated from it since it’s part of my ability.”

“What if a situation comes where you need to attack? Sometimes, there will be times when you’ll have to hurt someone.”

“Right, the best defense is offense.”

“Then, when that time comes, my brothers will be with me. You guys are specialized in offensive abilities, right? I won’t even get a chance to step in. You’ll be by my side, right?”

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

After Tiel said that, Ferdie couldn’t argue anymore. He let out a light laugh, as if admitting defeat.

“Yeah, who’s going to beat you? We’ll protect you. You won’t need to use offensive abilities.”

“Since when did you start talking so much?” Ludian playfully pinched Tiel’s cheek, not hurting her. Tiel burst into a fit of giggles.

The fish next to her seemed to join in the fun, scattering more light particles around, turning the carriage into a glittering, cake-like shape.

“Welcome, Lady Asterian! And Ferdie, Ludian! I’ll guide you right away.”

The madam of the dress shop greeted the children courteously. Thanks to Ferdie and Ludian making a reservation in advance, they were escorted directly to the best spot without having to wait.

While Ferdie and Ludian glanced at the pamphlet, about to say "Just get anything decent," Tiel swiftly snatched the pamphlet out of Ferdie’s hand.

After quickly looking through it, she pointed to a few dresses that seemed comfortable and fitting for her.

“These ones, and these. I’d like to see these too.”

“Of course, I’ll show them to you right away.”

The madam waved her hand, and assistants who had been waiting immediately appeared to show Tiel the dresses she had selected.

“You should try them on, right? Just wait behind here for a moment…”

“There’s no need to try them on. They’re fine. Just send them to the Asterian estate, and charge the dress cost to them.”

Ferdie lazily glanced over the dresses before frowning. He pointed at a long dress with too much lace and shining jewels.

“Not this one. It looks too tight around the waist, which might be uncomfortable. Tiel’s only twelve, so she doesn’t need to wear something like this.”

“Yes, Sir Ferdie! I’ll send everything except this dress to the Asterian estate.”

Ferdie then carefully inspected the other dresses Tiel had chosen to make sure none of them were too tight or likely to trip her up.

Satisfied, he and Ludian led Tiel out of the dress shop. Tiel looked up at Ferdie with a bewildered expression.

“Wasn’t it for going out with me that you came?”

“I did come to go out with you. We’re going out right now, aren’t we?”

“But you said ‘there’s no need to try them on,’ so the outing ended so quickly! I wanted to try them on!”

“You can try them next time. And the outing isn’t over yet. Didn’t we say we were going to eat cake? I’ve made a reservation at a pretty good patisserie. You’ll surely like it.”

“Huh? Why aren’t we going to the usual place?”

“I found out it’s closed today.”

Ferdie, Ludian, and Tiel chatted happily as they walked down the street, followed by the Asterian knights.

Although they could have taken the carriage, since the patisserie wasn’t far, the children decided to walk instead.

Since they were in Asterian territory, there was no need to hide their identity.

In Asterian territory, there was no one who didn’t know Tiel, Ferdie, or Ludian’s faces.

Moreover, Tiel preferred walking to riding in a carriage.

She had told Karsus that she liked walking because her father and brothers carried her around every day, but in reality, she preferred being carried rather than walking.

But now that she had grown so much, being carried seemed too childish, so she insisted that walking was better.

“Please buy a lot of cakes! I’ll bring some back for Ria, and the other servants, and also for Father and Grandfather.”

“If you buy that much, the patisserie will be upset.”

“I can just give some to them!”

“To the baker? You’re going to give the baker bread and cookies?”

“Bakers sometimes want to eat bread made by someone else, not their own. The head chef at the estate said the same thing. Sometimes chefs want to go out and eat at restaurants too.”

“Your servants tell you everything, huh? Fine, I’ll buy all the cakes.”

“All of them? Then there won’t be any for others. So, not all, just... half?”

“Half is already a lot. You greedy little snow leopard.”

“That’s less than all of it!”

Tiel giggled again. Every time she laughed, it felt like the sparkling light particles around her exploded.

At that moment, someone ran toward Tiel, Ferdie, and Ludian.

Although they were in Asterian territory, it was unusual for anyone to approach them while they were walking around the estate. The people who had watched the shy young master and young lady for so long rarely spoke to them.

So, it was unexpected when someone approached like this. The knights, who had been following them, stepped forward and blocked the girl.

“You can’t come any closer. Step back.”

The guard spoke with an imposing voice. The girl hesitated, looking up at the knight, then turned to look at Tiel.

The poorly-dressed girl, who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, was holding a bouquet of beautiful spring flowers.

The flowers were rare and delicate, ones that didn’t grow in this area.

The girl extended the bouquet towards Tiel.

“I want to give flowers to the little head of the family…”

In beastkin society, giving flowers was a way of offering a blessing. Because of this, Ludian stepped forward without attacking the girl and accepted the bouquet, checking for any signs of trouble before speaking.

“Little head of the family?”

“Ah, I’m sorry…”

Everyone knew that in Asterian territory, and among those who knew Tiel, she was often called "Little head of the family." However, calling her that to her face was considered rude. Ludian hesitated for a moment, then decided to let it go, as it seemed like a simple mistake.

“Let this pass. Next time, please show more respect.”

Ludian handed the bouquet to Tiel, and only then did the knights loosen their guard and step back.

Tiel beamed as she received the beautiful bouquet of spring flowers. The large bouquet filled her arms.

“Thank you so much! It's so pretty. I’ll put it in a vase when I get home.”

Tiel, blushing with happiness, mumbled to herself as she carefully plucked a single flower and gently placed it in the girl’s hair.

“You’re such a kind girl. May the blessings of Crassion be with you!”

At that moment, the girl’s eyes, which had been nervously watching Tiel, suddenly changed.

At the same time, a question arose in Tiel’s mind.

How could this poorly dressed girl have gathered such expensive, fresh flowers, ones that couldn’t be found around here? And they seemed to have been picked just recently…