The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Inside the Reception Room of the Asterian Mansion.

"I see you've put on some weight? When I first saw you, you were in a terrible state, but now... I suppose you look decent enough."

Ian's gaze fell on Tiel. She nodded timidly and gave him a small, bright smile.

"Yes! Thanks to the Asterians treating me well—"

"I'm glad you're doing well. It bothered me that we didn't get to properly say goodbye, so I decided to drop by."

With a snap of his fingers, Ian signaled his attendants.

"I also brought a gift."

As soon as Ian snapped his fingers, a procession of attendants entered the room, setting up a temporary clothing rack and hanging up dresses one after another.

But it wasn't just one dress.

"……?"

One, two, three… The dresses kept coming, and Tiel’s eyes grew round while Ferdi’s narrowed.

They were clearly expensive, extravagant dresses at a glance.

Tiel's lips parted slightly in surprise at Ian’s sudden gift.

Even in the few days she had spent in Asterian, she had received more presents than Rowen had in the past seven years combined…

As she struggled to find the right words to respond to the mountain of dresses before her, Ferdi spoke up first.

"Thanks, Ian. But the Asterians can buy her dresses as well, you know."

"When I first met her, she was wearing something so tattered that I couldn't tell whether it was clothing or a rag."

Ian sneered.

It was a scoff laced with mockery—mockery that they hadn't even realized she had been living in such miserable conditions, only to act concerned now.

Tiel swallowed dryly as she looked at Ian's gift before getting up and trotting over to the clothing rack.

"……."

"……."

Both Ian and Ferdi silently turned their gazes toward her.

Tiel examined the dresses closely before picking out the simplest one.

"Thank you for the gift… But this is too much. Just this one—"

"……?"

"T-Thank you very much!"

Tiel clutched the dress to her chest and bowed deeply.

Ian covered his mouth and let out a short chuckle.

"Tiel, are you saying that you want me—the Crown Prince of Crasion—to be the kind of person who presents the precious youngest daughter of the Asterian family with just one measly dress?"

"W-What? No, that’s not what I—!"

"If that’s not what you mean, then take them all. They don’t cost much anyway. Of course, your brothers could easily buy you dresses too, but—"

Ian’s gaze flickered to Ferdi before returning to Tiel.

"It’s been bothering me that I only got you one last time."

"……Ah."

"So just take them. You'll be receiving plenty of gifts like this soon enough, so you might as well start getting used to it. Consider it practice for accepting presents without feeling undeserving."

"I’ll be receiving… more gifts like this?"

Tiel blinked in confusion. She had already received more than she could ever have imagined, but now there would be more?

It was a baffling thought.

After all, in Nestian, she had never received a single gift. Even Rowen only got presents when Chender was in a good mood or on special occasions.

Tiel turned to look up at Ferdi with a bewildered expression.

Ferdi smiled softly and gently patted her head.

"We haven’t made a public announcement yet since you’re still adjusting to life in Asterian, but once we do, gifts will come pouring in from all over."

To curry favor with the Asterians, of course. Some of those gifts will be dresses like these, others might be jewelry.

Ferdi’s kind explanation finally made sense to Tiel, and she closed her mouth in understanding before nodding.

"Ah, so that's why…"

"Right. So, you should start getting used to it. Compared to the presents you'll receive in the future, these aren't excessive at all."

"Hah. You’re really going all out with the sarcasm, aren’t you?" Ian scoffed. "This isn't a gift from the Crasion royal family, Ferdi. It’s something I’m giving personally, so I’d appreciate it if you didn't twist my intentions."

And just like that, the tension between Ferdi and Ian flared up again.

Tiel, caught between the two, made a troubled expression.

"P-Please don’t fight!"

"Tiel, we’re not fighting. I was simply expressing that for all the effort His Highness made to personally visit and bring a gift, the present itself is rather underwhelming."@@novelbin@@

"I’m starting to think it would be better for the child’s upbringing if you weren’t around. Why don’t you head back to the academy?"

Ian reached out and, with a swift tug, pulled Tiel—who was still standing awkwardly with a dress in her arms—onto the seat beside him.

"Maybe I should have taken her with me instead. Ferdi, Ludian, I momentarily forgot that you two might be a bad influence on her."

Ferdi’s face stiffened at Ian’s remark.

Tiel fidgeted uncomfortably, unable to either escape Ian’s grasp or sit properly.

"Um…"

"Are you declaring that you're kidnapping the youngest of the Asterian family, Your Highness?"

"So what? The paternity test results aren’t out yet, are they?"

At Ian’s words, Tiel flinched.

She tightened her grip on the dress Ian had given her until the fabric wrinkled, then buried her face in it.

So… the paternity test results still haven’t come out…

Tiel had never once doubted that she was the daughter of Karsus and Lena on her way here.

It was only natural. She was a mutant born with the traits of both the Snow Leopard and Black Leopard clans, and Chender had always lashed out at her, blaming her Asterian blood for her useless existence.

But now, hearing the words paternity test, fear crept in.

What if… by some chance…

What if I’m not really their child?

Where would I go?

"If the test says you’re not a match, let me know. You’re small and cute—I’m sure you’d come in handy if I took you in."

Ian chuckled playfully, looking straight at Tiel.

Strangely, in that moment, all of Tiel’s anxiety melted away.

Their eyes met.

For a brief second, Tiel forgot to breathe as she stared at Ian’s face.

Golden hair that gleamed like sunlight, emerald eyes that marked his royal lineage, a sharply defined nose, and a smooth jawline…

The Ian standing before her looked just as beautiful as he had back then.

So much so that Tiel felt incomparable to him.

Ian Dross…

She silently mouthed the name Ian had once taught her.

The round, rolling pronunciation felt pleasant on her tongue.

Tiel continued to gaze at him, recalling the first day they met.

If Ian hadn’t hidden me that day…

She would have been locked away in the attic, bound with heavy chains.

If she was unlucky, she might have been beaten to death.

A shiver ran through her body at the horrifying thought.

She didn’t want to die again. Meeting Ian had truly been… a stroke of luck.

I’ll never forget that day for the rest of my life.

The day Ian had hidden her from the servants and promised to take her to Asterian.

As Tiel stood there, completely engrossed in her thoughts, Ferdi, who had been watching her closely, stepped forward and scooped her up into his arms.

"That’s not going to happen, so don’t worry, Ian Dross. Do you think golden eyes and white-toned hair are common traits?"

This coming from the same person who, not long ago, had suspected her of using divine power to disguise herself…

The same person who still thought she might have deceived their family with a fake ability.

Yet, hearing Ian say such things irritated him to no end.

"Listen, Tiel. If anyone tries to take you away, you have to say no."

"H-Huh? But Ian-nim is a guest of the mansion…"

"It doesn’t matter who it is. If anyone tries to take you away, you say no. Got it?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Then say it now."

Still holding Tiel in his arms, Ferdi smirked over her small shoulder and sneered at Ian.

"Go on. Say no."

Caught between the two of them, Tiel glanced between Ferdi and Ian, her large eyes darting nervously.

Then, hesitantly, she mumbled, "…N-No?"

"Hah."

Ian burst into amused laughter, reclining against the sofa as he watched them with an exasperated grin.

Then, he stood up.

"I’ll be leaving now, so you can stop treating me like an unwelcome guest, Ferdi. You seem to forget my status from time to time."

"Haha, how could I forget His Highness’s esteemed status? I’m simply well aware of my own."

Ferdi finally set Tiel down.

He took the dress still clutched in her hands and carelessly draped it over a nearby chair before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Alright, Tiel. The guest is leaving, so you should say goodbye."

"O-Oh! Ian-nim!"

At Tiel’s call, both Ferdi and Ian turned toward the small girl.

She looked up at Ian and hesitantly asked, "Um… will you come again?"

Tiel liked Ian.

He was the one who had saved her from that hell.

He had brought her to the warm and safe Asterian mansion.

And even after time had passed, he hadn’t forgotten her—he had come back to see her, bringing gifts.

So she wanted to see him again.

Something about Ian made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

That was why she felt disappointed that he was leaving so soon.

She wished he would stay a little longer.

As if reading her thoughts, Ian smirked.

"Of course. I’ll come again—when your dear brother isn’t around."

"And what exactly do you plan to do to my sister when I’m not here—"

"Wait for me. Next time, I’ll bring you an even better gift."

Ignoring Ferdi completely, Ian reached out and took Tiel’s small hand, bending down slightly to brush a light kiss over her fingers.

"……?"

"……!"

"See you next time, Tiel."

Ian lightly patted her head before walking out of the reception room.

Left alone in the vast space, Tiel and Ferdi both silently stared at the spot where Ian had disappeared.

"Uh…?"

"Tiel, you were supposed to say no."

Ferdi’s voice was gentle, but his expression had turned stiff.

He pulled an embroidered handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the back of Tiel’s hand.

"Understood?"

"Y-Yes!"

Still dazed, Tiel hurriedly nodded.