CH 6

Cedric doubted his eyes.

He wiped his glasses with a handkerchief in his front pocket.

And then, after putting on his glasses again, he alternately looked at Ian and the ‘thing’ in his hand.

Unfortunately, Cedric’s eyes were quite accurate.

What Ian held was indeed a baby snow leopard.

“… Your Highness, are you kidding me?”

Cedric asked. Ian shrugged his shoulders as if asking why he would do that, then set the snow leopard down on the cushion.

“Look, aren’t you scared?”

Ian asked politely. The baby snow leopard looked at Cedric’s eyes and cautiously nodded her head.

Seeing the scene, Cedric longed for all he was seeing to be a dream.

Please, may this all be a dream.

He hopes that the baby animal Ian suddenly took out of subspace is not a snow leopard.

However, no matter how many times he looked at it, the phrase ‘baby snow leopard’ was fitting for that little creature.

Snow-white fur was the symbol of the Nestian family.

Snow leopards are only born in the Nestian family, and black leopards are only born in the Asterian family.

Sometimes they are born among ordinary leopards, but most of the time they are a mixture of Nestian and Asterian blood.

Therefore, it was extremely rare for black and snow leopards to be born outside of Nestian and Asterian families.

Thinking that far, Cedric touched his throbbing forehead.

There was only one young snow leopard of that age in the Nestian family.

The seven-year-old girl, Rowan Nestian.

‘But wasn’t Miss Rowan evidently in Nestian’s arms when the carriage left?’

As far as he knew, there were no other girls in the Nestian family except Rowan Nestian.

For the record, even he saw it.

Then who the hell is that kid?

Ian said, ignoring the confused Cedric.

“We are heading to Asterian.”

Cedric asked Ian back, giving up on understanding.

“Why are you going to Asterian?”

“I have to take her home.”

Ian nodded toward the baby snow leopard. His tone was impatient as if he couldn’t believe he had to explain himself.

“Now it’s your turn to speak.”

Ian put his hand on the snow leopard’s head. The snow leopard, watching Cedric and Ian closely, carefully turned around in response.

Then, a young girl in a scruffy outfit appeared in front of Cedric’s eyes.

She was a lovely girl with voluminous white hair and golden eyes that glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

Cedric looked at Ian and Thiel without asking more questions.

Tears welled up in Thiel’s eyes as if Cedric’s gaze was frightening for a child.

Seeing that, Ian glared at Cedric. Cedric looked at Ian with regret.

“… M, my name is Thiel.”

With tears in her eyes, Thiel said after thinking for a while.

The girl with her head lowered and stammering as she said her name looked very apologetic.

Cedric realized he scared the girl. He decided to listen to Thiel without saying anything more.

“I’m… I’m going to see my father in Asterian.”

Thiel said, unfolding the bundle of blankets she had brought and showing it to Cedric.

Inside were two hard loaves of bread, an old locket, a cheap-looking fountain pen, and trinkets like children’s toys.

“My grandfather hated me, so…”

His attention was drawn to Thiel’s statement that her grandfather hates her.

Cedric noticed from Thiel’s reaction alone that she could not grow up properly in Nestian.

Ian suddenly intervened. He pointed to Thiel’s eyes and said.

“Look at her eyes, Cedric.”

Only then did Cedric realize that the girl’s pupils were different from other snow leopards.

Snow leopards are often born with blue eyes.

The snow leopard’s eyes are blue, and the black leopard’s is gold.

There was only one case where a snow leopard and a black leopard had eyes of a different color.

A hybrid of a snow leopard and a black leopard.

Thiel had white fur, the symbol of the snow leopard, and gold eyes, the symbol of the black leopard.

That was clear evidence that Thiel was mixed blood of black and snow leopard.

At that moment, Cedric thought of something.

‘… Lena Nestian and Cassius Asterian.’

Lena is from the snow leopard family and Cassius is from the black leopard family. Despite family opposition, the two bore children and started a family.

The two of them had twin boys, and Lena was expecting a third child.

If she hadn’t suddenly disappeared.

Lena disappeared while pregnant, and soon after, Nestian reported Lena’s death.

The Asterian family had to hold her funeral without even knowing if Lena’s body was returned and whether the third child was alive or dead.

Everyone vaguely assumed that since Lena was dead, the child would have died too.

‘Then… Could this child be…?’

Cedric’s gaze turned to the small, awkward girl.

Cedric asked in a trembling voice.

“Excuse me, Miss Thiel, how old are you…?”

“I turned seven this year.”

Thiel said as she folded her fingers and counted.

He calculated that the timing was just right. If this child was really the daughter of Lena and Cassius, it also made sense that they hid and raised her inside Nestian.

If Lena’s child was alive, Asterian would have tried to take the child.

Thinking that far, Cedric looked at Ian with his chin hanging down.

Ian shrugged.

The coachman drove the horse. The carriage carrying the three people headed toward Asterian at the fastest speed.

***

The carriage drove for three days and nights and arrived at the territory of the Black Leopards.

Despite Cedric and Ian’s disapproval, Thiel ate only the hard bread she brought.

‘I can’t cause more trouble here.’

Thiel thought, thinking of Ian and Cedric, who had taken care of her the whole time.

Ian and Cedric were really friendly.

They gave her a good seat in the carriage, and if Ian felt uncomfortable, he used his ability to stay in subspace.

It was the first time in her life that someone showed such kindness to her, so Ian and Cedric were strange to Thiel.

‘Usually, everyone frowns when they see me.’

Ian and Cedric always look at her with smiles on their faces.

Of course, Cedric was a bit scary at first, but over three days, Thiel learned how kind Cedric was.

They even bought her clothes because she was too thin, and feared she might catch a cold.

Thiel waved her hand, saying she couldn’t cause such a nuisance, but Ian and Cedric stood firm.

Their reasoning was that if she caught a cold, they wouldn’t be able to face the Asterian family.

Thiel did not want to embarrass the kindhearted Ian and Cedric, so she accepted their offer.

They bought a warm dress and a thin dress from a nearby dress shop.

It was the first dress she had in her life.

At the mansion, she wore only one of Rowan’s discarded pajamas every day.

The dress made of bright and colorful fabric like yellow forsythia made even a poor child like herself look pretty.

In addition, as many as six pretty ribbons were hanging from the front of the dress. Thiel touched the hem of her dress for no reason in excitement.

But Ian and Cedric even apologized to her for not being able to buy something better. Along with the promise to buy and send better ones when they go to the capital.

Thiel strongly refused, but it seemed like they were really going to buy a pretty dress and give it as a present when they go back.

‘Someone like me can wear something like this… can I?’

Thiel thought while playing with the soft frill part of the dress.

It seemed too much for her to wear. A dress like this suits Rowan, who is as pretty as a princess.

However, Thiel immediately closed her eyes and shook her head.

The Asterian family might hate her terribly.

So, to look good to them, she should wear something decent. Thiel silently thanked the kind Ian and Cedric.

At that time,

Hiiing-!

The carriage came to a halt. Thiel looked out the window, her eyes wide open.

And then she exclaimed.

“Wow…”

The Asterian family’s mansion had a completely different atmosphere from Nestian’s.

Unlike Nestian, which was completely covered in snow, flowers of all colors were in full bloom at the gate entrance.

Behind it, she caught a glimpse of a wide green lawn, and on top of it stood the magnificent Asterian Mansion.

Thiel was stunned at that moment.

‘Will I really be okay?’

As soon as they meet, Thiel feels as if they will immediately kick her out.

They were allowed to pass without incident by the guards of the Asterian mansion.

The carriage passed through the gate smoothly and stood in front of the huge mansion.

Then, there was a tap on Thiel’s shoulder.

“What are you doing? Let’s get off.”

“Together?”

Thiel opened her eyes wide and asked. Ian narrowed his eyes as if it was obvious.

Cedric had already gotten off first and was ready to escort Ian and Thiel.

Thiel took Ian’s hand, feeling a bit flustered, and jumped off the carriage.

Suddenly, they saw an old man with white hair hurrying towards them from afar.

Thiel stood behind Ian and Cedric, watching the man approach.

He appeared to be a butler for the Asterian household. The old man smiled broadly and bowed to Cedric and Ian.

“Your Highness Prince Iandros, may the blessing of Krasion be with you.”

“May the blessing of Krasion be with you, Parden. I wanted to see the Asterian Lord. Is he available?”

Parden, the butler, smiled awkwardly and replied, “The Lord is currently out. Is there an urgent matter?”

“Yes, it’s urgent. I need to see him right away.”

Cedric extended his hand to Thiel.

Thiel unconsciously took his hand.

Then Thiel found herself taking a step forward.

As Thiel stood between Cedric and Ian, she looked back and forth between Cedric and Parden. Then Cedric took Thiel’s hand, and his grip tightened slightly.

Cedric spoke up. “Tell the Lord that we may have found the youngest daughter of the Asterian family.”

There was a moment of silence at Cedric’s words.