The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Episode 69

‘What is Grandfather saying can’t happen…?’

As Thiel hugged Cassius, she kept her eyes on Alpheus.

Alpheus and the emperor seemed to exchange a brief conversation before moving to a different location together.

“Thiel.”

Thiel was staring at them when Cassius’s voice brought her back to reality.

“Dad, why is Grandfather angry?”

“…I’m not sure. But Thiel, you did well today.”

Cassius didn’t answer her question directly and changed the subject. Thiel, not pressing further, smiled brightly and nodded.

“Did I do well?”

“Yes, you did very well.”

Thiel beamed with pride.

‘I’m so relieved.’

She had been worried about using her powers in front of so many people for the first time, but it turned out wonderfully. Feeling proud, Thiel hugged Cassius’s neck.

“Thiel! Great job!”

“You were amazing, my little sister.”

The twins rushed over and gently patted Thiel’s head. Lucian, holding her small hand, asked with a serious expression, “When did you grow up so much?”

Their praise made Thiel’s heart flutter. Embarrassed, she buried her head in Cassius’s chest.

Just then,

“Thiel!!!”

A boisterous voice rang out.

Thiel looked up quickly. Perdi and Lucian’s expressions soured visibly.

From a distance, Olivia was running towards them with a bright smile. Wolfgang’s knights followed, looking exasperated as Olivia sprinted around in her dress.

“Miss, you shouldn’t run around like that…!”

“Oh, stop it, stop it.”

Olivia waved off the knights irritably and grabbed Thiel’s hand excitedly.

“Thiel, I saw it! You were amazing!”

“Sister Olivia!”

“You were the best. Really, the best! Today was completely… your day! And from now on, every Luminaire will be your day! Oh, my baby, when did you grow up so much…?”

“You talk like you raised her.”

“I practically did!”

Olivia replied cheekily.

Cassius didn’t react.

“Father, can we go around the festival with Thiel? We’ll be careful, very careful!”

“Yes, we’ll be cautious. We just want to enjoy the festival with Thiel.”

Perdi and Lucian pleaded with Cassius, their eyes earnest.

“Please!”

Lucian looked like a hopeful puppy.

Cassius made a thoughtful sound, then set Thiel down from his arms and placed his large hand on her head.

“Go and have fun with your brothers. Be careful, very careful.”

“Yes! We’ll be careful!”

“Escort them.”

At Cassius’s command, Asterian’s elite knights took their positions behind Thiel, Perdi, and Lucian.

Though Perdi and Lucian were strong enough to not need protection, they couldn’t leave the children unguarded in such a place.

“Alright, let’s go!”

“Yes.”

Wolfgang’s knights, who had somehow joined them, bowed their heads in agreement.

Olivia made a face like she had bitten into something sour. She frowned and asked.

“You too?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Sigh, fine. Come along then.”

Olivia nodded.

Thiel giggled and took Olivia and Perdi’s hands.

“Can we look around?”

“Of course, you should enjoy the festival that comes once every three years to the fullest.”

Perdi held Thiel’s hand tightly. Warmth slowly spread through her hand.

The children stepped out into the festival streets.

Everywhere, people were laughing, chatting, and having fun. Small lights were placed along the darkened roads to prevent people from tripping.

Thiel observed the scene quietly and then gently tugged Perdi’s hand.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Brother, why is the festival held at night? If it’s a festival for the god of light, Lusset, shouldn’t it be held during the day?”

“That’s simple.”

Lucian interjected abruptly.

“Light shines best in the dark.”

“Eh?”

Thiel tilted her head, not quite understanding Lucian’s overly simplistic explanation.

Perdi gently stroked Thiel’s cheek to help her understand.

“Thiel, remember when you used your power earlier? Do you remember?”

“Yes, of course!”

“Your light was magnificent, lighting up the night sky. But… what if it had been daytime?”

“Well, then… of course…”

Thiel frowned.

If it had been daytime, no matter how bright and brilliant her light was, it would have been almost invisible, overshadowed by the sunlight.

Thiel finally understood why the people of the Crassion Empire celebrated this festival at night.

“Thiel.”

Olivia smiled brightly and gently pinched Thiel’s soft cheek.

“See, that’s why we celebrate at night. The light is most beautiful when it contrasts with the dark.”

“Ah, I see!”

“Come on, let’s explore the festival! There’s so much to see and do.”

With that, the group moved forward, enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling festival. Thiel, holding hands with her loved ones, felt a warm sense of belonging and excitement for the night ahead.

“Light is born in the darkness! We have hidden in the darkness, waiting a very long time for the light to be born!”

It’s a story every child in the Crassion Empire has heard growing up.

Of course, Thiel had never heard it before, but most of the people here probably grew up with that story.

Olivia stretched Thiel’s soft cheek.

“In other words, we were waiting for you! Thiel, you probably don’t understand just how significant this festival is…”

Just then.

“Really?”

A grumpy voice came from somewhere.

Perdi, Lucian, Thiel, and Olivia all turned their heads towards the source of the voice.

The knights of Wolfgang and Asterian also focused their attention on the speaker.

There stood a boy with a delinquent attitude, leaning on one leg, staring at Thiel.

The boy was Sterling Iker, the heir to the Iker family.

“Sterling Iker? Why is that annoying brat here, causing trouble?” Olivia growled in a sharp voice.

The knights were taken aback by their lady’s rough language, but none of them tried to stop her.

“Sorry, I was distracted earlier and didn’t see it. But…”

Sterling’s sharp gaze landed on Thiel. She met his eyes without flinching.

“The power of light is pretty abstract, isn’t it? We don’t really know what it entails-”

“Sterling.”

Perdi stepped forward with a gentle smile.

Despite the Asterian and Iker families being counted among the Five Great Families, the Iker family was only a marquisate, whereas the Asterian family was a dukedom. The prestige associated with their names was vastly different.

How dare the mere heir of Iker act so insolently in front of the Asterians? Perdi stepped forward to put him in his place.

But then.

“I was just… ow!!!”

Sterling’s neck snapped back, and he clutched his stinging head after being struck suddenly. He looked up quickly to see who had hit him.

Realizing who it was, Sterling’s eyes widened.

“F-Father?”

“You foolish child! You just had to cause trouble!”

Sterling could swear it was the angriest he’d ever seen his father.

“M-me?”

“Who else here could it be but you!”

Perdi, Lucian, Olivia, and Thiel exchanged glances, then looked up at the head of the Iker family.

At some point, the crowd had parted, giving way, and Iker’s knights were standing behind their lord.

Olivia leaned down and whispered in Thiel’s ear.

‘Family discipline should be handled elsewhere, not here. This is such a nuisance.’

Thiel usually didn’t agree with gossip, but this time she found herself in complete agreement with Olivia.

Because of the presence of Iker’s head in the street, the festival-goers had subtly moved aside, interrupting their enjoyment.

Of course, Thiel, Olivia, Lucian, and Perdi were also moving around with knights, which caused the citizens to make way for them as well.

But the difference in weight between heirs enjoying the festival and a head of a family directly appearing was significant.

The head of the Iker family, still not satisfied, glared at his son for a long time before turning to address them.

“Please forgive my son’s rudeness.”