The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

Episode 83



Episode 83

“How is her condition?”

“Perfectly fine. Other than being a bit startled, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong,” said the imperial physician, bowing his head. Alpheus and Wilhelm stood side by side, looking at the small girl sitting obediently on the bed.

“I’ve already told you so many times that I’m okay…”

Thiel fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, looking a little embarrassed.

“Even so, we had to be sure. Thiel, promise me you won’t do something so dangerous again,” Alpheus said gently, as though scolding a child.

Thiel nodded earnestly.

“Yes, I promise I won’t do anything dangerous again…”

Her eyes flicked to Wilhelm briefly, gauging his reaction.

After all, the Emperor himself was present. Would it be alright to say she wouldn’t act to save the Crown Prince if something similar happened in the future?

But her worries evaporated with the Emperor’s next words.

“Thank you.”

Wilhelm’s voice was deliberate, each word carefully chosen to express his gratitude without placing undue weight on the young girl’s shoulders.

“It’s thanks to you that Iandros survived. I wanted to thank you personally.”

“Oh, no, Your Majesty!”

Thiel’s face turned red as she shook her head vigorously.

“It was only natural…”

“It wasn’t natural. What you did was extraordinary. But, child,” Wilhelm said, his voice softening as he opened and closed his eyes slowly.

“If something like this happens again…”

Thiel blinked, waiting for him to continue.

“You don’t have to help next time.”

His words were cold.

Too cold, coming from Wilhelm, Iandros’s grandfather. It was so harsh that Thiel froze, unsure of how to respond. Finally, after some hesitation, she asked timidly,

“…Why not?”

“Why? Because you’ll be in danger,” Wilhelm replied bluntly.

“But Ian was in danger, too,” Thiel argued.

Both Alpheus and Wilhelm sighed simultaneously, closing their eyes as though trying to steady themselves.

Alpheus’s gaze seemed to say, *And you’d jump in again if it happened, wouldn’t you?*

Wilhelm’s expression, meanwhile, clearly read, *What kind of child is this…?*

After clearing his throat, Wilhelm said, “We’re already searching for a bride for Iandros. Once he’s married, his spouse will share his abilities, and such incidents won’t happen again. I promise, you won’t have to step in like this anymore.”

“I see…”

Thiel nodded, though she couldn’t shake the odd feeling the Emperor’s words left her with.

She had heard rumors about the Crown Prince’s search for a bride before, but hearing it directly from the Emperor felt… strange.

‘I don’t know why, but…’

Was it because if Ian got married, he might not play with her anymore?

Thiel quickly brushed away her gloomy thoughts, shaking her head firmly. Looking up at both Wilhelm and Alpheus with wide, serious eyes, she said,

“By the way, I have something to tell you!”

“Do you have anything to tell us?”

Alpheus gently stroked Thiel’s head as he spoke.

Thiel flinched for a moment at the question, her mind flooding with memories of what she had witnessed in the spatial dimension.

But she kept her mouth shut.

Whether what she saw was an illusion or truly Ian’s memories, she didn’t want to bring it up unnecessarily.

Instead, she replied carefully, “I was trapped in a pitch-black space the whole time.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. I lit up my surroundings to look around, but there was nothing there…”

Thiel hesitated before continuing.

“Except, there was something strange on Ian’s neck.”

“Something strange?”

“It felt similar to what I mentioned feeling on the street before… the same kind of unpleasant sensation.”

“You mean what Ian mentioned?”

The Emperor nodded, recalling Ian’s report after the incident.

“Yes, but it seemed to hate the light. When I used my ability, it disappeared entirely.”

“It hates light?”

“Yes,” Thiel confirmed with a nod.

Alpheus and Wilhelm exchanged a quick glance before turning their attention back to Thiel.

“Go on,” Alpheus urged.

“So, I got rid of it, but…” Thiel trailed off, hesitating as she touched her own neck.

“There was a strange mark left on Ian’s neck.”

“A mark?”

“Yes, it was shaped like a fish, and… I tried to rub it off, but it wouldn’t disappear.”

“A fish?”

Alpheus’s eyes widened in shock, nearly bulging out of his head. Gripping Thiel’s hands tightly, his voice trembled as he asked, “Tell me… the mark didn’t glow, did it?”

“H-how did you know?”

Thiel gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. Alpheus’s face turned pale as he clutched her hands tighter.

“Tell me it’s not true.”

“What…?”

“Say it’s not true!”

Confused, Thiel looked up at Emperor Wilhelm. The Emperor avoided her gaze, running a hand down his face in frustration.

‘Why are they acting like this?’

Feeling uneasy, Thiel whispered to Alpheus.

“Grandfather… did I do something wrong?”

“Thiel.”

Alpheus called her name softly, his voice heavy with a mix of despair and resignation. His trembling gaze met hers as he explained,

“That’s… an imprint.”

“An… imprint?”

“You and the Crown Prince have imprinted on each other.”

This was the very situation Alpheus had desperately wanted to avoid. After Thiel and Ian returned safely, Alpheus had gone to Wilhelm, declaring firmly that under no circumstances would his granddaughter become the Crown Princess.

And yet, the children had gone into the spatial dimension and somehow completed an imprinting bond on their own, emerging with it already done.

Alpheus felt his world spinning as he stumbled to his feet.

“Where are you going?” Wilhelm asked.

“I must see the Crown Prince… to confirm this.”

Grinding his teeth, Alpheus stalked out of the room. Wilhelm, unable to find the words to stop him, simply nodded.

“You should rest,” the Emperor said to Thiel.

“I’m fine! Let me come too!” Thiel exclaimed, bouncing off the bed.

“Look, I’m completely fine!”

She jumped up and down to demonstrate her energy. Wilhelm, looking slightly defeated, sighed and nodded.

“…Very well.”

Together, the three of them—Alpheus, Wilhelm, and Thiel—made their way to Ian’s room.

As they approached, Thiel tugged on Wilhelm’s sleeve.

“Your Majesty, has Ian woken up yet?”

“No. The physician said the shock was too great, and he’s unlikely to wake for some time. Fortunately, his body is unharmed.”

Muttering under his breath, Wilhelm added, “Now I understand why…”

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Nothing.” Wilhelm cleared his throat.

At the entrance to Ian’s chamber, the imperial guards opened the doors, revealing a spacious room with an enormous bed at its center. Ian lay still, as pale as if he were dead.

The three approached the bed quietly.

Alpheus glanced at Wilhelm, who nodded silently.

With deliberate care, Alpheus rolled Ian onto his side and examined his neck.

As Thiel had described, a glowing fish-shaped mark was visible on Ian’s skin.

Seeing the mark, both Alpheus and Wilhelm’s faces turned ashen.

“Thiel, come here,” Alpheus said, beckoning his granddaughter.

Nodding hesitantly, Thiel stepped forward and stood beside him.

“Touch it,” Alpheus instructed.

“Touch… it?”

“Yes.”

Without questioning further, Thiel reached out and pressed her small hand to Ian’s neck.

Instantly, the mark reacted, glowing even brighter in response to her touch.

Unlike when they were trapped in the spatial dimension, the mark now pulsed vividly, almost as if it was acknowledging her presence.

“…Oh.”

Thiel blinked in awe, her large eyes darting between her hand and the shimmering mark.

 


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