The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family-Chapter 107

"I've prepared it carefully. Please, help yourselves."

Iris smiled as she offered the food. Her tone was incredibly gentle and soft, so Tiel nodded and picked up her fork without any suspicion.

"Yes...!"

The food on the Arne dining table was mostly fresh vegetables and fruits, which was a stark contrast to the meat-heavy meals usually served at the Asterian estate.

Tiel poked at the salad near her with her fork and took a big bite.

The fresh taste spread quickly in her mouth. The vegetables and fruits grown by Arne were so delicious that they were even exported to other regions. So, eating vegetables directly from Arne's estate was an exceptional treat.

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‘This is so delicious!’

Tiel quickly devoured the cherry tomatoes and celery stalks in front of her. Seeing how much she was enjoying her meal, Ludian served some of his salad onto Tiel's plate.

"Is it delicious? You're eating so well!"

"Yes, it's so good! Big brother, you should try it too."

"Tiel, I... actually prefer meat more than vegetables... Ugh!"

"Stop talking and eat!"

Olivia playfully shoved a piece of sweet potato with honey into Ludian's mouth. Ludian glared at Olivia while chewing the sweet potato.

"I'll handle it... huh? This is really good?"

"Isn't it? How often do you get to enjoy such fresh food from Arne? Be grateful and eat!"

Olivia said proudly. After chewing and swallowing the sweet potato, Ludian moved a chunk of another dish onto his plate. He found Arne’s cooking quite to his taste.

"Ludian, chew slowly and thoroughly."

"Ferdie! Do you think I'm still a seven-year-old child?"

Ludian and Ferdie continued their light conversation while eating. Ian, without saying a word, ate his share of the food. Clemence and Olivia exchanged occasional light banter.

In the midst of it all, Tiel ate the food her siblings served her like a baby bird, and before long, her belly was round and full.

‘Ugh, I’m so full...’

Tiel patted her round belly and dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Ludian, who had been watching her, took the napkin from her hands.

"Come here, I'll clean you up."

"Ugh?"

Ludian took the napkin from Tiel’s hands and gently wiped her mouth. His touch was clumsy, but Tiel could feel he was being as careful as he could.

Tiel, with her face resting in his hand, blinked her eyes.

"All done."

"?"

Of course, due to his clumsy touch, when he lowered the napkin, Tiel's lips were slightly puffed up.

Until now, it had always been Ferdie or Olivia who wiped Tiel's mouth, so she hadn’t had to rely on Ludian for this task...

‘He was kind, but... I should ask Ferdie next time.’

Tiel quietly made that decision in her mind. Ludian was definitely kind and gentle, but not the most careful of older brothers...

"Did you enjoy Arne’s food?"

Iris asked as she looked at Tiel. Her gaze was incredibly warm and kind, almost as if she wanted to embrace Tiel right then and there. Tiel nodded and answered.

"Yes, it was really delicious. Truly the best, thank you for offering such wonderful food."

"Hehe, no need to thank me. Tomorrow, there will be even more amazing dishes. I’ve ordered a grand feast to be prepared. I hear the young lady has started her shedding?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"You’ve started shedding early. Usually, children start shedding at eight or nine years old, sometimes even at ten... In Arne, it's said that those who start shedding early grow up to be very wise and excellent. The young lady will grow into a very wise and wonderful adult..."

‘Adult.’

Tiel carefully repeated the word "adult" in her mind. Strangely, it felt a little bitter.

‘...I wanted to be an adult.’

When she was trapped in the attic of the Nestian estate, Tiel’s dream had been to grow up. More accurately, to survive long enough to grow up. To survive and escape the Nestian estate...

At the time, it seemed like such a big dream that she didn’t even dare speak it aloud, keeping it deep within her heart.

"I’m already looking forward to the day you become an adult, young lady."

At Iris’s words, Tiel smiled brightly, a smile as clear and bright as the afternoon sun, without a trace of bitterness.

"Thank you, Lady Iris!"

"No need to thank me, little sunbeam of a young lady."

Iris responded warmly with a smile. Tiel’s heart filled with soft, sweet feelings. It was a very pleasant and satisfying sensation.

***

"We have to leave now? I can hardly understand what you're saying, repeat that properly."

Iris asked sharply. The commander of Arne’s knights, kneeling on one knee in front of Iris, lowered his head as he responded.

"The weather is worsening, and soon the river will freeze over. We won’t be able to send a boat out then. You must depart before the weather gets worse."

There was only one way to reach the land where morning does not come. Cross the Ocean River.

"Why not wait until the river freezes?"

"Lady Iris..."

The knight commander raised his head. The suggestion to wait for the river to freeze meant leaving the children in Arne until the river froze, which would take more than two months.

"We can’t afford to delay that much. The Crown Prince, the direct heirs of Asterian, and the successor of Wolfgang are here. If we stay in Arne for more than two months, there could be problems."

Iris, who faintly understood that her words were unreasonable, snorted and turned her head.

"So what you mean is, we should leave tonight and launch the boat tomorrow?"

"Yes, otherwise we won’t be able to launch the boat. As you know, the current of the Ocean River is very unpredictable and irregular. If we delay further, it may be difficult to return."

"Hmm..."

...It was fascinating. Iris murmured quietly as she listened to the knight commander.

There were only two times a year when one could cross the Ocean River.

Once when the current calms down, and once when the river freezes and one can walk across the ice.

For the latter, the freezing weather can be anticipated, but for the former, it is unpredictable. The current calming period changes every time.

But this time, the river had calmed right when the children arrived, almost as if it had been timed. Iris was truly amazed. Could it be that Rysse, the God of the Morning, is guiding their path?

After a moment of contemplation, Iris quietly asked the knight commander.

"Is everything ready? Can we just load them onto the boat and depart?"

"Yes. We’ve prepared a large, sturdy boat, so crossing the Ocean River shouldn’t be a problem..."

"Then we’ll do as you say. It’s a shame that the children have only been here for a few days."

Iris stood up, and as she did, the veils around her body fluttered softly. The knight commander responded with a respectful bow.

"Prepare the river crossing. I will go explain the situation to the children and get them ready..."

"Understood."

The knight commander bowed his head.

***

"Now?"

Olivia opened her eyes wide upon hearing the news. Clemence was equally surprised. The girl, trying to recall the earlier conversation, spoke to Iris.

"You said there would be time... didn’t you? The river just calmed down a week ago, so we should have about two more weeks to prepare..."

"That's what I said. But according to the knight commander, the river's current is especially unpredictable this time, and it might freeze earlier than expected. So, if we are leaving, we must go now. We must also think about returning..."

Iris spoke to Clemence in a gentle, coaxing tone.