Previously
Cassius feeds Thiel cake and cocoa, finding joy in his new role as a father while Thiel experiences the novelty of being cared for. Later, Alphris confronts Cassius for breaking their pact to give Thiel space, but their conversation turns serious regarding Thiel's low self-esteem caused by Sinder Nestian.
Astrian and Nestian both belonged to the Leopard Clan, their territories sharing a border.
Consequently, interactions between the two families were frequent.
As the current leading and most powerful house of the Leopard Clan, Astrian supplied Nestian with provisions and resources, and the trade routes cutting through Astrian lands allowed Nestian to export its minerals to other territories.
And yet…
Sinder slammed his fist onto the wooden desk in fury, veins bulging along his neck and forehead.
Never once had Astrian severed trade routes or cut off supplies with such hostility, no matter what Nestian had done!
It had always been treated as an unspoken agreement.
Seeing Sinder’s wrathful expression, his advisor, Stanley, squeezed his eyes shut, hoping the storm would pass quickly, before opening them again.
Sinder snatched the letter from Stanley’s grasp. The sudden tug knocked Stanley back a step, though he quickly regained his balance and straightened.
Sinder tore the wax seal from the letter and unfolded it.
Across the smooth surface of the custom-made stationery—soft as silk yet bordered by deckled edges—sat a vivid red seal, proof that the master of Astrian had penned the letter himself.
Sinder hastily began to read.
Before long, his face turned deathly pale, as if frozen solid.
The contents of the letter were nothing short of shocking.
In the missive sent by Astrian, it was plainly stated that Thiel, who had gone missing from Nestian not long ago, was currently staying at Astrian, and that they would continue to raise her.
Unable to believe the words before him, Sinder read the same passage over and over.
No matter how many times he looked, it unmistakably spoke of that half-breed child, Thiel.
Sinder stared at the letter, dumbfounded.
How in the world had Thiel ended up at Astrian?
Though Nestian and Astrian shared a border, traveling from the Nestian manor to the Astrian estate took more than a week by carriage.
Making the journey on foot was simply impossible. Crossing Nestian’s snowy plains and Astrian’s harsh desert on foot was utterly out of the question.
In that moment, the day Thiel vanished flashed through Sinder’s mind. It was the very day guests from the Imperial Palace had visited the Nestian estate.
‘It can’t be.’
Thiel had disappeared near the guest annex where the imperial delegation was staying, and the memory of foregoing a thorough search of those quarters out of fear of causing an incident now rushed back to him.
The timing matched perfectly. Thiel had clearly snuck aboard the imperial carriage to flee Nestian.
Gritting his teeth in fury, Sinder slammed the table once more.
The letter fluttered to the floor. Sinder dug his sharp nails into his palms until it stung, but he paid the pain no mind.
He should have killed Thiel long ago.
He should have ended her life when she was nothing more than an infant.
Yet even after he spared her out of respect for their shared bloodline, that wretched little brat had now blocked Nestian’s path.
With the overland trade routes severed, Nestian would have to attempt commerce by sea.
The costs incurred in that process would be astronomical, and having their supplies cut off would bring dire consequences.
Sinder clenched his fists tighter.
The losses were far too great, all because of that one girl.
Stanley bowed his head awkwardly at Sinder’s roar.
Right then, the study door swung open, and Rowen barged in, tears spilling from her wide eyes.
It seemed Rowen had been eavesdropping outside the study door.
For a moment, both Sinder and Stanley looked upon the weeping child with sympathy.
When Sinder barked back in anger, Rowen froze in place, overcome with fear.
"…"
Staring at Sinder, she quickly turned on her heel and fled the study.
Dealing with the mess Thiel had left behind was already giving him a headache, so why was Rowen being especially stubborn today?
Sinder dragged a rough hand down his face, letting out a weary sigh.
Silence settled heavily over the room.
"…!"
Thiel hid behind the wide folds of Leah’s skirt, her body completely concealed except for her head peeking out. She watched Alvinus with wary eyes.
‘Cassius was right. The child is exceptionally guarded around strangers.’
Alvinus pulled back his outstretched hand with an awkward chuckle.
Leah gently patted Thiel’s back and spoke softly.
Thiel nodded. She knew Alvinus was her biological grandfather, and yet…
‘…I’m scared!’
To Thiel’s eyes, Alvinus bore an eerie resemblance to Sinder.
Upon closer inspection, they shared no traits in power or temperament, but through the eyes of a seven-year-old child, they seemed identical.
The mere fact that they were both old men was enough to link them in her mind.
‘I know he’s a good person.’
Just yesterday, she had planned to tell him, ‘Thank you for giving me such a lovely room.’
Was it because of her grandfather Sinder’s cruelty? Whenever she saw someone of Sinder’s age, terror seized her chest.
Unable to bring herself closer to Alvinus, Thiel merely peeked at him from behind Leah’s voluminous skirt.
Alvinus looked downcast as he watched Thiel, but then he suddenly remembered something and clapped his hands together.
Alvinus’s voice rang with eager excitement.
At his call, the servants began carrying large presents into the room, one after another.
The boxes, tied with exquisite ribbons, came in an assortment of shapes and sizes. Some were small enough to reach Thiel’s knees, while others stood taller than her.
Piqued by curiosity at the sight of the dazzling array, Thiel peered out a little further from behind Leah’s skirt.
‘They look like the ones Rowen used to receive.’
They were just like the presents Rowen had received on every one of her birthdays.
Rowen had always received gifts like these from Sinder.
Naturally, Thiel had never received anything of the sort…
Alvinus proudly gestured toward the room full of wrapped boxes.
From what he had heard, Cassius had gifted Thiel a precious suncatcher, but Alvinus was confident she would prefer these toys over any crystal.
Children her age naturally favored toys over gems.
That was why, on the very day Thiel first arrived at the palace, Alvinus had been so enchanted by her sparkling eyes and curly white hair that he sought out the master toy makers and placed a lavish commission for his granddaughter.
Not once had he ever doubted she was his granddaughter.
It was only natural. Thiel’s face was the spitting image of Cassius when he was a boy.
Leah gently took Thiel’s hand and whispered warmly, coaxing the child.
Thiel nodded eagerly. Leah led her by the hand to sit on the soft carpet and was just about to pull the ribbon on one of the boxes when…
Alvinus hurriedly cut in, sitting down beside Thiel and taking the gift box into his own hands.
Thiel stiffened for a second, but her apprehension soon gave way to curiosity about what lay inside.
Alvinus tugged the ribbon free, loosened the knot, and handed the box back to Thiel.
Thiel glanced around timidly before lifting the lid off the large box.
As the lid came off, what rested inside was…
"…!"
A large stuffed black cat, its eyes set with brilliant yellow sapphires.
At the sight of the grand plush cat, a shy smile blossomed on Thiel’s face, accompanied by a soft giggle.