Previously
Thiel asks Birdie to accompany her to meet Ian, causing Birdie to exclude Lodian from the meeting under the guise of Academy duties. Lodian reflects on how Birdie’s coldness toward Thiel is actually a defense mechanism for his perfectionism and fear of her fragility.
Inside the drawing room of the Asterian estate.
Ian’s eyes turned toward Thiel. Thiel nodded shyly and smiled.
Ian then continued:
When Ian clapped his hands, servants entered one after another, setting up a temporary wardrobe in the room and hanging dresses of various colors inside.
It wasn't just a single dress.
"……?"
One, two, three…
Thiel’s eyes widened in shock, while Birdie narrowed his eyes at the seemingly endless stream of dresses.
Even at a glance, the dresses looked exceedingly expensive.
Thiel’s mouth fell slightly agape at Ian’s unexpected gift.
The gifts she had received during her few days at Asterian were far more numerous than all the presents Rowen had received over the past seven years…
Just as she was wondering what to say about the mountain of dresses, Birdie spoke up first.
Ian sneered.
His words carried the unspoken jab: ‘You didn’t even know she was wearing worn-out rags and being mistreated all this time.’ Why bring that up now?
Thiel swallowed hard, looked at Ian’s gifts, and soon rose to walk over to them.
"……".
"……".
Both Ian and Birdie turned their heads and watched her quietly.
Thiel inspected the hanging dresses closely and picked out one of the simplest ones.
"……?"
Thiel bowed her head, clutching the dress tightly in her arms.
Ian covered his mouth and chuckled at her behavior.
Ian shifted his gaze toward Birdie, then back to Thiel.
Thiel blinked in wonder.
She had already received more than enough, so why would even more gifts arrive?
It felt utterly unfamiliar and overwhelming to her.
Back in Nestian, Thiel had never received a single gift, and Rowen had only received them when Sinder was in a good mood or on special occasions.
Thiel looked up at Birdie with a bewildered expression.
Birdie smiled gently and patted her head.
At Birdie’s gentle explanation, Thiel closed her mouth and nodded as if she finally understood.
The battle of nerves between Birdie and Ian reignited.
Caught in the middle, Thiel looked unsettled and uncomfortable.
Ian said this as he reached for Thiel, who was still standing awkwardly with the dress clutched in her arms, and pulled her down to sit beside him.
Birdie’s face instantly stiffened at Ian’s words.
Thiel squirmed, unable to slip out of Ian’s embrace or sit comfortably.
Thiel flinched at Ian’s words.
She buried her face in the dress Ian had brought her, hugging it so tightly that the fabric crumpled.
‘The paternity test results aren’t out yet…’
Throughout her journey here, Thiel had never once considered the possibility that she might not be Cassius and Lena’s daughter.
After all, she was a hybrid born with the traits of both the Snow Leopard and Black Panther clans, and Sinder had constantly complained that she was useless because her blood was tainted with Asterian blood.
Yet hearing the words ‘paternity test’ struck fear into her heart. What if…
What if she wasn’t the biological child of Lena and Cassius?
Where would she go?
Ian chuckled and looked down at Thiel. Strangely enough, in that moment, all of Thiel’s fears vanished.
Their eyes met.
For a second, Thiel forgot to breathe as she stared into Ian’s face.
Gleaming golden hair and jewel-like blue eyes. A sharp nose and a sleek jawline…
Ian was just as handsome as the last time she had seen him.
He belonged in a realm entirely apart from hers.
‘Ianthros…’
In her mind, she tried sounding out the name Ian had taught her before.
Thiel liked how his name rolled off the tongue.
Staring at Ian, she recalled the day they had first met.
‘If Ian hadn't hidden me that day…’
She would probably be locked away in that attic secured by a heavy padlock right now.
If luck hadn’t been on her side, she might have been beaten until she died.
Thiel shuddered at the thought.
She never wanted to die again. Meeting Ian had truly been a blessing.
‘I’ll never forget that day.’
That was the day Ian had rescued her from the servants, hidden her away, and promised to take her to Asterian.
While Thiel was lost in thought, her eyes fixed on Ian, Birdie—who had been watching quietly—stepped closer and pulled her into his arms.
Not long ago, Birdie had suspected she might be an impostor whose hair and eye colors had been altered with magic.
He still harbored suspicions that Thiel might have deceived the family with a ‘counterfeit power,’ yet hearing Ian say such things irritated him so much that he couldn’t hold back.
Birdie held Thiel close as he spoke, glaring past her small shoulders at Ian to provoke him.
Prompted by Birdie, Thiel shifted her large, round eyes between Birdie and Ian before stammering out an answer.
Leaning back against the sofa, Ian looked between Thiel and Birdie, letting out an incredulous laugh. Soon after, he stood up from the sofa.
Finally, Birdie set Thiel gently back on her feet.
He took the dress she was still clutching, set it down on the sofa, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
At Thiel’s call, Birdie and Ian turned to look at the little girl at the same time. Thiel looked up at Ian and spoke.
Thiel was very fond of the kind prince.
Ian had rescued her from that hell, brought her to Asterian, and even after time had passed, he hadn’t forgotten her, bringing her gifts like this.
Because of that, Thiel wanted to see him again.
Whenever she saw Ian, a strange, mysterious warmth stirred inside her.
That was why she felt a twinge of disappointment when he said he was leaving.
She wished he could have stayed just a little longer.
As if reading her thoughts, Ian chuckled softly.
“Of course. I’ll come again—when your brother isn't around.”
Ignoring Birdie’s retort, Ian took Thiel’s hand, leaned down, and lightly kissed the back of her small hand.
"……?"
"……!"
Ian gave Thiel a gentle pat on the head and walked out of the drawing room.
Left alone in the center of the large drawing room, Thiel and Birdie quietly stared at the doorway where Ian had departed.
Birdie spoke in a gentle voice, but his expression was stern.
He pulled an embroidered handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the back of Thiel’s hand.
Thiel nodded blankly.