Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Startled by the sound outside the door, Tiel shrank back, hunching her shoulders as if to protect herself.

Her trembling shoulders visibly shook, a clear indication of her fear.

"Hide for a moment. Do you know how to transform into your beast form?"

Ian grabbed Tiel's frail shoulders and asked urgently.

Tiel nodded, her body trembling. Lowering his voice so the person outside couldn’t hear, Ian whispered into her ear.

"Then transform and hide under the bed."

Still shaking, the girl took a step back, placing the blanket she was holding onto the floor.

Then, with a swift turn in mid-air, the small girl disappeared, leaving behind only a terrified snow leopard in her place.

"Hurry!"

Ian mouthed the words silently, urging her on.

The snow leopard clamped its jaws around the blanket, dragging it with her as she slid under the bed.

However, perhaps due to her tension, her tail stuck out slightly from beneath the bed.

Noticing the exposed tail, Ian quickly moved to tuck it back under the bed and adjusted the blanket so it appeared as if it had been carelessly displaced during sleep.

To the casual observer, it looked entirely ordinary.

Finally, Ian smoothed out his crumpled nightclothes and opened the door.

Creak—

Standing in the half-open doorway was a man, and Ian frowned upon seeing him.

"Cedric Yovino."

When Ian called his name, the man gave a small bow in response rather than speaking.

"What brings you here at this late hour?"

Ian scanned the area quickly to confirm no one else was around before questioning Cedric.

Cedric, his expression troubled, lowered his voice as he replied to Ian.

"Forgive the intrusion, Your Highness."

His whisper was so quiet that only Ian and Cedric could hear.

The reason for their discretion was simple: Ian was not visiting the Nestian estate as the Crown Prince.

Ian Dross Crasion.

The Emperor had sent him on a covert mission, saying, "You should personally choose your bride."

Following the Emperor's orders to quietly assess the qualifications of potential brides, Ian had planned to leave the estate just as quietly.

That was until the snow leopard had burst into his room.

So much for leaving quietly.

Ian sighed and let Cedric into the room.

The servants of the estate were already gathered at the annex entrance, peering inside. If they overheard Cedric addressing Ian as "Your Highness," things could become troublesome.

"State your business and leave."

Ian’s tone was sharp. Cedric bowed his head before speaking.

"It seems a maid has escaped from the estate."

"A maid?"

"Yes, a young one. Apparently, she is mentally unwell, and while being watched over, she managed to escape. The servants claim they saw her running into the annex."

Ian scoffed quietly.

White hair like snow—anyone who saw it would immediately recognize it as a snow leopard's trademark. A young maid, they said?

Though Ian wasn’t entirely sure what had happened within the estate, it was clear the situation wasn’t normal. His expression hardened as he replied.

"Is that so? A young maid... I haven’t seen her, so I wouldn’t know. If you’re truly concerned, let them search the annex. Except for my room and yours."

Ian spoke firmly.

As Cedric bowed his head, his gaze caught on Ian’s damp sleeve.

Finding it unusual, Cedric lifted his head. The typically orderly Ian now stood in a disheveled bedroom, as if someone had broken in.

But Cedric said nothing, deciding to step back instead.

"I’ll pass along your instructions. Rest well, Your Highness."

Placing a hand over his chest, Cedric bowed deeply.

Ian, waving him off with disinterest, nodded curtly. Cedric closed the door and left.

From outside, muffled voices could be heard, followed by a sudden commotion as the area grew noisy.

Ian locked the door to ensure no one else could enter.

***

The noise outside gradually subsided. It seemed the estate’s servants, who had been searching the annex for some time, had finally left.

Thanks to Cedric’s declaration that no maids were in either Ian’s or his own quarters, the servants hadn’t dared step into Ian’s room.

Ian pulled back the blanket and spoke.

"You can come out now."

At his words, Tiel cautiously peeked her head out.

The thorough cleaning by the Nestian servants had left the underside of the bed spotless, so despite hiding there, no dust clung to her.

Tiel glanced around nervously. At the sound of something loud outside, she quickly retreated under the bed again.

I can’t get caught. I absolutely can’t.

If she were caught, Zaira’s threat about locking her behind a bolted door might come true.

If that happened, her chance to escape would be gone forever. Without any abilities to rely on, she’d be utterly trapped.

The thought of being locked away and dying a month later made the fur on her body stand on end.

"Why are you going back in after I told you it’s okay to come out?"

Ian scolded her, annoyed.

Reaching under the bed, he carefully grabbed the small snow leopard and gently lifted her out.

Placing her on the bed, Ian watched as Tiel’s wide eyes stared at him.

"Now, tell me again—why are you running away?"

Tiel shook her head vigorously.

If she spoke now, the servants roaming outside might overhear.

Based on what she had overheard from Ian and Cedric’s conversation earlier, the boy before her was someone of considerable importance. But that didn’t mean she could trust him to protect her.

As Tiel clamped her mouth shut, refusing to speak, Ian sighed.

"Fine. For now, revert back to your human form."

Tiel obediently reverted to her human form as Ian had instructed. The girl, dressed in a tattered nightgown, appeared on the bed with a faint shimmer.

"The servants are gone. It's just you and me now, so speak clearly. What's going on? And more importantly, are you really a maid of this household?" Ian asked, crossing his arms as he looked down at her.

Tiel shook her head.

A maid? That was absurd.

Although her hair wasn't as strikingly beautiful as Rowen's silver locks, Tiel's white hair was undeniably the symbol of the snow leopards.

And this boy even saw me in my beast form...

Only direct descendants of the Nestian family could be born as snow leopards. There was no way he wouldn’t know that. Shaking her head again, Tiel hesitantly opened her mouth.

"…I—I am the daughter of the Nestian family."

Ian let out a mocking laugh.

"I know that already. I saw your beast form. What I'm asking is why you're running away and why they’re introducing you as a maid."

Tiel hesitated, unsure of where to start or how much she should reveal.

How much should I say? That my grandfather wants to kill me?@@novelbin@@

She decided against it. If she said her grandfather was trying to kill her, the boy in front of her might actually think she was the "insane maid" the servants described.

So, she chose to leave that part out.

"…My grandfather considers me a disgrace to the family. I wasn’t born with any abilities… and my appearance is lacking…"

"That’s why they’re calling you a maid," Ian said, scrutinizing her with a glance. Feeling his gaze, Tiel nervously swallowed before continuing.

"I’ve been confined since birth, so…"

As she spoke, Ian suddenly pulled her into his arms. While Tiel blinked in confusion, the boy lifted her thin nightgown, exposing her delicate skin covered with scars.

There were old scars and more recent ones, varying in shape and size.

Tiel's face flushed bright red as she realized Ian was examining her injuries.

But Ian, unfazed, simply inspected the scars with an expression that grew colder and colder.

"So, that’s why you were trying to run away—because the commotion from the guests gave you a chance."

"Yes," Tiel nodded.

"And what were you planning to do after escaping the estate? You wouldn’t last long on your own."

Tiel hesitated.

She did have a destination in mind, but even there, she doubted she’d be welcomed. She wrestled with whether to tell the boy in front of her.

"…The Asterian family…"

"Asterian? Why would a snow leopard go there?"

"Ah, my father is part of the Black Leopard clan…"

Tiel’s voice broke, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

Hearing her reply, Ian’s eyes widened, and he stared at her face again before letting out a dry laugh and covering his mouth with one hand.

What did I miss?

Tiel, unaware of Ian’s thoughts, could only watch his reaction anxiously.

"I can’t believe I just figured this out now…"

Ian examined her face again, then placed the bundled blanket back into her arms.

Caught off guard by the sudden action, Tiel’s small frame wobbled slightly.

"How exactly were you planning to get to the Asterian family?"

"I was going to take a carriage… and use this…" Tiel unwrapped the blanket to reveal a few coins and a single fountain pen, items she had stolen from Chender’s study.

Tiel didn’t know, but those coins and the pen weren’t worth much. Chender Nestian would never leave valuable items in a study that was open to everyone.

Ian stared at the coins with a flat expression before pushing Tiel gently back onto the bed.

"That won’t even get you out of Nestian territory. Forget it. I’ll take you there myself."

"What?" Tiel’s eyes widened in shock.

"I said I’ll take you to the Asterian family," Ian repeated.

"Really…?" Tiel asked cautiously, her tear-streaked face full of doubt.

"Yes, really. You’ve been deceived too many times, haven’t you?"

Ian replied with a tone of annoyance, scratching his head before lightly tapping Tiel’s forehead, guiding her to lie back down.

"…?"

Still bewildered, Tiel lay on Ian’s bed. She tried to get back up, but his hand stopped her.

"Just rest for now. If you’re too tired to get up tomorrow, I won’t take you anywhere," Ian said bluntly as he pulled the blanket over her small frame.

Tiel nodded repeatedly, her golden eyes sparkling with gratitude. Grasping the hem of Ian’s robe, she spoke softly.

"Um… Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this kindness…"

"Kindness, huh."

"Still… you’re the one who saved my life. May I know your name?"

Tiel’s tearful, golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight, making them appear even brighter in the dark.

Ian stared at her face, seemingly conflicted, before rubbing his face with one hand and answering slowly.

"…Ian Dross Crasion. Just call me Ian."

Hearing her savior’s name, Tiel’s eyes widened in surprise.