CH 24

In the reception room of Asterian Mansion.

“Have you gained some weight? When I first saw you, you were a pitiful scarecrow, but now you look somewhat presentable.”

Ian’s gaze turned towards Thiel, who timidly nodded and smiled.

“Yes, thanks to your kind treatment in Asterian-”

“It’s good to see you doing well. I felt bothered that we didn’t properly say goodbye.”

Ian snapped his fingers.

“There’s also a gift for you.”

As Ian snapped his fingers, attendants entered one by one, setting up a temporary wardrobe and hanging dresses inside the room.

But it wasn’t just one dress.

“…?”

One dress, two dresses, and three dresses… Thiel’s eyes widened as the endless stream of dresses kept coming in.

At a glance, they looked incredibly expensive.

Thiel’s mouth opened slightly in surprise at Ian’s sudden gift.

Just considering the gifts Thiel had received during their stay in Asterian, it seemed like they received more than Rowan had received in the past seven years…

As Thiel was contemplating how to respond to the pile of dresses, Perdi was the first to speak up.

“Thank you, Ian. But dresses can be bought in Asterian as well.”

“When we first met, you were wearing such a worn-out dress that it was hard to tell if it was clothes or rags.”

Ian murmured.

It was a mocking laugh that conveyed the meaning of, “You didn’t even know that you were living in shabby clothes and receiving such treatment until now.”

Swallowing her saliva, Thiel looked at Ian’s gift and then stood up, walking towards the wardrobe.

“…”

“…”

Ian and Perdi turned their heads and quietly observed Thiel’s actions. Thiel carefully examined the dresses hanging there and picked up the simplest dress.

“Thank you for the gift… but it feels like too much. Just one of these will be enough-”

“…?”

“T-Thank you!”

With the dress tightly hugged to her chest, Thiel bowed her head.

Ian covered his mouth, suppressing a hollow laugh.

“So, Thiel, are you saying that you want me to be the guy who just gives the youngest daughter of the Asterian family a single dress and calls it a gift?”

“Yes, yes? N-No, that’s not what I meant!”

“If you don’t want that, then take them all. It doesn’t cost much anyway. Of course, your older brothers can buy you as many as you want too, but…”

Ian’s gaze shifted towards Perdi before returning to Thiel.

“I felt guilty for only being able to buy you one last time.”

“… Ah.”

“So, take it. Soon, you’ll be receiving many gifts like this, so it’s better to get used to it. Let’s practice accepting these gifts without feeling overwhelmed.”

“So, these kinds of gifts will be coming in large numbers?”

Thiel blinked. She had already received plenty of gifts, and now there would be more? It was bewildering for Thiel.

It was understandable because she had never received a gift in Nestian, and Rowan only received gifts on special occasions or when she was in a good mood.

Thiel looked up at Perdi with a confused expression.

Perdi smiled gently and gently stroked Thiel’s head.

“Although they haven’t officially announced that you’re the youngest daughter of Asterian yet, once they do, gifts will come from all directions.”

To make a good impression in Asterian. Among them, there would be dresses like these or jewelry.

Understanding Perdi’s kind explanation, Thiel finally closed her mouth and nodded.

“Oh, so…”

“Yes, that’s why… It’s good to get used to these kinds of gifts. Compared to the gifts you will receive in the future, these are not that extravagant.”

“Haha, you’re openly mocking me. This is not a gift from the Krasion Royal Family but a personal gift from me. I wish you wouldn’t mock me like that, Perdi.”

The mental battle between Ian and Perdi began again.

Thiel, who had innocently squeezed herself between them, looked uneasy.

“P-Please don’t fight!”

“Thiel, we’re not fighting. I just mentioned that the gifts were a bit disappointing compared to what His Highness the Crown Prince himself would give.”

“Perhaps for the sake of the child’s education, it would be better if you weren’t at the mansion. How about leaving to the academy for now?”

Ian grabbed Thiel, who was still hugging the dress, and pulled her into his side, sitting her down.

“I should have taken her with me. Perdi, Ludian, I momentarily forgot that you could have a negative influence on the child.”

Perdi’s expression hardened at Ian’s words.

Thiel neither escaped from Ian’s embrace nor sat comfortably, but instead straightened her body.

“Um…”

“Is His Highness the Crown Prince declaring the kidnapping of the youngest of Asterian, your highness?”

“So what if I am? The results of the kinship test haven’t come out yet, have they?”

Thiel’s body trembled at Ian’s words.

Thiel buried her face in the dress Ian had given her, hugging it tightly as if it would wrinkle.

‘The results of the kinship test haven’t come out yet…’

Throughout her journey here, Thiel had never once considered the possibility that she might not be the daughter of Cassius and Lena.

That was understandable. Thiel was a half-breed, a mutant born with the characteristics of snow leopards and black leopard, and Zender always reasoned that she was born useless because her blood was mixed with the blood of the Asterian family.

But now, hearing the words “kinship test,” fear suddenly gripped her. What if, by any chance…

If I’m not the rightful kin, where should I go?

“If there’s a kinship mismatch, let me know. A small and cute one like you, I’m sure you’ll be useful whenever I take you.”

At that moment, Ian looked at Thiel with a mischievous smile. Strangely enough, all of Thiel’s anxiety melted away.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, Thiel forgot to breathe as he looked at Ian’s face.

Bright golden hair, emerald gemstone symbolizing royal bloodlines. A sharp nose and a smooth jawline…

Ian, whom Thiel met again, was just as beautiful as he was back then.

Beyond comparison with Thiel herself.

“Ianthros…”

Thiel silently pronounced the name Ian had taught him before.

The round pronunciation that required rolling the tongue felt pleasant to him. Thiel stared at Ian and recalled the day they first met.

‘If Ian hadn’t hidden me that day…’

She would probably be locked up in a large attic room with a heavy lock by now.

If luck was against her, she might have been severely beaten and even killed.

Thiel shuddered at the horrific imagination.

She didn’t want to die again. Meeting Ian was truly… a stroke of great fortune.

‘I will never forget that day.’

The day, Ian saved her from the pursuers and promised to take her to Asterian.

Lost in her thoughts, Thiel was unaware that Perdie, who had been silently observing her, approached and hugged her tightly.

“Don’t worry, Ianthros. There’s no need for that. Hair and eyes. That’s a common trait, you know?”

Regarding the topic that until recently she thought might be a fake created by divine power, changing hair and eye color.

It was ridiculous for Thiel to get annoyed with herself for still thinking that Ian deceived her family with “fake abilities,” but she couldn’t help it.

“Thiel, if anyone tries to take you away, you should say you don’t want to go.”

“Yes, yes? But Ian is a guest at the mansion…”

“It doesn’t matter who it is. If someone tries to take you away, say you don’t want to go. Got it?”

Yes!”

“Then say it now.”

Perdi hugged Thiel and spoke, looking past her small shoulders and teasing Ian.

“I don’t want to go.”

Perdi’s composure made Thiel roll her large eyes, glancing between Perdie and Ian, and hesitantly replied.

“Um, I… don’t want to?”

“Good.”

Ian, sitting on the sofa, looked at Thiel and Perdi and laughed as if he couldn’t believe it. Then he stood up.

“I’m leaving now, so stop treating me like an intruder, Perdi. Sometimes you seem to forget who I really am.”

“Haha, as if I could forget the status of His Highness the Crown Prince. I just happen to know my place.”

Finally, Perdi gently put Thiel down.

Leaving the dress he had been holding in his hands, he hastily put it on Thiel’s shoulders and placed her hand on Thiel’s shoulder.

“Well then, Thiel. You should bid farewell to the guest.”

“Uh, Ian!”

At Thiel’s call, both Perdi and Ian turned to the small child. Thiel looked up at Ian and opened her mouth.

“Um… Will you… come again next time?”

Thiel liked kind Ian.

Ian rescued her from that hell, brought her to the warm Asterian, and even sent her gifts without forgetting her as time passed.

So, she wanted to meet him again.

Whenever she saw Ian, she felt a strange, fuzzy feeling inside.

That’s why she felt a little disappointed when he said he was leaving now.

Perhaps sensing Thiel’s heart, Ian smiled faintly.

“Yeah, I’ll come again. When your brother isn’t around.”

“What mischief are you planning to do to my little sister when I’m not here-“

“I’ll be waiting. Next time, I’ll bring an even better gift

“…”

Ignoring Perdi’s words lightly, Ian lightly held Thiel’s hand and gently kissed the back of her small hand.

“…?”

“…!”

“See you next time, Thiel.””

After ruffling Thiel’s hair, Ian left the parlor.

In the middle of the spacious parlor, only Thiel and Perdi remained, silently watching the spot where Ian had left.

”Uh…”

“Say you don’t want to, Thiel.”

Perdi spoke in a gentle tone, but her expression was stern.

He took out an embroidered handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the back of Thiel’s hand.

“Got it?”

“Yes, yes.”

Thiel nodded her head in a daze.