[ LEIANA POV ]
“I see so that’s what happened. I didn’t expect Baron Gustin to be that kind of person,” Vera commented in disbelief.
“The baron sent me a letter of complaint that is why I open it. However, I didn’t believe that you would do such things without a valid reason. After all, I know you personally,” Johann said sincerely.
“Thank you, Johann…” I smiled.
“Also, mother… father…” Hebron said hesitantly.
“What is it, son?” Johann asked.
“Baron always hit me with a stick on my hand if I got a mistake. Today was excepted because Leitz is with me…” Hebron fidgeted his fingers.
Johann’s expression became dark while Vera gasped in shock.
“Hebron…” Vera faced her son who was sitting beside him. She held his small hands and kissed them.
“These precious hands of my son… I am sorry if mother didn’t protect you…”
“Why you didn’t say it before?” Johann said seriously.
“Because he said no one would believe me. That you will understand what he did to me because it was all about discipline…”
“That… Bastard…” Johann clenched his hand and gritted his teeth.
“I guess we should let Hebron enter the academy. Let’s not hired any more personal tutors for him,” Vera suggested.
“I guess you are right. We should let Hebron experience a normal student would be…” Johann agreed.
“Really? Mother? Father?” Hebron looked delighted.
“Yes, if you wanted it. After all, you are the one who insisted to be homeschooled,” Vera answered.
“Of course!” Hebron said happily.
Leitz just watching the happy complete family scenario in front of him. I’m smiling looking at how the couple and their son looked so happy. I glanced at Leitz, who is staring intently at the family across us. I suddenly felt guilty seeing my son watching a completely happy family.
My son… Are you wondering about your father now?
*****
Leitz is lying on the bed while I am sitting beside him. I am brushing Leitz’s hair gently while he is snuggling with me.
“Leitz, do you remember the story about the dragon and the princess?”
“Yes.”
“If I were the dragon and you were the princess. Will you be mad at me for keeping you locked in the dungeon?”
“Hmm…” Leitz contemplated. “If mom is the dragon and I am the princess that is being locked.”
I could not help to chuckle at how cute Leitz thinks so seriously like a grown-up man.
“I wouldn’t be mad…” Leitz looked up at me and smiled.
“Really?” I said unexpectedly.
“Yes. Because mom will take good care of me just as you did. Even though you are a dragon you will protect me and love me…” he smiled sweetly.
I poked the tip of his nose. “You are very sure about that huh…”
“Of course. Because even mom will become dragon mom is still my mom…” he snuggled tighter.
As if my heart melted at his answer. My sweet adorable son, mom will protect you no matter what. I hug him back.
“Do you hate mom for punishing you?” I asked while hugging each other, lying on the bed.
“Even though sometimes mom is so strict and scary. Mom will not be a mom if she weren’t like that,” he beamed.
“Aww…. Why does my Leitz so sweet!” hugged him tightly which made Leitz giggle.
“You are happy with mom, right?”
“Hm!” he agreed.
“You would not go look for your father, right?”
“Father?”
I flinched and felt nervous. I realized what I just said. I messed up. Why did I ask that?
“Ah… let’s sleep now, Leitz. The night is already late…”
“Goodnight mom…” kissing my cheek.
“Goodnight darling. Sweet dreams…” kissing his temple.
I closed my eyes as well as Leitz. Leitz snuggled almost wanting to be buried in my body. I chuckled and hug him. I felt relief that he let me off the hook. Sometimes Leitz can be very a nosy child.
******
The next morning, Leitz and I decided to have a stroll in the town. Leitz is holding onto my hand in order not to be separated from each other. However, his attention is caught by something that made him let go of my hand. Because when the time I glance at him, I didn’t see him where he was supposed to be.
“Leitz?” I called out looking around.
Oh, my goodness! Did I lose him? My heart started to feel nervous and worried.
[ LEITZ POV ]
I unconsciously let go of my mother’s hand and dash to a stall where there are swords.
“Mom look…” I turned around to look at her but I stop in mid-sentence when I didn’t see her.
“Mom?” I called out looking around. No matter how I roam my eyes I couldn’t see her. No, did I get separated?
I start to walk while glancing side by side. I pause when I see a man in a casual dress. He may wear a casual dress but seeing the sword on his side, means he is a knight. I couldn’t identify what family he is serving since he didn’t wear any crest of the noble family.
I clench my hands. If I wanted to find my mother quickly, I must have gotten help from this knight. In this body of mine right now, I guess I can’t do anything on my own yet.
But If I approach that knight, there will be a big chaos and a rumor spreading. What should I do? Mother will be worried about me, furthermore, someone is chasing her life. This… I didn’t know it before, I thought my mother just hiding because she wanted to hide my existence.
However, experiencing that night five years ago, I am sure that my mother hides me because someone wanted us dead. I can’t lose my mother now. Not now, that she is not using before. I don’t know what happened, but I am sure that the mother in my first life is not the same in this life.
My mother in this life is caring. She raised me with love and affection. She is warm and gentle unlike in my first life. The first one is full of hatred and agony. Mother always look wanted to get revenge and looked scared of something.
I don’t know the whole story but the mother ended up killing the duke. I thought she did it because she wanted me to inherit the title badly. But I realize it is too late, she already passed away when I learn half of the story. Mother bears a grudge toward the duke over the past years, I didn’t notice it since when I was young, she treats me coldly and when every time her attack kicks up, she will beat me out of nowhere saying why I look so much like the duke.
But in our situation now, I need the duke’s power and wealth to protect my mother. Grandpa Herwin cannot protect us much longer. We just had a peaceful life after that bloody night because he has been putting full-time security around the mansion and us. But seeing the enemies, I think it is only a matter of time then they will have their opportunity again.
If we keep on hiding, we will just be pushed into the corner. We need the power to fight back and learn who is behind this. After all, mother said…
“But you know, Leitz?”
“What is it, mom?”
“The best defense is to fight back,” she smiles at me.
Right. I should fight back. We should fight back to stay alive. Right now, I should find my mother. Who knows if assassins are waiting for an opening to attack her? I breathe in and out to calm and prepare myself. Here goes nothing, even if it feels embarrassing, I have no choice.
I start to cry like a normal child would when they got lost. I start to walk in the knight’s direction. I act like rubbing my eyes because of the tears while looking down.
“Mom…. Mom… mom….” I sniffed and cried.
I secretly glance at the knight. The knight notices and then approaches me. I caught a glimpse of his sword. I saw the symbol of the noble family crest he was serving. A crest that has a black sword and snake surrounded that sword. It is a familiar crest to me. It is so familiar that even I am having complications about whether to run away or not.
I don’t plan to go back to that mansion in this life, but I don’t have a choice. If I wanted to protect my mother, I need the duke’s power and wealth. This time, I won’t let my mother be killed… I clench my hands when I remember how did my mother die.
But seeing my mother now, she didn’t also want to be in the duke’s mansion. She’s not talking about him nor even asking me if I am curious about him. I let, my mother, decide what she wanted. All I have to do is protect her as much as I can at this moment.
In the meantime, finding my mother is more important.
“Hello, little boy…” he said gently. “Stop crying now. What is wrong?”
I lift my face and look at him. I almost gasp when I realize who is the knight, I am planning to use to find my mother. He has chestnut hair that matches his eyes. I could not be mistaken even though he looks younger than the first time I saw him.
He is Thrax Norvin, one of the vice-captains of Galhardo’s knights. Damn it! There are so many knights out there, why it should be him? Now, I am a hundred percent sure that the duke will know about me and my mother being here in the capital!
Seeing his shocked facial expressions. No, doubt he recognizes me. If he can, he will run this instant back to Galhardo’s mansion here in the capital. If he is here, I am sure that the duke is also here. Anyways, that is not the important thing here. I need to keep my act.
“Sir Knight?” I said in a cracking voice.
The knight came back to his senses. “Y… yes?” blinking his eyes and staring at me intently.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” I ask innocently.
Of course, you will shudder when you see a child who looks exactly like your master. When you didn’t know that your master has a child of his own.
“Ah… it’s because you look familiar…”
I tilted my head. I look at him innocently with an I-don’t-know-what-you’re-talking-about-look.
“Don’t mind me. However, are you lost, kiddo?”
“Yes. I got separated from my mother…” I sniff.
“I see. Should we go look for your mother together?”
“Really?” making my eyes sparkle.
“Of course…” the knight chuckled and pat my head.
“Yey!” I happily jump. I should make him carry me so that I can see search around.
I raise both of my hands in the air staring at the knight’s eyes with pleading eyes saying carry-me-look. The knight chuckled and carried me.
“What a cute kid…”
Heh! You will not say that if you will get to know me. We started to go look for my mother.
[ LEIANA POV ]
I look down to look at Leitz but he was not there where he was supposed to be.
“Leitz?” I muttered in surprise.
“Leitz!” called out while looking around.
That child again… I told him not to let go! Damn, it is also my fault. I didn’t hold him tightly. I start to feel anxious and walk again while glancing side by side.
“Leitz where are you!” I said anxiously.
After a long time of searching, I saw Leitz carried by a man. I quickly walk toward them.
“Leitz!” Leiana shouted.
I saw Leitz perk up when he heard my voice. He looked around and saw me walking faster toward them. He struggled; the knight understands what he wanted, so understands what he wanted and so he put him down.
“Mom!” he shouted back and run towards me.
Leitz and I meet and hug each other.
“My goodness, Leitz. I am so sorry for not holding your hand properly.” I push him away to check if he has no injuries. “Are you okay? I am worried.”
He giggled. “I am okay, mom!” he kissed me on my cheek. “So, don’t worry, mom. And I am sorry for letting go of your hand.”
Ahh, ~ Leitz, my ever so sweet adorable, Leitz!