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“I reached my limit.”
A cold voice resounded throughout the place.
Leo and Onito were both startled when they heard that, so they turned to the side and saw a normal-looking young man walking down the street. The young man had black hair, his eyes were gray and he was dressed in black clothes.
“W-who are you!?” – Shouted Onito, in a threatening, but also frightened, tone.
But even after Onito yelled at him, the young man’s gait didn’t falter. He just kept walking down the street while releasing a lot of killing intent on his surroundings.
“N-no way! Is he-!” – Whispered Kai, with a relieved expression on his face.
Chris looked to the side with a questioning look on her face, but before she could ask Kai if he knew the young man, the person in question said–
“–If I’m not mistaken, the girl already said she’d give you some coins, right? So why are you shouting at her, huh? Shouldn’t you pick it up and leave this place, before something happens to you?”
“D-d-don’t f**k with me!!!” – Said Onito, as he tried to punch the young man on the face.
The onlookers thought the fight would be over with that, after all, Onito wasn’t just the boss of a criminal organisation, he also had the strength and the muscles to back his authority. However, to everyone’s surprise, the young man easily grabbed Onito’s fist and tripped him, like it was nothing–
“Woaaah!!!” – Screamed Onito, as he fell face first on the ground.
–But he didn’t let go of the thug’s arm. He kept twisting it until Onito was screaming in pain.
…
…
…
When the young man finally let go of his arm, Onito clutched it like a little kid, with tears in his eyes.
“…Guh…! Ugh…! Uuuh…!”
“I’m sorry, my hand slipped… I hope you understand.” – Said the young man, while looking down on Onito.
The young man wasn’t really that handsome, but still, he was the perfect depiction of a fairy tale’s prince. He fought against one of the scariest thugs of all Richard just to save one defenseless girl.
The surrounding people were too afraid of Onito, so seeing the young man beating him to tears was a refreshing sight. They even applauded the young man’s actions.
However, Chris was a bit confused. It should be impossible for a skinny young man to stop the punch of a strong man, like Onito, without using magic power. And that’s what was bugging Chris the most. After all, the young man didn’t have any features that could link him to a noble household.
On the other hand though, Leo was staring at that scene in complete disbelief.
“…*Whisper*…N-no… no way… this can’t, be happening…!”
Although he was a bit older right now, the man had the same face, the same hair color and the same eye color as that boy that Leo met years ago. Yes, he was the person that gave him his precious Kar-sama–
“As expected of his Highness! He’s as cool as always!” – Said Kai, with a happy smile.
–He was Albert von Weizsäcker, the Crown Prince of the Weiz Empire.
(W-why!? Why is he here!? This is Richard! My hometown! He should be in the academy right now! So why–!?) – Thought Leo, as he remembered the talk he had with Leena.
However, while Leo was having those thoughts, Albert, who had the appearance of a normal-looking young man, started walking towards him in steady gait.
(–No, I shouldn’t think like this! A-Albert is a good person! Yes, that’s it! L-Leena was probably mistaken!)
Leo knew that he couldn’t judge Albert just because Leena didn’t trust him, but he couldn’t shake off the fear either… and that was showing in his expression. After all, Albert was making a scary face right now.
“W-why are, you here, Alb–?”
“–Why are you holding that knife, Leonora–?” – Said Albert, cutting off Leonora’s question.
Albert then grabbed her wrist and took away the knife; he still had that scary look on his face.
“–I’ll keep this for now.”
Leo was still shaking from the fear, but taking his knife away was too much… he still had to serve a customer.
“N-no! The knife! P-please, give it back!”
But it didn’t matter in the end, Albert wouldn’t listen to him… and that’s when it happened—
“This is what you get for ignori—!!!”
—Onito attacked the prince with a big machete. No one knew where he got it from, but he was fast. A normal person wouldn’t be able to stop him—
*Ka∟n!* ( Tl/n: The sound of metal hitting something hard.)
—However, Albert grabbed it with just one hand, without even looking back.
“—………Huh?”
Onito couldn’t understand how a skinny young man could be that strong. It was something out of the ordinary… and scary.
“I’m not in a good mood right now… you should’ve ran away when you had the chance.” – Said Albert, in a threatening, and cold, tone.
“!!!!!!!!!”
(T-that’s unreasonable! To get violent j-just because you’re in a bad mood! So Leena was right, after all!)
Leo wanted to explain the situation to Albert and calm him, after all, Onito was a customer. He just wanted to eat Chris’s bread, nothing more–
“M-monster! Y-you’re a monster! If you weren’t here, t-those puffy things would’ve been mine!!!”
“Yours…? …I see… so you think they belong to you… . ” – Said Albert; his tone becoming even colder.
–But before Leo could do that, the situation got even worse.
Everyone heard a *Crunch* sound, and on the next moment, Onito was already on the ground, holding his arm–
“Aaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!”
–And screaming in pain.
“Why are you screaming? Stop that. I just broke your arm… you should be grateful that you’re not dead.”
“Hiiiii!” ( Tl/n: This one is Leo.)
(Albert is dangerous! Really dangerous!)
Every time a fight broke out, be it in the orphanage, or on the streets against other groups, it was Bruno’s job to cool down the situation and stop the fight.
But Bruno wasn’t here right now. And Leo was afraid of doing something that he would regret later. After all, he had to give Leena’s body back to her in one piece.
“I’m sorry, Leonora… did I scare you?” – Said Albert, as he turned to look at Leo with his usual, friendly smile.
However, that smile just made Leo feel even more scared. It was frightening. He couldn’t even look up to answer Albert’s question, so the prince did it forcibly. He lifted Leonora’s chin to have a clear look of her beautiful, amethyst eyes.
(\\\W-why is he doing something so embarrassing like this!? W-we’re in public!\\\)
“You promised me you wouldn’t do something like this ever again, didn’t you?” – Said Albert, in a slightly annoyed tone.
Realizing what Albert meant by that, Leo started breaking out in cold sweat.
(Is he trying to say that I broke my promise of not taking money from other people * !? I-I really didn’t steal this money! I worked really hard to get it!)
( *Tl/n: This is just a suggestion, but you guys should re-read Ch-12 and Ch-13 if you don’t remember about this event.)
On the day of that infamous Tea Party , that was hosted by Oscar and his faction, Leo promised Albert that he’d never try to take away money from other people ever again.
Well, Leo broke that promise shortly after, when he tried to take back his gold coin.
Albert forgave him that time, however, the same thing probably wouldn’t happen again.
(No one will miss these copper coins that I got today! T-they decided to buy the special bread by their own volition! I-I didn’t do anything wrong!)
Yes, Leo sold the special bread a little more expensively than what it’s price should’ve been, but it didn’t change the fact that he was properly selling them.
“I didn’t, break my, promise!”
“Leonora… are you not aware of what you did?”
“I didn’t, do it!”
Albert sighed. He then lifted the knife that he had picked up, and with a sad expression, he said–
“–Please, don’t do these things anymore, otherwise, I’ll be forced to lock you up… and I don’t want to do that.”
“!!!!!!”
Albert knew that Leonora was trying to kill herself, after all, she didn’t want to become the plaything of a heinous criminal. And that’s why Albert was angry. She broke their promise. But Leo’s interpretation on the matter was a bit different—
(I can’t even cut bread!? So how am I supposed to ear money—!?)
—From his point of view, Albert broke in during a transaction with one of his customers, moreover, just because he was in a bad mood, he broke the customer’s arm.
(—This is unfair! Why me!? What is the problem in making a bit of money!?)
Leo was sure that Albert was a good guy, but because of what Leena told him, his conviction began to waver.
(Ugh…! With things like this, I won’t be able to give Leena’s body back to her… I can’t prove that Albert is a good guy… I’m sorry Leena… I’m really sorry…)
“Did you really think… you’d get rid of me… so easily!?” – Shouted Onito, standing up with his broken arm hanging down.
“Hee∼, so you want to try again… alright, I’m in… but I won’t hold back this time.” – Said Albert, with a mocking smile.
To the surrounding people, Onito had become crazy. There’s no way he would win against that mysterious man in black. He was too weak… and that’s what scared Leo the most. If Albert wanted, he could really kill Onito.
But the thug wasn’t that stupid, Albert’s declaration of not holding back had a visible effect on him. His body was shaking… he was scared.
Onito then turned around and started running away with his minions.
“Dammit! You better remember that, you bastard!!!”
(W-wow, that’s the stereotypical villain line! Ah, wait, that’s not it! H-how could you run away and leave me here with him!? I-I’m technically a girl right now, so shouldn’t you guys step up to save me!? Please, take me with you!)
Rather than being left alone with a moody guy that breaks other people’s arms, Leo wanted to run away with Onito and his gang, even though they were criminals–
“…………… . ”
–But reality is a cruel mistress. Not only he was left behind, but he also couldn’t get away from Albert. After all, the guy was scary and he’d probably do something to Leena’s body if Leo tried to run away.
“Who would’ve thought His Highness, Albert-sama, would come rushing to your rescue! That’s a pleasant surprise, right Leonora-sama?” – Said Kai, in an excited tone.
“Please, calm down. I’m going out incognito right now, so just call me Al.”
Albert had slipped out of the academy to enjoy the festival in Richard, one of his favorite cities. But he noticed a commotion, so he went there to see what was happening. And as a result of doing that, he found out that one of his acquaintances was being mugged by a thug. He couldn’t let that slide, so stepped into the fray to help Leonora.
Just by listening to the conversation that Kai and Albert were having right now, Leo would probably understand why Albert did all of that, but he was too scared to pay attention to their conversation.
“H-hmm, that, thank you for helping us, b-but it looks like Leo-chan is a bit scared of you, Al-kun… . ” – Said Chris, pointing out the expression that the little girl was making right now.
However, listening to that didn’t affect Albert at all.
“I see… thank you as well, for telling me… . ” – Said Albert, as he lifted Leonora in a princess carry.
(W-w-w-w-why did he lift me!? I-is he going to slam me on the ground!? Is that what’s going to happen!?)
“Nooo! Let go, of me!!!”
“I’m sorry… I showed you this unsightly side of me, so no wonder you’re scared. As an apology, I’ll give you a ride to the academy… we’re going back right now.”
“N-no–!”
(–I don’t want to go back! I want to stay here! Let go!!!)
“Kai, you said she was staying at an orphanage, right? Can you contact that place and say she’s going back with me?”
“Of course, Albe–Al! My master’s carriage was being repaired anyway, so it helps a lot to have you taking care of her.”
(N-no way! Is he trying to trick Kai into letting me be alone with him!?)
“Yeah… I’ll take good care of her.” – Said Albert, with a forced smile.
But to Leo, that smile looked like an evil smirk.
(H-h-h-he’s evil! This guy is evil!! H-he’s definitively going to torture me!!!! You can’t leave me alone with him, Kai!!!!)
It was too soon.
Leo didn’t want to be tortured and executed.
He had to think of an escape plan… and fast.
(I need help… but who would help me in the first place!? No one is crazy enough to go against Albert just to help me! S**t! I just have to get out of the academy, then I’ll be able to meet Leena and Bruno… but where is a good place for us to meet in secret!? Oh, that’s right, there was that lake!)
When Leo learned about Chris’s connection with the church and what she used to do there, he started to think of a way to make her acquainted with Leena. Well, it was a bit too soon for that, however, Leena was the only one who could help him right now.
“Alright… I’ll see you at the academy, Kai.” – Said Albert, walking away with Leonora in his arms.
“No! Let go! Chris! I need you, to go to, the Hannah’s Orphanage! And look, for a boy, named Leo! Kai will, show you, the way!” – Shouted Leo, with a grim expression on his face.
“Huh…? A boy named Leo?”
“Yes! You have to, meet him! It’s important! Everyone’s future, depends on it!”
Leo was twisting himself in Albert’s arms. He was trying to escape from his clutches, but nothing happened… the Prince was too strong.
“I–no, we need, your help!”