Chapter 5

Anna even patted her forehead. She didn't know that her daughter could act so innocently. 'Oh my shit! How can she think the leaders of mobsters are the princes in her storybooks?'

And now, Anna is afraid that her daughter who dares to hug Leon, whom she has misunderstood, will be repaid to the point of hurting Belle. But it seems like what Anna is afraid of won't happen, because...

'Thank you, my princess...' Leon replied in a very gentle voice to Belle. And that is even more surprising. Everyone was wondering what kind of situation this was.

The hug between the two ended. Belle smiled sweetly at the man she didn't know was the one who was going to rob her mother of a lot of money. Likewise with Leon. This time, even his hand was raised. He looked about to touch Belle's small and innocent face. Anna is worried. Just in case the pirate's eye mask man's hand is about to injure her daughter.

With all her strength, Anna managed to free her hand from the grip of the man holding her. Then she walked quickly to face Belle. But apparently, what Leon did to Belle was... he gently stroked Bella's chubby cheek. Anna, who was two steps ahead of Leon and Belle, could only watch them silently.

'How can your little hands make me feel that warm? I love your embrace, my beautiful princess,' Leon said, complimenting Belle. Which either she liked, or there was some trick he was doing right now in front of a 4-year-old girl. In contrast to Anna, who was constantly filled with worry and anxiety about what Leon would do. Belle looked calm, even continuing to smile at Leon.

'I let you always have my arms, whenever you want, my prince,' Belle replied.

Anna, who couldn't stay silent any longer, finally chose to grab and hide Belle right behind her body. 'Belle, you can't hug random people,' Anna warned.

'But I don't hug just anyone, Mom. I hug my prince.' Anna rolled her eyes. She didn't know how to explain the real situation to Belle, who was still Immersed in her fairy tale.

'Belle, you should go to bed soon. Go to your room!'

Belle frowned. She didn't like her mother's orders on this one. Her lips pouted. She didn't want to be separated from a man she thought was a prince, whom she had met recently.'I told you to go into your room, Isabelle.' Anna said more firmly to Belle. So, Belle didn't have another option to walk to her room. Her eyes glanced briefly at Leon, flashed him with her sweet smile, and waved her tiny hand.

And after Belle entered her room. Anna immediately pushed Leon's body with all her strength. Leon's body was slightly pushed back.

'How petty you are!' Anna cursed angrily.

'Don't you ever touch my daughter again!'

Leon just stared at Anna. Anna put her hands on her hips, ready to scold and give Leon a further warning. 'How do you use an innocent little girl just to get what you want, huh?'

'You want my money? Okay. I'll pay as much as you want. But don't you ever touch my daughter again!' While Anna had spoken at length, even her breathing now seemed rushed and she was trying to control it, Leon was still silent without a word coming out of his mouth.

'Say! how much shall I pay you!' Anna, who was furious, snapped at Leon. Although in her heart she did not want to pay. but he wanted Leon to disappear from his sight immediately! Even though Leon was keeping quiet his attitude earlier towards Belle which though gentle enough, was all that had frightened Anna. What happens if he becomes rude? Anna thought that maybe she and Bella would end up hanging by him.

'You can afford hundreds of £50.000 for all your uncle owes?'

Anna is silent. It seems that Leon is a typical person who doesn't talk much, but once he speaks it's very dangerous. Anna didn't know what to say to Leon. She was too reckless, she shouldn't have acted so boldly without knowing anything, and what kind of person was she dealing with?

'Is that true? my uncle... he just has- Oh, don't you fucking around! How could he owe you that much??' Anna asked haltingly. She could not afford to pay that much money. Moreover, it is not her debt. She had already lost enough from the bankruptcy of her business, there was no way she would have to lose again because of the man in front of her.

'Don't forget you also have to pay the interest on the debt. Or... your beautiful face will be separated from your body, hands and feet, like that...' Leon said while pointing at the sack carried by one of his mafia members, who then took out a severed human leg. Anna immediately felt nauseous, afraid and really... she couldn't possibly let that cruel mafia do that to her or Belle. But, she still couldn't understand how she should deal with a man like Leon and such a big debt.

Leon then turned around after throwing a subtle attack on Anna, until she could only ponder in her confusion.

'How can such a gentle child have such a rough mother?' Leon muttered and chuckled in annoyance as he walked away leaving Anna. Likewise with the men who came with Leon, they also left Anna, and followed Leon, walking behind him as did his loyal troops.

Anna massaged her temples. Her head is so dizzy. 'Why do problems keep coming to me?! Oh God!'

---

'I beg you, save me just this once.'

'Just this once. I will pay on time later. I don't have any money today to pay you-'

'Argh!'

The words of the plea were immediately replaced by a groan of pain coinciding with the slap that the poor old man received. They, the ferocious men who are collecting several debts, are known for their unforgiving attitude. Even that poor old man was lying on the floor now, several punches he still received. How pitiful he is, he could only groan in pain and couldn't fight back.

Then, the leader of the ferocious and merciless men drew closer to the old man. They stopped all the hitting because it seemed Leon wanted to say something to the poor old man. Leon brought himself down, crouching down. 'You're in luck today. I'm feeling kind, thanks to the little angel I met.' he said quietly but so much that the listener almost died of fright.

'Th-thank you, my lord. I thank you for your kindness.' The old man thanked him as if he had just survived death. But indeed, Leon can be very cruel like that. He could easily hurt others, due to all the anger, and hatred that was firmly lodged in his heart.

'Are you sure? Do you want to let that guy go? but we have to get money from him, sir?' Even the man who was still holding the poor old man looked like he couldn't believe Leon's decision, which was uncharacteristic of him.

'We'll just go home. I want to go to bed earlier. And I think I can sleep well tonight.'

Everyone shows astonished expressions, because of Leo's attitude, which was increasingly incomprehensible to them.

That is a very rare occurrence. Leon didn't usually act like that.

It's 10 pm now. And it seemed like Leon would go to bed earlier, just like what he said before.

What an oddity.

Leonardo, who was a city lord. Owner of the castle in the Lochalsh hills. He is known for his tyranny and cruelty which still exists in the region. Although there is already a formal government that regulates and manages the city. But nothing can stop his action. Everyone submits to him. He is almost exactly like the figure of the Beast in the fairy tale of a girl he recently met. His body is large and sturdy. His hair which he let extend to his shoulders. A beardless face. And behind the pirate mask that covered the right side of his face, there was a burn scar. The burn comes with something that also burns and obliterates his old self, which is very different from who he is now. Leon has changed since the wound and painful incident that came to him at that time.

Starting from a handsome face that used to be very charming and charismatic become a male figure in a pirate mask who is very fierce and scary. Then his attitude, which used to be very friendly and kind, is now full of cruelty and is known as an evil mafia that always hurts many people.

Surprisingly, after Leon never smiled for so long, while staring into the mirror he smiled that night. 'How ridiculous you are...' Leon muttered, laughing at himself who had been acting strangely. How could he act so uncharacteristically, just because of the hug of an innocent little girl That's what made Leon laugh now with his head wondering. But he was serious about Belle's hugs which he liked. Leon even used his hand, to touch the part of his face that had been gently touched by Belle's hand. It was as if Leon was searching for the soft and warm traces of the small hand that rested on his face, which had that wound.

And very suddenly, Leo's tears fell, without he realizing it. Leon stared at his reflection in the mirror. He wondered what was wrong with him. Why is he suddenly acting like this? His head was searching for what was wrong with him. And the old memories of the very tragic and painful incident appeared one by one and filled him.

The deepest sorrow, loss, unwillingness, immense anger, and hatred set Leon on fire. Leon's fists clenched. There was extraordinary anger and revenge in his fists. Which he then took out, by punching the mirror in front of him.

'Argh!' Leon groaned, shouting his hatred. Along with the sound of the mirror breaking when he punched it. His hand was bleeding, hit by a mirror glass shard, which now reveals Leon's image which is also seen in the form of incomplete shards. Leon was burned by the anger that had been inside him for a long time. The sadness that he vented on his cruel side, emerged at this moment. He came to hate everything. Including himself as well as everyone in this world. And it comes from the deepest wound within him. Deep inside he misses, is sad, and wants someone who can no longer be by his side. Which the world has taken most tragically and cruelly. Losing the figure who was so important and most valuable in his life, made him fall to his lowest point. All of that made him turn into a very cruel monster in this era.

'I will destroy you all, as you destroyed Alice and my happiness, ' he said determinedly, filled with vengeance and hatred.