CHAPTER 4: THE DUKE'S SON

[ LEIANA POV ]

We were disturbed when someone suddenly started shouting in front of our house.

"You bitch! Come out now!"

"Bring us your son!"

We didn't have a choice but to step outside the house and see for ourselves what is the problem with these troublesome people.

"What a shameless woman!" Vera said with irritation.

"I will talk to them," Johann stated.

"No, I can handle this." I stand up and went outside.

However, they still follow me outside but they put some distance behind me. I walked toward those three women who brought their children who were covered in bruises and scratches. As if they were strangled and barely ran away from a wild animal in the forest.

"Look wrench! Look what your son did to our son!"

"You must pay us for this!"

What? My son? Did that to them? I looked at the three 10 years old children and look at Leitz behind me. I look at them again. Did Leitz do that to them? My five years old son to those ten years old children?

My son also receives scratches and a few bruises. However, I admit that my son did do well in fighting back against these bullies.

"Are you sure my son does that to you?" I uncertainly asked the children.

"Yes, we are sure!" one of the women answered me in exclaimed.

I looked at her. "I am asking the kids." smiling sweetly.

"Why are you asking them? We are here..."

"Why?" I interrupted her yet I am still smiling at her. I must calm down.

"What?" she blurted out in confusion.

"You answered me instead of them? Why?" I tilted my head. "Are you there when everything happened?"

The three women went into silence.

"You aren't. So basically, I will be asking those who were involved at that moment," I smiled brightly.

"So, kids, did my son do that to you?" I gently ask. After all, they are still ten years old children.

"Y... yes," the three of them answered.

"But how could my son do that? You see he was just a five-year-old kid. A five-year-old kid went against three ten years old children. Do you think it is quite an unfair and ridiculous situation?"

"Even so it doesn't change the fact that your son did this to our son!"

"If you could see my son. He was just a small cute little boy and you are telling me he could have done this?" she said as if it was ridiculous. "If you say that he does that. Then, I apologize on the part of my son."

"You think we will let go of this that easily? Bring your son here and let us discipline him."

"Or you can compensate us," one of them seconded and smirk.

"Right? After all, you must pay for the damage your son has done."

"I heard that the bastard father is noble. Why don't you send him a letter eh?"

My smile faded. "I don't understand. I already apologize. The fact they are having a child fight, does it a little too much for the three of them against my son who was little and just five years old? After all, my son also received scratches and bruises from them. Your son is ten years old if you remember."

"Now, I know why that child is wild. Because he was a bastard!"

"His mother was a wrench that got pregnant to an unknown man!"

"The rumor was all true!"

"Now, she doesn't even know how to discipline her bastard son!"

My lips twitched. "Would please refrain from saying such things in the presence of my son?"

"You are embarrassed in front of your son? For what you did?"

"Ah! Your son didn't know that he has no father right!"

"What a poor child..." one of them said sarcastically.

Then the three were laughing. I couldn't help but stare at them sharply and coldly. They stop laughing and looked at me.

"I'm good at sewing," I said with a cold tone and take a step forward.

The three of them flinched.

"If you don't shut your blabbering atrocious mouth. Instead of fabric, I might try to sew that impertinence mouth of yours," I bend toward them and glare at them.

The three women could not say anything and turned pale. I take a step back and stand straight and look at them sharply.

"What do you think?" I smiled sweetly.

"Y... you..."

"Just you watch...."

"Our husband will be here!"

"What?" my smile faded. "You will call out your husband here?" I smirked. "If I saw your husband here. I will tie them upside down in a tree, by tying their thing on the branch of a tree." I smiled sinisterly.

The three women gritted their teeth and dragged their son leaving away.

These women came to scandalize me in front of my house just to get some money for what? Bullying my son? I will pay because they bully my son, HAH! How ridiculous! I could tell what happened. Ever since Leitz started to play outside he never went back home with scratches and bruises nor did I hear that he got into a fight. But those three obnoxious ducklings spouting such nonsense to me?

I breathe out to calm myself. I turned around and went towards where Leitz and others were standing.

"Mo..." Leitz was about to run towards me when Hebron hugged me first.

"Woah! Tita Leiana is so cool!" Hebron stated with admiration and sparkling eyes.

I chuckled. "Am I?" patting his head.

"Hmm!" he nodded diligently. "Yes, yes! And you are so pretty!"

"Aww.... What a sweet little boy," Leiana pinched both of Hebron's cheeks.

Hebron giggled. "That is why I want to marry Tita Leiana!"

Those who heard those words were stupefied.

"Oh my... Hebron do you love Leiana that much?" Vera asked jokingly.

"YES!" he beamed.

"Then I approved!" Vera said happily.

"I don't need to worry about the future partner of my son. He sure does have eyes on women woman," Johann said proudly.

I shake my head while smiling. "I wondered just how the two of you got married. Now I know. The both of you were crazy."

The three of us burst into laughter. I bent down to level Hebron.

"Do you want to be cool?" I asked gently.

"Yes! I want to be like Tita Leiana!"

"Then you should always listen to your mother, okay?"

"Okay!" Hebron agreed happily.

"What? Leiana, if you say that Hebron will be a mommy's boy!" Johann whined.

Johann flinched when he felt Vera gazing at him. He looked at her and smiled hesitantly.

"Is there anything wrong with my son listening to me?" Vera raised her brow.

"Haha... of course not wife." Johann put his arm around his wife's shoulder. "Listening to you is cool, so Hebron listens to mother, okay?"

Leitz dashed towards Leiana and stood beside Hebron. He pulled away Hebron by the collar. Leiana didn't know what to do. Should she hold Hebron so as not to fall to the ground or focus on her son who is on the verge of crying?

"Leitz?"

His eyes were sparkling because of tears that were about to come out but it was so obvious he was holding back. His cheeks were puffing because of the sulking which made him look cuter. I don't know if I laugh or feel guilty.

"Darling, what's wrong?" I asked him worriedly but at the same want to smile because of his cuteness.

"Mommy...."

"Yes?"

"Hebron said he loved you..."

"Yes, he did."

"Then do you love him also?"

I was surprised by the question but at the same time confused. "Well, I don't hate him so I loved him..."

Leitz was stunned and like a stone crumbled. He looked at Hebron who was smiling dreamingly at me. A big droplet of tears started to drop from Leitz's eyes and he started to sniff.

"No.... no...." he said in a shaky voice.

"Leitz, darling, are you okay?"

"NO! I'M NOT YOUR DARLING ANYMORE!" he yelled.

We were surprised by his sudden outburst.

"Leitz what are you talking about?"

"You love Hebron so you will marry him. You will be together and you will leave me! Waaaah!" Leitz wailed.

"It seems like Leiana will be having a hard time having a new husband," Johann chuckled.

Vera laughs softly. "Haha... good luck to that man. Whoever he is."

"Mommy I hate you! You said you love me but you aren't!"

Oh, my goodness, what shall I do to this son of mine? My heart was melting seeing my son's big droplets of tears from his eyes. However, at the same time, I wanted to laugh for being adorable.

"You will always be my darling. Mommy will not leave you, okay?" wiping the tear from in his cheeks. "Mommy always loved you." Kissing both Leitz's wet cheeks.

"Really?" he sniffed.

"Forever..." Leiana smiled.

Leitz hugged her neck and buried his face. Leiana hugged him back tightly.

"I love mommy in the world too. So don't leave me," Leitz let go and looked at Leiana.

"Leitz you can stay with us when Tita Leiana and I..." Hebron did not finish his sentence.

Leitz immediately looked at Hebron when he started to speak. He glared at him saying a do-you-dare-to-speak look. Vera and Johann walked toward their son. The couple chuckled at Leitz.

"It seems Leitz wanted to monopolize you Leiana," Johann stated. "You need to find a husband as soon as possible before Leitz can afford to break a man's leg haha...," he said jokingly.

"NO! Mommy do not need a husband. Mommy only needs me!" Leitz hugged me tightly as if someone will take me away.

"You heard him, Johann. I don't need a husband haha..."

"For now. But who knows in the future?" Johann shrugged his shoulders.

Leitz and I went inside the house while the couple decided to went back home together with their son.

I let Leitz take his bath to change his clothes. Afterward, we eat our dinner and went to bed. Each of us is holding a book and reading while sitting beside each other on the bed.

I glanced at him. At the age of five, Leitz can already read the letters. He may not be able to read fluently but he is a fast learner. As time passed by, he gradually slowly read a word. Well, that is not a surprise since Leitz loved to read books whenever he is staying inside the house.

What was surprised and curious about what Hebron said to us earlier about what happened to them. Leitz managed to give that many bruises to those children who are older than him. Furthermore, I caught what Hebron said to his mom when they were leaving.

'Mother, I saw Leitz's red eyes glow.'

Just what is happening to my son? Did he inherit it from his father? Now, I am thinking about it, who is Leitz's father? I somehow forgot what is the background of his father.

I just remember the name, that's it. More than that I don't know what is his identity aside from being a duke.

"Mommy?" Leitz looked at me with a curious look. "Is there something wrong?"

"Yes?" I came back to my senses.

"You were staring at me..."

"I was?"

"Yes."

"I am sorry, Leitz. I was just thinking something..."

"About what?"

"About..." I blinked my eyes and quickly thought of an excuse. "About what happened earlier."

"I am sorry, mommy that I got into a fight. I just wanted to protect my friends."

Leitz put down his book on the side table. He laid down on the bed and snuggled to my side. I chuckled and put my book to the side other gently brushing my son's hair.

"Yes, I understand, my darling. I know you are a good kid."

That night, I read a story to Leitz and let him fall asleep. After checking, that he is sleeping I immediately changed and wear a hooded cloak. I left the house and went to a tavern.