In Another World, All Milfs Will Be Mine-Chapter 161: [ - - ]

"Idiots," Belladonna muttered, annoyed.

Then she turned toward Leo, her eyes clouded with unmistakable guilt, "I am sorry," she said quickly, " I will make sure they learn proper manners."

Leo laughed, the sound light and unrestrained, his eyes curved with amusement rather than displeasure.

"Why apologize?" he said lazily.

"To the rest of the world, you are a blade unsheathed, cold and unstoppable." His gaze softened as it settled on her.

"But before me, you are a flustered little girl, trying far too hard to be gentle. If I didn’t see this side of you, I would feel like I was missing out on something of my Belladonna."

Belladonna froze for half a breath.

Then warmth flooded her expression. The sharpness in her eyes melted away, replaced by a shy, radiant smile that made her look nothing like the fearsome queen the town whispered about.

She picked up a chicken leg, hesitated, then extended it toward him with careful, almost timid fingers.

Leo didn’t take it.

Instead, he leaned forward and took a bite directly from her hand, his lips brushing lightly against her fingertips as he did.

He straightened, chewing thoughtfully before meeting her gaze again.

"See?" he said with a faint grin, "Only I get to tame this little kitty. The rest can keep trembling."

Belladonna’s cheeks burned crimson as she quickly looked away, but her fingers curled slightly, as though reluctant to pull her hand back at all.

Soon after lunch, they decided to continue their stroll around the town and made their way towards the Town Square.

The mood had shifted. The streets were clearer now. Word had evidently spread fast. People gave them a wide berth, bowing quickly and scurrying away. It created a bubble of privacy in the middle of the bustling city.

They reached the central plaza. In the center, dominating the space, was the Totem of Terror.

That dreadful bone sat on its pedestal, bathed in sunlight, yet it seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. A faint, dark miasma swirled around its base, invisible to the naked eye but palpable to the soul.

Leo glanced at his interface.

[Passive Effect Active: Suppression Field]

[System Points Generated today: +21]

"It’s strange," Belladonna murmured, staring at the statue, "Every time I look at it, I feel... heavy. But good heavy. It’s like when you are asking me to do something."

"That’s the point," Leo said, "It keeps them in line. Fear is a better wall than stone."

He led her past the totem, towards the large stone fountain at the far end of the square. The water was crystal clear, cascading down from a statue of a weeping angel.

Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin.

"Where I am from," Leo said, leaning against the fountain’s edge, "We have a saying. If you toss a coin into the water and make a wish, it comes true."

Belladonna looked at him, surprised, "A wish? Is it like a magic spell?"

"I wouldn’t say it’s magic. It’s more like a hope," Leo corrected, "You close your eyes, think of what you want most in the world, and toss it."

He flipped the silver coin into the water. It made a satisfying plop and sank to the bottom.

"You didn’t make the wish!" Belladonna said.

"I have everything I could possibly ask for. Right here... With me," Leo said smiling, as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

His words sent ripples in her heart. Her eyes turned slightly moist. She turned towards the dying ripples in the water.

"Where are you from, Leo?" she asked softly.

It was the first time she had asked. She knew he wasn’t from Auravale. She knows he was an adventurer who just happened to come here.

Leo looked at his reflection in the water. He saw a man with that similar face he had all along, but with a totally different story.

"A place far away," Leo said, his voice distant, "A place very different from here."

"A place where I was a nobody among billions."

He turned to her, breaking the melancholy. "But it doesn’t matter. I like it here better."

"Why?"

"Because there," Leo smirked, "They don’t have Bandit Queens in red dresses."

Belladonna flushed, looking down at her feet, "You!."

"Make a wish," Leo offered her a silver coin.

She took it. She closed her eyes tight, her brow furrowing in concentration. She stood there for a long moment, gripping the coin so hard her knuckles turned white. Then, she tossed it.

The coin followed a parabolic path and fell into the fountain.

"What did you wish for?" Leo asked.

"I can tell you... But I don’t think it will come true if I did," She smirked.

"Ahhh... Look at you... Biting the hand that feeds you," Leo acted hurt.

"Blehhh... So dramatic," Belladonna giggled.

And along with her giggles, cheers erupted from the eastern side of the town.

When they looked there, a traveling circus troupe had set up a temporary stage near the eastern gate. They were likely allowed just after the monster raid because Seraphine thought the populace needed a distraction.

"Let’s go have a look," Leo said, pulling Belladonna towards the crowd.

The show was vibrant.

There were acrobats clad in tight, glittering costumes, flipping through hoops of fire.

A beast tamer was wrestling a massive bear, though Leo noted with amusement that Belladonna looked unimpressed, muttering that she could snap the bear’s neck in three seconds.

Then on one side there was a Magician on the stage.

He was a flamboyant man in a purple cape and a top hat, calling himself "The Great Zephyr." He wasn’t a real mage, Leo could see that, he was a sleight-of-hand artist.

"For my next trick!" Zephyr bellowed, his voice projected by a simple sound-amplifying crystal, "I need a volunteer! A beautiful volunteer!"

His eyes scanned the crowd. They landed on the woman in the red dress.

"You, my Lady! The crimson flower! Step forward!"

Belladonna froze. Her hand instinctively went to where her sword usually hung, then remembered she was unarmed, well except for the boot dagger. She looked at Leo, unsure.

"Go on," Leo nudged her, "It’s fun."

She walked up to the stage, moving stiffly. The crowd cheered.

"Now," Zephyr said, bowing low, "Do you trust me, my Lady?"

"If you touch me, I will break your fingers," Belladonna whispered, loud enough for the front row to hear.

Zephyr paled slightly, but kept his professional smile, "A fiery spirit! Excellent!"

He pulled out a silk handkerchief. He waved it in the air, showing it was empty. He bunched it up in his fist, blew on it, and then...

Poof!

A cloud of pink smoke erupted from his hand.

When the smoke cleared, the handkerchief was gone. In its place, perched on Belladonna’s shoulder, was a pure white dove.

The crowd gasped and applauded.

Belladonna froze. She turned her head slowly, staring at the bird. The dove cooed and nuzzled against her cheek.

For a moment, the Bandit Queen looked like a child. Her eyes went wide, sparkling with genuine wonder. She reached up a trembling finger and stroked the bird’s feathers.

"It... It’s so cute," she whispered, a smile breaking across her face. It wasn’t her usual predatory grin. It was a genuine, ear-to-ear smile of delight.

Leo watched from the crowd, his chest tightening. Seeing the woman who had slaughtered captains and burned villages giggling over a bird... it was adorable.

By the time they were done watching all the tricks, and Belladonna wanting to volunteer for every one of them, the sun was beginning to set by the time they left the square.

Belladonna couldn’t stop talking.

"Did you see the feathers?" She asked, walking with a bounce in her step, "How did he do it? Where did it come from? Do you think I could learn that? Imagine, I pull a sword out of a handkerchief!"

Leo chuckled. "I think that might be a bit heavy for a handkerchief, Bella."

"I could use a big handkerchief," she countered seriously.

They reached a quiet spot near the fountain, away from the main thoroughfare. A stone bench sat under the shade of an ancient oak tree.

"Sit," Leo said, pulling her down.

They sat side by side, the cool stone grounding them. The noise of the city faded into the background.

"Did you have fun?" Leo asked.

Belladonna leaned her head on his shoulder, sighing contentedly, "I did. It was... different. No orders. No blood. Just... normal."

"If you like it. We can get used to the peace and normal," Leo said.

"Only sometimes," she agreed, "I still missed my sword."

Leo shifted, turning to face her, "You liked the magic trick?"

"I loved it," she admitted. "I never saw anything like that in the forest. Bandits aren’t very creative."

"I know a trick," Leo said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Belladonna raised an eyebrow, "You do?"

He held up his empty hands, "Watch closely."

He moved his right hand slowly towards her face. Belladonna watched him like a hawk, her sharp eyes tracking every micro-movement.

"Nothing here," Leo said, showing his palm.

He reached behind her ear.

"And..."

He pulled his hand back. Held between his thumb and forefinger was a gold coin.

Belladonna gasped. She touched her ear, "Was that there the whole time?"

"Maybe," Leo grinned. "Maybe you are made of gold."

Belladonna laughed, a rich, throaty sound. "Do it again."

"No," Leo said, "Now for the finale."

He held the gold coin flat on his thumb.

"Watch the coin, Bella. Don’t take your eyes off it."

She nodded, her gaze locked onto the glimmering metal.

Leo flicked his thumb.

Ping!

The coin shot high into the air, spinning rapidly, catching the last rays of the dying sun. It glittered like a falling star.

Belladonna’s head tilted back, her eyes following the arc of the coin up, up, up into the twilight sky. Her neck was exposed, her lips slightly parted in concentration.

She was watching the coin.

Leo wasn’t.

He leaned in.

His left hand slid around her nape, tangling in the loose strands of her hair. Before she could react, before the coin could even reach the apex of its flight, he pulled her in.

Belladonna gasped against his mouth as he captured her lips.

It wasn’t a gentle peck. It was deep, hungry, and possessive. He devoured her surprise, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, tasting the wine and the sweetness of the day.

Belladonna melted instantly. Her eyes fluttered shut, forgetting the coin, forgetting the magic, forgetting everything but the heat of his body and the taste of him. She grabbed the lapels of his coat, pulling him closer, moaning softly into the kiss.

Clink.

Leo’s right hand shot out to the side without him even looking.

He snatched the falling coin out of the air a split second before it hit the ground.

He broke the kiss slowly, pulling back just an inch. Belladonna’s eyes were hazy, her lips swollen and red, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Did..." she whispered, looking dazed. "Did you catch it?"

Leo held up his fist and popped his thumb. The gold coin sat there, shining.

"I already had the prize," Leo murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips.

** ** ** ** **

[Author’s Note: And with this, we finally complete 250,000 words. I hope you are enjoying the story!]