The Life I Refuse To Waste [Slow Burn | Isekai | Remastered ]

Kera stared at Zeldryn, who was leaning against the side of the window while the morning wind continued flowing into the room. His black hair moved gently in the breeze, and the expression on his face was far calmer than it had been only moments earlier.

“So let's talk properly...” Zeldryn paused, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Mr. Messenger.”

Kera fell silent and continued staring at him for several seconds.

Then, without warning, he burst into laughter.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Zeldryn immediately frowned as Kera tilted his head back and covered part of his face with his empty hand. His other hand continued holding the staff, while his body leaned slightly backward from how hard he was laughing.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Zeldryn simply stared at him with a blank expression.

'What the hell is this?'

Only a few moments ago, this man had entered his room without knocking, introduced himself as a Level 3 Manholer, given an extremely suspicious excuse about delivering a birthday invitation, and repeatedly insulted Zeldryn in an obvious attempt to provoke him into attacking.

Now he was laughing like a lunatic.

'He went through all that trouble making himself look mysterious, and now he's laughing like some crazy bastard.'

Kera continued covering his eyes for a few more moments before his laughter finally began to fade.

“Hahaha...” He drew in a breath, keeping his head slightly raised. Then, in the tone of someone who had just discovered something incredibly interesting, Kera spoke. “Lady Anna...”

Zeldryn's attention immediately sharpened.

'Anna?'

Kera lowered his hand and grinned widely. “It seems this is going to become far more interesting than I expected.”

Zeldryn narrowed his eyes.

'What does any of this have to do with Mother?'

Before he could ask, however, Kera's thoughts had already returned to an event from seven days earlier at the Giorry family's main residence.

At the time, Kera had been somewhere within the estate when a servant came looking for him. The message was simple: Lady Anna was calling for him. No further explanation had been given, and that alone had been enough to make Kera curious.

Anna rarely summoned him without warning, especially for a private conversation.

Not long afterward, Kera found himself standing outside her room. Once he received permission to enter, he opened the door and stepped inside.

The room wasn't crowded. There were no servants or guards present, only Anna sitting in a chair beside a table.

The first thing Kera noticed was her expression.

She looked restless. Her hands were clasped together on her lap, and her gaze repeatedly drifted toward the window as though something had been weighing on her mind for a long time.

Kera closed the door behind him. “Lady Anna?”

Anna immediately turned toward him. “Kera.”

There was a hint of relief in her voice when she saw him.

Kera walked closer. “Did you call for me?”

Anna didn't answer immediately. She looked at him for several seconds while her clasped hands gradually tightened.

“Kera...” Anna drew in a small breath. “I want to ask you for a favor.”

Kera frowned slightly.

'A favor?'

“Could you go to the area near Lerta Village?” Anna continued. “More specifically, to the mansion near the border between the Giorry and Mereon territories.”

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Kera immediately understood which place she meant.

“The mansion on the Giorry and Mereon border?”

Anna gave a small nod.

A name immediately appeared in Kera's mind, and his gaze settled more carefully on her.

“Is this about the Ninth Young Lord?”

“Yes.”

Kera fell silent.

Zeldryn Giorry.

He didn't really know the boy personally, although he had obviously heard the name before. It was difficult to spend enough time inside the Giorry family's main residence without knowing about the Marquis's children.

When it came to Zeldryn himself, however, Kera knew very little beyond the rumors.

The Ninth Young Lord supposedly had countless problems. He had a terrible personality, did whatever he wanted, and was widely considered to have no future. Some people even called him a disgrace to the Giorry family whenever Anna wasn't around.

Kera had never seen much reason to investigate those stories further. There was only one fact about Zeldryn that mattered to him personally.

The boy was Anna's biological son.

“That child will turn thirteen soon,” Anna said, slowly lowering her gaze. “He's reaching an age where people can no longer keep treating him like a little child.”

Kera remained quiet.

A faint smile appeared on Anna's face, but there was nothing happy about it.

“I'm terrified that he'll remain exactly as he is now even after he grows up.”

Kera watched her carefully and immediately noticed the guilt behind those words.

Anna slowly rose from her chair and walked toward the window. Kera remained where he was, several steps behind her.

From there, much of the Giorry family's main residence could be seen clearly. Large buildings stood beyond vast courtyards, servants moved constantly between different parts of the estate, and guards remained stationed throughout the grounds. Everything reflected the grandeur expected of a Marquis family.

Yet as Anna looked across it all, her expression only became sadder.

“I don't expect Zeldryn to become the heir of the Giorry family,” she said quietly. “I don't expect him to become someone important either.”

Kera continued listening.

Anna lowered her gaze. “I just want him to be able to live.”

One of Kera's eyebrows rose slightly.

“Ever since he was a baby, I haven't been able to stay beside him because of the Marquis's decision.” Anna rested one hand against the lower edge of the window frame. “I couldn't raise him or teach him. Even when I only want to see him, I still have to wait for permission.”

Her voice gradually became quieter, but Kera said nothing. Even he didn't know what he was supposed to say to something like that.

“I know what people say about him, and I know some of those rumors are true,” Anna continued. “I tried talking to him several times whenever I was given the chance to see him, but nothing changed.”

She closed her eyes briefly before turning away from the window.

“Kera.”

Her gaze met his directly.

“I only hope that child can still learn how to survive in this world before it's too late.”

Kera remained silent as Anna took a step closer.

“Please.”

That single word immediately changed his expression.

“Can you help me?”

Kera's body tensed slightly, but Anna continued before he could answer.

“I'm not asking you to become his servant. You don't have to obey everything he says either.”

Anna knew him well enough to understand that forcing Kera to behave like Zeldryn's servant would only create an entirely different set of problems.

“I want you to stay near him,” she continued. “Guide him and teach him what he needs to know. If he needs someone to protect him, protect him.”

Anna paused, and her expression became slightly more serious.

“And if he needs someone who treats him like a friend...” A faint smile appeared on her face. “Do it in your own way.”

Kera raised one eyebrow.

Anna sighed softly. “I've tried using gentle words too many times. So this time... you may be harsh with him if it's necessary.”

Kera looked at her more carefully. “Even physically?”

Anna closed her eyes for several moments before eventually giving a small nod.

“If it's truly necessary.”

She opened her eyes again.

“But don't immediately hit my son just because he annoys you.”

Kera almost smiled.

“If something can still be discussed properly, talk to him first,” Anna continued. “But if he keeps choosing the wrong path, then at least make him understand that his actions have consequences.”

She lowered her head slightly.

“Please, Kera.”

A slight pressure formed inside Kera's chest.

That word again.

Please.

His jaw tightened as the hand resting beside his body slowly clenched.

“Lady Anna.”

Anna looked at him.

“You don't need to beg me.”

His tone had changed completely, becoming far more serious than before.

Anna looked slightly surprised, but Kera continued.

“If you hadn't saved me back then, and if you hadn't cared for me when no one else did...” His fist tightened as he looked directly into her eyes. “I might not even be alive today.”

Anna said nothing.

Kera lowered his head slightly before continuing.

“So please, don't lower yourself to the point of begging me.”

He raised his face again, his voice becoming firmer.

“Of course I'll do it. Whatever you ask of me.”

Kera placed his empty hand over his chest.

“My life belongs to you.”

He said it without hesitation.

Silence settled over the room for several moments.

Kera eventually drew in a breath, but beneath his serious expression, one name had begun filling his thoughts.

Zeldryn Giorry.

The Ninth Young Lord.

The child who had driven Anna to ask for help like this.

Kera's jaw tightened again.

'Zeldryn Giorry...'

He had never personally met the boy. All he knew were rumors calling him a bastard, a troublemaker, and a child everyone believed had no future.

None of those rumors mattered much to Kera.

Something else mattered far more.

That child had made Anna sad.

Kera narrowed his eyes as his fist tightened.

'Even if you're really a bastard or trash just like everyone says, I'll teach you one thing.'

A small smile slowly appeared on his face.

'I'll teach you what it means to make Lady Anna this sad.'

Seven days later, Kera finally stood face-to-face with that child.

Now, for the first time since accepting Anna's request, he was beginning to suspect that the rumors he had heard about Zeldryn Giorry might not tell the whole story.

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