The Life I Refuse to Waste

Kera stared at Zeldryn, who was leaning against the side of the window.

The morning wind continued flowing into the room.

Zeldryn's black hair moved gently in the breeze while he looked back at Kera with an expression far calmer than only moments earlier.

“So let's talk properly...”

Zeldryn paused.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

“Mr. Messenger.”

Kera fell silent.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then suddenly...

“Hahahahahaha!”

Zeldryn immediately frowned.

Kera tilted his head upward.

His empty hand covered part of his face while the other continued holding his staff.

His body even leaned slightly backward from how hard he was laughing.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Zeldryn simply stared at him.

...

What the hell is this?

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.

Then repeatedly insulted Zeldryn and tried provoking him into attacking.

And now?

He was laughing like a lunatic.

Zeldryn stared at Kera with a blank expression.

He went through all that trouble making himself look mysterious...

Zeldryn complained silently.

And now he's laughing like some crazy bastard.

Kera was still covering his eyes.

But slowly, his laughter began to fade.

“Hahaha...”

He took a breath.

Then, with his head still slightly raised, Kera spoke in the tone of someone who had just discovered something incredibly interesting.

“Lady Anna...”

Zeldryn's attention immediately sharpened.

Anna?

Kera grinned widely.

“It seems this is going to become far more interesting than I expected.”

Zeldryn narrowed his eyes slightly.

What does any of this have to do with Mother?

Zeldryn wondered.

But before he could say anything, Kera's thoughts had already returned to an event from several days earlier.

Seven days ago.

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.

There was no further explanation.

That alone was enough to make Kera slightly curious.

Anna rarely summoned him without warning.

Especially in private.

Not long afterward, Kera was standing outside Anna's room.

He opened the door after receiving permission to enter.

Stolen story; please report.

The room wasn't crowded.

No other servants.

No guards.

Only Anna, sitting in a chair near a table.

The first thing Kera noticed when he entered was her expression.

Restless.

Her hands were clasped together on her lap.

Her gaze shifted toward the window several times.

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.”

Her voice carried a hint of relief when she saw him.

Kera walked closer.

“Did you call for me?”

Anna didn't answer immediately.

She looked at Kera for several seconds.

Then her clasped hands tightened slightly.

“Kera...”

Anna took a small breath.

“I want to ask you for a favor.”

Kera frowned slightly.

A favor?

Anna continued.

“Could you go to the area near Lerta Village?”

Kera waited for her to explain.

“More specifically, to the mansion near the border between the Giorry and Mereon territories.”

Kera immediately understood which place she meant.

“The mansion on the Giorry and Mereon border?”

Kera asked to make sure.

Then a name immediately appeared in his mind.

He looked at Anna.

“Is this about the Ninth Young Lord?”

Anna nodded.

“Yes.”

Kera fell silent.

Zeldryn Giorry.

Kera didn't really know the boy personally.

He had heard his name.

Of course he had.

It was difficult to spend enough time inside the Giorry family's main residence without at least knowing about the Marquis's children.

But when it came to Zeldryn himself, Kera knew very little.

Only rumors.

The Ninth Young Lord had countless problems.

A terrible personality.

He did whatever he wanted.

His future was considered hopeless.

Some people even openly called him a disgrace to the Giorry family whenever Anna wasn't around.

Kera had never felt any particular reason to investigate further.

There was only one thing he knew for certain.

Zeldryn was Anna's biological son.

Anna spoke again.

“That child will turn thirteen soon.”

Her gaze slowly lowered.

“He's reaching an age where people can no longer keep treating him like a little child.”

Kera remained silent.

Anna gave a faint smile.

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 Anna's face.

There was guilt there.

Anna slowly stood from the chair.

She walked toward the window.

Kera didn't follow.

He simply remained several steps behind her.

Anna stopped in front of the window.

From there, much of the Giorry family's main residence could be clearly seen.

Large buildings.

Vast courtyards.

Servants walking from one place to another.

Guards standing watch.

Everything displayed the grandeur expected of a Marquis family.

Yet Anna only seemed sadder as she looked at it.

“I don't expect Zeldryn to become the heir of the Giorry family,” Anna 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.”

Kera raised one eyebrow slightly.

“Ever since he was a baby, I haven't been able to stay beside him because of the Marquis's decision.”

Anna's hand slowly touched the bottom of the window frame.

“I couldn't raise him.”

“I couldn't teach him.”

“Even just to see him, I have to wait for permission.”

Anna's voice grew quieter.

Kera said nothing.

For something like this, even he didn't know what he was supposed to say.

Anna continued.

“I know what people say about him.”

“And I know that some of those rumors are true.”

Anna closed her eyes briefly.

“I tried talking to him several times whenever I was given the chance to see him.”

“But nothing changed.”

She opened her eyes again.

“Kera.”

Anna turned around.

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.

Anna took one step closer.

“Please.”

That single word immediately changed Kera's expression.

“Can you help me?”

Kera tensed slightly.

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 Kera well enough to understand that asking him to behave like Zeldryn's servant would only create an entirely new set of problems.

“I want you to stay near him.”

“Guide him.”

“Teach him what he needs to know.”

“If he needs someone to protect him, protect him.”

Anna paused.

Her expression became slightly more serious.

“And if he needs someone who treats him like a friend...”

Anna gave a faint smile.

“Do it in your own way.”

Kera raised one eyebrow.

Anna then sighed.

“I've tried using gentle words too many times.”

“So this time...”

Anna hesitated slightly before continuing.

“You may be harsh with him if it's necessary.”

Kera looked at Anna.

“Even physically?”

Anna closed her eyes for several moments.

Then gave a small nod.

“If it's truly necessary.”

Anna 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.”

“But if he continues choosing the wrong path...”

Anna lowered her head slightly.

“Then at least make him understand that his actions have consequences.”

Kera remained silent.

Anna spoke once more.

“Please, Kera.”

Kera felt a slight pressure in his chest.

That word again.

Please.

Kera gritted his teeth.

The hand resting beside his body slowly clenched.

“Lady Anna.”

Anna looked at him.

“You don't need to beg me.”

Kera's tone changed.

It was far more serious than before.

Anna looked slightly surprised.

Kera continued.

“If you hadn't saved me back then...”

His fist tightened further.

“If you hadn't cared for me when no one else did...”

Kera looked directly at Anna.

“I might not even be alive today.”

Anna said nothing.

Kera lowered his head slightly.

“So please.”

He raised his face again.

“Don't lower yourself to the point of begging me.”

His voice became firmer.

“Of course I'll do it.”

Kera placed his empty hand over his chest.

“Whatever you ask of me.”

Anna looked at him.

“My life belongs to you.”

Kera said it without hesitation.

The room became silent for several moments.

Kera took a breath.

But beneath his serious expression, one name began 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...

Kera repeated the name silently.

He had never met the boy personally.

All he knew were rumors.

A bastard.

A troublemaker.

A child everyone believed had no future.

But to Kera, none of those rumors mattered very much.

There was something far more important.

That child had made Anna sad.

Kera narrowed his eyes.

Even if you're really a bastard...

His fist tightened further.

Or trash, just like everyone says...

A small smile slowly appeared on Kera's face.

I'll teach you one thing.

His gaze sharpened.

What it means to make Lady Anna this sad.

And seven days later...

Kera finally stood face-to-face with that child.

But for the first time since accepting Anna's request...

He was beginning to think that the rumors he had heard might not tell the whole story.

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