CHAPTER 39: 39 — SECOND CHANCES?

After sending Eiran to his class, Ren walked along the paved road toward the garden. It was already midday, and, as promised to Hannah and Lillia, he headed to meet them. In his hand, he held a book, reading as he walked. Its content was far too interesting to put down even for a moment.

Despite normally avoiding romance novels, this one had caught his attention. It was about a slave brought by an alpha who treated him like the most precious thing. His motives were unclear, constantly making the main character doubt him.

"It seems you can’t live without books," a sharp voice said.

Ren instantly lowered the book and looked up to see Hannah standing a few steps away.

"It is all thanks to you, Miss Hannah," he smiled.

"Of course, of course. I only taught you the basics, but you mastered reading and writing so quickly it amazed me—and I still am surprised every time I see you read with ease," Hannah said, pulling out a chair and sitting. "Come, sit. Lili must be on her way."

Ren nodded, placing the book on the table and taking a seat across from her.

Hannah glanced at the cover and immediately recognized the story. She had read it when it first arrived in the library. The general had never shown interest in such books—but he never threw them away, preferring to fill the library with titles that few visited or used.

It was a story that followed a slave—Hannah’s mouth opened slightly.

Is it because he was a slave?

She pondered. The state in which he arrived made it clear he was not from a noble family. A commoner wouldn’t try to find a job the moment he saw a mansion. Pursing her lips, she studied Ren closely. The wounds on his body had long healed.

"Why are you staring at me?" the young man asked hesitantly, softly brushing his knuckles.

"You remind me of my son," she said with a grin, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. The brightness in them had dimmed.

"Your son... You told me that when I first arrived, too. Where is he?"

Hannah’s breath caught in her throat. The words seemed almost impossible to speak, yet she clenched her fists and forced them out.

"He is dead."

Ren blinked, unable to offer any words of comfort. He didn’t know how to comfort people. He knew how to comfort someone... if only he were capable of it in this moment.

Hannah let out a dry chuckle.

"Oh lord, had those monsters not killed my son, he’d be just like you today."

Ren narrowed his eyes, confused.

"Your son? Killed?"

Hannah nodded, her eyes faltering for just a moment.

"Don’t worry, it’s all in the past," she added, forcing a smile.

Ren noticed the strain in her lips but remained silent.

"Are you a non-human, just like the others in the mansion?" he asked, gasping and covering his mouth. He hadn’t meant to speak, but the words slipped out before he realized.

The lady chuckled.

"I am just one old elf."

"An elf? But your ears—"

"Oh, these!" Hannah said with a laugh, rubbing her ears. "I’ll tell you about it another day—"

"Hannah, darling!" Lillia interrupted, hurrying toward them. "Am I late?"

"You need to be more punctual, Lili," Hannah said, turning to the middle-aged lady.

Ren wanted to ask: were they a couple? But he swallowed his words. It would be improper to pry into such personal matters.

Lillia pulled a chair beside Hannah, leaning her head against her shoulder.

"So, Ren, what happened to you? Are those servants still bullying you? Tell us! We’ll teach them a lesson!"

Hannah pressed a palm to her forehead, shaking her head at Ren’s panicked expression.

"Don’t worry, we won’t do anything bad. We’ll just make sure they don’t repeat such mistakes."

"B-But I am not bothered by these... Such things are normal—"

He was accustomed to such behavior, to the point it no longer hurt him. Sometimes, if they hit him too hard, he would limp—but he would resume his duties regardless.

"Normal?" Lillia scoffed. "My boy, I hate to think this... but were you abu—"

Hannah quickly covered her mouth.

Ren tilted his head. "Pardon?"

"She meant... were you threatened by them to not tell us?" Hannah interjected, her voice gentle but firm. She didn’t want Ren to recall the darker parts of his childhood, the times when he might have been abused as a slave.

Even in Revhara, known for being different from other countries, slaves were still bound to the lowest class. They held no status, no rights—yet. Though the emperor and the crown prince worked to curb human trafficking, some nobles still evaded their laws, and many attempts ended in failure.

"I was not... I just want a peaceful life," Ren’s voice dropped, almost as if he were speaking to himself.

Hannah’s gaze lingered on him, as though weighing whether to say more. After a brief silence, she spoke.

"You know, Ren... life doesn’t always give second chances. But when it does, you have to hold onto it." Her voice was low, almost a whisper.

Ren’s brow furrowed slightly. "Second chances?"

Hannah nodded, a shadow crossing her expression for just a moment. "Sometimes people lose the ones they love..."

Ren could guess what she meant—the loss of her child.

"...And sometimes, they’re given someone new to care for. Don’t waste it."

Her words sank deep. He didn’t respond immediately, instead, he glanced at Lillia, whose bright eyes were filled with curiosity and concern.

"I do not know what you are talking about," he said politely, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Lillia smiled warmly, patting his hand briefly. "You know... life’s never simple, Ren. But having people by your side makes it... bearable."

Ren felt a quiet, almost foreign sense of belonging. For once, he didn’t have to hide, didn’t have to calculate every step. Here, in this small garden with Hannah and Lillia, he could just... be.

For a brief, fleeting moment, he allowed himself to imagine a life where warmth and care weren’t fleeting, where people didn’t always bring danger or pain.

How dare you even think about that? Are you planning to abandon him?!