CHAPTER 34: 34 — I SENT YOU LETTERS

In the dim corridor, muffled giggles slipped past the stone walls.

Sitting on the cold marbled floor, Ren pressed his sleeve against his mouth to silence himself, but the other boy only leaned closer, eyes gleaming with mischief, an arm resting on his knees as he admired Ren as if he were the most precious living being in the whole universe.

"What’s so funny, love?"

Ren’s cheeks burned scarlet. He covered his face with his palms, eyes shut tightly.

"D-Don’t call me that..."

The young man gently pulled his hands away, locking gaze with him.

"And you, don’t hide your face."

Ren pouted, grumbling under his breath, "... Y-You’re the one who’s hard to see. You don’t even come into my room anymore..."

"I’m sorry," the boy whispered, pressing a soft kiss against Ren’s knuckles, not breaking eye contact for a moment. "We’re not supposed to meet. You know that. Don’t you?"

Ren froze, his silver eyelashes trembling. Although the hallways were empty, he looked around, panicked.

"T-They know?"

"Don’t worry," the other grinned, reckless, unbothered. "I’ll convince them to let us be."

"What if they—"

"I’d rather stop breathing than be apart from you, Ren."

Something fragile and warm stirred in his chest. Ren smiled faintly, pressing his lips against the boy’s. Trembling, but with him, he knew nothing could go wrong. He would free him, shield him.

When Ren tried to pull away, the boy’s hand pressed against the back of his head, drawing him into a deeper kiss—stolen, forbidden.

For that single heartbeat, the temple wasn’t a prison at all. It was where he first tasted love... and rebellion for the first time.

***

"Hannah, darling, what have you been up to? I haven’t seen you in months!" Lilia exclaimed as soon as she saw the middle-aged lady walking through the corridor.

Hannah chuckled.

"You know how the lord can be sometimes. He assigned me to look over the management of the household while he went on the quests assigned by the king and took care of the young master."

"Ah, poor you," Lilia gently patted Hannah’s head, a few inches shorter than hers.

"Stop that," Hannah grumbled, swatting the woman’s hand away from her. "Just because you are taller than me now, doesn’t mean you can do this..."

Lilia laughed, walking beside Hannah.

"Are you not heading to the kitchen?"

"My assistant can manage. There is still time until dinner time."

Hannah said nothing, moving in silence. They turned left, and her eyes widened at the sight before her—Ren collapsed on the floor.

"Ren?!" she exclaimed, rushing forward, Lilia close behind.

"What happened?!" Although she asked, the man who had the answers didn’t wake.

"Don’t tell me those servants bullied him again!" Lilia frowned.

"Bully?" Hannah looked at her, perplexed.

"Don’t look at me like it’s the first time you’ve heard of that," Lilia snorted. "I sent you letters. I thought you fixed the issue," her eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about, Lili? I’ve never received such letters!"

"What do—"

"First, let’s bring him somewhere and lay him down," Hannah sighed, lifting Ren with one hand while Lilia pulled the other one, wrapping it around her shoulder, placing her hand around his waist.

"This boy is just so fragile..." Hannah sighed.

"I promise you, he isn’t," Lilia chuckled. "He is much taller than us... And did you not notice his build?"

Together they half-dragged, half-carried Ren through the corridor, their breaths uneven. The silence in the hallway made Ren’s weight feel heavier now, broken only by the sound of their steps and Ren’s faint, irregular breathing.

When they finally reached the servants’ quarters, Hannah nudged open the door to his room with her foot. A fresh smell of orange filled the room, greeting them.

Lilia sat on the chair next to her, looking up at the middle-aged lady.

"If I remember, last time they locked him in a room. I sent you a letter, asking you to keep an eye on the servants who tried to bully him. I never received a response. But I know that you wouldn’t ignore something like that."

Hannah’s brows furrowed, her voice dropping. "I never got such a letter."

The two women exchanged a heavy silence, broken only by Ren’s shallow breathing.

"Then..." Lilia’s eyes narrowed. "Someone must have stopped it before it reached you."

Hannah’s lips pressed into a thin line, the thought clearly unsettling her. She glanced at Ren, pale against the sheets, and whispered, almost to herself, "What are they trying to do to him...?"

Lilia reached for a glass of water, her throat dry from the unusual weight lifting. She couldn’t understand what happened but just as she was about to take a sip, the glass slid down her hand, crashing on the floor.

Ren groaned, forcing his eyes open.

"Oh! It seems he is waking up!" Hannah exclaimed, her face beaming.

Hearing the familiar voice, he turned to his left and found her leaning over him.

"What happened to you? Did the servants harm you?" Lilia asked, her hand gently pressing his shoulder.

Ren’s gaze shifted to the right. His brow furrowed. He couldn’t understand what he was doing in his room. He had been in the hallway—he was certain of it.

"We brought you here," Lilia explained, catching the hesitant confusion in his eyes.

"I must have troubled you both..." Ren murmured, pushing the blanket aside. "Forgive me. I should return to work."

He rose to his feet, though his legs trembled faintly beneath him.

"Silly boy! What are you saying?" Lilia’s frown deepened. "You’ve caused us no trouble. But tell us—who tried to harm you? We’ll see them punished thoroughly!"

Ren stared at her, mouth slightly parted, longer than he realized. It was the first time he had ever heard her raise her voice—sharp, protective, almost fierce.

"M-Miss Lilia—"

"Lili, you’re scaring the poor boy," Hannah sighed, walking behind the elderly lady.

"But!—"

"Let’s discuss this tomorrow. The general will leave for a mission in four days—we must prepare."

Although reluctant, Lilia sighed and gave a small nod.

"You can return to work then. But don’t forget—meet us in the garden tomorrow, after midday."

"The garden?"

"Yes. Few go there at that hour, except the gardener. Unless the lords decide to take tea," Hannah explained.

"Alright."

With that, Ren slipped from the room, leaving the two women behind.

He walked through the corridor in a daze. Had he fainted again? Was his health truly worsening? He had been fine before—his power flowed without limits, without pain, without the usual strain. So why now?

His steps faltered. A sound drifted down the hall.

Laughter. Loud, bright, echoing far too loudly for this mansion where servants kept a moderate tone whenever they spoke, yelled or laughed.

Ren stopped, scanning his surroundings. His brow furrowed.

A woman’s laughter... this loud?