PAID

Carolyn sighed softly, her gaze dropping as her expression shifted from contentment to sadness.

"But I haven’t heard anything about him for a long time. They say he lost a major battle five years ago and was labeled a traitor by the Empire. At one point, his wanted posters were plastered all over the streets…"

Her sigh held a complex mix of emotions.

Did Carolyn still secretly believe in Leon, or had she begun to feel disappointment in the most promising student she had ever taught?@@novelbin@@

Leon couldn’t tell.

Realizing she might have said too much, Carolyn quickly changed the subject, replacing her solemnity with a warm smile.

"Judging by the looks of you two, I’d guess you haven’t been married for very long?"

Hmm... would five years count as recent?

Leon and Rosvisser exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to play along.

"Yes, not very long," Leon replied. "While walking around, we heard the children laughing here and thought we’d take a look."

"Are you both fond of children?"

"Yes, my wife and I do enjoy children quite a bit."

So much so that in just five years of marriage, they already had three.

Carolyn chuckled softly, turning to watch the children playing in the courtyard.

"If only every parent were like you. Then perhaps there would be fewer unfortunate little ones left behind."

After decades of working at the orphanage, Carolyn’s empathy was something Leon knew well.

She loved children, but had never married. Partly because of her role as a nun, but also because she knew that if she had a child of her own, she’d find it difficult to spread her love equally among all the orphaned children.

The orphanage was a sanctuary for these abandoned children, giving them a chance to face life with courage again.