Chapter 69 - 069: Visitation

After everything she had been through, she needed to feel clean.

She slowly made her way back to her room after bathing, expecting to find it empty.

Instead, she stopped at the doorway.

Kenai was sitting beside the bed with the baby in his arms.

The little girl was awake, one tiny hand wrapped around Kenai’s finger as she curiously moved it between her own fingers. Kenai seemed completely focused on her, carefully allowing her to play with his hand.

Anaria couldn’t help smiling at the sight.

Kenai eventually noticed her, he looked up and froze.

Anaria tilted her head. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. I came to check on you."

"Oh, alright" Ananria as she made her way to where her clothes were laying, she turned back carefully and noticed that Kenai was still looking at her.

She smirked at the sight and then carefully started removing the loincloth clothes that holding her body.

His eyes remained on her for another moment before he abruptly stood "I’ll meet you outside."

Anaria raised an eyebrow, but before she could question him, Kenai had already walked out.

She watched him leave before quietly laughing "Idiot."

A tiny sound came from the baby, Anaria looked down at her.

The little girl was staring back at her with wide eyes.

Anaria’s expression immediately softened "Are you agreeing with me?"

The baby made another soft noise, and Anaria smiled as she carefully picked her up.

She held her daughter close for a moment, taking in the tiny body against her chest "My little girl."

Once she was ready, Anaria stepped outside with the baby in her arms.

Kenai was waiting nearby, exactly as he had said.

His eyes immediately moved over her, making sure she was all right before he fell into step beside her.

Anaria walked slowly.

She still wasn’t completely recovered, and every now and then, Kenai glanced at her as if ready to take the baby from her.

She ignored him, she wanted to carry her daughter herself.

When they reached the gathering place, Kai was already there with several villagers waiting eagerly.

The moment Anaria appeared, attention turned toward the newborn.

The villagers gathered around carefully, their faces bright with excitement.

Some admired the baby’s tiny features while others offered blessings for her health and future.

Then came the gifts.

Food, herbs, soft pieces of cloth, small blankets, and several handmade items were placed before Anaria. She hadn’t expected so much kindness and could only thank them as the pile continued to grow.

For a moment, she simply stood there and watched.

The cub who had once been nothing more than a thought in her mind was now in her arms, surrounded by people welcoming her into the world.

It warmed Anaria more than she expected.

Eventually, someone asked about the baby’s name.

Kenai answered with the name Anaria had already chosen.

The villagers repeated it happily, followed by more blessings for the little girl.

Anaria looked down at her daughter.

Hearing her name spoken aloud made everything feel even more real.

She was finally here, Anaria gently touched the baby’s tiny head and smiled.

Then, as the gathering continued, she suddenly noticed someone was missing.

Her gaze moved around the group.

Rylan wasn’t there.

She looked toward Kenai and asked where he was.

Kenai didn’t know either.

When he asked Kai, Kai mentioned that Rylan had been seen earlier speaking with someone unfamiliar.

A stranger.

Anaria’s brows drew together slightly.

She wondered who Rylan could possibly know in Ravenfall, but the thought didn’t stay for long. Kenai suggested that perhaps it had been one of the servants or someone who needed his help.

That seemed reasonable enough.

So Anaria let the matter go for now

Some minutes after, Rylan eventually returned.

Anaria noticed him before either Kenai or Kai did.

He walked toward them with a troubled look on his face.

It wasn’t obvious enough for the villagers to notice, but Anaria knew him well enough to recognize the difference.

She watched him approach before asking where he had been.

Rylan simply said he had been fixing one or two things and brushed the matter aside.

Anaria studied him and he really looked disturbed

Kai noticed it too and questioned him about his expression, but Rylan insisted that nothing was wrong. He then said he was tired and wanted to rest.

Anaria didn’t push him.

Rylan wasn’t the type to explain himself when he wasn’t ready, and forcing him would only make him more guarded.

Still, she knew something was off.

She wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Kenai and Kai exchanged a brief look, silently acknowledging the same thing.

The visitation continued afterward, and the strange moment slowly faded into the background.

More villagers came to see the baby, leaving behind blessings and gifts. Anaria gradually relaxed as the afternoon passed, enjoying the warmth surrounding her daughter.

By evening, the gathering finally began to quiet down.

Then the baby started crying.

Anaria immediately knew what she needed.

She adjusted the little girl in her arms and began making her way back toward the room. The villagers understood and slowly dispersed, leaving the family to rest.

Anaria had almost reached her room when something caught her attention.

Rylan was standing farther away, speaking quietly with someone.

She slowed.

She couldn’t make out what they were saying.

The other person stood partly hidden from her view, and Rylan’s voice was too low to hear from where she was.

Anaria watched them for a few seconds.

She could have walked closer.

But the baby cried again.

Her attention immediately returned to her daughter.

She needed to feed her.

Anaria looked toward Rylan one last time.

I’ll ask him later.

She continued toward her room.

Once inside, she settled down and fed the baby.

The little girl soon calmed, and Anaria carefully arranged her afterward, making sure she was comfortable.

The room became quiet.

Anaria leaned back, feeling the exhaustion from the entire day settle over her.

Her thoughts briefly returned to Rylan.

Something was bothering him.

She would ask him about it tomorrow.

For now, she was too tired to think about anything else.

Anaria looked down at her daughter, her expression softening.

"Goodnight, little one."

Her eyelids slowly grew heavier.

Within minutes, she was asleep.