Chapter 84 - 084: Accepted

Rylan immediately looked at her. "Anaria."

She turned toward him. Her expression was calm now. She had already made the decision. Rylan would challenge Zane, and this time, he would not be running away from Wolfrine.

Rylan stared at her for a moment before lowering his voice. "You decided that without asking me."

"I know," Anaria admitted.

His brows drew together. "Then why?"

"Because I know what you told me. You don’t want the throne. You don’t want Wolfrine. You want to return home with us and leave all of this behind." She paused, then continued, "But Zane is still here, Rylan. He still has the position, and he still knows you’re alive."

Rylan glanced toward Zane, who was standing several steps away with an amused expression.

"That doesn’t mean I have to fight him," Rylan said.

"No," Anaria replied. "It doesn’t. But if you leave again, what happens the next time he finds you?"

Rylan had no answer.

Anaria stepped closer to him. "I’m not asking you to suddenly want Wolfrine. I’m asking you to stop letting him decide whether you get to have it."

Rylan looked away. His jaw tightened as he considered her words. He hated that she had a point.

Zane gave a quiet laugh. "This is touching, but if the rightful heir intends to challenge me, perhaps he should speak for himself."

Rylan looked back at him. "I can speak for myself."

"Good," Zane said. "Then do it."

The room became quiet.

Rylan looked toward the cabinet. "If I challenge him, what exactly happens?"

One of the older council members stepped forward. "The challenge must follow the old royal tradition. It cannot be settled here. The two challengers must meet at the Royal Stone Ground."

Rylan listened carefully.

The council member explained that the fighting ground had been used by Wolfrine’s royal family for generations whenever a dispute over succession could not be settled peacefully. The challenge would be witnessed by the cabinet, and the result would determine who held the position.

"So if I win," Rylan said, "you recognize me as Lord?"

"Yes," the council member answered. "That is the tradition."

"And if I lose?"

"You lose your claim."

Rylan was silent.

Another member added, "The cabinet does not choose between you. We only witness the challenge and recognize its result."

That reminder was important. They were not ordering Zane to surrender his position. They were only giving Rylan a lawful way to contest it.

Rylan looked at Anaria again. She didn’t push him.

For several moments, he stood quietly before finally saying, "I will do it."

Anaria’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

Zane smiled.

"I was beginning to wonder whether you had forgotten what it means to be a Wolfrine royal."

Rylan’s eyes hardened. "Don’t mistake my hesitation for fear."

Zane’s smile widened. "I don’t."

He looked almost entertained by the entire situation.

"You already lost once," Zane said. "And now you’ve returned to challenge me again. I have to admit, I didn’t expect that."

Rylan didn’t answer.

The council members began discussing the arrangements. The Royal Stone Ground would be prepared, and the challenge would take place after several days, giving Rylan enough time to recover from his injuries.

Anaria listened carefully as the date and time were decided.

The challenge was no longer just an idea.

It had become official.

Once the day and time had been agreed upon, the atmosphere in the council room changed.

There was nothing left to debate.

Rylan would face Zane at the Royal Stone Ground, and the cabinet would witness the result.

Zane seemed completely comfortable with the arrangement. He stood with his arms folded, looking at Rylan as though the upcoming fight were nothing more than an inconvenience he already knew how to handle.

"You should use the next few days wisely," Zane said. "Your injuries haven’t completely healed."

Rylan’s expression remained calm. "I’ll decide how I spend my time."

Zane gave a small shrug. "Suit yourself."

He turned away, clearly unconcerned.

Anaria watched him for a moment before looking back at Rylan. She could still see the strain in his face. He was trying not to show it, but she knew he wasn’t at his strongest yet.

"You need to rest," she told him quietly.

Rylan looked at her. "I know."

"And you need to be careful."

"I know that too."

She frowned slightly. "Then don’t try to prove anything before the challenge."

A faint smile appeared on his face. "You’re worried."

"Of course I am."

Rylan’s expression softened.

Anaria reached for his hand and held it. She hadn’t forgotten that he never wanted any of this. She also hadn’t forgotten why she had pushed him toward the challenge.

She wanted them to return home.

She wanted their family to be safe.

But she also knew that leaving Wolfrine while Zane remained in control could simply bring the same danger back to them later.

Rylan squeezed her hand gently.

"I’ll be fine," he said.

Anaria nodded, though she wasn’t completely convinced.

As they prepared to leave the council room, the familiar voice of the system suddenly appeared in her mind.

[Primary Mission: Save Your Husband.]

[Continue moving forward. The host is approaching the next stage of the mission.]

Anaria’s steps slowed for a brief moment.

She silently acknowledged the message before continuing.

She knew what she had to do now.

Support Rylan.

Nothing more.

The actual fight belonged to him.

She would not interfere, if Rylan was going to reclaim his position, he had to do it himself.

Still, as she looked at him walking beside her, worry settled heavily in her chest.

She prayed silently that he would not get into trouble before the challenge and that nothing bad would happen to him when the day finally came.

The system had given her a mission, but that did not make Rylan any less important to her.

He was her husband.

She wanted him alive and safe.

Rylan glanced at her when he noticed how quiet she had become. "What is it?"

"Nothing," she replied with a small smile. "I’m just thinking."

"About the challenge?"

"Yes."

He looked ahead. "So am I."

They continued toward the room where Kenai, Kai, and Ana were waiting for them.

The challenge had been arranged.

The day and time had been set.

For now, all they could do was prepare.

And somewhere ahead, at the old Royal Stone Ground, Rylan would finally face the man who had taken his place.