Chapter 91 - 091: New lord

The fighting ground remained crowded even after the challenge had ended.

Rylan had barely recovered enough to stand properly when the cabinet members approached him. The older council member who had announced the result stepped forward and asked him to follow them.

Rylan glanced at Anaria.

She was still holding Ana, with Kenai and Kai beside her.

"Do I have to go somewhere?" Rylan asked.

"The people are waiting to recognize their Lord," the council member replied.

Rylan sighed "I was hoping I could sit down first."

Anaria almost laughed "You can rest after."

Rylan gave her a tired look but followed the council members.

They led him toward the central gathering area of Wolfrine, where many of the beastmen had already gathered. Word of his victory had spread quickly, and more people were arriving to see him.

Rylan stopped when he saw the size of the crowd.

"This many people?"

"You are their Lord now," one of the council members reminded him.

"That doesn’t make it less uncomfortable."

Anaria, Kenai and Kai followed behind him.

The moment Rylan stepped forward, the crowd became quieter.

The older council member raised his voice.

"Before all of Wolfrine, the royal challenge has been settled. Rylan, rightful heir of Wolfrine, has defeated Zane and reclaimed his position."

The crowd responded with cheers.

Rylan looked around at them.

He wasn’t smiling instead, he seemed to be trying to understand how quickly his life had changed.

A few moments ago, he had been fighting for the right to leave.

Now everyone was calling him Lord.

One of the council members stepped toward him and lowered his head "My Lord."

Rylan visibly stiffened "You don’t have to do that."

The man looked confused "You are Lord of Wolfrine."

"I know. Just... give me some time to get used to it."

Anaria watched him from behind.

Kenai leaned slightly toward Kai "He really doesn’t like this."

Kai quietly nodded.

Rylan heard them and turned "I can hear you."

Kai looked away.

A few beastmen nearby laughed.

The tension in the gathering eased. Rylan was eventually led toward the residence that belonged to Wolfrine’s ruling family. Anaria, Kenai, Kai and Ana were taken along with him.

Inside, Rylan was shown the rooms that would now belong to them.

Anaria looked around the spacious room before glancing down at Ana "Well, you’re definitely going to like this."

Ana moved against her chest.

Rylan lowered himself onto a nearby seat with a tired breath. "I could sleep for two days."

"You probably need to," Anaria said.

Before he could answer, Ana suddenly made a small sound.

Everyone looked at her.

The baby had been awake for some time, watching the people around her.

Anaria adjusted her carefully "What is it, little one?"

Ana looked toward Rylan.

Then, after several quiet movements of her mouth, she made a clearer sound.

"Da."

Everyone froze.

Anaria blinked. Kenai slowly looked up.

Ana moved her little hands against Anaria’s chest and repeated it. "Da."

Rylan and kai stared at her "Did she just...?"

Anaria’s face immediately brightened.

"I think she did but why the father."

Kenai’s eyes widened. "She said it."

Kai stepped closer. "She actually said it."

Rylan stood despite his exhaustion and moved toward them.

Anaria carefully brought Ana closer.

Kenai looked at the baby with complete disbelief.

Ana reached toward him.

Kenai gently took her hand "Again," he said softly.

Ana only stared at him.

Everyone waited. Then she made the sound once more. "Da."

Kenai laughed. It was the first time since the challenge that his expression completely relaxed.

Anaria smiled as she watched him. "Seems she is a daddy’s girl after all."

Kenai looked at her and smiled

"Congrats dada" Rylan said with a smile on his face

"Leave dada alone and rest" kai said while laughing

"Fine"

Kenai laughed. "Let him have this one."

Kai nodded. "After everything today, he deserves to rest up ."

Rylan shook his head, still smiling as he looked at Ana.

For a brief moment, nothing else mattered.

The moment didn’t last long.

A council member eventually entered the room and reminded Rylan that there were matters he needed to discuss.

Rylan’s smile disappeared "Already?"

"We cannot delay everything."

He sighed and looked at Anaria.

"I knew being Lord would be troublesome."

Anaria smiled. "You haven’t even started yet."

Immediately they left the room, the council members began explaining what had happened in Wolfrine during Zane’s rule.

There had been disputes between clans, shortages in several settlements, and growing dissatisfaction among some of the people.

Rylan listened carefully. "Why wasn’t this handled earlier?"

The council member hesitated. "Lord Zane did not always listen to the council."

Rylan’s expression tightened. "So these problems were allowed to continue."

"Yes."

Another council member added that several settlements had stopped cooperating with Wolfrine because they no longer trusted the leadership.

Rylan leaned back.

He had expected responsibility but not this much.

"What about the people who supported Zane?"

"They remain divided."

"And the soldiers?"

"Some remain loyal to him."

Rylan was silent. He had barely recovered from the challenge, yet there was already an entire settlement depending on him.

"We’ll deal with one problem at a time," Rylan finally said.

The council members nodded. For now, the meeting ended.

Rylan returned to the room and immediately sat down.

Anaria placed Ana beside Kenai for a moment while she arranged their things.

Kai settled nearby.

Rylan looked around the room. "This is strange."

"What is?" Anaria asked.

"I spent so long trying to stay away from this place."

He looked at Ana, who was now moving her little hands towards Kenai.

"And now I’m sitting here with all of you."

Anaria smiled. "You’re not alone this time."

Rylan looked at her and nodded.

Before he could say anything else, another council member entered again

Rylan’s expression changed "Can’t you guys knock?"

The man hesitated.

" Sorry, my lord but there is one matter we haven’t discussed."

Rylan straightened.

"What matter?"