Chapter 220: Chapter 219- After me…

“Is this how it feels to have a child?” Adrian asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he stood beside his fiancée.

They were in his room, standing quietly in front of the bed where a certain black-haired girl was sleeping soundly—completely still, her breath calm and even.

Annabelle.

A fierce warrior, hardened by countless battles and brutal experiences. Someone who had stared down horrors most would never survive.

But none of that made her immune to pain… or exhaustion.

She had sprinted across half a nation in barely two hours, just to reach him.

And the mental toll it took—knowing the man she cared for might be trapped in a war zone—had worn her down completely.

After a light dinner, she’d simply slumped forward onto the table and drifted off.

It was Ariana who had suggested letting her sleep here for the night.

“Well,” Ariana replied with a soft smile, “she does behave like a child sometimes. I’ll admit that much.”

Her eyes lingered on the girl for a moment, thoughtful.

She recalled the conversation they’d had earlier in the forest.

Though… “conversation” might’ve been a stretch.

It was more like a one-sided class.

Ariana had explained a few things Annabelle should avoid saying in front of Adrian—things that might hurt him unintentionally or stir the wrong emotions.

Surprisingly, Annabelle had listened to every word without complaint. She’d even pulled out a small diary from her bag and scribbled down notes like a student eager to learn.

Today, Ariana had seen so many different sides of the strongest Warden.

The angry, frustrated warrior.

The trembling girl who had been shaken to her core.

The guarded version, wary of being approached by an unfamiliar person.

And finally… the curious child, quietly soaking in lessons she never got to learn before.

Adrian let out a long sigh and broke the silence. “Aria… thank you.”

Ariana turned to him, eyes questioning.

He glanced at the sleeping Annabelle, then looked back at her.

“You handled everything really well. You calmed Bella down. Talked to her. Helped her open up.”

His voice lowered as he added, “If she had walked away today without speaking to me… after I shouted at her… I know I would’ve regretted it.”

Ariana’s expression softened.

She simply reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Then it’s a good thing I didn’t let her go.”

Adrian smiled warmly before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on her lips.

Ariana responded with another gentle peck of her own, her eyes closing briefly in contentment.

The two stood together in a peaceful silence, basking in the quiet moment. But it didn’t last long before Ariana tilted her head slightly and asked with a teasing tone, “So… what’s the plan now? Are you coming to my room to sleep?”

Adrian hesitated, visibly conflicted. “Umm… leaving her here like this… it feels a bit…”

He trailed off, sensing the sharp glint in Ariana’s eyes.

That look she gave him—part amused, part deadly serious—clearly said: Choose your next words very carefully.

He cleared his throat and quickly added, “But of course, I can’t stay here alone with another woman when I’m already engaged to you.” He leaned in again and gave her another quick kiss to seal his reassurance.

Ariana shook her head with a soft sigh, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Well then,” she said, voice playful but decisive, “you definitely can’t sleep here alone with her.”

She looked at the sleeping Annabelle, then back at Adrian.

“So how about this… I stay too.”

She gave a small nod, like it was the most logical solution in the world.

Adrian blinked. “…You mean, all three of us?”

Ariana shrugged, flashing him a sly grin. “Well, it’d be fun to share the same floor with my hubby~,” she teased, drawing out the last word playfully.

She leaned in, kissed his cheek, then turned and headed toward his cupboard without waiting for a reply.

Adrian let out a soft sigh, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

There was no winning with her—and honestly, he didn’t mind. He glanced at Annabelle, still sound asleep on the bed.

Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing slow and even. She looked so calm… so peaceful.

It had been a long time since he’d seen her like that.

A gentle warmth spread in his chest.

Meanwhile, Ariana, who had started spreading out the covers on the floor, looked back at him. She noticed the quiet look in his eyes and smiled softly to herself.

Moments later, Adrian joined her and helped set the space for the night. They laid out a thin mattress and arranged the sheet together. Once everything was in place, both of them shed their coats and unnecessary layers before slipping under the duvet.

Ariana, ever the schemer, had only brought out one blanket—just enough to keep them close.

She rested her head on his arm, her cheek pressed softly against his chest. One arm draped across his waist, and their legs naturally intertwined under the warmth of the covers.

“Mmm… this is so comfortable,” she murmured, snuggling closer.

Adrian chuckled, brushing a strand of her silver hair away from her face. “Well,” he whispered, “my doors are always open. You’re welcome to enjoy this warmth every night.”

Ariana smirked, eyes closed. “Careful now, I might just take you up on that offer forever.”

He pulled her in a little tighter.

“That’s kind of what I’m hoping for.”

A quiet moment settled between them, warm and still—neither of them speaking, simply enjoying the closeness, the comfort, the steady presence of each other.

Then, in a soft whisper, barely above a breath, Ariana spoke.

“I realized something today.”

Adrian hummed in response, his fingers gently tracing circles on her back. “Hmm?”

She tilted her head up, looking into his eyes.

“That there might be someone else who can love you as much as I do,” she said quietly. “And while that thought made me a little jealous… it also gave me peace.”

She paused, her expression tinged with something deeper—something quietly vulnerable.

“At least… if something were to happen to me someday, she—”

“I don’t want to hear any more,” Adrian cut in firmly, his voice low but resolute.

But the words were already out. The meaning had reached him.

He let out a long breath, tightening his arms around her before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

“Even as a possibility,” he whispered, “don’t you dare assume you’d leave me. I won’t allow it.”

There was no teasing in his voice, no lighthearted edge. Only raw conviction.

Ariana didn’t respond with a joke this time.

The strength in his embrace… the way his heart beat steadily beneath her ear… the seriousness in his tone—it melted her.

She buried herself deeper into his chest, comforted by the unwavering warmth of the man she loved.

And before she knew it, lulled by the rhythm of his heartbeat, Ariana drifted into sleep.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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