Chapter 41 - 041: Final
Anaria looked around the council room as the discussion finally came to an end. The food system had been settled, and everyone now understood what needed to be done.
Kenai leaned back in his chair and glanced at the council member. "We’ll put everything into place immediately," he said. "But someone will need to oversee the arrangement and make sure everyone follows it properly."
One of the council members nodded. "We can assign servants to handle the records and storage."
Kenai looked toward Anaria. "Maybe, you should be in charge of organizing it."
Anaria’s eyes widened. "Me?"
Kenai nodded. "You created the system. The last one worked because you organized it yourself. I believe it would be easier if you handled this one too."
Anaria stared at him for a moment. The thought of having to spend even more time sorting food made her tired already. She had only wanted to help and somehow it created more work for her.
"Do I really have to?" she asked.
Kenai’s lips curved slightly. "You don’t have to. But I thought you wanted to make sure the method workers perfectly"
Anaria sighed. He wasn’t wrong. Still, she didn’t want to spend the rest of her time in Ravenfall buried in food records and storage rooms. Then another thought crossed her mind.... Rylan and Kai....
Her expression changed as she remembered how the two males had reacted whenever Kenai was around, always suspicious of him, and Kenai wasnt exactly comfortable around them either. If they kept going like that, every meeting between them would probably turn into another argument. Now that Kenai was connected to her and her child, they couldnt keep behaving as though they were enemies.
She looked at Kenai. "Actually, I have an idea."
Kenai raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Instead of answering immediately, Anaria considered her plan. If Rylan and Kai worked alongside Kenai’s people, they would have no choice but to interact with him. Having something useful to focus on might ease the tension between them, or at least give them a reason to stop arguing.
"I want Rylan and Kai summoned here," she said.
Kenai looked surprised. "Rylan and Kai?"
"Yes."
"Why do you want them here?"
Anaria smiled faintly. "Just summon them first."
Kenai studied her face, clearly confused by the sudden request, but he didn’t question her further. He turned toward one of the servants. "Go and bring Rylan and Kai here."
The servant bowed and left.
Anaria leaned back in her chair, feeling slightly pleased with herself. She didn’t expect Rylan and Kai to suddenly become friends with Kenai that would be too much to hope.
Kenai noticed. "You look suspiciously pleased with yourself."
Anaria looked at him innocently. "Do I?"
"Yes."
She shrugged. "That’s interesting."
Kenai shook his head, though the faint amusement in his expression remained.
Anaria turned toward the door and waited. A few minutes later, footsteps sounded in the corridor. The doors opened, and Rylan and Kai stepped into the council room. Both immediately looked toward Anaria.
"Ana." Rylan’s voice softened as he approached her.
Kai followed close behind, his expression carrying the same uneasiness.
Anaria looked between them. "Why do you both look like that?"
Rylan stopped in front of her and lowered his gaze. "We’re sorry."
Anaria blinked.
Kai nodded. "We shouldn’t have behaved that way earlier."
Rylan rubbed the back of his neck. "We were angry and worried that you might be doing too much, that’s why we behaved like that."
"We were thinking about ourselves," Kai admitted.
Anaria stared at them for a moment. She hadn’t expected them to apologize so quickly, but either way, it was working out for her. She stepped closer and gently touched Rylan’s cheek before doing the same to Kai. "I’m not angry with either of you."
Both males looked at her.
Anaria smiled faintly. "But since you feel guilty, I know how you can make it up to me."
Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly. "How?"
Anaria turned toward Kenai. "The two of them can be the personnel you mentioned earlier."
Kenai’s brows lifted. "Rylan and Kai?"
"Yes."
Rylan looked confused. "What are we supposed to do?"
"Help with the food distribution."
Kai stared at her. "You summoned us here for that?"
Anaria nodded. "Exactly."
Rylan looked at Kenai, then back at her. "You want us to work with them?"
Anaria crossed her arms. "Is there a problem?"
Kai hesitated. He clearly wasn’t pleased with the idea, but when he looked at Anaria and saw how happy she was, his expression softened.
Rylan sighed. "If that’s what you want, we’ll do it."
Kai looked at him before giving a reluctant nod. "Fine. We’ll help."
Anaria smiled. "Good." She glanced between them and Kenai.
Kenai seemed confused at what she was trying to do, but it’s her idea, so she knows best. He turned toward the council members. "Then we’ll assign them to work with the selected servants."
One of the council members nodded. "We’ll show them where the food is stored and explain the records."
Rylan looked at them and sighed. "Alright."
Kai gave Anaria one last look. "We’re doing this because you asked."
Anaria smiled. "I know."
"And you owe us for this," Kai added.
Anaria raised an eyebrow. "I owe you?"
Rylan shook his head. "Ignore him."
Kai frowned. "Why?"
"Because you’re already complaining and you asked for it"
Anaria laughed softly. "Both of you, go before I change my mind."
Rylan and Kai exchanged a glance before following the council members and servants toward the storage area.
Anaria watched them leave.
Kenai remained beside her. "What are you up to?" he said.
Anaria looked at him. "Nothing."
"Talk?"
She shrugged. "You three are going to keep seeing each other. I don’t want everyone fighting every time that happens."
Kenai was quiet for a moment. "Perhaps you’re right." He said and headed toward the door to join the others.
Anaria smiled. "I usually am." She looked around the room and sighed. "Hopefully, this would work."