Brandon stopped in front of a beautiful two-story villa with white walls and sky-blue accents.

It was one of the finer homes in the district, gifted by him personally to Freya and Amelia so they could stay comfortably in the new Holy Land whenever they wished.

He stepped up to the wooden door and knocked firmly three times.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed from inside and the door burst open.

"Sir Kael-!"

Amelia’s eyes lit up with pure joy the moment she saw him.

Without hesitation, she rushed forward and hopped straight into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms tightly around his neck.

Brandon caught her effortlessly, laughing softly as he hugged her close.

Her familiar scent and warmth enveloped him as she buried her face in his neck.

"You’re finally here!" she whispered happily, squeezing him tighter. "I missed you so much..."

He held her securely with one arm under her thighs as he stepped inside the house, kicking the door shut behind him.

"I missed you too, Amelia," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head.

Amelia nuzzled deeper into his neck, refusing to let go.

At that moment, hurried footsteps came from the staircase.

Freya appeared at the top of the stairs and her eyes widened when she saw Brandon standing in the entrance with Amelia in his arms.

A bright smile bloomed on her face.

Without saying a word, Freya hurried down the stairs, her mature figure swaying gracefully with each step. .

The moment she reached him, she cupped his face with both hands and pulled him into a kiss.

"Mmm..."

Freya kissed him hungrily and she pressed her lips firmly against his as her body leaned into him.

"Welcome home," she whispered against his lips, giving him one more quick peck. "We’ve been waiting for you."

Brandon smiled, still holding Amelia securely in his arms as Freya stayed pressed close to his side.

"It’s good to be here," he replied, looking at both women with genuine affection. "How have you two been settling in?"

Amelia lifted her head from his neck, still clinging to him like a koala.

"It’s wonderful!" she said excitedly. "The house is so beautiful, and the city feels so... peaceful. People are actually happy here. I’ve been helping at one of the temples during the day."

Freya gently stroked Brandon’s cheek with her thumb, "And I’ve been overseeing some of the trade negotiations with the merchants who arrived recently."

"But we’ve both been counting the days until your visit."

With a sigh, he replied "Forgive me, I was busy these past few months."

Freya nodded her head "Mhm, we know... because of you, the city is so much better."

"Anyway, come... let’s have dinner."

With Amelia still happily clinging to him like a koala, he carried her toward the dining room while Freya walked beside them, her hand resting comfortably on his back.

---

Late into the night, the master bedroom was dimly lit by a single lantern on the bedside table as the three of them lay together on the bed.

Amelia was asleep, curled up tightly against Brandon’s back.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist while her face was pressed between his shoulder blades.

Brandon lay on his side, facing Freya.

His arm was stretched out, serving as a pillow for her head.

Freya was lying naked beside him, pressing her mature, voluptuous body against his front.

One of her legs was draped over his, and her fingers traced outlines across his bare chest and collarbone.

For a while, only the soft sound of Amelia’s breathing filled the room.

Freya eventually broke the comfortable silence.

"...I’m already 37, you know," she muttered against his chest.

Brandon stayed quiet, listening to what she wanted to say.

Freya continued, "I’ve spent so many years helping raise Amelia, supporting my brother, dealing with court politics... I never really thought about having a child of my own. But lately..."

She paused, "I keep thinking about it. And... I realized I don’t want to wait anymore."

She lifted her head slightly to look at him, "I want your child, Kael."

Her hand moved up to gently cup his cheek "I know I’m older than most women who have their first child, but I still want it. I want to build a family with you... with Amelia too."

She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his lips, "I’m not asking you to decide right now. I just... wanted you to know how I feel."

Brandon’s gaze trembled.

If he accepted this and gave Freya a child... that child would become part of the Bleaufort bloodline.

Amelia’s future family and Florence’s ancestors.

And now... perhaps he is the one who would father a child that would one day lead to Florence and the family he left behind in 2051.

The weight of it pressed down on him.

Freya noticed his silence "...Kael?" she whispered, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.

Brandon slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers. His blue eyes were deep, carrying centuries of burden she could never fully understand.

But beneath that weight, there was warmth.

"...Alright. I’ll give you a child, if that’s what you truly want." he said softly.

Freya’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

A bright smile bloomed across Freya’s face.

Her eyes glistened as she let out a shaky breath of relief and joy.

She pressed herself closer to him, burying her face in his neck "Thank you..."

Brandon held her close, gently stroking her back.

He stared at the ceiling once more and his mind was still swirling with the enormity of what he had just agreed to.

Another piece of the future being woven by his own hands.

But as Freya clung to him with quiet happiness, he felt strangely at peace with the decision.

This was always going to happen.

He was simply fulfilling what had already been written.

Looking up at him, she whispered "Tomorrow... or when you have time. I am ready."