Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 347 - Three Hundred And Forty Six

The young boy was wearing his soft, white cotton nightclothes. His bare feet made no sound on the thick carpet. He was clutching a large, white, fluffy pillow tightly against his chest with both arms.

"Ryan?" Derek asked in surprise. He set his quill down on the desk. "What are you doing out of bed?"

Ryan walked a few steps into the room and stopped. He looked at Derek with big, sad eyes. He looked very small in the massive, shadowy bedroom.

"I couldn’t sleep," Ryan mumbled. His voice was tiny and tired.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He looked past Derek, staring at the large bed where Marissa was lying so quietly. He missed the warmth of her hugs. He felt lonely in his own room down the hall.

Ryan squeezed his pillow tighter. He looked back at Derek, his eyes full of innocent, hopeful pleading.

"Can I sleep with you and mother?" Ryan asked softly.

Derek stared at the young boy. His logical mind told him to say no. Marissa was still very weak, and her body was recovering from a deadly poison and a forbidden ritual. He did not want Ryan to accidentally bump her or disturb her fragile peace. He also did not want Ryan to wake up in the morning and realize his mother was not waking up with him.

But then Derek looked at the boy’s sad, lonely eyes. He looked at the tightly clutched pillow. The boy had lost his real parents already. Now, the mother who had taken him in was lying motionless. The boy just wanted to feel safe.

Derek felt the last bit of his strict resolve melt away. He let out a long, heavy sigh of resignation.

"Okay," Derek answered gently.

Ryan’s sad eyes instantly brightened. A huge, happy smile spread across his small face.

He did not wait for another word. He ran across the room with his little legs, his bare feet pattering quickly on the floor. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

He reached the side of the massive four-poster bed. The bed was built for a tall Grand Duke, and the mattress sat very high off the ground. Ryan stood on his toes. He reached up and put his fluffy pillow onto the mattress.

Then, he tried to climb up. He lifted his right leg high, trying to hook his knee onto the thick mattress. He grunted with effort, pulling himself up, but his arms were too short and his legs were too small. He slipped backward and landed back on the carpet with a soft thud.

He tried again, grabbing the heavy silk blankets, but he just could not pull his weight up the high wooden frame.

Derek watched the boy struggle from his desk. A very faint, tiny smile touched the corners of Derek’s lips. It was the first time he had smiled all day.

Derek pushed his chair back and stood up. He walked over to the side of the bed.

He bent down. He reached out with his strong arms and easily grabbed Ryan by the waist. He lifted the boy high into the air as if he weighed nothing at all.

Ryan giggled happily as he flew through the air. Derek gently deposited him right in the middle of the large, soft mattress, placing him carefully next to Marissa.

"Thank you, father," Ryan whispered.

Ryan crawled across the blankets. He grabbed his pillow and quickly arranged it right next to Marissa’s shoulder. He lifted the heavy, warm quilt and wiggled his small body underneath the covers.

He moved close to Marissa. She was completely still, but her body radiated a gentle warmth. Ryan reached out and took Marissa’s limp, quiet arm. He gently pulled her arm over his own small chest, arranging it so it felt like she was hugging him.

He snuggled deep into Marissa’s warm arms, burying his face near her soft, dark hair. He let out a long, happy sigh of deep contentment. He felt completely safe. Within a few short minutes, his breathing slowed down.

Derek stood by the bed, watching them. His heart felt heavy, yet strangely warm. He saw the woman he loved and the boy he raised, lying together peacefully.

Derek turned around and went back to his desk. He sat down in the chair, picked up his feathered quill, and continued with his work. He read the reports, signed the papers, and planned for the security of the capital, all while listening to the soft, rhythmic breathing of his family.

An hour passed. The candle on the desk burned low, the hot wax dripping down the sides.

When he was finally done, Derek set the quill down. He closed the ink bottle and stacked the papers neatly into a pile. His back ached terribly, and his eyes burned from exhaustion.

He stood up from the desk. He looked back at the large bed.

Ryan was already fast asleep. The young boy’s mouth was slightly open, and his chest rose and fell in a deep, peaceful sleep. He was still safely tucked inside Marissa’s unmoving arm.

Derek walked over to the desk. He leaned down and blew out the candle. The small yellow flame vanished, leaving the room illuminated only by the dim, dying red coals in the fireplace and the ray of moonlight.

He walked to his side of the bed. He slowly pulled back the heavy quilt. He got on the bed, being very careful not to shake the mattress.

He slid under the warm covers. He moved close to Marissa’s other side. He wrapped his strong left arm around her waist, holding Marissa gently but firmly to his body. He pressed his chest against her back, sharing his warmth and his strength with her.

He rested his chin gently near the top of her dark, curly hair. He closed his tired eyes, feeling the steady beat of her heart against his own arm.

He leaned forward slightly, placing a very soft, tender kiss against her temple.

As he whispered into the quiet, dark room, his voice was filled with an endless, desperate love.

"Good night, Mari. Good night, Ryan."