Rayner practically bounded into the village, a wide grin plastered across his face as if returning to a beloved home after a long adventure. His stride was playful and light, and his eyes twinkled with his mischievous glint. Marcelia followed behind him, feeling her face warm as she caught sight of the villagers turning their attention toward them. She tried to keep her head high, but the weight of what had happened between them left her both embarrassed and unsure of what to expect.

“Rayner’s back!” a small boy cried out, running ahead to alert the rest of the village.

The village came alive at the sound of the boy’s voice. People leaned out of their home, smiling and waving at the approaching pair, their eyes filled with mirth. They were well accustomed to Rayner’s visits and the chaos he often brought with him.

“Who’ve you caught this time, Rayner?” one of the older men called out with a chuckle as they passed.

A baker, her hands dusted in flour, laughed from her stall. “Looks like someone’s the latest victim of his name tricks.”

Rayner threw his head back and laughed, utterly delighted by their reactions. “Oh, if only it were that simple!” he said, grinning from ear to ear. He glanced over his shoulder at Marcelia with a twinkle in his eyes. “This one is too clever to fall for my usual tricks. But.. she accidentally proposed marriage to me instead!”

The village erupted into laughter, and Marcelia’s face flushed bright red. She wanted to sink into the ground and disappear. She wasn’t used to this kind of attention, especially not under such circumstances.

“Marriage?” A farmer's wife raised her brows, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well I’ll be! Didn’t think I’d see the day when someone managed to tie down the likes of you!”

Rayner puffed out his chest with mock pride. “Indeed! Rayner puffed out his chest with mock pride. “Indeed! In fae terms, she’s my betrothed now. But, so she doesn’t panic”-he shot Marcelia another playful look-”we’re calling it Fiances, just to ease her mind.” His voice was full of warmth, and despite the teasing, it was clear that he was genuinely pleased by this turn of events.

Marcelia felt like all the eyes in the village were on her, and she forced a tight smile, unsure of how to respond. The villagers, however, took it in stride, offering congratulations as if this  sort of thing was entirely ordinary.

“Looks like you’re stuck with him now,” an elderly woman chuckled, patting Marcelia’s arm as she passed by.

Marcelia managed a small laugh, though it sounded more strained than she would have liked. “Lucky me,” she muttered under her breath, casting a sideways glance at Rayner, who seemed utterly unfazed by her discomfort. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying every second of it.

A group of children approached, their eyes wide with curiosity. One particularly bold girl stepped forward. “Are you really gonna be a fairy princess now?” she asked, her voice filled with awe.

Marcelia knelt down to the girl’s level and smiled, though her cheeks were still flushed. “I don’t think I”m princess material,” she said softly, “but… I suppose anything’s possible.”

Rayner’s voice boomed behind her. “Oh, she’ll be more than a princess. She’ll be the cleverest, most beautiful fairy queen there ever was!”

The children giggled, and Marcelia shot Rayner a glare over her shoulder. He only winked at her in response, his smile widening.

The crowd began to disperse as the villagers returned to their work, though many cast lingering smiles and teasing glances at the pair. Marcelia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself now that the excitement had died down. She was here to help Lucillia, and that needed to be her focus-no matter what mischief Rayner tried to stir up.

Once most of the villagers had gone back to their daily tasks, Marcelia turned to Rayner, her voice low and tense. “Did you really have to announce it like that?”

Rayner feigned innocence, placing a hand over his heart. “Why I was just sharing the truth with our lovely village friends. Would you rather I lie?”

Marcelia rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips, “You’re impossible.”

Rayner grinned, leaning closer to her. “That’s why you like me.”

She let out a sigh, unable to deny that, despite his antics, she found his presence oddly comforting. As much as she hated to admit it, Rayner had a way of making even the most awkward situations feel a little lighter. But that doesn’t mean she was going to let him off the hook so easily.

“Come on,” she said, turning away from him. “We’re here to deliver some babies. Focus.”

Rayner nodded, though his mischievous grin didn’t falter, “Whatever you say, my clever fiance.”

Marcelia gave him one last exasperated look before heading toward Lucillia’s home, her heart racing as she prepared herself for the task ahead. The village may have been calm and welcoming, but Marcelia knew soon, her skills would be tested in ways that even Rayner’s teasing couldn’t distract her from.

Rayner led Marcelia through the village with an effortless grace, his lighthearted energy never faltering. They soon approached a cozy-looking cottage nestled near the edge of the village. The place exuded warmth and comfort, the kind of home where stories were told by the fire and visitors were always welcome. Flower boxes beneath the windows brimmed with herbs and bright colored blooms, and the scent of baking bread wafted from the chimney.

Rayner surprised Marcelia by knocking on the door instead of barging in as she half expected him to do. She arched a brow, but before she could comment, the door swung open, revealing a man in his mid-twenties, with dark brown hair and deep green eyes that immediately put her in mind of Julius. The resemblance was uncanny-though his demeanor was far more relaxed and playful than her often-stressed stepbrother.

“Edward!” Rayner exclaimed, clapping the man on the shoulders, “How’s my favorite crazy man doing? I’ve brought you something!”

He stepped aside, gesturing to Marcelia with an exaggerated flourish: as though she were the most prized of treasures.

Edward raised a brow, looking between Rayner and Marcelia with a bemused expression. “So, the healer we asked for became your latest victim, huh?”

Marcelia blinked, momentarily taken aback. It seemed like everyone in this village knew about Rayner’s name stealing antics.

“Nope!” Rayner replied cheerfully, “She’s too clever for that!”

Edward laughed, clearly used to Rayner’s theatrics. “Did she accidentally propose marriage to you?” he asked in jest, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Marcelia’s face turned an alarming shade of red.

Edward’s eyes widened as he noticed her reaction. “Wait… no way. That’s actually what happened?” His grin spread across his face. “Damn! Now you’re going to have to prove that you’re worthy to marry her. And let me tell you, Cedric is one very protective father. Good luck with that.”

Rayner laughed, entirely unfazed by the prospect. “Oh, I’m not worried. Marcelia already likes me. The rest will follow.”

Edward chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. “Well, I wish I could be there to watch Cedric’s reaction. He’s not the kind of father who lets things slide easily-especially when it comes to his daughters.” He shot Marcelia an apologetic smile. “I’m sure Rayner will find some way to charm his way out of it, though.”

Rayner grinned like a cat who had already caught it’s pray. “I’ve got nothing to worry about. AFter all, Cedric’s all about fairness, right?”

Marcelia could only sigh in exasperation, though she couldn’t deny that there was something oddly comforting about the benter between the two men Despite Rayner’s mischief, there was a sense of familiarity and trust between him and Edward that made the entire sittion feel a little less awkward.

“Well,” Edward said, stepping aside to let them in, “come on in. Lucillia’s in the back resting. She’s been waiting for you.”

Marcelia nodded, grateful for the shift in conversation. She foolow Edward inside, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for the work ahead.

Marcelia cleared her throat, grateful for the opportunity to focus on her work rather than the awkwardness of the earlier conversation. “Alright,” she began, her tone becoming more serious, “what’s Lucillia’s biggest concern right now regarding the birth?”

Edward’s expression sobered as well, clearly switching into a more focus mode. “She believes she’s showing signs of pre-eclampsia. She’s been doing everything she can to mitigate the symptoms, but it’s still a concern.”

Marcelia nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a serious condition. We’ll need to monito her closely.”

Rayner, who had been listening intently but with a slight furrow of confusion on his bro, finally spoke up. “Wait, what exactly is pre-eclampsia?”

Marcelia glanced at him, realizing that this might be the first time he had encountered such a term. She searched for a way to explain it that would make sense to him, considering his unfamiliarity with medical terminology.

“Alright,” she started, “think of it like this: when a woman is pregnant, her body has to work much harder to support both herself and the baby. Sometimes, if the strain becomes too much, it can cause problems with her blood pressure. Pre-eclamsia happens when that blood pressure gets too high and starts affecting her organs-like her liver or kidneys. IT can also make her retain fluid and cause swelling, and endanger both the mother and the baby.”

 Rayner’s eyes widened in concern, the mischievous gleam in them dimming a little. “And that’s what Lucillia has?”

“We’re not certain yet,” Marcelia replied gently, “but we have to treat it seriously, especially with twins on the way. Her body is under extra strain.”

Rayner nodded slowly, absorbing the information. “So what do we do? How do we help her?”

Marcelia glanced at Edward, who was already nodding in agreement. “I’ll check her symptoms, make sure she’s stable, and keep an eye on her blood pressure. Edward’s been helping by making sure she rests, which is crucial. If we can keep her calm and her blood pressure down, we can get through this safely. But if things get worse, we may have to deliver the babies early.”

Edward added, “Lucillia’s been doing everything she can, but its getting harder for her. That’s why we needed you, Marcelia.”

Rayner’s expression softened and he placed a hand on Marcelia’s shoulder. “Good thing you’re here, then.”

Marcelia gave a small nod, focusing on the task at hand. “Alright, let’s not waste any more time. I’ll need to see Lucillia and assess her condition.”

Edward led Marcelia and Rayner inside, guiding them through the cozy cottage. The air was warm, filled with the faint scent of herbs, and the decor was charmingly simple, with soft fabrics and wooden furniture. Marcelia felt at home immediately.

As they entered the main room, Marcelia’s eyes landed on a familiar figure. Lucillia was lounging comfortably in a large cushioned chair, her snow-white hair shimmering in the soft light. Her lopso bunny ears drooped lazily over the sides of her head, and her fluffy tail twitched slightly as she adjusted her position. Despite her clear exhaustion, Lucillia looked as regal as ever, with the lower half of her legs covered in fur down to her paw-like feet-stretched out in front of her, relaxing. The chair seemed designed just for her, offering both support and comfort, though her rounded belly, heavy with twins, was a reminder of the physical toll she was enduring.

“Lucy!” Marcelia exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face as recognition dawned. “I haven’t seen you since the day you graduated! Papa was so sad but proud to see his top student go.”

Lucillia’s ears perked up slightly, and a wide grin spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with warmth and fondness. “Little Songbird!” she exclaimed, using the affectionate nickname she had given Marcelia years ago. “Look at you now-a fully grown woman! What are you, about twenty now?”

Marcelia laughed softly and nodded. “Just turned twenty-one actually.”

Lucillia gave an approving nod, her expression softening as she looked at Marcelia. “You’ve grown beautifully. I knew you’d turn into a remarkable healer, just like your father. He must be so proud of you.”

Marcelia blushed slightly at the compliment. “Thank you, Lucy. But it looks like yu’ve been doing just fine yourself.” Her gaze briefly flickered to Lucillia’s belly. “Twins! That’s… quite a feat.”

Lucillia chuckled softly. “Oh, it’s been an adventure, that’s for sure. But I knew when things started getting complicated that it was time to call in the cavalry.”

Lucillia’s eyes suddenly locked onto Rayner and Marcelia noticed a shift in her expression-an evilly playful smile crept across her face, the kind she only used on those she loved to torment. “Oh, Twig-boy,” she sang, her voice laced with bardic magic, emphasizing the words as her eyes gleamed mischievously. “Did you mess with my Songbird?”

Rayner’s face went pale, his usually cocky demeanor crumbling under Lucillia’s teasing. “N-n-no ma’am,” she stammered, practically trembling like a leaf in the wind. “She… she was far too c-clever.”

“My Sunny Bunny, leave Rayner alone,” Edward sighed from the kitchen, shaking his head as he set a tray of freshly baked bread on the table. “You’re supposed to be resting, not traumatizing him again. I still can’t believe you gave a fae food poisoning.”

Lucillia chuckled, her eyes twitching as she shrugged. “What can I say? It’s a gift.”

Rayner’s eyes darted toward the kitchen, desperation evident in his voice. “Please tell me that bread I smell was made by you, Edward.” His voice was almost pleading, as if the bread was his only hope for survival.

Edward laughed. “Yes, Rayner, and I made spinach puffs too. You’re safe, for now.”

Rayner quickly disappeared into the kitchen with Edward, leaving Marcelia to sigh as she sank into the chair next to Lucillia. “Who would have guessed accidentally proposing to a fae would cause me so much anxiety,” she muttered under her breath, rubbing her temple.