Chapter 341

Chapter 341
Isabella's POV

Night fell silently, wrapping the forest in deep shadows. Ancient trees stood silently in the moonlight, and I held three-week-old Olivia in my arms, feeling a strange anxiety rise in my heart. Unlike Lucian who was born under a new moon, Olivia came into this world during the waning moon.

A soft rustling of fabric broke my contemplation. Sarah approached, her silver ceremonial dress gleaming in the moonlight, her smile exceptionally bright.

"Nervous?" she asked softly, standing beside me.

I nodded, my fingers unconsciously adjusting Olivia's blanket. "More than I was during Lucian's ceremony. Olivia's birth was too complicated."

Sarah's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Karma's coming for you, isn't it?"

"Are you cursing my daughter?" I pretended to glare at her.

She laughed more brightly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm not! I just enjoy seeing you nervous. It's your fault for always saying parenting was easy."

"I never said that!"

"And now you're panicking over a little Moon's Blessing Ceremony." She gently stroked Olivia's cheek and said softly, "Honestly, I just hope her future is safe and smooth."

I sighed, looking down at my daughter's peaceful sleeping face. "I don't want her life to be boring, I just want everything to go smoothly, safely... perhaps with a little adventure."

"Adventure?" Gabriel's voice came from behind, deep and gentle. He approached with a glass of champagne in one hand and Lucian in his other arm. "I think our little trouble baby will definitely not lack adventures."

His nickname for Olivia made me smile. "Trouble baby, trouble princess, bubble trouble princess... she's only three weeks old but has collected quite a few names."

"But she's actually very well-behaved," I added, gently stroking her soft blonde hair, "unlike her brother, who cried almost constantly for the first two months."

As if understanding our conversation, Lucian leaned forward in Gabriel's arms, reaching for his sister. "Ba!" he called out, waving his little hands in the air.

Sarah raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Does he like his sister?"

"We think he's trying to say 'baby'," I explained proudly. "He does this every time he sees her."

Looking at the two children, my heart was filled with happiness. Lucian had always been a good and smart baby, always eager to be closer to us. Between him and me, there really was a special bond, an intimacy and understanding that seemed to transcend words.

Ryan joined us then, swirling a champagne glass in his hand, "Five minutes until we start, is everyone ready?"

I rolled my eyes. "Can you be more serious? This is a sacred ceremony, not a football match."

"This is the second time," Ryan shrugged, taking a sip of his drink, "the novelty is gone."

"You're destined to have six children," I half-jokingly retorted, "wait until the sixth one and see if you're still in the mood for jokes."

Ryan laughed out loud, "By the sixth, I'll definitely be wearing pajamas, holding beer and paper towels for the ceremony."

Sarah stepped forward and carefully took Olivia from my arms. "Let me hold her."

While she was holding Olivia, Ryan leaned in and whispered, "You know I'm joking, right?"

"When in doubt, I always assume you're joking," I responded with a smile.

"That's why you're my favorite sister-in-law."

"I'm your only sister-in-law."

Before Ryan could argue, a messenger of the Moon Goddess had already approached, indicating that it was time.

Sarah's POV

I looked down at Olivia in my arms, my heart melting completely. Her face looked especially quiet and lovely in the moonlight. I leaned down and softly told her, "Your grandmother is looking forward to meeting you." My voice was so soft it was almost scattered by the forest wind.

Olivia made a soft gurgling sound, as if responding to me, making me laugh.

Ryan stood beside me, hands in his pockets, looking around the forest clearing. "Remember the last time we came here for Lucian's ceremony? We were still arguing then."

I nodded, memories surfacing in my mind. "Yes, we could hardly agree on anything that day."

"But we finally worked it out together." Ryan said reflectively, his gaze somewhat distant.

I couldn't help but smile, "We've definitely learned to cooperate better on these sacred responsibilities."

"Although we disagree on many things," Ryan said quietly, "when it comes to the children's blessings, we're always united."

"That's right." I adjusted Olivia in my arms and smiled at him slightly, "Each ceremony is smoother than the last."

Ryan's expression suddenly became serious. "I hope this brings powerful blessings for Olivia."

I was about to respond when suddenly I caught a flash of silver light in the corner of my eye, interrupting my thoughts.

"The Moon Goddess is already impatient." I said softly, recognizing the signal.

Ryan nodded at me. "We should go."

Together we walked toward the pond. The pond was surrounded by smooth rocks, with a small waterfall flowing down one side, the whole environment like a hidden hot spring. The water surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the moon hanging high.

I carefully lifted Olivia toward the moonlight, letting the silver light shower on her delicate face. Ryan and I recited the sacred prayers together, entrusting Olivia to the Moon Goddess's protection and guidance.

The moonlight grew brighter, and I felt a warmth and satisfaction fill my entire body. I knew that was the feeling from the Moon Goddess, she really liked Olivia.

Just then, the air above the pond began to ripple gently, and the omen slowly took shape. Ryan and I watched with bated breath as mysterious images gradually appeared above the water, vaguely revealing some fragments of Olivia's future...