As the golden hues of afternoon danced across the courtyard, Liam felt a chill in the evening air. With a tender smile, he looked down at the infant cradled in his arms, feeling the warmth of the child's breath against his chest. 

But he couldn't ignore the growing sense of fatigue on Valeria’s face. Liam raised his one hand and gestured to the guard who had brought him. "Please," Liam murmured softly to the guard standing nearby, his voice a gentle plea, "could you assist me ...