The Ruby Empire

Saraelos the Dark Elf

Female Reader x Male Monster

I was young when I got married, probably too young. That's why, when my husband died, it seemed like such a tragedy. I was too young to be a widow, too young to have a baby on my own. Sophie wasn't even born yet. He never got to see her, not even once. He knew I was pregnant before he was shipped off, but that's about it.

I devoted my life to Sophie after that. I wanted her to grow healthy and independent, something I feel that I lacked. I didn't want her to lose something so young like I did. I wanted her to grow up knowing safety and comfort for as long as possible. Isn't that what any parent wants? I also made sure Sophie knew the things her father did. She was so much like him; it was like his spirit was inside her. I swear, Sophie could climb before she could walk. She took to water like a fish; I never knew a child who insisted on having baths as much as she did. Even as a baby if I wanted to comfort her a warm bath was all it took. I swear, by the time she was three I thought she could fly.

My parents asked me to go out and meet people. Sophie needs a father was a regular mantra of theirs. Sophie had a father, and I knew he was guiding her. A male figure in her life? She had several; my brother was always around, both sets of grandparents were still around, my uncle spoiled her more than any of them. My uncle, Eric, was the reason I even met my husband. He had raised him since his home life was far from perfect. My husband's father was a drunk so he would often run away to the docks that my uncle owned and operated. He taught him everything he knew and considered him a son. So to him, Sophie was his granddaughter as well as his great niece.

One day, on one of his many visits, he brings Sophie the usual gift. This time, it's a replica of her father's boat. As she played with it in the yard, Eric came and sat beside me.

"I still have it," he tells me, "Dominic's boat."

"I know you do," I murmur.

He puts his arm around me and squeezes extra tight. "I miss him; I can't imagine how you feel somedays."

"I have Sophie, she helps." I smile up at Eric. "You've got a plan don't you?"

He grins. "You always could read me better than anyone." He releases me and reaches into the pocket of his vest. He pulls out a map and shows it to me. "I want to take you and Sophie on a little adventure. There's an island I go to often. I've built a cabin there, and I always intended to give it to you and Dominic. I think Sophie should have it."

I look over the map and sigh. "I don't know, Eric," I murmur.

He rubs my back. "You need a vacation, Clemmy," she says.

I groan. "I hate that nickname."

"What else should I call you?" Eric chuckles. "Clement? Tiny?"

I grin at him. "Clementine is my name; you could try it."

He rolls his eyes. "I told your mother that was a stupid name. Told her she should have named you Erica."

I give him an exasperated look, and he grins, the one gold tooth of his glimmers in the sun. "Come on; I know Dominic would want Sophie to enjoy the ocean. You can't tell me he wouldn't have her on the boat every chance he got."

"We would live on a boat if it were up to him," I sigh. You watch Sophie running around with the boat, and I smile softly. "It's close to Obresh," you say. "I can visit Meggie afterward."

Eric claps me on the back. "It's settled then." He runs out into the yard to tell Sophie, and she squeals with excitement. I can say already that until this trip happens, it is all she is ever going to talk about. She plans to the absolute tiniest detail what she's going to pack, packs it, then unpacks it, then packs it again. She runs back and forth like a chicken with her head cut off, just excited as she can possibly be.