~Pearl to My Oyster~(WRIOLETTE FIC)

Chapter 54

        Neuvillette wasn't the only one poring over paperwork. Wriothesley was sitting at his large oak desk, their dear daughter that resembled her mother so much on his lap. Lucille was preoccupied with an old dolphin plush, one from the Duke's childhood. Despite his dark upbringing, he'd brought a single toy with him when he'd entered Meropide as a fresh convict. He'd never had the heart to throw it away, it was like some sort of "comfort animal" except stuffed with cotton instead of organs and sewn together with string, not tendons.

A fond smile tugging at his lips, he stroked his baby's hair, his heart melting as she giggled and dropped the toy to grab at his calloused and bandage wrapped hands. Setting his pen down for a moment, he gently picked her up and kissed her nose.

"I love you so much, you know that? I'd let the world burn for you."

She blinked, as if confused for a moment, before a small chubby hand came up to rest against his cheek. His own palm, so much bigger than her delicate one came to cup it agaisnt hers, his usually sharp rhombi pupils now soft diluted diamonds as he gazed at her. Lucille, his first proper child, aside from Sigewinne and forty seven other Melusines. She was perfect in his eyes, from head to her small toes.

"You are so loved, you know that? I adore you. You're safe, and I'll make sure you are, even after my dying breath."

The little girl's eyes seemed to widen, and with a soft coo, she reached closer. Her small arms wrapped snugly around his neck and she buried her face in his chest. Wriothesley's heart nearly burst open at her action.

You're the reason my heart beats, darling.

Holding her close to him, he patted her back until she was steadily asleep as he picked up another set of paperwork to finish.