Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Epilogue

Two years had passed since the memorable tournament in the Fortress of Meropide.

Vire and Maria had tied the knot in an intimate ceremony attended by only a select few: Clorinde, the Duke, the Madame, Lilly, and Sigewinne. Their vows were heartfelt, each word carrying the weight of their journey together. When the ceremony concluded, Maria handed her bouquet to Clorinde with a warm smile, wishing her happiness and love when her own time came.

Now, back from their trip to Mondstadt, Vire and Maria were visiting the fortress. Their first stop was the infirmary, where they found Sigewinne deeply engrossed in writing a review for a new skincare product. She looked up with delight when she saw them enter.

"I got chatting with the librarian and some alchemists," Maria said, pulling out a small collection of potions. "I thought you might like these for your research. I know you're into this kind of thing."

"This is a wonderful gift. Thank you!" Sigewinne said, her eyes sparkling as she examined the potions.

"Are you headed to the Duke and Clorinde next?" Sigewinne asked knowingly, glancing up from the potions.

"You guessed it," Vire replied, flashing a grin.

Sigewinne gave them a knowing smile, which Maria returned before they left for the Duke's office.

As they stepped inside, the room was filled with the lively sound of conversation between Clorinde and Wriothesley. Clorinde stood up with a broad smile as Maria approached her, pulling her into a warm hug.

"I'm so glad you could make it," Clorinde said warmly.

"We brought wine from Mondstadt," Vire announced, holding up the bottle as they all sat around the table.

The Duke grabbed four wine glasses from his cabinet, uncorking the bottle with practiced ease. He poured the first glass for Clorinde, the second for Vire, and moved to pour the third for Maria.

She held up her hand, stopping him with a smile. "I'll pass," she said softly, placing her hand gently on her stomach.

The room fell silent for a moment before both Clorinde and Wriothesley exclaimed in unison, "No way?!"

Maria nodded, her smile bright and full of joy. "I'm pregnant," she announced.

Cheers and congratulations erupted as Clorinde hugged her tightly, and the Duke clapped Vire on the back with a hearty laugh. The wine glasses clinked together in celebration—except for Maria's—and the room filled with warmth, laughter, and the promise of a bright future ahead.

"What do you think it will be?" the Duke asked, leaning back in his chair.

"I have a feeling it's going to be a girl," Maria said, radiating happiness.

"I think it's a boy," Vire countered with a confident grin.

Maria rolled her eyes playfully. "We can't agree on it," Vire added with a shrug.

Eight months later, chaos erupted in the middle of the night. Vire burst into Sigewinne's room, flipping on the light and startling her awake.

"The baby is coming!" he announced loudly, his tone urgent.

Sigewinne was on her feet in an instant, grabbing her pre-packed bag and rushing out the door. Still in her blue pajamas adorned with little pink hearts, she sprinted through the fortress, keeping pace behind Vire as he led her to the room prepared for Maria.

When they arrived, Maria was already lying on the bed, her face showing signs of exhaustion but filled with determination. Vire closed the door behind him, taking his place at Maria's side. Sigewinne immediately set to work, checking Maria's vitals and ensuring everything was stable. Satisfied, she gave Vire a nod before turning her attention back to Maria. He held her hand tightly, never letting go as labor stretched into hours. Maria, utterly exhausted but glowing with joy, finally held their baby girl in her arms.

"I guess you don't know everything," she teased, her voice soft but full of joy as she looked up at Vire with a radiant smile.

"I guess not," he replied, his voice tender. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, his heart overflowing with admiration for his wife and the mother of his child.

Five months later, Wriothesley and Clorinde found themselves by the ocean, skipping stones across the gentle waves.

"Not a single bounce. I threw that miserably," Clorinde laughed, brushing her hair from her face as she bent to pick up another stone.

"I actually prepared a fun challenge for you," Wriothesley said, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

"A challenge?" she asked, turning to face him, her curiosity piqued.

"Fifty meters from here, I placed a target," he explained. "I bet you can't spin 30 times around yourself and still land a bullseye within three seconds of stopping."

"Show me the target," she said, her competitive spirit igniting.

He led her to the spot, pointing at a small target perched on some rocks along the shoreline. Clorinde scanned the setup, the ocean to her left and the beach to her right.

"It's a clear shot from here," she said confidently, pulling out her pistol and loading a single bullet.

"Thirty spins," he reminded her, grinning as she positioned herself.

She began spinning, her movements sharp and precise as Wriothesley counted aloud, amusement evident in his tone.

"Twenty-nine... thirty!" he called out.

Clorinde stopped on the spot, raising her pistol. As he counted down the three seconds, she fired.

"Bullseye!" she cheered, looking at the target with pride. Satisfied, she turned around, ready to bask in his reaction.

Instead, she froze. There he was, on one knee, holding an open ring box, his eyes filled with love and determination.

"Clorinde, you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. Will you marry me?"

Her jaw dropped, incredulity washing over her as she nodded furiously, words finally spilling out. "Yes, yes!" she cried, falling into his arms, overjoyed.

He kissed her passionately before gently slipping the engagement ring onto her finger.

"I can't believe I didn't see it coming," she admitted with a laugh as they strolled along the beach, passing the target that had just become part of one of the happiest moments of her life.

"I did promise you a life full of surprises and spontaneity," he said, lacing his fingers with hers as they walked into the horizon, the waves lapping softly at their feet.