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"Are you certain you’re alright, my dear?"
Regis spoke in a soft voice, sitting on Cirilla’s bed, his hand flying to her forehead in order to check her temperature. Ciri plastered a smile on her face, in an attempt to appear confident and reassuring.
"I’m fine, Regis. Really. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all."
Regis was not fooled, though, but he respected her privacy. He nodded and stood up, his hands moving to the shoulder strap of his customary satchel.
"I’m here, should you need anything, alright sweetheart?" he asked.
She nodded. Regis lingered a few more seconds, then moved towards the stairs leading down to the dinner hall. He was almost there when he heard Ciri call his name, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Regis?"
Regis turned around, his eyebrows shooting up in an interrogative air.
"Yes, Cirilla, darling?" he answered.
Ciri bit her lip and hesitated.
"If…and I said if... I was worried about...something... " Ciri started.
Regis’ face turned to tender concern, but he said nothing. Ciri averted her eyes.
"What would you say?" she finished in a whisper.
Regis sighed, but he played along.
"Well…I’m not certain I would actually start with words."
Ciri raised her eyes to him. He had a sad smile, his face radiating with love and care.
"What do you mean?" she asked, not understanding.
"Allow me to demonstrate…" Regis answered softly.
With quiet determination, he crossed the room and sat back on the bed, near the wooden headboard.
"Firstly, I would come sit by your side," he murmured.
He gently took her hand.
"Then I would hold your hand, and I would tuck a strand of your hair back behind your ear…like this…" he added, following through with the action.
Ciri's lips curved into a small smile as she observed his actions. He was delicately honoring her reluctance to discuss her emotions while simultaneously offering comfort. A rush of affection for the vampire welled up in her heart.
Regis returned her smile warmly before tenderly pressing a chaste kiss to the back of her hand.
"Then I would kiss your hand, and assure you that it’s alright to be afraid. That it neither makes you weak, nor anything less than the strong and remarkable woman you are," he whispered.
Ciri’s eyes filled with doubt, and she averted her gaze once more, clearly not convinced. Regis felt his heart clench at the sight.
"Then I would realize that words are not enough," he continued in a low voice, "so I would take you in my arms and hold you close to my heart."
He waited for a few seconds.
"Would you allow me to demonstrate again?" he asked tenderly.
Ciri hesitated, but then relented. Her nod was barely perceptible, tinged with a hint of shame.
Regis released Ciri's hand and reached out to envelop her in his arms, gently guiding her head to rest upon his shoulder.
"There, my darling…Like this…" he sighed.
He briefly slipped out of character, planting a furtive kiss on the base of her skull amidst her ashen hair.
"I would tighten my arms around you…like this…”, he continued, squeezing her tightly and resting his cheek on her head.
“This way, I would try to make you feel safe and cherished. I would whisper that all is well, my darling. That I’m here, with you, always,” he murmured.
He started rocking her back and forth, slowly, tenderly, while rubbing large, comforting circles on her back with his slender hand. Ciri let out a deep sigh in his arms, closing her eyes and breathing in his scent, a blend of anise, wormwood, and cinnamon.
“Then I would rock you like this...holding you close to my heart...shushing you gently...” Regis commented, his voice as soft as a feather, his arms wrapped protectively around her.
He kissed her hair again, gently burying her face further into his shoulder.
"Shhhh, my darling, I would whisper...Shhhh, do not worry your precious head, my love...Do not worry, for I am here, and I love you..Whatever it is, we shall find a solution, I promise....” he murmured, closing his eyes.
Regis kept her in his arms, rocking her against him, breathing softly, while shushing her and murmuring tender words. After a time, he pulled away gently and took her face in his hands.
“Then I would suggest that you join me for a stroll under the bright sun, where you can breathe in the fresh air and share all your concerns with me.”
Ciri smiled gratefully.
“I would gladly accept your invitation, and I would thank you,” she replied.
Regis smiled his customary tight-lipped smile as he tucked another strand of hair behind her ear and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead.
“In that case, I would stand up, and offer you my arm,” he said, rising to his feet and extending his arm to her.
Ciri stood up as well and wrapped her arms around Regis’ elbow, laying her head against his arm. Regis' observed her with a fond smile, before leading her out of the room.
