Chapter Text
“But why must you go back to London, Uncle Hershel?” Flora asked as her uncle tucked her into bed.
Layton chuckled softly as he shook his head with a small smile. “Because I have stayed too long, my dear. I must return to London,” he said softly as he brushed a lock of hair out of the eight year old’s face.
Flora sat up straighter as she pleaded softly. “Take me to London with you!” Her persistence made her uncle smile.
“Wherever I go, you’ll always be with me. And this shall always remind you of that,” Layton said with a knowing smile as he pulled a small box out of his bag, painted gold and green, with beautiful engravings on it. He handed it to her, and the small girl gasped and looked at it with wide eyes as she admired and turned it over in her hands.
“What is it? A jewelry box?” She asked in wonder as she tried to open it. “I can’t open it,” she said with a small pout, handing it back to him, disappointed.
Layton smiled knowingly, as he always did as he turned it over in his hand, revealing a puzzle on the back of it. His hands worked simply at it, solving it with ease as he explained. “That’s because of the puzzle locking it, my dear. That way, only someone with the key can solve it. And that is right here.” He said as he handed her a necklace, the circular pendant on it matching the box.
Flora turned it over in her hand, admiring it, when she saw three words engraved in it. She squinted to read the small font, mumbling the words to herself. “Together in London…” She perked up excitedly as she realized the meaning behind the words. “Really, Uncle Hershel? Really?”
Layton chuckled softly as he turned over the box, showing her the solution, a man and a girl standing in front of Big Ben. She smiled widely as he handed it to her and she opened it, revealing a miniature couple dancing to their lullaby. She smiled widely as she looked up at her uncle. “It plays our lullaby!” She sits up straighter as Layton laughs softly.
“At night, you can listen to it and imagine it’s me singing it to you.” Layton reassures her gently before tucking her in again as he gently hummed the lullaby to her with the music box. Flora hummed along as well as she started to mutter the words to herself, dozing off. Layton gently took the box out of Flora’s hands as she fell asleep, placing it on her bedside table before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispering to her gently. “Good night, Flora. I will see you again soon,” He said before leaving the palace, not knowing the conflict brewing in the streets.