A satisfied smile appeared on the man's lips, his eyes slightly watery from the deep pride and happiness he was experiencing. It was almost too much to bear. Unaware of all that – at least for the present moment – the two reasons behind his strong emotions were resting in a profound and calm sleep. Both tired. Both beautiful.
It was all dreamlike. He was so grateful. Grateful of that fateful moment when he had looked at those witchlike blue-emerald eyes for the first time. He had been lost right then and there. Never mind all his military training, there were battles that a man could just not win. She was so kind, sweet and smart – not to mention beautiful and strong – he had been doomed from the start.
He couldn't begin to describe the sheer joy which possessed him just by watching mother and child in their peaceful sleep. He had been watching the rise and fall of his daughter breathing all the night, taking hold of each one of her small features. Despite her petite frame, it was so obvious that she would take after her mother's looks. Her skin was still a shade or two clearer than theirs, but it was plain to him that she would have Chizeta's bronze gleam. The thin hair covering her small head was darker than his wife's – most likely due to his genetics – but still had more similarity with the blazing fire of sunset than with the black coal that was his. As for the eyes, nobody could tell for sure yet. Maybe chocolate like him?
His wife had fallen asleep holding the little hand, her beautiful hair resting in every possible direction. He couldn't blame her. Not at all. She was even more in love with the girl than him, if possible, but after twelve hours of hard labour… Well, even a woman as strong and brave as Tatra of Chizeta had her limits. She had been claimed by sleep right after nursing their daughter for the first time and laying her in the crib. Even now she laid with her arm resting in that direction, the tip of her slender fingers barely touching the small hand. He hadn't had the heart to break the contact.
"My princesses," he smiled fondly and he moved to cover the small shoulders and caress Tatra's forehead. As he was about to lay himself next to his wife's frame, the younger heir to the throne stirred herself and opened her eyes, fixing them on him. Or so it seemed to Geo.
With silent moves and a gentleness that contrasted greatly with his large frame, he placed the child in his arms. His daughter emitted no sound of discomfort at this and simply observed the imposing Autozam soldier in front of her with curiosity. Newborn dark eyes facing those of the warrior without the slight trace of fear. His smile only grew prouder.
"Well, little Terra Metro, youngest princess of Chizeta. It seems to me, that you did inherit my eyes after all."