Inside the quiet bedroom, the exhausted Guest was in a deep sleep.

By the bed stood a small cradle, and Killua was standing before it.

He carefully reached out his arms and picked up the baby.

She was so small, fitting perfectly in his arms. Tiny hands, tiny feet. A life so fragile that even his breath felt too heavy.

The baby's fingers twitched slightly, then firmly gripped Killua's index finger.

...Heh.

A small laugh escaped him involuntarily. Only a single finger was caught in that tiny hand, but strangely, it felt as if his heart had been captured too.

These were hands that had held a blade his whole life. He was used to fighting to protect someone. But holding such a small life was a first.

Killua chuckled softly at himself, feeling ridiculous for being so tense the whole time he held her, fearing he might drop her or make her cry.

Then he turned his head to look at her sleeping in the bed. She was asleep with a tired face, unable to smile brightly or call his name playfully as she usually did.

'You did well.'

He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud and only muttered it in his mind. Guest had endured so much that those words felt insufficient.

He looked down at the baby again.

...From now on.

He whispered softly.

You, ...and your mom too.

I'll protect you.

It wasn't the responsibility of a prince, but a promise as a husband and a father.