⨯ ﹒ ✦ MY STRANGE PAPA! - NEUVILLETTE

02. Why did you not abandon me?

"She should be fine in a few days." A doctor told Neuvillette after examining the child. There was a tone of uncertainty in the doctor's tone. "But Monsieur, I suggest we run a complete examination, inclusive of her blood vials."

Neuvillette looked back at the child who was once again back to sleeping peacefully. He immediately realized something was not right. "Is there a problem?" 

The doctor adjusted his glasses before he spoke, "You see Monsieur Neuvillete..." He paused, "Though the child appears to be healthy, she's still a newborn. Hardly two months old, I cannot fathom wonder if she is truly healthy especially after you mentioned finding her in an abandoned alley." 

He was right, for a two month year old infant to survive on an alley and still be healthy appeared a little bit strange, even for Neuvillette. "I will make required arrangements. Thank you for arriving on short notice, doctor." He said as he showed the way out for the doctor, asking the maids to take care of the child in his absence.

....

As he walked back to his office, his mind was clouded. He didn't know whose child was it nor did he know what should his next course of action be. Handing over the child to the Welfare Association without proper investigation was not right, especially after he sensed an ominous power from the alley he found her in. The ominous power was almost, familiar to Neuvillette but he couldn't recollect it.

 regardless he knew, he couldn't take care of the child properly till a full investigation was done. 

Upon entering his office, he sat down onto his chair and sighed. Only then did he notice the presence of someone else in his office, sipping tea and snacking pastries.

"Lady Furina." He mentioned in an unamused manner, looking at the Hydro Archon snack on a  bunch of pastries while it was still early hours of a regular morning. 

"Good morning, dear Iudex! I hope you don't mind my presence in your office!" She said enthusiastically as she took a sip of her warm tea. 

He sighed as he looked at her, "I apologize, but I do mind. If you must have your little morning tea party, I suggest you head to your office." he responded coldly but it was ignored by Furina's laughter.

"Oh? Commanding your archon, are we?" she joked, before continuing, "Very well, why don't you brief me on a certain matter?" she asked curiously, observing Neuvillette arrange the papers on his desk as he took out a bunch of files to prepare for his day ahead. 

"Please do elaborate on the content of the matter if you wish for me to brief the information." He said as he began reading through a bunch of documents, signing them occasionally. Furina left an annoyed grunt as she stared at him. 

"Iudex!" She shouted his name. He left a sigh. "Yes, lady Furina, I can hear you quite well from here." he replied back, a little annoyed. 

She walked towards his desk, slamming her hands down onto it as she stared at Neuvillette's eyes, before speaking. 

"I heard you brought in a child you found from the streets yesterday!" she raised her voice, slightly not hesitant to speak any more louder.

Neuvillette calmly placed his pen aside and looked back at Furina, "I believe my actions should be of no interest for you." He responded back coldly. 

"Wh-Wh...what's with that tone! You got that wrong! I just...I just!!..—" Furina was at sudden loss of words as she stared at him with a dejected look. 

.

.

.

 "Ahahahah! Aren't you a little cute baby!" Furina said excitedly as she held the little baby in her hand. She tickled the baby slightly, making silly faces to see each and every reaction of the baby. 

Neuvillette who was standing at the door frame of the room remained speechless at the sight that was bestowed to him. "Hold her carefully, you will hurt her." he reminded Furina. 

Earning a choir of giggles and laughs from the little one, Neuvillette couldn't help but slightly smile.

She looked back at him and gave him an annoyed look. "Do not worry Iudex! I, Furina de Fontaine, has a way with children and babies!" She said as she looked back at the little one in her hand, "-isn't that right? Your auntie is the best!" 

Hearing the word 'Auntie' slip off from Furina's tongue, Neuvillette couldn't help but ask her a question, "Did you just call yourself 'auntie', lady Furina?" he asked, trying to understand the reason why she used such a relational term. 

"Yes I did, is there something wrong!" She asked as she held the baby close, giggling. "Isn't she your daughter? Aren't you adopting her? A lot of people have been speaking about this since yesterday!" 

"..My daughter?" he asked, appearing to be more confused every minute. "I'm sure we both aren't on the same page, Lady Furina." he concluded. 

"What!" She shouted loudly as she walked over to where he stood, "I thought you were adopting her!" 

"I believe, you've misunderstood." He replied coldly, pausing for a second as he observed the little girl slowly fall asleep in Furina's arms. "I am keeping her by my side for a while, till a proper investigation is done."  

"Are you insane! Can't you hand her over to the Children's Welfare association then!?" Furina responded back angrily as the little baby was slightly startled. Seeing her distressed, Furina began rubbing her back slowly, soothing her. 

Neuvillette was hesitant to speak as Furina was looking at him with a burning gaze. "Lady Furina....this child.." he said as he touched the baby's head, using some of his hydro powers.

"She has godly residues within her body." Neuvillette stated with pain laced in his words as he used his power to settle the dark powers. 

"I cannot send her away without getting rid of it. or she may suffer in the long run."

END.CH.02

a/n : I hope you enjoyed the first two chapters!!