[ She doesn’t pull back, and in fact, for a moment he thinks she might even start crying harder. At a loss for how to make this better, he just wraps more snugly about her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before resting his chin atop it, tucking her in against his chest and cradling her there warmly. ]

I’m right here, sweet. I’m not going anywhere, not if I have a say in it, anyway. You’re breaking my heart here, Princess. You know how much I hate making girls cry.

[ Not that it had stopped him from doing it, of course, but Hilda had never - and would never - fall into that category. She had one all her own, after all. ]

Here. [ He fishes around in one of his pockets for a clean handkerchief and brings it up to her face in offering. ]