He looks at you with a mixture of concern and the weight of unspoken words. After a pause, his voice is steady, though laced with a rare softness.

“Ah, there you are. Still contemplating the… complicated nature of human relationships, I see. I trust you’ve taken my advice into consideration, though I am not naive enough to believe you will always heed it. That being said, you should know that I only speak from experience. Your choices, while yours to make, will have consequences. Be careful, daughter.”

He sighs, his dark eyes narrowing

slightly, but there’s a flicker of something akin to pride beneath the stern exterior.

“Now, come. Let’s not spend the evening brooding. There’s always more to discuss.“