The silence that followed Emily's words felt heavier than it should've. Married. Children. The kind of milestone Nathan never once pictured for himself—not after everything in the Tower.
Validia tilted her head, eyes flicking toward him with faint amusement. "Children, huh. You'd make a strange father, Nathan."
"...O-oi," he muttered, ears heating. "Don't just say weird things out loud."
Sophia's lips curved faintly, spoon tapping against the table. "Strange? More like completely unprepared. Can you imagine him holding a baby? He'd probably drop it."
"Excuse me?!" Nathan snapped, glaring at her.
Validia's expression didn't budge, calm and sharp. "At least he's dependable enough to survive the Tower."
"Oh? Is that all it takes for you?" Sophia's smile was sweet, but the edge in her tone was clear. "A man who just… survives?"
The air tightened instantly—two predators circling the same prey.
