He reached out as if to touch it, his hand extending slowly.
Then stopped.
His fingers hovered in the air between them for a long moment before lowering back to his side.
"..."
The silence stretched.
The Patriarch's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, his gaze becoming distant like he was looking at something very far away.
When he spoke again, his voice came out softer.
"Reminds me of someone."
The words felt deliberate, each one chosen with care.
"Back before everything changed."
His orange eyes refocused on Damian's face, studying him with an intensity that made Damian's instincts scream.
"But you clearly don't share blood with him."
The statement came out flat, matter-of-fact.
"I can tell."
Something about the way he said it felt wrong, like he was convincing himself as much as stating a fact.
His hand lowered completely.
"That man treated commoners like they were his own family."
The words carried weight that went beyond simple observation.
