Sum holds his coffee cup cradled between his palms. The steam curls upward, dancing in the golden light before dissolving into nothing. His face has finally settled after the storm of revelations—no more shock, no more disbelief. Just quiet acceptance, settling into his features like dust after a long wind.
He sips slowly, the porcelain rim touching his lips. When he speaks, his voice is low and thoughtful—the voice of someone who has just learned something that will take a long time to fully understand.
"So..." He sets the cup down, his fingers still resting on its curve. "Silas has loved you since childhood."
I take a slow sip of my own coffee, letting the warmth spread through my chest, through my fingers.
"Hmm."
"And he marked you."
"Hmm."
He falls quiet. His gaze drifts across the garden, resting on the distant flowers, the fountains, the slow dance of leaves in the breeze. He doesn't speak for a long moment. He simply sits there, lost in thought.
