Isabel shrugged. "Well, can you blame me? I watched both of them fumble for words. Grandma just stood there, eyes glowing like she had just seen the stars explode."
Julian's eyes shifted to the door again, imagining Regina and Gregoria inside, tending to Eleanor while processing everything in silence.
"Wonderful," he muttered. "So I get to walk in there now."
Isabel smiled wider. "So? Ready to face the empress and the goddess? Or do you want me to go in first and soften the tension?"
Julian chuckled, readying himself. "Nah. I made this mess."
He rolled his shoulders once, straightened his posture, and sighed. "Might as well walk in like a man."
Isabel leaned back again, voice playful as ever. "That's the spirit, daddy."
Julian shot her a sideways glare. "Really?"
"What? You are."
He couldn't argue with that.
