Carl snorted. "Sure, but out of all the grown women on this continent, scratch that, across the oceans, so many of them throwing themselves at you… and you somehow managed to fall for a minor? Bro, what kind of twisted universe do you live in?"
Somto exhaled. "She's not up to 18 yet… but she's close. Not far from it at all."
Carl went quiet for a second. Then a reluctant sigh. "At least she's not twelve. Okay, okay. Crisis averted."
"Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence," Somto muttered.
Carl ignored him. "Alright, here's what you're gonna do, Your Royal Delusion, listen carefully. You wait."
"Wait?"
"Yes, wait. You be her friend. No weird stuff. No flirting. No creepy gifts. No love poems written at 2 a.m. Just… be normal. Give her space. Let her grow into who she wants to be without feeling watched by a king who has countries bending to his will."
Somto stayed quiet, absorbing every word like a student at the feet of a very chaotic professor.
