[ he gives her a brief nod of gratitude, sitting himself down as instructed, but what she said is still on his mind. He hangs his hat on the back of the chair as he speaks, shuffling his coat off. ]

It was worse than whatever you were imagining, I promise. But... [ a bit of a pause. ] You lived your entire life in a tower? Did I hear you right?

[ that sounds like something out of a fairy tale, honestly. He hardly wants to pry; as she's the one who brought it up, however, he imagines she can't be completely averse to talking about it. ]