"Papa," Sophie says, flopping upside-down over the back of his armchair, "if you were king for a day, what would you do?"

Alek closes his book. Thinks a moment.

"I'd marry your mother," he says.

Sophie rolls her eyes. Sighs heavily. "You already did that."

"Hmm. She couldn't be my queen? Or you my princess?"

"No," she says, impatient. "It's pretend!"

"Then I'm afraid I'd have to throw my crown into the sea and come home."

Sophie slides off the chair with another sigh, this one disgusted. "You're terrible at this, Papa."

Alek picks up his book again, and smiles.