"I... thank you." Hearing something like that is... so rare, it's still unexpected. As for the nickname... Essek gets a slight side-eye. He's heard that word before around Rosohna, and while he doesn't have the direct translation he knows the context well enough.

He'll have to ask later.

His attention refocuses to Mimi, watching her face quietly. He has to know how this is going to turn out. Is she going to hate them? He's not sure.