"Your Majesty, how are you feeling? You seem to be—" Afton's voice trembled, rising slightly in panic. The sight of Heinz—the king—crying was enough to unsettle anyone.
But Heinz didn't respond. He barely heard him.
He was still in shock. Frozen.
'Was that really a memory?'
His heart pounded in his chest as the images continued to flash behind his eyes.
'That happened between me and the original Florian?'
His breathing grew uneven. It felt like the floor had dropped from beneath him.
'That really happened?'
How could he have forgotten something so warm? So intimate? So full of love?
'How?'
"I think he's in shock." Lucius finally spoke, his voice low, unsure. He glanced at Afton with clear suspicion. "I thought you pulled a happy memory?"
'Why?'
"M-My lord, I did… really, I mean—I think I did," Afton replied, fumbling with the letter in his hand, eyes scanning the lines as if trying to find an explanation within the ink. "I followed the instructions. I believe I did—I—"
