Heinz exhaled slowly, his gaze as impassive as ever—like a wall that refused to crack. "I never said they didn't matter," he stated evenly. "But it is not my fault, nor the royal family's, that they are cursed. We did not place this burden upon them. It existed long before any of us were even born."
Florian inhaled sharply, forcing himself to keep his emotions in check. Recklessness wouldn't serve him here—not with Heinz. Not with a man like him. The king wasn't someone who could be swayed by raw emotion alone. He was methodical, calculated. If Florian wanted to get through to him, he had to be just as careful.
"That may be true," he admitted, steadying his voice. Reasonable. Measured. "But just because it isn't your fault doesn't mean you can ignore it. Isn't it still your responsibility to try?"
Heinz arched a brow, his expression unreadable, but there was something beneath the surface—something Florian couldn't quite grasp. Amusement? Annoyance? Or just detached indifference?
